McJimsey, George Memorial

MCJIMSEY, PRICE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 9/23/2019 at 13:10:10

Decatur County Journal
Thursday, December 5, l9l8

Written by A.E. Price, in memory of George McJimsey, who was killed in action on the battlefield of France, October 26, l9l8:

There is today a temple in France,
A statute wondrously fair.
And all who behold it stand as in trance
Forgetful of all else that's there.
And this is the wonderful story that's told
That the stone though so priceless and rare,
Was chosen at first by an artist bold
Who worked without knowledge or care.
The stone though so precious, was battered
and scarred.
Was hewn and chisled at will.
And finally discarded as worthless and marred
By the artist who worked without skill.
By the great master Artist ever seeking the best,
Looked one day on the discarded stone.
Beholding its beauty in spite of the dust
And scars, of the days that had flown.
So he ordered it lifted with tenderest care,
And cleansed of its filth and its grime.
With the skill of a master with touches most rare
He brought out its beauty sublime.
So it stands today in the temple of time,
The pride of that far-away land.
Because of the worth of the stone so fine
And the touch of the Master Hand.
I am thinking today of a youth in his prime,
True, manly, brave and strong,
Loyal, noble, chivalrous, fine
Who gave to the world a song.
And I think today how his life was marred,
On the battle red field afar.
And though he was priceless he was chiseled
and scarred
By the unskilled artist called war.
He was soon cast aside as a thing of no worth,
And men passed uncaringly by,
But the Master of life, of knowledge and truth
Looked down from his home on high.
And ordered the angels with infinite love,
To bear him with tenderest care.
To the home of the Master who reigns above
That home so wondrously fair.
And thou the Master with nail-pierced hand,
Touched the life with infinite love,
And He stands today in beauty grand
In that beautiful temple above.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
May 2, 2002