The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-21

ent thoughtl to live again in those we save.
This erects our monument ~e. and then
transfers it to a firner has, Neaven
Fifth-And though we she all to con-
vert a soul and so build o ives into a
character. there is Vet an ell. tive way OF
securing for our memory an immortality.
Job says his deeds were written in heaven.
l acknowledge that often they are forgotten
on earth by an migrate people We are IN
not before the throne unfold the rude banner
of the costermongers and read of Lord
SALISBURY. Il was sick, in prison, and ye
visited me- or that of the boys from the
ragged schools displayed at his funeral. Il
was hungry and naked and We fed me-"
BUILD YOUR OWN MONUMENT
Something in Absalom's case that I very
much approve-he did it himself in his own
lifetime.
First-Thus he could make sure that it
neglect the matter Many persons have
made the mistake of postponing their benefi-
leaving the executors of their wills to per-
form the task. Not safe, when the will of
such an astute LAWYER as Samuel j. Tllden
can be broken; when distinguished JuriSt
says that will can scarcely be written, II
at all, that courts cannot set aside. Mark
Twain: We all recognize the value OF this
building as an example and a SUGGESTIONS
suggestion to any who are moved by
love for their fellow-men to make gifts to
them of hospitals or town halls or libraries;
to build these things while they are living,
not wait till they are dead. The stomachS
of the lawyers of this land are distended
to utter discomfort with the eleemoSynary
architecture that they have swallowed. In
all this world there is no JOY like the JOY
of a lawyer when he sees a good hearted,
inconsiderate person erecting a free library
or a town hall. or a hospital in his Will.
He smiles the smile that only he knows how
to smile, and |, goes into training Amin Tor the
JOY the good things we expect TO do after
we are dead? There is a statue with this
s"rHOMAS GUY.
Sole Founder of this Hospital in His
Lifetime"
The sight of this inspired Vassar MAT
thew to found Vassar College, first in
of the far-off roar of the civil war, on the
quiet banks of the Hudson. Peter Cooper
used his means for others In his Lifetime.
George w. Childs, of the Philadelphia Pub
lie Ledger, gave away nearly the whole of
his vast fortune while living to institutions.
to churches to tens of thousands Of indi-
before you at once" "Do the good you can
now" 1.-The money expect to give / must
give now. 1 may be too poor when l am old;
| may leave none when | die. The kind
nesseS now, while they live who deserve
them; the affections 1 must bestow now, or
else their fragrance may be reserved I'M
til there are none to appreciate them or
none capable any longer OF exercise. do
your good in your lifetime"
Second-He could be sure it was well done,
according to the design. Rev. John Miller,
who died recently, was not content to COM
NIT his peculiar views TO DOCKS alone, out
had them engraved on a stone, which was
set up as q monument in the cemetery at
Princeton, N J., while he was yet living
The stone is In the form of a cross. His
creed is given in ten paragraphs. He would
not trust any man to prepare his monu-
mental inscription, so he did it in his life
time to prevent any mistake. The monu-
ment, with this inscription, has been stand
ing in the cemetry for several years with q
blank space left for the date of his death
to be inserted when known. Leland STAN
ford built his own monument in his lifetime
in the university at Palo Alto. John D.
Rockefeller is doing the same in the Uni
versity of Chicago. A. II. Stewart left a
legacy to found a home for women, but his
executor changed it into pulic hotel.
Third-He could thus have the pleasure
of the construction himself; Is not Mark
Twain right when he says, Build your gift
halls and hospitals while you are still living
and can build your heart as well as your
money into the gift" Enoch Pratt greatly
enjoyed seeing a hundred thousand persons
patronizing the libraries he gave to Balti-
more. And George Peabody said he was
never so happy as when he saw the poor
snugly housed in the clean tenementS he
had provided in London.
To sum up: If my memory is ever to be
preserved. may have a character worthy
of remembrance, a savory recollection of
which my descendants may we'll be proud.
If my memory is to be preserved, may 1t be
enshrined in the affections of those / love
and serve; may it be perpetuated in their
good character and transmitted in an ever
increasing ratio to the generations that are
the other shore, changed, perfected and en-
dowed with a fadeless immortality-there
in the Kings dale, under the shadows of
the new Jerusalem.