La Junta tribune., 1905-12-06
MEMORIAL SERVICES
NUMBER SEVEN HUNDRED AND ONE

/ capacity last Sunday afternoon on
the occasion Of the annual memorial
services of la Junta lodge, No. Iol,
B. p. o. f. in memory and honor Of
departed brothers. The exercises
were beautiful and very impressive
throughout. and many strangers TO
Elkdom departed with larger
I knowledge of and a more kindly
spirit toward the order, and withal
better understanding of its intents
and purposes.
The stage was beautifully decor
ated with palms and ferns and the
insignia of the order. In the center
of the stage was suspended a large
clock dial with the hands pointing 10
XI. sacred hour to the fraternity,
the dial being surmounted with an
. Elk head. The officers Of the lodge
and the speakers Of the day occupied
seats on the stage. and nearly hun
dred members Of the lodge were
-ated in the parquet.
Il is doubtful if any lodge had
more appropriate programme, finer
eulogies or better music. both vocal
and instrumental. The general
eulogy by Brother r. o. Aylesworth,
Of Fort Collins. was one Of the most
finished and polished addresses ever
delivered in La Junta, arousing emo
tions in the hearts Of many TO which
they had for a long time been utter
strangers. Mr.. Aylesworth's ad-
dress was delivered from brief notes
which ho has promised 10 transcribe
for the TRIBUNE. and which We hope
to be able to publish in Saturday.
issue.
The address Of Brother Fred A.
Sabin. "OIr Departed Brother
was a touching tribute 90 the mem
DRY of three departed brothers r.
J. Captain. Andrew C.. White and
Gerald Dpughertv. and Is herewith
appended Iu full as follows.
During the past year death
pale messenger twice gained en-
trance into the tylet rrcea-es of this
lodge. Two Of our members have
answered the final summons. cutting
off their membership in this earthly
lodge to be initiated into the my--
teries Of the Great Beyond. To
perpetuate their memory and To
commune again with them this day
l. set apart and this occasion de-
creed. We know not what form or
figure Immortality takes to itself:
We know not whether these broth
ers. who, by their passing. have
solved the great problem Of life, are
with US here today or whether in
some distant and ethereal world
they are wandering in green pas
tures and by the still waters We
know not whether their journey into
the great unknown was but a step
or whether their journey thither
was long and devious Centuries
ago the patriarch yexed himself
with the question. II a man die !
shall he live again And in an his .
philosophy no answer could be I
found. Since that day man has F.
searched the hidden recesses Of
human knowledge. rausackcd the .
musty TONES Of many forms of
theology. delved into the mysteries
Of science for an answer. and the
only answer has been the echo of
his own words. shall he live
again Yet during all these cen
turies the answer has been close at .
hand and easy 10 be found. Il may
be the natural egotism Of man born
of woman. il may be the natural
result Of intruspection, but 10 a
thinking man the answer TO the 4
question that has vexed the CEN
turies is. If man dies yet he lives
on. While the visible husk with I
ers. fades and crumbles away the .
kernel, which is the life. remains .
to bring forth new life. to cause the I
barren places 20 blossom and 10 be
the highest and eliminating result
and justification Of the great
Creators scheme Of everlasting life I
How useless would b. these
ceremonies. how futile our actions
in assembling to-day. were we here
simply to keep before our minds the
fact that once upon a time there I
dwelt with Us upon this earth two
60. - - E-.arl nL.--L-.-.- !