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189
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
BUILDER'S
CREED -
I BELIEVE IN A HAPPY ETERNAL LIFE.
I BELIEVE THOSE OF US LEFT BEHIND SHOULD BE
GLAD IN THE CERTAIN BELIEF THAT THOSE GONE
BEFORE HAVE ENTERED INTO THAT HAPPIER LIFE.
I BELIEVE, MOST OF ALL, IN A CHRIST THAT SMELES
AND LOVES YOU AND ME.
1 THEREFORE KNOW THE CEMETERIES OF TODAY
ARE WRONG BECAUSE THEY DEPICT AN END, NOT A
BEGINNING. THEY HAVE CONSEQUENTLY BECOME UN-
SIGHTLY STONEYARDS FULL OF INARTISTIC SYMBOLS
AND DEPRESSING CUSTOMS PLACES THAT DO NOTHING
FOR HUMANITY SAVE A PRACTICAL ACT AND THAT NOT
WELL
I THEREFORE PRAYERFULLY RESOLVE ON THIS NEW
YEAR'S DAY, 1917, THAT I SHALL ENDEAVOR TO BUILD
FOREST LAWN AS DIFFERENT, AS UNLIKE OTHER
CEMETERIES AS SUNSHINE IS UNLIKE DARKNESS, AS
ETERNAL LIFE IS UNLIKE DEATH, I SHALL TRY TO
BUILD AT FOREST LAWN A GREAT PARK, DEVOID OF
MISSHAPEN MONUMENTS AND OTHER CUSTOMARY SIGNS
OF EARTHLY DEATH, BUT FILLED WITH TOWERING
TREES SWEEPING LAWNS SPLASHING EDUNTAINS.
SINGING BIRDS, BEAUTIFUL STATUARY, CHEERFUL
FLOWERS, NOBLE MEMORIAL ARCHITECTURE WITH IN.
TERIORS FULL OF LIGHT AND COLOR. AND REDOLENT
OF THE WORLD'S BEST HISTORY AND ROMANCES.
I BELIEVE THESE THINGS EDUCATE AND UPLIFT A
COMMUNITY.
FOREST LAWN SHALL BECOME A PLACE WHERE
LOVERS NEW AND OLD SHALL LOVE TO STROLL AND
WATCH THE SUNSET'SGLOWw.PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
OR REMINISCING OF THE PAST: A PLACE WHERE
ARTISTS STUDY AND SKETCH: WHERE SCHOOL TEACHERS
BRING HAPPY CHILDREN TO SEE THE THINGS THEY
READ OF IN BOOKS: WHERE LITTLE CHURCHES INVITE,
TRIUMPHANT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT FROM THEIR
PULPITS DNLY WORDS OF LOVE CAN BE SPOKEN:
WHERE MENORIALIZATION OF LOVED ONES IN SCULP.
TURED MARBLE AND PICTORIAL GLASS SHALL BE
ENCOURAGED BUT CONTROLLED BY ACKNOWLEDGED
ARTISTS: A PLACE WHERE THE SORROWING WILL BE
SOOTHED AND STRENGTHENED BECAUSE IT WILL BE
GOD'S GARDEN, A PLACE THAT SHALL BE PROTECTED
BY AN IMMENSE PERPETUAL CARE FUND, THE PRINCI.
PAL OF WHICH CAN NEVER BE EXPENDED-ONLY THE
INCOME THEREFROM USED TO CARE FOR AND PER
PETUATE THIS GARDEN OF MEMORY,
THIS IS THE BUILDER'S DREAM: THIS IS THE
BUILDER'S CREED.
7A-H3618
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WESTERN PUBLISHING & NOVELTY CO., LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
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