The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-08
OPPOSED TO CREMATION.
The Subject Discussed From a Stand
point Of Judaism.

Rev. I. P Mendes Takes Issue With
DR.. Drummer in His recommendation
of Cremation-He Shows That All
the Religious Teachings of the Jews,
and All Their Traditions Are OPP
posed to Such a Disposition of the
Dead-The Subject Treated From a
Religious and Not a Sanitarian
Standpoint.
Rev. L P. Mendes, of the Temple Mick
yah Israel, does not indorse cremating as
a means Of disposing Of the dead. In his
last sermon he took strong grounds
against this practice, his attention hav-
ing been called to the subject by the in
dorsement of cremation by Health Officer
Drummer in his last annual report.
Rev. Mr.. Mendes discussed his subject
entirely from a religious standpoint,
showing that it is contrary to all the
religious teachings and traditions of the
Jews. AS cremation is considered by
scientists and sanitarians as the future
method of disposition of the dead, Mr..
Mendes' discourselfr from a Jewish religious
standpoint is of interest.
DIR. MENDEs' VIEWS.
1t is sometimes pleasant to recall little
memories of the past and to apply them to
the everyday occurrences which occupy
our attention. This idea is suggested by
a little scene of my college days, when my
fellow student, the now celebrated Prof.
Meldola, was experimenting with US on
! the circulation of the blood We had our
microscope well focused, and beneath its
! lenses we had stretched out a frog, that
we might note the manner in which the
| blood performed its necessary functions.
After having this fully illustrated to us,
we concluded our experiment by cutting
open the frog, that ere it died we might
study the heart beat. Such a thing as
the pain we were giving the unfortunate
victim never entered our head, we were
so wrapped up in our study that we only
thirsted for the knowledge and informa-
ton we obtained. We thought the end
sanctifed the means. So it is in life. The
many propositions presented to US for our
adoption have first to be placed under the
microscope of investigation, and we are
allowed to forget everything, except the
end in view, that Sound conclusion
which can only be obtained by consulta-
tion and study" To explain: A few
days ago received from my friend the
mayor of Savannah, volume containing
the several reports of the city's doings
during the past year QS92). In this book
l came across recommendation from our
efficient health officer, DIR. Drummer
which deserves to be placed under our
microscope of investigation Be it under
stood, with no unfriendly intention, but
only for the purpose of arriving at some
intelligent conclusion as to its wisdom.
THE SUBJECT OF CREMATION.
He calls the attention of the public to
the manner of disposing of the dead, and
advocates a more effectual means than
! that of infnTrn " and tho adam
ton in time of the destruction of bodies
by cremation. He admits that it will
take very long time to edu-
cate the public mind up to
this innovation, yet / propose this
morning to place this recommendation I'M
der the microscope of judaism, and with
your permission to inquire into its legal E
ity from Jewish standpoint. 1t is a
gloomy subject, know, but it is one which
may, nevertheless prove interesting to
all who desire to learn. The disposal of
the dead has ever been a subject of much
thought to all nations and religions, con-
tanning, as it does, a sacred duty which is
framed in love and affection. We see this
desire first displayed by our patriarch,
Abraham, who, on the death of his wife,
is anxious to place her body in some safe
place where she may rest in peace. His
business tact in his transaction with the
children of Heth for the purchase Of the
CdNt VI NldCCuOb SuOWSu uOb Only us WIS
dom, but its prudence His son aud
grandson both exhibited the greatest con-
Germ to be buried in this same spot, as is
, evidenced from their own words to thei1
children. In fact, as we travel from
point to point with the people of the book
we are struck with the same truth, thai
; at death all desired TO be buried that
their bones might rest in peace. To use
Kltto's words, Throughout the whole of
their national history the people of Cos
observed the practice of BURIAL But as
ia all cases where innovation were wished
for and demanded, differences in opinion
3 arose, each trying to IT'S very best to
prove its hobby to be right.
-, THE HISTORY OF CREMATION
The idea of cremation or the convertine
of the human body into ashes by means o.
, fire was advanced as far back as thu
fourth Christian century, some say ear
lier, and has been gradually expanding
and growing till now it is almost assum
: ing the shape Of adoption. The late
+; school, anxious to show its well-taken pc
l sition brings forward Bible instances anC
Bible occurrences to prove that cremation
is not antagonistic to any religion. Chris
tianity met this proposition with the sim
pie suggestion that it conficted with
their teaching of the bodily resur
rectiOn, and thus dismissed 1t withou
5 further comment or trouble as to its
uQOptlOH. NOb 50 WIFI JuudlSU1, SOu2n
i for light in this, as in all other cases, and
3 asked for proofs from Bible or Talmud
S sources to show that cremation had evel
t been practiced. Then came the usua
turning and twisting of scriptural verses
and texts, all contrary to the Hebrew, yet
y to be just, all following the Greek version
= of the accepted Bible. To give you ont
instance as an illustration, l will turn Il
the xvi chapter IL Chronicles, where tn,
death and burial of King Asa are men
:, toned. There we find these words "Ant
# they buried him in his own sepulchre
:. which he had dug for himself in the city
;, of David, and they laid him in the coucl
: which was files with sweet odors, anC
q divers kinds of spices mixed by the apothe
n cary's art; and they made for him burn
). ing uncommonly great" This is the cor
a rect translation from the Hebrew, but Tn,
Greek interprets it, They made of him
a great burning" thus conveying to us
the idea that he was cremated. But il wa
T. not SO, the burning only alluded TO thai
A. ceremony then in vogue of burning spices
:. In honor of the departed, custom which
' might, l think, be compared to the one o
u the present day Of sending floral gifts &c
}, show our love for the departed, or, per
haps, the inburning OF the lamp, which is
K the gym bOl of the immortal soul II (,