The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-05-14

y
comes, and they are touched by the
influence of sunshine and flower, thus
bursting into, bud and bloom, they
represent religion Conversion is
only the beginning Of a religious life:
good deeds are it's continuation. The
ttruest proof Of a mans fidelity, to
God is his love for his brother De-
Votlon may be gained III the cloister.
but helpful religion must be learn
ed On the field Of LIES conflict.
Mr.. Starks was eminently practical
III ms religious notions. He beIlevea
that religion Is life that mast be
lived day by day in contact with his
fellows. He did not feel that in his
work with men the white robe of
Christianity Gould be soiled, but that
truth is liketra torch, the more it
shakes 1t shines. To practice the
virtues Of Christianity was to him
the basis of%righteous living. What
made Shakespeare the NEST talented
writer OF any~age or cline What
made the canvass Of Raphael speak
forth with Lying light? What gave
to the chisel and brush Of Angelo the
power to pick{an angel from the rock
or start seraphs from chapel walls .
Practice gave ito these men their NM
usual power, so he believed that re-
nglOn is unit and all the virtues
grow together by following the d.
rections and 7tbfacticing the simple
teachings: of 4he Master. His life
was a psalm and a prayer, and those
nearest his 4hsprt con testify that in
all things he followed the right as
God had given him to see the right.
With him 'Talt&on was a life. of good
works, andsseution rather than mo-
ton was the iassp ort to divine favor.
If itts]Rbea stSSns that be. prayeth best
Who 4=l9yeth 7ESeStr r then. %pt8yars
Of our Grand ghance1ior Had Weight
In the, ,eounei ssof glory. He is tall
est on heaven ~ floor whoSiS nearest
God, he lis greatest who is best He
never scorned q man because he was
down nor refused. to lend a. hand to
those less fortunate than himself. Ap-
plying business principles with. I'M
usual forest ghtSand acumSn, he grew
rich without ssatf:importahce; always
frugal With his money, " lie gave Of
his bounty to those: who were wor=
| thy and in need with the prodtgality
OF prince. Simple in taste and mod
| est in dress, no man ever more en-
joyed. seeing others in sash, sword
and Feathers than, he. He loted the
people with whom. he lived, Char
| lesion must have the best brass band
| the best drill Company, the best
newspaper, the best Pythian Tempe,
and the best subordinate lodge Of any
city IN the Jurisdiction. Under the
| weight Of tremendous responsibility
| working all day and far into the
night, If he could hear the simple
stories Of his old time friends, ioin
with the boys In merry heartfelt
laughter at night, he was ready to
take up with new zeal the work Of the
next day. His religion was trust in
COD, simple sincerity and love for
his felloW-man. He did not get above
| us as the world called him higher,
and higher, but all Of his thoughts
| were for us and how he might lift his
brothers as he climbed He was hap
piest among his friends IN such hui
NOR and amid such surroundings he
| heard the CRY from afar a few weeks
ago. He had all his life been a great
SUFFERER, and the sudden attack did
no tundu1y alarm him. Carried to
| MS home where encouraged by ev-
cry sympathy that loving hearts
| could offer, and blessed by every at
| tention that tender hands aided bv
science could administer. he RAPIDLY
grew worse. Between the parOxisms
Of his suffering, he talked pleasantly
with his friends, and when it was
seen that one chance and only one
remained to save fis life, he turned
to the friend upon whose Judgment
he had relied and following his ad-
Vice submitted himself to the last
ordeal with the simplicity and will
ingness Of 4 tired child. At the on
Grating room, it was noticeable that
his courag" did not falter and that
his native pOlteness, the dutgrOwfh
Of kind heart, was with him to thr
last. He Kissed his wife and sister.
but did not say goodbye. for nc
thought to greet them anew in the
morning. Without sign Of fear or
trcmOr Of anxiety be took the one
rating chair and closed his eyes.
From the struggle Of life he droppcd
into the sleep OF death. Who can say
that on the wings Of the dream that
filled his last slumber, he did not
pass into the reality Of fuller life.
that his raptured Soul did not meet
with a outer guard at the p2arIy
gate and whisper the password that
admitted him into the company Of
angels"
The resolutions of the lodges and
courts were read by .Mr. J. M. Uazle-
wood, and we're unanimously ADOPT