Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-02
B. P. o. E. SERVICES.
Tois Theater Filled to overfowing
 Yesterday Afternoon.

1SSleIQdS <AltSLAOOAs
 Polls theater was filled to overflow ing yesterday afternoon by an interest ed audience who had come to partici- pate in the annual Elks' memorial ser vices. which are held all over the coun- try by every lodge in existence on the tirst Sunday in December. Exalted Ruler P. J. Lawlor presided, and gath cred around him on the nicely dee orated stage were the past exalted rulers and the people who participated in the program. The stage furnishings came from the Benson Furniture 70 and the flowers and plants from Dal- ton < Go. The singers who partici- pated and who never sang to better advantage. were Miss Agnes Breen and Roderick Sullivan of the Immacu- late Conception choir, NJ. !. McENoy and the quartet of the Sacred Heart choir. Each number was I gem III itself.
 The number which created the great est interest was the eulOgy, and this was delivered by J. Leslie Gossiu of Jersey City lodge of Elks. This was Mir GOSSin'S second bow before the Waterbury lodge and it's guests. Ali ter touching on the pleasure it gave him to again be the eulogist for Wa terbury lodge and speaking feelingly of the two losses by death the lo1ge has sustained within the lodge year, Mir Gossin said in part:
 There has also come to us all, as American citizens, a sad national be- reayement Many of our lodges of Elks throughout the country have adopted resolutions testifying to tie worth of our murdered chief magis- q this occasion pay tribute to his menl- Ory. and upon the roll of those we love and honor today that we place the name of William Mckinley among our absent brothers. for he had all the qualifications essential to Elk mem bership. and was himself firm be- liever in the same doctrines of fra ternal fellowship of which this order is founded. He was q great-a gooI man, who left the world better than he found it.
 Believing that to live in hearts we leave behind. is not to die. and filled with the love that death does not ex- tinguish. which the yawning grave cam not swallow. the founders of this order established and instituted this solemn 1y beautiful and impressive memorial service. This is no meaningless. no idle ceremony. We are met for the purpose of cOmmeIn0rating the mem ory of those who have gone to their final account. and also for the purpose of affording to tie families and friends of our departed an evidence that t;leIr memory is feryently cherished in our hearts. To-day in all places where charity, justice and brotherly love are 1he watchwords. tributes are offered to our absent ones. There is not one
 
 an opportunity. For while all thoughts of worldly ambition. business and pleasure are laid aside and we thus reverently remember those who have passed away.
 ''AS their names are called there comes no audible reply from the great realms unknown. but each and every brother ill his heart throbs recognizes a response, and we know that the ab- sent ones seem more near. We sec ; the pleasant smile. we hear the cheer ing word. we catch the enthusiasm of 1ife's social meetings and thus are ol!r ! brothers reproduced to us as we knew them.
 With the relatives and friends of ffhe departed we most heartily condoie and assure them that as the vacant { chair at the fireside is a constant re- hinder of their affiiction, so the ab- sent face in the lodge room is q sorrow Iul reminder of our loss.
 'The cardinal principles of the Ben evOlent and Protective Order of Elks are charity. justice brotherly love and fidelity. As q prerequisite to init:a- tiOn it requires but one thing: belief in q supreme being Afterwards. but TWO things. payment of dues and abso- 1ute secrecy as to the disposal of char V amount of time or money from it's fel- [ lows 1t is free from ostentation. It in no way interferes with home life of its members. Love of God. of com ! try. love of brother. q disposition to be just and faithful. to have q heart. charitable towards our fellow men, are . the things ElkiSm means for us. Under the cloud of diversity. in sickness. in calamity. in the closing hours of fife. this order comes like ministering an- gel from heaven and aids the suffering. the unfortunate and the dyinN
 The curtain has fallen between our absent brothers faces and ours. Taps have sounded and the lights are ont. Thousands of men breathe. move. live. pass off the stage of life and are heard of no more. Why? Because they did not a particle of good. Not a kind word can be recalled. so their iinht went out in darkness and they were remembered not Humanity needs inc SOfteninS influence of death. It brings us nearer to each other; it bids us look With more compassion upon the faults and Weaknesses of others: if moves us to smooth the brow of suffering with the tender hand of mercy. Standing on the brink Of the grave. nature whispers to the aching heart that somehow and somewhere We all shall meet again.
 While this tribute to-day offered IS in memory of the dead its lessons are to the living. We cannot tell how soon such offices of love and affection may be performed for us The inevitable summons must come Sooner or later We must all realize that the morning star climbs higher every year and that earth,s hold on Us grows slighter every year Then let Us be thoughtful. lust and charitable. He shuts ont from ilis heart much of Gods sunshine who sits in single judgment on the conduct of those about him. and condemns them from his own selfish standard. We cannot pass any just opinion as to the propriety of another's act unless We know all that influenced it.
 Let us so live that when the shad Ow comes and the blow falls thosa wr~In ws~~~-