The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-12-14

Following is the greater part OF al
able address delivered at the Oper'
house, on the occasion Of the memorla
service held by the local Elks, Sunday
afternoon. Dec. 2. by Prof. w. II Luehr
past exalted ruler:
BROTHERS AND FRIENDS
This hour, these simple services, are
sacred TO our honored dead. To-day,
wherever men are united by the fraterna
bonds of our noble order, they, for an
hour. Law aside the burdens Of business
and pause in the pursuit Of pleasure to
pay fit tribute of respect and love &c
"Onr Absent Brothers These simple
ceremonies, this labor Of love, in dra'
matte harmony with the seasons change
from the throbbng, thrilling fulness OF
summer life to the white frosty pail OF
winter stiffness sadly remind NJ OF those
beautiful words of Shelley, true now
true ever:
Death is here death IL there,
Death is everywhere;
All around, within, beneath,
Above, il death, and we are death.
This change is symbolic Of human life.
After a few feet years Of lusty strength,
Of eagerness and high emprise, our
way OF life passes into 'the sere, the
yellow leaf, and after that the somber
Shadow falls. and all is silence, unbrok-
on, eternal.
Since last we met upon similar occa'
sion year ago, our Lodge has been
happily exempt from the visitation OF
the Grim Reaper whose
sickle keen
Reaps the bearded grain ut breath,
And the flowers that grow between.
From our roster not It single name has
been stricken. From the door OF our
temple crepe has not hing, nor within
the voice Of mourning been heard.
But not go favored or fortunate have
been the home circles OF all our brothers
Upon the lovelight of few fresides has
fallen the shadow Of the eternal mystery
that shrouds the lives of ala Few
whose roof tree has been sadly bereaved.
To them our hearts have gone out. 10
them we have extended the full measure
of our sympathy in the dark hour OF
their bereavement and sorrow, and in
kind words and kindly deeds we en-
deayored TO Lessen and assuage its bitter
ness
But we realize how feeble how un-
ayaiing, words are to take away the
poignancy Of the grief Of such an hour.
Eyermore IL death sad and mystery.
Never do we stand at the postern gate
Of life clasping hands Of loved ones aoout
to depart ont TO where float and lower
the shapeless. mystic shadows OF eternal
night. but that the hour is one Of sad
ne4s, Of grief and tears, Eyermore IL
death rad sad, when itH shadowy
summons comes 10 the innocent babe
whose prattling lips ne'er learned 10
form the words Of grief and pain
Fad doubly, trebly sad when ii comes
10 the man in the full strength Of years,
with all life'z pulses 'hrobbing with
the resolution and anticipation of years
Of usefulness and helpfnlness yet 70
come, and when all LIES shadows still
are falling toward the west'-sad even
when II comes to old age bowed and
tottering beneath the weight Of weary
years And every life, 30 matter II It's
every hour IL rich with love and every
moment jeweled with "a JOY, will at it's
close become tragedy rs deep and dark
a. can be woven Of the warp and woof
Of mystery and death No matter how
long the life no matter how filled with
happiness or how fraught with care,
ever 10 we seek 10 postpone the in
eyitanie hour, TO stay the mysterious
summons Beautifully, superbly has
Walt Whitman given utterauce 10 this
universal dread. when he says
After the supper and talk after the day
il done
As friend from friends his final with.
drawal prolonging,
Goodbye and goodbye with emotional
lips repeating
80 hard for bis hand to release those
hands no more will they meet,
No more for communion Of sorrow and
joy, Of old and young,
A farstretching journey awaits him tc
return no more,
Stunning, pOstponlng severance seek
ing 70 ward Off the last word ever sC
little.
Zen at exit door turning charges super
fuous calling back cen A. he de
scends the steps.
Something TO exc out minute addition
al shadows Of nightfall deepening,
Farewells. messages lessening DINNER
the forthgoer's visage and form
Soon 10 be lost for aye in the darkness
10th, Oh 40 10th, to depart
Aye 10th, so 10th, to depart And
In that ail1 II this the be all and th.
snd-all Of lifef VIII the for,hgoer bt
lost for aye in the darkness Or liz thi,
going forth some solemn. immortal
birth, on the frontiers. to eyes impene
trable passing over" Shall we sa,
with Whitman to the soul at parting
JOY. Shipnate-5oy
Our life is closed-onr life begins;