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Show Mrs. Gibbons Laid to Rest. The funeral of Mrs. Michael Gibbons of Bingham took place last Friday from St. Mary's cathedral. High mass was celebrated by Father Kiely. A great many friends of the deceased were present at the solemn survlces. After the mass Father Kiely spoke on death and the good qualities of the deceased, de-ceased, taking for his text, "Godliness is profitable to all things, having promise prom-ise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Tim., 4-8.) We are assembled to pay our last tribute of respect and pray for the eternal eter-nal repose of one who in life endeared herself to all who knew her. "Whilst the church still sings her alleluia of Eastertide, and the faithful rejoice over the Risen Savior, who conquered sin and death, we, today, instead of mourning, mourn-ing, have reason to rejoice, because whosoever believeth in the Savior shall not taste death. Death, in the natural order, is Inevitable. Inevi-table. All see it in the distance. Its near or distant approach is one of the uncertainties of life. It may be today, and will be for thousands who at this moment enjoy perfect health; it may be tomorrow: it may be a year hence, five, ten, twenty, forty or fifty at most. Who knows? No one. The Scripture says, "Between me and death there Is but one step." When, where or how that last step will be taken, no one knows. That step solves the problem of life. When taken then the soul, in reality, begins the eternal life destined for it by its Creator. What then we term death is not really death, but the beginning of Immortality. In consoling the widowed mother who lost her only child, Christ said: "She is not dead, she sleepeth." Like the little seed thrown into the ground which must rot and apparently die before it buds forth, so must we all die before we enter en-ter that life of immortality. In that life beyond the grave are two abodes, one of infinite bliss and the other of eternal woe. The deceased was a pious, God-fearing woman. Her home was the happiest happi-est of homes. Gentle, unassuming and humble, all who entered that home received re-ceived a warm greeting and were made happy. I have known her for more than twenty years, and in all that time she was alwavs the same gentle.' kind and patient Christian woman. Before she departed from this earth to enter on the pathway to eterntiy, she suffered suf-fered much, but not a murmur escaped from her lips. Patient to the end, according ac-cording to the assurance of the Apostle, such as she have a "promise of a life that now is. and of that which is to come." Sbe was a good woman, and the world is better because of the influence in-fluence of her good example. Her death was as edifying as her life was praiseworthy. To the bereaved husband, mother, sister, I rother and friends, I extend my deepest condolence. May her soul rest in peace, and perpetual light shine upon her. |