The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-02
THE ELKS' MEMORIAL
He Explains the Principles of the
Order and Defends Them-The
Other Exercises.

The beautiful lodge room or the Benev-
olent and Protective Order of Elks. on
North Meridian street. was well filled yester-
day afternoon, the occasion being the an
nual memorial exercises in honor of the
departed brothers OF the order The lodge
room was handsomely decorated with
chrysanthenums and palms. and there was
a pleasing variety In the programme, the
addresses and the ritualistic work being In
terspersed with special instrumental music
by the First Baptist Sunday school orches-
ira, and by vocal music by Miss Laura
Darby and Mr.. Hoenig. Since the Indian
apolis lodge was instituted there have been
seventeen deaths among the membership,
and 1t was in memory Of these that the
ceremonies of yesterday were conducted.
These seventeen members were George c.
Harding, Frank j. Kleider. John Fahrbach,
John Edwards. "A. S. Stewart, Edward f.
Gall, George w. Hill,r James G.. Fogarty,
Richard z. Smith. H. II. Francis. Samuel
Slinkard, James =. McElwaine, Charles j.
Parmalee, John G.. Beigler, Frank Train.
James Goodlet and j. W. Curran. The last
two have died since the last memorial ex-
ercises. In the Introductory remarks of
H. s. Beissenherz, chairman of the, me-
mortal committee, there were given some
interesting statistics showing the growth
and strength of the order. There are now
3S Elks lodges, with membership of "a, 1885,
The order has on hand s16S.Oc0 in cash, and
during the year it distributed in charities
$4,000. It's property is estimated to be
worth $5S5,c00.
The principal address Of the occasion was
delivered by Charles l.. Jewett, of New AL
bany. district deputy grand exalted ruler OF
Indiana. The purpose of the first part of
Mr.. Jewetts address was to rescue the
order from popular misapprehension that
prevails as TO its aims and purposes. On
this subject he said:
I'VE are honored to-day by the presence
OF many who are not members OF this or
der. This fact renders 1t proper, indeed al
most Imperative, that my address be pref
aced by some explanation of the principles
and purposes or the Order OF Elks, upon
which 1t bases its claim TO public tolerance
and popular esteem. This Is. indeed, the
very age of secret orders. The list con-
stantly lengthens. Some are hoary with
age. strong in tradition and tenacious of
lineage and history, others are painfully
new in everything except in the high-sound-
ing names they bear, the coinage of which
has we'll nigh served to impoverish the vo-
cabulary of antiquity. With none of these
have we either controversy or rivalry. To
This organization. which has grown great
under. the simple. though fantastic, naIne
or Eiks, has Tor It's prime object charity
without ostentation. Its revenues are,
within qualification. subject to be thus APP
propriated with no condition nor restric-
ton except that the bestowal shall be
known only TO the order and its beneficial
ries. II is one OF those cheerful givers
whom it Is said the Lord loves. 1t does
not employ the microscope to discover
faults and frailties In those to whom it's
ungrudging charity is given 1t realizes
that all want and all suffering result from
no e. In of nha1xr NJ
time, and therefore it's mercies fall alike
upon the unfortunate who have been good
and the unfortunate who have been bad
| with the salt OF hearty good will, not
meanly garnished with the bitter herbs of
rebuke and reproaeh Incidental 10 this
other those gracious manifestations Of
naturally arise out OF. fraternaI ana conf
/ Dental relations between gentlemen
! brought and bound together by the obli-
! cations of the order and the stimulus OF a
common and honorable purpose. We be-
! lieve that We more surely accomplish the
/ few things We attempt, because there are
/ so many things We, leave severely alone.
/ We leave the matter of insurance and BEN
! efts 20 insurance and accident companies.
/ We leave the matter of religion and pious
! care for the soul TO the holy church. We
remit the conduct of a mans private af-
| his habits TO himself, satisfied that these
! things must thus be conserved and cared
| for If at ALL We require only an acknowl-
| edgement of the omnipotence and divinity
| of the Father, obedience to our laws, and
/ substantial conformity to those regulations
of society which are essential TO the life
! and character of a gentleman. Upon this
broad and generous platform, where even
many of those classified as men OF the
/ world may stand without hesitation or
| hypocrisy, we have gathered splendid
| membership Of gentlemen TO which we
| point as conclusive proof that among Sc
| cret orders we the twentieth century
| order of the world
The remainder of the address of Mr.. jew
! EFT was largely devoted TO a plea for right
/ living. 1.-The obligation of right living,
| said he. 1.-The aids toward 1t, the environ
| ments that surround and the obstacles that
| hinder are known and acknowledged by
| all. / am persuaded that one great reason
T; for failure, or, what is worse, lack of at
/ tempt, is that we shut our eyes TO the
! means and the occasion for accomplishing
+, the purpose. We fail in our ideals because
| we belittle the common things of life. We
| grieve over the opportunity that is lost
! or wait i'm vain for the opportunity to come
! but we refuse to see that the opportunity
| is ever at haad.
| Other short addresses were delivered by
Exalted Ruler Frank b. Burke and by
Thomas G.. Harrison. and the ceremonies
| closed with the doxology and benedicton.