The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-07

~ MIL this city, there
NSS&ESXU is always n large
EaNS8S attendance by
TgsaTsSt4 the public, who
MNRASsSaNa feel an interest
in this organization, and yesterdays
meeting, held at the Odd Fcllowa' Hall,
was no exception. The altar was heavi-
ly draped in black, with trailing ivy,
while on the platform stood n large
easel, with the names, in black letters
on white, OF the deceased brothers,
Samuel a. Miller, Il. ]. Mansfield and
Joseph NIelrose, who died recently in
New Orleans. This was surrounded
with masses Of smilux and white roses.
After the opening ode was sung the
various oiiicersstated the duties of Elks,
and 4 fervent prayer was offered by
Rev. DR.. \. Moore.
The choir OF tho First Presbyterian
church then rendered in 4 feeling man
ner, ~ come, oh, Blessed Savior"
Owing to the absence OF Captain 3.
j. Dovcner, who is in Cincinnati, Mr..
John I. Richardson, q past exalted
ruler, delivered tho eulogy IN,
TIE BENEVOLENT PROTECTIVE ORDER OF
ELKS.
He said: "We are met in 4 lodge OF
sorrow to commemorate the worth and
virtues Of u departed brethren; not
sorrow Tor them, but Tor ourselves, that
we are deprived OF their compromising
and their cooperation in the noble
work oil our order. In thus meeting we
are excmplifying the principles OF that
order. We have charity for the faults
OF tho departed, justice for their good
qualities, brotherly love for them be-
yond the grave, and fidelity to their
memory.
Death is the crown OF life. Were it
denied to us we all would clamor for it.
When | heard the unanswered roll call
OF the departed brothers to-day the re-
Election came swift to mo how many will
be added to the roll beforcanother lodge
OF sorrow will be held; how many will
have gone to the Grand Lodge on the
other side, TO answer tho summons OF
almighty Gou.
The purpose OF this beautiful rite is
annually to call to mind the departed
brothers CT our order, and to continue
beyond the grave that sweet charity ior
the motives and lives OF our dead, which
is one OF the cardinal principles OF our
conduct toward the living. In the GER
emonies OF our order we have to-day
reached one where We IAN pause and
look back, reflect upon our fidelity to
our obligations to each other, note the
progressed some, the failure and fall OF
others; to the successful offer 4 word OF
G%od-specd and to the faltcring extend
the right hand OF fellowship and aid,
always remembering that the vicissi-
tudes OF lie make 10 change in the feel
ings OF brothers toward each other.
The principle and practice OF the Pro-
tectivc Order OF Elks is founded upon
tho golden rule and practically applies
tsteachings to every day lie, that friend
ship may be truer, that brotherly love
may be tenderer, that justice may pre-
vail, fidelity be honored and sweet
charity V as with q mantle the
errors OF mankind.
The last service the Elks lodge can
render one OF the fraternity is to SEQ
that his remains arc properly sepul-
c'lered, and this impresses itself rs
much a part OF Il ritual and boundcn
duty az for one to receive from us his
degrees in due form to become 4
brother.
We begin with him in manly life and
vigor, only to part with him Mt the grave
in the hush OF death, n brother still in
bonds OF love, with the amaranth and
Ivy thereon deposited. The amaranth,
typical OF the souls immortality, and
the ivy, the emblem OF brotherly love
and its latest loving offerings.
How dear, then. and full OF sacred as
eociations and eloquenco are such SYM
bols to the true Elk.
How they declare to us what devoted
friendship really means and should
ever be among US as sworn brethren,
Indicating TO us most clearly u life
long duty.
ln1S6S there assembled n small body
OF men, to organize n lodge whose object
would DO
N Dian NOLE'NlE AMI ~iISOIECElON,
whose watch word should DO charity
and cardinal doctrine justice. After Sc
curing u charter in 1871, that small
body has increased in numbers, until
to-day we have over two hundred lodges
in all parts OF the union.
Let us approximate that lofty ex-
ample, my brethren, in all that our high
order teaches and trains us to, from the
time the traveller takes up the life tramp
rs q noyiate, till he camps with elders
in the silent valley OF the Elks' Rest, in
favor with man, and ct peace with
Heaven.
After Mr.. Richardson had finished all
the Eiks stepped forward and deposited
on the altar white flowers in memory OF
the dead. The quartettc then sang,
"Slhecp Thy Last Sleep"
Rev. W. II. Cooke, who always de-
livers the annual address, said there
was but II dead last year, and today
there lie three who have passed one AT
ter the other into the great iuturity be-
yond the grave. Thern may be one, five
or six-who can tell?--who may pass