FUNERAL REFORM.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5657, 10 March 1893, Page 4

FUNERAL REFORM.

The advocates of cremation and of earth-to-earth burial joined their forces the other day, waited upon the Home Secretary, and atked for the appointment of a minister of health and for a thorough inquiry into the effects of burial upon the subsoil* Mr Aaquith did not give them much hope of the establishment of a new department, but he admitted that a oaso for inquiry had been made out. The oapacity of most of tbe burial places near London is almost exhausted, and a new intramural aot is rapidly becoming necessary. There is nothing about which people are more conservative than m their burial customs. The progress of cremation is therefore very slow, and it is impossible to legislate far m advance of public opinion. A strong argument has been advanced m favour of perishable coffins. Tennyson, m In Memoriam, expressed his eatiufaotion that his friend was laid m English earth so that " from his ashes may be made the violets of his native land." But this is impossible under modern arrangements. At a meeting of the Ohuroh of England Sanitary Association and Funeral Reform Association papers were read advooating earth to earth burial and cremation. Objections were made to tombßtoneß, but a cloister should be set aiide for memorial tablets. Resolutions were passed m favour of exposing mourners as little as possible to the vicissitudes of the weather, of providing shelter for them, warming churches and chapels, and finally invitiDg the rich "to set; an example of economy and simplicity et funerals with a view to proving that economy m the burial of the dead is no mark of want of regpeot."