Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-03
INGRRsOLL ON DEATH.

INGERSOLL ON DEATH.
Grafton Delivered Over the Graye Of
John G.. Mills.
Col. Robert G. Ingersoll delivered
another funeral address on the 18th
ult., over the remains Of one John G.
Mills, who has been known some years
as labor reformer and greenbacker.
The Grafton was listened to by about
$50 people, and was as follows:
"Again we are face to face with
the great mysteries that shrouds this
world. We question, but there is no
reply. Out on the WIDE waste seas
there drifts no spar. Over the desert
of death the sphinx gazes forever, but
never speaks. In the very May Of
life another heart has ceased to beat
Night has fallen upon noon, but he
lived, he loved, he was loved. Wife
and children pressed their kisses on
his lips. This is enough. The long
est life contains no more. This fills
the vase with joy. He who lies here
clothed with the perfect peace Of
death was kind and loving husband
and good father, generous neighbor
and honest man, and these words
build monument Of glory about the
humblest grave. He was always a
child, sincere and frank, as full Of
hope as spring. He divided all time
into to-day and tomorrow. To-
morrow was without a cloud and Of
tomorrow he borrowed sunshine for
to-day. He was my friend. He will
remain so. The living often become
estranged. The dead are true. He
was not . christian. In the Eden Of
his hope there did not crawl and coil
the serpent of eternal pain. In many
languages he sought the thoughts Of
men, and for himself he solved the
problems Of the world. He accepted
the philosophy of August Comte.
Humanity was his god, the human
race the supreme being. In that su-
preme being he rested. He believed
that men are indebted for what we
enjoy to the labor, the self-denial, the
heroism of the human race, and as
we have plucked the fruit Of what
others planted, we, in thankfulness
should plant for others yet to be.
With him immortality was the eternal
consequences of his own good acts.
He believed that every good thought
every disinterested deed, hastens the
harvest of universal good. This is s
religion that enriches poverty, tha'
enables us to bear the SORROWS Of tht
saddest life, that peoples every soil
tude with the happy millions yet t.
be; religion born not of seifshnes'
and fear, but Of love and hope; tn
religion that digs wells to slake tn
thirst Of others that gladly bears tn
burdens Of the unborn. In the pres
ence Of death how belief and dogma
wither and decay. How loving word
and deeds burt into blossom. Plucl
from the tree Of any life these flower
and there remains but the barre1
thorns Of bigotry and creed. Al
wish for happiness beyond this life
{ All hope to meet again the loved an
+ lost. In every heart there grows thi
sacred flower of eternal hope. I'm
| mortality is word that hope throug
r all ages has been whispering to love
: The miracle of thought we can a
e understand. The mystery Of deaf
and hope We can not comprehend
4 This chaos called the world, has neve
! tbeen explained. The golden bridg
0 LOT life from gloom emerges and o
s shadow rests. Beyond this we d
e not know. Fate is speechless, dest
ny is dumb, and the secret of tt
/, future has never yet been told. "
s love, we wait, we hope. The moi
+ we love the more we fear. Upon tt
v tenderest heart the deepest shadow
fall. Ali paths, whether filled wit
e flowers, end ere. Here success an
It failure are the same. The rag I
) wretchedness and the purple robe
power lose difference and distinctie
d in this democracy of death. Chars'
!. ter alone survives. Goodness alol
lives. Love alone is immortal
=. But to all there comes time whe
l. the fevered lips Of life long for ii
cool, delicious kiss of death. Tire
of the dust and glare of the day, tht
Ie hear with joy the rustling carmen
1t of the night. What can We say
death? What can we say Of the deat
Z Where they have gone reason can n
" 90, and from thence revelation b
not come. But let us believe tn
n over the cradle nature bends ar
smiles, and lovingly above the DEF
in bendiction holds out her ou
s, stretched hands"
'sThey SaI."
re If the ..they," upon whom t
as scandal-mongers east all the respon'
As bility for their stock in trade, cou
er L he materialized. they would Eot ID