The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-12-07
ELKS HONOR DEAD.

The local lodge of the order of Elks
held its memorial services last Sunday
afternoon. During the past year four
members have died being A. G. Schrei-
ter, John McFarlane, Frederick Thrall
and John Macmillan. Ii. G. Kress de-
livered eulogy on A. G. Schreiter,
Emil Baensch on John McFarlane,
A.. j. Wyseman on Frederick Thrall
and Rev. Keicher on John Macmillan.
The Mozart Male quartet, composed
of f. Horstmeier, w. A. Graham,
Edw. Scherer and George Knutzen, &C
companied on the piano by Miss Bertha
Klingholz, rendered three selections,
while f. Horstmeier rendered bari
tone solo, "In Memoriun."
The memorial address was delivered
by A, l.. Hougen and it was splendid
effort. Following is the address:
BROTHERS AND FRIENDS: "Life Is
but remembering" says the poet
philosopher. BY the divine attribute
of memory we obliterate time and par
take of infnity. Our Joys and our sor-
rows are held IN life as by precipit-
ate. Memory sweetens and puriies
our joys, and hallows our sorrows SC
that like shining crystals in the fluid OF
life pleasure and pain make up the
glory OF the past and the enchantment
of the future. Pity for him who shud-
ders at the images of the past, whose
memories bring only regrets. He who
can with rapture read the tablets oil
memory like a rich tapestry presenting
the life, the struggles, the sorrows and
the joys of the past, all set forth in
harmonious perspective is already par.
taking of eternity.
On such occasions as this, one is easi.
ly prompted to speculate on the pres.
ent state of those whose career on
earth has been ended, on the great
question of the hereafter, and on the
existence of personal deity. This
line of thought and the same questions
have engaged the speculation of sages
and the fancies of the poets since the
earliest history of the race. Specula.
tion easily leads to agnosticism but ex-
perience calls out "there is Cod"
Finite reason is helpless before an in.
finite fact All nature and all stages
of humanity make the same answer.
In the Greek mythology the human
soul is not left alone in it's course from
the regions of time to the realm OF
eternity but is accompanied and guided
10y tho boatman CnArou across the
River Styx; the simple shepherd OF
Judea is comforted through the sha-
dow of the valley of death by the rod
and the staff of the Almighty. All
creation calls out the name of the Gre
ator; the human soul demands the care
protection and companionship of It's
God. We cannot reason but we know
Our brothers have gone into the
presence. We cherish their memory
We remember their virtues; they had
no faults. Thus we held them in our
memories. Though they be physically
absent they are an active influence
among US. The more firmly that they
were implanted in our affection the
greater seemed our loss and the more
profound our sorrow at their going
Yet how unreasonable we are. Better
to temper our sorrow with the JOY tina,
they gave and be thankful that they
were SO loveable and that we had the
privilege of their companionship.
AS we read the roll upon this tablet
we cannot fail to be impressed with
the fact that our brothers departed
this life at an early age. How young
they all were. How much of hope anG
faith and ambition failed; how much Of
life's seeming joys they failed to exper
ience; how many of our fond hopes foi
them and for ourselves failed OF frui
tion by their early taking away. We
say they all left US unusually soon
Yet was not the life of each almost
equal to the average or rather above
the average. Are we not impressed
with the uncertainty of human exist
ence, with the weakness OF this threaC
of life. Are we not admonished thai
it is wise TO live as though each day
was our last, yet also as though we
should live forever.
This day would be but an idle cere
mony if it failed to bring us to serious
reflection upon the uncertainties of hu
man life and the ever present certainty
of death. | say serious reiection-no,
gloomy fore boding. Gloom is kin tc
darkness-we have been brought into
the light. Death is as much part oi
natures plan as life. Death follows
life and life follows death in rapid end.
less succession. 1t is not for us to re.