The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-04

the nohleSt and tendereSt instincts OF
the human heart. Men feel that they
honor themselves when they honor
those whose voice and sword has served
mankind We revere the memory Of
the brave soldier who, while welding
his sword in defense of his country,
gives his life to that country; we bear
him to the grave with every mark of
respect of honor and Of grief; and we
dedicate monuments to his memory to
show to all succeeding generations a
peoples gratitude.
1t is natural and proper that we
should do these things; but, my friends,
1t seems to us that no less is due to
the memory of our departed brothers,
who in civil life devote their talents
to the advancement of brother Elks to
the peace, JOY and harmony of the lodge
room, and who give their love and life
for wife and family. 1t Is true they
did not fall on the battle field, where
the JOY of battle inspires heroic deeds
and robs death of its sting. 1t was not
their fate to hear, as the last sound
that reached their ears on earth. the
exultirC shout of victory, and to feel
that their blood was poured out in de-
fense of their country's rights; but they
| nevertheless gave their lives, willingly
freely and knowingly to the service of
God and their fellow-men:
No marshaling troops no bivouac song,
No banner to CLEAN and wave;
But, Oh! these battles, they last so
long
From babyhood to the grave.
THEY WOULD BE IDLE.
My friends, memorial exercises would
| be but idle ceremonies If they were
| merely to afford opportunity for public
| expression of personal sorrow for the
| loss of our departed brothers. They
are held for another and wiser pur-
| pose. Commemorating thus, publicly,
| eminent qualities, whether of soul or
| intellect or OF both united, they be-
| come an incentive to the emulation Of
the living, making them better men and
| more firm believers in the tenets of the
| Benevolent and Protective Order Of
| Elks. They stimulate in youth and
dawning manhood a worthy ambition
| to thrive, to achieve and become living
| EXAMPLES of the great and ennobling
| principles of our order. They are cal
| culated to contribute to higher order
| of society, and to a greater, stronger,
| and nobler brotherhood of man. Guided
| by the unseen aid of the ever-present
| power of the God of all goodness and
| perfection, they become an inspiration,
| and the world at large, the community
| in particular, are made better for them.
! Since our last memorial session the
| hand of death silently and mysterious
| ly claimed for mother earth all that
| was mortal of Brothers p. S, Page, A.
NJ. Merwine, Il. ]. Jordan and T. j. Nc
| Tighe, and their immortal souls went
| forth to their maker We could with
| pleasure, indeed, enumerate at length
| the many social and lovable character
| istics of the brothers. 1t was our pleas
| ure for years to enjoy their genial COM
| panionship and particularly in the
| lodge room, where their presence was
| W ha a {
from the bosom of their families.
Though lost to sight to memory
dear" Our absent brothers, glancing
down the far-receding avenues of past,
| while memory holds aloft her torch,
we gaze on those once familiar forms.
| How Vividly the many pleasant scenes
| of the lodge room appear. How thrills
| the heart with awakening joy as we
| view once more those fond associates
| of bygone years; what host of pleas
| ant "reminiscences thrOng our mind as,
summoned by Fancy'S magic wand
they pass before us. Lost to sight are
they; for having put on the raimeut
fitted to the struggle, they have gone
| forth one by one from the loving boS-
oms of their homes and the companions
shin of their brother EIks and disap-
| peared with the countless thousands
from the battlefield of life Even as
the sparkling water of the purline
| streamet that courses with harmOni-
Gus murmur through the verdant glade
mingles with the silver capped wave
lets of the river below, and are lost in
the broad volume that rolls onward tc
the mighty ocean.
THIS CANNOT BE.
1t can not be that this earth is mans
only abiding place; it can not be that
| our life is bubble cast upon the ocean
| nf o. fA fA,. 1.
waves, then sink into nothingness
Why is 1t that the rainbow and tho
clouds come over us with a beauty that
is not of earth, and then pass and leave
us TO ponder upon their faded lowell
ness? Why is it that the bright forms
| of human beauty are presented to oul
view but for a moment, and then taker
from US? 1t is because we are borl
for higher destiny than that of earth
there is a realm where the rainbow
never fades, where the stars will be
spread out before us like the raindrops
on the ocean, and where the beautiful
things that here pass before us like
shadows will stay in our presence for.
ever.
In this belief we are strengthened by
the teachings of our noble order, and
by practicing charity, justice, brotherly
love and fidelity, become worthy and
enioV place in the eternal lodge in
the great hereafter, where we hope ia
remain for all eternity under the pro.
tecting care of the grand and exalted
ruler of the universe.
The Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks is an order that eleva.es soCi-
ETY.. 1t is composed of a grand chain
of golden links, and the links of that
chain are made up of hearts of mer
full to verflowing with the sublim,
principles of this order-Charity, JUS
tice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity.
1t teaches charity in it's highest and
noblest forms, for where charity is the
animating principle of a mans actions
he loves God. and in loving God he
loves his fellow-man, and Cheerfully
and without restraint, renders him all
assistance possible; and thus it is thai
no one can become true Elk withou
the practice of charity.
We are taught TO practice Justice
toward all mankind. as the towerina
statue of Justice, with her bandaged
eyes and even balance, teaches man oi
the impartality Of the law--so we
must do justice to the living and alsC
to the memory of the departed.
That grand and ennObling motto OF
brotherly love is constantly before us
ITO do unto others as we would that
thev should do unto u.s." and finally
as the cardinal principle of fidelity en-
braces all, we must be ever faithful tC
the laws of our order, and perform the
stipulationS of our obligations with the
strictest fidelity.
In conclusion, my friends, it teaches
us that when a brother is stricken
down with sickness, our duty is tC
smooth back the dampened hair from
the er-burned brow, or give cooiinG
drinks to moisten the fever -parchet
llps. 1t looks after the welfare of its
members to protect them from want
and is ever watchful of the wife and
mother. and guards the sanctitv OF
home ties. It is not afraid to declare