Cremation of the Dead: Its History and Bearings Upon Public HealthEassie, William
History
Cremation of the Dead: Its History and Bearings Upon Public Health
Eassie, William
Cremation -- History; Funeral rites and ceremonies
[214] Numbers of these relics were dug up at both places, in 1855
and 1856, by Mr. Spencer Wells, Dr. Kirk, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Brunton,
myself, and others.
The cinerary urns of the Romans were for the most part at one time
placed in underground vaults, the walls of which were pierced with
arched recesses for their reception, and, from the resemblance of
the numerous niches to a collection of pigeon-holes, the place was
called a _columbarium_. Two fine columbaria can be seen at Rome,
one in the Vigna Codini and another in the Villa Doria. Should
this system of storing away the cinerary urns be adopted in our
churches, the crypts would for the most part resemble the sketch
given in Plate VI., which is an enlargement and rearrangement of
the columbarium given in Westropp's 'Handbook of Archæology.' There
can be no doubt that this will prove the most popular method of
disposing of the urns in modern cities where cremation is about to
be practised. The catacombs in our cemeteries, or what pass as such,
will also admirably enshrine the urns. It is not at all unlikely
that in some instances the walls of the churches themselves will
in future be constructed so as to receive the remains, and bear
some sort of resemblance to the famous church at Cologne where the
osteological relics are placed around the fane.[215] But in the case
of urn sepulture the appearance would be far more æsthetical. In all
probability the wall spaces would be apportioned out into family
receptacles, and the orifices closed with suitable metal gratings
ornamentally treated. I have furnished an imaginary view of this
kind of treatment at the upper part of Plate VI.
[215] The church of St. Ursula; the bones are said to be those of
the Eleven Thousand Virgins.
My task is now completed; but before I lay down the pen I would
say to those who are desirous of promoting the cause of cremation,
Do so, within due bounds, fearlessly. Do not believe that the
practice is in any way opposed to religion, for such a belief has
no anchorage in truth. And in order to practically bring nearer to
us the time when our much-enduring mother earth shall no longer
be systematically poisoned, all those who are favourable to the
institution of cremation should forthwith put into writing their
desire that their remains shall not be buried, but shall be consumed
according to the method of cremation best attainable.
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