Arizona republican., 1905-12-04
ANNUAL MOURNING OF PHOENIX B. P. 0. E.
The Ceremonial of the Order at the
 Doris Theater.

The annual memorial service of Phoenix lodge No. 335 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was held yesterday afternoon in the Doris opera house, which was filled to it's utmost capacity. This ceremonial has come to be recognized in Phoenix as an an nual event in which not only the mem bers of the order but the public gen. orally is interested. Though it is an occasion that emphasizes the sadness that enters into human life, it is a sadness tinged with all those senti- ments that make life worth the living. that show the beautiful contrasts be- tween barbarism and civilization These sentiments are impressed by decora- tions, by the spoken words and by music with an appropriateness that appeals to all whether affiliated with the order or not, comprising an enter tainment that delights the eye, satis fies the demands of cultured intellect and more than all points to idealities and inculcates all those important truths that have been tried in the fires of human experience.
 It is trite to say that yesterdays service was the most impressive yet held here by the Elks, for it seems each year that the present ceremonials are more impressive than any other, but each is different though similar and each is the best possible. so that if former efforts might be improved upon yesterdays memorial was the best. The decorations, though consisting very largely of the usual materials and col ors, were seemingly the richest and most profuse that were ever seen in a public auditorium here. They were carried out under the direction of MT. and Mrs. c. F. Berger who in turn were supplied by MT. George H. Smith with a wealth of greenery and potted plants. Much of the greenery was of real shrubbery and flowers transferred from the nearby gardens or secured of the florists and in addition there were countless wreaths of ornamental pa per made for such occasions, that had all the appearance of festoons of smi- lax or other ornamental floral device.
 The background was a lattice work of purple and white ribbon over a wall of green and near the top of which was large dial with the hands pointing to the kour of eleven, significant to all familiar with the customs of the order. The stage was canopied in festoons of greenery. looping gracefully from the center to the four corners, and under which sat the occupants of the stage. In front of them from the proscenium arch to the footlights, were wreaths of green at intervals of two or three feet, almost curtainlike in the manner of | their hanging yet not sufficiently dense | to interfere with the view of the stage. Just below the archway in the center was a cross of white roses, with bells above, white stars on either side and white doves below with wings spread as in flight. Crown wreaths and stars were interspersed throughout the up per foliage and below were banked the potted plants while each of the four stations were tastefully decorated and surmounted by a huge bouquet The exalted rulers station in the middle of the stage was the resting place of a huge pair of antlers. an emblem of the order. while purple bunting was liber- ally used in the decorative scheme. A network of green was festooned above the parquet from one side of the bal cony to the other. supporting in the center, a large star of white roses. and the balcony front was richly attired in green and purple and white.
 l Ine stage was Occupleu Dy IH6 eA- alted ruler, H. w. Taffe, those who participated in the program and by members of the grand lodge. The open ing exercises included a funeral march | by the orchestra, a violin solo, the
 opening ode, invocation by Rev. E. A
 Penick and the calling of the roll oi
 the members of the lodge who had
 died within the previous year, and who were Leon Benham. A. R. Doris an6
 Charles Sterner, The violin solo wa:
 by Miss Marie Mason, the selection
 being a composition by Dvorak. I was a delightful rendition and hel( | the audience spell bound
 l In response to the invocation a male
 quartette composed of Paul R. Ingles
 E. P. Wilson, Irving Andrews anC
 Frank Hilderbran, secreted behind tht
 decorations sang, 70 Lord Hear Oul Prayer"
 A solo by Gounod, Adore and B' still" was beautifully sung by Mrs. W N. Tiffany, after which Frank H. Ly'
 man responded to the subject "Oul Absent Brothers"
 The speaker voiced the sentimen that the absent brothers are nevel
 forgotten, whether alive or dead, bu
 the annual lodge of sorrow was con
 vened particularly in memory of those