The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-12-14

broken measure
Look at the dregs, the NORWOOD and
gall
Look at the heart hung with crepe like
spell-
Look at the skeletons down by bis hearth
stone
Look at his cares and their mercilesa
sway
know you would 90 and say terderly,
lowly,
Brother,-m brother for aye and q
day
Lol Lethe is washing the blsckness
away.
And right here. my brothers, believe,
lies the supreme mission Of Elkdom. In
the inculcation and cultivation Of the
spirit of good will and good.fellowship
among men. And right here, too, lies
its browning glory in that it splendidly
meets and fulfills its great missi on. The
Benevolent and Protective Order Of Elks
is primarily and pre-eminently q social
order-an order devoted to the cultiva.
ton and observance o; the social
amenities Of life--to bring its members
together into closer. more intimate con-
tact one with another-to teach them to
throw off and forget in hour Of inform.
al, unrestrained social intercourse all the
petty cares aud worries and vexations Of
business-to lead them to eliminate that
sordid, selfish motive power, Every
man for himself, and the devil take the
hindmost." The fundamental teachings
Of Elkdom, charity. genial good fellow
ship, goodwill and sociability, are pre-
eminent for their virtues in making this
life better and brighter. This is what
Elkdom stands for, If lived up to and fol-
flowed All ideas of exclusiveness, Of
clquishness and clannishness, are foreign
and hostile to the spirit Of true Elkdom.
The Elks do not believe in going through
life on the tip-toe of conventionslity.
nor in holding out the chilly finger-tips
of cheerless formslity. The Elks believe
in the sunny side Of life. in the gospel Of
good. will and cheerfulness. and geniality
and the glad hand Of good fellowship.
Every Elks' hall Throughout our great
country Is q center from which radiate
good.fellowship, socisbility. charity.
The latch string Of hospitality hangs
ever on the outside Of oul door for all
worthy corners. Don't stop to knock,
just pull the string, and walk right In,
and make yourself at home-that is the
spirit OF Elkdom. The philosophy Of
Elkdom finds expression in the golden
rule, ITO do rs we would be done BY
principle at once the recognition and
the epitome Of sll morality and all
moral teaching-I had almost said, Of
all religion.
Aud now in conclusion, my brothers,
l wish to say that just a. man is
better republican or better democrat
to the extent that he Is better citizen,
10 are we better Elks just to the extent
that we put into practice those exalted
virtues, charity, justice, brotherly love,
and fidelity. which lie AZ the corner
stones OF our glorious temple, with its
dome reaching up into the never. clouded
sunshine and the eternal blue,-just to
the extent that we are more charitable
to the short comings, the faults and
foibles Of others, just and square IN all
our business transactions, faithful In
our social relation, tender and thought.
full in our home and fireside circles.
Here is the test and touchstone OF true
manhood, Of high and eminent character.
Only by habitually contem plating and
living up to whatsoever things are
rue,-whatsoever things are honest
Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, -whstsoever things are
lovely Whatsoever things are Of good
report" can we hope to embody in our
actions all that is high and exalted In
Elkdom. Let US not my brothers, permit
the compass OF our conduct TO swerve
from the fixed north OF the foundation
principles OF our Order, II we would
make the name Elk synonym OF cor
dial, genial good fellowship, q title Of
honor, a certificate Of all that true man
hood and high and honorable character
imply. We can do it. Our teachings
are plain. We need but follow.