Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-06-02

above which is supreme in the full
sense of the word. Amid these earth
ly twilights we see but dimly through
the mists and vapors that enshroud
u.s. and what seem to as funeral ta-
pers may be heavens distant lamps.
Hence we should not attempt to pen
citrate and fathom the secrets and
mysteries of heaven, but do our duty
in faith, and gratefully accept and
use whatever light God has revealed
and given to us.
| Goods plans like lilies pure and white
unfold
We raust not the tear the close-shut
leaves apart,
Time will reveal the calyxes OF gold.'
Our deceased Grand Chancellor,
VIM. G. Shives, was a native of Penn
sylvania, and came to Paw Paw about
fifteen years ago and soon after be-
came member of Paw Paw Lodge,
| No. IL, X. of p. in which he at once
| took great interest and from the
lowest position in his lodge he soon
passed all the chairs, and when he
became member ofthe Grand Lodge
he was gradually and steadily pro-
NOTED until he reached the position
of Grand Chancellor at the last ses-
sion of the Grand Body. He depar
ted this life on the morning of the
l4th of March, at the age of 80 years,
leaving a widow and one child. The
entire brotherhood regret and mourn
the untimely death of true and be-
loved Knight
| On occasions like this, some per-
sons are disposed to speak in glow
ing terms of the character of the
| dead, but as for me, | have never
been in the habit of dealing in full
| some eulogies upon their character,
however good and bright. 1t is even
distasteful to me to listen to excess
slve praise Oft the dead, A GOOD char
acter does not need it. and o bad one
does not deserve it. Thu public O. IT,
mate, guage and fix the character,
and all harangues in that direction
scarcely ever change the standard
thus fixed The fact that Bro. Shives
was elevated in rapid succession to
such high and honorable position
in our Order Is evidence sufficient
thar as man he was manly, and as a
Knight knightly. And ! think this
brief tribute to his ohlract, implies
all that belongs 10 the true type OF a
| man.
The dead do not need prai @, Meth
er do they heed it, but the living need
ms ruction to do the right FIR time
and eternity. Lessons drawn from
| the grave are, or saould be. more
powerful than TIE praise or dispraise
oflife-deeds. We may learn impor-
tant lessons from the death of our
brother, and not only from has death,
but from every similar dispensation
of Divine Providence One thing is
clear-that deah is no reSpecter Of
persons, condition az position.
Death death! Alas, he is the
most powerful OF kings, and hence
| Justly called "the king of terrors."
Alexander and Napoleon were great
conquerors, but death is more pow
erful, for it att cled and conquered
them Riches cannot bride death,
else our millionaires could elude him
and live to the end If time. Wisdom
cannot ward of death. else Solomon
had not died. Learning cannot de-
wise way to escape death, else all
the philosophers and learned men of
ancient and modern times would still
be living Honesty il not proof
against death, else the world would
be blessed with myriads of honest
people, and our business could all be
transacted without the fear of being
| defrauded. No medicine can be found
within the realms of nature as an an
tidote against deaths fatal arrows.
Even religion, with the power to Sc
cure for us heaven and the eternal
favor OF God, is nevertheless power
less to keep death from our door, else
we would have no hypocrites, and
the number Of our churches would
have to be increased thousand fold.
Grid on your armor, Knights-your
helmet, your shield, your sword, and
sand ready to engage in battle with
death, and you are sure to be van
quished every time.
Death intrudes into palaces as well
as into Eovtls, and arrests the mon.
arch as well as the slave. The robes
of majesty and the rags of beggary
are alike preludes to the shroud, and
a throne is only precipice from
whence to fall with greater noise and
more extensive rain into the grave
All distinctions Of class and caste are