The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-08-06
FUNERAL OF HERO
REMAINS OF SOLDIER KILLED IN
FRANCE BURIED WITH HONOR
IN MANkATO.

IN UFANNAIOs
Last Monday morning the remains
of John P. Gamble, a soldier killed in
France, were buried from the church
of st. John the Baptist, Mankato,
MINI. The pastor, Rev. Robert
Hughes, spoke In part as follows:
Through one man sin came into the
world, and through sin death and
death has passed to all men," Rom.
5-12. "
Death is not an unfortunate accid.
ent. which by great caution may be
avoided, but the execution of the ir-
revocable sentence which God pro-
nounced against man, when he said,
"All flesh shall die However I'M
welcome this disagreeable fact may
be that we are all doomed to die, it
is, nevertheless, the most universally
accepted truth the world has ever
known. In the lapse of long ages
many false and foolish notions have
been taught, and believed by weak
and erring men; but no one yet has
ever dared to deny that, sooner or
later, we all must die
Death is the inevitable consequence
of having been born. The two most
important events in the life of any
man be it long or short, are his birth
and his death Like sentinels they
stand at life's extremes. The one by
the cradle, and the other at the grave
VII hn itc Of he
which each one of us must run. With
our birth we have little to do. With.
out our consent we come into the
| world. Choice of parents, or time, or
place, or state is not our privilege. A
| birth is always an occasion OF
pleasure.
Holy scripture tells us "a mother
| forgets her pains, because of the JOY
she feels that man is born into the
world" The reason is because of the
possibility life offers for achievements
| here, and the hope, founded on Gods
| promise of glory hereafter Happy
| indeed, are they to whom, at birth
generous nature gives sound mind
in healthy body, as capital with
| which to begin life's business. This
is mans richest Inheritance, his most
precious possession. Prudently useG
these gifts insure the successful full
fillment of the highest hopes of fond
est friends. What contrast between
our influence over our birth and OuI
influence over our death. With the
first we have nothing to do, with the
last the words of Christ, GAS you live
so shall you de-" make plain ou
responsibility for what manner o
death shall be ours. If in life W,
were loved, in death we are mourned
If we live in the service of God, we di,
in His friendship and favor. A brave
noble, generous. and unselfish mai
commands the love and respect of al
who know him. These are the quail
ties which enable a Christian gentle
man to live the life that merits
glorious death. Such qualities max
the memory of our departed friend
live, though they be dead.
Il A memorial service has both civil
J and a religious meaning The friend
of our departed hero John Gamble
boyhood years, and the kind neighbor
who sympathize with his people i
their bereavement without distinctio
have come here to do honor to tn
memory of brave soldier, who die
fighting for his country. In the blooI
of manhood's vigor he laid down hi
young life for his country's cause
On the nations altar he offered tn
supreme sacrifice which deserves
tribute of gratitude from every loys
citizen. Does it grieve his parent
and fond relations, because upon tn
battle field, amid the horrid scenes {
war he fell? Where else could brav
soldier more nobly fall than wher
the combined powers of mind an
body unite for mans last and supren
est effort? In the heat of battle tn
true soldier knows no fear, scornin
danger, while the hope of victory lure
him on, where fall thick and fast tn
winged shafts of death he bravel
fights, more for others gain than fo
: his own, believing it sweet to dit
> if only he knows he dies not in vail
The hero's self-forgetfulness on tn
battlefield, the world has never faile
to admit, and Heaven forgets not t
. reward.
But hear you complain, and sa,
he died so far away; not that yo
> would think his death at home favo
but because deep sorrow always r
fuses to be consoled. In great affli
ton it is human natures way to il
crease the pain by. twisting and turl
!, ing in the wound the dagger thu
: pierced the heart. The Pagan poe
:. Virgil, who knew so we'll how to pls
: on the strings of the human hear
makes the Trojan hero envy the lot
those who, defending their native cit
fell fighting near the walls Of Tro
We are not Pagans, but Christie
children of God and heirs of H
kingdom The least among us, by Il
mercy of God, enjoy membership
that society which the Redeemer
stituted both for our salvation al
C consolation. The Communion
Saints, by the Savior's omnipote
will, gives us fellowship with Il
Saints that are, and the Saints tn
It are to be. Neither time nor plac
s, nor distance, can bar the Christi;
a. from the privileges of this divine
I'd instituted society, which multiple
le beyond number our friends in Heav,
TT and on earth. With resignation v