Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1903-12-09

Sir, we believe in spiritual, as welt
as material forces. Our noble founder
and brother, the peerless Vivian, phys
ically is dead; but his spirit still sur
wives in the halls of Elkdom-incit-
ing all our brother Elks to higher,
purer, and happier life. Avaunt! our
brother is not dead and today we
lay upon his grave this immortelle
''The stars go down TO rise upon some
fairer shores.
In the great Corcoran art gallery at
Washington City, is a picture of Char
lotte Corde, standing behind the
square, rusty old iron bars of her
prison cell-on the eve of her execu-
ton. There she stands with one dain-
ty hand clasping the rusty iron bar
the most marvellous picture of heroic,
classic beauty, ever drawn by the hand
of divine art, or painted by the in
spired pen of poetic genius. At first,
you see nothing remarkable about this
picture. There she stands a plain,
but matchlessly beautiful woman
looking you full in the face, with I'M
quailing nerve, her great, liquid
blue eyes beaming all Heaven i'll their
steady glance-the only sign of pain
being the slightest pinch at the center
of her arching eyebrows. But the
longer you gaze upon that picture,
the more enchanting it becomes; the
more you find to love and admire, for
it is true picture of a deathless
character, to which heroism could
hardly add chaplet, over which vir-
tue could scarce breathe sigh, and to
which beauty, herself, would blush
to lend a charm. Thus you gaze upon
this picture, until fancy weaves its
wierd subtle meshes, and Charlotte
Corde stands before you in the full
flush of vital, matchless, royal wom-
anhood-the queen of all Earth's IN
crowned queens.
And so it is with our noble order.
The more its grand principles are
studied and practiced, the more fas-
cinating, lofty and sublime they be-
come. By the highest obligations,
known among men, We are bound to
each other, by ties stronger than iron
bars. Perhaps no secret organization
of men upon this earth was ever
founded upon principles which ap-
proech nearer the embodiment of the
"higher life, A" than those comprising
the basic foundation of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks: Char
ity, Justice, Brotherly Love, Fidelity.
To raise the fallen, to strengthen the
weak. to contribute without osten-
tation to deserving need-especialIy
to go tenderly to the bedside of
stricken brother and, if it be the will
of Providence, to nurse him back to
health again. Or, il Motif the shad-
ows of death do hover near, to still
tenderly nurse him till the mantle
of eternal Night spreads over the
glazed eyes and pulseless heart.
Then, as tenderly TO lay the body of
our loved and lost brother away In
that dreamless sleep that knows no
waking. And then-if possible, nobler
still-to carefully provide for his
grieving widow and orphans-with
n srl, hot 70 hos ut
the door of their home, nor gaunt
want fingers as a shadow in their
pathway. But more, our beloved
order inculcates the highest type of
patriotism. The flag of the republic
drapes in glory our affairs, and love
of the country and its institutions is
the idol, that finds worship in the
temple of our hearts, But more,
still-and here you will pardon me,
if / quote the beautiful words of our
Past Exalted Rulec Pickett: "The
portals of Elkdom are thrown wide to
all manly applicants. 1t draws no
distinction. In the democracy of our
ment, all are equal. Our order is con-
structive and not destructive. The
spirit of iconoclasm dwells not within
its circle. 1t molests no temple. des-
ecrates no alter, profanes no sane
tuary. 1t robs no man of his faith,
attacks no creed, criticises no sect.
1t shadows no dawn, darkens no hope,
saddens no love. 1t does not seek to
supplant the church. or usurp its
functions. Its religion is humanity.
Its creed is friendship Its golden rule
is the love of fellow men,"
Now, these are the loftiest principles
developed in all the ages-by any and
all civilizations. They are the touch
and inspiration of our Elkdom life.
If faithfully practiced, as we'll as ad-
hered to, our noble order will become
a mighty factor in moulding the high
er national life and destiny. Their
goal is the spotless life-in the pure
and exalted realms. where Justice ever
dwelleth and where virtue hath her
home.
Now. in conclusion: God has writ
ten upon the dew, that nourishes the
blue violet, upon the flowers that
sweeten the air, upon the rain drops
that swell the mighty river, upon the
ocean, that rocks every swimmer in
its channel and sings continuous re-
QUEENS to those that slumber in its
bosom, upon the great sun, that
warns and cheers the millions that
live in its Highland upon the souls
of all true, brave men-upon all
these he bias written, none of us
liveth unto himself.
MINING INTELLIGENCE.