Since the incorporation of the association, the number of members has risen from six to 59 and will soon, no doubt, be a full hundred.
It is now the main object of this association to secure the erection of a crematory in or near Philadelphia. For this purpose subscriptions were received and stock issued. As soon as the necessary capital is obtained the crematorium will be built.
In the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania the bodies which have been utilized for dissection are burned instead of being buried as heretofore.
The Lancaster Cremation and Funeral Reform Society at Lancaster, Pa., originated in this wise: Early in 1884, a few gentlemen interested in the matter agitated it among their friends; and a list of members of a proposed society was made. On May 27, these subscribers met at the office of Messrs. Steinmann and Hensel (both of whom were members), and, calling D. G. Eshleman to the chair, a temporary organization was effected. A committee was appointed to report on a proper location for a crematory, also a committee on charter and by-laws. These committees reported June 6, when the amount of stock was fixed at $5000 in $10 shares.
At the third meeting, June 13, a permanent organization was effected by electing a board of directors.
The board organized immediately upon the adjournment of the stockholders’ meeting, and chose D. G. Eshleman, Esq., president; Dr. Henry Carpenter and Rev. J. Max Hark, vice-presidents; J. D. Pyott, clerk; H. C. Brubaker, Esq., corresponding secretary; Geo. K. Reed, treasurer. Mr. Middleton was placed on the committee on ground and building in place of Mr. Hensel, whose engagements prevented his acting; and this committee was instructed to report June 20, at which time the site now occupied was selected and the committee ordered to purchase. On the 30th of June, the stock subscribed was called in, and building proposals asked for. On the 11th of July, bids were opened; on the 14th of July, the contract was awarded to Mr. Dinkelberg, and the building was immediately begun. On the 10th of September, the building was completed; and the retort builders having failed to come to time, the committee were authorized to construct one on plans of their own. This was done; for Dr. M. L. Davis devised and built a furnace from his own designs, and on Nov. 1 the board met in the crematory building, and provided for the improvement of the grounds.
On the night of Nov. 4 or the morning of the 5th, the furnace went to white heat, despite predictions of experts to the contrary, and justified the plan of construction. On the evening of the 17th of November, the body of a sheep, two ox-heads, and several sheep-heads were enclosed in a wooden box and placed in the retort at red heat, the company present being unwilling to remain later. Some smoke, of course, was made; but when white heat was reached, the cremation was perfect, as specimens of the residuum amply proved.
The crematorium was dedicated on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 2 P.M., when the body of a lady from Jersey City, N. J., was incinerated. It must be remembered that this society was organized on May 27, 1884, purchased land, erected its building, and had its first cremation within the period of six months, while several other societies organized much earlier had not yet advanced much beyond laying the corner-stones of their respective buildings.
The dedication exercises were opened by a prayer by Rev. Geo. Gaul, of St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Thereupon, the building was delivered to the society by Dr. M. L. Davis, chairman of the building committee, who discussed the subject of cremation from a sanitary standpoint.
The next oration, preceding the benediction, was delivered by Rev. J. Max Hark, pastor of the Moravian church, one of the vice-presidents of the society, who treated the subject from a theological standpoint.