Gilpin observer., 1902-12-11
uDdiscovered continents and sldorados

6ubuue, ana from Lne 6nnre6 OF eternity, |
shine bright and guiding celestial radi
ances. Let US remember that the world
hurls angrily aside the man who stands
with his arms akimbo set, and he who
waits to have his TASK marked out for
him dies and leaves his errand unfulfilled.
The dead, the immortal dead. we leave
in the loving arms Of our eternal tender
Father. Let US, dear friends, form re.
solve, before we pass from this place to
day, that we will be better men, be, ter
citizens, better to ourselves and our God
so that, when it shall come our time to
take our chamber 10 the silent halls OF
death, it may be said Of each Of us.-he
was an honest man and true and faith.
full Elk.
/ had not the pleasure Of knowing the
departed Brothers of this lodge. I new Z
received from them the warm hand
clasp Of fraternal greeting; never
looked into their manly faces radiant
with Joy and hope; knew nothing OF
their faults, for thev we're human, en-
dowed with human frailties, nor OF their
manly virtues that made them marked
personages among their fellow men, fiji
to be enrolled upon the records OF our
noble order. While they were still
among you. you wrote their faults upon
the sands, and, when the waves of death
beat upon the shore and receeded again,
the writing was affaced, and no line or
trace remained. Their virtues we're in-
scribed upon the indelible tablets of love
and memory. They are with you tod.-y
among your most cherished recollections.
Time, the great healer, softens the bit
ter anguish that comes to those who
stand nearest and dearest to the depart
ed ones, and" many, many weary days
have come and gone since you laid their
inaninate forms in mother earth. l
doubt not many an eye before me is
moist today, and many heart longs for
the touch of vanished hand, and the
sound of voice that is stilled forever.
They are asleep in perfect peace. The
heart has ceased to beat. Careless alike
of the summer sunshine and clouds and
storms, each is at rest in dreamless
sleep. The years are so tender they bind
up the wounds which we think SO deep.
This dream OF youth will vanish as the
splendor fades from the skies when the
sun sinks to rest. The clouds of forget
fulness over and over will Danish the
last rosy color away, and the finger OF
time ~ill weave garlands to cover scar
which you think is life mark today.
The life of each was like the life of the
flower that buds, unfolas its blosso m 10 |
morning sun, and as the shadows OF
night fall close up again.
Or like the life of the wild rose, that
receives the moisture OF the dew, the
light of the sky, the warmth of the sun,
the fertility of the earth and beams into
perfect beauty. 1t dffuses sweet per
fume at the will of the gentle breeze; it
5toops to kiss the babbling brook that
goes hurrying to the sea or to the end |
of its journey: it raises its petals to
breathe again OF the gentle zaphyis, and |
then yields up its beauteous life to the |
Shiil VI tuC WiteCi hAOoto obd otOA ll5. kOO |
is the life OF fnan-of but short duration.
There is kindled in his heart the fire OF |
hope, the brightest star ir the garden OF
God, and, just as the flames are burning
brightest, his life is snuffed out. With |
bowed heads and sorrowipg hearts, we |
hear the call of the roll Of the Brothers
now resting in dreamless sleep in eter-
nity's lap. And as the names are called |
there comes not the response of Present"
Ellke, of this beautiful western city,
nesting in the Rocky mountains. where
the beauty of nature is proclaimed as
the golden sun sinks behind the snow
clad peaks, here in the softer shadows
where peace and prosperity regns, where
the hearts of men are made lighter, the
frowns of care are snloothed out and
mind and method trained in higher
channels; here where the hills touch
h .aven and the valleys beam with slnlles,
our absent brothers are looking down on
this assemblage, happy hat to them IN
their earthly battles had been allotted
part in securing more complete recog.
milton of the rights OF man, and adjuring
us to continue the work they have laid
down, to it's final and perfect consumma-
tion of world redeemed in which there
shall be neither physical, mental or
moral deformity. They have reached |
the silent heaven that all the dead have
reached, where the voyage of every life
must end. And we, their friends, who |
even now are fastening after them, are
met to. day to do the last kind act that |
man may do for man-to tell their vir |
tues and to lay, with tenderness and tears |
their ashes in the sacred place Of rest |
and peace.
Some one has said that in the open
hands OF death we find orly what they |
gave away. Let us believe that they
bear fruit and add forever to the well
being of the human race. Let US believe