Graham guardian., 1911-06-23
FUNERAL GRAFTON
Delivered by Rev. F. d,
(.,ardacs, al E'.G>yzi ',,arv-
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Probate Judge Thomas S. Bunch,
were he'd at his late home in Solo
knoxville, Wednesday, June 14th,
and were conducted by Rev. p. d..
Gardner, pastor of the M. +. Church,
South, of Stafford.
The Grafton delivered by Rev.
Gardner was in part as follows:
In early life he joined the Free
and Accepted Masons in Arkansas,
with which order he always affiliated,
and at the time Of his death was a
member of Stafford Lodge, No 16,
| F. and A. NJ; of Globe Chapter,
No. Z, r. A. NJ, and of the Grand
Lodge, +. and A. NJ. of Arizona. of
which body he was the r. w. D. G.
M. A man and a Mason, held in
the very highest esteem by his
brethren of the Mystic tie, in whose
councils and deliberations he was an
important factor in all those things
| that pertained to the teachings of
Masonry, and the general and moral
uplift of his brethren. Our hearts
are heavy, because we shall miss
him from his chair in the councils
of our beloved order. His seat in
| the lodge room will be vacant; but
through it all we, as Masons, have
faith to believe that he has but
taken a higher degree, which he has
earned by his faith and works; and
has gone from the preparation room
here below to the Grand Lodge
above, where the Grand Master of
the universe is now giving him les
sons and lectures upon the certain
ties of life eternal, which it is his
right and privilege to enjoy.
AS to his home life, the produc-
ton of those stalwart characters
that have grown up under his touch
and influence that are giving such
promise of successful lives; the low
ing tenderness with WHICH the COM
panion of his trials and successes,
through many years of marital felic-
ity have chung together, is the best
monument that can be erected to
his memory. They tell grander
and better story than can be told
by the tongue of man. AS hus-
band he could be equalled but never
excelled. As a father he has acted
the part in the very highest sense
of the term. His one great aim in
life, and the one thing for which he
lived, above all else was his home
and its own immediate circle. He
loved his home and its inmates.
A word or two more and | am
through. 1t is a word would offer
of sympathy to the sorrowing ones;
a word Of helpfulness to all that are
here. The man of faith lives with
more satisfaction to himself than
the man of doubt, and with greater
benefit to his kind.
| In this do not refer to the man
whose brain is disturbed with a
muddle of beliefs, who has prejudices
and superstitions, instead of con-
vietions and honesty; but to him
who feels sure that there is an
eternal right. and an eternal wrong;
and that the write is worthy of his
support, and the wrong of his CEN
sure. We do not need a long creed,
but we do need few verities as a
basis of action.
God will not reject US, or excom-
municate US, or treat US as heretics
if we, in our Judgment, do not &C
cept the Thirty-niHe Articles Of
Faith, Or the Institutes Of GalVini it
we enly believe that the universe is
ru.si by love, as we'll AZ by power;
that the puseame Of virtue '- -
Ress, and The 49, ""ppi-
IL .-sut of evil is misery.
"A, we see a Providence in the events
OF life. ami feel that we can COM
municate with that Providence by
means of what we call prayer. If
we have faith in another life, where
the freed soul will have larger OPP
portunities than its environment has
permitted here. If we absorb the
spirit of brotherly love and helpful
ness, which was incarnated in the
Christ, we need have no fears as to
our fate in the future.
Mans creed is very apt to be
long one; but Gods creed is very
short. Short as it is, however, to
meet it's requirements, you will have
no time to spare if you would shape
your years by it's laws. Your life,
and everybody's life has its pathetic
side, and you will need the SYM
pathy of God if you would do good
work.
There are times when you are ap-
palled by the situation in which you
find yourself. There is no light any
where, but darkness everywhere. A
score of friends stand by you and
give you what comfort can be con-
tanned in a few words, or acts; but
they have lives to live, of their own,
and they cannot help you as you
must be helped if YOU are to recov-
er from disaster. Human friendship
is precious. but much more is want
ed. Human love mingles its sigh
and tears with yours, but still there
is an empty place in your heart
which neither friendship nor love