The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-04
ELKS' MEMORIAL SERVICE.
A W. Dana Delivers the Eulogy For
Departed Members.

OSpdIbCO AGM MDSrSs
The annual memorial services of To-
peka lodge No. 204 Benevolent and Pro-
tectfve Order of Elks, were held Sun
day afternoon in Library hall.
Once a year, on the first Sunday in
December, the Elks throughout the
United States meet to pay tribute to the
memory Of their departed brothers.
Everywhere E4Iks are looked upon as
jolly whole souled men and good fell
lows who enjoy good fellowship. They
are that and more. Differing from any
other lodge in the fact that charity, not
alone to members of the lodge, but to
all mankind is one of the cardinal attri-
butes Of the order. No one ever hears
of the Elks doing charity work. No one
except those receiving assistance and
the members of the lodge giving it
know anything whatever about it. It
is not done to attract public attention.
No other lodge holds services for the
purpose of keeping green the memory
of the dead
At 1890 O'Clock the members Of the
lodge filed into the hall and took seats.
Each wore a white boutOniere. The eX-
alted ruler, John F. McManus, as mas
ter of ceremonies, took his place on the
stage. The subordinate officers took
their stations in front of him. Tho
Holy Bible, the flag and the antlers,
the emblems of the order, were placed
on the altar. The secretary read the
rolls of the departed members: f. G.
Stiles, B. NJ. Curtis, W. p. PopenOe, ].
F. H. McKibben, Eugene Wolf, Lewis
we call, they answer not" were the
words of the exalted ruler and the ser
vices were declared open.
The AmphiOn Quartette sang Nearer
My God to Thee" The responsive ser
vices by officers of the lodge was fol-
lowed by the lodge singing the opening
ode:
Great Ruler of the universe, au-seeing
and benign,
Look down upon and bless our work,
and be all glory Thine.
And let this be our sign, O Elks, and
let this be our sign,
The Golden Rule our motto true, for
days of Aud Lang Syne."
William Henderson, the chaplain of
the lodge, offered prayer. Thy VIII be
Done" by the AmphiOn quartette, was
followed bv 'Thanatopsis," delivered
by J. J. O'Connor. Watson's orchestra
played Friends" by Lohr and A w.
Dana delivered the eulOgy. He said:
50 The evil men do lives after them,
the good is oft inferred with their
bones say the disciples of Antisthenes-
The ElkS say, the faults of our brothers
we write upon the sand, their virtues
upon the tablets of love and memory;
Charity, justice, brotherly love and fl
deity for the living. Fidelity, brother
ly love, justice and charity for the
dead Sorrow for one dead is the only
sorrow for which there is no Surcease-
We heal all other wounds, forget all
other calamities; but this we could not
if we would and would not if we could.
The love that survives the tomb trans
cends all other forms of affection. The
voice that comes to US from the graves
of our loved ones is sweeter than song.
1t is sWeeter to remember our dead
than to converse with the living
1t is there in obedience to the
prOmptingS of our very best selves as
we'll as in accordance with a time hon.
Ored custom of our order, that all Elks
meet on first Sunday in December of
each year to pay their sincere respect to
the memories of their departed broth
ers.
q The faults Of our brothers we write
upon the sand, their virtues upon the
tablets Of love and memory is the mot
to of our order. It is not kept sacred
to funeral and memorial services nor
is it a coat of arms for state Occa siOnS.
It is written over the portal of every
lodge in the order and it is the living
principle of action between Elks ev-
erywhere.
Our order knows neither party nor
creed nor station. A belief in a Su-
preme Being, respectability and ca
pacity for cOmpaniOnship and brotherly
love are the chief requisites for admis-
sion to our order 1t matters not what
our religion, our politics or our station
may be, we all meet on the broad plain
of charity which 'beareth all things,
believeth all things, hOpeth all things,
endureth all things
Mr.. Dana then spoke of the good
deeds and virtues of Eugene Wolf, L.
C. Hastings and George Roberts who
died during the last year. He spoke
of the success each had attained in his
chosen work.
In conclusion he said: '"The EIks do
not pose as a body of saints nor as a
sanitarium for sinners. 1t appeals to
those who enjoy and feel the need of
goodfellowship and brotherly love. They
believe that they serve God by loving
and serving their fellow man as did
Abou Ben Adhem."
The services closed with the singing
of the Doxology and a benediction by
Canon ByWater.
AM OID NTORY