The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-03
CENTRAL CITY ELKS
LODGE OF SORROW HELD SUM-
 DAY AFTERNOON.
Fitting Tributes Paid to the Dead of the order-Capt. V. B. Atkins Was the Master of
 Ceremonies.
Advertiser Bureau.

Advertiser Bureau,
 Selma, Dec. 2.
 Selma Lodge, No. 167, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. held a Lodge of Sorrow yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. The Academy of Music. had of the most solemn and impressive scenes ever witnessed was enacted. The differ ent church choirs of the city lent their aid to the occasion and occupied seats on the stage. Prof. Raymond presided at the organ Elevated stands had been prepared for the officers and the lodge was opened as it Is laid down in the ritual for such occasions. Capt. V. B. Atkins acted as Master of Ceremonies. and came to the front of the stage and spoke in substance as follows:
 Ladies and Gentlemen-Before pro- Seedins s ling with the program PET am requested few remarks in explanation of the occa- sion. The Benevolent and Protective Or der of Elks is founded on three cardinal Love, the greatest of which is Charity. We are taught in our laws to believe in a Supreme Exalted Ruler of the Uni verse; to love our brothers, to write their tablets of stone; to dispense charity wherever needed, and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
 We meet here today to pay just tEiUulo lO tH6 ueulOIy OI our uepdIL leu brothers and to remind us that we. too. must soon pass away. We would request you to consider yourselves our guests and for the time being in our lodge room. program to follow you will be benefited and will depart from here knowing and feeling that the Lodge of Elks have a work to perform and are endeavoring to Captain Atkins here introduced Mayor A. l.. Mcleod, who spoke as follows: It Is a beautiful custom not only for lodges but for people in general to turn lives and take time to keep green the virtues and memories of their departed friends. Some fifteen years ago there yed from a two ney yonng Saa Percy Wood and Turner B. Canning. Many of you knew them in childhood; many more of you remember them in young manhood. Agemates and school mates they began lifes journey together. The intimate friendship that existed be- tween them through childhood and boy hood lived on through their young man. hood. Life opened before them brilliant ly. Fair hopes and bright ambitions glsamed far in front of them, plotting out the shadow cast by the dread form of the grim resDsr, who had marked finished their bright hopes never real ized, their ambitions never fuihAed. With their journey half travelled, death met them. One went In moment of time, the other drifted across the river SC calmly and peacefully that 1t was hard to tell when life ended and when death came.
 q can imagine that when we are old and when we have travelled all the al- lotted way and stand at the far end of life, weighted with the burden of years, though we may look back over the long vista and see many mistakes, many lost opportunities, many wrecks of blasted ta avN1k4 rrrA ell c. ness of knowing that we had our chance, | that we have travelled our lives and we can lie dowa in the grave with the calm resfuIness of labor ended, knowing that the God who made us.
 But it is pitiful to see a young man die. It Is sorrowfully pathetic to see the sravs claim a man in the prime Of ms | spent lives that we commemorate today. | It is the memory of these bright young men and their virtues that we freshen | and keep green today.
 l There is another man who has crossed the river and who was member Of this order. His name is Nicholas M. Walker
 He lived among you, his life was hearts in Selma and the surroundinG country who willingly testify to tht great and noble heart of that man, foI they were the beneficlaries of his charity
 Tt is these departed ones whom we commemorate. If they had faults they are hidden in the sand; if they had enc. | mics the grave has disarmed them, aho their virtues and good qualities nave swept into a clearer day.
 The world judges man not by tho unseen fancies that ripple through his mind, nor the deeper visions that fiasf and high ambitions that animate his life but by his completed laIbors. But not fol us is the judgment, not for us Is the sentence, whether for veal or for woe For us is the tablet of memory, for Ill is the everlasting, unspeakable bonds O friendship and love.
 So we say they are dead! II 70 listless man,
 A voice within us speaks
 This startling word:
 Man, thau shalt never die!
 Celestial voices hum unto our souls; Accordion harps by angel finger
 touched.
 II When the wild stars of morning sanl together. | immortality.
 "The tall dark mountains | And the deep toned sea Join in the universal song.
 l Night wrapped in her sable robe
 With silent step comes to our bed
 And breathes it into our ears.
 "An time all bounds. the limitles
 expanse,
 a As one most majestic instrument
 Are touched by an unseen living han'
 And conscious chords Quiver with joy.
 "In the great jubilee
 The dying hear it and as sounds (
 earth
 Grow dull and distant
 Wake their passing souls
 And mingle in the everlasting har
 mony."
 Captain Atkins then introduced MT. W
 B. Craig as the silver-tongued orator (