Charles Robert Ashcroft
Funeral Service
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR CHARLES ROBERT ASHCROFT
February 9, 1948
Bishop Seegmiller: My dear brothers and sisters, we have met here together this afternoon in these services to show the love and respect we have in our hearts for Charles Ashcroft. He was permitted to live among us for a few short years, and then was called home. We wish to extend to the parents and other members of the family our sympathy, love and good will. The program will proceed as follows:
OPENING PRAYER: William Hyde, a friend from Hyde Park.
“Our Heavenly Father, as friends and relatives of Theron and Lucretia and their family, we have met here today to pay tribute and show our respect, and on this occasion, Father, we thank thee for our relationship, friendship and association with them, and also for our privilege of knowing Charles, the privilege that has been ours of knowing and visiting with him and feeling of thy spirit which permeated his soul. We are grateful for his life. We thank thee for his virtues of courage, of love, of patience, of sympathy, of cheerfulness, and of good will. May they be exemplified by those who are here today. We thank thee, Father in Heaven, for the privilege that is ours of living, for the communities that have been settled in these valleys under the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit which has led men bearing thy priesthood into these valleys. We thank thee for the love of the people of this community which has been displayed on behalf of Theron and Lucretia. We ask in a special manner this day that thou wilt let thy Holy Spirit penetrate the souls of Theron and Lucretia and their family. In a special manner do we pray for the welfare of Charles’ grandmother Ashcroft, whose health is impaired so that she cannot be here today. Bless her, comfort her, buoy her up, give her health, strength and an understanding that as thou givest thou also has power to take away.
“We acknowledge this day, Father in Heaven, as a group of thy children, and it is with gratitude that we do. We ask thee that while we are convened that a portion of thy spirit be with us, that those who have responsibility may be endowed with a rich degree of thy Holy Spirit. We know that thou livest and that thou hast the everlasting spirit of the Holy Ghost, and that it guides and directs us at all times. We thank thee that thou hast taught us that even after this life, even after the resurrection, there will be a restitution, and all those who have been cut short in growth and development will enjoy blessings that will transcend anything in this mortal life which we now enjoy and anything that we are capable of understanding. Be with us with a rich degree of thy holy spirit, and I ask these blessings humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
RUTH CORRY SINGING “MY BUDDY”
REMARKS BY VERN COOLEY
“My brothers, sisters, and friends, there have been times when I have been on my knees and asked God to perform a miracle for us that Charles might stay with us, but I could never seem to get the right answer; for God said, ‘No, I want him.’ And so now He has taken him and we grieve for the loss of a dear friend, a dear buddy, a dear son and brother. But you know, as I look at Charles’ life I find in it so many wonderful things. I just wish I had the power of a great poet that I might eulogize him as I think he should be. In a humble way, I should like to say a few things about Charles to give comfort to us who are left behind. I think Charles is now happy, sorry to leave, I am sure, but nevertheless happy that he is with his Heavenly Father.
“As I remember Charles, I couldn’t help but feel that the great things in life, my brothers and sisters, are the spiritual things. And some day when you and I stand naked spiritually before God and He views us for what we really are, and that day will come to all of us, I hope and pray that we might be as spiritually developed as Charles Ashcroft. For in the short time he lived, he developed more spiritually than most of us do in a greater length of time. Charles was great spiritually, and after all, isn’t it that which counts? That is what we take with us. I hope that we shall all have the spiritual development that Charles had when our time comes.
“He had the quality of patience so wonderfully developed within him. It didn’t matter what the kids wanted to play, whether they wanted to play ball or ride horses, he knew his limitations and he could always sit back and watch the others. God gave him good sense, and doctors told him that if he wanted to live as a boy in his condition, he could not be too active.
“Talk about courage. I visited him in the hospital a few days before his surgery and I wish you could have seen him as he lay in his bed hoping and awaiting the day for his operation. I haven’t seen anyone with the spirit of Charles Ashcroft. He was cheerful even though he knew that the chances were great that he wouldn’t come through. He had the spirit and faith of God. He certainly had understanding and courage in his heart for all of his fellowmen. It wasn’t the tinkling kind. It was genuine. I read something once that perhaps you have all read, but let me read it to you.
‘He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauties, nor failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given the best he has; whose life is an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.’
I think that describes Charles Ashcroft about as well as anything I have ever read. Charles’ life was a thing of beauty. Charles could overcome the things that tempt some people. If God would only give us the ability to overcome temptation as Charles has. Let me repeat the prayer of the Great St. Francis of Assisi, for I think it describes again the attributes of Charles.
‘O Lord, our Christ, may we have thy mind and thy spirit; make us instruments of thy peace; where there is hatred, let us sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
‘O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born into eternal life. Amen.’
“Truly a description of Charlie and so I want to say to Theron and Lucretia and the family that you have had a precious soul with you and I think that you realize it and that Charles has brought great blessings into the life of your family. Because of his life you have learned patience, love, devotion that would not have come any other way. This fine Ashcroft family, my brothers and sisters, truly a rock in the community of Cedar City, can be held up as an example to follow. This family are all wonderful people and are strong in the faith of God, and with a knowledge and strength in the faith that God lives. Surely we could follow after them.
“One might wonder at times why death, and whether or not God is just in all, but let us speak from the Bible for just a moment to say this: When Christ was upon the earth He spoke to his people saying, ‘Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.’
The gospel of Jesus Christ can be likened to that great foundation of rock. A person cannot go wrong by building his life upon the solid foundation of that gospel. Charlie guild his life upon just such a structure. We need not worry about him. Theron and Lucretia have built their entire family life upon that same structure, and now they have something upon which to fall back.
“The gospel of Jesus Christ, as great as it is, has for its very purpose not to keep us from the storms of life, but rather to help us weather them. It is times like this when we must rely upon the gospel of Jesus Christ for comfort. We know we will be reunited with those we love; and that through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we might come again into the company of our departed loved ones.
“These people have a wonderful testimony of the gospel, and I know that it will be strengthened, even through Charles’ passing.
What is dying:
“I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch her until, at length, she is only a ribbon of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side said: ‘There! She is gone!’ Gone where? Gone from my sight – that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her, and just at the moment when someone at my side says: ‘There: She’s gone!’ there are other voices ready to take up the glad shout, ‘There! She comes!’ and that is dying.’
Charles now can dance, he can sing, he can run, he can laugh, he can do all the things that he has always wanted to. I know some day it will be my pleasure to shake his hand and love him as I love him now. May God give us all this fine assurance, and give to the members of this family especially, the assurance that Charles has just graduated, and I think he is a lot better off than we are.
“May God bless the memory of Charles Ashcroft. To me his life has been an inspiration and I have learned much from having known him. If I could only have the strength to put those lessons in my own life. May God bless the family and give them courage to face life without him, and I know they can because they are good people. I ask these blessings in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
A QUARTET COMPOSED OF HERSCHELL NEELEY, REID ROBERTS, EDWARD SANDGREN AND ELWYN HUNT SANG ‘DRY THOSE TEARS.” THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY VIRGINIA LARSON.
REMARKS BY BROTHER OSCAR HULET, PRINCIPLE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
“My brothers and sisters, to appreciate my feelings this afternoon you would have to spend a great part of your life working with boys and girls, young people, and I sincerely pray that the prayer that was offered at the beginning of the meeting might be answered in my behalf, and that you good people, friends of Brother and Sister Ashcroft, will assist me with your consideration. There is something about the lives of boys and girls in their growing years that is remarkable and it is difficult to express. It seems to press heavy upon my emotions. This good family has honored me twice in their lives within the last few days. They invited me to come to their home and there unite with them in giving Charles a blessing, and we prayed for him, expressing to our God the desires of our hearts, and we had faith and we were comforted. Since we have such a great group of boys and girls here today maybe the question comes to their mind, ‘Why were our prayers unanswered?’ Our prayers were answered because the Lord has said in his commandments to us when he told us to call in the Elders of his church to pray for those who are ill, that if they are not appointed unto death they would be restored, and if they lived they would live unto Him, and if they died they would die unto Him. It poses a great problem, but someone has expressed our feelings this day in four short lines like this:
‘Just why I suffer loss, I cannot know.
I only know my Father wills it so.
He leads in paths I cannot understand.
But all the way I know it wisely planned.’
“It is our feeling that in this plan Charles will yet again join his family circle and will grow and mature under conditions likely far better than in this world. There was an incident recorded in the scriptures that took place near the close of our Savior’s ministry. It was a time when he was instructing those good men around him with all the power of His being. After living with Him and working with Him three years, they yet had not quite caught the significance of his kingdom. It must have been the next day after the glorious transfiguration, and it seems that Jesus and Peter had gone on ahead of the rest of the brethren to Peter’s home in Capernium, and the brethren following fell into a discussion. Possibly they felt just a little jealousy in their hearts because nine of them were not permitted to go with Jesus to the Mount of Transfiguration. Just a few days before, he had declared that he was going to come unto his kingdom, and as they came along the road they questioned who was to be greatest in the kingdom. They discussed it and had some controversy, and after they had reached Peter’s house they were surprised that Jesus had discerned the thoughts in their hearts. And it was then he gathered in his arms a little child and placed him in the midst of them and said, ‘Unless you be converted and become as a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven” It remained for a great man on this continent to give us a full explanation of what Jesus meant when he told these brethren to even get into his kingdom they must become as little children.
“King Benjamin, though he was called a king, was a very faithful servant of his people. He guided the people in the ways of God and then when he became old and started thinking of the welfare of his people, he wanted that a great tower should be built and he gathered all his people around him so that he might instruct them in things of worth. Not that he could do anything for his successor had already been chosen. He had no earthly gains to worry about so he spoke to those people out of the depths of his heart, and though it was years before Jesus came into the world, he told them of the mission of Jesus Christ and how they might come into the kingdom of our God and receive salvation. I should like to read a few of his words, and may I direct your attention to the quotations specified by this great leader when he told what it meant to become as a little child/ And then if you will consider how closely, how exactly like Charles Ashcroft they are. ‘For the material man is an enemy of God and has been since the Fall of Adam, and will be forever and ever unless he yields to the enticing of the holy spirit and putteth all material wealth away and becometh as a child. He cometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child does submit to his father.’
“Things like that on occasion when we mourn give hope and comfort to my heart when I know how clearly he met those specifications. I feel he has a place in the Kingdom of our Father, and how important the work must be there for such a choice sprit as Charles to be called.
“You know that at sometime Charles Ashcroft chose to come to the earth to life and to be born to Brother and Sister Ashcroft. He did that of his own choice, and such a blessing can hardly be imagined by us today. I pay my humble tribute to these good people, to Brother and Sister Ashcroft and to this good family for the kind consideration and the unselfish devotion and planning they have given for the welfare of their son. And they were not alone in the sacrifices that have been made, for their loving son Don, and the girls were in on it to the extent of passing up some of the material things for Christmas to make possible the things that in their wisdom were good for Charles. Such things cannot go unanswered.
“I remember Charles in our school. It makes me tremble to think of the graciousness of that boy. He had the ability to make friends and draw people around him. He had never been spoiled. He was gracious in accepting the things and services that his friends vied to bestow upon him. I have seen literally hundreds of times Charles riding ‘piggy back’ on the backs of his friends, accepting it graciously and helping his friends as they helped him. I have had the rare privilege to carry him and enjoy him as he attended our school, a privilege for which I am indeed thankful.
“I cannot express an adequate tribute to the training that came from this wonderful home. As it was expressed concerning our association with Charles, I can only bear testimony that those blessings are answered here and now and will continue to be something in the lives of everyone of us.
“God bless Brother and Sister Ashcroft, Don and the girls, with a keen sense of satisfaction of having such a son and brother, and with the assurance that they did all in their power and wisdom and help of God to keep him and make him happy in this world.
And now their prayers are answered and greater things are in store for him. I seemed to see it in his face as I saw him just a while ago. I ask God’s blessings to be with these good people and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
VIOLIN SOLO BY ROY L. HALVERSEN
REMARKS BY RULON KNELL: IN BISHOPRIC WITH THERON
“Today our heads are bowed, our hearts are filled with tender sympathy for our dear friends, Theron and Lucretia and their splendid family. This chapel, filled to overflowing, is eloquent testimony to that. It represents not only the feelings of those assembled here, but the feeling of the entire community; and not just this community and surrounding towns, but the friends from afar who knew Theron and Lucretia before they came to us. Many of those are here and many more would like to be here. We would like to tell these folks we’re glad that Theron and Lucretia came to Cedar City, glad that they decided to stay, establish their home and rear their family. They have become part of the social and religious life of this community. They have found their way into our hearts. We love them. We want you to know that. You may take this word back to their relatives and many friends who are still interested in them.
“The time is floating. This is not a time for a long sermon. Beautiful things have been said and true expressions of sympathy have been given to Charles’ family. We could dwell on the glories of the resurrection, but really nothing we might say or do could add to or detract from the beautiful life of this splendid young man. I realized more fully an hour ago that he had become a young man. We thought of him as a boy, but we lay him away as a handsome, splendid young man. We can’t change his life. We wouldn’t if w could. We can profit by the examples that he set. The example of patience which has been referred to, of optimism, cheerfulness, hope, faith, love, devotion, the ability to make and hold friends, and to get along with people. Why, some of us spend a life time and even then learn not these lessons so well as Charles. He was fortunate to come to the family he did. Someday we might know a little more about the choices we make, but it is not difficult for me to believe that Charles chose to come where he did, and if he did, he chose wisely for I don’t know of a couple who I have a greater respect for and who have a greater appreciation for the problems of youth, a greater ability to advise counsel, and lead, than do Theron and Lucretia. And they were fortunate to have him. They realize that; fortunate to have had him as long as they did because in their home his influence was for good. His presence taught them lessons of thinking of someone else besides themselves. Some of us never learn these lessons, but because of his association they were led to think of him and of each other and the ties of home life, of brothers and sisters, of parents and children, were made stronger and cemented together far beyond what otherwise would have been the case.
“Charles is okay; he is alright. It will be his privilege to come forth in the first resurrection to become a perfect soul, fully entitled to companionship with his Heavenly Father. He has merited that because of his life here upon the earth.
“We come here for two purposes. First, to give tabernacles for our spirits and to form a union between the spirit and body, without which man cannot obtain the fullness of joy. Charles accomplished this. Not only that, he has gone down into the waters of baptism, indicating his willingness to take upon himself the name of his Savior. Charles has had hands laid upon his head for the reception of the Holy Ghost which has shown the way of life here upon the earth, and has been a constant guide and companion. Because Charles has accomplished these things his position in the celestial kingdom of our heavenly Father is secured. Theron and Lucretia know these things. I venture there is not the slightest doubt in their minds that that they will see and know Charlie again. They will be his parents and he their son, and family ties will continue there as here. Not only that, but the Prophet Joseph taught that when children are taken in their infancy or youth, parents are given the privilege of rearing them in the hereafter. There the results will be sure. No chances are taken because conditions will be different.
“With this knowledge and this assurance, Theron and Lucretia look bravely forward. It is our privilege to know these things, and today it is my humble prayer that God will manifest the truth of these things and bring them stronger and more firm into our consciousness than they have ever been, and that we may all come to know these things. I pray that the spit of the Lord will continue with this good family through this day and through the years to come, that they may have great satisfaction in the memory of this fine some whom we lay away today, until the time when this body and spirit will be reunited in the glorious resurrection. To this end I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
MR. EDWARD SANDGREN SANG ‘GOING HOME.’ HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY MRS. VIRGINIA LARSON.
CLOSING REMARKS BY BISHOP SEEGMILLER:
“I feel that perhaps the finest tribute that has been paid here this afternoon is this large congregation of people, friends and relatives of the Ashcrofts. In behalf of the family I wish to thank all of you who have been present today, and thank all those who have sent expressions of sympathy to these good people. We wish also to express our thanks to the people on the program and to all who have assisted in any way.”
BENEDICTION: TWAIN TIPPETTS, TEACHER AT THE COLLEGE
“Our Father in Heaven, we acknowledge thy hand in all things, as a giver of life and death, and we know not which is the greater blessing. One enables us to lavor for awhile away from Thee, and death calls us home that we may work near Thee that thy will may be done.
“We the friends and relatives of the Ashsrofts have much to be grateful for; that Charles was given to live in the fine home of Brother and Sister Ashcroft, that he might develop and grow into the fine person that he was, that his parents, brothers and sisters, might themselves become greater because of the beauty of his life. We pray at this time that we might always remember that no one owns the time in which he lives. We share it with so many. It is not the time which we spend here, but our use of it before Thee which counts.
“We are grateful that Charles has brought us near to Thee in the life which he has led and that in our association with him we have seen personified the truth which thou hast taught and would have us know. We ask Thee that we might be encouraged by and led to the truths by this fine family. We wish to express our thanks for those who have the words and have expressed themselves in music to say those things which we have in our hearts.
“We ask forgiveness for those of us who in our weakness must remain behind until our growth in spirit will entitle us to be reunited with Charles. We pray that Thy blessings will go with those who have come from afar, that Thy guiding influence will go with them and that they may return n safety.
“Father, at this time we give thanks for the comforting spirit of these services. We pray that Thou wilt close It in Thy blessing and we humble ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
DEDICATION OF THE GRAVE: LELAND ASHCROFT, THERON’S BROTHER.
“Our Father in Heaven, we a few of the friends and relatives of Charles Robert Ashcroft gather around this open grave and now, by the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which I hold, I dedicate this spot of ground that it might be sacred. I dedicate the body of Charles, the clothing, the casket, and all that is otherwise pertaining to these services unto Thee. We ask that no harm, accident, or disturbance of any kind might mar this spot, of those things connected with it. We ask that this ground may be a place for the family of Charles to assemble that they might feel his association through the spirit and that they might enjoy meeting here and thinking of the memory of this fine son and brother.
“I dedicate everything in connection with this grave, this spot of ground, that it might lie in peace until the morning of the first resurrection when Charles will rise with those who are privileged to come unto Thee. I do this all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
THE FAMILY PRAYER WAS GIVEN AT THE ASHCROFT HOME PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR THE FUNERAL BY UNCLE EZRA COOLEY.
Charles was buried in the Cedar City Cemetery.