Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-09-28
ADVANCE IN CREMATION.

ADVANCE IN CREMATION.
Boston ranscript.-Several months
ago in an article approving cremation
as in our opinion a preferable method
of disposing of the dead, we remarked
upon its comparatively rapid rise in
favor in various countries, our own
especially, although at that time we
had at command no statistics later
than 1900. The tendency up to that
time had been all one way. A lam.
phlet, written by DR.. James r. Chad
wick, president of the Massachusetts
Cremation society, with an addendum
by Richard w. Hale, treasurer OF the
same society has just been published.
1t contains tables covering the crema-
ton records of this country up to the
end of 1904, and these show not only
that progress has been steady but
even greater than we supposed
We must remember that the history
of this reform in the United States ex
tends over a period of only thirty
years. Practically it is only twenty,
DGSduoS uD w IoOO LilClC iiShl ''CNh IL
all only about forty incinerations. In
1904 there were 1920, a gain of oven
three hundred upon the year previous.
OF these nearly 400 occurred at the
Forest Hills and Mount Auburn Gene
teries, while New York city reported
Sal. In his enlightening monograph.
DIR. Chadwick gives brief history or
the practice from early times and its
adoption in this country, and of course
argues in favor of 1t from the points
of view that most appeal TO him. He
has not taken advantage of his pro
fessional knowledge to becloud the
hygienic features of the case, as he
might have done had he chosen to en-
ploy casuistry instead of honest argu
ment. His plea is one that all can
understand Instead of being dog,
matte upon the hygienic features OF
the case he actually places less posi-
tive emphasis upon them than upon
the economic and sentimental aspects;
vet he does believe that health would
be a gamer were this practice sub
stituted for burial.
He assumes that we have virtually
risen superior to the religious on'
iections to cremation that once OBJ
tanned, and he has good ground for
such an assumption when he states
that one bishop of the Episcopal
church was and another is vice
president of the society. but perhaps
we find proofs of progress as strong
among churchmen who oppose 1t as
among those who favor 1t. Very re-
Gently the will of Rev. DR.. Dean Rich
mond Babbitt late rector OF the
Church of the Epiphany in New York,
was read, and it expressly provided
that his body should not be cremated,
but should receive Christian burial"
II also enioined that his widow and
children should take measures against
having their bodies cremated. twenty
years ago nobody would have thought
it necessary to make a formal selec'
ton unless it might have been in
favor of cremation.
Science has dispelled to large en-
tent the illusions that Christian peo>
pie once entertained concerning the
practice. Modern religious teachers
have learned that they must square
their theology with geology, chemistry
and ot4er records of nature or their
mission is likely to be difficult II not
fruitless Not only are converts BEING
rapidly made to the practice OF in
cineration. but more and more those
who have long believed in 1t are
coming to have the courage of their
convictions. The reform will probably
come gradually but irresistibiy, and
the prevalence of scourges like that
in New Orleans of that threatened in
New York will hasten the acceptance
of this method very materially. When
once the inertia of many centuries
has been overcome in peoples minus
It will not take long before tne
superiority of cremation over burial
on grounds of economy, sentiment and
health will be generally acknowledged.