Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-06-16
MODERN WooDMEN's
MEMORIAL SERVICE

Yesterday the Durango Modern |
Woodmen, Lodge No. 1854, held their !
annual memorial service. The meh'-
hers met at the lodge hall about lo-2O
In the morning and, donning their
lodge regalia. marched In a body to
the Presbyterian chur.h, where the
sermon was preached by Rev. Fergd-
son. The members OF the order ht-
tending numbered about forty, nni he-
sides these a large number OF irienGs
were present, hlling the church.
After the church service commit
tee consisting of Harry Lazarus, FREQ
Pierce. Roy Stevenson and Alex. Fox
was appointed 10 go 10 Greenmount
Cemetery. where The memorial service
was performed over the grave OF
Gnerney Alexander and flowers We're
placed. MIR. Alexander was not
member of the Durango camp. but had
belonged to No. SAG OF Chetopa, Kan.
A committee also went out on the
Florida. where they were met by II
committee OF Woodmen living there,
but belonging to the Durango camp.
and services were held over the Tart
resting place of their departed brother
Levi II. Patterson. and his grave dee
Grated. Following is the memorial
sermon by Rev Ferguson:
I'VE all do fade as leaf" lsa 66;6.
Nelghbors: Today has been set
apart by our order as an annual Me
mortal Day.
One of the purposes in our gather
ing together here this morning is 10
remember the dead God has been in
our midst during the last year, and
has taken away two of our members,
Guerney Alexander and Levi II. Pat
ierson. and. in pursuance with the
custom of Woodcraft and the prompt
ings of true fraternm spirit we
would perpetunte their memory. To
This end let us rise TO our feet, and
thus, standing, pay our tribute 10 the
deceased by showing onr respect Tor
the loved ones living.
Now all of us may give together the
honors OF the Woodmen. tThis is two
swings of the axe with two claps Of
the hands. with each swing
Doubtless hone would find fault with
us for this custom. Affectionate re.
gard for the dead is Inbred. so the
dedication OF one day in all ul the busy
year to those who have toilcd side by
side with MS, aud drunk Of our cup
and shared our mutual joys and sur-
rows, and have gone before us through
the portals which open inward, is a
natural instinct Memory was born
as the first wet-cyed mother bent over
long as reason holds her throne in MS.
Besides, a memorial day service has
second object The occasion points
TO the present and the future as well
as the past. or the living and their
destiny as well as the deceased Isaiah
has said: I'VE all do fade as a leaf"
and If simile of the career OF man
be sought. none better than that in
his words can be found
This is now apparent In the outer
world Spring has come, and has in.
terspersed the landscape with foliage
in endless variety. Glen. forest and
meadow is irradiant with green lines
but, since spring faces winter these
emerald interludes point TO decay. Ey-
cry leaf is destined 10 fade. and. in
like manner, man wakes 10 wane.
So here is a forewarning. There is
a devitalzing force in the world. Ey,
cry tree in the town Is an allcEory,
There The leaves grapple with life like
little monarchs and capture the forces
of nature, but feebleness at last creeps
over them, and their color fades out
and their nerves relax Vitality be.
comes less positive; energy loosens
her grip. and as the zephyrs breathe
through the boughs, the tiny pendents
rustic, tremble. and fall Into the rot,
ten mouth of death"
That. too. is the case with people
Infancy opens It's eyes like bud;
youth unfolds with its queer emotions,
and fair lines are drawn In the face
with skin, and an invisible pencil puts
tenderness into the cheek and tirmness
into the mouth with its magic touch;
middle life comes on, and prudence,
wisdom and temperate Judgment are
wreathed about the temples but dis
lntegration sets in as soon as the me
rldian Of life is past Nature frowns,
and the cords Of life begin to loosen
DehtttH HtT NlHus, meat anu tolNs ut
blood is slower in its flow, the eyes
become lack-lustre, and the checks
grow pale. and bidding farewell re
luctantly. the soul steps out upon the
threshold and flts away, and the
senses close, and the body returns to
the earth.
Like leaves on trees the race of life
is found,
Now green in youth, now withered
on the ground"
Nor Is this all Of the truth. Ulu.
mately forces may hasten the end
Sometimes the frost blights the earlier
buds. and. like them, some people are
as angels damaged in their journey
Mans clammy hands dishgure him;
his exposure of himself enables uu.
propitious circumstances to nip his
virtues and the parasites of his heart
bring out spots on the living green of
his youth. oh, how often the greed OF
lucre and the lust OF the flesh cut
short the three score aud ten years of
the Psalmist.
So, too. the opposite is true. Some
l..NN H. H.a4