The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-02

quiet hush and sanctified surroundings
are all there as here. Solemn music in
stately measure adds it's Christening in
fuence to an hour already m ade sacred
by the tender touch of time. Tnat IN
describable something which invades
and pervades a room given over TO
such exercises is here, as 1t IS in every
other Elks lodge room in all America.
In concert every brother bows the head
in earnest retrOSpection- 1t can not De
otherwise than that he will turn to out
side things when these brief exercises
are over, a better man for the few min
utes given to the hottest thoughts posi-
BILE for man to acknowledgements
of his dead. More than fifty thousand
Elks, together with their families, in
more than two hundred and fifty lodge
rooms are thus assembled Not many
so fortunate as we, for here there is
no fresh mound of vacancy to mourn.
Within the twelve months just passed
death has not knocked at the inner door
of our sanctuary
Since the institution of Topeka lodge
3. P. Q. Z. No. 294 in April, 1891, but
few of its men bers have Joined the in
Vulnerable caravan. Frank q. Stiles
was the first, in 1892. Then came seven
more, as noted upon the tablet provided
for the purpose by thoughtful brothers
who as time. goes on will also nave
their names thus recorded. Benjamin
NJ Curtis, William p PopenOe, Jr., John
F. H McKibban, Eugene Wolf. Lewis
g. Hastings, George s Roberts and
>
William A. Seller. Eight in all; not a
long list in decade of active lodge life,
but a. list of good men and true, each
of whom did his level best. Each bore
his burden bravely, each laid down the
same as BELTS man when the journey
is ended and each was consigned to
the grave and mourned in the exquisite
simplicity of our memorial ritual
Man passes away; tired, he sleeps,
and life's poor play is over; his name
perishes from record and recollection;
his history is as tale that is told and
his very monument becomes a ruin
A few friends and relatives for a few
years mourn more and more alone, I'M
til they, too, one by one join the ever
played its accustomed part. Then, in
a lodge of sorrow such as now and !
here convenes, the dying refrain is
taken up and his name is called by |
strangers and perpetuated only as one |
of a mighty army of brothers who |
fought the fight the best he knew.
For our brother. while here he is striv |
ing and moving along the worlds |
We have only harsh judgments. stern |
counsel. half-uttered affections. cold |
Our cheer of full-hearted approval, our
frank, quick applause we deny;
Envy, malice and jealousy, calumny, all |
Unrelenting. pursue him-while friend
ship barks low in the rear of the |
Reluctant. perhaps, at his faults. and his
frailties till death ends the chase
'-Ah, then all his virtues, his merits shine
forth; all the charms that he owned
Rise up unoDscured in their beauty. all
frailties and faults are atoned.
All the good is remembered and pom
dered. the bad swept away out of
sight.
And in death we behold him transfg-
ured and robed in memorial light.
We lament when lamenting is useless,
We praise when all praises are vain
And then. turning back and forgetting, !
begin the same sad work again
AS the world moves on, a mighty pur-
pose becomes more and more apparent
Religion in its sweetest consolation |
reason, science, Unborn conviction, all
unite in robbing death of it's terrors
and creating in place thereof a peaceful
belief that it is simply a debt to nature
which all form of life owes to a benefi-
cent Creator whose every intent is a
blessing. 1t is as natural to die as to
live and not nearly so myStifying as
birth. When the debt is due, it is yelled
in merciful obscurity After the fitfuI
dream is over eternity dawns. Science
and analogy force the conclusion, re-
ligion fOrtifieS it and SWeetenS all with
the doctrine of love intensified, justice,
charity and mercy personified. Earth
to earth, ashes to ashes, the flight of
the spirit back to the realms whence |
it came, is rapidly becoming in public
belief, as was intended in the begin
ming. a surcease from sorrow and a
in better things. Our
brothers sleep well, each in his narrow
bed, and while life is sweet, its joys
lnnumbered, its ambitions gratifying,
It's better accomplishments most credit
again? They have fought the fight,
they have kept the faith. Now sweet
follow them. May peace at
Tend them and US, forever and forever.