The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-04-18
Citizens Are Working for a Gre.
nalOTy Here.
SOME FACTS BROUGHT OUT
The Bishop OF Panspoiis- LItara-
ture from the Coast-Flrst
ola Series OF Articles.

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
telicvel in incarceration and it has the
endorsement of others who believe that
local conditions imperatively demand
the release of the country from the
pre- sen; compulsory method Geo. w.
Smith, VINO Is 4 member OF the Board
vi Health, has for number of years
advocated an effort to secure a cremd-
tory. He IS quite familiar with the
subject. Nearly every medical man of
the city has at one time or another en-
pressed himself as favoring cremation
as the best means in every way of dis
posing of the bodies of the dead. Geo.
=. Castle, while on the coast recently,
looked into the matter fully ana
brought lack considerable quantity
of reliable and up-to-date literature.
At the mectlhs of the Young Mems Re-
search Club. a; the home of Rev. VIM.
VI. K!nCa!d next week, the subject of
cremation will be introduced and dis
cussed. Mr.. Castle will be 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
said that for himself personally he had
felt for long time that the prejudice
against cremation was based on senti-
ment. He thought II an excellent meth
cd 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, 1t was a
great Change-one that should by nc
| means be made suddenly. 1t wiped out
much of tradition and of fond recollec-
ton, but once the people were con
WINGED it was for the good of all there
would be acceptance.
The views of the Bishop of Panapolis
ron tirmgl thn statement nf Mr. CAST la
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
1t is well 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 natter 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
unkempt grave in the midst Of beau
tiful cemetery? And yet to have II
properly marked, kept green and in
order, entails an expense that the great
majority can i'll afford to incur. with
due regard to our dead the living are
nearer to us and their needs must first
be consulted
The time will come. and in the near
future, when the sacredness and all the
tender sentiments and associations
which are wont to cluster about the
little mound of earth the grave. will
be transferred to the repository OF the
ashes, the COlumbarium with its thou
sands of inches, beautiful urns and me-
mortal tablets, always in order, Shelf
cred, protected and freed from the ele-
ments of decay, place that can be Wis
tied at all times, and under all circum-
stances, with perfect ease, safety and
comfort, convenience that Is utterly
impossible under the most favorable
conditions OF earth burial
The revival OF the practice, by mod
ern scientific process, was first success
fully accomplished in Breslau, Ger
many, In the autumn of 1874, and was
introduced into the United States by
the Incarceration of Baron de Palm, in
the private retort of DIR. f. julius lie
Moyne. at Washington, Pa, in Deem
Der, 1876.
I'm 1884, or ten years from its be-
ginning, Europe and America together
possessed but five crematorles, while in
1883, or four years later II was stated
az a congress OF cremation societies In
Vienna, that there were fifty In active
operation, and others In course OF con-
structiOn.
During the past ten years II has ad-
vanced with rapid strides, until today
every city Of prominence in the world
has In operation. or contemplation, q