The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-02

| tory was built in 1879 but no incinera-
| ton took place until 1885, on account
| of the Government refusing to give
permission for its use. In 1888 there.
were fifty crematories reported to be
| in operation in different parts of the
world, and now there are establish
ments in most of the large cities and
| many of the smaller towns, and Gre
nation societies abound. In Toxic as
| long ago as 1892 there were six crem-
atories in operation and an estimate
of the bodies burned was 10000 year.
Some of the crematories are beautiful
buildings from an architectural stand
point, and most handsomely equipped
with tiled floors, stained glass win
dows and fine organs for use in the
service where 1t is desired to have that
at the same place. Where services
are held in the chapel of a crematory
before cremation takes place, the coffin
is on a bier placed on an elevator, and
at the conclusion of the service is
lowered to the floor below, the shroud
which covered the coffin being support
ed by posts at the corners of the OPEN
ing so that when the coffin descends
the hole in the floor is not seen. Rep
resentatives of the family may be be-
low to see the final placing of the cof-
fin on the metal car which is then run
into the retort and the car at once
withdrawn, leaving the coffin and it's
contents for heat to do its work. If
the friends so desire they may remain
and in the course of an hour or lit
tie over receive what remains of the
one they mourn, and in such condi-
tion that there is no danger to the liv-
ing wherever kept.
OF course objections are brought for
ward against cremation and one is that
of destroying evidence of crime, but 1t
seldom happens that bodies are ex-
humed for this purpose. and there is
no restriction against embalming bod
les, a process which is said to be ef-
fectual in preventing the discovery of
many poisons. But those in charge of
crematories are strict in their regula-
tons and in many places are governed
by statutes so that all reasonable pre-
cautions are taken in such matters. On
the other hand the practice of body
stealing is done away with. and the
terrors of burial alive are obviated.
CREMATION OF SOLDIERS.
The United States at the time of the
trouble in the Philippines could have
good features of cremation, and have
given an object lesson which would
have done more in a short time to hast
en- on this movement than can be ac-
now during a long period.
Suppose that the Government had is
sued orders for the cremation of all
bodies before removal to the different
States and Territories. There would
have been a short and vigorous protest
no doubt, but now about the result.
Instead of vessels going through here
laden with collins and returning with
them filed with corruption to be spread
to all sections of the country. with the
attendant dangers of these receptacIes
being opened, there could have been
to families the clean ashes Of
those who had gone from them, return
I'd purified by fire, and with no danger
TO the living.
No end of quotations might be given
Of the feelings of many of the most
prominent people of the time upon this
matter. but two win suffice. Rev. W.
7. Nichols, of Philadelphia, says:
During the past year I have Off
eiated at two funerals when the bodies
Of the. deceased were cremated. and in
observing carefully the process,
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