The mummy graves and representations upon the vessels of clay which were deposited in the sepulchres with the mummies testify that the cross (and indeed the upright cross) was one of the oldest and pre-Christian ornaments in the hands of the gods of ancient Egypt. It was not before the twelfth century that it was erroneously made a specific Christian symbol, ostensibly to demonstrate that although the cross was most contemptible, yet Christ himself had elevated it into dignity. Thus the sign of the cross became the symbol of Christianity. Such wooden crosses, history tells us, were also placed as a memorial upon the mounds of heathen graves. If we would not want to imitate heathenism any more, we would have to quit eating with knives and forks, stop wearing boots and pantaloons, and do away with surcoats and rings. With the exception of steel pens and matches, but little would be left of our daily necessities of life that would not be an imitation of paganism. The perpetual lamp burning at the ideal grave of the Saviour on the altars of Catholic churches is an imitation of the lamps which were lit on the memorial days of the deceased in the columbaria of ancient Rome, and by whose maintenance slaves, according to testamentary directions, attained the position of freedmen. The decoration of our burial-grounds with flowers on the memorial days of the dead is copied from the analogous usage of the heathenish Romans. The enemies of incineration say that every Christian is bound to practice interment because the Bible (I. Moses iii. 19) prescribes:— “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return into the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.” The above has no value whatever as evidence for inhumation; since at the times when the books of Moses were written the inurned ashes were also deposited in the dust, _i.e._, the earth. The preservation of urns above ground is a much later custom. The above citation has no reference to the destruction of a body by fire or decay, but directs simply that the final remains of man, the dust, be placed in the earth. At least, this Bible passage might be urged against columbaria, but it has no bearing whatever on cremation. If we should have to follow the Bible in all things, we would have to give up most of our modern inventions. For instance, the day of agricultural machines would be over, and we would have to tread out corn with oxen as of yore.