The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-12
Twenty Thousand Elks and
Their Friends at Salt Lake.
Reunion is Formally Opened in
the Mormon Tabernacle.
I'm WHITE AND PURPLE
The City OF Deseret is Resplen-
dent ThroughoSs.
Grand Exalted Ruler Pickett
Delivers His Annual Address.

Salt Lake. Utah, Aug 12.-Elks from
every state in the union. thousands of
them, gathered in the great tabernacle
of the Mormon church this morning to
attend the formal opening of the an
nual reunion of the grand lodge of Elks
The immense oval structure seats over
5000 people, but many more than that
large proportion clad in the white and
purple uniform of the order, were
crowded into the auditorium when o.
w. Powers. of Salt Lake, as master. or
ceremonies. called the n Getting to order
and introduced Governor Wells of
! Utah, who delivered the speech of well
come to the visiting Elks-
All night and all day trains loaded
with Elks continued to arrive until the
wide streets of the city resembled a
Kaleidoscope in color, the purple and
white uniforms of the marching Elks,
the uniformed bands with the banners.
the miles of bunting in the royal purple
forming striking picture. 1t was esti-
mated today that nearly 10000 visitors
were in the city.
Preceding the opening meeting at the
| tabernacle was the civic and military
parade which marked the formal OPEN
ing of the three days reunion. In this
were included a battalion of the Twelfth
United States infantry and the Twelfth
and Twenty y-second batteries of artii-
| lery, station at Fort Douglas, in COM
mand OF Col. j. w. Bubb a battalion
OF the First infantry, troop A, First
N q. u. uniformed men bers of ali
Utah lodges of Elks, and dozens cN
| other civic, military and fraternal Or
| ganizations in uniforms, accompanied
| by a score of bands and many oictur-
| esque floats. The parade marched
| through the principal business streets.
| past the reviewing stand at Main and
Third South streets. to the corner OF
| First South and West Temple streets
| where the parade was dismissed.
I Perfect weather greeted the visitors.
| Last nights rain had laid the dust and
I cooled the atmosphere and a cool breeze
| from the canyons made conditions per-
| feet for the parade. which was wit
| messed by thousands, the crowds FORM
| Ing a solid mass on both sides of the
streets along the whole line of parade
The exercises at the tabernacle were
brief though impressive. After prayer
| and selection on the i'm mense organ,
+ the second largest in the world, Grand
Exalted Ruler Pickett, of Waterloo, Ia,
| was introduced and delivered his an
| nual address. He spoke in part as fol-
lows:
PICKETTS ADDRESS.
| at frequent intervals during the year
past, it might seem that the subject
| would become a trste one. 1t. is said
by those who have been privileged to
gaze upon the works of the great mas
| ters that the longer you behold them
the more you compare them with other
works of art, the. more beauties are un-
| folded to your eyes,. The more l study
the birth and history and principles of
Elkdom, the more I compare it with
other great civic organizations the
more I see in it to admire to cherish
and to love. 1t is not the. creature of
accident. 1t is not for the passing day.
1t has a permanent 3 abiding place
among the enduring forces of progress.
The centuries preceding made it possi-
BILE. 1t was foreordained by the ire
sistible logic of human advancement
| The time was ripe for its birth. Over
wand and the myriad invisible voices of
| the future rang forth in glorious an
! them, Hail, Hail. Hail.
| There is among all the forces of CIV
| ilization an independence and close re-
| lationShip. Analysis of progress reveals
a broadening in all human thought. The
| definition of freedom is being enlarged
| in scope and comprehension as the years
go by The emancipated seem anxious
| to atone for the bigotry of former times
| On everv side may be seen the mani
! fiesta ton of higher life, a broader
/ thought, more humane conception OF
| the relations of man to man.
| In perfect harmony and sympathy
with the influences that have wrought
| these wonderful changes and keeping
step with the grand arm of progress
| stands today the Benevolent and Pro-
| tective Order of Elks. Elkdom should
| COiudiIciiQ ltSCAl ~ tllS JQ0SIHetil OI al
honest minds. 1t possesses many Dos
sibilities for good. 1t is many-sided
! order. While fraternal in character. it
differs from all fraternal organizations.
1t has no prototype. 1t is an American
order. Born beneath the stars and
stripes of our own republic. in every in
stinct it is American. It's paramount
principles are synbolfcal of our people.
Elkdom~ believes in charity. teaches
!, charity that can be estimated in dollars
and cents. Not the charity that seeks
| reward through public applause, but
: doing good for its own sake. Charity
! without ostentation is the great law of
our order But we believe in a higher
charity. Charity in speech, in conduct,
in friendship. in love. in all the rela-
tions of man to man. True charity up
lifts the fallen, strengthens the weak.
assists the unfortunate, forgives the ar
ring, befriends the friendless and clasps
| within its loving arms all who need the
warmth and sympathy and love of hu-
man hearts.
The portals of Elkdom are thrown
wide to all manly applicants; 1t draws
no distinction. In the republican1sm OF
our government and democracy of our
ideas, all are equal Our order Is con-
structive and not destructive. The spfr-
i it of iconoclasm dwells not within its
circle It molests no temple, desecrates
robs no man of his health. attacks no
creed criticizes no sect 1t shadows NO
dawn, darkens no hope. saddens nc
love. It does not seek to supplant the
church or usurp its functions Its re-
ligion is humanity. Its creed is friend
ship, its golden rule the love of fellow
men. which embraces and includes
within itself the best, the noblest the
| truest impulses OF the human heart
FIRST MEETING.
| The first. meeting of the grand lodge
was held In the Assembly hall this at
ternoon. and the actual work of thu
4 Id - f1ru xxr{11 <Hzx, I>or~ ~f.>
After the presentation of the annual
reports the election of officers will b,