Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-04
ELKS' MEMORIAL SERVICE
BOyd'S Theatsr the Scene Of a Beautiful,
Impressive Function,
NAMES or DEAD EMsLAzoNEO IN LIGHT
Brother E. o. Page of Omaha Lodge
and Frank p. walsh of Kansas
City Lodge Pronounce
Loving EuIogies.

Their virtues upon tablets Of love and
memory"
This was the concrete sentiment Of the
memorial service held Sunday morning at
the Boyd by Omaha lodge No. 49, Benevo-
lent and Protective Order Of Elks Close
to 1000 people. Elks and their friends. filled
the lower floor and the balcony Of the
theaterj probably one-third OF the number
were women
on the stage large memorial tablet
had been erected. draped in black with
festoons and wreaths Of evergreers across
It's upper front. At one corner was an
urn resting on draped column, topped by
palm, while at the other side of the
tablet IN recess at the bottom. was a
kneeling figure OF grief. the white marble
showing out clearly against the sonlbre
background on the front OF the tablet
were six spaces. five bearing the names
OF eight departed Elks and one having
seven names. Surmounting the whole were
the illuminated words. our Absent Broth
crs.' When Exalted Ruler James r.
Dewar opened the ceremonies the names
were hidden by black curtains; then as
Secretary Furay called each name the
curtain was drawn down to let It shine
ont IN golden letters. Forty-seven times
did the curtains drop, until the names of
all the Omaha ESs who have died shone
out in brilliant outline.
As the exalted ruler called upon the
different officers in compliance with the
ritual they rose in their places and made
response with dignity and impressiveness.
Each was called on for answer as to their
duties at the opening and for expression
Of approval at the close of the ceremonies.
EuioRy by e. {. Page.
Following the unwilling Of the names.
Brother r. &. Page of the local lodge de-
livcred the eulogy for the departed mem
bers in an impressive manner. lie said:
This is but one Of many memorial gather
ings held today under the auspices of the
Benevolent and Protective order OF Elks
Similar observances arc being had in more
than 1000 cities Of this country scattered
over our continental area and on the
islands that lie close to our eastern and
far away from our western shores. In all
these cities combined 100000 OF the mem
bers of this order or their representatives
together with untold thousands of their
friends in silent thought or simple speech
are paying the tribute of loving memory
20 those who have passed from uncertainty
into certainty, from darkness into light
ment OF the order the beilet IN the eN-
istencc OF Power SUPP re. they quar-
relied with no mans convictions and ques-
toned no mans creed.
Those whom VIC honor richly deserve the
distinction accorded them. Speaking gem
orally, they were earnest practical men.
They did things rather than said things.
They were a part OF the moving. pulsing,
feeling world around them. They flung
into life the full and rounded measure Of
a virie energy. Cherishing high ideals,
striving, sometimes IN and sometimes well,
ia their attainment. enjoying freedom of
thought, exercising VI IN reasonable I'm
itations freedom of Gct. n, remembering the
rights and considering the feelings of
others, they lived and let live" and were
In love with life.
Sensitive of Mind and Heart.
Those whose feet before ours have trod
the unseen paths did not fail In their
appreciation OF those human qualities. the
aggregate of which the world has come to
call mind. They were sensible OF the
power of thought, Imbued, however, with
the same spirit and purposes of the order,
they consecrated their fraternal life to
the development and cultivation OF those
Inc heart They were sensible Of the
power OF feeling, They were right. While
: II may be true that mind g. ldes the world
IL is equally true that heart governs II.
They whom we honor were by charity
touched 10 tenderness. Quietly, With none
OF the pride Of show, they housed and
clothed and fed the homeless and the
friendless. Their charity knew no narrow
material limits. over the errors and the
stumbled MS they st ggled toward the
goal of better things, ley threw the pro-
tecting mantle of that same charity. They
loved Justice and realized that the rights
of others are as dear to those others as
their own rights were dear TO themselves.
and protest aroused against the wrongs
Of the world can never be permanently
quieted until the simple right is every
where recognized, until to each is ac-
corded that which TO each is due. They
were In sympathy with the love that makes
men brothers, They felt the tension OF
the chords that bind together human hearts
in fraternal feeling and common purpose.
They bowed at the shrine of fidelity. They
They were in sympathy with bettered social
conditions. They were loyal TO the gov
patriotic reverence by all.
stood for High Character.
Those who have left our midst, holding
such sentiments and imbued with resulting
high purpose, saw clearly the value of that
high character into which these principles
so prominently enter They were sensible
OF the fact that the gravest problem which
presents itself to our people today Is the
lion, of the most sterling qualities of
character among our citizens. True in all
countries. this is especially true where the
hands of the people
IL can hardly rise higher than its source
mentS are everywhere limited by the char
9eter OF the people concerned Time and
again in the history of the world OPP
pressive systems have been swept away.
only 70 be replaced by other systems per-
maps a little less oppressive. Time and
by reform movement, only as the signal
Tor the commencement of another reign
similar IN nature and perhaps only little
another has been destroyed and in its stead
still another evil has found a place The
,change Is often but little more than one
OF form, with some grosser element tina
gave special offense eliminated Reform,
IN these Instances, has never been far
reaching or permanent because no Change
has been wrought in the moral fiber OF a
people. a system Of government, guard
ing safoly the rights OF all, can never be
established and maintained until I'm the
hearts OF the people there lies a fixed and
unalterable determination to recognize and
uphold the rights of all. Hhe great strIIp-
tutions. but 10 establish right cnAracter
90 bring all into a realization of and a
respect for the rights OF each. The insti-
tutions OF the world, aided as they may be
by us genius, will never be lust aud rigbt
until human hearts are Just and right nj
by some wave of magic wand the ole
inent OF harmful selfishness could be driven
nom all hearts, an Intelligent school boS,
could solve many OF the problems that 10
Gay confront and almost eOnfound the great
nations Of the earth
CO-lnbOrers with the hest,
The goal al times may seem afar on
ana nall blinded, too the world must strllg-
gle toward IL Wrong often may b. re-
inforc1c. bul numberiess agencies likewise
ane On the side of right Every philoso-
nher VINO has evolved and proclaimed 10
the world truth. every soldier who hss
dared and done In the defense OF right
every statesman who has wrought unset
hshly for me good Of all, every orator
whose voice has been lifted for the bet
teTrnent OF human conditions every ar
usan who has wrought faithfully for