The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-04-15
THE new METHOD
Citizens Are Working for a Gre
matOry Here.
SOME FACTS BROUGHT OUT
The Bishop Of PanapoIis-Litera-
ture from the Coast-FirSt
Of Series Of Articles.

There is being quietly launched and
forwarded in Honolulu just now a
movement which should result in the
erection here within say eighteen
months Of a modern crematory. This
agitation or education is the enter
prise Of men who for long time have
telieved in 1ncineration and it has the
endorsement of others who believe that
local conditions imperatively demand
the release Of the country from the
present compulsory method. Geo. w.
Smith, who IS member of the Board
of Health, has for a number of years
advocated an effort to secure a crema-
tory. He IS quite familiar with the
subject. Nearly every medical man of
the city has at one time or another ex-
pressed himself as favoring cremation
as the best means in every way of dis
P. Castle, while on the coast recently,
looked into the matter fully and
brought back considerable quantity
of reliable and up-to-date literature.
at the meeting of the Young Mems Re-
search Club, a. the home of Rev. VIM.
NJ. Kincaid next week, the subject Of
cremation will be introduced and dis
cussed. Mr.. Castle will be a speaker
on the occasion
His Lordship, the Bishop of Panap
oils, was interviewed on cremation
yesterday. He said that he had fol-
lowed closely the endeavorS to secure
more burial ground and realized the
many difficulties of continuing the
present means. His Lordship said that
at present he could speak only as a
private citizen upon the subject. If a
crematory is established he will seek
the necessary advice on the subject of
instructing the faithful. The Bishop
said that for himself personally he had
felt for long time that the prejudice
against cremation was based on Senti-
ment. He thought it an excellent meth
od of diSpoSing of the dead bodies. The
Bishop spoke with candor and liberal
ity on the subject. He believed that
the people would soon become recon
ciled to cremation. True, it was a
great change-one that should by no
much of tradition and of fond recollec-
ton, but once the people were con-
vinced it was for the good of all there |
would be acceptance.
The views of the Bishop of Panapolis |
confirmed the statement of Mr.. Castle |
that he had learned in the States that
the Catholic church was not opposed to |
cremation-did not forbid it.
Mr. Canavarro, the representative |
here of Portugal, said that Italy was |
the European country in which crema- |
ton was most general. In his own land |
it is we'll known and is encouraged by |
municipalities and the state. The only !
objection is from individuals. Mr.. |
Canavarro said that during the seasons |
of epidemics in Lisbon, the capital of .
Portugal, cremation was made compul
sorry. At other times it was as the peo-
pie liked The rule is that of the city |
OF Lisbon.
The crematory of the Odd Fellows |
Association at San Francisco is the |
best known in the western half of the |
United States Mr.. Castle and others
here have the printed matter of this /
society:
Modern. scientific cremation COM
mends itself on two strong grounds |
which need no argument. Sanitary
reasons are the first and strongest,
more arguments having been advanced
by men of science and letters, for this
reason than that of any other.
Economy is another strong consid- !
Grafton What is more sad and de-
pressing than the sight of a neglected.
grave in the midst of a beau
tiful cemetery? And yet to have it
marked, kept green and in
order, entails an expense that the great
can Ill afford to incur With
due regard 10 our dead the living are