The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-07-11
VOL 81
THE ADDRESS OF LAPS. ID.
McCORD.
Delivered at the GrdUes Of the
Deceased Knights Of
PythiGs.

III eaalutEo, VIC tOuuC w oH' 49, 49,
ers upon the ri ung places OF de
parted brUthe ), t. recount their
virtues, honor their memories ana
TO learn lessons of wisdom.
We cannot know in what abode
their generous spirits rest, and W.
cannot tell what recompense they
have, but this we know: had we
the power TO fix 1t we'd have no
cause To mourn their changed es-
tate.
BY so much more, therefore, as
infinite love and mercy exceed
those attributes in fini'e nal is cur
assurance multiplied that thhy are
now secure. We come not here how.
ever, to afrssh The wounds that
grief has made but to pour balm
upon them.
We come with flowers to make
glad and beautiful the abode OF
grief and des0lation, TO hurl d, u =
ance IN the face of death and with
resurrectlCn emblems to dispute
his sway. The sweet perfumes that
pervade this sacred air is blended
with the incense OF loving hearts
and is borne upone upon censers OF
faith and hope beyond the stars,
beyond the roads Of death, in mes.
sagcs of sweetest greeting.
The flowers breathe symphony 30 sweet
That angels bend to catch the perfumed
strain,
And joining, swell the rapturous duet
Til heaven ID fragrant with d new re-
frain.
la sincerest affection, in tender
est remembrance of our brothers
who have passed the last ord .al
we hope unscathed, we scatter these
emblems OF love upon tue sod that
hides tue forms in which we know
them, aud 10 each particle OF in
ceDse that steels in Eoisless exha-
lation from their scented petals
we woul give voice to carry
greetings and gratulations.
In honor Of their memories it is
fitting that we give some thought
to-day TO the principle they es-
poused and amend which this order
rallies.
Principle lies behind IL effort
AS in law the intent is the oscenct
Of the Grim SO in mural ethics thu
principl that moves the act make
that act al expression Of the prin
cple itself UntGltering faith i:
cou Ited as righteousness Itself, be
cause it recognizes aud is founded
in the great saving principle pro-
pounded in the scheme of redemp
ton
1t does not lie in flesh to be per
feet and the best ordered life fallI
far short of the ideal, but Coo
counts the motive, the principle
that actuates honest effort as a per
feet contamination OF the purpose
lhe measure of man is no
due the success no achieves but the
motive upon which his life is or
d,red. He may fall short of iul
success, and even seem to have
failed, but to properly estimate hin
we must look back behind it all IN
to his heart and see the purpose o.
his life, measure the opportunities
given him and his capabilities, anc
we may find that the apparently
barren life has been abund antly
fruitful
And thus our friends and broth
ers whom we meet To- honor to-day
must be measured. They under
stood Perfectly the principles ant
prrpo5es Of Pythianism and they
were honestly intent upon carrying
them out If they did the best
they could, ;hen they did it all
God nor nan require impossible
Ties. The best a man can do Is as
perfect a. the perfect act of u per
feet man. Responsibility ceases
where the limit of opportunity and
capacity is reached.
They wrought as best they could
inspired by the principles OF OUT
order. 1t is therefore proper thai
we should look into those prlnci-
pies TO see whether they are builded
upon sand, that we may measure
their lives by their purposes rather
than condemn them for their short
comlngs.
Pythianism ia founded in one
of the most sublime incidents il
story: Damon was condemned to
die by the tyrant Dyonisius, of Syr
acuse, and when he had but a few
short hours to live, Pythias went
his bail with his life, giving him
self to be imprisoned voluntary
substitute that Damon might see
his wife and child once more before
death parted them forever. Mount
ed upon swift steed he flew to
them and when the last agonlzIng
embrace had been given he starts
20 return and finds that his, slave
TO save his masters life had slain
hi steed.
The dread hour approached and
Pythias was led to the scene OF eX-
ecution, enduring the gibes of his
cruel executions who tauntei him
with the falsity of his friend. But
with complacent fortitude, IN full =
est confidence that DLmOl's failure
10 redeem his pledge was without
his procurement, with undaunted
mein he ste pped to the block giving
utterance tn the i'm mortal sentiment
"Tis sweet to die tor those We
love-
But Damon. not to b. outdone in
heroic sacrifice, upbralding his
slave Tor an act while though 1t
Aaved his lire was worse than death
because it forced him to break his
word, by herculean effort did reach
the scene OF execution in time Il
stay it, impetuously rushing to his
own death, radiant with JOY that
his pledge was redeemed though
1t cost him bis life.
The blood-loving executioners,
amazed at sueh unprecedented act,
tell back astounded and witnessed
the heroes throw themselves upoI
each others breast. the one dis
tressed that he had not been per
mitted to give his friend and th'
other rejoicing that he had saved
his friends life with his own.
Such an exampled hdelity sn'
fearless trust SO wrought upon tn
tyranrs heart that he ordered thei
release and summoning them int
his august presence begged to b
permitted TO join in their socIet
that he might be imbucd with TIL
divine sentiment that made beroe
of its votaries.
Predicated in this incident, th
published declaration OF principle