Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-05
OF DEAD.
FraternaI Organizations Have
Ceremonies at chippian.
mock Cemetery.
MAYOR M'CASKRIN SPEAKS
Modern Wcodnen of America and Roy
al Neishbors of America Memorial
Association Observe Day.

The Modern Woodmen of America
and the Royal Neighbors of America
! Memorial association held their cere-
monies in Chippiannock cemetery Sun
day afternoon. Hon. George W. Nc.
Caskrin was the principal speaker of
| the day, his address being in part as
! follows:
know of no better time than now to
look upon the side of life that marks
its frailty
The little plant that I hold in my
hand is like in kind TO that of the
mighty tree that towers above us. and
yet the life of the tree is extremely
short
The little vine is weaker still and
ends with the summer to mingle again
| its beauty with the dust
The little blade of grass withers ere
the setting sun.
These all are strong as compared
with the shell of the locust that | hold
here. a frail bark waited about by a
| breath of air There is the opening
between the wings where the living
| insect that you now hear made it's es-
cape, leaving nothing to mark the
/ transformation save this transparent
/ shell which will soon be blotted out
by the fury of the elements.
/ So ii is with our lives today. we. you
| and l, live and are strong Tomorrow
the human form is but a figure of pal
lid clay.
| Bids Us Hesitate.
This reality, this condition, this sol
emn truth bids us hesitate here. this
beautiful, splendid hour to again renew
the tender chords of friendship and
faith and love of the dead patriots of
woodcraft, and their kindred order the
Royal Neighbors of America that have
fallen on the battlefield of life.
There is no language, there are no
words. not a human voice, not even
the harmonious music can recall the
real true life of the loved ones as they
were then, living. breathing, laughing
| and smiling as of yOre.
But we can this beautiful afternoon
| pause and reflect, to remember the
good deeds and the kind acts of our
departed neighborS. Reflect, to justify
our fears that when our time shall
come to answer to the roll-call we will
rest secure in sublime confidence that
we will not be forgotten.
Oh, the pain, the sorrow, the an
guish, the doubts and the fears of hui
manity and then TO be forgotten, could
but mean persecution to all mankind.
But we know such is not the case;
we will be remembered, we will not be-
forgotten. but every act and every deed
of a brother or sister will be recorded
on the tablet of time that We, you and
|. have done our full duty toward our
neighbOT.
VIII Aid FraternIties.
With this benedictiOn, the memorial
day of these two societies will grow
and become greater and more divine
as the years roll by and as time and
energy increases in numbers and in
strength these splendid fraternities. So
that when this generation shall have
passed and gone. the generations yet to
come will learn of the hOnored mem
bers whose hair has grown gray in
the life's work TO make these societies
the greatest of all other frateTnal in
surance societies.
| am proud of the hour, | am proud
of those splendid men and women and
shall stand shoulder to shoulder in the
ranks of countless thousands hailing to |
victory and success these great level |
ers of aristocracy and caste.
1t is these societies | predict in no
far distant time that will be the medi |
um that will preserve liberty of life |
and of the home of our country.
In conclusion let me say no greater
act. no greater service can be per
formed to commemorate the dead than |
to scatter roses among the living as a |
message TO the dead