The log cabin Democrat., 1921-10-25


 material pursuits in the heartless conflicts of life, that we too seldom hear the muffled call for helpful re- lationship. We are sometimes ln- needing of disabled comrades strug- gling by our very sides. I do not mean to discourage success. I do not discredit the ambition for wealth and power and influence These are very commendable, if not wrought at the cost of sacrificing fellow man to attain them.
 More striking still is our unmnd- fitness of the influence of examnle. There is scarcely a human being who is not influencing some other devel- oping life, This knowledge adds greatly to our responsibility, but it equally reminds us of the awaiting opportunity for helrfulness.
 The spoken word of human inter- est will often work q miracle, and It costs so little. recall a striking in- cident or two in my experience. At one time, years ago, there came to our newspaper office a locally we'll known trench-digger. who had been stalwart of his type, but strong drink had left him a seemingly nope less derelict The fact that he call ed at our office very week for a bundle of old papers to read suggest ed a slumbering spark of manhood and one day 1 sai1, quite sincerely old man, why don't you cut out the drink, and be the man that God in- tended you?' He didn't answer, but tear showed in his eyes as he walk ed away. A couple of years later I was summoned to the country home for the poor, and was ushered to the bedside of this same man. I found him desperately and hopelessly ill, but my heart was strangely moved when he said, MT. Harding, sent for you to tell you l have been a real man for two years, because you spoke the first word of friendly in- terest, one morning, which I had not heard in years. I may never re- cover my health, but somehow a want ed to thank you, sir
 "I recall another. A young fellow was working in our mechanical de, partment, and performing his work ordinarily well, but his earnings were wasted and his leisure spent without a thought of getting along in life Perhaps my knowledge of his family led me to friendly admonition, and my appeal took root. He changed his employment and his habits and as- sociates, and three years later I re- Joiced to see him experimenting a great industry. A friendly word, at no cost whatever had changed the current of a life to the broad sea of success.
 "To me the realization of neglect. ed opportunities, the waiting mo- ments for helpfulness which have been overlooked because of their very very simplicity, is the sorrow of occasions like this. l speak of it be cause l never attended a lodge mem orial without reflecting on the man. her l choose to be remembered. We join in this memorial of song and tribute, but it is the individual mem 7 ory that goes to the heart. Men are only revealed to their intimates. And the pity is that We do not al- ways understand.
 "l can recall a Brother Elk, ex- ceedingly prosperous, rigidly exact Tn business, whose seemingly cold ex- terior proclaimed man without the attributes we eXtol in this Order I had the popular impression of aim until l accidentally penetrated his armour and found him to be the most genial and charitable and sympa- thetic of all the men knew. Like the true Elk he cloaked his charity to retain its very refinement. Alas! How often do we criticise harshlv when we ought to beStow a garland? We do 1t in private life and leave wound where praise would be Da- coming We do it in public life, and withhold from sacrificing public men the one compensation which might atone.
 This memorial will not be in vain today, the departing will be fittingly hOnored, if We somehow recall their lovable and helpful attributes and resolve to preserve then in our lives to bless our living fraternity.
 "Frlendship and fellowship are as old as creation, and there comes a refinement of them in developing civilization. Nature made fellowship instinctive with the beasts of the fields and the fowls in the air, ard man craves it in every walk of life The lodge is but the organized de velopment of it. The church is 4n- other, One does not need to be a churchman to be a true worshiper of God, but there is comfort and en- couragement in the church fellow ship. Fraternity strikes the com mon chords, and the world needs more Nf he f1.nt n1.,, t.. .-c -..... - -