facilities for establishing and protecting the depositories of the dead, these sacred places are seldom cultivated and adorned, and made pleasant and attractive, without legislative interposition and aid. The propriety and importance of the statutory provisions existing in most of the States are, therefore, obvious to the reflecting mind. Legislation upon the subject is becoming more and more common. Among the first acts of legislation in the recently admitted States, are found those providing for the organization of cemetery associations, and for the protection of the graves of their dead. In every part of the country we find beautiful rural cemeteries, of greater or less extent, abounding with walks and shrubbery, laid out in good taste and excellent design, containing costly and elegant tombs, and are advancing in beauty and refinement. All this goes to show the religious care which the people of this country take of the ashes of their dead. § 1163. And here this unpretending volume, according to its original design, may appropriately be brought to a close. It is supposed that the subjects of the work are nearly, if not entirely, exhaused. The law of religious societies, church government and creeds, the law for preserving order and decorum in religious assemblies, and the laws for establishing and protecting the sacred depositories of the dead in the United States, all cognate in their nature, constitute what may be called the ecclesiastical law of this country; and the design has been to give the whole system, with all practicable accuracy and fullness. In reviewing the entire subject, it cannot escape the attention of the careful observer, how very intimately associated with the civilization and genius of the country, is the Christian religion and the gospel ministry. And it is a matter of pleasing reflection to all lovers of high social refinement and virtue, to contemplate the hold which the subjects of religion and Christian institutions have upon the hearts and the consciences of the people, and how generally it enters into the calculations and arrangements of the community at large. The subject is becoming more and more identical with the spirit and the policy of the age, and is more and more engaging the attention of the people in all parts of the land. The great truth is becoming more and more heeded, that in no case can the end of public happiness be so essentially promoted, as by cultivating the principles of moral duty and religious faith. ALABAMA, INDEX. A. Section religious toleration in-constitutional provision in regard to ...... 68, 69 removing human remains, etc., when unlawful ...... opening place of interment of human bodies, when unlawful.. penalties for offenses...... AMERICA, continent of, discovered under the religious impulse ... 4 4, 11 ARKANSAS, religious toleration in-constitutional provision in regard to ...... 75 law against disturbing of, and punishment.... 961 962 sepulture of the dead, a religious rite cemeteries have long existed-customs of the ancients. disturbing a corpse a misdemeanor at common law... lands for grave-yard, title to by dedication. principles applicable in all the states, what. legislation necessary to regulate (See "NEW YORK,” “ Maine,” etc.) ..... C. molesting public grave-yard, desecrating human remains, etc. injuring fence, etc., in burying-ground, how punished.. |