The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-02
FOR The DEPARTED
Elks Memorial Services Are
Held on Sunday.
Touching Address is Delivered
by ID. A. Valentine.
EIGHT WHO HAVE GONE
Speaks FeelingIy of Those Who
Have Answered the Summons.
Talks of Work the Elks Are
Doing.

The Topeka lodge of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks observed
the annual memorial exercises Sunday
in memory of the departed members
by holding a lodge of sorrow at the
Elks' club rooms in the Masonic build
ing.
The ceremonies were held in the large
library room, which was decorated with
palms. The clock on the wall was
stilled and the hands pointed to IL
o'clock The public occupied chairs at
one side of the room. The members of
the lodge marched in and took their
seats at the opposite side After the
opening exercises by the officers of the
lodge, "Out of the Depths" by the
Amphion quartette, responsive service.
opening ode, prayer, and music by the
Amphion quartette and Steinberg's
orchestra. the eulogy was delivered by
D. A Valentine.
The following is Mr.. Valentines adj
dress:
The primary object of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks, as writ
ten down in the books. is to succor
those in sickness and distress, to help
the weak and unfortunate, to cheer the
respondent 1t is a child of America
and gathers around its affairs the men
of all creeds and of no creed The Gen
tile, the Jew, the Catholic and the Pro-
testant, the free-thinker and the non
believer, the agnostic and the infidel,
are all bound together by the ties of
manhood and brotherhood; all are
pledged and sworn upon honor to be
tolerant of one another's feelings and
convictions; all cautioned and taught in
simplest phrase to note in charity and
kindness one another's weaknesses
This spirit of liberation and forbear-
ance is one great secret of the sue
cess of the order 1t is not founded on
the Christian religion, though recognize
ing in it the foundation for the high
est and best intercourse between man
and man. Strict living according to its
tenets would eXemplify the sublime
precepts of the Golden Rule and mimi
mize the necessity of creeds and rules,
laws and regulations, corrections and
punishments. It recognizes the de-
pendence OF. man upon man in all that
makes life worth living and gives new
light and meaning to brotherhood" in
the highest.
1t is also largely social, teaching first
how to live that the most may be gained
from this brief span of sun and shade;
and then incidentally, how to die as be-
1ts creature of courage and convic-
ton, possessed of finite reasoning close
~ akin to infinite knowledge and its
absolute conception of right and wrong.
The same justice, charity mercy, for
pearance in lesser degree. as come
within our appreciation and finite I'M
Outstanding, and which we practice
toward one another. is melted out to US
by infinite grace. The development
ternity" or brotherhood" is what the
Elks emphasize in their ritual and
teach to their members. Duty to God
or to the Supreme Intelligence, which
in one form or another is recognized by
nearly all men of intellectual capacity,
is left to the teaching of Others The
Elks seek to make man better in his
own individual right, accepting him ex-
actly as he is. faulty and preverse
though he may be- and fitting him for
what is to follow when time shall have
merged into eternity. This in ideal is
not lower in conception than any
known or developed plan of salvation
1t is merely supplemental and is sure
" robbed of all possible influence
for self-preservati On. The reason for
doing a good act in the ElkS code of
morals, is because it is right; inherent
~ and eVerlastingly right. The apostle |
who wrote doubtingly of justification by |
faith and made it SO clear that faith or |
protestation or assumption in short re- |
llgiOn without works was of little avail
echoed the dominant sentiment in mod |
ern religion and laid the foundation for |
the large charities of this noble order
lie says: What doth it profit, my !
brethren, though a man say he hath |
faith and have not works? Can faith |
save him2 If a brother or sister be /
naked. and destitute of daily food, and |
one OF you say unto them, depart in /
peace, be We warmed and filled not /
EV4thstandiRg ye give them not these /
things which are needful to the body: /
teaches
this more and more clearly as the world |
progresses in the science of doing right |
1t is day by day reaching down a /
warmer hand and coming closer in |
touch with man as he actually is: de- |
veloping charity and mercy as opposed |
TO cold justice The straight and mar
row path deviates neither to the right |
nor to the left. never has and never
will IN the very essence of things eter-
nai but it is smoother and made more
1atlonai by fraternity and brotherhood |
as now and here practiced. Fraternity
is recognition and understanding of one |
another, tempered with mercy Never
fheless,
THE air for the wing of the sparrow.
The bush for the robin and wren,
But always the path that is narrow
ana straight for the children of |
men,"
Fraternity founded on such precents
gives much, receives much, demands
little Patience with and liberation for
charity, is the first conscious stem
toward true brotherhood Fraternity
that loves its own, chides in meekness
and sorrowfully, is charitable and kind. |
faults and nlagnifies virtues.
the widows and orphans of |
a deceased brother, Clothes the naked |
feeds the hungry and binds up the |
of the aff1i cted keeps long
vigils at the bedside of the sick soothes
pain, is cOnfidant and father confessor
TO those distressed in mind, and finally |
ofiiciates humbly and devoutly when |
the death angel calls, avoiding ostenta-
ton and display, hath no earthly thing |
above it. Infinite love and angelic So |
licitude alone sugg kest a parallel Such |
Is what this order teaches and tries to |
develop in its members. The Elks teach |
men 20 live, aneI living right they die |
right, as sure the law of compensa-
ton rules over all. When the brother |
nes, as die he, must, his associates in |
lodge and nall gather as we do today |
to quicken memory and speak kindly of |
his going.
It is a sweet thought that all over |
this broad land of ours. in every city |