The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-08
FINE ADDRESS OF
MR.. W. H. VENABLE.
Spoke Before the E1ks Sunday
on Charity, Justice, Brother
" Love and Fidelity

ar w H. Venable's address AZ lhe
,A,,a.mv of Music before the Elks OF
Richtnond and Manchester and their
friends, on Sunday afternoon was most
Interesting and instructive sermon on
"charity, Justice Brotherly Love ana
:,,,,elity,, the motto Of the order Of lIlks.
The occasion was tho annual memorial
service in honor of the l1lks VINO nave
PASSED into the great beyond All the ar
rangercnts were In the hands OF Cap
tain +, W. Cunningham, past exalted
ruler of Richmond Lodge. The stage was
beautifully arrayed, with members OF
Richmond and Manchester lodges seated
in tiers, and II great white smart III the
center bearing the names OF those VINO
had gone before, since the organization
of the lodge, while on brilliantly ngnteu
pendants were the proscenlum arch nulS
the names of the four members VINO uleu
during the year-Nlessrs Peter sturnpt'
NJ. ]. Griffin, j. f. McSorley ana Joseph
". Laubc.
THE exercises. were most touching and
solen,n The music was furnished by the
members of Grove Avenue Church choir,
and was .yefy, pretty. Those composing the
choir are. Mrs, j. L. Rove, Miss DOza
IS AI,,chell Mr., j, w. Sublett and Mr., c. {.
Crump with Mir. NJ b. Ramos rs ac-
companisL.
PRAYERS we're offered by Rev. G. F.
stealey and Rev. j. II. Dickinson, and the
Academy orchestra, under direction OF
Professor Stein played the overtures.
During the course Of his remarks, Mr..
Vcnablc stated that five years ago nc
had the honor of addressing the Elks OF
Richmond upon similar occasion At the
time there were 471 lodges IN the country,
with membership of $1,000; now there
are S75 lodges, with the membership OF
100000 a wonderful progress.
He went on to show the beauties ana
principles OF the order that 'charltS.
Justice. brotherly love and fidelity were
the very roots of teh organization.
..The faults Of our brothers we write
upon the sand: their virtues upon the
tablets OF love and memory
During the past year thp order hhf
given away 100000 In charity, sad MT
Venablc. land through the system main
tanned by the order, every dollar of II
was placed where it did the most sooo
The charity work of the Elks Is done
IN secret, with no show Of ostcntatlon.'
He told OF the establishment OF the
magnificent Elks' Home n Bedford CITY
where aged and INDECENT members OF TN
fraternity may spend .ncir last days II
luxury. without feeling they were tn
objects of charity.
,.lf YOU would know the Elks,' he said
Ego TO the widow and the orphan, and Sc
the smile Of love and gratitude when IN
name is mentioned: go to the cuisines
man who has met rcverses; 70 the Souh
man who. In the hour OF great templatlo
has committed some reproachap'c ac'
md who Is rcpcntant. and needs a com
forting word or deed TO urge and hel
him on. Go to these people and they WI
tell YOU what the organization OF Elk
is doing for their own and for TIER cout
try.
zone OF the obligations. and the pre-
test one Is that every Elk pledges hin
self to protect, with his life If necessar'
the honor and virtue of the mother. VII
sister or daughter Of a brother Elk
Mr. Vennble's fine sermon was mos
attentively listened 10, and there we're e.
press!ons Of regret when he closed, ats
speaking for an hour lie came 1ro
Norfolk, where he Is leading laWye
ut The request Of Richmond Lodge,
Mr.. u. IT, Wells, Of the Manchcst'
Lodge. was to have spoken In behalf {
his lodge, but he was unavoidably detaii
ed. and Mr.. willis Pulliam, lisir
young lawyer OF that city, took his plac
upon few minutes notice, and made