Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-03
LAST SAD RITES ARE
SAID OVER JUDGE
ALBERT 7. LARD|N
REV. c. A. BRIGGS PAYS FITTING
TRIBUTE TO MEMORY OF DIS
TlNGUiSHED JURiST BODY
TAKEN TO MENDOZA.

NHcIc idI &c OOuNoui oS VI ihoui h'he
friends gathered to pay their last re-
spects to the deceased jurist. The
home and lawn were thronged with
friends who had gathered at the bier
to pay their last respects to valued
friend who had gone beyond.
Members of the La Sale County Bar
association were present In body,
but theirs was the only organization
taking formal part in the burial cere'
monies. Rev. Charles A. Briggs, Jr,
presided and delivered beautiful
tribute to the memory OF the deceased
Marked simplicity prevailed and as
soon as Rev. Briggs had said his final
prayer. the solemn cortege started its
journey to Mendoza, where the re-
mains will be laid to rest along side
those of the parents of Judge Lardin
in Restland cemetery.
In his tribute, Rev. Briggs said:
Our friend, Albert T. Lardin, had
gone, and his untmely taking reminds
me of these words:
Death take us unawares
And stays our hurrying feet.
THE great design unfinished lies,
Our lives are incomplete.
Judge Lardin's chief virtue was in
his moral influence and Christian man
hood. His life each day was an exhi-
bition of the truthfulness of his pro-
fession. No one doubted him. He was
forceful exemplar of right living.
His words and acts brought no reflec.
ton on Christianity. Think as we
may about religion, discard the Bible
if ii is thought best and class it with
profame history, belittle the work OF
the church and discourage individual
| devotion to the tenets of Christianity
but when the coffin shall hold the
body, the funeral dirge shall be sung
and mother earth receive back it'
I own, the greatest consolation that Cal
come to the survivors is the hope o
the resurrection and eternal union o
loved ones where separation nevel
takes place and tears are never
known.
What beautiful monument he has
left A structure of his own hand
the heritage of a pure and upright
life. The marble shaft erected over
the grave by family and friends may
crumble TO the earth and be forgot.
ten, but the influence of his good
deeds will continue like the waves OF
the. mighty ocean, rolling on until
they break upon the further shore
His influence will tend TO strengthen
and encourage long after the body
has turned to dust and the marks OF
recognition shall be effaced
Judge Lardin was quiet man OF
princely dignity. He was not effusivt
in his utterances on any subject, ol
even to his most intimate friends. lr
! fact he was regarded as a man of bu
few intimate friends. Everybody wal
his friend, and they found him for
ever impartial and loyal
Once he became your friend, Judge
Lardin, was always your firm friend
Into the inner circle Of his friendship
came four Of his college chums Dur
ing the 36 years since they entered
college together, their coming toget'l
er every year in reunion, as the L. L
n, club, has been source of con
.stantly increasing pleasure. Toda.
this charmed circle is broken AL
but one of the surviving members o
the circle are in this company Gu
national exegencies have made II i'm
possible for the other member, q.
Senator Morris, of Nebraska, to leav
Washington. or he would be presen
to honor to our friend and fellow cit
zens
Judge Lardin's interest in the boo
children of La Sale county has bee
monumental. His one dying regre
was that the work be naugurated i
behalf of the welfare of the depend
ent children Of his county could nc
have reached its greatest possiblit
and efficiency long ago. God gay
him the heart of a father in his low
for these unioriunates. and the tenr
crness of mother in his minstr;
tions to them. Every child at the d,
tontion Home knew him, loved hin
and looked up to him with gratitud
and veneratiCn Will moi this con
pany pledge their best interest an
efforts, today, to the completion {
tho great work. and the carrying OF
Of The splendid program that Judp
Lardin had planned for the chldre
He loved the children with the love
a Longfellow, and the poetry Of h
deeds will survive the ravages
time.
There are two consoing though
which are of special significance
the material universe amount al
about us One Is the evident IA
that there is but one architect In CT
;. alton planets, stars and constell
!. tions have but one builder. Tho OF
y or fact is that no substance can
X destroyed and lost Changes In for
and combination of elements may {