The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-03-28
PLEASING GOD.

49,
Text-Micah VI. s. what doth
the Lord require but to do justly,
love mercy and walk humbly with
thy God"
"1he old confession of faith says
''What is the chief end of man,
and the answer is to "Glorify God
and ENJOY him forever. In the
verses previous to this text the
question seemed to be, Shall
please God by suffering, or by large
g:fts?' No, this is not it but to do
Justly We can please God best
by being Just and merciful, benevo.
lent, loving and kind. Every or
ganization in the world has had a
beginning for some reason. Mason
ry, Pythianism, Odd fellows-all
have had a mission in the world,
and they have without doubt bet
tered the lives of multitudes of men.
| am not here tonight to defend
secret organizations. They exist,
and we want to speak of the rea-
sons.
The lodge of Elks has been mis-
understood as to it's principles, and
we are tonight to speak especially
of that Lodge and its teachings.
The lodge of Elks has some bad
men in some places in control, but
the principles of the order are pure
and noble and if lived pto are bound
to make men better. | want to
mention these principles tonight
that you seek to emphasize.
"Charity! Friend Elks' this is
grand principle-a Bible principle
Il Cor. xilD, Toward all mankind,
not alone in giving goods. Not to
wound the feelings of Others you
are to Throw the mantle of charity
-love-over the faults of your
brethren. Charity is noble Prln-
ciple and it should be studied more
and more. l am glad you try to
teach it. There is story of a sot
rejected by the maiden he loved.
One day he, being on a drunken
spree, fell into the gutter. The
searching sun was beaming down
on his face. This woman passing
down the street saw him and leaned
over and covered his face with her
handkerchief. When he was sober
he observed her name on the corner
of the handkerchief. He was over
come, and resolved to be a man.
That girls name was Gamble and
the mans name was Watt. He be-
came a great lawyer and afterwards
Secretary of State. l believe it was
in Virginia. That principle OF
charity or love for a brother who is
down should characterize us more
and more.
Another cardinal principle you
is that OF
"Justice! Striving to avoid by
word or action anything that might
affect a brother. We read every
day of strikes and labor troubles.
This would be thing of the past
if the principle of justice was ad-
hered to by employer and employed,
Justice should characterize all our
actions, so you teach. We are not
to Cypress or defraud, not to dam
age another's reputation nor to les
sen a good opinion of some one
formed by another. Let the Golden
Rule be acted upon.
Another of your principles is that
of Brotherly Love!
You believe in the fatherland OF
God and the brotherhood of the
human race. If any one is in dis
tress you want to help without criti-
cism respecting the cause of his
The preacher here told the story
of two soldiers who had fallen on
the battlefield mortally wounded
during the civil war. 1t was the
climax of a bloody engagement.
They talked of home and loved
ones. One of their families lived
in Vermont, the other in Georgia.
Realizing that their life work was
at a close, and knowing the rising
of another sun would find them IN
eternity, they decided to clasp hands
in brotherly loves So they did, and
sure enough they were in a beauti
full land of rest before another day
break.
May you as Elks cultivate the
splendid spirit of brotherly love till
the hearts of the whole world are
closely cemented in this fraternal