The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-01
GRAFTON
GRAFTON
Delivered Before the Lodge Of
Knights Of Pythias, BelIefOn-
taiae, Tuesday, June
"A, Dez,
By Hon. Grant Mouser. Of
Marion.

We assemble with subdued hearts, as
brothers living, TO pay tribute of love
and respect to brothers dead.
We enter with softened tread the
realm of shadows, and our imagination
clasps their hands in PythiAu friend
ship and listen to their voices In merri-
ment and glsdness rs Of old. Like soft
entrsncing music floating over the
uavsless sea, their spirits seem to come
again TO Us, and whispering "All Is
wsll," vanish silently from our sight
: To brighten and bless their fragrant
memories. TO dispel the gloom which
falls across the hearts and hearthstones
OF their widows and orphans Is our
high purpose in thus assembling in this
beautiful memorial service.
The dead know not the flowers we
plant above their tombs, but the living
treasure the lofty purpose which in
spires the sacred act. Flowers beauti-
ful and fragrant, shed their rich per-
fume 70 gladden. the hearts Of those in
gloom, and the grave loses half its
power 10 chill and blight when gar
landed over by their rastchless lowell.
ness. We believe In flowers, We believe
IN sunlight
Il Il our creed TO lead men higher.
where hearts may become cemented In
happy unity for the elevation and bet
terment Of their fellows. On every
side We see poverty and want harro~-
ing and distressing, sad faces bathed In
tears Of misery, sorrowing hearts in
deepest gloom It is our mission TO re-
lieve distress, assusge grief, brighten
the existence of others In shadows, turn
darkness into sunlight and sadness into
By our assembling today we will scat
ter light and sympathy along the way
of those to whom life seems anever
ending night Let US teach the gospel
Of friendship and charity. Let us
whispe 70 mourning hearts those ten
der. cheering words, blessed are those
that mourn, for they shall be COM
f0rted." Let US believe IS we are
taught, that God the Father is the Su-
preme Chancellor of the Universe. Let
US look beyond the clouds Of death, and
see the dswning Of Q grander day. Let
US be gladdened by the thought that
some day, somewhere in lodge beyond
the skies, we shall meet again and en-
joy the song of eternal friendship
through the ceaseless ages.
Death. after all. is a read our dearest friends
have gone.
Why. with such leaders. fear to say lead onr
Its gates repel. lest 1t too soon be tried,
But turns to balm on the immortal side"
The countless millions of all the ages
have gone its darkened way. Those
that live are but handful of those that
sleep their restful sleep. The golden
threads of love that bind human hearts
In the embrace Of happiness are cru.
ely severed by its imperial decree.
The beautiful and good, the just and
true, march silently on in Its serted
ranks, and obey its immutable com
mands. The minstrelsy of birds which
ill the air with lively melody will cease
their songs-the lovely flower deli.
cstely hued with an almost immortal
beauty, Frightening the hills and wales
and even the rugged mountain summit,
springing into beautiful existence un
der the gladdening rays of the sun, are
blighted by the chilling frosts and
biting SHOWS, and droop and die. The
withering breath of this grim monster
touches all life, and speaks In sepuichra
tones of dissolution and decay, yet w
are comforted. There comes into the
sombre, pensive gloom the rays Of hope
which tell us that the flowers will bloom
again. and the birds renew their cheer
ing melodies There is Q mysteriou
voice which whispers that death Is bu
the portal of more glorious life, tn,
key that unlocks the door TO bles
leternity.
i Beautiful thought that this grin
reaper, while he may sit supreme owe
the lifeless clay, cannot look beyond tn
tomb. Glorious 70 contemplate, tina
while he may provoke the solemn bell
70 awaken . sad requiem, and freez
loving hearts in merciless sorrow, ye
the dead hear not his voice, and tn
, echoes Of the farther shore betoken jo
! and everlasting peace. The mournin
, crepe, the hushed voice, the tear {
grief, the solemn hearse, and the yawI
ing grave are, after all, the signs of th
neetness of life, and there rings ou
above these solemn rites the sweet q
surance that mortality shall becom
Immortality; that the vestments (
earth shall, In the twinkling Of an ey,
become the livery of heaven.
When the Master OF Life, and the ID
stroyer of Death, said to Martha 18th
brother shall rise again" there budde
and bloomed on those sacred Judes
hills, the flower of universal hope {,
al the centuries and .! humanity. AZ