The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-20
REASONS FOR
CREMATION
OF THIS METHOD
OF DISPOSAL OF DEAD.
Able Scientific Consideration of a
Subject Which Is increasingly En-
gaging the Attention of Intelli-
gent Persons-What Cremation Is
and What It Means to Human
Society.

| and What It Means to Human
Society.
| TO a person of intelligent observa-
ton. the almost universal Ignorance Of
| things which should be commonly
| known appears TO be wonderful This
is so in history and grammar, as it Is
| in science or in art. and the environ
| ment of the individual who is misin-
| formed has nothing to do with the mat
| ter at all. for be he a preacher or a
street-sweeper or an astronomer or
motorman, he is just as likely to know
| nothing about the subject IL II Is out
of his direct business or profession.
| And, as it always happens, the less he
knows about the affair the more preju-
diced he will be concerning an inno-
walton on time-honored canonical
methods of procedure. Through re-
cent personal bereavement in my fam
lily my attention has been drawn to the
popular misunderstanding in the mat
ter OF cremation or incineratiOn Of
the dead. as opposed to the method OF
earth-burial, and l have been surprised
at the arguments employed by some in
dividuals against this sanitary, scien-
tific and simple mode of committing the
body to its final dissolution. For in
stance, these objections were made:
"Cremation is heathenish and brutal,
burning 1t UP with a lot Of wood or coal
mixed with it Is shameful" Again:
cremation is opposed to Holy Writ,
which says, Dust thou art and to
dust thou shalt return" THE idea
of thus destroying the body is repul-
sive.' And so with other equally un-
founded objections. showing ignorance
of the method involved.
My reply to the first objection is:
Cremation Is not heathenish nor brutal,
because the procedure is entirely diff
ferent from the method of ancient lands
or those where burning in a literal
sense prevails. In olden times the body
was placed upon a bier of fragrant
wood and the whole was then destroyed
by combustion, but the modern plan Is
absolutely free from any contact with
fire and the remains are not burned at
all--they are simply dried to powder
in ceanly. sanitary and fully respect
full procedure. No fuel of any nature
touches the remains at any time Gre
nation Is not opposed to Holy Writ
on the contrary, it directly carries out
its commands by returning the body to
dust quickly, thoroughly, and in SEN
sible way, free from any of the horrid
surroundings Of earth-interment. Brief
ly described. the process Of incineration
is conducted in this manner.
WHAT CREMATION IS.
The funeral train having arrived at
the cOlumbariun, the casket is placed
upon catafalque In the elegant chapel,
and the company of mourners and
others are seated around the bier. The
services. if any, being ended. the casket
almost imperceptiby sinks to the crypt
beneath. the opening through which the
catafalque passes being covered by Il
pail which is drawn along the heavy
brass railing surrounding it. The
family and spectators then may retire
to the ample waiting room or return to
their homes, but If members Of the
deceased's family desire to witness the
final ceremonies they reach the crypt
by stairway of iron and marble.
Spectators not connected with the
family are not allowed to enter the !
crypt unless permission is first obtained
by the relatives of the deceased. The
casket having reached the retort roOm |
1t is removed from the catafalque to a
traveller" which Is a steel framework |
supported by wheels moving on an APP
propriate track. The front end of the |
traveller projects several feet beyond |
the front wheels. The casket is wrap |
ped in a sheet saturated with a solution |
of alum, which prevents any ignition |
when it Is placed in the retort, and no |
fire or smoke whatever is apparent at |
any time. The retort door Is then |
closed and the process be- |
gins within the retort as follows:
There is nothing whatever about the |
procedure in the way of burning, no |
flame at any time ensuing-the process |
being simply one of drying and distil-
la ton. The retort being perfectly air.
tight, no oxygen can enter. and in the
absence of oxygen combustion is i'm
possible. The textile matter enwrap-
ping the casket is first dried and evap-
grated, and next the volatile portion of
the casket Is driven off by the heat.
Whatever part of the casket Is left after
This is transformed into charcoal, (blaclS
in cOlOr) Next. the charcoal having
fallen to either side, the body is rapidly
dried and the gases pass through n
nue around the retort. reaching a point |
beneath the fire CRATES and passing then
through the fire they are further dried
and transformed into carbonic acid
which is dissipated into the atmosphere
1T the summit Of the high chimney
above the dome of the columbarium.
In time varying from an hour to five,
according to the size of the body, the
whole has been completely dried to a
white powder-ths the non-volatile
portion, and II is composed of the phos-
,hate OF lime forming the bony frame
work Of the body. Once begun, no
urther fuel is added to the furnaces
heating the retort, and in from six to
welve hours the apparatus Is practical
y cold. Incneration being usually i'm
he afternoon, the retort Is not opened
i'll the ensuing morning, when the con-
ents are carefully removed. The char
'oal (Which Is black) and any cleats |
of other metallic matter
g now separated thoroughly from the
zone ashes, (Which are white,) and the
,shes thus obtained are placed in an
appropriate urn and retained in niche
i'll called for by the relatives OF the
amiy. Through this scientific, sani-
airy, and respectful process the remains
If the departed are returned to dust.
REASONS FOR CREMATION.
Now for some reasons why cremation
,ught to be and eventually will be the
PREVALENT method of sensible people
Who desire to dispose of the remains of
heir dead, and first:
At death all animal matter begins TO
int n tc ioi al ala |