Someone Else

We are all saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our church's most valuable members, Someone Else. Someone's passing created a vacancy that will be difficult to be. Else has been with us for many years, and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results: Someone Else can work with that group." Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list- Someone Else. "Let Someone Else do it" was a common refrain heard throughout the church. It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the largest givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference. Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing superhuman; but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? Remember-we can't depend on Someone Else anymore!

From email Illustration List

The Stradivarius

Antonio Stradivari has not been surpassed in the making of violins, even though he died in 1737.

In 17116 he built an instrument which became his favourite, and it never left him. When he died it passed into the hands of his sons Francesco and Paola. Then it was sold to Count Cozio di Salabue in 1775, and valued at about £100.

In 1827 Luigi Tarisio, the famous collector, purchased it. But then it was not seen for decades.

It received the name ‘La Messie' (the Messiah) for those hearing the raptures of Tarisio became sceptical of there being such an instrument, as no one had ever set eyes upon it.

One morning in 1854, Luigi Tarisio was found dead. 246 exquisite violins were found in the place. Some were crammed in the attic. One - the best one - was found in the bottom drawer of an old rickety bureau.

When the greatest Stradivarius, ‘La Messie' was brought out and played, it had been cruelly silent for 147 years. But the silence still continues. In 1931 the instrument was purchased by WE. Hill and Sons for £2,000. In 1938 it was presented by them to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to be kept in perpetuity in a room especially prepared for it. Luigi Tarisio and other collectors have robbed the world of the sound of this violin.

Drive the point home p80