At St. Louis, Mo., the propaganda in favor of cremation was carried on for years by Dr. Luedeking, who died, and was reduced to ashes in the Lancaster crematory. Thereupon the robes of an agitator for incineration were donned by Mr. Oscar Hoefer of the Westliche Post, an influential German journal, and Rev. Jonas, both of whom kept the interest in cremation alive by delivering lectures on the subject and by contributing articles to the daily press.
The Missouri Crematory Association was organized in the early part of 1885 for the purpose of providing and establishing in the city of St. Louis, a suitable building and other facilities for the cremation of the dead, and for the proper preservation of their ashes in a columbarium. The capital stock is $25,000, divided into 1000 shares of $25 each, ten per cent of which amount must be deposited by the subscriber immediately upon signing. Non-residents may become members of the association, and, for the purpose of cremation, the bodies not only from this city or state, but also from other states and locations may be received.
From the beginning the association encountered a great deal of opposition. This was so strong that once the advisability of disbanding was seriously discussed. All agreeing, however, that it was too great a pity to abandon a project, for the execution of which there was enough capital on hand, concluded not to disorganize and to make more strenuous efforts to overcome the prejudice prevailing in the city council and among the citizens.
This proved to be temporary, for a bill, prohibiting cremation within the city limits, was repealed recently by both houses of the city council of St. Louis, and only awaits the signature of the mayor to become a law.
The association bought no less than three lots. With the last one, not very desirable in location, they are at length gaining success. When they had bought the first lot, the building commission issued a building permit to them, for which they had to pay $5. After this, however, the municipal council enacted a law forbidding them to make use of that very permit, by prohibiting cremation. And the $5 were never returned to them.
The association is in a prosperous condition, and will proceed at once, as soon as the present obstacles are removed, to carry out the objects for which it was founded.
The First Cremation Society of San Francisco was incorporated on the 17th of February, 1882, with 53 members. The directors of this society are: E. D. Wheeler, president; S. Heydenfelt, Jr., vice-president; E. A. Denicke, treasurer; Max Levy, recording secretary; George E. Voelkel, corresponding secretary; H. A. Cobb, J. Bayer, M.D., F. Schuenemann-Pott, Dr. Wozencroft.
The law of the state of California provides only for the disposal of the dead by burial; therefore the society is now making the greatest efforts to induce the legislature to enact a law authorizing cremation, leaving the people free to choose as to the disposal of their dead between the two methods.
At the last annual meeting of the society, the secretary stated that the society now numbers 113 members, of which six are ladies. One of the original members died, another left the society, which makes an increase in membership of 62 persons.
The San Francisco Cremation Company was incorporated on the 10th of September, 1885, with 117 stockholders, representing 214 shares at $50. The capital stock is $25,000, divided into 500 shares of $50 each. The object of the company is to erect a suitable crematorium for the immense population of the great city at the Golden Gate.