The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-06-12
THE MONUMENTS
THAT ENDURE.

lnere lS SOneUnlHS In every nunan
heart that Graves remembrance. The
idea Of anihilatiou is repulsive and
exceedingly abhorent to the normal
mind. To be remembered after we
have passed behind the thick cloud
that bounds the confines of our earth
ly existence, to leave behind some
mark that will endure, is an impulse
born Of the higher nature Of man.
1t is this same desire that is respon-
sible for much of the advancement of
the human race. Men love to do,
not alone because of the reward in
money and the securing Of COM
Portable ease, but also because of the
instructive dread that most men feel
at the thought Of being forgotten.
This motive enters largely into the
song Of the sweet poet, the wonder
full musical composition of the musi-
clan, the deep theory Of science
evolved from the brain of the scien-
tist, the beautiful picture Of the
skilled artist, the mighty engineering
schemes Of the great builders and
every other activity of human mind
and hand. How shall we build so as
to accomplish the end desired2 The
mighty rulers Of Egypt built great
pyramids. A few scholars have sue
ceeded in deciphering here and there
a name Of some one of these great
builders. Their very history has
perished from the earth. Fire de-
stroys the great books, the wonderful
pictures, the magnificent buildings
produced by human hands. Time,
the great enemy of all human crea-
tious is ever at work seeking to blot
out the product Of human genius.
War and famine and flood are all in
league with Father Time in his efforts
to efface the work of man. 1t is not
then in books nor paintings nor in deep
works of science, nor upon tablets Of
stone, nor shafts Of marble that a
man finds the sure medium of show
ing to succeeding generation the
mighty thoughts and deeds Of his
brain and heart. There is a passage
in the Bible that throws light upon
this, as well rs every other question
of human experience. In the third
verse of the third chapter of second
Corinthians the thought is advanced
by the writer that Jesus Christ wrote
his message to the world mot In
tables Of stone, but in feshy tables
of the heart" And, whether men
receivd it or not, here is the truth in
the whole matter under discussion.
Write you message to posterity upon
human hearts, not in granite and
brick and marble. Strange it is, but
true: the message transmitted from
your heart to books, stone, costly
buildings, works Of bronze, brass or
iron will fade from sight and be
swallowed up in the shadow of the
succeeding years. Write in human
hearts and the message is widened
and deepened with the rolling OF the
years. After all, flesh is more endur.
ing than marble or bronze, for it is
endowed with feeling. 1t can trans
init your throbbing message to other
throbbing hearts. 1t has the warm
spirit Of life. The only message that
will endure all calamities is the mes
sage that is written In blood. Do
not hold up your hands in horror at
this statement. Every movement
forward made by the human race has
been purchased at the price of blood.
Blood paves the shining way that
marks the steep incline that leads to
the enduring house OF fame. Men
must needs die before they can save
to that which is higher and nobler in
human achievement. Blood marks
speak a language that is universal.
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