The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-06

absorption of all the gaseous elements,
carried on inside fire-clay retort three
feet in diameter and seven in length"
1t is astonishing to find how many OF
the well-known names are recorded in Ia
vor Of this mode of disposing OF all that re-
mains when the soul of man has departed.
Take the clergymen first, and we find the
following from the Rev. Edward Everett
Hale, ID. D.: al have no doubt that Gre
nation will work its way into general ia
vor, and | am glad to think So" And
this from Bishop Potter: 81 have no
prejudice uniavorable to cremation, and
indeed, in view of the curiously made
quate and singularly unintelligent argu-
ments, attacks and denunciations which
have been employed by those who are
hostile to it, ] have been rather disposed
TO sympathize with those who are seeking
to Introduce it." The Rev. r. Heber
Newton, d. D.. OF New York says:
For many years have thor
oughly believed in cremation" The
Rev. Phillips Brooks, d. d., Boston:
al believe there are no true objections to
cremation, and a good many excellent
reasons why it should become common"
The Rev. Robert Coilyer. ID. D., New York:
81 may say that shall not preach against
it. so far as my thought turns now" Many
other clergymen are outspoken in Its
favor.
There are nearly one hundred replies
from noted people in other professions, a
great majority of them favorable to the
proposed reform. President Adams OF Cor
nell university says: Il have in general
wav looked with favor upon cremation,
purely for sanitary reasons" Prof. Charles
Eliot Norton of Harvard says: "The ar
guments in support of cremation are so
strong, and those against our present
fashion OF burial so conclusive, that
l have little question that, when
they are fairly presented to in
telligent men, the development
be rapid, and the adoption of the practice
speedily become familiar"
AIoncuTe ID. Conway, Edgar Fawcett,
Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Abram 5.
Hewitt. Dr. Felix Adler, Andrew Carne-
gle, Cassius L. Clay, Josiah Quincy, George
+. WRring jr., Charles Francis Adams
and Marshall p Wilder, the humorist are
among those who also decidedly approve
OF cremation. DR.. William A. Hammond
writes: "FOr many years past | have
been heartily in favor of the crem alton OF
the dead. So far as l can influence the
matter l shall be cremated myself at the
proper time" Another noteworthy ex-
preston Of opinion is this from Charles
A. Dana: 1T is my judgment that Gre
nation is the most rational and appropri-
ate manner of disposing OF the dead"
Nor are these sentiments confned.to
the male sex. Kate Field, Ella Wheeler
Wilcox. Olive Thorne Miller, Lucy Stone,
Laura c. Holloway and Lille Devereaux
Blake are among the earnest advocates of
cremation. Rose Elizabeth Cleveland
believes in it, and so does Minnie Palmer.
Jennie June considers such a disposition
of human remains as "the wisest, most
healthful and economical"
How much does it cost to be cremated?
is question frequently asked. AT Fresh
Pond the charge is $50, not including
transportation. The same price is charged
by the Philadelphia cremation society.
The Cincinnati, davenport, DetaSt Lam
caster and Buffalo cremation, each charge
S25. A hearse to meet the body at the
station costs So to 81; or an undertaker's
wagon (fOr the same purpose) s. or s..
carriages s. each, and the undertaker's
fee is generally So.
Some of the crematories send out a
printed form to persons who are known
TO be in favor of cremation this form is to
the following elect Believing that the
duty of the individual to his kind includes
providing for such fina! disposition OF his
body as shall be least detrimental TO those
who survive him; and believing that the
modern process of incinera.ion provides
the quickest and safest mode of such dis
position, and is preferable to any other
both on grounds of sentiment and OF fact,
hereby soiemnly express to nv survivors
my earnest desire and request that on my
decease my body shall be cremated at the
- crematory." This form is signed,
dated and witnessed in duplicate. One
copy is entrusted to the signers executor
or next OF kin, and the other mailed to the
of the crematory, who. in this
will be enabled to gradually find
out just what their prospects for business
are.