was to be read at his funeral and charged a personal friend with the duty of reading it. The people of Nebraska are, I think, quite familiar with that document. It was a studied declaration of hoplessness (sic), so far as concerns the existence of a creator or a future for man. It is not my purpose to quarrel with the views expressed in the document read at Mr. Kitchen's bier. However much my own mind rejects a particular doctrine, I respect the opinions of my fellows. In my view society is not entirely blameless for the unbelief of the infidel and the doubt of the agnostic. And I do know that the most conspicuous of infidels and agnostics have proved themselves to be true lovers of mankind, while some of the loudest professors of religion have shown themselves to be merciless oppressors of the poor. But I am able to deal with the statement that was read at Mr. Kitchen's bier in a way quite different from that of controversy. While it it true that that statement represented Mr. Kitchen's views at the time it was written, and while it is true that the statement was read by a friend in compliance with a promise, I do assert--acquitting everyone connected with the funeral ceremonies of everything but a desire to discharge his duty--I do assert, and upon the testimony of the men and women who knelt at Mr. Kitchen's bedside at the moment he closed his earthly accounts (among these witnesses being Miss Lulu Ruble, a niece, and Mr. Ralph Kitchen, a nephew), that that document of doubt and unbelief did not represent his latest views. Against that dismal note I place the dying statement of my friend. As the shadows began to fall about his couch of death he gave, so distinctly and so deliberately that it burned into the memory of those who heard it, even as it served as sweet assurance to a good wife's faith, this fine contribution to the music of the world: "Christ our Savior-- |
and that is all there is!" Against the three-column essay read at the funeral bier I place this telling sentence uttered on the couch of death. By authority of this fact I assert that Mr. Kitchen died in full recognition of the one great truth that is too often hid from wise men but is revealed unto babes. Some of us are not ashamed to confess that we have, learned more from the faith of the children who know than we have from the rhetoric of the men who guess. Glad of the opportunity of paying proper tribute to my friend, a man who did not find in life the real happiness that was his due, I am grateful that in discharging the task assigned to me tonight it is my privilege to carry to Nebraskans this message full of love and peace; to substitute in the record of a good man's life and for a note of black despair the sweet, harmonious music of a simple faith, voiced in the declaration made at the threshhold of eternity: "Christ our Saviour--and that is all there is!" This Society's opportunity for service is not limited to the collection of historical data or the distribution of honors among pioneers who have passed away. It is its privilege, as it is, indeed, the privilege of all societies and all individuals, to cultivate among men a disposition to be more considerate of one another. Doubtless the archives of this association contain extravagant eulogies of men who, during all their lives, were required to run the gauntlet of unfair criticism and who, misunderstood by the world, lived among great piles of weeds, only in dying to be buried beneath an avalanche of flowers. I want my flowers now. Rather than a high eulogy, uttered when I am in the great hereafter, I would prefer the warm pressure of a hand while I am in the great now. Rather than a pile of costly wreaths laid upon a tomb con- |
taining naught but dust, I would choose a single pansy, "purple with love's wound," or a clover blossom plucked by gentle hands and given with loving smile and grateful heart to living man. My observation has been that as a rule men are much better than their credit marks among their generation show. There is no hero who deserves all the praises of his partial friend; there is no villain who is entitled to all the censure of his bitter foe. We are wont to boast of our love of justice; yet if we could know the injustice we often do our neighbor we would hang our heads in shame; and we would know if we demanded of him no more in the way of excellence than we ourselves are able to show. We get out of the world just about what we put into it; and we find in men just about what we look for. If we carry into the world the seeds of hatred and of greed, we will reap as we have sown. If in our intercourse with our fellows we carry a load of suspicion and are sour and surly, we find men suspicious, sour and surly. But if we plant sunbeams in our world we will reap a harvest of light in our lives. If we go to meet our fellows with love and truth in our hearts, we will find truth and love coming to meet us more than half way. Those of us who are not too dignified to be human may find inspiration, and upon this very point, in the literature of the children. There is an allegory written for the little ones but serviceable to the grown folks: Once upon a time a cave lived under the ground, as eaves have the habit of doing. It had spent its lifetime in darkness. It heard a voice calling to it: "Come up into the light, come and see the sun shine." The cave retorted: "I don't know what you mean; there isn't anything but darkness." |
Finally the cave ventured forth and was surprised to see light everywhere. Looking up to the sun the cave said: "Come with me and see the darkness." The sun asked: "What is the darkness?" The cave replied: "Come and see." One day the sun accepted the invitation. As it entered the cave it said: "Now show me your darkness!" But there was no darkness. Mr. Jasper L. McBrien delivered an address from notes which were never prepared for publication. Then Absalom N. Yost of Omaha spoke as follows: MR. YOST. As a pioneer and one who is interested in our Historical Society, I must say that I was very much interested in the remarks of our worthy state superintendent of public instruction, who has just left the platform. When he speaks of those boys and girls out west, I wish to say "I have seen the likes of that myself." I can vouch for the truth of what he has stated to you this evening, because I have seen those things with my own eyes. I had the pleasure, a pleasure I may call it, of being a director in one of those western schools for some seventeen years of my life, and I have had considerable experience with those western schools. I feel proud of it today. And I feel glad tonight to know that I am spared to look upon so many old pioneers and those who are members of the Historical Society. Membership costs only two dollars a year, and the Society is a very social affair and also a relic-gathering affair. Every member of this association should make it a point to present to this association some old relic of the past, I hold in my hand something that I am now going to present to the Society |
through its president and secretary. It is a small, solid gold locket containing the pictures of a couple of our old pioneers. Mr. J. W. Richardson was the first representative we had from Dodge county.1 I was a member of the colony that came to Dodge county fifty-four years ago. We came in July and August to Dodge county. Fontanelle was the first county seat. This man Richardson was one of the colony. He came from Quincy, Illinois. My people came from Iowa. I came to Dodge county with the rest of them, riding on a five-year- old steer, driving an ox-wagon. We started in 1853, but arrived in 1854. It seems but a short time ago, and I think I am able to ride an ox yet. (Laughter.) Mr. Richardson was one of the organizers of this territory. He was elected to the legislature of the territory of Nebraska on the twelfth of December, 1854. He came to Omaha and helped organize the territory of Nebraska. Mrs. Richardson was the first postmistress appointed in the territory of Nebraska. She served at Fontanelle for many years as postmistress. Her husband did not live many years. He was our first county judge and was a man of a great deal of ability. After his death, Mrs. Richardson married a Mr. Kitchen who came out here with them. He was killed by his team running away. They never raised any children. When Mrs. Richardson died, it was her will that this locket should be sent to Adelia Campbell, a daughter of Mr. Campbell, whom you all remember. Mr. Campbell was deputy United States marshal under C. E. Yost, now president of the Nebraska Telephone Company at Omaha. Mr. Campbell was 1 Dodge county was represented by three members of the first legislative assembly--Munson H. Clark in the Council and Eli R. Doyle and J. W. Richardson in the House of Representatives.--ED. |
Mr. Yost's deputy United States marshal in the state up to the day he died. This locket was sent to his daughter in California. Last summer I got a telephone message from her brother in Omaha, saying that she wanted to see me. The brother was a conductor on the Union Pacific railroad. I went to see her and found she had consumption. She was not able to get out of doors and she came back to die. She realized her condition but took everything as being for the best. She said,"Ab Yost, I want to present you with this locket. I want you to put it where it will be most appreciated." This evening, on behalf of Mrs. Campbell, I present it to this Society, through its president and secretary. I thank you. (Applause.) At the second session of the meeting, January 14, 1908, two papers were presented. The Last Battle of the Pawnee with the Sioux, by William Z. Taylor,1 and The Part of Iowa Men in the Organization of Nebraska, by Judge Horace E Deemer, of Iowa.2 A regular meeting of the board of
directors of the Nebraska State Historical Society was held
at the office of the Society, in Lincoln, January 13,
1908. 1 Mr. Taylor's paper is printed in Collections of the Nebraska State Historical society, volume xvi. 2 Judge Deemer's paper Is printed In The Annals of Iowa, series III, volume IX, number 3. |
Report of the secretary for the year was presented, approved and ordered placed on file.1 The treasurer's report for the year, together with books of accounts, receipt stubs, bank book and vouchers, was presented by Mr. Geisthardt, and, on motion, referred to Mr. Robert Harvey, who was appointed a special committee to audit the same.2 A communication from W. E. Hardy, president of the Lincoln Commercial Club, with reference to the appointment of a committee to coöperate with the. Commercial Club in securing a building site was, on motion of Mr. Geisthardt, referred to the new board. The request from Mr. Robert Harvey for a duplicate set of the Congressional Globe, owned by the Society, to be given to the Howard County Historical Society, in return for such duplicate material as it might have to exchange, was referred to the library committee and the secretary, with power to act. The proposed amendments to the constitution3 were submitted to the board by the secretary, and were, on motion, ordered presented to the annual meeting of the Society with the approval of the board. There being no further business to come before the board, adjournment was taken sine die.  CLARENCE
S. PAINE, Secretary.Approved January 13, 1908. A special meeting of the board of directors was held 1 The secretary's report appears in Proceedings and Collections of the Nebraska State Historical Society, series 2, volume X (volume XV Of Publications), page 288. 2 Ibid, 310. 3 Proceedings and Collections of the Nebraska State Historical Society, series 2, volume X (volume XV of publications) page 287. |
at the office of the Society, in Lincoln, January 15, 1908. Present, Dr. George L. Miller, president, Professor H. W. Caldwell, S. L. Geisthardt, Robert Harvey, and the secretary. The meeting was called to order by the president. A communication was presented from Mr. W. E. Hardy, president of the Lincoln Commercial Club, asking for the appointment of a committee of three to cooperate with similar committees from the Commercial Club and the city council, in securing a site for the proposed Historical Society building. Professor Caldwell moved that the president appoint such committee. Carried. The president appointed the secretary, Professor H. W. Caldwell, and C. F. Harpham A request from Mr. Harvey for the allowance of a part of his expenses on a proposed trip to Washington, on business of interest to the Society, was, on motion, referred to Mr. Harvey and the secretary. The president announced the appointment of the following named committees. Library -- Miss Charlotte Templeton, Miss Edith Tobitt, Chancellor W. P. Aylsworth. Museum -- Ellis T. Hartley, Melvin R. Gilmore, Elmer E. Blackman. Obituaries -- Andrew J. Sawyer, Henry E. Palmer, Charles Wake. Program -- The secretary, the president, Professor Howard W. Caldwell. Publication -- The secretary, Addison E. Sheldon, Robert Harvey. After some informal discussion the meeting was adadjourned. (sic) CLARENCE
S. PAINE, Secretary.Approved April 14,1908. |
The joint committee appointed by the
Lincoln Commercial Club, the Nebraska State Historical
Society, the Nebraska Territorial Pioneers Association, and
the Lincoln City Council, to consider plans for providing a
site for the proposed Historical Society building, was held
at the Lincoln Commercial Club rooms, January 21, 1908. |
that the chairman appoint a committee of five, to consist of one from each of the organizations represented, and the chairman of the general committee, for the purpose of examining available sites, securing prices thereon and making recommendations to the general committee. Carried. The chairman appointed the committee as follows: W. O. Jones, H. F. Bishop, C. S. Paine, and B. A. George. On motion of Mr. George, T. P. Kennard was made chairman of this sub-committee. Professor H. W. Caldwell moved that it be recommended to the committee that they do not consider any site more than three blocks from the university campus. An amendment was offered by C. S. Paine to the effect that the committee be instructed to consider any available site within two blocks of the capitol, or within three blocks of the university campus. The amendment being accepted, the question was put upon the motion, as amended, and carried. Motion by Professor Caldwell that it be recommended to the committee that they do not consider any site of less than half a block. Seconded by C. F. Harpham. Motion was lost. Motion by H. F. Bishop that when the meeting of the general committee adjourn it be to meet at the call of the secretary. Carried. Motion to adjourn. Carried. CLARENCE
S. PAINE, Secretary. The second meeting of this joint
committee was held at the rooms of the Lincoln Commercial
Club, Wednesday, March 11, 1908. Present, H.. F. Bishop, B.
A. George, T. P. Kennard, C. W. Bryan, C. F. Harpham, |
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