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Robert Ingersoll Tribute E C Ingersoll


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Tribute E C Ingersoll

Robert Green Ingersoll

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Contents of thid file                           page

A TRIBUTE TO EBON C. INGERSOLL.                        1
A TRIBUTE TO THOMAS CORWIN.                            2
A TRIBUTE TO COURTLANDT PALMER.                        3
A TRIBUTE TO ROSCOE CONKLING.                          6

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This file, its printout, or copies of either
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The Works of ROBERT G. INGERSOLL

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A TRIBUTE TO EBON C. INGERSOLL.

Washington, D.C., May 31, 1879.

DEAR FRIENDS: I am going to do that which the dead oft
promised he would do for me.

The loved and loving brother, husband, father, friend, died
where manhood's morning almost touches noon, and while the shadows
still were falling toward the west.

He had not passed on life's highway the stone that marks the
highest point; but being weary for a moment, he lay down by the
wayside, and using his burden for a pillow, fell into that
dreamless sleep that kisses down his eyelids still. While yet in
love with life and raptured with the world, he passed to silence
and pathetic dust.

Yet, after all, it may be best, just in the happiest, sunniest
hour of all the voyage, while eager winds are kissing every sail,
to dash against the unseen rock, and in an instant hear the billows
roar above a sunken ship. For whether in mid-sea or 'mong the
breakers of the farther shore, a wreck at last must mark the end of
each and all. And every life, no matter if its every hour is rich
with love and every moment jeweled with a joy, will, at its close,
become a tragedy as sad and deep and dark as can be woven of the
warp and woof of mystery and death.

This brave and tender man in every storm of life was oak and
rock; but in the sunshine he was vine and flower. He was the friend
of all heroic souls. He climbed the heights, and left all
superstitions far below, while on his forehead fell the golden
dawning of the grander day.

He loved the beautiful, and was with color, form, and music
touched to tears. He sided with the weak, the poor, and wronged,
and lovingly gave alms. With loyal heart and with the purest hands
he faithfully discharged all public trusts.

Bank of Wisdom
Box 926, Louisville, KY 40201
1

A TRIBUTE TO EBON C. INGERSOLL.

He was a worshiper of liberty, a friend of the oppressed. A
thousand times I have heard him quote these words: "For Justice all
place a temple, and all season, summer." He believed that happiness
is the only good, reason the only torch, justice the only worship,
humanity the only religion, and love the only priest. He added to
the sum of human joy; and were every one to whom he did some loving
service to bring a blossom to his grave, he would sleep tonight
beneath a wilderness of flowers.

Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two
eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry
aloud, and the only answer is the echo of our wailing cry. From the
voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word; but in
the night of death hope sees a star and listening love can hear the
rustle of a wing.

He who sleeps here, when dying, mistaking the approach of
death for the return of health, whispered with his latest breath,
"I am better now." Let us believe, in spite of doubts and dogmas,
of fears and tears, that these dear words are true of all the
countless dead.

The record of a generous life runs like a vine around the
memory of our dead, and every sweet, unselfish act is now a
perfumed flower.

And now, to you, who have been chosen, from among the many men
he loved, to do the last sad office for the dead, we give his
sacred dust.

Speech cannot contain our love. There was, there is, no
gentler, stronger, manlier man.

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