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Article THREE CHRISTMAS EVES. ← Page 7 of 8 →
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Three Christmas Eves.
privilege of calling whenever they might pass , to see after the welfare of the girl . In due time she wedded the present Master of our Lodge . '" Brother Paul , on this third Christmas Eve she stands before you !' " ' Father ! Father ! He falls ! he is dying ! ' —here cried the agonized woman , rushing forward and trying to clasp him ere he dropped to the ground . " ' Father ! Oh ! Father , found and at the same time lost !' "The Brethren ' s arms , however , supported him whilst , for an instant , he stood erect ,
and murmured , — '" No ! my child ! The Father that has so long befriended thee is still thy guardian and thy guide . Follow His behests , and , hereafter , in His good time , join thy mother , and thy father , who now leaves thee , happy in the knowledge of thy fate . ' "He made agahi as if he would fall , but the Brethren gently lowered him on to a couch that they had pulled forward into the centre of the Lodge . For a brief moment he raised himself upon his elbow , whilst a strange light shone from out his eyes , and exelaimed , ' Christmas Eve—Christmas Eve— -Christmas Eve Master!—Brethren !—¦ William !—Marv dear !—Farewell !'
"Then as he sank back he said : ' Work clone and labour over , the Grand Master calls to refreshment So labour—that—ye—may—enter—into—His—REST . ' "The venerable head fell back , and Paul Roberts was at peace ; sobbing convulsively , his daughter fell upon her knees , with her face resting on that breast , all so quiet now , and as she thus bent over him , pendant from her neck , just lightly rested on his heart , for ever stilled to this world , the mystic Seal of the Royal Solomon .
"The Brethren fell upon their knees , whilst Brother Blunderbore , the oldest Past Master of the Lodge , his voice choking with suppressed emotion , tearfully began the solemn Memorial Service , —¦ " 'Whatman is he that liveth and shall not see death ? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave ? " 'Man walketh in a vain shadow , he heapeth up riches , and cannot tell who shall gather them . " ' When he dieth , he shall carry nothing away ; his glory shall not descend after him .
" ' Naked he came into the world , and naked he must return ; the Lord gave and tho Lord taketh away ; blessed be the name of the Lord !' " Then , taking up the volume of the Sacred Law into his hands , he continued , — " ' Let us die the death of the righteous , and let our last end be like his 1 ' "And the Brethren , as one man , replied , — " 'God is our God for ever and ever , he will be our guide even unto death !' "Laying the Holbook upon the dead Brother ' s breastmost solemnlthe Past
y , y Master said , — " ' Almighty Father ! into Thy hands we commend the soul of our loving brother . ' " To which the Brethren replied , — " ' The will of God is accomplished ! so be it !' " Then falling on his knees , the aged Brother prayed , — '' 'Most glorious God ! author of all good , and giver of all mercy , pour down Thy
blessings upon us , and strengthen our solemn engagements , with the ties of sincere affection ! May the present instance of mortality remind us of our approaching fate , ancl draw our attention toward Thee , the only refuge , in time of need—that when the awful moment shall arrive , that we are about to quit this transitory scene , the enlivening prospect of Thy mercy may dispel the gloom of death ; and after our departure , hence in peace , " and in Thy favour , we may be received into Thine everlasting kingdom , to enjoy , in union with the souls of our departed friends , the just reward of a pious ancl virtuous We ! Amen ! ' '
" The weeping daughter was tenderly led forth , whilst the body of her father was gently , borne to a room in the hotel , whence it was subsequentl y taken to burial in the old churchyard , by the Hard , the yard of the very church where Brother Paul had thought he heard his daughter ' s voice in the cheering words , ' In His hands are all the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Three Christmas Eves.
privilege of calling whenever they might pass , to see after the welfare of the girl . In due time she wedded the present Master of our Lodge . '" Brother Paul , on this third Christmas Eve she stands before you !' " ' Father ! Father ! He falls ! he is dying ! ' —here cried the agonized woman , rushing forward and trying to clasp him ere he dropped to the ground . " ' Father ! Oh ! Father , found and at the same time lost !' "The Brethren ' s arms , however , supported him whilst , for an instant , he stood erect ,
and murmured , — '" No ! my child ! The Father that has so long befriended thee is still thy guardian and thy guide . Follow His behests , and , hereafter , in His good time , join thy mother , and thy father , who now leaves thee , happy in the knowledge of thy fate . ' "He made agahi as if he would fall , but the Brethren gently lowered him on to a couch that they had pulled forward into the centre of the Lodge . For a brief moment he raised himself upon his elbow , whilst a strange light shone from out his eyes , and exelaimed , ' Christmas Eve—Christmas Eve— -Christmas Eve Master!—Brethren !—¦ William !—Marv dear !—Farewell !'
"Then as he sank back he said : ' Work clone and labour over , the Grand Master calls to refreshment So labour—that—ye—may—enter—into—His—REST . ' "The venerable head fell back , and Paul Roberts was at peace ; sobbing convulsively , his daughter fell upon her knees , with her face resting on that breast , all so quiet now , and as she thus bent over him , pendant from her neck , just lightly rested on his heart , for ever stilled to this world , the mystic Seal of the Royal Solomon .
"The Brethren fell upon their knees , whilst Brother Blunderbore , the oldest Past Master of the Lodge , his voice choking with suppressed emotion , tearfully began the solemn Memorial Service , —¦ " 'Whatman is he that liveth and shall not see death ? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave ? " 'Man walketh in a vain shadow , he heapeth up riches , and cannot tell who shall gather them . " ' When he dieth , he shall carry nothing away ; his glory shall not descend after him .
" ' Naked he came into the world , and naked he must return ; the Lord gave and tho Lord taketh away ; blessed be the name of the Lord !' " Then , taking up the volume of the Sacred Law into his hands , he continued , — " ' Let us die the death of the righteous , and let our last end be like his 1 ' "And the Brethren , as one man , replied , — " 'God is our God for ever and ever , he will be our guide even unto death !' "Laying the Holbook upon the dead Brother ' s breastmost solemnlthe Past
y , y Master said , — " ' Almighty Father ! into Thy hands we commend the soul of our loving brother . ' " To which the Brethren replied , — " ' The will of God is accomplished ! so be it !' " Then falling on his knees , the aged Brother prayed , — '' 'Most glorious God ! author of all good , and giver of all mercy , pour down Thy
blessings upon us , and strengthen our solemn engagements , with the ties of sincere affection ! May the present instance of mortality remind us of our approaching fate , ancl draw our attention toward Thee , the only refuge , in time of need—that when the awful moment shall arrive , that we are about to quit this transitory scene , the enlivening prospect of Thy mercy may dispel the gloom of death ; and after our departure , hence in peace , " and in Thy favour , we may be received into Thine everlasting kingdom , to enjoy , in union with the souls of our departed friends , the just reward of a pious ancl virtuous We ! Amen ! ' '
" The weeping daughter was tenderly led forth , whilst the body of her father was gently , borne to a room in the hotel , whence it was subsequentl y taken to burial in the old churchyard , by the Hard , the yard of the very church where Brother Paul had thought he heard his daughter ' s voice in the cheering words , ' In His hands are all the