The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-16

Ills shhoSeHSe anu PATIENCE Entitled NlNl
to be styled lamb. It is on this prin-
ciple that the order under whose au-
spices we are assembled to-day has been
styled 1.-The Benevolent Order OF Elks."
Among the animals that roam over our
Western plains, none can equal the
Elks in noble instincts. They are dis
tinguished for kindness with which they
treat their companions and the respect
they show their dead. and who will say
that these are not the browning char
acteristioS ,of the Benevolent Order of
Elks: !. Mercy to the living; q honor
shown to the dead? To be merclful Is to
initiate the great Father above, whose
great attribute Is mercy. Ut was In
mercy that he made the world, in mercy
that he made man and sent him forth
to illstrate this divine perfection. Says
a beautiful allegory: When God In His
eternal counsel conceived the idea Of
mans creation he called together the
three ministers who wait constantly on
his throne-Truth. Justice and Mercy
and thus addressed them: Shall we
make MANI" Truth said: 20, God, make
him not, for he will pollute thy sanctu-
aries" Justice was appealed TO: Shall
we make man.? Justice said: 20, God.
make him not, he Will tiample on thy
laws" Mercy was addressed Shall we
make man? and Mercy, dropping upon
her knees and looking up through her
tears, said: 80. God, make him; I Will
watch over him; 1 will help him when ne
is weak or fallen; 1 will be to him ever
n friend In need" And so God made
man and said: 20, man. thou art the
child OF Mercy; go and deal with thy
brother" Elks deal mercifully With
their brethren; they raise the fallen. Sad.
indeed. Is the disposition to turn away
from those who are down. In Boston
once. the philanthropist, Amos Law
a tr,tl -I,.,k. u
better days, in rags. drunk. and wallow-
ing In the gutter. Going 10 him and try
ing to lit him TO his feet. wealthy friend
rallied him for noticing such wretch.
Sir, said Lawrence, "a man who lifts
fallen fellow creature from the dust Is
greater than the hero who conquers q
world" They help the weak and es-
pecialiy the young whose natural protec-
tors are gone. "A little boy was standing
one day In the street. wan and detected,
looking up to the heavens A gentle
man approached and asked what he was
looking at. He said: II am looking for
God. What do you mean?" said the
stranger. why, 1 had a father" said
the boy, and he died; mother then took
care OF me. After that mother died T
asked her when she was sinking who
would take care of me. and she said
GOD know that mother always told
the truth and so I am waiting for God
TO take me-" YES" said the man won
are right, and God has sent me to take
you and take care OF you for him; so
come with me to my home" The boy
n0lloweu him and had a happy home.
Ihat man was an Elk at heart in prin-
ciple They give their money, for this
Is the Tybean stone by which a mans
interest In any cause may be tested.
Let us pray for poor family down
mere mat Is about to starve." said MEM
Der OF the church to deacon II haven't
TINE, said he. but take this ham Of ba-
con and barrel of meal at once and III
pray for them afterwards" This IS tbe
first and chief golden trait OF this order
Mercy, the queen of graces; Faith. Hone
ana charity. but the greatest of these is
Charity. 1t is that queen of graces
which should occupy the chief position
IN the bosom of kings. IT'S miyhtIest
In the m9shtiest and becomes the thron-
ed monarch better than his crown
But this order Is distinguished also for
the honors they Fay TO the dead An
must die.
THE boast of heraldy, the pomp of
power.
And all that beauty, all that wealth eer
gave.
Await shte the Inevitable hour.
Inc paths of glory lead but to the
grave"
The sad thing about It Is that the dead
are SO soon forgotten. Many there are
VINO cannot write the names of their
srahdfathers point to the place where
they We're raised or the spot where their
bones repose. No. thus with the Elks
lhey meet annually I'm the Lodge OF
SORROW, when eulogies are pronounced
ana tears of sympathy and affection
shed. And who has not realized on these
occasions the 'sruth OF the scriptural
declaration. that 1T is better to go to
the house of mourning rhan to the house
or deasting, and that by the sadness OF
the countenance the heart is made bet
ter We meet to-day for a similar. bu.
slightly different purpose, to scatter
mowers on the graves of lost comrades
| Memorial days have become the stand
| ing institutions of our country TODAY
DISTANT be the time when the fair women
OF the land shall fail TO place flowers on
| the graves of our fallen heroes for
When spring, with icy fingers cold.
Returns ito deck their ha.iow mould
She then doth dress sweeter sod.
| Than fancy's feet have ever trod
But peace hath it's victories no less
IMAM war. Those who conquer in rahe
conflict with poverty. diseases and care,
VINO snatch young girls from the clutch
or the tempter. who pu: bread into the
mouths Of widows and orphans and
clothing on the backs of suffering IN
fancy deserve brighter crowns than
those which graced the brows of an Al
exander. Caesar o: NAPOLEON.
| In closing have two remarks to make
AS you scatter flowers over the graves OF