Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-03-02

Our Shelter in the Time of Storm"
How much has this pure-hearted
man contributed by his example and
lis unconscious influence, to our
! standards of temperance, and virtue
and honesty, our faith in men, in
society, in the institution Of our
country in the administration of JUS
1 tice among men?
While we listened to those who
stand in the synagogues and in the
corners Of the street" until strife
wrought confusion in our minds, how
frequent has our faith been renewed,
and our hearts refreshed, by the calm
and patient and unruffled man who
was our neighbor, our friend our fell
low citizen.
| / think we have little realization
/ today of our obligation to this great
! soul with whom it was our privilege
| to walk for time along the devious
pathway OF human experience, which
he trod sure-footed and confident to
! the end. Perhaps if we think on these
/ things we may better understand what
Jesus meant, when he said:
Blessed are the pure in heart
for they shall see God"
1t is a strange weakness of human
nature-perhap it has it's origin in
that universal longing for better
things which is the handspring of all
human activity-that we are prone
to imagine that the better things are
far away In some remote land the
conditions are better than at home.
! mn.
are fairer, over the mountains. There
is always a pot of gold at the end of
the rainbow of our dreams. Thus
Prophet is not without honor, save i'll
his own country.
Those who met Judge Clementson
in his daily walks, who were privileg-
ed to grasp his hand and listen to his
voice in neighborly converse, | dare
say felt a genuine satisfaction and
content in his companionship, but they
failed utterly to grasp the truth, that
their neighbor and friend was truly
great man.
Few men in our history have eXcell-
ed him in intellectual ability. Few
men have attained a more accurate
and comprehensive knowledge of law
and Jurisprudence. Few men excelled
him in the genius of common sense.
Few men entertained broader con-
ception of our form of government,
or a stronger faith in it's institutions.
No man enjoyed q more complete
mastery of his soul. Though a man
OF strong passions and vigorous
brain, there was never more cour
tcous and kindly gentleman in his
intercourse with his fellow men.
One who knew the correct standards
OF human conduct said: HE that
ruleth his own spirit, is greater than
he who taketh a City" What is there
left which constitutes greatness that
our neighbor lacked? Is it that he
was content to live among us common
folks, and enjoy the normal existence
% a man, as God intended man should
live? Instead of yielding to ambitions
CALL to become a mere disturber Of
the public peace, as most of the So
called great men merely are?
He had strength and gentleness,
vision and sympathy, all the
OF character attributed to those whom
God appoints to lead men towards tht
light
The Man of Gallilee was so great,
that humanity affords us no example
for comparison, and so we call the
Savior of the World the Son of God.
His neighbors, reviled, and cursed,
and cruciied Him, and in derision
those who sat in the high places,
those who dwelt in the City, exclaimed
Can any good thing come out of
Nazareth ?"
1t is sad commentary upon
humanity, that after two thousand
years of Christian civilization. men
still cruelty each other by their lack
of consideration and courtesy, by
an utter selfish and indecent disre-
gard for the common amenities OF
human life and human brotherhood;
and still at the sepulchre we crowd
and push for the place made vacant
by our dead even as the brutal soldiery
of Rome cast lots for the raiment of
the Savior, at the foot of the Cross
OF Calvary.
1t would tighten the burden of many
heavy hearts, and bring the light of
JOY into many tear-dimmed eyes, if
what we are pleased to say in me-
moriam could have been uttered in
the living presence of our fellow men.
Let us at least pretend that in twenty
centuries we have made some little
progress.
Let us proclaim to all the world
that some good may and has, come
out from among us. That this one
whose memory we desire to honor
this day. was, in life, one of our
country's great men, for such in truth
he was.
Perhaps he had some faults. I most
sincerely trust he had. Without fault
he would not have been a human be-
ing. He could not have been, as he
was, our brother and our friend. If
he had faults they were but the evil
dence of his humanity, and God shall
judge them.
1t is weak vision in men which
enables US to discern the little mote in
cur brothers eye, the little foibles
which are the common heritage of
human nature, but which is blind to
the splendid attributes of a great soul
which animates and glorifies life OF
usefulness and helpfulness among
men.
George Clementson was great man,
a great jurist, great Judge. And
4 4.