Year: 1874

At the meeting of the advocates of crema-
ton in New York Friday; for the purpose Of
organizing a society the following basis of Or
ganization was agreed upon:


Mr.. Caswell the Secretary of the meeting
accompanied this declaration of principles by
running commentary in explanation of the
points at issue. In regard to the cost of Gre
nation he said that economical estimates
named from So to SS the price of pyre for
single person. The Society was developing
such strength that he hoped by autumn sum
would be raised to purchase a site for ere
nation furnace at sufficient distance from
business centres to prevent its being a nuis-
ance The estimate ofthe cost for burning a
single body was made on the supposition that
the best possible paraphernalia would be male
use OF tor the purpose. The furnace construct
ed by Professor Reclaim, Of Lepsic, had taken
the prize at the Exposition over all others,
and was to be used bv the continental soci-
cites In regard to the incorporation of the
Society it was proposed to get the act passed
| through the Legislature Immediately, but If
an adjournment occurred before this could be
done temporary organization would most
conveniently be made under the general act
for Incorporating charitable institutions. On
motion the report was adopted, and then the
Law Committee reported that the fountain of
justice threw no difficulty in the way of ere
nation. The manner OF disposing of the hui
man body after death, which in the language
OF the Old legal text was thing given up TO
worms, was not prescribed either by statute
or common law. The sanction of law, how
ever. would be obtained for cremation bv the
act Incorporating the Society, concerning the
passage OF which letter was read from Col
onel WagstaH promising to push the matter
| through as speedily as possible Letters were
| also read from various persons encouraging
the Society. The committees on hall and
public meeting reported progress, and then


the Chairman called upon President Barnard, a.
of Columbia College, who was present to tell
what he kneV about cremation.


DR.. Barnard said that the movement stimuli
taneouSly inaugurated in so many countries
could not fall but be ultimately successful.
He knew of nothing Objectionable In crema-
tion, morally or otherwise, although no
doubt it would meet with strong opposition
Notwithstanding that we knew the bodies of
those dear to us, who were taken away, be-
came destroyed through natural causes, all of
us shrank from contributing to that change
and aiding nature in her work. To make
cremation successful il was necessary to
change this feeling of dislike. In Oriental
countries the destruction of the dead by fire
took place in the presence of the relatives,
but it would be long before Christians could
accustom themselves to such an exhibition.
The cremation should be performed after an
appreciable length of time had elapsed, but
the time should not be known to the rela-
tives. Various means could be taken to pre-
serve the body for that time. The speaker
thought that cremation would be particular
| ly useful for disposing of the bodies of the
trendless, unknown, and destitute, and occu-
| pants of the poor-hodses and hospitals. Gre
| nation furnaces would thus take the place of
| the Potter's Field, the balefu. effects of which
4 oI-a,- l,o1 l,.1. al IA


the same time he would not begin with them


for fear Of attaching gnominy to the process


of cremation, which he wished to apply to
| the best classes of society.


Professor Seeley then said the movement


had his sympathies. AS chemist he oppos.


ed Inflammation. Duiing the next century


100000 or 100000 Of bodies would proba-


bly, have to be disposed of in this neighbor.


hood. A calculation of the amount of ground


they would occupy would show easily how


for the reason of lack of room alone, inhu-


nation would become inexpedient. He won


dered that the subject OF cremation had new


er been practically considered tefore, especial


iy in place like New Orleans, where they


could not bury the bodies.


| DIR. rockingham was the next speaker.
| He said that he wondered that cremation


had met with the favor it had among sentmen-
| tai people. 1t was not surprising that scien-
| lists for sanitary reasons would approve of it,
Nevertheless tie foresaw great opposition.
would come from the sentimental and un-
scientific people-those of the middle classes


And it were idle to argue against these preju-
dices and sentimeItalities. If the Society
could prove cremation better for ground, for
air, and for pocket it would carry the great
mass of the Thoughtful and practical people
with it. They must make inhumaton odi-
Gus by explaining its evil consequences. On
the other hand cremation should be rendered
unobnoxious, and above all it should be
shown TO be less expensive than funerals; a
great point would be gained in this way.


Colonel G. f. Dwight here took up the dis
cussion, and after remarks by others the
meeting adjourned subject TO the call of the
chair