Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-06

its lev grasp, to pay our tripuIc ~
respect to the memory Of our depart
ed brothers.
whether the first Sunday In Decelh-
Der was designated and dedlcateo "S
our Memorial day that we might iii.u
q parallel in nature. which "o"'u
strengthen our faith in the happi-
ness and brightness of the HE De-
yond | do not know. but as l con-
slider the object Of our meetlhs lou"y
this thought arises first in my HiIio,
for | believe the truth is contaiheo
iE the poets lines:
a"There is no death, what seems 50 10
transition
1.-THE life of mortal breath
as but a suburb or ire Eiysiah
Whose portal we call deatn.
Progress in civilization has Heen
marked by the desire to pcrpetuate, not
ONLY by monument and statue, Dut
by history and poetry the memory
of those who have conferred Some
benefit upon mankind. The more ad-
vanced a nation has become, the
greater it's regard for the dead, and
the more frequent it's tributes of re-
|spect.
In our own country statues of bronze
ard CT marble greet the eye IN the
parks of all of our large cities. Con-
gress ard Legislatures pause III the
midst of the most important legisla-
ton that memorial addresses may De
delivered. Men of eminence in all walks
OF life receive at their death tributes
of respect in memorial exercises OF d
public nature. The older we grow as
a nation the dearer and more sacred
do We hold the memory of our pat
riots and men of genius.
Every recurring spring we love 10
gather our choicest flowers ana streW
them upon the graves of the brave
defenders Of our country ana listen 10
addresses which keep bright the lustre
of their names and the glory OF the
cause in which they fell as noble sac
rilices for a nations honor.
With an interest and a pleasure IN
creasing year by year. we care for the
lot where we have laid our loved ones
Ito rest. and many solitary memorial
service is held when the heart COM
munes alone with it's dead.
L Although the lodge of our order in
brief years, the Silent Reaper, whose
field is the whole earth. and who
gathers without distinction and ap-
parent unconcern, the ripened stalks
and those which have scarcely put
forth their bearded tassels, has visited
it and removed four of our brothers
in the very midst of their usefulness
Since you met in sacred session one
year ago. for the purpose which you
have assembled here today one broth
err has fallen d victim to the inexor-
able fate which will Overtake us all.
But 1t is not alone the memory of the
brothers of this lodge who have de-
parted from us for a little while that
we would honor. but that of all our
departed brothers to whatever lodge.
they belonged.
Those whom we honor may not all
have reached that eminence of station,
which would call for Nations, d
states or Il 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 contribute, however
transccndent their genius. or however
great the benefits conferred by them
it's 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 man.
hood. his little acts of kindness, has
smoothed for us the rough places, ems
couraged us when we were despondent,
syrnpathizeG with us in our sorrows and
elevated us by the nobility of his na-
turc. Most of us while enjoying IN
directly the benefits conferred upon US
bv great men can trace but little OF
our lives to their direct influence; but
operating upon us at every moment arc
the intences of those who fight by our
side the battle of life, nobly, courage
ously and modestly
One of Names greatest judges died
q lew years ago. E1ulogies were pro-
nounced upon mis- character, his intel
lectual attainments and his great SER
vices to the State. but of them all it
seemed to me that the following was
the highest tribute:
High honors and great success have
not destroyed his plain. unaffected and
simple habits. Without a touch OF
vanity, selfshness or arrogance, he has
lived up to the highest standard OF in
tellectual greatness. yet deriving his
chief enjoyment and satisfaction in
life. not from homage to his position.
hut from what he gave out and receiv-
cd in trc exercise of happy gift Of
percciving what the world offords In
the way of beauty. hopefulness and
sunshine.'
The experiences which we all remem-
Der with the greatest pleasure are those
in which we are enabled to do some
kind act to another. one that was not
reralGed abroad but which sank into
:he heart of q brother as quietly as the
gentle rain sinks into mellow earth,
and which repaid us thousandfold by
the gratitude with which it was re-
ceived.
Our order was founded to upheld our
country and its laws, and to advance
the cause Of humanity by aiding and
protecting it's members and their fami-
lies. and promoting friendship and So
cial intercourse. With us all are broth
ers and there are no distinctions of
wealth or station. We recognize the
dignity and worth of manhood and
that men may be helpful to each other