The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-12-06

| In Keokuk We are more like members
of one great family than are the people
of any other community with which
/ ! am acquainted. 1t may be suggested
/ that this is one-sided and partial
view, Indicative of provincialism, but
| it aas the support of residents of other
cities who are informed concerning
our mutual regard for each other and
the spirit of helpfulness that pervades
all our people. We have, too, an esprit
de corps that is at once the admira-
ton and the envy of other communi-
ties. This is finely exemplifled in the
unity and enthusiasm with which
every good work is carried forward TO
success. The "Keokuk spirit" and the
"Keokuk way have won wide recogni-
ton as potent means to Important
ends. How strong these influences are
with us is well attested by this
| splendid gathering here this AFTER
noon. In a restricted sense we have
met to recall our departed Brothers
of tie Benevolent andsProtective Order
! Of Elks and to do 'lonor to their mem
DRY. In a larger, broader sense we
| lave come together in the interest
of a common citizenship and as an
EXPRESSION of a common sorrow. me
occasion is one of melancholy inter-
est and should be very sacred TO ali
| of us. We have cast aside all the
cares of the world and all our little,
petty troubles, and all our individual
strivings and selfish ambitions to maze
pilgrimage, as it were, this Sunday
afternoon. to a common shrine and
| deposit thereon our offerings OF love
and appreciation. Your presence here
| today is proof that you agree with
us that it is higaly fitting we should
do this One day in the year set
aside to the memory of our departed
brothers is no more than what is just
lly their due. Their characters and
careers and the principles for which
| they stood entitle them to everlasting
remembrance. Their virtues cannot
\ be too frequently recalled or too
seduously emulated, either in their
honor or for our own good. 1t Is thus
| that we learn the true meaning OF
life. We cannot bring them back TO
Aus. hut we can In memory take our
! selves to them and profit by the les
sons that their lives and death have
for us. We are uae gamers, there
fore. from such an occasion as this.
The honor we do them reflects equal
honor upon us and yields us manifold
| benefits in addition. AS the martyr
Lincon said in his immortal Gettys
burg address, the occasion is for the
living rather than the dead. They are
4 beyond all praise or blame. It Is fol
jus wfno remain to highly resolve to ded
icate ourselves anew to the princl
4 MES for which they stood, and carr!
on the good work in which in life the.
were engaged.
Although our brothers are gone from
us. we are not without hope of meet
ing them again. We speak of then
SIS dead, but
There Is no death! What seems 81
is transition;
This life OF mortal breath
Is but suburb of the life elysian,
7 Whose ortal We call Death"
J Another poet tells us that
!, "Death is another life We bow GU
, heads
AT going out, we think, and entel
straight
Another golden chamber OF uae king
: Larger than this we leave, and love
lier.
: And then in shadowy glimpses, dis
t connect,
! The story, fower-like. closes thus it
y leaves.
). The will of God is all in all. He makes
. Destroys, remakes, for His own pleas
ure all.
We are wrong, said Socrates,
fear death, as it is our greatest po
session on earth; and Seneca ado
3 that it is the best of the inventions {
8 life. Montesquieu concludes ths
4 tears should be shed for men whe
= they are born and not when they di
. Thinking OF death" says Thackera
= lis thinking of God. Little childre
(. step off tais earth into the infinit
g and we tear Our hearts out over the
\. sweet. cold hands and smiling face
u that drop indifferent when you ceas
is holding them and smile as the lid
10 closing over them. We do not so muc
II deplore the old, who have had enoug
:. of living and striving and have burie
"A so many others, and must be weary
d liying--it seems time for them to s
If for where is the pleasure in sta
t. ing when the feast Is over, and tt
flowers wiihered, and the guests gone
Isn't it better that the light should
" out thaa that we should sit amor
Or tae broken meats and collapsed je
n lies? / CO." he continued, ITO what
IL do not know but to Gods next worI
50 which is His, and He made 1t. Or
"a PAGES up and down the shores y
~ awhile and looks toward the unknoV
u ocean and thinks of the traveller who
Il.