The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-08-05
stress of life unto the blessed haven

stress of life unto the blessed haven
of His love.
And-if we believe this-if it be
not the idle talk of ancient house.
wives; if there be Heaven, if the
story OF eternal unhappiness for the
faithless he not a boogie tale with
which to fright weak minded
children; then, the story of the Re-
demption, of Jesus love. of Heaven
and life Immortal is the most import
ant thing that you or have ever
heard.
There is no middle ground
Christianity is the most stupendous
fact of all the universe. or it is a
silly superstition and lie.
If it be true. and with all my
heart and soul believe it to be true.
of what little import are all the other
facts of life? What matters it to-
morrow if our gain be great or small !?
What matters it if honors come or
honors go' OF what consequence are
physical discomforts or mental
| ills? What difference whether we
be attired in fine raiment or dressed
in rags? Whether we drive our
motor car or walk the dusty highway
Whether we work with a shovel in
the ditch or stand in idleness with
folded hands?
Christianity is the only fact that
can make life worth living or death
worth dying. Fraternity. love.
charity. ambition. kindliness, gener-
osity. virtue. chastity, honesty are
all component parts of this great
fact. Let US remember this to-mor-
row. when petty cares infest. when
temptations surround. when mind and
heart are diverted from the real
thing of life. which is God.
If | should go to you my sovereigns.
to you who love your little sons. even
as loved mine. And if | should
say to you. "Your son is gone from
you. He has gone far, far away. to
a land you ne'er have seen. He may
not return. but you can go to him.
There is no easy way. Money will
not help you. You must make the
journey alone and on foot -
If l should say this is to you and
you had lost your little son. and
you believed what said; can
see the long line of'fathers. starting
now. this afternoon. without delays
or gatherings. upon the way.
We stand to-day before the grave
of one who knew the way of eternal
life and followed it. We know that
he was faithful and kindly. that he
was true friend. an affectionate
son. an upright citizen. loyal Sow
ereign and an earnest Christian. We
know that in the long combat with
disease he was brave and cheerful,
we know that he bore suffering with
patience ana with fortitude. we know
that he was considerable and thought.
full for his loved ones and that he
spared them all the grief he could
We know that his tired body was glat
to find rest beneath the smiling hills
OF Crawford. in a land of friends ant
flowers and loving kindness. We
know that he is in Heaven with hi:
God, where the White Plague is M
more, and that he will rejoice in hi!
soul as each dear friend of earth
each fellow sovereign, wins his way
to the immortal goal.
AS Woodmen of the World we ART
proud of these our fellow sovereign
whose graves we have this day strewl
with flowers. 1t is beyond our powe
to help them. we come rather to draw
inspiration from them and to brlns
comfort to the hearts of their love-
ones who shall know by this that gu
dead are not forgotten and that
though silent. they call
We are proud too of the Woodmel
of the World. In its ranks we be
lieve can be found the true fraternity
1t pretends not to take the place o
!, church or of religion but rather to serv
!, as an aid to both. means by whicl
, the hearts and thoughts of men ma,
be lead to higher things. We ar
proud of our order because it is mad
up of that best product of the world
civilization. the common people o
America.
And now, as we dedicate thi
beautiful granite shaft, which w
trust shall endure until time merge
into eternity. let US dedicate GU
I. hearts to a still more lasting ser
!. vice. knowing that the highest homo
we can pay to Woodcraft. is to liv
useful. upright life as this GU
; fellow sovereign has done.
Word was received last week fror
Louie Roberts, an old resident O