Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-01-26
ORDINATIONS IN AMERICA.
Rapidly Coming into Practice in This
Country and Europe.

Rapidly Coming into Practice In This
Country and Europe.
The practice of cremation steadily con.
tinues to gain ground in the eastern as
well as the western continent Already
it is common in Italy, France, Spain and
the majority of the smaller foreign coun.
tries as well as the larger. A dozen or
so crematories have been opened within
the last year, and at least double that
number are in process of construction.
In some European countries, Italy, for
instance, there is scarcely a city without
one of these societies. When a society is
once formed, it is only q matter of time
before a crematory is built.
This seems wonderful to those who
realize how deep rooted was the prejudice
against the system, and how radical was
the change that the idea of cremation in
volved. Yet, despite its inauspicious be-
ginning, the strong sentiment against it
and the many obstacles in its path, the
reform has already obtained q strong
footing in this country and in the old
world.
When the New York Crematory society
was organized in 1881, there only were
four crematories in existence, one at
Washington, Pa, and three in Europe
In different parts of Europe today there
are over twenty-five crematories. London,
Paris, Copenhagen, Florence, Venice,
Dresden, Brussels, Rome and many other
smaller towns all boast of their crema-
tories. Another country in which the
form finds favor is Germany. During the
last year over %, 900 signatures appeared
on petition laid before the reichstag.
Public interest has long been awakened
in France and England. There is about
to be erected in France handsome and
commodious crematory, and an eminent
physician in his lecture estimates that it
will be able to consume about 900 bodies
annually. This is about the average num-
Der of deaths in the hospitals of Paris
during the year. The bill which provides
for the cremation of the dead has already
passed the chamber of deputies and is now
before the senate, and there is no doubt
but what it will become law.
The movement has not gained much
headway in England, on account of par
llamentary opposition, strong religious or
rather superstitious objections and the
unfortunate incineration of Lady Dixie.
A more favorable change has taken place
lately, and the leaders of the reform, like
Sir Henry Thompson and several other
well known Englishmen, who are strong
and enthusiastic supporters of cremation,
think that it is only matter of time
when the reform will generally be adopted.
Many people in this country who strongly
object TO cremation arc surprised to see tho
headway the practice has gained here.
They did not think it would be adopted
1.. Hs. a,,"t of our having ample room for
pn aC.oo'@---,as and cemeteries.
10 pu. ihS SIouh~ time there ~
. AT the pIeseIAs<s .ITnitoolgpare abe
twenty societies in the ed States. n
q all of them have put their principle il
n practice, and have erected large and ST
: cious crematories. Besides that at Ere
Pond there arc institutions at Pittsbul
Washington, Pa; Buffalo, Cincinna
Detroit and Lancaster. Others are bel
erected at Davenport, Ia; Philadelph
Baltimore and San Antonio The Ere
Pond institution was opened for the pub
about two years ago. In that time the
;. have been cremated over $50 bodies, al
there are about dozen applications
hand at the present time.-New Yo
Press.