St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-07
Me-" and then followed the address of
Rev. w. S. Vail:
Rev. Vafrs Address.


when we hear the call of the roll we are
reminded of the glimmering light in the
churchyard. the apparent carelessness OF the
two diggers as they throw up the soil mixed
with bones; the melancholy form of Hamlet
as he takes the grinning skull of the favorite
Jester, Yorick, and moralizes in plaintive
voice on the end of human life. We are re-
minded OF the older com PARSONS of Hebrew
poetry; the horseman flying on to his desu-
nation over hill and sandy valley; the
weaTer's shuttle with its endless click. shot
to and fro in the looms: the cloud floating
an hour in the morning, then dissipated by
the sun; the dewdrops becoming diamonds
on the foliage of the green tree then brushed
OF by the careless bird in his fight-al these
images crowd upon our mind.
Then these names become associated with
the memory of happy hours. They marched
with us into the thick of the great battle of
life. They met the challenge of hardship:
they held our hands when hope went OUT
their voices spoke words of courage when we
were, like the Hebrews of old, in the wild
ness entangled, and the sea had shut US
IN; their voice and hand had helped
us in many ways but one day they
fell out OF the procession: weary and faint
ihey lay them down to sleep their last earthly
sleep but to wake in better world-a world
of rest to storm-tossed men. 1t is such
memories as these that make our lives more
eudurable. Our daily existence is one of
fierce struggle. 1t is good for us to have some
point where we can meet. where fellowship
and fraternal feeling will give us rest; where
we shall find sympathy 10 take the mind away
from Its cares where the thoughts, turned
INTO other channels, will give a new meaning
to life.
This in general terms is accomplished by
the fraternal society. You think more of the
man II you have to- sacrifice for him. You
nave Kinder feeling for man when you
nave watched at his bedside, or when he has
watched at yours. And when in the course
OF time you have gathered at Il funeral; when
you nave read the solemn ritual; when you
nave joined step TO step III the procession,
ana the clods have fallen on the casket, there
Is some strange and mysterious influence that
makes the feeling OF sympathy a bond by
which you are held TO each other in strong
attachment. Men are attached when
sympathy is called out by some act
ual need. Soldiers, wounded or on
the field, sharing the last ration:
nurses III epldemlcs wearing the red cross
on the arm, and facing the grinning appari-
t!on OF death together; men on the frontier,
thrown in by chance and making common
defense against savage and deSperado: traV-
elers IN dark continents who are cut off from
CIVILIZATION and are just ready when relieved
10 lay down their burdens: soldiers sur
rounded as Hayelock a Lucknow, when hope
was gone and surrender or starvation immi-
nent, but hearing the pipes of Sir Colin Camp
DeiI III the distance that meant life to them
these one and all testify how we feel to the
man we have met in actual need SO think
one OF the chief points of value in a service
like this lies III the association of men to-
SelneT 10 commemorate sorrow. ana is pro-
foundly emphasized trial and bereavement
Brethren, our service here is nearly fin
lshed. When it is done and we leave this
place we leave il with some idea of hone or
doubt In olden times men believed that
nearly all the souls of men were destined for
the flames of torment. and that through all
eternity they must spend the countless ages
IN signs OF sorrow and groans of anguish.
Ihat idea has largely disappeared. Many
still believe 1t is struggle, then a sleep.
They would say of their brother passed
on after LIES ftful fever he sleeps
well They would say of their
friends. they sleep beneath the shad-
ows OF the Clouds careless alike of sunshine
or OF storm, each i'll the windowless palace of
rest. But there is a voice in the human
heart that no sorrow can still, no philosophy
hush, no theory silence. which says no; they
go from u.s. we see the mist as the pale boat
man beckons them on; they disappear. but
somewhere they live AMI wait, and we shall
see them once more. We may know not the
geography of that land; we know not where
his ISLANDS lift their fonded palms in air: we
only know they cannot drift beyond his love
ana care. And as we close our lodge. we
close with tirmness of hope and tenderness
OF love-
The audience joined in singing sit
Singeth Low in Every Heart" to the
tune OF Aud Lang Syne," after which
came the formal closing of the lodge,
the ''DoXOl0gy" and the BenedictiOn.
The committeein charge of the serv-
ices consisted of c. S. Bartram, Joseph
Bartles and /. J. Price, and the uShers
were w. ". Clarke, E. w. Pease and c.
L. Slime.