120 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



Melbourne now would not only be a wise sanitary precaution, 

 but also a most important economical measure likewise. My 

 particular object in raising the point to-night is to move 

 according to notice that a Committee of experts be appointed 

 to examine the evidence which I am in a position to produce, 

 and more which I expect from England, and to report 

 whether Cremation is not a real sanitary necessity ; the best 

 known means of putting an efiective stop to the shocking 

 but otherwise unavoidable desecration of sepulchres wherever 

 there is a rapidly increasing population ; and whether it 

 would not be also an immense economy besides. I take it 

 that any system would be unsatisfactory and inadmissible 

 which did not provide all practicable satisfaction to reveren- 

 tial feelings. Attached to the Crematory therefore should be 

 a commodious cluipel or temple, in which memorial services 

 could be held at any time. The Committee might also report 

 upon the evidence produced of the complete and unavoidable 

 failure of burial to satisfy reverential feelings in present 

 circumstances wherever population inci-eases as fast as it does 

 in England, America, and Australia, and not only on the 

 points raised in my paper, but also on the best mode of 

 carrying into effect the objects in view. The verdict of such 

 a Committee could not but have an important and useful 

 effect upon public opinion on the scientiffc and other aspects 

 of the question. The present juncture, when the town and 

 suburban cemeteries have proved clearly inadequate to the 

 purpose for which they were reserved, and when the only 

 other alternative suggested, is the providing of another 

 twenty-six miles away, seems particularly appropriate for 

 recommending the substitution of Cremation. The distance 

 of the Frankston cemetery must involve an oppressively 

 increased expenditure to most persons in the communit}^ I 

 beg leave to move that a Committee be appointed to consist 

 of P]'ofessor Masson, Professor Kernot and the mover, to 

 examine and report to this Society upon the evidence of the 

 feilure of burial, and the best system to substitute for it. 



Dr. Neild, in seconding the motion, said he thought Mr. 

 Rusden's proposition would in no way interfere with the 

 convictions of those who objected to Cremation. It was 

 very desirable that tliey should have a report upon the 

 whole subject. 



The President, in putting the motion, said he thought 

 this was a matter of importance. It was, however, com- 



