The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-05

magnificent republic. where liberty
nests and humanity homes, there must
be in their creeds the recompense of
an immortal and glorious paradise for
those who championed its cause, gave
freedom to those bonded and in
gives, lifted the standard of right to
a higher sky and set the beacons of
hope blazing on the hill tops of the
mists of time hang between us and
that heroic period. / feel deep in my
soul that the army who went to bat
tie then were the Wears of GOD, led
as puppets by the touch of His finger,
to do His bidding and accomplish His
everlasting purpose A lifetime has
interviewed since then. The videttes of
that grand army yet lnger on outpost
duty here but the great host, whose
banners tossed with victory. whose
bayonets shOne with glory, which
conquered war, established peace and
gave to our coming generations nap
piness, home and a republic dedicated
to liberty. that We eat, breathe and
sleep-that shines in. the face, that
makes buoyant the tread and draws
with swift pace the approach of the
millennium of a thousand years of
peace, that host has departed to the
land of unbroken silenceS and the I'M
seen country of our lost and undying
loves. He is this day in that grand
encampment whose tents are stretched
on some of the swarded slopes of
heavenly Olympus, the football of
whose battdliOnS our dear ears can not
hear; where the riders have mufffed
their horses hoOfs. where the sabres
do not clang; in a land of echoless
bugles, and where no longer beats the
old time drum to rouse the line when
the foe has come; where death I'M
armed is held captive. and down the
long avenues and up the Wondrous
sleeps. over the amending plateaus
space, all creation rolls its anthem,
and multiplied galaxies sing their
jubilant course with music too far
away for us to hear, and filling abyss
and height with the glory, the beauty,
the awe and grandeur of immortal
song: where the air is spiced with the
fragrance of unfading flowers. the
fountains flow their ambrOSia and ex
istence, immortal, pure and sweet, is
theirs as may be fashioned by the On
impotence to whom we make our obli-
cation and to whom each, with his
own voice, tunes his psalms and bends
before in love and alteration. Thank
God, this is my religion; an incentive
to endeavor, a cause for friendships,
an excuse for love, a reason for death,
and a hope no doubt may cloud, and
a faith no night shall hide; courage
for every purpose here and a solace
that greets death, not as an alien, not
as a stranger, nor yet as a foe, but
embraces him as the dearest and best
friend encountered in the journey.
tt is in the order of nature that the
old should die as they strive, as they
busy, as they are deep in their living
and loving, taken at some unfinished
task while they mediate in the seren-
ity of their years and powers of new
purposes and greater achievements,
which they never touch with their
palsied hands
In the governmental affairs of city,
state and nation, the dead man has
more than well borne his part; repre-
senting for a number of times the cap
ital city in both houses of the state
legislature. never for one moment did
falter or swerve or turn from the paths
of high honor, of duty to his constitu-
ems to serve himself He acted for
their good. and the finger may idly
turn the page of our splendid laws and
it will find behind the written words
the hand that helped to put them
there.
His Work for State.
From foundation stone to the lantern
in the sky. the capitol building is NOR
tared with his labors; and so, the state
hospital and the reform school have
been the recipients of his energy and
devotion. He courted participation in
the general concerns of his community
and would have felt chagrined and
neglected had he not been called on TO
help The pride of his life bloomed its
richest flower, when he became mayor
of Topeka. He aided every improve
ment. the paved streets, the fringe of
lawns, the procurement of parks, the
public utilities, all of than engrossed
his powers. The Auditorium was built
largely through his efforts, and the
great organ in its audience room will
chime its bells years in and out, in
honor of his help in obtaining it. The
things which have made this city beau
tiful beyond compare, the best the
cleanest. sweetest, SaneSt city of its
size on the face of the earth, caught
their cOntagion largely from his in
1uence, his spirit and his labors. He
is the original Arbor Day advocate;
that honor is his and it is shared in
by no other person. Along the years,
as the summers come as the robins
sing in it's friendly and encircling
branches. as the children play in the
shade of the cottonwood tree in the
state house square, it must touch his
pillow with sweeter rest to feel that
under the shade he caused, the chill
dren laugh, and high above, the mat
ing songsters build their nests. Come
robin and wren the seasons and years
along and pipe for him your rounde-
lays of song; and here let the weary,
the tired and the disconsolate dream
through the summers slumberous af
ternoon their cares and ills away.
What monument needs Topeka to
raise to him? The green EMPOWERED
its avenues of homes, it's stately man
sions, it's beauty and bloom, these shall
be his mausoleum, these his monu-
ment and with his loved city link his
name and this shall be his epitaph.
He has been for a life time promf-
nent in the Masonic order, has held its
chairs, administered its rites and in
toned its rituals and its lodge rooms
have been to him at many a weary
time a snug harbor, a haven of rest,
During all the many years of his con-
nection with this order he has given
of his strength to make it strong.
He has been a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic almost all the
time since it's organization. He has oc-