PARK AND CEMETERY, 
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i CEMETERY NOTES i 
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The trustees of Oak Grove cemetery, Bucksport, Me., are 
urging lot owners to help the fund now being- raised to insure 
perpetual care. The effort is meeting with response. 
* * * 
A report on the illegal burials discovered in the cemetery 
of the Mt. Zion Church, Philadelphia, was submitted to the 
Hoard of Health recently, and it was moved to close the ceme- 
tery. It covers about 10,000 square feet, and within five years 
1563 bodies have been buried there. There are no records 
previous to that time, but one headstone bears the date 1817. 
The report held the superintendent of the cemetery responsible 
for the maintenance of the nuisance in violation of the law. 
* * * 
The old Boggs Run cemetery, Wheeling, W. Va , suffered 
severely from the recent floods, which caused a dangerous land- 
slide. The slide cut thiough the cemetery, moving hundreds of 
bodies from their resting places. Many have been dug out of 
the mass of clay and crushed stone, but owing to the fact that 
all traces of hundreds of graves have long since been obliter- 
ated, many of the burying places cannot be located. The 
cemetery was first opened in 1781, and several of the early in- 
terments were the bodies of victims of Indian slaughter. 
* * * 
Zanesville, O., seems to be particularly well pleased with 
the condition of the city cemeteries. Greenwood and Wood- 
lawn, under the superintendence ol Messrs. Henslee and Van 
Horne. Improvements have progressed, everything has been 
carried out on a cash basis, there is no debt, and lot owners are 
satisfied. Ohio is one of the states which prohibits profit- 
sharing in cemeteries. If she should go a step further and 
legislate politics out of all cemetery management, we might 
look forward to an ideal situation as regards the cemetery. 
* * * 
The Ladies Cemetery Association, of Mitchell, S. D., 
which has been a strong factor in beautifying and improving 
the grounds of Graceland cemetery, is in readiness to take up 
the work again this year. In comparison it is but a small mat- 
ter, but their financial statement for the past year is indicative of 
what energy and business methods, properly organized, can 
accomplish in our small cemeteries. 
» * * 
At the annual meeting of the Williamsburg, Mass., Ceme- 
tery Association, a unique plan for holding a memorial service 
in the cemetery some time in June was discussed. It is pro- 
posed to have exercises, consisting of remarks of a reminiscent 
nature, music, and then each grave will be decorated with 
flowers. Residents of the town, who own lots, will be expected 
to look after their own. Those who live out of town may either 
send flowers or money to the committee, who will see that the 
lots are decorated. The officers, with an auxiliary of eight 
ladies, will have the arrangements in charge. This plan is in- 
tended to increase the interest of lot owners in the cemetery. 
There is now $3,000 in hand as a general fund to keep the 
grounds in order, besides several small sums for individual lots, 
and excellent results are apparent. 
* * * 
The board of cemetery commissioners of Grand Rapids, 
Mich., have adopted the plan of taking care of all lots in then- 
cemeteries, for which they will send bills to the several lot 
owners. After the first of July next the board will continue to 
care only for the lots of those willing to pay for the work. In 
the meantime lot owneis are urged to visit the cemeteries and 
see for themselves the value of the improvemenls. Shelter 
tents will be provided at a charge of $2. Offices will be built 
this summer at Valley City and Oak Hill cemeteries. They 
will be substantial buildings, with waiting and toilet rooms, and 
offices for the superintendents. Mr. O. C. Simonds, of Grace- 
land cemetery, Chicago, is preparing plans for the laying out of 
the unimproved portion of Greenwood cemetery, which will be 
done this summer. The part that is to be improved includes 
some strikingly beautiful grounds. From a ridge that runs 
north and south a fine view is obtained of the city, and on the 
eastern slope is a splendid natural amphitheater formed by the 
encircling heights. A pretty ravine runs across the north end, 
filled with oaks, pines, maples, dogwood, wild ch, rry and wild 
plum trees. 
* * * 
It has caused considerable surprise to many to read of the 
cremation of the body of Miss Frances E. Willard, the great 
reformer, at Graceland cemetery, Chicago, which was carried 
out on April 9, in the presence only of Miss Anna Gordon, her 
secretary and life long friend, Mrs. L M. N. Stevens, president 
of the W. C. T. U.,and Dr. Perry, of Garrett Biblical Institute. 
All the plans were kept closely secret, and very few knew what 
was intended when the remains were removed from the vault at 
Rose Hill cemetery to the Crematory of Graceland. It was in 
respect to the expressed wishes of the universally beloved de- 
ceased that her body was thus disposed of, as the following from 
her autobiography attests: “Having the purpose of helping for- 
ward progressive movements, even in my latest hours, I decree 
that the earthly mantle, which I shall drop ere long, when my 
real self passes onward into the world unseen, shall be. swiftly 
enfolded in flames and rendered powerless harmfully to affect 
the health of the living. Let no friend of mine say aught to 
prevent the cremation of my cast-off body. The fact that the 
popular mind has not come to this decision, renders it all the 
more my duty, who have seen the light, to stand for 1 his in 
death, as I have sincerely meant in life to stand by the great 
cause of poor, oppressed humanity. There must be explorers 
along all pathways, scouts in all armies. This has been my call 
from the beginning, by nature and by nurture; let me be true 
to its inspiriting and cheery mandate even unto the last.” 
The ashes were placed in an urn, and on Sunday, April 10, 
the urn was buried in the family lot at Rose Hill cemetery, 
wherein were interred Miss Willard’s parents. In direct con- 
trast to the masterful life she had led, were the simple, quiet 
conditions surrounding her burial. 
* * * 
Cemetery Reports. 
The recent report of the board of trustees of the Island 
cemetery, Newport, R. I., showed that a large number of lot 
owners had provided for the perpetual care of their lots, thus 
displaying a deeper interest in the cemetery. The total net 
receipts were $7,640.84, and expenditures $7,019.04. 
* * » 
The annual meeting of the Rural Cemetery Company, of 
St.John, N. B., now called Fernhill, was held recently. The 
report showed receipts $6,012.08, including $9.16 balance from 
last year. Of this, $1,826.75 was for sale of lots, $1,766.40 for 
annual care of lots, and $1,025.50 burial, removal and vault 
fees. The expenditures were $5,097.77, of which $2,953.83 was 
wages, $1, 708. 6qsundry charges, and $1,000 salary of the secre- 
tary and superintendent. Considerable new work was done 
during the year. The perpetual care fund is growing steadily. 
The receipts for this fund were $3,149.50, making the total 
$9,244.79. Considerable improvement is to be carried out, and 
a comfortable and handsome shelter house is to be erected. 
