A GERMAN CREMATION HALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6503, 30 December 1881, Page 5

A GERMAN CREMATION HALL.

(Sptciat Carmjxmdmt Pall Mail QauUt.) Amid the pleasant fields outside the rttraolive little city of Gotha, stands the famous Cremation Hall, with the exception of that at Milan, the only one in Europe. She building itself is handsome, is built on classic models, and faces the ordinary burialground, or kirckof. Before describing what 1 have just seen, I will mention that the cremation hall is one of two and a-holf years’ dste only, and was built by an association or Vertlu of some of the most learned and thoughtful men in Germany. Fiftytwo persons, five of whom were women, have in this space of lime chosen such a form of burial, one body being sent from New York. The cost of the mere process of cremation u »tx>ut £5 tiering, and th« Kiiiuroi ceremony eon first be raid over the body. It i* unnecessary to say that the Catholic priest refuses church banal to anyone sleeting to be cremated. Protestant pastors, on Iha contrary, willingly accord it. The cinerary urn* bear tbe name of one or two Jews. These are arranged outside the cremation hall in aa open p.rtico, and are solid and artistic, bearing the names of the deceased, &o. j some were richly decorated with fresh Howorg. My guide now takes me into tbe spacious boll where tbe religious ceremony, when given, is read, and where the body is laid before its removal to tbe receptacle underground, where cremation take# place. I may mention that the public are not admitted to the ceremony at any time, ot-Iy the nearest relatione of the deceased; and that nothing i* seen of the process. We now, not without a feeling of awe, aa well as of deepest interest on my part, descend by a dark winding staircase into the subterranean chambers where tbe burning is performed. My guide, with much intelligence, explained the process, which is highly elaborate and conducted on scientific principles. We sse the huge preparations is the form of coal, and the burning-oven, also on a vast scale; finally tha receptacle for tbe ashes. Nice hours of preliminary preparation are necessary - and it must be explained, in order to remove any feeling of repugnance on the part of the reader, that the body is not burned in flame, but is reduced to ashes by air heated to 600 degrees Reaumur. Two honru elapse before the ashes are collected —six pounds being nsaal in the me of a man, four In that of a woman. A* J have before said, the process is cot visible, and is so seientifle that every element of horror is eliminated. The ceremony takes place in silent solemnity, only the necessary official* and one or two near relative* being admitted. I think few visitor* will visit this cremation hall without brag deeply impressed in favour of a system so advantageous to the living, and it must be admitted—at least of France and Germany—also advantageous to the dead. Here, as in France, the law compels such quick interment that in many cases it has been known to take place before the breath had left the body. In Algeria I have known personally a victim of this misapprehension; and my German friend* will speak to me in worm terms of the new system as. irrespective of other advantages, preventing premature burial.