The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
WITH MUSIC, song AND SPEECH
Eulogy Delivered by The Honorable Fred HI. Foster
Eloquent Memorial Address by The Honorable
e. D. Weed of Helena Lodge.

side the flag of our country the prin:
ciples of charity, justice, brotherly
love and fidelity. These are it's foun-
dation, and these are the reason for
it's unparalleled growth among the
citizenship OF this republic.
When we assemble eacn year to
bring our offering of love and rever-
ence to our absent brothers, we also
renew our allegiance to the great prin-
clples which have made the Elks one
of the noblest among the fraternities
OF men.
Every day in the year the Elks
open their hearts to the needs OF the
world, but this is the only DAY when
the public catch a glimpse of the true
meaning of Elkdom.
There are times when men are
lifted out of the commonplace into
realm where all is light and love and
peace. 1t is then that there comes
tc us vision of what we ought to be.
Through the clouds which cling about
our heads and often hide from us the
nobler things of life we see what is
possible in the evolution of charac-
| ter. We breathe purer air, and be-
yond the darkness and the gloom we
see the light of a better day. Such
time is this, marked by beautiful
service of anthem and ceremonial.
Our absent brothers have gone out
into the shadows. We see them no
more They are with us now only in
memory No more for them the clasp
OF hand, no more for them the word OF
cheer and kindly aid for those in
need. They have gone away-to min
gle with the elements-to become a
part of the sweet breath OF the morn
ing, of the midday sunlight, of the
stiffness of evening. But like the
flowers in springtime, they come back
to us, and their memory is fragrant
with good deeds.
The Northman's image of Death is
finer than that of the southern races.
1t is not a skeleton, clutching at life,
but an imposing figure enshrouding
men within the great folds of its sable
robes. So, we like to think OF our
brothers, that death has folded them
away from our sight, but that they
still live in some realm away from
sorrow and pain, and that their life
now is higher and has more OF joy
than the one tney left.
y The least portion of life is that
which dwells in physical existence.
The mental part it is-call it spirit
ual if you wiil-that thinks and feels
: and hopes and loves. This it is
|. which achieves results, for good or i'll.
: This it is that leaves it's mark upon
|; the lives of associates, or in the in
J stitution of the state. And this it is
which in every individual, however
humble, sets in motion influences
J which go on and on to the end of time.
The best that is in the lives our
brothers does not, cannot, die. We
feel it's effect in our lives; we see it's
; influence upon the lives of those who
knew them and loved them.
"To live in hearts we leave behind
is not to die
In this is there not Immortality?
"These shall resist the empire OF de-
cay,
Wnen time is DER, and worlds have
passed away;
Cold is the dust the perished heart
may lie,
But that which warmed it once can
never die"
; The purpose of this order is to up
lift our kind, to add to the sum OF
: human happiness, to make this world
of ours better place to live in. He
! is not true Elk who fails to con
: tribute his share to that result. Such
q a oae has failed to grasp the mean
|, ing of the fraternity.
~ The Elks are not sanctimonious