The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-14
THE LIVING DEAD.
BY REV U. S. MILBURN.
"In the Resurrection They Are as the Angels
of God in Heaven"

of Rev. Mr.. Milburn at the Cincinnati
Memorial services noted in the Ohio
correspondence:
"The acts that men do live after
them" In this one sentence the
great poet uttered true and beauti-
full thought. Men may come and
men may go, but the world with its
work goes on forever. Difficulties,
unsolved problems, earth's joys and
richest blessings are still held in
store for the passing generations. In
our short existence we add something
to the world. Some act, some
thought, some kindly deed or loving
word, some ministration of mercy
humbly performed, or heroic self
sacrifice which the world applauds,
are left behind us when we die as
sacred heritage to those who live
after us. The acts are often half ap-
preciated or misunderstood until the
actor passes forever out of sight; then
they are seen in their true light.
There is a kind of immortality
that is not mentioned enough. 1t is
the immortal part which remains on
earth. The brave Nathan Hale, ap-
pretended as spy in the British
camp, doomed to die before the sun
rise of another day, uttered those
last memorable words: 81 only re-
gret that l have but one life to lose
for my country" But that life still
influences the world. 1t has made
and is making many brave, heroic
heart. But one life to lose; yet it is
not lost even now. The brave Doug
las placed the heart of his dead
master, Bruce, in a silver case and
hung it around his neck, knowing
that it would inspire new valor in
him. The heart of every person is
carried about, in truer sense, by
some one, whois prompted to kindlier
acts, more loving deeds. and gentler
words, because of that heart, the
image of which is carried in the
beating heart.
Think of those things which have
had the greatest effect upon your
lives; which have left the most in
dellible memories; which have
strengthened you for some great
life work, softened your attitude to-
ward humanity, and stirred the
mighty depths of your nature, and
you will find that the death of some
one whose soul was linked to your
soul has been and is the greatest
force working in your life. Since
death has claimed them they have
lived more, perhaps, in your life,
than they did before. The poets
lines can be applied to all:
"Can that man be dead
He lives in glory; and his speaking dust,
Has more of life than half its breathing mould. :"
The dead speak to us on every
side. "Abel," we are told, "off cred
unto God more excellent sacrifice
than Cain, by which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God
testifying of his gifts; and by it, he
being dead yet speaketh." Being
dead yet speaketh How true. Vir-
tue is memorial as lasting as time.
We cannot separate ourselves from
the dead; they do not leave us. They
live in our thoughts; they live in our
worship; they are here with us today,
wrought into the very fabric of this
church.
This would be desolate world if
it contained nothing but the thoughts,
the works, and the love of the living.
Civilization itself is the voice of the
dead past; it is not the product of the
living present. The great paintings
speak of the artist, though the
hand that limned the canvas is dust
Our best music is the voice of de-
parted genius. Our literature is the
immortal presence of the dead. Our
religion is the eternal presence of
heroic men and sanity women, who
long since have been called dead.
The life-work fingers, an immortal
monument; the fingers of death re-
move but the mortal.
They, whose names are upon our
sad list, are living today. By that l
do not simply mean livingin another
world" in some far away sphere, en-
tirely remote from our earthly ac-
tivities. They are living in our
thoughts, memories, works. Our
choicest possessions have been given
to us by them. The most sacred
lessons of our lives they have taught
Us. The sweetest thought is the
,,ao,,o1ru 0f kho,, rho.. Isvoe o.o