Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 128, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1911 — MEXICAN BURIAL CUSTOMS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MEXICAN BURIAL CUSTOMS

BURIAL methods in Mexico have been subjected to a,number of changes during the history of the country and, to this day, differ radically from the, customs observed In - English-speaking countries. Practically all of the aborigines of the country were converted to Catholicism during the early years of the conquest. Previous to 1825, all dead were buried in the churcheß, for to be buried In consecrated ground was a universal desire. The floors and walls of the churcheß necessarily Boon became honeycombed with excavations and niches in which the dead had been placed. A charge, varying from a few dollars to thousands, according to the situation in the church, was collected for the right of burial. Proximity jp the altar was most desired and the writings left by the priests tell of fabulous sums paid for certain sections in the more famous churches. The poorer classes were buried in the more distant parts of the churches, generally in a catacomb, which provided several hundred niches on each side of a long passageway or tunnel. Certain catacombs were set aside for paupers, but for the'most part graves were rented for a certain period of time or for perpetuity. It was a general practice to pay for a term of five or ten years, and on the expiration of this time, when no further rental was forthcoming, the bones were moved to the charity catacomb, where they were left with the hundreds of 'unidentified. The grave was then resold. This custom was practiced for 200 years, and. only those familiar with the great number of churches existing In Mexico can imagine how the dead were burled in the limited ground inclosed within the walls of the churches. It can be said truthfully that every church in Mexico marks the burial place of thousands.

Absolute necessity caused the closing of all graves with cement, but through carelessaess this was not always done properly, and early In the last century many of the epidemics which were then soourging the country were traced directly to the custom of burial in the churches. The'matter was called to the attention of the authorities by the physicians of the time, and ultimately orders were issued throughout the republic prohibiting further burials in the churches. For many years the order could be enforced only partially, owing to political difficulties within the country and the refusal of the priests to comply with the drder, as well as the general desire among the residents to follow the old custom of being buried in hallowed ground. According to their ideas this hallowed ground could exist only within the Bpace Inclosed by the walls of the church. Between 1830 and 1835 many portions of Mexico were visited by disastrous epidemics of smallpox and cholera, which caused the authorities throughout the country ty enforce orders In regard to the discontinuance of all burials In churches and to provide municipal burial grounds In which to inter all bodies. These municipal cemeteries were divided into tour parts, in three of which the -graves were rented and in the fourth part burials could be made without charge. The three parts carried individual scales of prices, but the shortest term of rental was for a space of seven years. Graves could be rented at a certain rate per each eeven years, or a perpetual right would be Bold at any time. Consequently the wealthier people were all burled in one division, where practically all the rights were taken tor perpetuity, while in the cheaper divisions many of the rights would expire at the end of the first seven years. When the time expired and no payment was made to cover the subsequent rental, the bones were exhumed and placed on the bone pile, which was periodically burned. This plan Is still continued In a few of the Interior placee, but since 1860 most of the larger municipalities have discontinued the practice of burning the bones. * The arrangement of the cemetery of today In Mexico follows the same plan of division, arrays providing one section tn which no charge Is made tor burial. As the greater part of the population is very poor this free division forms the largest part of the burial grounds. These different divisions are separated by high walls, as Is the entire -cemetery separated from the surrounding grounds. The eni.li , ' I ■-a” . 'O%-■ TS ' V’

est-priced division from which gateways lead to the poorer divisions. The first division is generally made into a place of great beauty, for in addition to the decorations on the indlivdual graves, the municipal authorities expend much time and money on the upkeep of the entire division. The prices charged so vary with the town or city. In the larger cities there are often many divisions made of the first-class lots according to the desirability of their tocationT In this way the very wealthy may gain an exclusiveness which is often not possible in the smaller places. Iff some Instances in_ Mexico City iota have sold for as higfc as $20,650,. yet the average first-class lot can he rented for a period of seven years for sl6, or a perpetual right can be obtained for $l6O. In thd second and third division, this price is greatly reduced. Practically all of the graves taken in the first division are for perpetuity, while In the second and third, the reverse is the case. When the seven years have expired on the rented graves and no renewal has been made, all monuments and marks are removed and the grave leveled with the ground. A record of the grave is kept, however, and when fifteen years has passed from the date of the former burial it is again rented. It is found that, by that time, all vestige of the former body has been destroyed. In many places niches are made in the walls surrounding the cemeteries into which the bones are placed after the expiration of the seven years.. By law all bodies must be interred for at least this length of time, after which the bones may- be removed .from the ground and placed in the niches, If the relatives so desire. Oftentimes one niche is used for an entire family. The bones are carefully removed from the grave and, after being placed in a small box or urn, they are deposited in the niche. The opening Is then closed in such a way as to render the space airtight The usual lettering is - placed on the exterior, giving the name of those whose remains are within, together with the date of their birth and death, much the same as the inscriptions on tombstones. The average rental for a niche is $25, which pays for the perpetual use, no rentals being- made on any other baßis. This method is used more generally by people-of the middle class who are not able to buy a perpetual right in the finst division of the burying ground, but who generally rent a grave in the second or third division and at the expiration of the seven years move the remains to the nlehes. In the city of Oaxaca, In the southern part of the republic, niches were built for the first time more than sixty years ago. Shortly after they had been built an epidemic of cholera made great ravages on the population. People died so rapidly that it was impossible to prepare a sufficient number of graves to bury them. In order to stamp out the pestilence by completely disposing of the remains, the Jodies were placed in the niches and the opening closed and thoroughly cemented. The wall containing these niches stands today, being the western wall of the first division in the Oaxaca cemetery. Last year it Was discovered that one side of this wall was sinking and a great crack had appeared, passing through Borne of the niches where the* cholera victims had been placed. Many people were frightened lest another cholera epidemle should ensue. The authorities hastily closed the opening and consulted eminent authorities as-to the possible danger that might result. So many years had passed since the appearance of the cholera, and with the contlfiual sunshine peculiar to Oaxaca, the wall containing the niches had been bathed in sun nearly every day for the entire period. _lt was the opinion of the medical authorities consulted that no better place could have been found for the cholera victims, as the germ of this disease lives only so long as moisture is available, but once thoroughly dried no danger cen come from it. The sextons at the cemetery had unknowingly made the best possible disposition of the bodies and this perhaps did much toward checking the spread of. the dread disease.