The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-05-03
MEMORIAL HELD
FOR CHAS. OFF.
The Rev. A. n. Bispine breaches spe-
ciaI Sermon in st. Paul'h Church
for Young Man Who Was
Drowned.
MANY PEOPLE ATTEND
U. c. It's Were There in Body as Vic,
tim Of River Tragedy Was
One Of Their
Number.

Memorial services for the late
Charles Off were held yesterday in
st. Paups church and were attended
by over 600 people Members OF
keokuk council No. 400, United Com.
mercial Travellers, attended the serv.
ices in body, and the members OF
both the Off and Ayres families were
present. The sermon was preached
by the Rev. A. H. Bisping from the
text, What l do thou knowest not,
but thou shalt understand hereafter. y
/ The service was pronounced as one
OF the most beautiful and solemn of
this nature that has been given in
Keokuk.
1 Special musical numbers were fur
nished by a male quartet composed
of Roy Walters, Fred Kirchner, Karl
Kann and the Rev. A. H. Bisping.
This quartet sang Resting Now"
and Some Day Well Understand"
The Rev Mr. Bisping in his SER
mon gave short sketch of the ac-
Invites Of Mr.. Off in connection with
the church, and said that he was al
ways ready to help in every possible
way.
| Death is always sad, but not
every death is sad in the same de-
gree" the speaker declared. When
an old man full Of years and salts
| fled with life takes his departure,
we look for it. 1t is according to
| the laws of nature. Ripened fruit
must fall to the ground. But when
God calls a young person away, the
case is different. We say, why was
| this life cut short: why was it not
| permitted to run it's course?. The
death of young person is always
sad, but the death Of a loving son
and brother in the waves of wild
river. followed by terrible suspense
for the relatives death like this
is especially sad.
Bowling to Gods Will.
Goods will in the present case is
mysterious. We cannot understand
why this young man should be taken
from happy home and family, a
young man with bright prospects for
the future and with the ability and
quality to exercise christian influ.
ence over many But because we do
no proof that they are not right and
good. Let us not forget that man is
finite, while God is infinite"
things that cannot be understood and
that yet must be right. He spoke
of the petition in the Lords prayer,
that with all our doubts there is the
spirit of God which comes to our aid
and assists our weakness. He sets
before us the perfect example of
Jesus and gives the spirit of .resig-
nation which the Master showed in
the garden at Gethsemene.
The pastor spoke Of Gods provi-
dence having dark side. and said
that it also had bright side. He
cited examples Of Christ's crucifixion
and resurrection and Of the sale OF
Joseph by his brothers. He found
comfort in the fact that the dark
side was just now presenting itself
to the family and friends of the
young man who was being memorial
lied. but that there would be a
brighter side yet to come.
Light Amidst Gloom.
Even now amid the gathering
gloom it is possible to see the bright
side coming Suppose that this dis
pensation of God should call our at.
tention so forcibly to life to come as
to make it reality. Some day death
comes, a friend is translated. The
question comes. Can I see him. and
then there is born a heavenly long
ing that develops into inconsistencies. |
Then for the first time some realize
that heaven is reality and that it |
may be reached. ...-.
''The world is so real that there is |
grave, danger we may lose sight of
heaven The God takes loved one /
over to the other side. We under
stand that such a one will never |
return to us and then there is born !
the irrepressfble longing to follow !
The follies OF life no longer appeal |.
to us; sobriety and seriousness ;
hitherto unknown creeps into life
and we follow the vision glorious I'm
til it leads, us home"