Gilpin observer., 1906-12-06
MEMORIAL SERVICES
[Conc,uded from Page l.
crown.

OF such as these, is Elkdom composed,
men who love their fellow man; such
men do we bold in memoriam today.
Kingdoms may perish, cities may fall in
ruins, the tangled brush of the jungle
may stand where once an empire flour
ished, the angry waves of the ocean may
roll over buried atlantis, but the mem
ory OF a departed Elk can never fade!
And what message of comfort and
peace do these departed soldiers of Elk
dom send us today? Have you lost a be-
loved father? Have the eyes of the pro,
tector and generous provder closed for.
ever? Does the wound still remain raw
and bleeding? Doubtless, and yet the
memory of his loving care, his genial
smile and sturdy horror are with you,
and therein lies compensation. Have
you lost well:beloved husband, erhaps
in the first flush OF married happiness?
If his fond face and perfect love marked
the sum of lifes happiness to you, their
memory will prove your utmost solace.
For loss Of father, husband, son or broth
er, the compensation lies in memory!
The acute, agonizing, torturipg pain Of
recent loss will under the merciful hand
OF Time become a tendcrly beautiful,
idealized memory, your greatest solcce
Joy and comfort.
We could not. if we would-regret; we
cannot, il we might-forget. The spread
ing antlers of the Elk stretch out in
peace and protection over you and yours,
and bid you, weep not-but remember
and be comforted! Let the light which
is not on land or sea- penetrate our souls
and soften the harshness OF our grief by
illuminating the glory OF that grand
band of departed brothers who lived true
to the tenets and principles OF Elkdom
and when their life's task was finished,
turned their faces toward the setting
sun and passed away. To US, they have
left their legacy of manhood, the glorious
memory of their steadfast Elkhood, than
which no greater legacy can be handed
down to man!
l know not what religious belief you
may hold, nor whether you hold to the
immortality OF the soul or you do not,
but this ] know, there is no finer creed
by which a man may live and die, than
that same creed OF manhood as it is
spelled in Eikdom.
As I stand here in your midst today,
my brothers and friends, here on the
pinnacle of Colorados sun-kissed hills,
teemiug with hidden wealth, veritable
treasure house Of nature, see upon your
faces the mingled light and shadow OF
happiness and sorrow; the grip OF this
gross material being fighting for supre.
macy with the glowing, spiritual faith Of
idealsm. And in no uncertainty of mind
as l stand with you now above the
clouds OF grief and sorrow, my face turn.
ed from the tumult and turmoil Of life's
material battle, my soul face to flce with
Gods own solitude, the elemental truths
of the primal hills are as an open book.
My gaze reaches out ac.oss the vast ex
panse to the utmost limits of the uni
verse and there, out in the great infinite
beyond ] see band of antlered travel
ere, their step is light, their figures ere ct,
their faces aglow with the sunshine IN
their souls, and as they march joyously
TO the seat OF judgment, above their un-
covered heads. floating softly in the
gentle breeze Of immortal peace, are the
glorious, purple beamers of Elkdom, in
which Almighty God, dipping his pen in
the sun, has written in letters of ever.
lasting light-"Charity, Justice, Brother
ly Love"
And do we fear the judgment for
thems No!
They let the milk o' human kindness permeate
their souls.
Chiyalrous, charged to right wrong the weak
ling's cause defended,
All self forgetting, facing death, that when their
day Ind ended.
"untainted hand, undaunted heart might
blazen their scroll,
They leave on history's page record all the
world may read.
Their deeds mans, their purpose Gods
they need no shctcrinR screen,
But walk in honor, fearless fore the throne of
judgment, clean,
Who lived and loved and fought and died by
Elkdom's manly creed
They are gone we hold their names in tender
memory.
Not for today but forever