Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-02

Following a beautiful custom Of the
order. Wheeling Lodge No. IS, b. P. o.
Elks, held their annual memorial SER
vice last night, in the Second Presby-
terrain Church. A general invitation
was extended to the public and the re
suit was an audience which tested the
seating capacity Of the ocmmod.ous edi-
flee. Inc members of the lodge attend
ed in a body, occupying seats reserved
for them in the main aisle. On the
right Of the pulpit was an imitation
marble shaft twined with smilaX, with
the emblem Of the order, and the names
of the deceased members Of Wheeling
lodge on the base. They were Samuel A.
Miller. r. J. Mansfield. Joseph Melrose,
Rufus W.lmarch. Samuel LetZkus, w.
NJ. Davis. Rob-. b. Simpson, Albert d.
Adler and Kate Castlet0n. The last
named was an honorary member. One
name was added during the year, that
Of Albert ID. Adler. The memorial COM
mi1.ee for THIS year was composed Of
Messrs. c. r. Piracy, Edw. c. Sea
bright. Z r. HO.kheimer, NJ. J. Ward
and Max Hess.
An excellent programme was prepar-
ell. and the sermon by the
Rev. Mr.. RObb was an elo-
Queut e0crt. Hon. John A. How
ard was on the programme for an eulogy
on the order, but was unable TO be pres
elt. The opening ode was sung feel
ingly by the lodge assisted by the
choir. A ferve1t prayer was then Of
fered up by Mr.. R0bb Mr.. Charles
Zulauf sang Thy VIII Be Done, after
which the opening ceremonies took
place. They were of most impressive
character, consisting Of a call and re-
spOases from the officers, and the de-
posting of a flower as a tribute to the
memory Of the departed, by each mem
Der Of the lodge present. The ritualistic
exercises were followed by the sermon.
In mis- Introductory remarks the rev
erend speaker took up and eulOg.zed the
cardinal principles Of the order. He
spoke of the three ways in which
person may terminate his membership
IN the nlks. the last of which 5 death.
In last evenings gathering, the purpose
was 10 have in memory, tenderly and
previously, those who have departed.
He said the custom of meeting to com
mem0rate the dead is not modern. It
had .ls origin back in the ages which
are now referred TO as cOb-webbed. In
Rome the people met to commemorate
the dead heroes Of their battlehelds in
Greece the memory Of the departed phil
Osoplrs was kept alive by assemblages
I'm the public places and synagogues; n
our own land. when war ceased and
peace reigned it became the custom to
annually suew with flowers the graves
of .he soldiers departed. The custom
comes down to US as a sacred heritage,
and we 40 well as Elks, and as citizens,
to- take part in such celebrations
What is this monument, containing
the names of the departed members Of
this lodge? 1t is a precious reminder,
and it teaches important lessons. First,
what is life? It IS a vapOr; it is but a
SPIN. To the business man it is one
continuous struggle; to the seeker after
pleasure e means disappointment; to
all OF us it is q mixture of JOY and sad
ness. The only type Of true happiness
is The little innocent CHILD. who IS IN
conscious of the life ABOUT him; or the
aged man who looks con6dinsly up into
the face of his Master.
Then comes the other lessOn-death.
Death. what is 1t, how shall we define
e? As we look a, the record Of sol
diers who have died upon the battle
field, we say it means patriotism; as We
look upon the fireman who sacrifices his
life I'm saving that of another, We say
it is self-sacrifce, and death its ennOble-
ment: when the child is taken out Of
the mothers heart. it means broken
he1r.edness. Does the monument s.mp-
IS tell us Of death? No, death is not ais
life IS not an. When the last dying
breath leaves the body, is the work
done? NOT while monuments uplift
tdeir heads; not while marble shafts tell
the story Of the virtues of our departed
loved ones, do they pass from our men,
Dries.
The speaker told Of thoughts sug-
ges,ed by looking upon the Bunker Hill
-Ao-t-lt0L-lr o-i~ e-c " 1SA.As' -oH AlloAA''
ment So when we look az this mOnu-
ment. there come TO US memories which
We would not lose if we could. The
memory Of our loved ones is like burn
ing incense at the altar, sending its
smoke up 70 the throne of God Our
hearts are qu.ckened year by year, as
we gather in these annual convOcations.
But we are not satisfied with mOnu-
ments and memories. Does death end
al2 Does the monument say there is
no fuure9 No; it tells of the k.ndled
flame Of life and hope that breathes of
immortality. Our lives. our hopes, the
longing and the love of the human heara
tells ms the dead are not dead forever.