Telegram-herald., 1888-08-07
THE BANNER LODGE
oF THe ). ?. o sLks oF AaERlcA
ExslIsd kaisE brezsss fsEttaE As>s@xs
-Rs~ssatattsa Of hts fsrtfstt-
hsset4steas. sF1sehs.s kfe.


number II sell kaosn citixtns we're IN
il.sled aBd tbsn ths Eka.tsd Ruler pre-
ssnted ossssgs - ne l0dss 10 saieh Ia
resigned his once. ne spoks as follows
fhs time sas come. nay dear brothers,
snsn I must tendsF y0u my resi- zign2iion "a
your presiding odiesr IA yoa al. doaot-
less. AMOS this slsD a reodefsd npeFaiive
from ibe fact hat my future business ~il
cali NE away from the city for nlonths al a
tine, sad thQs I shall De unable % sdalin-
istsr The sta.gs OF the lodge "a al kIsltsd
k1ieFs should Who have tns best Interests
oi ths 0rtsf Al heart. ibe mst-sr Of chang
iag ny occupaiIOs and dlspostag OF Lay
business interests IN this city has cost ne
many . struggle, bas ! assure yoa. my dear
brothers, that The stsp / ana now taxing
Das1n lt uI0rs real honest ksaFsfslt regret
thaa al ths EesI Il psias me TO part with
yOn. and lt kfisvea ms ~ res'gn tnl. CHAIR
ia which / have been proud 20 so. To &c
exalted % this position ia our noble and
houOrabls order Is an honor cf which any
Amencan citizen may Be proud. and the re-
membranes thaL tor upward 0f year
helped to direct your deliberations aud pre-
sided over the tanner lodge of the United
states wiA be one OF the dearest reeoliec-
tons u my lKe.
lt Is more than possible that have erred
in some OF my rulings from this chair. bur
/ am sure that every brother will ear me
sitasss thsG l have been wholly impartial.
and have. endeavored. 20 the best OF my
ability. 10 conduct our Affairs strictly within
the discipline OF the order and the man.
dales % toe tsrsnd Lodge. Mr. promise 10
attend al Of the regular meetings has nee
stFlcsly kept. AM have never been absent
from the chair sxcept upon the occasion OF
my attendance on the Grand Lodge "a your
delegate. ! have not done all tnat l had
hoped % 30 Tor The lodge when took this
seat. The perplexities and annoyance OF
ssngularly rX2cting business have prevented
me from carrying out many IDEAS which
bad iOndy hoped would result IN great
good 10 The order. still am glad % be able
10 congratulate you all upon the condition
OF the lodge, It's growth aud future
prospects, the character OF It's membership,
sad the snv.able reputation which Grand
Rapids No Is bears throughout all Elkdom.
IL Is Just Two year. next week since this
lodse vas established. On the night OF
August "a, 1886 District Deputy Grand
Exalted Ruler John X Stirling with several
Detroit brothers instituted No. - with q
charter membership OF thirty-two. with ].
NJ. Weston. tn present Aay or OF Grand
Rapids as Exalted Ruler.
he was followed by IT, H. Ford, the
present well known member of Congress
and under his Exalted RuieFship the lodge
nad. IN December, 1887, when vou hoDored
ne with an election TO the chair. q member
ship OF 80. In period of six months un-
der nv administration this lodge has
Unlisted uineiy-twO members and advance q
sixty-hve OF them 10 be Devout Elders
The remarkable growth and splendid
character OF the membership Of this lodge
Is known 10 the whole order ~ large and
,he Grand Lodge has recognized II by giving
% Us the Dis'rict Deputy Grand Exalted
Ruler for Michigan and by placing some Of
our delegates TO that grand body upon i'm
portant committees.
We have property valued at 5000. some
valu able leases. and a good round thoussnd
! a the treasury awaiting the call of charity.
The beautiful banner which we won Al
the ever memorable rsunion at the Queen
City IN June last Is an evidence OF the
loyalty of this lodge and the enthusiasm
which We have for the glorious order.
While | resign my Official position /
never shall transfer my allegiance from this
lodge. During the next year shall have
The opportunity of visiting nearly all the
lodges Of the Benevolent and Protective
order 0f Elks in this country, aud Il shall
Do nv pride % carIy the pams and tame of
Grand Rapids, No. IS. into every one of
them.
Let me recommend, my brothers. ttst in
the future YOU pursue the same careful
course that. / believe, has gnited rs IA the
past il respect 10 the admission o. men,
bers. You should remember that the
antlsrs OF most Of us here are still In tue
velvet" aud that We are prone 10 enjoy
the work" OF our ritual without ponderIng
deeply upon the beautiful and serious les
sons which Il teaches
strongly ecommend-and, were | TO
remain 10 the chair. shsrld insst-upon
an exempliicsti0n OF some portions OF our
work az every re--aisr meeting when there
were no candidates for Initiation or adj
vsncsment.
earnestly commend the practice of our
brothers IN Washington in demanding that
each visiting brother shall stand before the
altar upon Dis entrance TO the lodge and re-
peat the test oath. hope this plan will
be adopted bT yOa-
desire to cali your favorable attention
% ths official organ Of our order published
bv brother Allen .. Myers At Cincinnati.
Tue monthly issus 0f the social sefssgli
should oe read by every Elk in the United
STATES Unfortunately IL was impossible for
aay os the delegates from * 10 attend The
Grand Loig- meeting held 10 Ser York IN
July. and I bsvs no report % make tO you
fioa making the Grand lodge migratory
Wa carried. The hos but bloodless nght
has been decided IA our favor In this you
~iil al rejoice but to get the proceedings
Of the Grand Lodge yol must read the next
number OF the Soei1f .ssss.9t aud. i hope
ihaf y0u as iodgs viii taAe some seton 20
secure a SUFFICIENT number q copies 10 ea-
s5le al our members to know Just what
the hsad Of oGr order q dong and has
| done.
Let me impress upon yol the necessity Of
continuing tbe hiSh order 0f our social ses-
7 Sons ThsT are TIE means Of nrnxiag our
Z br0iRers in,0 nearer sod desFer contsci
/ throush snias-m-nts which csn be made
e. deve o. eoth oar mental ard social cul-
tnre The idrsl social session cernsnfs m ore
stroagly The bonds 81 Brotheriy Love. snd
csases the aa~srs Of Fiseaty TO blossom
aud bic0aB in beauty.
une more Recommendation before This
rssretfal ussSexe = concluded.
fn - INC oisncv this oare adopted az lie
I als inxniseing badge that 81 ;he New Tork
loaes. The same ssdge hss been sGo9fsd
I bv verv many of the new edges throue hoat
I the couatrF. I most esraessly recommend
tbst = COMMITTEES - sppointed % select o.
invect a. spproprists tesixn for q loi ee
hesss-which bsdgs sba.i be dlstinguisasi
- tne f1wer vhich wsa worn ~ each
member % tbs lodgs when The banner rss
sw.rsief - IS 81 Cincinnati. Sinx1i arir
appropriate i ais Hower - an insignia ef
I t6is order One poet describes L "a these
ices
There : a-svsr a istsie 7ower
wns - ---ss a1t ectter 80
Thsf vAlc n srcrr fns1se-nE acfir
All wsslael- ever SO
rs ks,rsis psxe- r. ever rlsrs
ia srerr ~sssr fr~sh snf far
81 7rers w7h perennial ga.
knt -l.ssens> evsrT vaer--