The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-12-14
EULOGISTIC ADDRESS
Delivered by Hon. A. A. Taylor on Elk
Memorial Day.

OF our DrOtnerS VINO nave departed tnls
life during the pvst year. Fate has so
ordered that the only subject of our
memorial ceremonies today is our
beloved and stalwart brother, John H.
Bowman. The task of delivering the
address of the occasion, to which I
have been called, is a peculiarly sad
one, to me, and yet, it is comforting to
be afforded the opportunity of testify
ing to his high qualities and to place
upon record my estimate of the life and
character of my intimate and personal
friend. Only few days ago he sud
denly quit this world and left us and
his seat in this body and his place in
this community vacant-and will be
not for q month, year, decade, a
century, or ten thousand centuries, but
forever!
If he could have been only spared,
we would have been spared the anguish
of this day. Indeed there would have
been no occasion for memorial day this
year. If we had our way there would
never be an occasion for memorial day
for we would destroy the grim Sen
tinel that stands hostile and implacable
in our pathway, and be translated,
body and soul, like Elijah, or decline
to continue the journey If we had
our way, there would be no sorrow,
but, instead, perpetual and universal
rejoicing! If we had the power, we
would abolish winter and make all sea-
sons summer! We would Danish grief
and substitute never ending joyl We
wonld bring our brother back to his
place in this lodge, in his home, in his
church, at the Bar, and in this COM
mnnity-that we might again enjoy
his most agreeable companionship, be
charmed by his genial and fascinating
presence, be benefited by his wise and
conservative counsel, be profited by
his most excellent example and thrilled
by his ever-ready eloquence. But
alas we have not the power to change
the immutable laws of God How i'm
possible such ideas!-and how vain
such wishes! They are but the lamen-
tations of sorrow and deep regret-the
wild rawlings of disappointment and
despair-the wailings of inconsolable
grief! AS the poor miserable worm of
the dust writhes under our pitiless
tread, so we are convulsed with agony
whom trod upon by the mercisess heel
of fate! "It is appointed unto men
once to die"
For this, we have the authority OF
Gods decree. Deaths fell stroke must
descend upon all fesh-there is nc
escape and "after death, the judg-
ment!" What We are most anxious
about is the Judgment" Death is
nothing. 1t is the passing of the flesh
to dust aud to rest John Bowman
said with latest conscious breath II
am ready" He was put to sleep tC
awake in eternity
Brethren What is the lesson? The
answer is in the enforcement OF the
injunction handed down in Holy writ
"Be ye, therefore, ready also!" Oul
brother though dead in the fiesh-stil
lives! His splendid personality is ou
of our sight and touch and gone from
us forever, but his spirit is with III
around and about us and hovers ovel
us and is today tasting of the sweets o
conscious immortality!
Brethren: Three members of on
fraternity have passed away since it
organization and each one in a strik
ingly similar manner. Brother Curti
was crushed to death between two car
and only had time to send us mes
, sage couched in this touching phrase
"Tel my friends not to forget me!
These tender words coupled with tn
; announcement OF his death, found
. Judgement IN our hearts and they ar
ringing there today and we do nc
"forget" him. Poor Eugene Earnet
was victim of the horrible Ne
Market wreck and had no time fc
breath or speech and so we have u
word from him. Each of these has ha
his memorial day, but we will affection
ately respond to the dying request I
Brother Curtis and sccord them shal
in each succeeding memorial day an
never "forget" them by keeping the
memory lever fresh and green " Joh
Bowman took time to let us know
before he partook of the fatal draugl
being doubtful of results-that
e was ready" He died under the kni
% on the surgeons table, but fro
I asphyxiation. Thus all three died,
! the prime of vigorous young manhoC
and robust health, an unnatural al
tragic death. Brethren, friends, cou
trymen, l again press the question
what Is the lesson?-and again l ci
you to the only answer which has con
down through all the ages with Il
ia II 10 AhSolutelv Free Today.