Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1902-12-12
the young and sluggish eaglets talk

the young and sluggish eaglets take
to wing
AS we meet today to think and talk
of our departed friends may we not
speculate some little on their future
and ours? Some tell that God is too
great to even take note of man. As
Elks we take no stock in the doctrine
that God can only be exalted by be-
lifting man. The book upon our altar
don't SO teach Has he not given
man a natural desire, a burning thirst
to know. and will he limit him to the
smattering requirements OF this brief,
busy life endowing him little below
the angels?
We don't believe it. This is the pri-
mary only. Beyond is eternal life.
infinite duration of research, infinite
worlds to explore. Out in yon intln-
ite are myriad worlds and myriads Of
other worlds still forming. Shall we
not dotf this material, defy the laws
of matter. and go out among those
worlds?
But you say has God spread out this
boundless for man? May be-let me
ask-have YOU seen a limit to the
mind OF man? Does it fail save from
weariness and weakness Of the flesh?
| Has man. the wisest, yet been salts
| fed with what he knew?
| Then given mind of infinite capac-
| ity, craving infinite for knowledge,
eternity ia Which To explore, is the
universe too big for man?
These are thoughts which come To
us today as we meet to perpetuate
the memory Of our dead and pledge
anew our friendship for our brothers
here throw them at YOU crude and
undigested having as you know, in
the three days since your request 70
speak, been every day in court. in
woke your charity, and thank you fol
a patient hearing.
Mr.. Smltn was followed by Mr.
Woodward who spoke briefly and
said:
1T is sacred custom, a beautiful
and dutiful one that on this day We
should assemble together and BY
word and act give evidence OF oul
brotherly love and memory, ant
pause in the busy scenes OF life tt
give more than a passing thought tt
the Elks that have passed to the grea
beyond. The brotherhood of man ]:
so broad in meaning and so beautiful
in theory and practice that finite
mind fails to grasp it's full signltl
} canoe. There is longing desire TO
f.aAlnan sympathy that is as universe
as the air, and the fraternal organ
cations that exist and impress then
Z selves upon our social life are signil
, icant OF this truth. Nor do you fin
this idea of mutual dependence limit
: ed to human existence, for the mater
) ial world is filled with it. The flow
: ers that adOrn and beautlfy tn
. globe are dependent alike upon tn
: earth, the air and the water Th
c streams that rush increasingly to tn
/ sea find their never-failing source Z
e supply from the evaporation of ths
/ ocean which they aid in filling Q
every side, in every phase of life yo
o find this truth of mutual dependence
!. the reciprocal idea of natures eco
J. omy closely interviewer with and pc
i meating every action OF life. In tE
l. association of man with man IS tn
# truth more clearly defined and deVt
Il oped. for to it he owes the protectiG
a of his character. his property and =
4 life 1t is the bedrock OF our orde
q this cohesion of individuals Tor q
protection Of the whole Apply %
!, principle to the outside world and
have the difference between clviil2
ton and barbarism, between law al
= anarchy.
% "The future of Beartooth lodge, al
10 every other lodge Of Elks, should no
10 in the apocalypse the figure OF nj
I'd "a man who makes his own LAY
IA and keeps them; who serves his sta
n. and vet is free; who keeps his COZ
ne nants without bond and without
Of oath; who signs no contracts
We breaks no obligations; who lives
~ himself, without selfishness, ana
" dies for others without regret.
.ct ward this ideal manhood all the y
nd denotes and teachings OF our loo
nd are converging, and it is the lmpe
in tive duty Of each loyal Elk to see te
~ that nothing hinders or delays
,te consummation For he has not IN
,es who has not blessed others, Tie n
,ss have passed his allotted time IT
ms the cradle to the grave, but ne
a known nothing of the exquisite