USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present > Part 33
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In October, 1884, the present pastor, Ezra K. Bell, D. D., took charge. The membership had become very much discouraged and decimated by removals to the suburbs, but with the remodeling of the old church building the congregation began to grow and continued to flourish until there is now a membership of nearly five hun- dred souls, abundant in benevolence and good works. In November, 1893, the church council purchased a lot on Race street facing Washington Park, and at the present time plans and drawings are being made for an elegant new church building.
In June, 1888, a company of members and friends of the First church organized the Walnut Hills Lutheran Church, with Rev. J. A. Hall, D. D., pastor. Among the organizers were Messrs. Fred H. Alms, George Fisher, Louis Voight, J. H. Frey and A. Macbrair. After worshiping in a hall over a grocery on the corner of Gilbert avenue and McMillan street for a year, a lot was purchased on the corner of Locust and Lane, and the present handsome stone edifice was erected. The con- gregation is in a flourishing condition, and is growing rapidly.
St. Paul's English Lutheran Church was organized by a colony from the First church. For a score of years members of the church had conducted a Sunday-school on Spring Grove avenue, and in the spring of 1889 H. H. Stuckenberg, H. D. Cook, Edward Froliger, Julius Wiederstein, and about twenty others organized the con- gregation. A new church was built and dedicated on the corner of Cook and Draper streets, and since then a comfortable parsonage has been erected adjoining the church building. Rev. E. R. Wagner, Ph. D., is the pastor of St. Paul's, under whose direction both church and parsonage were erected.
The English Lutheran Church is destined to occupy a large field in Cincinnati. The large German population, although for the most part connected with indepen- dent German congregations, is nevertheless largely Lutheran, and as the Germans become Americanized they naturally seek an American Lutheran church. The move- ment of the First church is at present in the direction of closer contact with the large German-American population. There has never been but one distinctively German Lutheran congregation in Cincinnati, that of Trinity on Race street near Fifteenth, of which Rev. A. Broemer is pastor. The congregation is large and flourishing, and sustains a commodious parochial school on York street near Freeman.
It is a singular fact that in so large a German population there should be but one distinctively Lutheran congregation. In this particular Cincinnati is different from any other American city. Elsewhere, the Germans will be found chiefly in the distinctively Lutheran and Reformed churches, but here they have followed the prec- edent of establishing free German-Protestant churches, which are not connected with any Lutheran or Reformed body. But it still obtains that in these "free " churches there are thousands of people who were Lutherans in the Fatherland and are Luth- erans still, and are connected with the free German churches because of family and neighborhood associations.
214
HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
In 1894 the Disciples of Christ churches in Cincinnati were as follows: Central Christian, Ninth street; Christian church, Fergus street; Fourth Christian, Eastern avenue; Richmond Street Christian church, Cutter and Richmond; Walnut Hills Christian, Locust street; Harrison Street church, Harrison street (colored).
GERMAN EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CHURCH.
In 1894 the German Evangelical Protestant churches in Cincinnati were as follows: Camp Washington Evangelical, Signey avenue and Rachel street; First German Protestant, McPherson avenue, Price Hill: German Evangelical (St. Marcus), Clark street; German Evangelical Protestant (St. Peter's), Independent, Elm street; German Evangelical Protestant of Columbia, Eastern avenue; German United Evangelical (St. Peter's), Main and McMicken avenue; German United Evangelical (St. Paul), Race and Fifteenth; Immanuel Church, Tremont and Lawnway, Fair- mount; Matthew United Evangelical, Elm and Liberty; Phillippus German Evan- gelical Protestant, Ohio avenue and McMicken avenue; St. John's, Bellevue avenue and Fosdick, Mt. Auburn; St. John's Protestant, Twelfth and Elm; St. Lucas, Third street; St. Martini, West Sixth street; St. Martin's German Protestant, Saffin avenue, St. Peterstown; Third Evangelical Protestant, Walnut street.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Cincinnati is one of the great Roman Catholic centers, and the See city of one of the largest archdioceses in the country.
In 1821 the city was made the seat of a bishopric, and in 1860 of an archbishop- ric. Dr. Fenwick, who was the first bishop, founded an organization of about a hundred members. with a frame church but no priest. On Sycamore street, near Sixth, where St. Xavier's great church now rises among its schools and other build- ings, a beginning was made. Priests and nuns began to come into the rapidly growing West, together with the streams of Roman Catholic immigrants from abroad.
In 1831, St. Xavier's College was opened for the career of education, which it has successfully maintained for sixty years.
The great Cathedral of St. Peter, on Plum street, was consecrated in 1839, and the chimes which ring from its beautiful spire still tell of the grand layman who was no less the pride of Cincinnati than of the cathedral which he did so much to build and adorn. Among the thousand of Roman Catholic laymen, none has ever surpassed Reuben R. Springer in devotion and unostentatious philanthropy. Scarcely any of the numerous benevolent enterprises of his church have known any larger or more willing giver than this good man, and if anything were needed to show that his love of humanity was not limited by his creed, one has but to look at Music Hall, his last and greatest gift to the city of his life and love.
When Bishop Fenwick fell a victim to the cholera in 1832, he was succeeded by Bishop Purcell in a long episcopate of more than fifty years of mingled happiness and sorrow, of prosperity and bitter loss. Enormous advances were made in every direction. Immigration continued and increased, churches could not be built fast enough to take care of the Catholic population as it came in. Convents, academies, hospitals, colleges. parish schools multiplied. The bishop became the head of an archdiocese with the great cities of Detroit, Cleveland, Louisville, Vincennes, Fort Wayne, the Sault Ste. Marie and Covington as suffragan bishoprics. By the time of his death Archbishop Purcell was surrounded in Cincinnati by a Roman Catholic population of 80,000, and in his diocese, which embraces the southwestern quarter of the State, he had nearly two hundred churches and a hundred and seventy priests, seven male and eight female religious communities, two theological seminaries, three colleges, twelve schools for girls, three orphan asylums, ten charitable institutions,
215
HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.
140 parochial schools and 120 students for the priesthood. While these statistics are not those of Hamilton county, but of the entire diocese, still they give one a conception of the vast progress of this Church during one episcopate which it is true, however, doubled the " years of Peter."
The present archbishop, Dr. Wm. H. Elder, came from the Natchez diocese, to be coadjutor to Archbishop Purcell, and succeeded him in the See.
The official organ of the diocese is the Catholic Telegraph, which was founded in 1831, and is the oldest Catholic newspaper in the United States. For many years Father Edward Purcell was editor of this paper, and now Rev. Dr. Mackey, the rector of the cathedral congregation, edits it in addition to his other labors. There is also a Roman Catholic paper published in the German language. Both these journals are weeklies.
Among the conspicuous Roman Catholic churches of Cincinnati, we have already noticed the cathedral, and the great Jesnit church, St. Xavier. In addition to these the great German church of the Holy Trinity on West Fifth street, of which Father Moeller is rector; St. Paul's church on Spring street, under the brow of Mt. Auburn; St. George's church in Corryville, and St. Francis de Sale's church in Walnut Hills, are large and imposing buildings towering above the surrounding structures.
In 1894 the Roman Catholic churches in Cincinnati were as follows: St. Peter's Cathedral, Plum and Eighth street; All Saints, Third street; Chapel of the Sisters of Mercy, Third street; Chapel of the Sacred Heart, Betts and Linn streets; Chapel of the Sisters of Notre Dame Church of the Atonement, Third street; Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Wilder avenue; Church of the Holy Angels, Torrence road; Church of the Holy Cross, Mitchell street; Church of the Holy Family, Price ave- nue; Church of the Immaculate, Guido avenue; Church of the Assumption, Gilbert avenue; Church of the Sacred Heart, Bank and Baymiller; Holy Cross Monastery, Mitchell and Monastery; Holy Trinity (German), Fifth street; Our Lady of Per- petual Help, Steiner avenue; Sacred Heart of Jesus, Marshall avenue; Sacred Heart Church, St. Agnes (Good Shepherd Convent), Bank and Baymiller; St. Aloysius, Bridgetown; St. Andrew, Mound street, Avondale; St. Ann (colored), New street; St. Anthony's (German), Budd street; St. Augustin (German), Bank street; St. Bernard, Taylor's Creek; St. Bonaventura's. Queen City avenue; St. Bonifacius, Lakeman street; St. Charles Borromeo, Carthage; St. Clements, St. Bernard; St. Edward, Clark street; St. Francis de Sales, Woodburn avenue; St. Francis Xavier, Sycamore street; St. Francis Seraphicus (German), Liberty and Vine; St. Gabriel, Glendale; St. George, Calhoun street; St. Henry, Flint street; St. James, Mt. Airy; St. John (German), Bremen and Green streets; St. John, Dry Ridge; St. Joseph (German), Linn and Laurel; St. Lawrence, Warsaw avenue; St. Leo, Baltimore avenue; St. Ludwig (German), Eighth and Walnut; St. Mary (German), Clay and Thirteenth; St. Mary's. Mt. Healthy; St. Michael (German), St. Michael street; St. Patrick, Third and Mill streets; St. Paul (German), Spring and Abigail streets; St. Philimena (German), Pearl street; St. Rosa (German), Eastern avenue; St. Stanis- laus, Cutter and Liberty streets; St. Stephen's, Eastern avenue; St. Thomas, Syca- more street; St. Paul de Vincent, Delhi avenue; Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, Third and Lytle.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati: Priests, regular, 90; secular, 149; churches, 195; chapels, 35. Theological Seminaries, 2; students, 116. Preparatory Seminary, 1; students 46. Colleges, 3, pupils, 664. Boarding schools for boys, 3, pupils, 357. Academies, 10, pupils, 948. Parochial schools, 93; children attending parochial schools, 22,253. Hospitals, 4. Homes for the aged poor, 2. Protectory for boys, 2. Orphan asylums, 2; orphans, 590.
216
HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.
MISCELLANEOUS CHURCHES.
First United Brethren, Clinton and Baymiller; Second German Church; United Brethren in Christ, Torrence road; Welsh Calvinistic Methodist, College street; First Congregational Unitarian, Reading road and Linton; First German Evan- gelical Protestant, Apple street; German United Evangelical (Zion), Bremen and Fifteenth streets; First German Reformed, Freeman and Hubert avenues; German Evangelical Reformed (Salem), Sycamore and Orchard streets; First Hollandisch Reformed, Mulberry street; Union Bethel, Public Landing; Church of Christ Scien- tists, Ninth street; Shillito Street Chapel, Savoy street; Seventh Day Adventist, Seventh street; First Universalist, McMillan street.
The following table, prepared by Mr. George E. Stevens, of Cincinnati, and published in the Commercial Gazette of September 3, 1892, affords much informa- tion as to the present condition of the leading Protestant denominations and their progress since 1870 :
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
IN CITY BASIN OR OLD CINCINNATI.
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS
1890
First ...
300
291
Bethel (Cheviot).
94
131
Freeman St. (now Third).
110
336
Clough .
11
. . .
Ninth St .. .
615
860
Welsh.
34
Miami (Milford)
66
35
German (First).
90
170
18
36
Dayton St.
..
55
Mt. Washington
65
42
Newtown
80
48
Total. 1149
1712
IN NEARER SUBURBS.
Mt. Auburn.'
109
153
Columbia.
132
262
Mt. Lookout.
78
75
Walnut Hills.
...
215
Immanuel (North Side)
...
27
1890 ... 20
3102
66
Increase in membership 1037
Total
319
732
Per cent. of increase
50
DISCIPLES CHURCHES.
IN CITY BASIN OR OLD CINCINNATI ..
IN RURAL DISTRICTS.
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS 1870 1890
Central.
534
1026
Carthage
110
131
Harrison .
301
305
Richmond Street.
280
264
Eastern Avenue
115
178
Miamitown
33
100
White Oak.
103
165
Madisonville.
55
Madeira
.. .
IN NEARER SUBURBS.
Total
596
931
Cumminsville
237
Walnut Hills
...
131
1890. . .. 12
" 2767
Total
368
Increase in membership 1242
Per cent 82
. .
82
Madisonville.
. .
74
Total
799
658
Pleasant Ridge
72
48
Wyoming
. .
74
Linwood
Summary, 1870. .. 16 churches
2065 members
Mt. Healthy
49
164
Total
929
1468
IN RURAL DISTRICTS.
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS
1870
1890
Lockland
191
83
Mt. Carmel.
1870
1890
Summary, 1870. 8 churches 1525 members
11
1870
Sincerely yours David Judson Starr
217
HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
IN CITY BASIN OR OLD CINCINNATI.
NAME OF CHURCHI.
NO. OF MEMBERS 1870 1890
Christ Church
300
390
St. Paul's
380
537
St. John's
262
St. James'
178
Trinity.
69
34
College Hill (Grace).
39
84
Fern Bank ( Resurrection).
91
Glendale (Christ) ..
73
Hartwell (Holy Trinity).
149
Madisonville (Holy Trinity). .
68
Montauk (St. Thomas)
60
Oakley (St. Mark's).
27
Winton Place (St. Stephen).
73
Clifton (Calvary).
45
163
Total 39
625
Riverside (Atonement) 22
64
Avondale (Grace) ..
31
175
Walnut Hills (Advent).
180
362
1890 ... 22
3382
1873
Mt. Auburn (Our Saviour).
. .
278
Per cent.
125
METHODIST CHURCHIES.
IN CITY BASIN OR OLD CINCINNATI.
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS
1870
1890
Wesley
238
317
Cheviot.
50
155
Asbury
168
200
Cleves
154
157
Trinity
344
520
Carthage
65
224
McKendree
226
233
Harrison
141
257
Pearl Street.
70
108
Lockland
158
212
St. Paul's
400
479
Madisonville
124
200
Christie.
477
325
Mt. Washington
73
145
St. John's
200
110
Mt. Healthy (German)
99
58
Finley
185
74
New Haven
40
60
York Street.
258
279
Newtown.
145
311
Ladies' Home Mission
364
125
51
188
Everett Street (German). 176
188
Addyston
48
Delhi
127
Glendale
83
Groesbeck
176
Hartwell
200
Ivanhoe
50
Montgomery
139
Walnut Hills
194
524
Walnut Hills (German).
48
Avondale
27
143
Price Hill.
44
Camp Washington
. .
Total
1284
3256
Blanchard (German)
...
Fairmount
...
Summary, 1870. . . 31 churches 5134 members
1890 ... 47
8533
Columbia
.
. .
Pendleton
67
185
Total
465
1891
Per cent.
66
. .
Total 1189
1361
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS
1870
1890
North Side (St. Philip's)
. . .
144
Price Hill (Nativity) ..
...
78
Total 281
1396
IN RURAL DISTRICTS.
Emmanuel
83
St. Luke's
..
245
Redeemer
72
Walnut Hills (Epiphany).
132
Increase .
. .
Total 3385
3386
IN NEARER SUBURBS.
Mt. Auburn
47
139
Norwood.
68
Pleasant Ridge
112
Riverside
86
Wright Chapel
130
207
Mt. Lookout
162
...
136
Increase
3399
Buckeye Street (German) 139
256
Springdale
Race Street (German).
140
172
Winton Place
184
1509 members
Summary, 1870. . . 10 churches
IN RURAL DISTRICTS.
1870
1890
IN NEARER SUBURBS.
...
.
96
43
164
218
HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
IN CITY BASIN OR OLD CINCINNATI.
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS
1870
1890
Central (Vine Street).
237
300
Seventh Street.
327
Welsh (Lawrence Street)
160
250
Total
724
550
Total.
125
528
Summary, 1870. . . . 5 churches 849 members
1890 .... 5
1079
230
Per cent 27
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
IN CITY BASIN.
IN RURAL DISTRICTS.
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS.
NAME OF CHURCH.
NO. OF MEMBERS.
1870
1890
First
202
336
Delhi
50
101
Second
343
504
Wyoming
83
258
Third
438
474
Pleasant Run
77
58
Fourth (Orchard St.)
121
140
Glendale ..
103
174
Fifth
348
357
118
150
Sixth.
66
223
Springdale.
162
195
Seventh
272
Pleasant Ridge
108
137
Central.
373
224
12
131
Poplar St.
96
209
Elizabethtown
48
50
Pilgrim
100
105
90
235
First German
235
123
50
115
Second German
125
231
Lincoln Park.
149
. ..
Total
2860
2926
IN NEARER SUBURBS.
First (Walnut Hills)
110
913
Seventh (Walnut Hills)
180
344
Avondale.
84
220
North Side.
97
342
Bond Hill,
..
25
Clifton .
104
Westwood (German)
. . .
76
Price Hill (Westminster).
277
Fairmount (German).
44
Total
1162
2756
Summary, 1870 .. . 32 churches
4665 members
Total.
635
2170
1890. .. 43
7852
3187
Per cent
69
RECAPITULATION.
NO. OF CHURCHES.
NO. OF MEMBERS.
1870
1890
Increase
1870
1890
Increase Per cent.
Baptist
15
20
5
2065
3102
1037
.50
Congregational
5
5
.
849
1079
230
.27
Disciples.
8
12
4
1525
2767
1242
.82
Episcopal.
10
22
12
1509
3382
1873
1.25
Methodist.
31
47
16
5134
8533
3399
.66
Presbyterian
32
43
11
4665
7852
3187
.60
Total
101
149
48
15747
26715
10986
.70
77
Madeira.
33
Sharonville.
25
Hartwell.
155
Silverton .
41
Linwood
107
Norwood.
89
Lane Seminary
164
Ludlow Grove.
...
225
College Hill.
132
194
Mt. Pleasant.
14
Elmwood ..
. .
41
Westwood.
Reading.
Cleves
Harrison.
115
1890
1870
1890
Columbia.
71
148
Storrs.
54
113
Walnut Hills.
. .
267
Increase in membership
IN NEARER SUBURBS OR NEW CINCINNATI.
1870
Increase
...
126
Mt. Auburn
64
Montgomery
Madisonville
219
HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XI.
CEMETERIES.
FIRST PUBLIC BURIAL GROUND IN CINCINNATI -- LATER CEMETERIES-SPRING GROVE CEME- TERY COMPANY AND CEMETERY-THE CINCINNATI CREMATION COMPANY-THE CREMATORY.
T HE first public burial ground in Cincinnati was located upon the square bounded by Fourth and Fifth, Walnut and Main streets, and was given to the people by the original proprietors, in part, for that purpose, the other part being used for the erection thereon of the first Presbyterian church, near the corner of Fourth and Main streets. It was used for this purpose for twenty-seven years, when it became so crowded that another cemetery became necessary. A church still stands on the original site, but tall buildings now occupy the ground once used for burial purposes. In 1810 a new cemetery was laid out by the Presbyterians between Elm and Vine, and Eleventh and Twelfth streets, but it was long since filled, and other grounds had to be secured.
Other denominations opened graveyards for themselves as the population and churches increased, until there were twenty-three cemeteries appropriated for the interment of the dead, and many of them are still in use.
In 1844 it became apparent that a general cemetery, on a large scale and some distance from the city, should be established. A committee was appointed to select a site, the Garrard farm, of 160 acres was purchased, and on the 21st of January, 1845, Spring Grove Cemetery Company was incorporated. And to place it upon a firm basis two hundred citizens subscribed $100 each, for which they were entitled to select a lot fifty feet square. In memory of the springs and groves on the land, it was named Spring Grove, and consecrated on the 28th of Angust, 1845. The original plan of the grounds was made by John Notman, of Philadelphia, the designer of the famous Laurel Hill cemetery in that city. To the original purchase 434 acres have been added at a cost of $330,000. The chief- and most character- istic improvements have been made since 1855. A system of landscape ornamenta- tion was adopted, which has resulted in one of the most attractive and beautiful burial places in the country." As remarked by a visitor, "its green slopes and wooded levels, its stately avenues and beautiful monuments, shrubbery and flowers, now form component parts of one great whole, unobstructed by fences, and diver- sified by quiet lakes."
In this lovely retreat are many magnificent monuments reared by loving hands to perpetuate the memory of deceased friends. Among the most notable tributes are the Dexter and Burnet mausoleums; the sepulchral chapel, containing the statue of George Selves, Jr., executed by Daumas, in Paris; the Lytle monument over the remains of Gen. William H. Lytle, who fell at Chickamauga; the Shillito, Potter, Neff, Pendleton, Lawler, Gano, Resor, and many other memorials, some of them of great cost and beauty. The Gano shaft is of gray sandstone, and was originally erected, in 1827, in the old Catharine street burial ground in the city, by Daniel Gano, to the memory of his father, the brave pioneer and soldier, Maj .- Gen. John S. Gano. The Walker monument is fashioned after the celebrated tomb of Scipio Africanus, in Rome. Another beautiful monument was erected to the memory of a teacher, Prof. E. S. Brooks, by his pupils. Col. Oliver Spencer, of the Continental army in the Revolution, who died here in 1811; Col. Robert Elliott, who was barbarously murdered by the Indians near Colerain, in 1794; Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, for thirty-eight years pastor of the First Presbyterian church, in Cin-
220
HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.
cinnati; Rev. J. T. Brooke, D. D., whose prayers lent interest to the consecration ceremonies of the cemetery in 1845; and many other local celebrities repose here under fitting memorials in marble and granite, which the lack of space forbids us from noticing in this connection.
During the past year more than 200,000 persons visited this "Silent City," and wandered through its lovely walks, gazed thoughtfully upon its suggestive memo- rials and meditated on the end in reserve for all. Last year more than 11,000 sin- gle graves were occupied, and the ashes of 1,000 veteran soldiers commingled with the soil in the lot set apart for them. The total interments to date are nearly 55,000, and the number of lot holders is nearly 10,000.
THE CINCINNATI CREMATION COMPANY.
It is learned from C. M. Lotze, Esq., that this company was organized October 4, 1884. On this occasion the following gentlemen met in his office, in the Wiggins block, to consider the proposition, and they became the original founders: Otto Rauchfuss, C. M. Lotze, Albert Meininger, V. M. Mayer, C. A. Nulsen, Julius Greyer, Benn Pitman, Samuel Burnstein, Charles Jacobs, Jr., and Henry Oliver. The following were the first officers chosen: President, Charles Jacobs, Jr .; vice- president, C. A. Nulsen; secretary, Albert Meininger; treasurer, Henry Oliver; attorney, C. M. Lotze.
The Association was incorporated as a company October 26, 1884, and the first general meeting was held at Central Turner Hall, and the building of the crematory was begun in June, 1885. It is situated on Dixmyth avenue, near Burnet woods, on an elevation overlooking Mill creek valley. The building is oval in form, mas- sive, and constructed of Indiana limestone. It contains a chapel, residence rooms for the superintendent, a basement, where the preparing rooms, two retorts, and furnace rooms are situated.
When a body is brought to the crematory the coffin is first placed on an elevator and raised to the chapel, where such religious services as may have been desired by the deceased, or friends, are held, after which it is lowered to the basement, where it is prepared for cremation by simply taking it out of the coffin and making a care- ful examination to be assured that life is extinct. The body is then wrapped in muslin cloth, saturated with alum water, when it is placed on a table supplied with rollers and moved to the opening of the retort and rolled into the same on an iron cradle. The process of incineration lasts on an average two hours, when the ashes are removed and delivered to the relatives or friends in a metal case to be disposed of as they may see fit. This was the old process first in use, but during the summer of 1893 an improvement was made by the erection of two retorts, and so arranged that the coffin, without removing the body therefrom, can be shoved into the retort and all consumed together.
The fuel used is coke, and the degree of heat attained is about 2,000 Fahrenheit. The fire does not at any time come in contact with the coffin or body, but circulates round the retort. The retort is made of fire clay. The body is reduced to ashes by the action of the heat only, and the average weight of the ashes is 32 pounds. The crematory chapel also contains niches in which the ashes of deceased can be placed in urns, and the grounds can also be used for the interment of the ashes of such as their friends may see fit to order.
The retort is completely closed during the process of incineration, but it may be witnessed through a small window of mica placed in the rear end. The cost, which includes a metallic case, is $25. Cremation began in July, 1887, and up to this time (1893) about three hundred bodies have been incinerated. The cost of the crematory building was about $20,000, but with the cost of site, grading and adorn- ment, the total has reached about $30,000, exclusive of the retorts and furnace, which cost nearly $3, 000.
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