The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-12-07
The FollowinG Msassisl was
wsitasa By he Massaic Lsa0s
n WasAiagssa D. C. u rsspest
b Thomas D. Adaus beoehsr
of John T. Adanns e III CIV
1887 -Thoms d. Adam

loSI-IhOmS ID. Ad2mB-l9l1
Wosshipfui Master and Brethesn:
Following the beautiful custom winch
has prevailed in this lodge for several
years We have again turned aside fro0
our usual routine Of work and business
to pay o'lr last tribute of love and duty
to those of our Brethren who, during
the past year, have preceded us into tke
undiscovered country" in obedience
to the final Summons Of our Supreao
Grand Master; And thus we are brought
once more face to face with the solemn
fact that life at its best is insecure and
uncertain; that death only is sure; and
thatit will be o0ly few more days o..
possibly. few more years before we
TOO will be summoned to join the great
majority who have passed behind the
veil which separates the known from
the unknown, the seen from the unseen
ami the living from those we call dead.
soon we snail be-
Passing out of the Shadows
Into purer light;
Stepping behind the curtain,
Getting clearer sight;
Laying aside the burden
Ans weary mortal coil;
Done with the worlds vexations,
Done with its tears and toll"
faSslnR out OF the ShaQOWS
Into eternal day,
Why do We call it dying
Inis sweet going away?"
Masonry likens US an individuals to
the stones used in the construction of .
building and teaches US that we should
day by day, strive to fit ourselves rs
living stones for THAT spiritual build
ing-that house not made with hands
eternal in the Heavens" In no tenn
p0rai building 10 any stone a perfect
stone. There are many rough ashlers,
few keystones and corner stones, and
stones of various shapes and sizes and
for various purposes. Every stone il
not keystone nor a corner stone but,
no matter how inconspicious may be
the position in Which it is placed the
service It renders is necessary to the
stzbility OF the STRUCTURE n WhQls.
So it 10 with US in our relations % each
other. to society, and 10 that great Spir-
itual building of which we hope, some
time, to become a part.
The humble, patient toilcr in the
ranks, or in the lower walks OF life may
without notice or knowledge, be surely
and faithfully fitting himself to become
d living cornerstone in that spiritual
building, while the more conspicuous
person of whom greater things were
expected may be fonnd, IN the last
analysis, among the Stones which the
Builder rejected.
We do not know from whence we
came, why we are here, nor whittier we
go: We do not know that any mans
existence is necessary, but we NAV be
safe in assuming that, having been as
signed place in the world, there is
some good rcason-known only 20 the
great Builder perhaps for our being
here; that we are here to serve some
wise purpose, as minor stone, possibly
in this temporal edifice; and that, when
we shall have served that purpose He
will not lose sight of you here-or here
after.
When stone is removed from this
temporal structure of ours another one
just like it cannot be found to take its
place. because the Great Architect
never made duplicate.
Our late Brother, Thomas d. Adams,
to continue the smile little further,
did not occupy an especially conspicuous
place in this earthly fabric, but, in the
place assigned to him he labored mod
estIy, faithfully and well, and his death
removed from the structure a stone
that his associates and friends will
greatly miss.
Brother Adams was born in West
morland Connty, Pennsylvania, January
IA, 1887. He was direct defendant Of
John Adams, and John Quincy Adams
early Presidents of the United States.
He belonged to the branch of that fam
ous family which settled in Western
Pennsylvania. He was of pure Scotch
Covenanter Stock, and had an interest
ing career Throughout. His early edu-
cation, though limited, was acquired in
such schools as the country afforded at
that time. His later education was
obtained as the result. largely, of his
own study and research, and in the
hard school of experience. When he
was little over twenty years old he
moved to Ohio. At the outbreak of
our Great Civil War, he enlisted Aug
ust Z. 1861 in Company c 7th West
Virginia, Volunteer Infantry, in which
he served faithfully and honorably un-
til September ID. ls6l-when he was
mustered out with the rank of Captain
having been brevetted as such for
brave and mcritorious service. He is
said to have participated in 81 battles
and skirmishes-67 occasions when
generally probability, when his young
hopes, was freely offered for the flag
he loved so well. He was wounded in
the battle of Gettysburg, and there
stands today on that famous field a
monument erected to the valient men
who served IN the fighting Seventh
West Virginia regiment. On that
monument is enumerated the 81 engage
ments in which that regiment took part
and in all of which Brother Adams ac-
lively participated.
To be continued.