The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-20

il otherwise. Powerful In their pathos,
and the mor- nsthotic the more powerful
lille memories are precious and their in
hrence immeasurable and unfathomable.
Engaged in family Retrospective medta-
ton as we are here this morning. this
place is peopled with departed forms as
visible TO our spiritual sense as are our
present material bodies TO our physical
sig'nt From pews in front and rear, on
right and left of us-from altar and pull
pit before usas from the haUnts of our
daily vocation and the hearthstones of
our homes, there emanates the personal,
pious influence of the memory of the just
now made perfect in paradise. God, in
His graciousness. gave them to us. Goa,
in His disdom, took them from us in form.
GOD, in His tenderness. leaves them with
us in substance. They, like the Master.
have only gone away that the Comforter
might come. And In the light of a new
and fuller Interpretation of the blessed
nesn That is theirs, and shall some day
also be ours. IL we too like them be just,
We find comfort in our knowledge of
what they were, consolation in the reve-
latton of what they now are-and ispira-
tion in our own endeaVor to overcome
evil and do good, in the proclamation of
the elder concerning them that These are
trey which came out of great tribulation,
and have washed their robes and made
Therefore, are they before the throne of
God. and serve Him day and night in His
tepple; and He that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them. They shall
hunger no more, neither thirst any more;
neither shall the sun light on them, nor
any heat. For the lamb which is in the
midst of the throne shall feed them, and
shall lead them unto living mountains of
water: and God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes Blessed condition!
Inspiration of Memories
Thank God, my brethren, through the
comfort and consolation of the scriptures.
concerning the memory of the just, we
have the blessed inspiration of assur-
ance and hope.
Third and finally, the memory of the
just is blessed in the obligation it inn
poses upon those who remain to be just
to that memory.
Flow life Is robbed of its most val
liable treasures in the loss of self re-
speet through evil thought; the friend
snip of others through idle word; and the
love OF both God and man through wicked
work. Never are we so alive to con-
sciousness of this fact as when we deal
not with men, but with their memory.
How we wish we had frequently sus-
pended Judgment how many unlSind
words spoken we would recall; how many
KIND words, unspo<en, we would speak:
how much ungracious action we would
cancel-how much opportune good left
undone, we would do when, too late, lost
opportunities press their reasonable
cleans upon us In the light of sincere,
regI etful repentance and kindly DISPOSE
ton of mind and soul, as we contem-
plate not only the virtues, but even also
the failings of friends who with us once
we're, but now are not, BY us in this
mellowing mood memories are frequently
enthroned and worshpped when many
times the life giving them birth and exis-
tence was degraded and condemned. 1t is
not. however. recognition of any such
obligation that constitutes the final bless
ing of the memory of the just | have in
mind. / would have recognized the OBJ
legation of taking up the unfinished work
OF the just, and would have realized by
all the great blessing of continuing and
concluding that work as a monument to
the memory of the righteous.
Greatest Good the Just Accomplish
"Such Is the greatest good the Just
the mselves accomplish in the world, either
tnrt ugh the exercise of their own per-
sonal presence and powers or through
Ct3iers who have been Influenced by them
What would they do II they were here
now? What would they have us do for
them. since they are not here now, nor
ever can be again? These are the ques-
tions to be asked. and the obligations
recognized and discharged. not only in our
love for the memory of man, but also
in our desire 10 possess and our deter
mination to distribute to others the great