The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-10-27
THE ELKs
A Banquet and Reception In Honor OF
Chaplain StulI.

A Banquet and Reception In Honor of
Chaplain stulI.
The Elks Of Billings threw open their
beautiful lodge rooms last night and
once again showed their abundant hos
pitality III a banquet and reception in
honor of their Brother Elk, Rev. Geo.
G. Stull, chaplain Of the First Montana
regiment, OH his return >s6ne. One
hundred and fseventy,6Fe guests were
present to eJJoy tke evenings enter
taiument and payeake Of the usual feast
Of good tbingI>Mat the Elks are noted
for as serving. Seated at two long
tables, set the entire length of the spa.
cious hall room. were about u hun
dred and ten guests, while the rest oc-
cupied seats along the sides Of the
ROOM.
At about $50 o'clock Cass Prudhom.
me, as presiding officer and toast.
master, raped for order. He excused
himself for being in the position by
saying that he was surprised in being
called upon to preside. Mr.. Prudhom.
me announced that Hon. W. F. Meyer
Of Red Lodge had been selected to re.
spond to the toast 1.-The Elks," but
that gentleman vas not present and SO
it fell to the LOT Of the presiding officer
to do SO, which he did with good
grace. beingf the rcipiszf Of much ap.
plause duri3g remarks. W. M,
Johnston gaze the welcome address to
Chaplain St1n in behalf Of the order.
He spoke Of the chaplain's work Oh the
battlefield and how his friends in this
city viewed with pride and gratifica-
ton the bravery and valor and name he
had made for himself. Mr.. Johnston
said that in behalf Of the people of
Billings be was glad to once more well
come him back to the city and felt
gratiied that the Methodist conference
had seen fit to return him to Billings
for another year, at least, as pastor of
the Methodist church, where he would
once again take up his work Of trying.
to bring sinners back into the fold.
Chaplain Stull responded to Mr..
Johnson's greeting by speaking Of the
volunteers of the army. tn commence
ing, he said he was glad to be back
once more in Billings, in the city he
loved so we'll. The chaplain comment
ed on the many democratic newspa-
pers which had taken occasion to en-
large upon letters which were sent
home by homesick soldiers III the Phil.
ippines before the war with the insur.
gents began, but that the complaints
stopped just hs Don as the first battle
was Fought about Feb the SOL
diers did 4ot have<Nfme to become
homesick. tThe~c6aplain did not be-
little the regulars in the army, but it
was plainly evident frcm his romarks
that be thought more of the volunteers
and their fighting qualities, saying that
they could fight like devils. In clos
ing the speaker said that he would
rather be the chaplain Of the First
Montana regiment than to have been an
angel.
Hon. Fred Foster was expected to re.
spond to a toast Of "The Volunteers, "
but he was not present. Judge Mathe.
son was called upon and made a few
remarks. 1.-The Press was responded
to by j. 7. Sanford, W. E. Hassler and
E. H. Becker. each making a few re-
marks. Intervening the various toasts
a splendid musical and literary pro.
gramme was rendered. Mrs. Tompkins'
orchestra played several pretty selec-
lions throughout the evening. Miss
Florence. Eosekamp and Mr.. Frank
Damsell efch sang solos, while. a~quar-
te.te COMPOSED of Messrs. HIM. Allen,
Geo. Grdce, Boutop~ah d Damsell de-
lighted the gatkefing with two fine
numbers. ~Ddetts were sung by Mes
DANES Tompkins and Barstow, and the
Misses Carrie and Sophia Bennighoff.
The ladies were in splendid voice for
the occasion. Mrs. H. S. Boals recited
1.-THE Wounded Soldier" with good
effect. At the close of the toasts and
musical numbers, the E]ks proceeded to
display their ability of serving the
guests to refreshments. They were
ever watohful and careful that all
should receive a fullness thereof.
While this was going Oh 8. Il. Rey-
noids recited one of Vim. Cullen Bry-
ans earliest poems. The occasion will
long be remembered by those present
as a most pleasant and sociable one.