The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-03
THE Il |: LODGE OF SORROW
Thousands Of People Take Part In the Most
Solemn Ceremonies.
Grand EXALTED RULER HAYS ADDRESS.
The objects OF tho order of Eiks Pic
turcd I'm Beautiful I.nnauage-Thc
Participants in tho Exercises-A
BeautifuI Custom in Remembrance
OF tho Dead.


The Ellts' memorial services. which
are annually observed on the first Sun
DAY In December, Is an event which
brings to the Academy OF Music Vast
concourse of people. and the observance
| on Sunday last was no exception tc
the rule. The ceremonies were an
nounced to begin at 3 p. m. but lone
before that hour the beautiful Acad.
| envy of Music was filled from pit t.
dome, many hundreds of people being
compelled to stand during the entire
ceremony, and II is not too much to say
| that the 5000 or more persons present
were never more highly entertained
Joyncs, presided, and TO his credit be It
said he acquitted himself In n manner
| which was II pleasure to his friends.
The music of the occasion was fur
nishcd by u select orchestra OF we'll
trained musicians under the sRfllrul
direction of Prof. a. f. Koerner, and
the opening prayer was by Rev. "a. S.
Lloyd. OF st. Luke's Church. DIR. Lloyd
Is not an Elk, but SO closely Is he en-
deared to the members of Norfolk
Lodge that It would be painful o'them
TO miss his presence at their services.
Following the prayer the regular order
of exercises was taken up and observ-
ed as published In the programme
Saturday morning, with n slight ex-
ception. The ceremonies were closed
with the singing of the doxology. after
which Rev. DR.. NJ. 3. Wharton. OF
Frcemason Street Baptist Church, Of
fered prayer The following were the
soloists: Miss NJ. X. Ewell, Mrs j. r.
kevlll, Miss b. l.. Williams, Miss l.. NJ.
Edmunds. Mr.. w. D. Crowel.
The memorial address, delivered by
the Hon. Edwin Il. Hay, OF Washing
ton. the Grand Exalted Ruler of the
lilks. was mastery effort. Mr.. Hay
consumed over an hour in it's delivery.
and yet the thousands who heard him
were so entertained that they seemed
willing TO sit for ever under the elo-
qucnce of his words. Mr.. Hay spoke
us follows:
Exalted Ruler, Brother Elks, Ladies'
and Gentlemcn:
a single :ouch of rature makes the
world akin. Nothing can bring us
closer together than the realization OF
death. To-day the Benevolent and Pro
tective Order of Elks Is In perfect har-
lHony. Where the chill OF Northern air
Is upon Ice bound New England. Bos-
ton holds It's session, and where the
Golden Gate opens its portals to the
racine. from where the laughing wa
tiers OF the Northwest make ripping
music, TO where the Southern flowers
bloom, In all places where Charity,
Justice. Brotherly Love, and Fidelity,
are the watchwords, tributes are Of
fered to our departed brothers.
The custom of expressing sentiment
for the dead is an Index of civilization
extending from the rude, symbolic
ceremonies and inscription Of the saw
age to the eloquent eulogies that en-
balm the memories of the dead in the
literature and songs OF cultured people,
words live when monuments crumblc
Good deeds survive both. One by one
as the years go by our companions nre
Joining the caravan travelling through
The shadowy valley, leaving TO us the
memory of our friendly intercourse and
communion with Them the fruits OF
heir labors and sacrifices and the les
sons of their excellent example TO us.
iaddcned by their death. belongs the
iuty of commcmoratlng their virtues.
their example, and proving
ourselves worthy to have had their
and esteem.
There is nothing in the name OF
lie organization that conveys any idea
u It's purposes. Organized for social
Intercourse, it has become one of the
most benevolent institutions in this
and its practices OF Charity
and unostentatSous- q
In darkened places, gladden.
hearts that are sad, dries the tears Of
sorrow, paints the silver lining on the
clouds OF adversely. and throws the
,loak Of forgetfulness around the form
If poverty. The Supreme Being comes
irst in the degree of reverence and
he good. the true. and the beautiful
s a part of the worship. The Golden
Rule is It's preccpt. and the memory
If the departed has cherished consid-
.ration. Charity is its first principle.
Charity, POLITICALLY. Is the daughter
If Heaven. and the mother Of humane
IT, 1t is loves conception; II is love
Itself from which God, like creation,
springs every divine and humane
blessing. In the beginning it was, and
has ever been since.
The morning stars at the first dawn
hailed it and the harmonies of the uni
verse when it swung into existence de.
lighted it with It's music. for God was
there, God is love, and love is the full
filling of the law. The law of divinity
the law of humanity. the law of Crea,
ton. the law Of existence. Love AND
are synonymous. and are Of such
sublime import that the inspired Book
Is treasure house of gems Of thought
devoted to their laudation. There 1.
no poetry SO beautiful. no prose so ex
pressive as Paul's dissertation upon the
subject in which are the lines of the
text upon which TO build structure Of
hgurative meditation and wholesome
instruction. and abideth Faith, Hope
and Charity. these three. but the great
est Of these is Charity"
1t shall not be the province OF The
hour TO contract them. nor to prove b,
exhaustive argument the correctness O.
the assertion that Charity is III,
The proposition is acceptet
as an axiom and needs no proving
Eaith inspires Hope. Without Faith i,
mere Hope? Faith is the bond of uniol
between God and man, now and oto,.
nifty. 1t is the means: Charity INC ond