The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-12-08

Connolly of Butte-Immense
Audience Present.
w -. !
i beautiful and impressive were the
memorial services conducted last sun !
day by Billings lodge, No. 1874, Benevo-
lent and Protective Order OF Elks, in
commemoration of it's members VINO
have entered upon the perfect peace
and greener fields of the world be-
yond.
The ceremonies were held in the
opera house and began at O'CLOCK
| Shortly before that hour the members
| to the number of a hundred or more
| marched from their hall in North
| Twenty-eighth street to Montana
avenue thence east to the opera
| house, headed by the Billings band.
| When they arrived there the theatre
was found to be filled and many OF
| the audience were compelled to stand,
the already large crowd being further
augmented by those who came late.
| Seats had been reserved in front OF
| the stage for the Elks and into these
they filed, With the exception OF
the three trustees, who occupied
| hox. the officers of the lodge were seat
ed on the stage, which was beautifully
draped with the colors of the order,
1 purple and white, interviewer in which
were large streamers of black. The
footlights we're hidden by a lacework
i of purple and white that extended
across the entire width OF the stage,
in the center of which stood an altar
covered by the American flag and
top of this rested bible.
Exalted Ruler Hathhorn presided
and opened the '1odge of sorrow IN
ritualistic manenr. First he called the
officers to their feet and each made
response to the customary answers
from the presiding officer. Four raps
of the gavel brought the members
standing and the chaplain, the Rever-
end Mr.. Bowker, rector of st. Luke's
Episcopal church, invoked Divine
blessing. The officers and members
now seated themselves and the Elks
quartette, composed of Messrs. Al
len, Whitney, Bouton and Gllully
sang "Come Unto Me-"
Mr.. ConnoIIy's Address.
l At the conclusion of the hymn the
Honorable G. P. Connolly of Butte de
liyered the memorial address. The
gentleman spoke wholly without notes
and it is possible to give only run
ming account of his address. Briefly
he sketched the history of the order
which was founded by Charles Alger
non Sidney Vivian, an actor and tht
4 son of an English clergyman, in 1867
at New York. At first membership
was restricted solely to theatrica
people, but gradually the restrictions
of eligibility were removed until nov
it's portals are open to all reputabl'
men. the only qualifications demand
/ ed being that applicants for member
ship shall be American citizens ant
believers in supreme being.
While the world was familiar VIII
the social side of Elkdom, the speake
said. it knew little of the more seriou
l side of it's nature. Lessons OF charlt
were inculcated by its laws and ri
uals and while secret order, yet
differed from all others in that 1t
sole secret was the bestOwing OF chal
ity, as it taught to do charity Withou
l | ostentation," none but the glver an
receiver ever knowing OF its bestowa
/ 1t was fraternal in the broadest sens
of the word in that it's aim was I
make life brighter and the burden
and cares it imposes easier to Dea
II knew no distinction Of creed {
nationality, and all men met on q
= equality within it's lodge rooms an
all were. indeed. brothers. Soclabl
u ity and good fellowship were its tel
u cts. based upon the four cardinal pr1
cipals of charity, fidelity. justice an
brotherly love. Recognizing the fraln
of humanity, it demanded OF Its mer
bers religious regard for the sanctl'
of the home and zealOusly guarde
the purity of its wives, mothers an
sisters. encircling them with II
bower Of its laws and obligations an
er. commanded that none shall step
yond the circle it had drawn abo'
them.
Although eminently social and b
) neyolent organization, plucking. fro
the nathway of life the flowers al
blossoms that bloom there, 1t recO
nized the need of contemplating U
grayer phases of existence and G
manded of its members that they sn'
ar. he true. not only to each other, D
:. to all mankind, and to deal just
- fairly and honestly with all. Dea
s3 was regarded by Elks as only I
!. means of entering another lie, a !
~ bier, better and purer life, to wni
n the grave is the portal. tt was
W that reason that annually all Ell
] were required to meet on one DAY
pay. tribute to the absent brother
those who had laid aside mortal
~ o,a +ol-on m Immortality and We