The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-10-25

i'll the dust In washed from them by tears
In the moments of prosperity and health we
are apt to forget how weak and dependent
We are, but when disappointments come TO
US and earthly treasures are swept from our
grasp, instinctively our eyes turn heaven
ward, as do those of the shepherd upon the
plains, the traveller upon the desert, or the
mariner upon the sea. With the harsh
voices Of our nature cadenced into sweetest
melody, the poor weary, troubled heart finds
sweetest comfort in the precious requests of
an all-sufficient Savior to "cast every bur-
den upon the Lord and He will sustain
thee" And to remember "when thou pass
eth the waters sand through tho rivers they
shall not overflow thee, for the Lord thy
God will be with thee
Dear sorrowing ones, in the hour of Attic
ton be content.
Goods plans, like iillies pure and white unfold,
You must not tear their close-shut leaves apart
Time will reveal the calyxes of gold.
And II through patient toll you reach the land
Where tired feet with sandals loosed may rest,
Where you shall clearly know and understand,
| think that you will say "God knew best"
Veterans! you who bear with you marks OF
honor from many we'll fought field; you,
who in the earlier days of manhood placed
everything on the altar Of your oountry's
cause, you have assembled to-day in answer
TO the roll call of heart, to honor the men,
DRY of oomrade who sleeps on field of
grounded arms, where no foes modest nor SEN
try's shot alarms. Need l remind you that
the hours of life are passing? Nay, many
of you are conscious that you have heard the
call for retreat and that little while at the
farthest, all of you will hear the signal "put
out the lights May each of You, in camp
or in the field of life, be rs loyal to the ban
ner of the cross as you were to the flag of
your country, that when the signal comes TO
put ont the lights" you may bee permitted to
Join the great army in heaven, "who in gar
ments once washed in the blood of the dear
crucifed. once rolled in the battles red flood,
are singing the praise of our flag and our
God
Members of the Masonic fraternity, death
he's not simply knocked at the outer gate.
but has entered your nystic circle and
borne away one Of your number. In the
death OF your friend and brother you are ad-
monshed TO be faithful to the highest prin-
ciples of manhood. Once the world crowned
the wrestler, the fieet-footed Achilles and
the conquering king, with laurels. Once it
admired the possesser of untold wealth; but
TO day it passes these by unnoticed and
bows reverently before the thinker, the
philanthropist and the man who is gentle
in action. noble in sentiment, Christlike in
beart. AS the present joins the past, may
you strive to cultivate this beauty OF life,
and as the knights of old gave their time,
their labor and wealth, to rescue the cross
from the hands of the Ssracens, may you
give to the cause of Almighty God your
warmest sympathy and your heartiest sup
port. that at the close of lifes conflict you
may enter into, not simply an earthly, but II
heavenly Jerusalem and receive the Master
''well done.'
Dear friends. the event which has called
us together reminds us that the things of
earth are dropping away like the falling
autumn leaves, and that the paths of earthly
ambition and distinction, lead but TO the
grave. We are also reminded that soon
death like the silence of night will settle
down over all this scene of toll and strife of
meeting and parting, of loving and SORROW
ing. But with the word of God in my hand
and a human heart in my breast let me tell
you that death is not the end of life. Here
we are as children within the house looking
out through the windows at the green fields,
the singing birds. and the fitting rays of
sunshine. Here we know of beauty, of
truth and of love unrealized. Here we are
weary and hungry; death simply removes
these limitations and leads US into world
where the ideal becomes real, where every
God-given want is satisfied, and every long
ing realized. Then, even in this hour of
sorrow let us rejoice that
'Beyond LIES tolls and cares
Its hopes and joys. its WEAKNESS and sorrow,
Its sleepless nights its days of smiles and tears,
viii be one long, sweet life unmarked by years,
One bright, intending morrow.
Beyond tfe's troubled stream,
Beyond the chilling waves Of deaths dark river,
Beyond LIES lowering clouds and ftful CLEANS,
Its dark realities and brighter dreams,
A beautiful forever.