The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-05
LODGE OF SORROW
FOR The DEPARTED
SAVANNAH ELKS ASSEMBLED
AT THE THEATER FOR THEIR AN
NUAL MEMORIAL SESSION.

EuIOgy of the Deceased Brothers
Delivered by Rev. Gilbert A. Ott-
mann-The General EuIOgy De-
Iivered by Mr.. Robert j. Travis.
An Eloquent Grafton Astounding
in Vivid Word Pictures-"Thana-
tOpsis" Recited by Mai. j. Ferris
Cam.
In loving remembrance of absent
brothers, the Elks of Savannah as
sembled at the theater yesterday aft
ernoon in their annual lodge of sor-
row. Shortly before the hour set for
the opening of the lodge the orchestra
struck up the strains of the process
sional, and the Savannah Elks entered
the theater and marched to the front
seats.
Grouped on the stage in a semi
circle were the officers of the lodge
and the speakers. Just a little to the
rear of the stage center rose the monu-
ment on which was enscroled the
names of those brothers who had died
during the last year. Bordering the
monument was the deep black of
mourning in the folds of which clus-
tered the lights, emblematic of the
light and love that had been cast into
the councils of the order by the de-
parted brothers.
In few appropriate words the exalt-
ed ruler, Mr.. w. H. Connerat, Jr., spoke
of the gathering to honor the virtues
of the departed, closing with the call
for the roll call of the dead. AS each
name was called each spoken twice, but
with no response, the lights
opposite that name on the mon
ment faded into darkness. The
beautiful ceremony continued I'M
til every light on the monument had
been extinguished save one, which
showed the hands of the clock above
pointing to the solemn hour, IL o'clock.
In the silence and darkness that
reigned for the few moments a soft
sadness, born of memories of the past,
settled over the large assembly, and
from every heart went up the prayer
"Oh, for the touch of a vanished hand,
The sound of voice that is STILL
Following the ceremony prayer was
offered by Rev. DR.. w. C. Schaeffer,
and then, after a selection by the quar-
tette, the beautiful ritual of the Elks
was carried out. Brother J. Ferris
Cam followed with Bryants "Thana-
topsis," selection that in it's awe
| filled granduer of thought, it's tender
comfort, was truly appropriate.
The duet, Raise Me, Jesus" was the
next number, sung by Messrs. ]. B.
Goodman and John S. Banks.
In Memory of the Dead.
Rev. Bro. Gilbert A. Ottmann follow
ed with a eulogy of the departed.
Briefly he spoke of the great lessons
that the ages have taught, the lessons
that humanity sweeps ever onward.
that each age is better than any that
had before gone into it's place in his
tory. knowing and understanding
all this, we can rest assured that the
world will keep moving onward, learn
ing from the past, until all humanity
sweeps into the universal adoption Of
the sweetest, grandest, and best faith
and brotherly love that the world has
ever KNOWN" said Mr.. Ottmann. And
| as each age has learned from the ages
that have gone before them, so man
must learn of those men who preceded
| him. OF the departed brothers those
who remain can learn the lessons of
charity they taught, the ideals of JUS
| tice they were working toward, the
brotherly love that made them dear
| to all, and the fidelity to principles
which marked their lives. The remain
| ing brothers meet not only to praise the
| read, but what is sweeter still, to re-
member and learn of them"
He closed with a message of hope
for the future and trust for the reun-
| ion that knows no separation.
1.-The faults of our brothers we write
upon the sands,
Their virtues on the tablets of love
and memory"
| Following Rev. Mr.. Ottmann's APP
propriate eulogy came the cornet solo,
For All Eternity"
Character Alone Worth While.
Brother Robert ]. Travis followed
with the general eulogy. "One year"
he said. lis short time an infinitely
| small portion of eternity, and vet in
/ that time can come so many heart
| aches, so many trials, and troubles
so many wounds of sorrow. 1t is some
thing that is a cause for universal
regret and a wishing that it were
| not So"
Then followed a series of eloquent
and brilliant word pictures. "It is
( the past to which man clings" he said,
| To-day the laurel wreath rests on his
| brow and tomorrow he but remembers
| II, gazing on its withered leaves. Ma
poleon was Emperor one day and
| on the next a lonely prisoner on
| INSTANT, harrow, Isle. And all of us
have known that feeling. We have
gone forth to conquer, we have fought
our battles, we have watched the hair
silver. And then, in the end, we have
come back to the humble home, weary
of the din of the world. tired of its
constant struggles, soul-sick at its
sneering. All that is worth while is
| character"
He closed with a beautiful an elo-
quent eulogy of the great principles
of the order, Charity, Justice, Brother
! ~ Love, and Fidelity. "A series of
word pictures, a succession of prose-
poems. an eloquent appeal that touch
ed the best sentiments in the hearts
of his audience marked the closing and
stamped the eulogy as the feature Of
the LodPe of Sorrow.
Following, Mr.. Travis eulogy came
a selection bX the quartette. Good
| Night. Beloved" The quartette was
composed of Messrs. J. b. Goodman.
John S. Banks. H. G. Hardy, Jr., and
| r. c. Thomson.
The closing ode followed and the
| lodge was dismissed with benediction.
| -s-o-e
For over sixty Years
Mrs Winslow's Soothing Svrun has