The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1916-12-01


to the memory Of George Eliot. the
eminent authoress OF the last CEN
tury, who died In 1880. In early life
she was devout Christian. but in
later years she abandoned the faith
or her youth and became an avowcd
agnostic. The founder and apostles
OF agnosticism---Huxlcy. Tyndall.
Spencer and Darwin--were present
on that memorable occasion. II mat
ters not how fiedgling agnostics and
lesser infidels would conduct the
funeral Of great infdel. these great
scientists and philosophers surely
would give to the expectant world II
funeral Grafton consistent with their
avowed beliefs--would they not II
they believed what they taught. they
should insist upon II at the open
grave. It would seem so.
The world had right 20 expect at
that open grave Of tie dead agnostic
that the Iesrned men who had spoken
of the cherished hopes Of millions
with heartless unconeern, and who
had assailed the faith which makes
the evil man pure and good. would
not then shrink from prociaiming
their dogmas of unbslief. We would
expect. as they stood about the grave
or that bleak December day. they
would demoiish the list foundation
OF TIE Christian's hone with their
surerior science and more excellent
philosophy. We would expect the
a-nostic orator to say something like
this.
We stand in the presence Of SOL
cnn mystery. but universal fact.
l,ea;h has husbed into rasting sill
ence a voice we loved TO hear. A.
great and shining light has been sud
denly extingrished. and we are left
in gloom TO mourn for one who has
passed from sight forever.
We boldly renource the tenets OF
the venerable religion which tescnes
resurrection end Immortality. hence
We do not kind,e the IRE OF hope
upon this grave. We dismiss God.
and hope. and faith. and heaven
from our thoughts. while We weave
around Us the creme OF bitter be-
rcavement and everlasting death.
Our fllustrious friend now lives only
In mortal recollection.
We shall not give way to com-
fr-tless grief. for law moves on with
ruthless sweep and regards neither
1--we nor hate. neither good nor M.
We she'll stand ike men. We shall
bear this crushing blow With resiGna-
tion to the unknown. We shall bow
to the mighty powers which bafhe m
on every side. We shall not pray.
''Pray not: the darkness will not
brighten:
Ask naught from silence. for 1t can
not speak;
vex not your mournful minds with
pious pains:
All. brother. sister. seek nausht
from helpless gods"
Why pray. when We know Of none
10 hear our prayer? The Supreme
Intelligence may exist. but to NJ he
IL an inscrutable secret. and uncon-
ditioned. unknown. caf ins..:ptic
mystery. We say nothing of the
future Of the departed. we hsve no
faith; We zee no gtsam NJ hone. No
life beyond IL known to MS 's'r love
and influence will .. felt for gencr-
ations like the cis,n. sweet breath cf
the summer morning. -bus sb. has
ceased to be. Sas reached the cli-
ma~ Of her developmcn, Her possi-
b:l.ties are ended Now from the
summit Of her pore achievements
she has gone down to death the ter
minus Of her existence. Nature
tosses her creatures ont OF nothing
ness into n0thingness. and says NOT
whence they come nor whittier they
60. We are the victims OF remorse-
less law. We are appalled, at LIES
mysteries and the solitude Of death.
Inhnity around ~ nils ~ with won
der unanswered and grief uns0othed.
Life Il = narrow vale between tho
barren peaks Of two cternities. wei
cry aloud but are answered only bv
empty echoes. We strive In vain 10
lock beyond the lsights.
Our beloved friend has melted
away into the infinite azure OF the
past. We leave thee. great and good
friend. to lie in cold destruction. and
with panied but fearless hearts bid
thee our last farewell!
But was such an oration as thsi
delivered over the famous infldel7