Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-07

knights o. Columbus held memorial
,4ryices last evening. The Carroll
cub Auditorium was crowded with
~iends of the members. and with re-
.afives and friends OF the late Michael
duffy. the first member of the Wheel
ny Council TO pass away from this
life. All the decorations in the hall
we're in keeping with the solemnity of
The occasion, and the music was APP
propriate. A large portion of the SER
wee was ritualistie. 1t was all very
Impressive.
The first address was made by Mr..
John J. ConifT. It was a part Of the
beautiful ritual of the society. He
was followed by the chaplain of the
Wheeling Council, the Rev. R. F. Har
us. rector of the Roman Catholic
nurch in McMechen, W. Va. who
said:
Fellow Knights The task appoint
I'd for me this evening, as your chap
lain, is solemn yet simple enough. The
ritual of our society, which | hold in
my hand, dictates that at this memoir
ial service my duty is to address few
words to you on the grim truth here
exposed to you to-night-the awful
reality of a first death in your ranks.
A few evenings ago. Wednesday eve
ming last, many of us present here to-
night. were gathered in ISIS hall. The
sounds of sweet music then gladened
The heart, smiles of JOY and deep
pleasure wreathed the eountenances OF
the happy faces thronging this floor.
The echoes of merry laughter were
borne out on the stiffness OF the night,
all was joy and pleasure, serene.
Tonight how changed the scenei
The merry music of the dance has Civ
en- way to the doleful strains of the
Miserere; the light airy dress of its
deyotees to the deep black pail OF the
catafalaque, and an empty coffin re-
minds us of one, who lately rejoieed
in the vigor of fine manhood like one
Of yourselves, but who tonight rests
out there beyond the hills under the
shivering trees of the cemetery. lulled
to his eternal sleep by the moaning OF
the chill October winds.
MY II1tuUS, SOllON 10 AtNSi be'A -
this wide world of ours, but there is
one sorrow that finds home, at some
time or other, in every human BOSOM
and that one sorrow is sorrow Tor our
dead. Our path through life may be
pleasant one; it may be strewn with
every flower that good God casts IN
our way; but at some place on that
road a grave is dug by the decree of
God, and that grave shall one day
claim its own.
But it is only when death touches
ourselves closely; when those we low
cd have come to die; when we look
for the touch of the vanished hann
and the sound of a voice that is still
it is only then this common sorro"
comes really home to us and makes
our house desolate and sad
But though those bodies of ours sink
into the silent tomb; though the por-
tails of the grave are dark and gloomy
not all who enter there in Dante's
words. now abandon hope. Over that
grave in letters of burning gold may
be seen those eternal characters that
have brought Joy and gladness to
many an otherwise respondent soul.
Il am the resurrection and the lie.
He that believeth in me shall not die
for ever" Away out over the con-
fines of eternity we see home where
the tears and the sorrows of this life
shall be changed into joy that will
never end.
Yes. my friends. existence begins in
this life but ends not here. THIS lie
is but the bud, the spring, the source
of our eternal being. Our true life be
gins when this ceases. We shall die.
Our bodies will sink into the grave and
will be reduced to their original dust;
but our souls will defy the dominion
Of death. and will pass from hence to
enjoy God for evermore.
When our bodies will rise to DE re-
united to our souls and to partake OF
the glory and bliss of seeing God.
From the grave of death and corrup-
ton. all hideous, though they be, they
shall come forth, endowed with gifts
which shall render them fit compan-
ions for evermore of the immortal
soul
oh, how sweet is repose after labor!
Flow pleasant the coming home after
the long Journey. How sweet, there
fore, and pleasant is death to the just
man.
Yet how little do we heed the lesson
taught US here tonight The green sod
is scarcely drawn over our dear one, the
gates of the cemetery scarcely closed,
when the tide of life flows on as usual
Friends will meet friends as before; the
flowers will bloom and the stars Will
shine; the sower will scatter his SEED
and the reaper gather in his sheaf; WIN
ter and summer shall come and go; the
world will wag on its way, until the
next summons comes to our door to re-
mind us that there is something else
than this transitory thing we have been
fleeing after all this time.
The reverend father then pointed out
in eloquent language some of the les
sons that should be drawn from the
ueath of such a brother as was that OF
Mr.. Duffy. He asked them to be true
above all to their mother, the churcn,
which alone has the God-given power 10
direct the affairs of their salvation; ana
having quoted Longfellow's poem, The
Psalm of Life" the father continued:
Yes, dust thou art, to dust return. IL
was not spoken of the SOUL" That soul
Is immortal This world will pass
away; the great seas will dry up. and
the mountains disappear. The human
soul will alone survive the dissolution
and destruction of all things else.
Ages will roll away yet it shall abide.