The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-08
THE LODGE OF SORROW
Interesting Exercises ofthe EIks Witnessed
BY An Immense Audience. !.
1.-THE PREEAlNEACE OF CHARITY"
An Eloquent Address by DR.. M. Il.
Wharton-CaIIingo or the Death Roll
and ExtinguishinE OF the Tapers-
Memorable Programme Rendered
Academy of Music FfiIed.

The sublime charity of the Order of
Elks. who write the faults of their
brethren on the sand, while their vir-
and memory, was beautifully eXem-
plified by Norfolk Lodge No. 3S at the
Academy of Music on Sunday afternoon
last In the presence of something like
5000 interested spectators.
The observance of this beautiful Gus
tom, which IS observed throughout Elk
dom on the first Sunday In December OF
every year, is one of the greatest ele-
ments of strength of the noble order
and the announcement OF their pro-
grammes are always looked for with
pleasure by many thousand, and when
the day of holding the Lodge Of Sor-
row" arrives II is interesting to note how
many friends the Elks have. p
The programme for this year was an
excellent one. Apart from the beauty
of the lodge ceremonies there was an
intellectual and musical presentation
rarely excelled in the history of Norfolk
Lodge. Before the commencement Of
the exercises Burjes Orchestra gave Ari
from Elijah, Lord God OF Abraham"
Mendelssohn. with much beauty and eff
feet. Rev. y. S. Lloyd, who has en-
deared himself to the Elks of this city.
invoked Divine blessings upon the cere-
monies. after which the regular lodge
ceremonies were begun and observed
according to custom. Past Exalted
Ruler j.. II. Joyncs then called the death
roll. and as each name of n departed
brother was called Il white wax taper
light was shifted, and Il mufied bugle
sound was heard in the distance. Then
followed solo. duette and chorus-"I
Waited for the Lord"-Mende,ssoh
Soprano, Miss NJ. Is. Ewel, contralto.
Miss B. l.. Williams. The lodge menu
| bers. seated on the stage, then sang their
n1n n hn at of Md r
Syne." Following this Rev. w. J..
Young, D. D., offered a beautiful prayer.
Mr.. j. |. Jenkins came next with solo
| and chorus. singing II Praise the
| Lord" MendelssOhn Mr. X. C. Tup-
| man followed with n tenor solo--"Char-
itie"-from ]. Faure. a solo and chorus.
| King all Glorious" from Ramby, was
| then sung, Mr.. Tupman ana Mr.. Jen-
| kins being the soloists. At the conclu-
sion of this number Rev. DR.. NJ. b.
Wharton delivered the memorial ad-
dress. taking as his subject THE Pre-
eminence OF Charity"
DIR. WHARTON'S ADDRESS.
! The pre-eminence of charity may he
/ shown from what ii does for others
Indeed, the peculiar glory of charity is.
| so says the apostle that "she thinketh
| not her own 1t puts II generous con-
| struction on the words and actions of
! others: is not sensitive and suspicious,
| liiH iiiB IT'S leellllES ull lne time SpTeau Out
| for others 10 tread upon. 1t delights To
look upon the bright side OF things. and
! make the. worse appear the better rea-
| son. 1t Is tolerant of the opinions of
| others, whether those opinions he So
cial. political or religious. Ii grants ia
every man the privilege of worshippinc
| God according To the dictates of his
4 own conscience and furnishes the motto
| I'm essentials unity: in non-csscntials
| liberty: In all things charity" 1t de-
| lights to relieve the necessities of others
| Illustrating that pure ana indebted re-
! l'Eion before God the Father. which is Ia
visit the fatherlcss ana widows in their
aiiliction and to keep itself uuspotted
| from the world. But ! prefer to-day ~
consider the pre-cmincnCc of charity
| from what il does for those who prac-
tice it. While the charitable man Is ut
terly oblivious of his own interests. II
IS still true that
| THE quality OF mercy is not strained.
1t dropDeth as the gentle rain from
Heaven
Upon the, place beneath; it is twice
1t blesseth him that gives and him tina,
| takes"
| It enables us to enjoy life as we other,
wise could not There is a luxury in
doing good. and nothing so tends 10
produce the souls calm sunshine and
the heartfelt joy.
THE man may breathe, but never lives
Who e'er receives but nothing gives;
Creations blot, Creations blank,
Whom nobody loves, and none can
thank"
| The word miserable comes from miser
\ and many one has been known 10
| seek death as an escape from the pangs
OF avarice. / read some time ago OF
one who, driven TO madness from the
| fear of losing his gold. went to n deep
| dark, HowinE river to drown himself
AS he was about to take the fatal plunge
he looked at his gold. and thought as il
| would be of no more use 10 him he
would take II to poor family near him
whose sunerings had so often appealed
| to him in vain IA it would do them good
He did so. and the moment he had do
mated it reason returned. and he dis
1 covered that he had something to live
| for. He devoted himself to n life OF
benevolence. and was happy ever after
wards. Others dread death because il
| will deprive them OF their gold One OF
| these. dying in Alabama. said to his
physician as he Rugged his gold to his
bosom: Doctor, can't | carry this gold
with me?" No" said the doctor land
IL you could it would he of no use in the
country where you are going. 1t would
all melt" Surely we are repaid for oul
charity in the evidence which 1t gives
of our acceptance with God. OF course
/ speak now of that charity which in
cludes love 10 God. for real charity is
obedience to that command which SAYS
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God witt
all thy heart and all thy soul, and al
thy strength, and thy neighbor as thy.
self" II is the golden fruit that grows
on the Christian tree, and while SONS