La Junta tribune., 1908-12-12
BEN koPERllK GIVES EuLoGY
Memory Of Departed Brethren Is
HOnored BY Beautiful
Ceremonies.

ber in each year. by the Benevolent
and Protective order OF Eiks. ia mem
ory OF departed brothers,. was obserg-
ed In this city last Sunday after
noon by the members OF La Junta
Lodge No 50i. Exalted Ruler II c.
Todd presided and an audience which
occupied all OF the available space
in the La Junta Theater WIS present
The members OF the lodge march ed
In body from the club rooms 70
the theater. and occupied the front
section OF the auditorium. The stage
presSlted an unusual scene Of beauty.
with banks OF pottcd plants and dow.
rear was on Illuminated dial with
hands pointing 10 tn. mystic hour OF
eleven. surmounted with al Elks
head. the tips of whose antlers blaz
ed forth with yari-oolored incandes-
cents.
One OF the finest musical programs
ever rendered in this city was given.
the particular stars being Miss Shrop
shire and W. w WiswaIl i'm vocal
solos, and c. A Richards In violin
solo.
The individual eulogy was delivered
by E. W Mcdaniel, who reviewed
the careers and portrayed the charac-
ter Of the two members who departed
this life during the past year
F. v Gavigan and Charles F. Pat
-.
The general euiogy. delivered by
b. F. koperlik. OF Pueblo Lodge,
No 80, was mastery effort. and
made profound impression upon his
auditors. evidenced by the strained
eagerness with which every word
was listened TO. The address In full
Is as follows:
There is sentiment in the hush
OF soiemnity which comes over MS
at this time. that makes this hour
sacred aud sublime. Sacred 10 the
memory OF those who have passed
from our midst to the tongueiess
silence of the grave, Sublime In the
performance OF a duty that ennobl.s
all our hearts and makes this place
a sanctuary worthy OF the presence
OF God.
The practice of commemorative the
dead is not confined to any nation
or to any land but uniyesal through
out the world. and has been so ever
since the first despairing mother held
within her trembling arms the cold
and paiIid body OF her murdered boy
This practice had its origin beyond
the memory of man, back in ths
mists that cloud the time when bar
barous humans fought and hunted
against the instinct OF the beasts
1t was nourished by superstition
fostered by curiosity. cradeled by feal
and became the foundation and
mainstay OF ancestor worship. And
yet. despite these facts. II has ever
been one of the most powerful for
ces in the moral developemant OF
the human race.
We know that veneration Of the
dead can accomulish nothing for
them; that euiosies cannot disturb
nor render more profound their
dreamless sleep; that flowers. monu.
ments. music and all the sweet tok-
ems Of our love and esteem can
not win for US n single whispered
word from the voiceless depths Of
these things can and do exert bene-
ficent influence upon the living Re-
spect paid to the memory OF those
who are gone. will engender respect
In the living who remain: flowers
may wither on the rounded mounds
in the silent cities OF the dead; but
their sweet fragrance will never fade
from the mourning hearts that have
been soothed: monuments may crack
and crumble to the dust. but they
will ever proclaim to the world an
abiding faith In the perfectuity OF
the human race and the Immortality
OF the soul; while eulogies awaken
hope. comfort sorrow. Danish fear.
stimulate ambition. arouse inspiration
purify our faith. rob death Of Its
sting, the grave Of its victory. and
enrich US with that beautiful philos-
ophy which teaches M how best to
live, and. when realities are melt
the setting sun. how best to die.
The ancients had beautiful allie
CORY concerning dsath. which II
mishe BE- wen for sacA. Of - here
present ever 70 hear IN mind. II
Is r@lats1 tln9 tAssv enlisted ID 2
cert. - ~ -: - = =
- y n211hI vyk2 -, 0soo