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Their Name Liveth Forevermore

Improvement Era, vol. 22, no. 4, February 1919, pp. 331 to 334

Paul, J. H.

Their Name Liveth Forevermore VI <r<?

Remarks at the Bier of a Student-Soldier

By Prof. J. H. Paul, University of Utah

Friends and Fellow Citizens: Sent here at the request of the authorities of the University, to express to the bereaved parents something of their appreciation and sorrow, when lives like this are laid down in the service of the nation and of humanity, I would lay also my own simple tribute of esteem upon the altar of the dead student's memory. Rather frequently of late, when called upon for remarks on issues growing out of the great war, I have been saying: "Let every American mother give her son to God and to this sacred duty. In life and death we are in God's hands. It is his divine will that men and nations shall be free, and it is part of our duty as a nation to aid in freeing them. This duty will cost the lives of some of our sons; and if it be your son or mine, let us remember that in the deep of the Eternal heart is the law of sacrifice. It seems that God himself could not lay the foundation for the salvation and eternal progress of mankind, except by the sacrifice of his beloved son. Great shall therefore be the honor and eternal the reward of those who follow the divine example ot laying down life in order that life may be saved and ennobled." I cannot conceal an overwhelming sense of disappointment in this young man's departure. Though his country has required this sacrifice, we would have kept him here; for I feel that he was the idol of his home, the hope of an entire household and of many other friends. Their inmost thoughts are spoken by the poet who says:

"We never thought that it could be, In those old days of hope and bliss, That life could darken like the sea, And love be wrecked like this."

This is why we cannot be fully reconciled to this death. We admit that God knows best, and that his thoughts are not as ours are. We may not question, and dare not rail at, the divine law — of sacrifice that in order to save life or to exalt mankind, we must lay down life; and as for separation, the Apostle has assured us that "to be with Christ is far better." Yet, only a few weeks

332 IMPROVEMENT ERA

ago, as he left his home at the call of his country, with a smile on his lips and joy in his eyes, "Somebody wept when he marched away, Looking so handsome, brave and grand; Somebody's kiss on his forehead lay, Somebody clung to his parting hand; Somebody was watching and waiting for him, Yearning to hold him again to her heart, Now lies he there with his clear eyes dim, And the smiling, fearless lips apart."

This is the chief reason why we find it so difficult to face the decree of heaven, and to accept without complaint the will of Him who doeth all things well. Yet these painful realities should not be permitted to blind our vision to the momentous fact that this young man has now become of immortal memory. The fortunate circumstance and — time of his death that he went hence while in the service of the nation, and, as I truly believe, in the service of heaven itself — has made of him one of the immortals of this wonderful day. He pledged, at the call of humanity, his efforts, his honor, and his life. He has laid down his life for his friends; and "greater love than this hath no man." He is today lost to his people, but is won by our nation to the honor roll of its sons who have deserved well of humanity. His quiet tomb, here amid his native hills, will enshroud and protect his earthly remains; but the whole earth, Pericles has said, is the sepulchre of those who die in the cause of men. Commemorated by columns and inscriptions in their own country, there dwells in other lands also, "an unwritten memorial of them, engraven not in stone, but in the hearts of men." He bids us make them our examples and if we;

esteem courage to be freedom and freedom to be happiness, we shall "not weigh too nicely the perils of war." To this distinction, I repeat, have our soldier dead attained. The fame of all who have given their lives in this cause is nation-wide and worldwide. Their record shall be kept forever henceforward in the grateful remembrance of mankind. They are from this day sons of the nation, because they are heroes of the world-wide peace, which they died to establish. This young man is exclusively your son no longer. He is a hero of the eternal world. His name is enrolled in the book of everlasting time a faithful— soldier of the cross, a true son of America, a servant of the Most High. Therefore I could almost bid you dry your tears and rejoice; for on this proud though fateful day, he has brought a worthy eminence to his parents, his family, and his friends. To the British poet Kipling, it seemed that no single phrase could be better for engraving on the great memorial stone which is to be erected in each of the cemeteries for British soldiers who

"THEIR NAME LIVETH FOREVER" 333

have fallen in the war than that which closes the tribute to the — famous men in Ecclesiastes "Their name liveth forevermore." This sentence of praise and honor, simple and well known, comprehensible in every tongue, and standing outside the flux of men and things, we well may believe will perpetuate their fame till time shall be no more. Until the dawn of that happier morn, when our human sky shall be gathered, "like a scroll within its tomb, unread forever," and until the day-star of promise shall dissipate the clouds that now obscure our vision, let us cheerfully say, "Good-night, Dear Son, and pleasant dreams!" Not as Scott said of his dead chieftain:

Like the dew on the mountain, Like the foam on the river, Like the bubble on the fountain, Thou art gone, and forever.

Nor even as Boker said of a hero of the Civil War: As man may, he fought his fight, Proved his truth by his endeavor; Let him sleep in solemn night, Sleep forever and forever.

No; not forever; the fine spirit whose companionship you have enjoyed so long is not dead, nor is he asleep, nor far away; he is safe in his Father's home and is going on to perfection.

We cannot think all love and hope Forevermore abide In the quiet grave they made for him There on the great hillside; Nor can we deem the world less fair Because that he hath died.

For now some sweeter element Pervades the realm of space; A brighter glow is on the flowers, The sunshine hath new grace; And a fairer glory haunts the dawn, Like that smile upon his face.

O love and hope that cannot tire Through all the years to be! O faith that shines, a crystal star Above the great, white sea! Somewhere, in God's infinitude, This son awaits for thee.

May the coming years deal gently with you and yours, and the knowledge that the world reaps a benefit from the sacrifice consolation to your lives "from this time hence- of your son be a forth and even forevermore."

Died in Service Sergt. Guy J. Jurgensen, Salt Lake City, was killed in action, October 7, 1918. He was 27 years old, and a son of Mrs. Mary C. Jurgensen. Lieut. Oscar Pierce, Malto, Idaho, was killed in action, in France, according to word received at Burley, Idaho, November 21, 1918. John K. Traggastis, brother of Thomas Traggastis, a grocer at Bingham, Utah, was killed in action in France, October 14. No further particulars are given. Wilford Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Anderson, of Logan, Utah, died of wounds in France, October 28. He was 23 years old, unmarried and entered the army on the first draft call. George W Carlile, son of Mr. and Mrs. George R. Carlile, of Heber .

City, Utah, was killed in action, November 2, 1918. He received his military training at Camp Lewis, and arrived in France early in September, 1918. Prvt. Nelden F. Worley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frtiz Worley, of Wellington, Utah, died in France, according to word received by relatives, November 22, 1918. He entered the service, May, 1918, and went over-seas in July. Clarence Anderson, of Aurora, Utah, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Anderson, died of pneumonia at Camp Lewis according to word received by his parents, November 27, 1918. His body was brought home for burial. Orin M. Allen, Logan, Utah, was killed in action, September 27, 1918, in France. He was 26 years old, a member of Co. M. 362nd Infantry, trained at Camp Lewis. He is survived by his widow, his mother, and several brothers and sisters. Leonard Peterson, son of Mrs. Elizabeth Peterson, of Salt Lake City, was killed in action, September 29, 1918. He was a member of the 362nd Infantry, was trained at Camp Lewis, and is survived by his mother and several brothers and sisters. Ernest Rudy Rosell, son of Mrs. C. J. Rosell, Salt Lake City, was reported to have been killed in action, October 20. He was 28 years of age, was drafted in April, 1918, and sent to Camp Lewis, entering the Engineer corps and arriving in France, June, 1918. Fount LeRoy Forsgren, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Forsgren, Brigham City, Utah, died in France of pneumonia, October 13. He entered service, April, 1918, was sent to Camp Lewis for training, was attached to the 316th ammunition supply train and later sent to France. Ira Brown, son of Byron W. Brown, Jr., of Lehi, Utah, died at Fort Douglas, December 14, 1918, of influenza-pneumonia. He was 21 years old and a member of University of Utah S. A. T. C. His wife, one child, his father, and a number of brothers and sisters survive him. Leo Jensen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Annie C. Jensen, Richfield, Utah, was killed in action, October 2, 1918. He went to Camp Lewis last April, arriving in France, July 24. He was attached to a machine gun battalion and saw service in the American drive north-west of Verdun. Angus Pugmire, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Pugmire, Pocatello, Idaho, 28 years of age, was killed in action in France, September 13, 1918. He volunteered and was sent over-seas from Camp Lewis. He was a descendant of the late Lorenzo D. Young, a prominent Utah Pioneer.