The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-08
Joseph Il. Bell and Judge VI. A. Chip
man, of Anderson, the Orators
of the Occasion.
JOSEPH 7. TANNING AT TIFFIN, O.
HE MAKES HIS FIRST APPEARANCE
AS PLATFORM ORATOR.
Dispatch from the Ohio City In
dicates that His Address Was
Well Received.

The first scene from the sixth act OF
"Ben-Hur'' adorned Englishs Opera House
stage yesterday afternoon during the
memorial services of indianapolis lodge
No. 13, b. p. o. Elks Throughout the
whole country yesterday 500 Elk lodges
held memorial services for their departed
members. 1t is doubtful whether at an
other was such a picture presented as at
English,s, where the vested choir of Christ
Church, under Joseph Joiner. comprising
hfty-five boys, men and women in their
ritualistic cassocks and SUPPLIES stood and
sang the "Infiammatus ct Ascensus," from
Rossinfs "Stabat Mater" and the distant
vision of old Antioch appeared behind
them in the soft diffusion of light on the
stage like a miraculous Interpretation
The services yesterday were inspiring,
though not of ordinary length There was
no pyramid. as in the past. where the
names of the dead. as they were called.
were shown illuminated on the white shaft
of monument that had for it's base the
four stones of fidelity, charity. justice and
brotherly love. The names were called In
sonorous tones. forty-one of them. who
had passed from the earthly membership
since the institution of the lodge in 1881.
The pause that succeeded each was for
the answer of memory only.
The opera house was filled when the
services began at 2:3O o'clock. AS the cur
tain rose and revealed the scene the i'm
preston was made known by the profound
stiffness undisturbed except for the soft
chanting of the hidden vested choir, which
sang Onward, Christian Soldier" The
choir entered the stage and occupied its
seats while chanting this hymn. Then fol-
lowed the ritualstic opening ceremonies by
the officers Of the lodge, calculated to
awaken the audience to the spirit OF the
occasion. Tho choir sang Randeggers
praise the Lord" and the audience joined
in singing the memorial ode to the air of
"Auld Lang Syne." The chaplain of the
lodge, II. II. Lee, jr., invoked divine as
sistance. A tenor solo, Seek Ye the Lord
by Roberts, was sung by j. Raymond Lynn
and the choir.
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS.
The Introductory address was by Joseph
E. Bell chairman of the memorial COM
mittee 1.-The roll has been called he said.
land brings no response except in the
hearts of the living. But it suggests that
when the final roll Is called In the last great
lodge above we will all meet again.
Mr. Bell said that the stage setting from
''Ben-Hur'' was propitious. 1t reminded
one of the star of hope that shed its efful-
gent rays for all the world: that inspired
the wise men and taught the shepherds who
heard the angelic choir chanting Peace on
earth and good will toward man." 1t told
of the coming of the Savior, who, in His
last discourse, uttered the commandment
that was the fundament of the order OF
Elks. Love one another" The Elks met
to honor their dead because they recog-
niZed that the end of earthly habitation
meant the elevation and transformation
of the soul. They met because such a
meeting and such reflections as are present
make them better men, make them seek
higher ideals and inspire nobler ambitions.
No one who was present would leave with
out a feeling that there was something bet
ter, sweeter and higher 10 live for. The
services taught charity and love. 1t taught
the realization Of what Lincoln meant
when, in his last hours, he turned TO the
watchers by his bedside and said: IL hope
1 may be remembered by those who know
me best as one who always tried to pluck
the thistle and plant the rose" 1t taught
last summons. and in that preparation all
must recognize the just practices which
A violin number by Sarasate was played
with intelligence by Miss Margaret Lock-
wood, and Miss Eva Jeffries sang a beau
Thou Forget Me-" in place of Mrs. Harry
F. Kimber. of Galesburg. ILL.,, whom illness
kept away.
JUDGE CHAPMAN TALKS.
The Grafton by Judge NJ. A. Chip
man, of Anderson lodge. He stated the
principles of the Elks in quotation:
I'm men whom men see naught but i'll
/ see so much of goodness still;
In men whom men pronounce divine
l see so much OF SIN and blot
l hesitate to draw the line
Tween man and man when God has not"
In this, he said. was taught broad char
ity. profound recognition of the father
hood of God and the brotherhood of man.
The old nations had sought for philosophy
| in its pagan ideas that would provide flu
ture, but not until the Christ came had
men been filled with the new hope. Christ
| taught the broad charity that Elks seek to
temporal relief. but the broader charity of
| silence. When the multitude sought to
condemn the woman did Christ condemn
her? On the contrary. He said: Let the
/ stainless cast the first stone" He turned
/ to write upon the sands and the multitude
\ left him alone with the woman whom He
\ forgave. Ii was from this that the Elks
sought to write the faults of their brothers
I on the sands. 1t was from this that they
/ withheld reproach. for who is stainless
and who should reproach when the Lord
hath not?
Judge Chapman spoke of Lincoln whose
/ charity was a charity of deeds. Passing
/ through S0ldlerS nOSpltal ne saw the
/ pallid face of a young boy, and he stopped
\ 10 ask If there was aught he could do for
| him The dying boy feebly said he would
/ like him to write a letter to his mother.
/ And down he sat by the bedside OF this
| soldier boy this great President. who was
bearing with Titanic strength a world of
\ trouble. and wrote his simple letter OF God
\ bless you" 10 his parents. And then al
\ the bottom he wrote: This letter was
written by Abe Lincoln" When the boy
read the letter and saw the last line he
smiled and asked that the President sit
by him and hold his hand until the end
/ came. and the President did. This was the
\ charity that surpassed the giving of aims
the founding of institutions for eleemosy-
| nary purposes.
The Elks. he said. teach loyalty TO God
and TO country: loyalty TO each other and
TO all mankind. and seek TO tighten the bur
den OF inequalities by the sweetness OF
I love and charity
The services closed with the ''Infiam.
I matus.' by Miss Lulu Fisher and the choir
/ the ritualistic closing ceremonies, the sing.
ing of the doXology and the benediction.
JOSEPH II. FANNING'S ADDRESS.