The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-10-29
fraternity of Woodcraft.

| In no invidious sense OF intent at re-
| Election in comparison Or contrast it
may be said that the Order OF the
Wocdnen Of The World possesses feat
urss which are as distinct as they are
original. There is not only the assur-
ance OF indemnity at death. payable to
the mother, wife or beneficiary Of the
deceased but there is placed at the tomb
Of each departed sovereign monument
commemorative OF his memory. and
there Is too. day set apart known as
| Memorial Day. when the fraternity visit
the cemeteries and decorate with flowers
and evergreenS. tokens of love and
friendship, the graves OF their dead
My friends. from our view of Frater-
nifty, it would seem, and it is beyond a
doubt, the duty of every self-respecting
man to secure his loved ones from priva-
ton and want. which may follow after
his demise, and, thus safeguarded, they
are assured protection against the or
deals of poverty, through an indemnity,
securable through any camp of the Or
der.
Let 1t be sail that the man worthy OF
membership is ever welcomed and should
| he experience misfortune and be in
want his companions will ever be ready
to assist him, and give him the glad
hand of substantial fellowship
My friends, as look you i'll the
face you give evidence of having been
soulfully impressed by this unveiling
ceremony. and as we contemplate our
surroundings, we are reminded that life
is uncertain and f1eeting, and that Death
is the lot Of all, from which neither the
king nor the pauper can escape. 1t is the
great lcveler, the equalizer of all things
which are earthly. If it were in our
power we would be unwilling to part
with our friends ami loved ones. If we
cling to life, it Is because we hesitate to
risk future of which we know SO little
Fortunately, all All Wise God has so or
dalned that no mortal is advised of his
end. If it were otherwise. the world
would be filled with tears AMI lamenta-
tons. Progress would be checked and
development would be impossible. As it
is, men live and strive with an ambition,
| Unborn, to excel. which is the impulse of
the very life which stimulates and leads
to great enieavors and achievements,
and finally to Immortality
If it is true that the grave is cold and
dark. there is that assurance divine that
there is another life. 1t is this hope, this
anticipation of the soul for Immortality
! which strengthens in weakness and light
,ns with Christian faith the path to the
grave.
And, my friends, as we stand at the
ngrave Of our departed friend we'll may
1--WE cherish the pleasant memories of the
past, of associations genial and cheer
ing, of him who has been called to his
eternal home. And with him and with
others, who are ever dear, is connected
| the All Divine Source of Immortality
| which is proclaimed in the sun, the moon
and the stars; in the oceans, the rivers
and the rivulets in the genteness of
spring; in the bloom of summer; in the
harvest of autumn, an1 in the SHOWS
| and iclcles of winter, and in all the
| things of earth, but above all, in the
| message of Easter is exempifed the
| mystery Of the Immortality of the soul
in the fulfillment of the prophecy of the
| miracle of miracles. twenty centuries
since, when Christ, the Saviour of man
kind, arose from the dead What I'M
speakable, inexpressible comfort may be
drawn in the implicit acceptance of the
Saviour's teachings! The very thought
of a future life, of everlasting bliss is,
as a healing balm of comfort to the
Christian soul
And in this line of thought | may in
conclusiin recall the beautiful sentiment
expressed by Mrs. Barbauld:
Life, we've been long together,
Through pleasant and through cloudy
weather:
lis hard to part when friends are dear,
Twill cost sigh, perhaps tear
Then steal away, give little warning,
But in some brighter cline, Did me good |
morning
And now. my trends, let us so live
that when at last we shall be summoned |
from this world that we may be greeted
at the Pearly Gates of Heaven with the
cheering words: Welcome, good and
faithful servant, enter thou into the Joys
everlasting prepared by thy God Enter
and join your friends and loved ones
and be united henceforth and forever ;"
AT the conclusion of the exercises at
this monument the march was resumed
IN regular order to the grave of Sow
ereign E. T. Chasteen of Broa iaxe.