The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-09
WORCESTER ELKS IN
A LODGE OF SORROW

cannot cease to hold in veneration the
illustrious champions of independence.
THE names of Washington. Adams,
Franklin, Jay, Marshall and Jefferson
will be handed down from generation
to general ton and sounded with praise
while free institutions exist upon earth
Those names will be transmitted as
synonyms of great ideas-liberty and
self-government.
THE duties and responsibilities of
men never cease. Each generation at
every stage of progress will have new
perplexities to confront and new diff
culties to surmount.
Peace hath its victories no less re-
nowned than war" and to the states
man of the present time there is open
4 wide and constantly expanding field
of usefulness, in which there is room
FOR the exercise of disinterested patri-
otism Of the highest order Of abilities,
and of the most diversified and extern
sive knowledge. Hence while our gov
eminent endures, new events VIII en-
ter into its history and new actors,
from time to time appear upon the
stage. Their names will deserve to be
honored for whatever valuable service
they may render to the country and to
mankind, for their eminent qualities,
and for their fidelity to the great du-
ties of life.
"And so in our great order, those
who have gone before are given an
honored place in our memories and we
respect them all for their good quail
ties and their noble deeds.
''The lapse Of time which heals up the
green and bleeding wounds of sorrow,
and which makes 100 often ceremonies
like this the mere mocRery of woe. has
had no balm save that which preserves
the recollection Of our departed friends,
no dew Of refreshing save the sweet
dew of their memory.
Therefore ON occasions OF TINS klhd'
may We be comforted and consoled,
constantly bearing in mind All that
breathe will share thy destiny" and
conscious of the fact that we shall meet
again and the ties Of friendship and
love will again be united"
A violin solo by J. S. Theodorowig
was beautiful number. H. c. Robin
son, baritone. gave Hills of God"
Neyins. Hon Meade D. Detweiler Of
Harrisburg. Pa. past grand exalted
ruler of the order, gave the address.
He said
This world is very beautiful and va
riegated along each step of the jour
new, with 10000 joys that give both
stimulus and impetus to existence. But
alas every ecstacy of pleasure has its
alternating paroxysm of suffering JOY
and sorrow, life and death, successes
and reverses, victories and defeats, -ol-
low each other in swift succession
across life's checkered scene.
such is the history of human lie
and effort, today Such was us history
at the birth of time, when man hfst
witnessed the incessant revolutions Of
suns and planets through their intri-
cate orbits. Such has been its history
through all the succeeding ages as
thew have glided into oblivion, or have
attained but an ephemeral record on
brief page of an obscure chronicle.
"TTncounted millions. unknown 10
anv futurity of fame, unsung by any
legendary poet, have started on the
race of life, as century followed cen
+,1rv in rapid rotation, with hearts
heating high with hopes and surging
with stimulating aspirations. TO all
has come the same reality OF minghng
measures and pain which mas FORMED
the warp and wool OF the ne ploLs OF
those who had preceded them-whlch
forms the tangible facts for those who.
TODAY are enacting their brief parts
on Ufe's stage-which will form the
exnerience Of those on whom the sun
viii shine and to whom the birds will
sing i'm the cycles OF the future.
"Rut above all these ccntenCinS ana
ODDQSiuE elements OF Ike Hos S4AS''i NAA0
brilliant star-.a star Of hope, OF prom
Use. of consolation, OF inspiration that
has never for enc moment dimmed us
effulgence-the guide star of love
Infinite in It's Developments, count
less its manifestations! From the
sublime love Of God to man, down
through all the lnnumerable exempli-
fications Of mans love TO his teIoW
man it is ever the same divine mes
senger of cheer-the highest beatlhca-
tion of our periods Of pleasure. the sup.
mort and solace Of the sterneT eras OF
suffering and passive endurance.
without love life would be cneer-
loss desert. an arid Sahara of suffer-
ing without its magic chord our
grandest triumphs would loose their
sweetness, and life's reverses become
boundIess void Of misery unendurable-
"A heart unstirred by love is a
heart that has lost all attributes OF
the human The man who IS not
thrilled with the emotions eXclted Dy
that best and most elevating sft OF
heaven, becomes the hend whose
atrocities receive the execration OF
mankind. or the misanthrope VINO
pines in sorrowful aceticism. or seeks
in suicide the termination OF an eXis-