The times., 1898-05-02
CREMATION CONSIDERED.
The Body, Overcoat for Con-
sciOusUess, Dropped Mt Death.

sciousDess, Dropped at Death.
Major James Albert Clark addressed
the Theosophical Society last night. the
subject being, "Theosophic Views on the
Cremation of Anton Seidl Catholic and
Frances E. Willard protestant" Allud-
ing to the time the subject was under
discussion before the Washington public,
caused by the bill introduced by Senator
Gallinger for the incineration of the bod
les of the INDECENT dead rather than bur
ial five feet deep in the potter's field,
and the views called forth at that time
by the representatives of creeds. the
lecturer summed the conclusions of the
theologians of the various creeds as
unit on the point that it did not touch
religion. Bishop Satterlee, Rev. Talmage
and Father Stafford if reported correct
ly in the interviews submitted. were con-
else on this point The special plead
ing, however touching the disposal of
paupers, would not Apply to the cases of
Anton Seidi and Frances r. Willard,
who, in their ante-mortem declarations,
argued the case sufficiently for them
selves
Referring to the practices of the
ancients line could be drawn indicative
servances in the disposal of the human
shell. C."
India, with its profound meditative
thought unequaled in the history of the
world cremated the dead and gave rea-
sons which satisfied the adherents of the
practice that nothing passed over but
earned character. Egypt, notorious for
flesh pots. listened to a crafty priesthood
and sought to mummify the body so that
al the end of recurring cycle life would
again enter the corpse. In modern times
the same line of reasoning is manifest.
Consecrated ground for cast-off shells
makes up an inferior philosophy solemn
lied by the pageantry and rattle of a
cumbrous theological machinery, with a
paradoXical cOncomitant teaching that all
will rise at the blast of a far-Off trump.
Incredible traditions bolster such teach
ings to some extent, yet the fact appears
that science, which is ever purifying re-
ligion and unifying the human race as
warning creeds have failed to do, insists
with Hamilton that in all the universe
there is nothing great but man, and in
man nothing great but mind and that
consciousness without form is normal.
but that consciousness without contents
is impossible.
Anton Seidl knew this as a philosophi-
cal and an exact musical scientist
could know it. With Schiller he knew
lUdl HuSiC cAllIPSScu lUe Hlltlu, WITH
Schelling, that it contained the type of
the eternal idea; with Lammenais, that
it was the symbol of eternal things; with
Beethoven, that the revelations of music
are superior to those of philosophy; with
LeibntZ, that it is a secret exercise of
the mind which reckoned without know
ing how to reckon; with Carlyle, that
music guides one to the borders of in
inity and gives him for q moment a
glance into the abysst with Theosophy
that IL is the ineffable harmony of the
spheres. Nevertheless this great soul
Anton Seidl. was denied funeral rites and
ceremonies because he yearned to rid his
individuality of the beclogging vestments
of personality.
With the case of Frances e. Willard
the matter assumes a higher aspect than
an individual choice. She was a teacher.
The ruling passion strong in death con-
strained her to leave behind the follow
ing for the benefit of those who claim
to be more specially called to teach:
Holding these opinions | have the purpose TO
help forward progressive movements even in my
| latest hours and hence hereby decree that the
! earthly mantel which shall drop ere long, when
my real self passes onward into the world un-
seen, shall be swiftly enolded in flames and
rendered powerless harmfully to affect the health
1 OF the living. Let no friend OF mine aught
To prevent the cremation of my cast-off body.
/ The fact that the popular mind has not come
/ to this decision renders it all the more my duty
! who have the light, to stand by it in
/ death ! have sincerely meant in life to stand
! by the great cause OF poor, oppressed humanity.
! There must be explorers along the pathways
scouts i'll all armies. This has been my call
! from the beginning, by nature and by nurture
/ let be true to its inspiring and CHEEKY man
! date even unto this last.
Compare this ringing blast to that from
| Rome in 1886. when cremation was of.
/ fcially discountenanced by the Catholic
| Church because. as alleged, by the pre-,
lates in explanation. the atheist Free
! Masons of continental Europe adopted il
as a feature of their funeral rites, for the
! purpose of giving a public expression Il
their disbelief in the doctrine of the res
direction of the body.
But the world moves on. A Catholi,
priest compressed into IA nut shell tn,
case when he stated that only person.
OF advanced thought believed in crema
ton That is the very reason INDIA prac
ticed cremation twenty thousand year!
/ ago, and the official proclamation o
Rome twelve years ago tells the rest.