Arizona republican., 1917-12-29
RARE TRIBUTE PAID MEMORY
 IF RARE POET

With a smile of hope, Rev. Ray c. | Harker concluding his sermon yester- day afternoon at the funeral of An drew Downing said, May we meet | him in the morning." That was an echo of the sentiment of all who knew MT. Downing, that he had fallen asleep | | only to wake where all will be hap l piness. l The funeral took place at the First Methodist church at , o'clock yester- ! day afternoon. It was attended by many of the friends of MT. Downing 1 for all who knew him were his friends. T never knew a better man" was a re- mark made and echoed along the | street since his death. The G. A. R., of which he had been an active member, attended in body and the Woman's Relief corps had charge of the simple decorations in the church. consisting of the national col ors for which he had fought, and a wealth of floral offerings. The funeral sermon was an eloquent tribute to the worth of the man. Rev. MT. Harker said in part:
 Length of years does not always give glory to life. Brevity of life does not necessarily take away the glory cf existence. But when fineness of quality and length of years are blended, we have a crown of glory that makes human life superb.
 The Bible says: "We are Gods work manship," or more literally, We are Gods poems" We cannot all write poems, but we can each be one. It is better to be one than to write one. Only rare souls like Andrew Downing can be both.
 Andrew Downing had sunny, | 1I1a f11I mi poetic. aspiring soul. He was a true seer, he saw things. He saw God in His world. Take his poem on "Omni- potence:"
 God writes his autograph in starry
 script
 Upon the fair, blue tablet of the sky; : So, too. the wondrous cloud-ships,
 sailing by
 That, late, in some far port, their
 mooringS slipped
 Whose snowy sails and pennons have
 been dipped
 In sunset seas, and stained with crimson dye Proclaim the majesty of Him on
 highi
 The modest. woodland blossom, honey
 tipped,
 The dimpling lake, that wild birds , sing to sleep. , The whispering winds in every Ieafy branch,
 The butterfly. with painted wings
 unfurled,
 , Reveal His power-as when His light nings leap
 From cloud to cloud; or when His avalanche,
 1, Flung down an Alp. with thunder 2 shakes the world, f lie had rare poetic fancy that re- vealed itself in exquisite verses. His , little poem of eight lines on "The Red I Bird is poetic gem that shines with fadeless beauty when placed by the slde Of the finest treasures of our language
 When the summer sky is a tent of blue.
 And rosy June is the regnant oueen' A crimson shuttle, he flashes through
 The leafy warp of the forest green.
 And the thread of sweet song follows
 him,
 ! In may tangles of shade and sun. | Ana stretches away in the distance dim And the .bonny bird, and the song are one!
 Arthur c. Benson gives us a. brief chapter out of his life in one of his
 essays. He had an accident and bis {, life trembled in the balance Eriends ! thought many times that the chariot of : God was nigh ready to take his snirit , nome. When coming back from near 5 tne gates of death, he recorded the : thoushts that had been supreme in his mind while near the border line Uo says: T cared not for my personal
 successes. nothing for what little po- sltlon l had gained, nothing for the a ooohs nad written. What alone con- cerned me was the thought that I Ina ' heIpeo some poor pilgrim and made ms way easier and straighter and
 smoother" | Here is a hint at supreme values I It Is when we have the open look into eternity that we know where to place | the accent. It is when we hear the
 rustic of unseen wings that we nronl
 erly estimate the pearl of great price
 Brother Downing not only saw God
 m ms works, but he sought to live
 ms life in harmony with him. His e Morning Hymn is beautiful psalm = or praise for all the blessings of life |. To whom Lordi if not to Thee. Shall song of praise ascend? . be1ore what throne but Thine shall n knee n Of erring mortal bend? = For all thy mercies, gracious King. |, III gratitude 1 raise h My voice in prayer, and loudly sing q My hymn of joy and praise. p Thy smile hath made this radiant ', morn
 Thy breath hath blown away 4 The stormy clouds of darkness horn s That yelled the rising day. IT My morn of life was fair and bright It's noon unclouded shines: II Do thou my footsteps guide alright l. Until the day declines. r. And when the sun shall sink and hide ,e Within the shadows deep, m Let Thy sweet peace with me abide- .- Give Thy beloved sleep, is With other Christian disciples h, l. learned the centrality of love. H, n knew that love was the queen of all
 the Christian graces, and that sb, = must be given her rightful crown
 Hope may wave her golden wand ant
 keep her eyes fixed on the gates O.
 Paradise; faith may reach her hand ur
 thTnuQh