El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-12-06
: In THE CHURCHES.
IN MEMORIAM.
1.-The Tribute of the Living to the
Dead-'

1.-The Tribute of the Living to the
Dead"
The following address was delivered
bv Rev. Oscar j. Cohen, rabbi nf Mt.
Sinai congregation, upon the occasion
of the Elks' Lodge of Sorrow, al
Chopin hall, Dec. 4, 1895:
You are assembled for n of the
most devoted and upselfsh purposes
that could engage your attention. Ihe
living have gathered to pay tribute to
the dead. How seldom are the de-
parted brought to mind except by those
of close relationship. And even In
them too often when time has soothed
the poignsncy of grief the traces OF
memory grow dim and even those who
were dearest are almost forgotten.
The world, alas, is thankless, and soon
brushes aside all thought of those
it once honored and to whose services
it is under lasting obligation. What
time have the living in the midst OF
their busy and restless activity, intent
upon the accomplishment OF their am
billions, eager for success in their bust
ness or vocation, bent upon filling the
Gun of happiness with constant pleas
ures, to stop and think of those who
are gone? Yes, when a friend or &C
%qusintauce goes the way OF all flesh,
the last sad honors are paid 10 his
earthly remains, and, weep
ing and grieving, many follow
him to his eternal resting place. But
when he sod has closed over his bier
and the turf is green with "a few ears
growth his name is not often on the
lips. 1t is, therefore. q beautiful Gus
tom of your order to set aside this day
for the especial purpose of calling to
recollection the brothers who have
Joined the celestial bands in the realms
of eternity, and of paying to them a
tribute of affection and esteem.
The first tribute we pay TO the lost
dear ones is love. We recall the sweet
relations of years, we think OF the
mutual friendship and affection that
gave sunshine to life and Joy to our
hearts. Aud though we mourn the
sad event that TOOK away those who
we're endeared to us though we feel in
consolable at the loss WI sustained aod
the void left in our souls, we recognize
that the stern decree that so afflicted
US, was the determination OF that
Supreme Wisdom hat directs all
things for the best and before b a AL
mighty Power we bow in humility.
We thank God for the happy past
spent with the now departed loved
ones aud we thank him for the recol-
lections of those days that still shine as
llgQJ5 IN our uSoTtSs N4CL1ohJ OAo
the dead immortal even on earth; they
are before u minds as though in liv-
ing presence; so W.T. may gratefully
subscribe to the thoughts so ~tenderly
expressed by Tennyson:
| hold il true whate'er befall,
1 feel it when l sorrow most;
IT'S better to have loved and lost
Than never To have loved at all.
The second tribute is of respect and
ls-.-. NNA ranan tho OOOdlU
qualities and noble characteristics of
those who once lived and labored in
our midst. We appreciate their v1r-
tues now that they are zone, even
more than when they were with US.
Too often is merit unacknowledged and
goodness of heart unappreciated. Only
when death claims its victim, do we
realize what q treasure has been taken
from US. Ought this not admonlsh US
to do greater justice to the living and
value the worth of those who are about
US? True no one Is faultless. and not
being perfect ourselves we have no
right to expect perfection in others.
Next we pay the tribute of graft
tude. We cannot recall the departed
without thinking of what they were to
us and what we were to them. MOI on
those who accomplished great
thing 8 and by their achievement won
the title OF benefactors of mankind but
those who In the ordinary walks OF life
strove TO help their fellOwmen by acts
of kindness and good will, have given
cause tn be remem bered with thankful
ness. Every one who faithfully fulfill
ed the duties of his station, who used
the capacities he possessed to best pur-
pose, has rendered services for which
p~osterity should be grateful.
Finally, the highest tribute we pay to
the departed is that of emulation. If
we truly esteem their goodly qualities
and noble traits, we will feel impelled
to initiate their conduct. The sincerest
respect we q show to lost loved ones
is 10 practice the virtues we admired
in them and try to make ourselves to
others what they were to US. Thus is
often verified the saying of Proverbs,
memory of the righteous il a
blessing" The recollection of the up
and noble-hearted is an incentive
to live as they did and thus they bring
blessing to future generations. My
friends, this solemn ceremony cannot
fail to impress upon US the per1shable-
ness of human nature n the brevity
OF human existence. 1t brings to our
the awe inspiring certainty that
the unfailing messenger will q day
summon us &c 40 eternal home, and our
place on earth will know us no more.
Naught will then remain of US here but
what we have accomplished. We a
behind US a trace of an existence
n the good we do; yea u noble and
deeds will sink as seeds in the
career of mankind, will sprout and
grow and bear goodly fruit long after
have left this scene of worldly stir
ing. Oh! that the thought Of death
touch US t o appreciate the grand
opportunity of life, stimulate our eff
make US put forth our energies
n good and useful work. and inspire us
'.Do noble deeds