Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-12-05
THE ELES MEMORIAL SERVICE
Imposing Ceremonies at Colonial
Theatre Grafton By w, F.
Broening, of Baltimore.

L 44NQkC W. VS. A-ChCfOAC1t
and Protective Order of Elks was held
Yesterday afternoon in the Colonial
Theatre. The admission was BY in
vitation and the house was crowded,
nearly every seat ON the main hoor and
in the gallery being occupied.
Shortly after 2. 80 O'Clock the pro-
rgam opened with an orchestral selec-
| tion tSiegfried's 8 Death, I" by Wagner,
played by Prof. O. ID. Waters orches-
| ira, of Baltimore, in the absence of
| the Naval Academy band, which had
been engaged .by Baltimore Lodge No.
/ z, Elks, for their memorial service
at the Lyric in that city.
At the closelof the dirge, the cur
tain rose upon the Annapolis Elks
seated upon the stage in the centre of
which was table covered with an
| American flag, on which rested the
open Bible and an elk's head. A light
ed candle tied with purple ribbon
stood ON the table, and this played an
| important part in the ceremonies.
| The opening ceremonies were conduct
ed by Exalted Ruler John r. Taylor,
and were participated in by the fol-
lowing officers of the lodge: Samuel
Davis, Esteemed Leading Knight;
John r. Strange, Esteemed Loyal
Knight; J. ]. Murphy. Esteemed Lee
turing Knight; DR.. Gordon II.
Claude, Secretary; Philip Miller.
Treasurer Daniel J. Murphy, Esquire;
William b. Johnson, Tyler; Ridgely
P. Melvin, Chaplain; Frank W. Jewell,
Inner Guard. The ceremonies con-
sisted of responsive service on the
part of the participants, during which
Esquire Daniel j. Murphy snnffed the
candle, representing the deceased
member of the lodge. DIR. Harry M.
Revell AS the light went out a
white star on a blue background sus-
pended above the centre of the stage
was illuminated, and remained so
| during the remainder of the exercises.
The lodge sang in concert "Great
Ruler of the Universe" to the accom-
| paniment of Waters orchestra, and
| the program proper was formally open
| ed with prayer by Rev. Joseph p. Nc
| Comas, rector of st. Anne's. The or
chestra played "Lamentation" by
| GuiImant, after which a male quar-
| tet composed of the following gentle
| men, sang "Just AS / AM: Messrs.
@. Caldwell, K. Werner, ]. Crocken,
| II. Beck. The quartet was without
| instrumental accompaniment and was
| beautifully rendered. Mrs. Samuel
| r. Brewer sang very sweetly Nearer
| NV God to Thee and Mrs. William
| K. Tubman, of Baltimore. gave a
| beautiful solo by Friedman entitled
"Beyond The Gate. Mrs. Tubman
| is possessed of fine stage presence.
| She sang without notes and her
voicesrang out clear and sweet through
| out the beautiful solo.
| Following a selection by the orches-
/ ira "Omnipotence, by Schubert,
the oration was delivered by William
M. Broening, Esq, of Baltimore
Lodge No Z. TIE orator of the oc-
casion opened his oFation with tri-
butte to the deceased brother, DIR. Harry
| M. Revell. He said the lodge of Elks
was not lodge of sorrow, but one OF
| its features was to do honor to its de-
| ceased members. The custom of hold
1 ing memorial service once q year was
| established when the order was in it's
infancy and he said, yesterdays ex-
| eroises of such a nature were being
| held in every village, hamlet and
| town throughout the land where the
| Order of Elks is established. No
| more fitting time, said the orator, can
| there be for holding such a service
| than the closing month of the year,
| the month when the message is given
| to the world "Peaoe on Earth, Good
| Will Toward Men," The purpose of
| the service is to do homage to the
dead. 1t is q sacred convocation
which ought to cause the fraternity
| to be inspired with reverence.
The speaker said although in the
| three years of its organization but one
candle had been put out-but one
| light of this life had been extinguish
ed, to shine in the Great Beyond. yet
many little think when or how soon
| the mystic hand of death will be
| placed upon us. He admonished the
| Brother Elks not to wait until death
/ to say kind words and do kind deeds,
| or to fail to lend all encouraging hand
| until it is too late. He said men are
| made better by practicing fraternity
| fraternity teaches charity. From a
| social organization in 1857, the order
/ has grown to be a grand benevolent
| and charitable organization which has
| for its object the betterment of civili-
| zation through which has been carved
| ont the betterment of freedom and re-
| ligious liberty. During his address
| Mr.. Broening quoted several beauti-
| full extracts from poems and related
interesting accounts of good done by
| the order in closing one of which he
| said
"We have soothed the widows sorrow,
| We have dried the orphans tears.
| Then come and join our order.
| We offer hope, and Danish fears. =
The speech was enjoyed by the large
audience, who listened attentively.
Mr.. Broening has good voice and
pleasing personality. He speaks with
| ont manuscript and punctuates his re-
marks with telling and graceful ges-
| lures. He is easy in his manner and
| convincing in his argument
A beautiful quartette Jesus Word
| of God Incarnate," was sung by Mrs.
Anna Brewer, DIR. George I. Field
| never, Miss Emma and Mr.. William
| II. Feldmeyer. This was followed by
a soprano solo "Auld Lang Syne, I"
| sung by Mrs. Tubman, in the chorus
/ of which the lodge joined. After the
| formal closing ceremonies by the or
i der, the last verse of Nearer My
God to Thee was sung by the lodge
and the audience, and the program en-
| ded.
The trustees of Annapolis Lodge are
| Messrs. James p. BannOn, John b.
| Flood, j. Lawrence Walton, hewitt
Steele and John Mason. The memoir
ial service committee was composed
of the following: Messrs. John Il.