Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-23
CreIlsatlOn.

At Rosedale Cemetry, Los Angeles, on
Wednesday, April 10th, at 3 p. M,
funeral cortege passed the threshold of
house in mourning, from whence were
borne the remains by those called upon
to render the last tribute which every
living being, without distinction, must
pay to nature. Six little boys of tender
age carried light caaket which enclosed
the lifeless form of a companion. Their
pathetic mission was to conduct it to the
spot where the body would be reduced
to its primitive elements.
Having arrived, prayer was offered to
the Supreme Being by the minister
selected to perform this pious ceremony,
and when the afflicted mother had taken
a fearful farewell of her dead boy, she
retired, accompanied by most of those
who participated in the affecting scene.
Those in charge Of the cremation took
the body from the casket, laid it on
metal plate, covered it with cloth
slightly wet with alum water, and placed
it in the receptacle which was already
heated to very high temperature, and as
the door was closed the different phases
the operation presented could be seen
through the clear crystal. In half an
hour radiant aureole of diaphanous
blue was visible to the height of six
inches above the body. Sometime alter
wards the interior of the receptacle ap-
peared as if covered with mist, which
had entirely disappeared in two hours,
when the transformation was complete,
and marble-like body was presented to
the view, which, when the above men,
toned door was opened and it came in
contact with the air, and was reduced to
ashes white as snow.
Behold the consumation OF that
which the Catholic Church recalls year
after year in the ceremonies of Ash
Wednesday-"Memento mori, homo, quia
puluiS es ct in pulverem recerteris."
After presenting the preceding
description, it is our duty to state the
object of this publication. In the first
place, on many occasions, when we heard
discussed the practice of burning dead
bodies, instead of giving them sepulture,
we were horror-stricken, and could not
conceive how it was possible for human
beings to be capable of committing their
own kindred to the flames-even when
death had claimed his own. Neverthe.
less, on learning that society, composed
of we'll known individuals of both sexes,
existed in Los Angeles, We determined to
thoroughly investigate the subject in or
der to see what we're the advantages.
After conscientious and impartial
study, we are enabled to form a favora-
BILE opinion of the incineration of dead
bodies. The following reasons have
operated to convert us into advocates OF
cremation. From the moment we were
able to appreciate the method OF calcin'
ing the body to the point when, by
means of great heat, the matter is
resolved to it's primordial state (dust),
without thrusting them into the fire, as
heretofore, we became convinced that
this practice is preferable to that of en-
closing the dead in box, burying them
in trench and covering them with earth
in order that they may soon become a
mass of corruption and be devoured by
the loatheome worm.
To the advantages that cremation pos
sesses over this repugnant practice must
be added one that is not less appreciable
that of facilitating the preservation of
the remains of loved ones. A crystal
urn might be placed on the monument,
be it modest or costly, or in the family
residence.
Still more: The adoption of this
beautiful system would result in an i'm.
proved sanitary condition of the public,
causing the disappearance of the germs
of sickness which emanate from the
cemeteries, whose miasma, especially in
the summer, carries divers diseases to
those dwelling in the neighborhood-
particularly if an epidemic is ravaging
the country.
Finally, we unhesitatingly affirm that
we prefer to be transmitted to ashes
rather than to be eaten by worms.
PROF. A. CUYAs, A. N.