Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-11

| theriy Love, and Fidelity-that bloom
| eternaliy In the inner sanctuary.
| TN 1876 dispsnsations were granted 4
new lodges In San Francisco Chicago
and Cincinnati. These. with the TIVE
| lodges already In existence, gave the or
der. then years old, an active member
| ship OF only $50.
"Ten years later, in 1885, there were II
existence only fifty-five lodges. with az
I! aggregate membership OF 5,5l1. To-day
| We have about 500 lodges, with but on
| lodge In any city, and an aggregate mem
| bership of 5000 men. These $50 lodge.
have in their treasures to-day somethin:
over $4,000 in cash, own 81 ,000000 worth
! of property and during the last year hav'
distributed to the suffering humanity o.
America $4,000 by a system that guar
! antees the proper application Of every
| dollar. For the last twelve months oul
| Grand Exalted Ruler has been granting
dispensations for new lodges to be form
| ed in cities scattered all over our coun
| try, at the rate OF one In every tire.
| and a half days.
THE broad fraternalism Of our order
| recognizes but two restrictions upon its
membership. The first requirement OF
| every candidate is, he must believe in the
| existence of a Supreme Being and Sc
| cond, he must be q white male citizen
| of the United States of America No Elk
| is allowed to ask his friends to join the
order; applications for utilization must be
signed by three members in good stand
| Ing who vouch for the candidates good
character, and no member is allowed to
tell after the ballot Is closed whether he
voted for or against the applicant. Many
of the forms and customs that unneces-
sarily cucumber the ritualistic work OF
the older orders have been purposely
omitted from ours. Brevity, beauty, and
impressiveness have been the ends aimed
at and attained. our ritual contains all
the moral teachings of true religion, but
ii knows no creed, no denomination, no
political faction, no State or national
party. Hebrew and Christian. Catholic
and Protestant, Democrat and Republi-
can, coming from all sections OF our
country, gather around the sacred affairs
of our lodge-rooms, bound TO each other
by the ties Of manhood and brotherhood,
and sworn to tolerate each others convic-
lions.
CHARITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS
at teaches us that charity knows no
bounds, and that her demands upon US
cannot be satisfied by giving aims to the
poor. unless at the same time wo scrupu-
lousy avoid the use Of all words and ex-
pltSSlpuS tdlCuldlCu 10 WOuHu the leSl-
ings of others; that justice will bring
speedy retribution upon him who Injuries
a brother in his person, property, or fam
lily relations; that brotherly love admon-
ishes us to sympathize with the unfortu-
nate, and to be ever ready TO stretch
forth helping hand to those in distress;
that fidelity is browning virtue, holding
In its fond embrace charity. justice, and
brotherly love, indicating to us the ne
cessty of a rigid adherence to every bond
placed upon us by our obligations, the
most sacred Of which is the oath taken
by every member OF our order. when he
swears at the altar that he will never de-
fame, and that he will always protect and
defend with his life's blood, when the oc-
casion demands it, the virtue and good
name Of the wife, the mother, the sister,
and the daughter of an Elk
THE only secret OF the order with the
exception, Of course, OF few signs and
passwords, and a few matters pertaining
TO very mild initiation, to which no gen
tleman need fear subjecting himself is
embodied in the oath We ali take never
TO reveal to any one not an Elk the name
Of an unfortunate brother who applies to
the order for assistance In the hour of
his need.
when we contemplate the eternal prin-
ciples that enter as component parts into
the formation Of our order, and recognize
them TO be the same principles upon
which all Christian civilization is depend
ent for its life and growth, we no longer
wonder how 1t is that from the union OF
a few hearts in an upper chamber in the
city of New York some thirty years ago
there should have sprung this great and
powerful brotherhood. stretching forth
its strong arms into every State of our
union, drawing together the hearts OF our
countrymen and binding them firmly
around this constellation Of virtues.
Which, when they are breathed in by the
soul and practiced in our daily lives.
transform the animal man into a being
endowed with a blessed Immortality.
1--WE have seen that the order of Elks
is distinctively an American institution. |
now declare to you that no man can be
a 'devout Elk who is not also an Ameri-
can patriot.
OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG.
eat every meeting of every lodge OF our
order the flag Of our country is spread
upon the altar. and every Elk has sworn
to defend it against every foe.
within the last few months the world
has witnessed 4 beautiful demonstration
Of what Elk patriotism means.
"When there flashed across the borders
OF our States news that thrilled our ma
tons heart with horror and indignation,
telling our people that the treacherous
despotism of Spain. not satisfied with
and starving her own helpless
women and children, had struck a foul
blow at American honor, and in the dark
hours OF the night wrecked one of her
best ships lying at anchor IN friendly
port, and sent 2G6 of her brave soldiers,
without a moments notice down to the
black bottom of Habana harbor, the Order
of Elks at once began to marshal its
forces and prepare for the inevitable.
Even before the first call for volunteer
troops was made by the President, nearly
every lodge in the country had acted on
the prompt suggestion made by our Grand
saying 10 its members: GO forth when
the summons comes and fight for the
honor of your country's flag; this lodge
will provide for your family and those
dependent upon you during the full term
Of your enlistment
"From time to time there have been
engrafted upon the order 81 Elks y)any
attractive features, upon which l .sculd
like to dwell, but / must hurry on, for I
feel that your kind attention will soon be
exhausted.
THE ELEVEN-O'CLOCK TOAST.
"The social session handed down TO
Us by the Jolly Corks' Is one OF our old
est and brightest institutions, the most
feature OF which is the Eleven
O'Clock Toast At this mystic hour the
heart OF every Elk in Christendom is |