CREMATION.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 267, 29 March 1898, Page 3

CREMATION.

TO TIIK EDITOR. Sik, —Mr John Gibson, in his letter of the 22ud inst., shows that his cousidcration of this matter is superficial, and rests on sentiment—which, however, no doubt, is much to he respected. His exclamation about "whoever heard of contamination, etc., arising from decaying animal matter (a corpse, to wit), buried six feet deep !" shows he has not marched with the times in medical and sanitary matters. And, too, he ends with a mere platitude about cremation being so repulsive. Mr Gibson is either too old or too young in his notions, and I will give him a lift. Cremation I shall not defend now, for what is the good of using logic and sound common sense when that fetish Sentiment is uppermost ? Sir Thomas Browne, that good old Norwich doctor of man}' a year ago, tells us in " Hydrotaphia, or Unburial," as follows : —"Christians have handsomely glossed the deformity of death by careful consideration of the body, and civil rites which take off brutal terminations." And, again, "Christian invention hath chiefly driven at rites which speak hopes of another life, and hint of a resurrection." Here is Sentiment's reply to " Scnex," but is not there another side? Ido believe there is.—l am, etc., Thomas Osler. Hamilton, 27th March.