The New York Cremation Society was organized in the city of New York on March 8, 1881, under the presidency of the Rev. Dr. J. D. Beugless, and was incorporated on the 26th of March in the same year. The objects and purposes of this society are to disseminate sound and enlightened views respecting the incineration of the dead; to advocate and promote in every proper and legitimate way the substitution of this method for burial; and to advance the public good by affording facilities for carrying cremation into operation. The members of the society consist of three classes: active, associate, and corresponding members. Active members are subdivided into annual and life members, of whom the annual members pay the regular dues, and the life members the amount of $30 in one sum. Those who have paid the regular dues for twelve successive years also become life members. No further payment is then required from such member. These payments for twelve successive years entitle an active member to all the privileges of the society for the remainder of his life; and an associate member to the benefit of the incineration fund without further charge.
Only active members are qualified for election or appointment to any official position in the society; to vote at any election; and to debate and vote at any meeting; corresponding members are chosen from among those who have distinguished themselves by rendering service in the promotion of cremation; and they may reside in any part of the world, except within a radius of five miles around the city of New York. At present, the New York Cremation Society numbers 470 members, of whom 400 are active and 70 passive members.
The United States Cremation Company, incorporated under the laws of the state of New York, is in no manner connected with the New York Cremation Society, although many members of the latter are stockholders in the former. This company was founded for the purpose of acquiring land, and erecting thereon the necessary buildings, works, and other appliances for carrying cremation into operation. It was incorporated under the general business act of 1876 of the state of New York, with a capital stock of $35,000, divided into 1400 shares of the par value of $25 per share; $28,200 worth of stock has already been taken. Among the stockholders of the United States Cremation Company are such persons of note as Andrew Carnegie, Professor H. H. Boyesen, the distinguished author, Professor Felix Adler, and Courtlandt Palmer.
Early in 1884, the company purchased a fine site on Long Island, about 45 minutes’ drive from the city. The cremation temple was erected upon the summit of a hill at Fresh Pond, Long Island. The site is bounded by Olivet, Evelin, and Summit Avenues respectively on the east, south, and west, and commands an unobstructed view of the cities of New York and Brooklyn, from the center of population in either of which it is about five miles distant. It lies between two cemeteries. The grounds are high and picturesque. This place of rest will be, if present plans are carried out, more complete than anything of the kind in the world. It is expressly wished to deprive it of the mournful aspect usually associated with burial-grounds. To this end there are no yew or willow trees, nor any emblems of mourning. The grounds are tastefully laid out, and adorned with flowers.
The corner-stone of the crematory at Fresh Pond was laid on Nov. 20, 1884. Prof. Felix Adler conducted the services, the principal speeches being made by him and the Rev. Howard Henderson.
The directors of the United States Cremation Company fixed the charge for the incineration of bodies at $25. The crematorium was finished in the latter part of October, 1885. Experiments were made with the bodies of a number of the lower animals, in order to perfect the workings of the machinery. On Nov. 10, 1885, a dressed ram, weighing 75 pounds, together with the skin, shank, and hip bones of an ox, was introduced into the furnace. With a temperature of 2000° F. the incineration was completed in two hours. A strong wind greatly retarded the process by interfering with the draught of cold air. The defect was remedied at once by altering the flues and the insertion of a steam jet at a point above the entrance of the flues.
The site was selected in order to carry out the first plans of the edifice, which were those of a Grecian temple. The plans have been modified and modernized so that only a remnant of the classical design is left. The front portion of the building will be, when finished, two stories high. The rest of the structure is one story high, and is built of plain red brick. The dimensions are 38 × 74. Light is admitted to the interior of the building by skylights in the roof, as well as by the half-dozen windows on each side.
Cremation in New York has been advancing steadily, although perhaps slowly, in public favor. The first body was incinerated at Fresh Pond on Dec. 4, 1885, and since then more than 100 persons have been cremated there.
Cremation is spoken of with respect, and the stage of smiling and joking over it in New York passed away long ago.
It receives the unanimous support of the press and the medical profession. The Society of Medical Jurisprudence and State Medicine appointed early in 1886 a committee to consider the subject. The report of that committee, which was adopted, declared cremation to be “a sanitary necessity,” and recommended that all persons dying of contagious diseases should be cremated under direction of the medical authorities.