Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-02

u Be Forgotten" was rendered by the
WoronoCO Quartet.
The eulogy was delivered by HoE
Charles +. Johnson OF the Waterville
Lodge.
Brethren and Friends:
In accordance with the mandate of the
constitution of our order, We have met
in sacred session upon this day in early
December. when the birds and flowers
have left us and winter has just begun
to enclose the earth in its icy grasp, TO
pay our tribute of respect to the memory
of our departed brothers.
Whether the first Sunday in December
was designated and dedicated as our
Memorial day that we might find n par
allel in nature which would strengthen
our faith in the happiness and brightness
of the life beyond, do not know; but as
consider the object of our meeting to-
day this thought arises first in my mind.
for I believe the truth is contained n the
poets lines:
There is no death. what seems so is
''Thc life of mortal breath
rs hut "A suburb Of life F'lysian
Whose portal we call DEATH
Progress in civilization has been mark
ed by the desire to perpetuate. not only
ry monument and statue. but by history
and poetry, the memory of those who
have conferred some benefit upon man.
kind. The more advanced, nation has
become, the greater its regard for the
dead, and the more frequent its tributes
Of respect
In our own country statues of bronze
and Of marble greet the eye in the parks
of all our large cities. Congress and Leg
islatures pause in the midst of most i'm
portant legislation that memorial ad-
dresses may be delivered. Men of emil
hence in all walks of life receive at their
death tributes of respect in memorial eX-
ercises of a public nature. The older we
grow as nation the dearer and more
sacred do we hold the memory of our
patriots and men of genius.
Every recurring spring we love to gath
or our choicest flowers and strew them
upon the graves Of the brave defenders
Of our country and listen to addresses
which keep bright the lustre of their
names and the glory Of the cause in
which they fell, as noble sacrifices for a
nations honor.
With an interest and a pleasure increas-
ing year by year, we care for the lot
where we have laid our loved ones to rest,
and many solitary memorial service is
there held when the heart con1munes
alone with its dead.
Although the lodge Of our order in this
city has existed less than four brief
years. vet the Silent Reaper whose field
is the whole earth, and who gathers
without distinction and with apparent I'M
concern, the ripened stalks and those
which have scarcely put forth their
bearded tassels. has visited it and remov-
ed four of our brothers in the very midst
Of their usefulness, when the realization
of their hopes and their ambitions SEEM
ed to lie Just before them.
Since We met in sacred session one year
ago. for the purpose for which we are
assembled today. two have fallen victims
to the memorable fate which will overtake
us all. But it is not alone the memory of
the memory of our lodge who have parted
from us for little while that we would
honor. but that Of all our departed BROTH
crs to whatever lodge they belonged.
These whom we honor may not all have
reached that eminence of station which
would call for n nations, a states or
city's expression of tribute to their worth.
or of grief at their death. but life is not
lived by the great alone, and they con-
tribute, however transcendent their
genius or however great the benefits con-
ferred by them, but small part of the
sum of life with its Joys and sorrows, its
successes and failures. These are shared
by US with the average man like as we
are, who. by his sympathetic spirit, his
manhood. his little acts Of kindness. has
smoothed for us the rough places en-
couraged us when we were respondent.
Sympathized with us in our sorrows. and
elevated us by the nobility of his nature.
Most of us while enjoying Indirectly the
benefits conferred by great men can trace
hut little of our lives to their direct in
fluence; but operating upon us at every
moment are the influences of those who
fight by our side the battle of life, nobly.
coura geousy and modestly.
Millions of generous. heroic acts per-
formed every day by the average COM
monrlace man, ind no observers and no
record except that made upon the warm
heart Of q brother whose load has been
lightened and his soul gladdened by them.
One of Names greatest judges died a
few years ago. Eulogies were pronounced
eXtolirg his character. his intellectual
attachments and his great services to the
States. but of them all it seemed to me
that the following was the highest trib-
ute:
"I1iGh honors and great success have
not destroyed his plain, unaffected and
simple habits. Without n touch of vanity.
self1shness or arrogance. he has lived up
to the highest standard Of intellectual
greatness. vet deriving his chief enjoy
ment and satisfaction in life. not from
homage to his position. but from what
he gave out and received in the exercise
of happy gift of perceiving what the
world affords in the way of beauty, hope
fulness and sunshine
The experiences which we all remem-
Der with the greatest pleasure are tbosa