The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1907-07-26
Bartenders Inaugurate
Memorial Observance


but the doubts are only momentary.
Deep down in every heart is that long
ing for another life-for another op-
portunity beyond the grave-for an
other reunion with the loved ones lost.
And can it be that the great power
which framed the wonderful mechan-
ism of these mortal bodies overlooked
the answer to the longing which every
heart has felt?
81 am not of those who look upon
have been called upon to pass under
the rod of aff1iction, and while bowed
beneath that rod, mourning the tenn
porary separation from loved ones, I
have been sustained by the belief
that their farewell kiss was only a
pleasant goodbye until that glorious
morrow when hearts knit to hearts
on earth should be knit together again
on a fairer shore. And believing thus,
l am constrained to believe that across
the chasm which We call death, the
spirit of all my loved ones, all my
comrades, who have gone before, are
reaching out to me, that they are help
ing me because the tender memories
of their personal associations with me
on earth make me better fit for the
stern duties of life that confront me.
Because of these things l am made
stronger by these annual memorial
meetings They awake in our hearts
better thoughts, kindlier feelings and
strengthen the ties of friendship, with
out which life would not be worth the
living.
THE Great Craftsman who walked
and taught in Galilee, and in three
years laid down a code of ethics which
has regenerated the world, told us
that No man liveth unto himself and
no man dieth unto himself" The
great truth contained in these words
grows more important as the days go
by. l am my brothers keeper; you
are your brothers keeper. And be-
cause We are our brothers keepers
we who toll in kindred occupations
have banded ourselves together in
unions to better guard our weaker
brothers. Unionism is the outgrowth
of an unselfish, not selfish. motive.
| We demand better wages, not that
We alone may prosper more, but that
those dependent upon us may enjoy
life as it should be enjoyed. We de-
mand shorter hours, not because we
desire to work less, but because we
tunity to secure some of the good
things of life. We organize because
| life is a battle that cannot be won
by individual action. In these unions
we learn to know one another as we
would never learn if engaged in a
selfish struggle for individual exist
ence. Ties of friendship are formed
that are only strengthened by the
appearance of the death angel. We
follow the mortal remains of the dead
brother to the cemetery, we hear the
clods rattle upon the coffinlid and
listen to the words of the minister as
he repeats, "Ashes to ashes and dust
to DUST" but if we have learned the
lessons of unionism well We realize
that death has not ended ALL We
realize that death has only added to
the sum of our responsibilities, for
into our keeping has been left the
sobbing widow and the orphaned chill.
dren. Into the keeping of our mem
: ic 1nf III. 0f hr, l.; IND
ly deeds, the smiling welcomes and
, the handclasps of the dead brothers
who sleep but for a time, only to
! awaken as the rose awakens at the
J call of spring. From these meetings
we go back to our daily toll, strength
ened for the conflict by this briel
communion with the spirits of those
who fought the fight and who have
; finished the course
: There is no death,
What seems SO is transition:
: This life of mortal breath
Is but a suburb of the life elysian,
Whose portals we call death
The blossoms we lay today upor
the resting places of our dead com
rades will fade away into decay, jus
as their mortal bodies have faded tC
dust. But we will remember this brie
hour when We scattered the blossoms
1 and the memory will be an inspira
1 tion to us. Ours shall be the blame
if we fail to profit by the lessons O
fraternity and charity which, these
1 dead comrades taught US by precep
, and example,
: But in thus remembering and dec
/ Grating the graves of our dead com
2 rades, let us not forget the living