THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.

Department of Jurisprudence.

At 9.30 A.M. An Address by the Chairman of the Department, Professor FRANCIS WAYLAND, of New Haven, Ct.

At 10 A.M. A Paper by S. T. DUTTON, Esq., of New Haven, Ct., on Education and Crime.

At II A.M. A Paper by W. M. F. ROUND, Esq., of New York, on Immigration in its Relation to Crime in America.

At 12 M. A Paper by President E. B. ANDREWS, of Brown University, on The Economic Law of Monopoly.

At 8 PM. At 8.30 P.M.

Election of Officers.

A Paper by Rev. H. L. WAYLAND, D.D., of Philadelphia, on The Dead Hand.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6.

Department of Social Economy.

At 9 A.M. An Address by the Chairman, F. B. SANBORN.

At 9.30 A.M. Reports on Co-operative Banks and Building Associations, School Savings Banks, etc.

At IO A.M. A Paper, What a Reforming President could do with the Civil Service, by E. S. NADAL, Esq., of New York.

At 10.30 A M. A Paper by EDWARD T. POTTER, Esq., of Newport, R.I., on A System of Concentrated Residence.

At 1 A.M. A Paper by PERCIVAL CHUBB, Esq., of London, Eng., on Practical Measures of Socialism in England.

At 12 M. A Paper by Professor THOMAS DAVIDSON, of New York, on The Source of Economic Law.

The list of officers elected will be found on a subsequent page; and the Department Committees, as organized since September by the Council, are given in the same connection.

The Department of Education, in consequence of the serious illness of the Secretary, Mr. H. G. WADLIN, did not bring forward the expected Papers so fully as was desired, and the time assigned to that Department was therefore filled up with other subjects to some extent. This will account for the introduction of topics not usually considered educational, in the discussions of September 3; and, as the Paper of Dr. EARLE, though read on the 4th of September, relates to the topic most debated on the 3d, it is printed in connection with the debate on Miss COOKE's Paper. The other Papers of the Health Department are withheld until the next issue of the Journal; but it seems proper here to print a communication made to the Association on Wednesday, September 4, on a subject of growing importance, by one of our younger members :

THE ADVANTAGES OF CREMATION.

To the Members of the American Social Science Association:

LENOX, Sept. 2, 1889.

GENTLEMEN, I shall trespass upon your generosity for a few moments to call your attention to a suggestion which, at this time, seems to me most opportune.

The question of the proper disposal of the dead, especially in the neighborhood of our large cities, is yearly becoming more important and pressing. Of late years great improvements in cremation have led many to believe that incineration furnishes a satisfactory solution of this much mooted and vitally important question.

Early in the present year, the United States Cremation Company and the New York Cremation Society jointly issued a circular letter, addressed to prominent persons in the various callings of life, asking for a statement of their opinions in regard to cremation. Any one who has read the little pamphlet containing the answers received to this letter must be convinced, however unwillingly, that the great majority of these writers, among whom are many of the prominent divines, physicians, and scientists of this and other countries, favor and uphold cremation on sanitary, economic, and religious grounds.

I doubt if any single act has done as much to strengthen the position of cremation and to dissipate religious objections to it as Bishop Potter's letter, which I here transcribe.

"DIOCESAN HOUSE, 29 LAFAYETTE PLACE, NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 1889.

"My dear Sir,-In reply to your inquiry of the 21st instant, I beg to say that I have no prejudices unfavorable to cremation; and, indeed, in view of the curiously inadequate and singularly unintelligent arguments, attacks, and denunciations, which have been employed by those who are hostile to it, I have been rather disposed to sympathize with those who are seeking to introduce it. But the argument of most effect in its behalf is one which must be made by scientific men, and especially by physicians. I wait to hear more explicitly and more fully from these; for, when it can be shown that any such plan best conduces to the health and well-being of large communities, it will be likely to find general acceptance. Very truly yours,

"H. C. POTTER."

What proof could more conclusively dispel any religious objection to cremation than this simple, straightforward letter from one of our highest religious authorities? The sanitary, economic, and sentimental aspects Bishop Potter properly leaves to specialists in these subjects. We have only to turn over the leaves of our little pamphlet and to read the names of such men as Sir Henry Thompson, Dr. Bache Emmet, Charles Eliot Norton, and many others, to convince ourselves that objections on these scores have been properly and effectually disposed of.

Cremation to-day stands on a firmer footing than ever before, and it is only the universal spirit of conservatism - a spirit which in time must yield to common sense, reason, and necessity—which now prevents the general adoption of incineration as the only proper means for disposing of the dead. Now, the suggestion I have to offer is, briefly stated, as follows: Plans for the building of a Protestant Episcopal cathedral in New York have already progressed so far that it seems only reasonable to expect that in a few years the requisite money will be raised and the long wished for cathedral at last be built. It is very appropriately purposed to make this the largest and most beautiful House of God in our land, and it will naturally become the centre of religious interest in America. It has also been suggested that the cathedral be used as a Westminster Abbey, and that the bodies of our illustrious dead be interred within its walls, or at least that it serve as a repository for tablets to their memory. But why confine the blessing of a resting-place in this, one of the most sacred

spots in our country, to the favored few who are fortunate enough to obtain this distinction? Has not every Christian an equal claim to the protection of the Church? The rich and the poor, the statesman, poet, writer, and laboring man are all equal in the sight of God.

The crypt alone of the new cathedral will, I am confident, be large enough to serve as a columbarium for tens of thousands of our dead, for the urns in which the ashes are placed after incineration occupy less than half of a cubic foot each.

It is perhaps needless for me to add that there can be absolutely no odor nor impurity of any kind connected with the ashes, which are a pure white, pearly powder, or bone-ash.

Obviously, no changes of any importance would be necessary in the plans for the cathedral, except that niches should be provided in the walls of the crypt for the reception of the burial-urns. For compactness and economy's sake, it might be well that some of the receptacles be simply holes bored in the stones of the walls, in which the ashes could be placed and the openings covered by simple tablets.

The comparatively insignificant expense involved in making these slight additions to the cathedral plans would be defrayed by the charge for the niches which might be made to vary according to size and position, but which, in every case, would be far less than for a burial-lot in any cemetery. Indeed, I am confident that the sale of niches would prove a source of no little pecuniary benefit to the building fund of the cathedral.

Trusting that these suggestions may meet with your approval, and that some definite success may result, I remain,

Very respectfully,

I. N. PHELPS STOKES.

The Association was represented at the Paris Congress of Provident Institutions by Mr. TOWNSEND and others, and we have from Mr. TOWNSEND the following report:

REPORT ON THE PARIS CONGRESS.

F. B. SANBORN, Esq., General Secretary of the American Social Science Association:

The third quinquennial International Congress of Provident Institutions was held at the Palace of the Trocadero in connection with the Universal Exhibition at Paris, September 2 to 7, inclusive. The opening session was presided over by Mr. Jules Simon, of the French Academy. On the platform, among the honorary presidents and vice-presidents, were General William B. Franklin, commissioner of the United States to the Exhibition, Mr. S. P. Tuck, deputy commissioner, and the chairman of your delegation. In his address of welcome, the president spoke of the presence of delegates from the United States and Brazil as showing the influence of French thought on distant lands, and noted the importance of their presence, representing, as some of them did, distinguished scientific associations.

The members of the Congress included statesmen and financiers of France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Portugal, Norway, Russia, England, Germany, the United States, and Brazil.

The paper on savings-banks in the United States, prepared by the chairman of your delegation, was well received, and its reading

listened to with attention by the Congress at its session on the second day; and wonder and admiration were expressed at the marvellous progress of the great republic, as shown in the thrift of individuals, the good character of their investments, and in other respects which make a people happy and contented.

The incidental paper by John S. White, LL.D., on physical, combined with economical and moral, education in our schools and colleges, was warmly commended. Mr. J. H. Thiry's paper on school savings banks in the United States was received with favor, as showing the influence of European economy on the rising generation in America.

These three papers had been translated into French, and were understood and appreciated by members present; but the remaining papers and documents of which we were the bearers, being only in English, were received and read privately by those familiar with our language, but did not have the general indorsement and commendation which their importance and merit deserved and would have obtained, had they been translated into the vernacular. Your chairman, however, had many questions to answer, particularly in regard to co-operative building loan associations, which attracted the attention of the principal delegate from Belgium, Baron T'Kint de Roodenbeke, Vice-President of the Belgian Senate and President of the Permanent Commission of the Societies of Mutual Aid of Belgium, who said it was proposed to establish these associations in the neighborhood of Brussels.

Great attention was given to papers concerning mutual aid and friendly societies for the benefit of workingmen. A report from Belgium, with explanations of the workings of a system of a cooperative pharmaceutical society, which supplies medicines and remedies of the best quality at astonishingly reduced prices, was warmly applauded.

Postal savings-banks, outside of Great Britain, were reported to have met with disfavor. The system has been in practice in France for some years. At first, it made considerable progress; but the necessary publicity required for its operations has induced a withdrawal of deposits, and the people are returning to the older institutions. Mr. Lombard, President of the Society of Public Utility at Geneva, pointed out in his communication that the general opinion in Switzerland was not favorable to the establishment of postal savings-banks there. From the other European States no reports were read on postal banks, but it was understood that they were not highly esteemed in any of the countries on the Continent. All other banks and societies to aid the working classes, small traders, railroad employees, and to teach school children lessons of thrift, were explained and commended, and their extension favored.

The usual banquet was given by members of the Congress at its close, which was attended by one of your delegation.

The postponement of the opening of the Congress from July to

September prevented several of your delegates from attending its sessions; and but two of them were present at any time, and only one was present at every session.

The marked civilities and courtesies bestowed on two of your delegates by the President of the Republic, Mr. Carnot, and the President of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Tirard, which were largely on account of their connection with your Association, were very gratifying. The official recognition, also, of our national anniversary by the government of France and the city of Paris were indications of the esteem in which our country and its institutions are held by the French people.

The fourth session of the Congress of Provident Institutions, according to tradition, will be held in Paris in 1894; but the chairman of your delegation ventured the suggestion that the Congress would be welcome in New York in 1892 at an intermediary session, if the Universal Exhibition is held in that city in that year. This informal invitation was received with marked favor, and many delegates expressed their personal gratification and a desire to go from old Europe to visit the New World and take part in the fourth Congress in the four hundredth year after the discovery of America, to see with their own eyes the march of progress of which they had heard so much.

Respectfully submitted,

JOHN P. TOWNSEND, Chairman.

NEW YORK, November, 1889.