San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-06

marble, in glitse.ing brass and in time
defying bronze, Is worshipped alike in
heather and Christian lands, in Pagan
India, in classic Greece, in historic
Rome, in the isles of the sea and in the
new world as in the old, we read the
sad story, Mosques, Cathedrals and
Temples. enriched and bedecked with
all that the worlds wealth and the cum
ming skill of man can create; it is seen
in the heaven pointing shaft, in the
plain slab that marks with only a name
an humble resting place, or it may be
only a rude pile of stones or earth over
nameless grave, telling the same sor-
rowful story of the dissolution OF earth
ly ties. Here and there in fadeless let
tiers are inscribed the virtues, heroic
deeds and sanity lives OF the distin-
guished dead. record of what is mob
lest and most worthy Of emulation, a
rich heritage to coming generations.
Marble, bronze and brass may endure
for ages to tell the world of philoso-
pher and sage, of hero and statesman,
of pride and Christian humanity, but
far dearer to the human heart, are the
tender loving memories that cluster
around the names of departed friends,
for.
the Seashore,
Their virtues on the tablets of love and
memory"
In lfe's ever busy changing scenes,
we meet with hurried hand clasp or
perhaps with only a brief word or
smile of greeting. or quietly in the so
cial circle or the closer friendship of
the lodge room, we meet and part,
with no thought that the one may be
the last and the other enjoyed no more
on earth.
AS time casts day after day into the
bosom of the past. familiar faces and
forms are missed from our daily walk,
voices forever hushed. life tides for
ever stilled. One after another we
bid goodbye to the hearts tenderest
affection. goodbye" to ambition,
wealth. honor, fame, to all the posi-
bilities of the reckoning future, and
sink into an eternity of rest.
Since the gavel first called the San
Antonio lodge of Elks 10 work, the
portals of our peaceful retreat have
been entered by death, summoning
five of our members from labor to rest.
On five occasions the name of a
brother and friend has been called
without response, Ellis, Fetterman,
Andrews. Wooley, Gosling no longer
respond to our greeting, and no longer
cheer and guide us.
They were true and noble Elks, swift
and transformations in response to the
demands of charity, true and free in
the exercise of justice, steadfast and
Jealous in brotherly love, all worthy
and sharing alike our friendship, conf
dence and regard. The last of our
number to fall was Carl Gosling, and
would fain pronounce a eulogy to his
memory, had | the power TO picture
him truly. Carl Gosling was the life
of our lodge. He whose great heart
ever throbbed in response to the die
tates of truth, charity, justice and
brotherly love; he whose firm grasp of
friendship and words of cheer and
greeting made the object of his action
and word feel and know he had
treln0 ever Teduy W TtSpohu W 'hS
cry of distress or the calls of sympa-
thy. All are missed, yet many may
come and go before his vacant chair
be filed.
Our absent brothers have solved the
mysteries that lie beyond the confines
of human life, are adrift upon the 81
lent shoreless sea of eternity, and all
that is left us is the memory of their
virtues, to emulate which the oppor-
tunity is ours, and their friendship
which we will secretly enshrine in the
treasure house of our heart.
We have met today to entwine
wreaths of imortelles Of affection
around their names; yet we would not
be sorrowful or sombre, but rather con-
sole ourselves with the thought that
they have been called to the great lodge
of rest, and await the quickening OF
the final summons. We have record
ed their faults on the thin air, but reg
istered their virtues in the hearts
deepest affection. Peace, they rest,
but are to memory. ever with us.