The Caldwell Tribune

the clouds perhaps to fall again upon the thirsty land in refreshing showers. In the laboratory I saw a chemist attach some electric wires to a test-tube of water. The water gradually disappeared. What had become of it. Was it destroyed No it was converted into two colorless gases hydrogen and oxygen. It wasn't destroyed just a slight change in the arrangement of its atoms that was all under proper conditions they could be recombined again into water. So when we speak of the constant change going on all about us we will do well to remember that matter is not being destroyed. You can't destroy matter it is simply being rearranged. It still abides.

Energy the second important factor in the formation of the universe likewise remains. You can convert it into heat light or electricity but you cannot destroy energy. So far as we know there is just as much energy in the world today as there ever was. Vast quantities of energy stream from the sun every year and are converted into growing crops that become the food of man. In man they become human energy. Not one scintilla is lost if only we knew how to measure and weigh it. It abides.

The third thing that abides in God's universe is law. The idea that is back of every thing that is. I may destroy the crystal by a little more dilution but you will not destroy the law that makes the crystal. That remains unchanged and just as soon as the conditions are right will build up the crystals again. It will make a million crystals as well as one if you just give it a chance. Back of every object is the idea of that object that calls it into existence and that idea abides it can not be destroyed.

Now given these three things. Matter indestructible energy indiminishable and the idea the law and what after all can time do with the universe.

Nothing but change its form a little absolutely nothing. Destroy it all in a moment in the twinkling of an eye so far as outward seeming goes but you have not destroyed it. It will build itself again. You can't diminish Gods Universe.

But you say what has all of this to do with man.
Man dieth yea man wasteth away man giveth up the ghost and where is he.

Friends I think it has very much to do with man. What can death do with man while these facts remain. Destroy this body but I say to you you can not destroy it. Time and the elements may change its form for a little while but matter can not be destroyed.

Destroy this life this pulsating energy that keeps the blood surging through my body and my brain scintillating with thoughts. Oh but you can not destroy energy. You can change its manifestation for a little while but you can not destroy it.

Destroy this personality. This idea that I interpret as I. Myself. No you can't destroy that any more than you can destroy the law that makes the crystal. You can't destroy my identity I will be myself to the end of time Fear not oh soul of man you will survive even the wreck of matter and the crash of world. You can't destroy personality for personality is an idea and ideas do not die you may kill my body said Socrates but you can not reach my soul. Had Socrates probed a little deeper he would have said you can kill neither my body nor my soul.

The words of my text this afternoon is "The Eternal God is my refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms." What are the everlasting arms of God that are underneath friends are they not these assurances of which I have spoken embodied in the personality of our God.

Weary traveler on the turbulent sea of life bewildered sometimes almost stunned by the things that come and go you may yet take good heart for the eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.

The storms of life can not baffle us the changes of life can not overwhelm us "underneath are the everlasting arms".

We can watch the years come and go we can see old age come on apace what care we a million birthdays and eternity has just begun for us.

We can see our loved ones fall by the way side like leaves of autumn but we will not mourn as those that refuse to be comforted. They are out of our sight for a little while "but underneath are the everlasting arms."

Aye we can look upon the hour when we too must say good bye to friends gathered about our bed side but we will approach that hour with calm minds and tranquil soul "for underneath are the everlasting arms.'

"It little matters at what hour of day The righteous fall on sleep Death can not come To him ultimately who has learned to die The less of this brief life the more of Heaven The shorter time the longer immortality".

Jump my child said the father as he stood beneath the chamber window and held his arms up toward the child and the child who a moment before trembled on the window ledge jumped for underneath were the arms of the father and the child was not afraid.

Oh there is a great satisfaction in knowing that underneath are the everlasting arms.

Do you believe in fatalism? A friend inquired of me the other day. Do you believe that whatever is to be will be. No I do not believe that but I do believe this friends that whatever will be the Lord is my helper and the God of Jacob is my refuge. Underneath are the everlasting arms.

And in that conviction there is a world of satisfaction. Let the storms of life come let tomorrow be a day of new and unlooked for disaster it will be all right with me for underneath are the everlasting arms.

The soul must have its Gibraltar and that Gibraltar is an abiding faith in a personal God.

In a certain village on the shores of New England there was an old Scotch smith and as he forged the anchor chains all the day long he kept repeating to himself. "Seven links a day and each link the anchor for a thousand souls." One day a man came that way who told him of a process whereby he could forge not seven huge anchor links but ten thereby increasing his earnings by one third. But is it just as good said the old Scotchman. No not just as good said the man but it is safe at least reasonably safe. Other men adopted the method that was not just as good glad to increase their earnings. But not the old scotchman. He still stuck to his seven links a day and each link the anchor of a thousand souls. Time went on and by and by the old scotchman shipped upon the eternal waters and forgotten of men Then came the fatal night the sea is lashed into fury by the wind the great ship is tossing hither and thither like an egg shell. The relentless waves are driving it upon the cruel rocks. Above the roar of the storm comes the command of the captain "cast out the first anchor". Over the side goes the anchor chain running out thru its housing but when the weight of the incoming billows strikes the ship it snaps like a thread. Cast out the second anchor is the cry of the captain. Down into the mad sea the anchor chain rushes like a serpent. The second anchor bites into the floor of the ocean and for a moment holds. The anchor chain stiffens like a rod of steel then parts the ship is at the mercy of the wind and wave and dashing toward the rock. Cast out the reserve anchor once more rings the voice of the captain. It glides into the seething waters. Will it hold? Will it stand the strain Upon that answer hangs the lives of a thousand human souls. The strain of the onrushing waves strikes it. It stiffens the ship creaks and groans but it holds! It holds! Yes it is the chain the old smith forged "seven links a day and each link the anchor of a thousand souls."

Friends will your anchor hold in the storms of life when the clouds unfurl their wings of strife Oh other things may do for fair weather but at times like these you want to make sure that your anchor chains are stout and that you are fastened to the rock of Gibraltar.

As for our brother this afternoon we do not fear. His heart has stayed on Christ.

The messenger appeared suddenly, death's angel approached with stealthy feet but he was prepared to go. It is well with his soul but it is for us who remain to see that we likewise be prepared to go when our summons come.

When the shaft of the grim messenger struck home he fell but he did not fall far for "The Eternal God was his refuge and underneath was the everlasting arms".

Funeral address delivered at the funeral of George H. Ackley.