The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-12-05
LARGE AUDIENCE PRESENT
Programme the Most Appropriate Ever
Given by Billings Lodge.

The members of Billings lodge No.
394. B. P. O. q. have reason to feel
proud of their officers, the committee
and all others who in anywise contrib
uted to the arrangement and carrying
into effect the programme that was
given at the opera house, Sunday after
noon, in observance Of Elks memorial
day. It is doubtful whether the local
lodge ever observed the day with more
impressiveness and with deeper and
truer sentiments Of loving remem.
brance for the departed of it's member
ship, than marked the services that
were held on this occasion.
At 2:30 the members of the lodge
assembled at their hall where they
were formed in line with G. J. Davis,
the esquire and George W. Hubbard,
color bearer, leading. Headed by the
band the delegation, nearly 100 strong,
marched to the opera house where
seats had been reserved. The officers
took their position on the stage, to-
gether with the chief orator of the day,
the Honorable Lee Mantle, of Butte.
The stage was dressed with rare
good taste and appropriateness. 1t was
set in box scene formed by sides and
background of the colors of the order,
white and purple. At the rear was an
arched opening, the background of
which was of the same material and in
the center of the visible background
was suspended the head Of an elk, the
tips of the entlers of which bore lights
of the Elks colors. In the front of the
stage were four vacant chairs draped
in black and upon each had been
placed beautiful vase filled with the
rarest roses. Back of these was a
table decorated with Elks' emblems
behind which sat the presiding officer
and in a semi-circle behind him were
ranged the officers of the lodge and the
speaker. During the progress of the
exercises the stage was brilliantly
illuminated by artificial light, and with
its flowers, plants and other decora-
tions, presented a beautiful picture in
deed.
An Harmonious Programme.
The programme was a most har-
monious and impressive one through
out. G. G. Bever, the exalted ruler of
the local lodge presided, and after an
excellent and exceedingly well-render-
ed overture by Vests orchestra, Mr..
Bever briefly addressed the large and
representative audience that was be-
fore him. Mr.. Bever said in part:
my brethren, we are again remind
ed that the day and hour has arrived
that calls us together to pay solemn
tribute to our honored dead. Often
will we be reminded during these SOL
emn services that we are born to die;
that others have taken their departure
before us. 1t is the custom of Elks to
lay aside all other duties and spend
this one day, the first Sunday in Dec
ember, in paying a solemn tribute to
those of us who have gone to the
realm of the Great Exalted Ruler of all.
The light of the eye has gone out. The
lips which ever breathed the language
of fraternal greeting are silent forever
more. Yet these annual gatherings
only tend to unite the great brother
hood more closely together. There is
not a brother here who cannot look
into the future and discern the end
at which all humanity arrives. Those
of us who are left are preparing for
that end, while those who have gone
have left the fruits of their labors and