The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-12-04

only aim is happiness: NOT future nap
piness, but now, and the always now
is always the eternity.
Thirty-eight years ago, had man
said: ~ am an Elk and talked of
Elkology, Elkdom, of the Herd, and of
Antlers and of b. p. o. f., he would
have been considered insane and con-
fined in madhouse. Now, over a
quarter million of our sanest and best
men are saying 81 am an Elk' and
use the terms Elkdom, Elkology, Herd,
Antlers, etc.
What has brought this about Not
deep philosophy or mystic rites; not
the plans or foresight of the founders
of this order; not beliefs. or faiths, or
knowledge; not the moral goodness of
the men who were first to call them
selves Elks; not wealth or high sta
ton; not aid from the state or nation
or from any association or combination
of them; not any or all Of these things,
but simply because the idea of the
F, order is based upon doing good, and
the order is composed of do-goods as
distinguished from be-goods.
A few men, mostly actors and artists,
united to aid each other. To do each
other good, and to make each other
happy. They had no great ambition (;
| no great knowledge or foresight. They
simply had mutual happiness in view.
! They called themselves "The Jolly
| Corks.'
But happiness was secured, and then
| they decided to form a more permanent
society with a more appropriate name.
They chose the name of a strong, limo
cent, harmless, fleet footed, noble
| l. LII 81
Elks.
The Elks have made no great pro-
! fessions, but have simply had happiness
, in view, and their motto is ''Do good. y
They are do-goods. They do not claim
| to be be-goods.
Elkology deals with charity, fidelity,
| justice, loyalty, brotherly love, and all
for happiness. not for goodness. Their
unprecedented increase has been due to
the fact that happiness has been their
ultimate aim, and to be brought about,
not by being good, but by doing good.
They did not profess to be good.
They did not profess to act for the
glory of God. They profcssed nothing
godly, or righteous, or sacred. They
did not claim to make men holy or to
save their souls. They simply banded
themselves together to promote hap
piness, to do good, and pleasure or
happiness was the good they aimed at,
and as we said before, it is the only
good per Sc
The Society of Elks in this respect
stands alone among the multitude of
| associations. churches, societies and
| orders. 1t is the one Abou Ben Adhem
| of thcfDDall
g
| Elks has claimed no holiness. Yet by
simply doing good it has been, in every
| cline, where floats the stars and stripes,
written down as "Best People on
Earth. -
Its simplicity, modesty and history is
described by the poet, Leigh Hunt, 'un-
der the title: "Abou Ben Adhem and
the Angel
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe in
creaseD
Awoke one night from deep dream of
peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his
| room,
Making it rich, and like lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold {;
| Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem
| bold,
And to the presence in the room he
said:
"What writest thou?' The Vision
raised it's head.
And, with a look made all of sweet
accord,
| Answered. ''The names of those who
love the Lord
"And is mine one'' said Abou. "Nay,
not so,
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more
low,
But cheerily still, and said: 81 pray
thee, then,
"Write me as one that loves his fellow
men. -
The Angel wrote and vanished The
next night
1t came again with great Weakening
light,
And showed the names whom ~uove
of God had bless d,
And lowl Ben Adhem s name led all
the rest.
We deny to no church, to no society,
to no association, to no order, the
| righteousness, the holiness or the pos
session of any of the High and holy and
sacred things they claim. On the other
hand, we admit that they, each and ALL
are following n ray of the Light of
Truth towards the Central Sun of the
Moral Universe. Elkdom is doing the
same on its ray of light. Some see
holiness as the object or ultimate aim.
Others see other great virtues; but the
Elk sees only happiness. Others make
goodness the means, but the Elk makes
doing good the means. Many other or
ders have other various ends in view,
to be reached by many different ways.
BY some the several virtues are del
fed, and worshipcd, and followed.
Elkdom processes none of them, aims
at none, and has no mysticism of dogma
or of doctrine. Happiness its aim, and
mutual aid its means.
A ray of light from the Central Sun
of the Moral Universe reaches the eye
of every man, but each man sees from
a different standpoint, and each must
use his own eyes.
When great numbers see from SINH
lar standpoints and with similar vision,
then, they are able to unite and form
a society, an association, or, a church.
Each combination aims at some truth
and enioins some virtue or virtues.
Each thinks itself best, and each is
hest for its own honest members.
But too often its members go on the
supnosition that its road is the only