The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-04

to import large quantities Of goods
through his agents without the pay
other world any more than we can from
the people of this world We are bound
to them by eternal ties, and ought to live
with view to their welfare. 0 that men
would realize this. o that they would
recognize the neaIness of the heavenly
home and would think and act according
ly. Let us so behave ourselves as not to
be ashamed before them: for their sakes
as well as our own sake, let US cease to
do evil, and learn to do well. Then heaven
will not be like a strange place to us. but
like our home, for we shall see not
strangers but old familiar faces.
Heaven will be in its sights and sounds
and greetings a great home gathering to
us who enter 1t. as II was to our bro
theirs who have gone out from our ranks
one by one. Some while in the prime of
young manhood some in middle life, some
when the years were multiplying over
their heads; some of our brothers went
when the autumn winds did sing their
great melody of that blessed home. Some
of them left us in the glad springtime
when the music of bird was sweetest and
the blossom of flower was brightest, to
enter the summer land of God. Some
brothers said their goodbye and waved
their parting benediction when this cold
northern land was wrapped in her feecy
Whiteness and there was chill in all
the air You carried them to their rest
ing place believing that they had given
the password and been admitted to the
celestial lodge above. Some of our num-
Der went away in the summer time when
the world was a scene of beauty and the
glory of God was tinging every hilltop
and valley. On all this beauty their eyes
rested for moment, and then they saw
that ineffable glory shining from the hills
of God like a river of light as they went
with the boatman pale.
You remember how these came asking
admission
what love and enthusiasm some OF them
brought with them. They were an inspira-
ton to you They saw the real helpful
ness of the principles of our order and
some of them moulded these into a bet
ter manhood. How they put loyalty into
a devoted interest. In all your work you
felt the pulse of their active efforts beat
ing strongly. They were an honor to the
lodge. because they taught the world,
practically to be a true elk is to prac
tice the law of love. Ny brothers there
is an all encircling cnain of sympathy
anchored in every lodge, and should be
anchored in every Elk's heart. This chain
which binds us together is not composed
of iron or steel. it is not made of silver
or gold, for these are perishable. This
chain was forged in the heart of God
and is wrought out of those eternal prin-
ciples-friendship and love. The friend
ship of a true Elk cheers us, quickens our
powers, stirs our purposes, the very best
things that have been done in the world
prove its worth The chief grace of our
broad yearnings and her gentle tolera-
ton Love with her pitiful heart and her
cruise of oil Love with her quick ear,
her soft hands and her swift feet. Love
most happy when most self-forgetful and
self-sacrificing. Love goes before an Elk
like bright star and stands over the
place where some poor sick and dis
tressed brother lies, never leaving him,
never forsaklng him, but ministers low.
ingly and tenderly to his every want, and
when he has passed beyond the touch of
human helpfulness, when he can minis
ter to physical wants no longer, then he
turns to the living, the widow and or
phan, to bring blessings on them. Breth-
rem of the Benevolent order of Elks, the
voices of your brothers speaking this
night admonish you to be true men.
True to your ideals, true to yourselves
true to your enemies, true to your friends,
true to those who are dependent upon
you, true to any one at whatever cost,
whose secret of life or death is in your
possession. True to the great teacher,
Jesus Christ, whom to follow is ideal.
Then you will write the great word of
our order, which is love, in letters of
living light and breathe its spirit into the
hearts of men.
Friends and Brothers: Seeing we are
comprised about with so great cloud
of witnesses, let US run with patience the
race that is set before us.
o say not they are dead
Whose forms we meet no more
In walks they used to tread
Or at the accustomed door,
For in my silent room,
And in the crowded street.
Encircled with a sweet perfume
Those loving friends | meet.
They go with me, they stay with me,
joyous, blissful company;
And dear all earthly forms above
Are their bright looks and words of love.
The music of their speech
Unheard by mortal ears,
My iumOSt soul can reach
And melt away its fears.
When sick at heart and weak.
A bruised reed l lie:
And living friends whose love 1 seek
So coldly pass me by, u'l'
Faint not, dear brother voices say,
Like sunbeams in wintry day.
THE burden we bore, meeky bear
And you our crown of life shall wear"
o! Thou who changest not,
These angels of Thy love
Who have known our earthly lot
Still lend US from above,
While they behold Thy face
And in Thy glory shine,
In them we joy to see Thy grace
And goodness all divine.
Thy courts, 0 God, aIe full, and we
Are poor and few; lend them to be
With us. And leave us not alone,
TIL we shall know as we are known.
Mr.. Barber rendered "A dream of
Paradise" as a baritone solo, and
there was a cornet solo, THE lost
chord" by Napoleon Pilet.
Once more the house was put in
darkness and Charles w Parker, past
exalted ruler, recited Bryants
"Thanatopsis" This noble poem, one
of the grandest of its kind in the Eng
fish or any other language, was given
such an evolutionary translation by
Mr.. Parker as will not soon be forgot
ten by those who heard him. He was
in excellent voice, and not only proved
himself a trained elocutionist, but a
man who understood and appreciated
the poem in its profoundest signifi-
canoe.
The orchestra, when the lights came
up, played the introduction and prayer
from "Rienzi," and Mr.. Cafferty sang
1.-The city beautiful" Following Mr..
Cafferty, the orchestra played the
march of the priests from alfalfa
and for a closing selection, the quartet
rendered Now the day is over"
The usual closing ceremonies Of the
lodge officers were then gone through
with and everybody sang the "Doxolo-
gy" DR.. Harris gave the benediction,
and tn exercises were at an end.
As 2 token OF esteem for DIR. Harris,
tE- Lode presented him with the beau