The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-10

A memorial window has just been placed
in the crematory at Fresh Pond. and in a
niche near by Is an urn containing the
ashes OF the wife to whose memory 1t has
been erected by her husband.
This crematory has been in use for sew
eral years. 1t having been built at tho time
when the movement for burning the bodies
| OF the dead was most active; and. as it
| Is situated in the neghborhood Of
| New York. the number OF cremations
there. We believe. has been greater than
that at any other of the similar furnaces es-
tablished in different parts Of the Union.
1t seems to be well devised for the purpose.
for the bodies are reduced to ashes with de-
spatch but it's method Of disposing OF the
dead does not increase in favor. All told. the
incinerations at it have been very few.
and proportionately to the number of deaths
among the vast population in its near neigh
borhood. they are utterly insignificant as
an indication OF any change IN public senti-
ment regarding the manner OF dealing with
human bodies from which the breath Of life
has departed. The cremations are so rare
that each as 1t occurs Is made a matter OF
particular comment. and only then. or
when, as now, a memorial window Is erected,
Is the existence Of the crematory brought to
the public mind.
The bodies cremated. so far as we have
observed. and perhaps invariably. have been
those Of people who died outside OF the
Church. and without the old and usual
religious faith aud associations. Some of
those incinerated desired to be burned us
means of encouraging funeral reform.
Int oh, LA,v Il
them must have expressed wish that
their dead bodies should be reduced to
ashes instead OF being buried. Meantime.
nine hundred and ninety-nne out OF thou
sand OF those dying in New York and its
vicinity have been buried In the old way.
The reform has exercised scarcely an ap-
preciable influence on funeral customs. 1t
is regarded with horror by the great mass
Of the people. Only eccentric minds have
favored 1t 80 far as to bring it into actual
use in tho disposition of the dead tendcrly
regarded by them.
Long Island at its western end contains
square miles Of graveyards. and the dead
in them are increasing by hundreds
weekly. One hundred years from now the
number will be counted by many millions IL
that region continues to be the usual burial
place for this vast centre OF life and death.
This suggests that the time may come
when u change In the method OF disposing
OF the dead will force itself on public atten.
ton as a serious necessity.
The mere question OF cost Is an important
matter. AS it Is in New York. over ten per
cent OF all the burials are in the Potter's
Field but the hundreds Of other funerals
weekly aggregate All expense which is very
great. and rests heavily on the poor
more especially. 1t is not merely the
charges Of the undertaken and for carriages.
but the cost of the mourning garb. Priests
and pastors are doing their utmost to dis
suade their poor parishloners from costly
funeral display. but they have little success
in their efforts. The honor due the dead in
duces the living to sclf-sacrifice so that the
funerals may indicate in their consequence
the respect aud affection in which the
lost we're held. The cremation OF the
dead as at present practised is not
less expensive. We believe. than the
method OF burial. and perhaps 1t is
more costly: but II the incinerating fur
naces were constantly in use and the de-
mand for them was only limited by the
number Of deaths. the cost would OF course
be greatly reduced. The other expenses of
a funeral. however. would not BIO made less
simply because the body was burned In
stead OF being buried.
The Christian world clings to the method |
OF burial with tenacity which cannot be |
loosened except by an exceedingly slow |
process. The incineration Of the dead Is |
pagan practice opposed to the whole senti-
ment OF Christendom. 1t conflicts with the
feeling which many centuries have made
instructive In civilization.
The prompt and businesslike burning OF
the bodies OF the dead as a sanitary precau-
ton. II it be useful sanitary precaution.
horiiles the living and outrages their best
sentiments. Religion and poetry are bound
up with the grave and tomb.
When Commissioner DAILY undertook the
ioh of nurifyInR tho Croton waterahad tha