Life of Albert Parsons

Still to suffer and lose and deplore.
'Tis I should, as I do,
Pity you.

For me no more are the hardships,
The bitterness, heartaches, and strife,
The sadness and sorrow of life,
But the glory divine-
This is mine.

Poor creatures! Afraid of the darkness,
Who groan at the anguish to come.
How silent I go to my home!
Cease your sorrowful bell-
I am well.

"It has been said that these men knew no religion. I repel the charge. I know but one religion, the religion which seeks to manifest itself-its service of God or of the Supreme Good-by its service these, our dead, while within the very gloom of approaching death, gave us these words: 'My religion is this, to live right; to do right is to live right, and the service of humanity is my worship of God.'

"I remember that back in the centuries it was written in words that shall never perish: 'He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.'

"There is no worthy conception possible to humanity of that which we call God, other than the conception which sets our life aflame in the service of our fellow-men.

"But I must not keep you. There is no need to multiply words in such a presence as this. There are times when silence is more terrible than speech. When men, moving to the supreme issue of life, can say, standing with one foot on earth and the other upon the shore of the unknown, in a sublime burst of enthusiasm: 'This is the happiest moment of my life.' When men, even in that hour, 'can cheer for the cause to which they have given their lives; when, forgetting themselves, they can speak of 'the voice of the people,' until utterance is silent forever. And what need is there, standing by the bodies of such men, to multiply words?