The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-07

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FRANKLIN W. MARTIN,
The Exalted Ruler of Scranton Lodge
b. =. y. f.. No. l23
the rest is hut matter of growth. How
could they be more than In the "blade"
period at the carly age of nineteen years?
l say the Elks are set in the right di-
rection. and | say it for many reasons.
liberated the narrow lines of nationality,
creed and politics. which tend so much TO
stunt the growth of mems better natures,
and keep them apart in the battle of life
and today, they present sort of grand
millenial dawn spectacle. men represent
ing many of the different religious creels
clasplng hands upon the highest planes
of morality, under the banner of patriot
ism. not as native Americans, English.
Dutch Scotch, Welsh or Italians, Republi-
cans. Democrats, Prohibitionists. and
what not, but marching as invncibly as
an army with banners, conquerny and to
conquer. glorious leavening nucleus OF
the worlds highest ideal, the universal
brotherhood of man in the Fatherhood Of
God.
| brand as wickedly, malcously and
contemptibly false, the assertion thar so
frequently falls trppingly from the
mouths are wh!ted sepulchres of slimv
sander and Who cling here ana there to
the social fabric as barnacles to an ocean
going vessel, that the E,lks tend to en-"
courage drinking habits and u laxity Of
morals among men.
SLANDERER is ABROAD.
As may be said of individuals, SO may 1t
be said of orsanizations-the slanderer s
abroad In the land. l venture the assertion
that there Is not Il man or woman of any
prominence In the city of Scranton whose
character for crobi;y has not been as
sailed and reputation smirched, at one
time or another, by some one or more Of
these abominable human eXcrescences.
whose devilish Vaccinations and Nero
eclpsng cruelty have wrung rivers of
blood from bruised and broken, innocent
hearts.
But this organization has set its face
sternly against this disposition and prac-
tice. and woe to him who attempts to fly
in the face of their edict.
So that my friends, | confidently expect
to see the dawn of a day when 1t will be
possible for ladies to walk proudly along
the streets of the city of Scranton. and
other cities of our land, without danger or
subjectiOn to vile or rejecting remarks,
and when the sexes may associate freely
without suspicion: for this order extends
special consideration to the women of the
ration, and their safety and purity are
objects of its special care: and when men
everywhere will be treated with Il justness
and fairness the world has never yet eX-
tnded, instead of the presumption of moral
rOttenness which now so commonly pre-
walls.
Instead of lending strength to this SIAN
der against. the Elks look al the facts in
the light of the declaration, There is a
time for everything" The good fellow
ship and hilarity for which the Ilks are
predicate of men of their genial tempera-
ment. who must of necessity from time to
time battle in the sunshine of mirth.
Here they are: look them over; fair
average among men. at the very least |
should say. And l assure the mothers.
wives. sisters and sweethearts of members
that the Elks' rooms on Franklin avenue
are far better and safer place for their
loved ones of an evening than many others
that mi"ht be named.
And yet with all their inclination to
mirth. they have divinely human sympa-
thetic side which quickly responds to every
call
WHEN 1T is A BLESSING.
When the lightnings of sorrow flash
across the sky of the human heart. and
the thunders of dire misfortune shake the
very foundations OF the immortal soul;
when the sun Is hid, and the flower no lon
ger bloom: when faith. staggered and
blinded. no longer lights the way. and the
Overwhelming floods of desOlation seem to
sweep away every vestige of a happy past
and hopeful future: when the icy hand of
Death gathers In its ruthless grasp the
rarest. choicest and dearest of the flock
around whom the tendris of our hearts
have so firmly entwined themselves; when
the whole being is bowed and bent and torn
by infinite disappointment and sorrow and
our eyes are stepped in tears; ah. then the
glory and the beauty and the strength
and the comfort arising from the grand
sympathy of this noble band of brethren.
constitute living fountain of that peace
which passeth understanding" Let them
rafn their rfv Good cnppI' n
never knew its worth! The children of men
will go on finding moral support of a
high character in it daily, notwithstand-
ing
Time forbids extended mention of all
our deceased brethren. even If such were
the purpose of this memorial service, as
it Is not: but 1t may not be amiss to en-
phaslze by an instance or two of personal
reference. the beauty of Elkdom along its
higher lines.
Who did not know. or know Of William
Robinson? Yet how much did YOU know |!
of him? AS you recall his genial face. his |
perennial good nature. his ready sympa- |
thy with the unfortunate. and such things
in a general way. as we all can today of all
his great big hearted, generous family of
Robinsons. can you mention even one spe-
citic example? Well. | can, anyway. and |
! note one pair of eyes in this audience
that could not fail to fill with tears at
mention of his name. The incident came /!
under my own personal observation. and |
! tHdlk tOu constantly lot tHe kNOWleuSe |
1t was gift of money, and the donor all
unOstentatious in his act, pledged secrecy |
at the time, and died without revealing it
the recipient saved from business. and l. |
his attorney, still live to bless and revere
his memory.
ROLL OF THE DEAD.
Among the number of our deceased |
brethren. also,is DIR. George S. Throop, |
one of the organizers of Scranton Lodge, |
and Its first Exalted Ruler: the genial |
generous. manly and gifted son of the
oldest Elk in the world. our venerable |
brother, DR.. Il. r. Throop. who, happily |
is yet spared to the Order of Elks and the
city of Scranton. notwithstanding the |
death.
You all knew. and none could fail to like, |
the genial DOC" cut off. alas! all too |
early, in the very prime of life.
short time ago II was my privilege. |
with the rest of the Scranton lodge, to
attend the. dedication of an Elks' Rest at
Wilkes-Barre. and cannot now resist the |.
thought that had DR.. George 8. Throop
been with us that day. his big heart
would have been so stirred that he would |
long ere this have accomplished an Elks' |
Rest here. as the great magnanimity of
Brother Ben Diley did for the brethren
there. And In this connection I cannot |
refrain from declaring that. in my opin- |
ion, our good Brother Dilley in that act |
bulded better than he thought. for he |
there laid broad and deep the foundations
of a material monument that Will keep his |
memory green for ages to come, and |
through which, though dead. he will speak