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76 
THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
contains about 165 acres of land, charmingly diver- 
sified and commanding at its highest points magni- 
ficent views of the surrounding country. The im- 
posing granite entrance with its handsome offices, 
the commodious receiving tomb and chapel and the 
excellent condition of the grounds, which are con- 
ducted entirely on the lawn plan, elicited many 
words of commendation. 
At the evening session John G. Barker of Forest 
Hills, Boston, made a “Report on the Visit to 
Lakewood,” in which he referred to it in the most 
complimentary manner. This was followed by an 
able paper by O. C. Simonds of Graceland Ceme- 
tery, Chicago on: 
The Object of Our Association. 
Our constitution says “The object of this association shall be 
the advancement of the interests and the elevation of the charac- 
ter of cemeteries in America.” 
The interests of a cemetery are advanced by anything that 
adds to its material welfare, such as the introduction of simpler 
methods, the keeping of better accounts and records, greater 
economy in the expense for labor and material, dispensing with 
unnecessary drives and walks, and by preserving the natural 
beauty of the grounds and doing whatever will add to their at- 
tractiveness. We come together once a year to get new ideas 
from each other in regard to various methods of doing work, to 
impart our best thoughts and to listen to such criticisms as may 
be made. We come to test our own work by what we hear and 
see. A number of cemetery associations have sent their super- 
intendents to visit the leading cemeteries of this country. These 
associations are satisfied that the information thus gained is worth 
more than the time and money expended to obtain it. These 
meetings serve a similar purpose. We do not, perhaps, visit as 
many cemeteries as we would during a trip made for that pur- 
pose, but we can in a few minutes get the opinion of more than 
fifty members in regard to any subject of general interest. We 
secure a more extended criticism than we could in any other 
way. 
The interests of cemeteries are also advanced by everything 
that tends to give them stability, freedom from encroachments 
and by provisions for their perpetual care and maintenance. The 
experience of one cemetery may be of great assistance to another 
in regard to any of these matters. 
But our highest mission will not be fulfilled unless we do 
something to elevate the character of cemeteries. A cemetery 
serves its purpose when it does two things: First, when it takes 
care of the dead organic material of human bodies; second, when 
it serves by its neatness, its beauty, its quietness, itsseclusion and 
its assurance of a permanent resting place- to assuage the sorrow 
of those who have lost their friends. It fills its highest purpose 
when it accomplishes these two results in a rational manner. 
What constitutes such a manner is, therefore, a fit subject for 
our discussion. It is generally acknowledged that the final des- 
tiny of a body is to be resolved into the elements of which it was 
composed. Shall we seek to postpone this process as did the 
ancient Egyptians? Shall we stow away the bodies of our friends 
in mausoleums to remain ghastly objects for untold years and 
perhaps finally be disposed of as mummies are now? Or shall 
they be placed in the sweet fresh earth to be absorbed and trans- 
formed into trees and grass and flowers? Or, again, shall they 
be dissipated in an hour to the clouds in a colorless vapor? These 
are questions that concern everybody. Perhaps they should be 
answered first by physicians and then should be answered in our 
meetings. Our answer may not have much influence but it will 
undoubtedly have some — directly through the people we meet, 
and indirectly through the paper which we were influential in 
starting. We should discuss these matters so that our personal 
influence and the influence of our published report will be in the 
right direction. 
If inhumation is recommended, what can be done to bring 
the body in closer contact with the earth? This is a question that 
ought to be solved by undertakers, but they are interested in 
selling as many boxes as possible. We can advocate the use of 
paper coffins and the omission of the outside box with the calm- 
ness of philosophers. But cremation may be endorsed. What 
effect would the adoption of this method have on the sale of lots 
in cemeteries? What should be done with the ashes that are 
left? 
With any disposition that may be made of the dead, what 
should be done with regard to funerals? If, as some aver, they 
are relics of barbarism, how can they be abolished? The funeral 
procession comes to the cemetery and friends, neighbors and 
perhaps strangers and idle curiosity seekers gather around to see 
how bad the mourners feel, to gaze on some celebrated character 
that has attended the funeral, or to ask questions about the pri- 
vate affairs of the deceased. If this had not been the custom for 
ages, could we imagine a more trying ordeal for grief-stricken 
people to pass through? With all our advancement in material 
things and even in religion, why have we not adopted some 
simpler manner of burying our dead, some custom that would 
accord with our instinctive desire for seclusion and quietness? 
Perhaps it is because people shrink from thinking of such mat- 
ters, and they would no doubt like suggestions from those who 
have to give attention to these things. 
In seeking to elevate the character of cemeteries, a very 
pleasant field of study presents itself which helps to coun- 
terbalance the disagreeable part of our work. It is always 
a pleasure to try to make things beautiful and this pleas- 
ure increases with increased efforts so that we learn to appreci- 
ate more and more the wonderful beauty of leaf and stem and 
flower with their infinite variety of texture, shape and color with 
their waving vistas and changing outlines giving a most interest- 
ing boundary to clouds and sky. I cannot help thinking that 
our cemeteries should be made for the living rather than the 
dead, that they should be viewed with joy and gladness for their 
artistic perfection rather than sadness for the dead they hold; 
that with their beauty of foliage and songs of birds they should 
exei t as refining an influence as good painting or fine music. 
Such a character, certainly, would not detract from their memo- 
rial value. The work of our association may be called complete 
when not only the cemeteries about all our cities shall become 
equal to our ideals, but when every little country burying ground 
instead of being an eyesore, as at present, shall be as beautiful 
as a charming bit of nature . 
In conclusion let me say that the object of our association 
should be work, not play. We must not regard our meetings as 
a time for our own pleasure and gratification. Incidentally, we 
come in contact with some kindred spirits at our meetings, and 
we have an agreeable change from the ordinary routine of our 
duties, but I like to think of this as a pleasant change in work 
rather than a vacation. A vacation suggests a change of thoughts 
and a throwing off of responsibility. By looking out of the car 
windows, by going to the cemeteries and parks of the towns we 
visit, and by listening to what is said at our meetings, we can get 
ideas from the time we leave home till we return, and nothing 
will be of more value to the institutions we work for than ideas 
coupled with good judgment. Our report should embody these 
ideas in as brief and interesting a manner as possible. Of course 
there are many things said at our meetings that are not of gen- 
eral or lasting interest. These should be eliminated from our 
report, not simply to save the expense but to save as well the 
