181 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
CEMETERY SUPERINTENDENTS IN ANNUAL MEETING 
The twenty-first annual convention 
of the Association of American Ceme- 
tery Superintendents held at Provi- 
dence and Nev/port, R. I., August 20, 
21, and 22, 1907, will take its place in 
the annals of that organization as the 
most unique in some respects of any 
meetings that have been held or are 
likely to occur in many a year. 
With the many attractions of these 
historic and picturesque cities it was 
natural to anticipate an attendance 
that would outnumber all former 
gatherings of the association and the 
results were fully up to expectations. 
There were more than one hundred 
cemeteries represented and the guests 
on the third day at Newport exceeded 
three-hundred, making the meeting by 
far the largest ever held. Answering 
a demand for fewer papers than have 
been customary at these meetings in 
the past the local committee of ar- 
rangements made bold to practically 
eliminate that time-honored feature. 
The only addresses on the program, 
aside from the president’s, were his- 
torical sketches by officials of the 
several cemeteries visited, which left 
abundant time for ■ inspecting the 
grounds and exchanging ideas on 
such subjects as might be suggested 
by environment. It is the opinion of 
m.any that this plan affords the great- 
est opportunity for getting practical 
information most helpful to cemetery 
men, but be that as it may the outings 
at the convention were not only en- 
joyable and interesting but must have 
been in great measure instructive. 
Headquarters were at the Narra- 
gansett Hotel and the opening meet- 
ing was held in the spacious parlors 
of the Masonic Temple nearby, where 
Hon. Patrick J. McCarthy, Mayor of 
the city, extended the visitors a very 
cordial welcome to “the beautiful city 
of Providence.” President J. C. Cline 
responded for the association. Sid J. 
Hare, Kansas City, Mo., in behalf of 
Dr. R. N. Kesterson, President Mt. 
Greenwood Cemetery Co., Knoxville, 
Tenn., presented ..the. association 
through its president with a gavel 
made of highly polished light gray 
Tennessee' marble from the Knoxville 
quarries. A silver plate on the end 
of the hickory handle is inscribed 
“Greenwood Cemetery Co. to A. A. 
C. S., Aug. 30, 1907.” Greenwood 
Cemetery has the distinction of being 
the only one in the country whose 
roads are made of crushed marble, 
which suggested the happy idea of 
the presentation. 
President Cline thanked the donors 
and then read his annual address, in 
which he gave a brief historical sketch 
of the association. He said in part: 
President’s Annual Address 
I Shall not burden you with a lengthy 
enumeration of the many accomplishments 
our Association has attained in the twenty- 
one years of its existence. No doubt you 
recall them in greater numbers than I 
might mention, but I cannot refrain from 
calling attention to some ideas so strongly 
advocated and to me most impressive. 
First, the lawn plan, which now is near- 
ly universal in cemeteries, has been so 
strongly favored and urged -by this Asso- 
ciation that it may be truly considered a 
direct result. 
The subject of records has been given 
much consideration, although we can hard- 
ly claim that there is a universal system 
throughout our cemeteries. Still many of 
us have altered and improved our methods 
of records directly through suggestions and 
discussions in our yearly meetings. 
The abolishment of Sunday funerals is 
another result in many instances of the 
impressions which have been taken home 
from our conventions. 
Personal observations and expressions 
from representatives of other cemeteries 
have justified our stamp of approval. Sun- 
day visitors to cemeteries are of the better 
classes, and order has improved. 
The. perpetual care of lots is the most 
important of our societies’ accomplish- 
ments. In general it does not admit of 
much other than a uniform plan, but it is 
such a radical change from other methods 
that its popularity alone proves it com- 
mendable. 
No doubt many of us have met adversity 
and discouragement in presenting to our 
people new ideas which we have carried 
home from our meetings, and we have had 
to fight long and hard to have them es- 
tablished. 
It has been said “The best work done is 
done by people who do not know its great- 
ness.” 
Human nature seems to prompt us to 
stand off and criticise public, men, and to 
almost hunger for the opportunity to show 
them how their work might be rightly 
done; but as soon as the layman becomes 
the preacher or the citizen takes the pub- 
lic office he begins to see in the wider field of 
work, a more difficult situation or problem 
PHOTO BY R. D. HOWELL 
RECEIVING VAULT, NORTH BURIAL GROUND. 
•■HOTO BY R. D. HOWFLL 
VINE CLAD ENTRANCE, NORTH BURIAL GROUND. 
