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55
The chart, p. 54, shows in a graphic manner the marked increase of
recent years in the proportion of cremations to deaths occurring in the United
Kingdom.
Reference is made in the foregoing remarks to the sentimental aspect of the
question, and, unfortunately, while a great number of persons—probably the
majority—express their sympathy with this method of burial reform, when
death occurs their friends do not follow out the wishes of the deceased, in
many cases because they shrink from a procedure of which they have at
present but little information.
As an illustration showing how familiarity with cremation dispels prejudice
against it, the Manager of the Manchester Crematorium states that "out of
" ninety.seven cremations in 1905, no fewer than sixty.eight were those of
" persons who had resided in the immediate neighbourhood of the Crema.
" torium. This important fact demonstrates that it is only necessary for a
" true knowledge of cremation to become more widely spread to ensure its
" more general adoption."
There is one point with regard to cremation which should be placed very
clearly before the working classes. Not only is it cheaper than interment,
but there is only one method of procedure when cremation takes place, and
that, therefore, all classes receive exactly the same treatment.
The Honorary Secretary of the Scottish Burial Reform and Cremation
Society, in reply to my enquiry as to the trend of public opinion, says :
" Since I first came in touch with this movement, about sixteen years ago,
" there is no doubt that the abhorrance and repugnance with which the public
" originally regarded the subject has almost entirely disappeared. ... I am
" quite convinced that, as time goes on, cremation will be more and more
" adopted, although its universal adoption is out of the question."
It is important that the sympathy of undertakers should be enlisted in the
movement, as there is no question as to the great influence they are able to
exercise in the question of disposal of the dead. In this connection the
Superintendent of the Hull Crematorium remarks: "I am afraid it will be
" some time before cremation will make much progress, unless we can get the
" undertakers more in favour of it." Several cases I have heard of, " the
" undertaker has persuaded the friends against it when they have been a bit
" doubtful."
The Manager of the Leicester Crematorium thinks "that in the near future
" cremation will become much more popular than at present, more particularly
" if it is adopted by the upper class as a means of disposing of the dead (and
" there seems to be a leaning in that direction), then the middle classes
" (upper and lower) are almost sure to ape them in this as in most things."
The Manager of the Birmingham Crematorium is exceedingly sanguine, he
considers "the prejudice which exists is gradually lessening, and that in a few
" years cremation will be a general mode of the disposal of the dead."