The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06

They have no cant. They wear no
mask OF Hypocrisy. They believe in
upright and manly lives, and in practic.
ing charity that means something.
While tolerant of all creeds, this is
their religion Emerson says: "A
ruddy drop of manly blood the surging
sea outWeighs.' Wrong doing they
despise, and teach that it's practice is
a mark of low breeding, OF degrada-
ton and shame.
Ny brothers, this day we learn
again the lesson of charity and
brotherhood The noblest pleasure.
the sweetest joy, comes from doing
good to our fellowmen. We believe
in getting the most out of life. But
this does not mean to crowd the day
with laughter and fill the night with
music and song. 1t is a false philos-
ophy, to be sure, that would cruelty
the senses. They, too, have then
uses in the economy of life, and in
the development of the strongest man.
hood and the truest wOmanhoOd. But
from earnest effort, and high endeavor
and sincere striving Tor the attain
ment of the best that is possible to
our limitations, comes joy and =
hot 10 n N q
Let us live up to the best that is in
lis, looking the world squarely in the
face, giving hand where desert
points the way and going forward
with hearts undaunted. Noble
achievement is sure to follow in the
steps of high purpose.
No perversity OF fortune, no injus-
tice of others, can take from us the
best things in life. These are our in
dividual heritage, and will remain
with us through all eternity, unless
we ourselves cast them away. Mo-
bility of character is not the product
of the moment Rather it is the
flower and fruit of years of upward
striving. Centuries OF high thinking,
of right living, of struggle and sacri-
flee, are needed tor the best results.
In India there as an adage that a
man is rich, not in proportion to whas
he has, but in proportion to what he
can dispense with. There is beauty in
self-denial there is wealth in sacri-
flee. In every soul there is a divinity.
Let us keep it sacred. Let us guard
it as the Ark of the Conevant. The
spirit of evil must not enter there.
.F'rom that center let light and love
and charity radiate to all. Thus shall
we best fulfill the purposes OF this or
der. Thus shall We best illustrate
the lessons of this day. Thus shall
we best bear in loving memory the
virtues of our absent brothers.
The banners that followed our
brothers who are gone were sad with
Grape and amarinth, but the banners
that welcomed them to the great be-
yond were glad with the sunlight OF
the dawn 10 greet them there were
the great and good, the brave and
true, of all the ages. And into that
ganant company, witt loves tear-tilled
eyes upon him, and tear-nlled voices
chanting requiem, no ELK fears to go
The love and reverence of this hour
do not mingle with morbid grief. Our
note of sorrow is lofty one. II
touches the heights and fathoms the
depths of feeling. But to the weak
ness of repining it does not give way
i We bow our heads to the inevitable
| We believe that the change that has
come to our brothers who have gone
away, somehow, someway, is for theil
good. In the mysterious providence Of
God there can be no backward step
/ Advancement is natures order, and
change OF form merely marks the way
Death follows life, and life treads
upon the heels of death. Springs
bursts from the lap of winter and the
glory of the dawn breaks through the
darkness of the night. If tears flow
they are not from the abandonment
of grief ef-rather because the form We
loved has gone from sight, and passed
to some better and nobler phase. Z
sorrow presses upon the heart, duty
to the living gently holds it back. B,
helping the living we honor most ths
dead. The noblest way to keep alive
the memory of those who have left US
is to emulate their virtues. Bowint
in reverence at their shrine, let u!
not forget our gratitude to them
| Thew have contributed their share t(