New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-02-03
UDD CHICAGO SOCIETY.
Doctors Have Had Cremation
Fraternity For 81 Years.
KEPT THEIR SECRET WELL.

Organization Only Recently Heard Of
Has Chapters In Many Cities and
Originated In Chicago - Members
Give Their Bodies to Science and
Then to Flames.
A strange secret Of thirty-one years.
Standing was recently revealed when
! more than score Of prominent Chi
cago physicians and surgeons admit
ted that they were members of the
Ustion fraternity, society having
for its object the dissection Of the
bodies of it's members after death and
cremation Of the remains.
This weird fraternity, to which only
members of the medical profession are
admitted, is of national scope It's
headquarters are in a we'll furnished
clubhouse at 1892 Lake Park avenue,
Chicago.
Chapters exist in New York, Phila-
delphia, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit
and other cities. It's membership is
taken from the ranks of the most
prominent practitioners in different
parts of the United States.
Each chapter is known as a verte-
bra. The Chicago chapter, being the
first organized, is called the "Prime
Vertebra." It's high officer is known
as the ''encephalon," and it's next
highest officer is the "medulla." Its
other officers are named for other
parts of the human body.
The members Of the fraternity must
undergo preparation or apprentice
ship of four years before they are adj
mitted to full knowledge of it's weird
rituals. During this period each must
study some physiological or medical
problem entirely original in his own
mind. If his faith and perseverance in
the ironclad rules Of the society are
deemed doubtful he does not become a
part of the body" If the showing is
supplementary the fantastic ceremoni-
ais are administered. The society is d.
vided into three degrees" through
which it's members must pass. They
are fraternity, autopsy and cremation
DR.. P. NJ. Oliver, who lives in Chi
cago, is the supreme encephaton or ma
tional head Of the Ustionians.
This strange fraternity had its in
ception at Hahnemann college, in Chi
cago, in 1873. During the thirty-one
years of it's existence it's weird teach
ings and practices have been pro-
found secret. Its members at the end
Of their probationary period take an
oath that silences their tongues for
ever. .....
The life on this earth is enjoyed to
it's utmost by them. At the end their
colleagues, attired in long white sur
gical gowns, gather about the bier on
which lie the earthly remains of their
friend. The spirit they know has de-
parted, and the clay that is left is
given over entirely to science. Their
theories are augmented by this grew
some gift. When they have finished
the rites are said. At crematory all
that remains is given over to the
flames. The doctor that was is re-
duced to a handful Of dust.
DR.. Fred w. Wood, former supreme
encephalon, acknowledged that the fra
ternity was for the purpose of autopsy
and cremation. eve believe in three
degrees" said DR.. Wood. "They are
fraternity, which meaps the real fell
lowship on this earth; autopsy after
death, which helps all mankind, and
cremation, which puts an end to the
earthly shell that remains after the
spirit has flown"
"What is done at the autopsy?" was
asked
~ cannot say" replied DR.. Wood.
"Our oaths are solemn. What we do
to the body is all in the interest Of
science. 1t does no harm, and it adj
yances our knowledge"
what is the fraternity's belief in
regard to cremation?" was asked.
Eve believe that cremation is prop
er The body is but clay, and sooner
or later 1t becomes but handful Of
dust. When it is given over to the
fire all is ended. The translation Of
'Ustion' means fire."