The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-07
4 a. OR [ SM GU

II is well. Far be it from me by any
act, word or question of mine to OBJ
scurc oeie intin!tismal ray from the
smallest jewel that glistens in their
well earned crowns of glory.
'GaShed with honorable scars,
Low in glory's lap they lie;
When they fell, they fell like stars,
Streaming splendor through the sky"
Rut my friends, the world TOO often
forEets the greater bravery and heroism
OF that lone stntincl who stands yonder
erect at his post of duty, with that
shower of deaths leaden messengers
raining about him, until his noble heart
is pierced and from his wounded sida
his life blood GIBBS away.
Every nation of the world has at
some time deemed itself the owner OF
some physical material monument, that
they were vain enough to- suppose
could stand the ravaEes of time, The
Greeks thought that they possessed 1t
in the forms of their beautiful tenn
pies to Appolo at Delphi and Diana at
Ephesus, which, with their oracles,
were the wonder of the world. And so
| might 20 on and recall to you the
many magnificent monuments erected
by the Roman Empire and scores Of
other great dignitaries of Centuries past,
but the story would be sad and tire
some, for they, too. like the wonder of
Greece, the Splendor of Babylon and
EloricS of Egypt, have long since be-
come the Inheritance Of vandalism, and
the historian has recorded them as
monuments to the folly and vanity of a
SuperstitlQus AEGEAN age, which
through II he dead. still liveth; n super
stitutlon which civilization has not yet
eradlcated from the mind of man, q
vanity that will rot die, folly that
is irresistible.
Is there, then. no lasting monument?
Where is 1t to he found? And Of what
! Is 1t buildcd? ! cannot believe that
the merciful God has placed n man here
as free agent, endowed with power
and faculties that enable him to prac-
tice the great virtues of Charity. Jus
tee, Rrotherly Love and Fidelity to-
wards his fellow man, to perform deeds
OF heroism and valor and then force
him TO lie down with the brutes for
ever.
Methinks hear n voice divine. In &C
cents clear and low. reverberating
around these walls. telling me that
mans everlasting monument is not
above him, but by him; that every
man, whether he be high or low. is an
architect, building his own monument
When we consider these things, of
what vital Importance it is that we
guard and control our action? My
brother ElkS, do you wish to erect for
yourselves an everlasting monument?
I'hen take the eternal principles OF our
order for your guide, follow the eX-
ample of her who washed the feet OF our
Lord and received the promise of i'm
mortality from his lips, let your Ideals
be pure and high. let every part OF
the structure be a noble effort to bet
ter the world, seal its every crevice
with deed OF Kindness. Thus will you
n fr1rN M
living, thrubbing hearts of your fell
low men. Service is greatness. The
only true monument Is high and
noble life. f.E
In the midst of the rushing and
stormy scenes of life we are now called
upon TO pause, to withdraw our minds
from veNatious cares and duties away
from the voice of bitterness, the cry OF
hate and the 'clamor of arms. and give
our thoughts to the contemplation OF
the virtu1us dead s,rre
From such reflections we will soon re-
turn to the outer world. our souls re-
freshed and purified, with new strength
to rcpel the allurements OF vice.
Year by year. one by Ine. the faces of
our brother Elks have been disappear
ing from our midst. We have stood by
their open graves and mourned their
loss in tears. Thank God there Is a
realm of immortality beyond the grave,
where we may hope to meet them once
more
Let us hope that when The summons
came their glazing eyes read the mys-
tic sign which only the saved enraptur-
cd soul may know, and that they be-
held afar off that serene land Where
the good sleep and the beautiful" Let
us hope that they felt upon their
fevered hrows the Godkissed Zephyrs
from over the mountains of the Great
Beyond. waited down from heaven on
the breath Of the eternal morning.
Let us hope that when their souls
passed upwards on the path of the
evening star they heard in the silence
OF the reccdlng world the sound Of
harps aHd singing. and listened with
celestial JOY IL the great waves of the
tide Of time breaking on the shores OF
eternity. And let us believe that when
they swung open and passed through
those massive everlasting postals
Whose key Love keeps on that side,
on this side Death" and wheu their
redeemed souls, marching TO the strains
! OF rapiurous melody, passed on through
the pure Srandeurs Of heaven, mp to
the great white throne. the Exalted
| Ruler Of All gave them welcome.
The musical programme which was
published III our Saturdays issue, was
well rendered and gave general salts
faction. II was the finest that has ever
been gotten UP IN this c!ty.
THE REVIVAL AT COURT STREET
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Evengelisi L. IlcH Sven has secured
! a great reputation in portsmouth. He
is he one man who is talked abou. in
| this city. He came here perfect
stranger. and he has strange ways ana
! unusual methods, but the large number
! OF our citizens who have heard him.
have been impressed with his originate
| ~, his humor. his pathos. an! his de-
| vdut spirit. He has superior gifts as