The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-03-20

million. OF dollars Il Is because OF
this spirit OF charity upon which
the order NJ founded that we are
growing and Increasing. and will
/ grow and increase as long as
! friendship cheers the heart OF men,
and ! like TO remember that Il
was out west where this order
had its beginning.
''It has been said. We have In
this country three aristocracies:
| The aristocracy OF intellect. founded
by the Almighty, and tine aristoc-
racy OF money founded by Nannon
and het aristocracy OF fam
ily. founded by fools. II used
10 be considered that the aristo.
cracy OF family was the .superlative
Of the trio. but in these days when
nothing succeeds Ike success. when
too often we measure a man by the
size OF his pocket book, II seems
as though the arlsticracy OF money
Is the greater. and that very little
is considered as rule relative to
q man, save and except the size OF
his bank account. Such being the
case, we pause too little In this
life to reflect upon the better and
nobler things. aud In the hurry and
hustle OF life. endeavor 10 secure
for ourselves odIy share OF
the worlds riches. and little heed
nor long remember the care. con.
Germs and sorrows of our fellow
men
"And so Il Is well that upon ar
occasion like this. we pause. TO re
member those OF our brothers who
have gone before, and consider how
i we may I'm some way help those
that are still with US to realize
more Of human kindness, more OF
Joy than they have ever known be.
fore.E "'sf.s tsa' - d,
@"And the question naturally pre-.
SCENTS itself: Why Is II that an
organization like the maternal
Oder of Eagles and other kindred
organizations set aside one day
in every year to the memory OF
our departed brothers? Why does
a body OF men Of more than a
million members with q common
purpose set aside one day I'm all
the year TO the memory of these
our brothers? Why does this lodge
every year set aside TO the memory
of Its departed brothers. one day
and consecrates TO them the fullness
thereof?
1T Is not my friends and broth.
ers, because any of these are mum.
bered among the worlds greatest,
II Is not because that in their lives
they have performed wonderful
deeds of valor, Il Is not because
they have left behind. monuments
that will live the ages through,
but II is because they were filed
with those feelings OF fraternity.
which caused this organization to
be founded. In short, my brothers,
II was because they loved and were
loved that We here pay them this
tribute of remembrance and affec.
ton. r, arsr
And after all. like 10 think
that II was because of love that
everything kind, good and great
has been accomplished In this
world. Love the flower, which
Tennyson tells US blooms on the
edge OF the grave the sweetest
flower that ever perfumed the bow
ers of Paradise. and the most
poignant thorn that grows In the
enpoisened shadows of everlasting
pain. 81
"But for love. we would live our
own lives, suffer our own pains, and
dying, descend without a sigh TO
ever dreamless sleep. or love was
born the hope of immortality which
robs the grave OF its sorrow and
inspires the cry of the faithful.
oh death. where Is thy sting?
Oh grave. where Is thy victoryT
And II Is because that deep
founded In every human heart and
soul there Is "a belief In Immortality.
that we are assembled here today
TO pay our tributes 10 those that
have passed from this flnite world
into the infinite world beyond.
my brothers, we listen again to
the roll call OF. our absent broth
ers. No answer comes but the
echo OF the sounding bell. Their
chairs arc vacant, but. their places
In our hearts are filed with the
inspiration for good they left be-
hind. by their lives and by their
example in following out the re-
cepts OF our order: Liberty. truth.
justice and equality.
Liberty which has been iikened
TO flower which the tears OF
women and the blood of men have
nourished until its beauty Is an in
SEPARATION, and its fragrance bene-
fdiction.
Truth without which liberty
could not long endure, for the
honor OF nation and of an individ-
ual rests upon the integrity Of a
promise and by which we are
taught to be careful what we prom.
Use and TO promise only what we
intend to keep.
Justice. the maiden of Truth, by
which we are taught to give as
much to brother as we would
ask from q brother