Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-03
ELkS MEMORIAL SERVICE
WalabuIy Lodge Pays Marked Tribute
 to Her nonored Dead.

Before large and very much in- terested audience last evening Ill Polls theater the officers and mem- kers of the Waterbury lodge of Elks, paid their annual tribute to the hon- ! ored deceased members of the order. In every town. hamlet and city throughout the United States. where ever lodge of Elks exists. on the first Sunday in December each lodge assemblies to pay this tribute to their departed brothers. It is a beautiful custom and the services each year are becoming more appropriate and more interesting. Last night the local members had made extra prepara- tlOns and they digressed just a little from the old stereotyped form of cere- m0ny. It has been the custom for the secretary to call the names of all the dead members, but last night only those who died within the past year were called out. A very touching part in connection with the calliug of those names was the extinguishing of tbe lights. An Elk head was placed in the rear of the stage and wheu the time for the calling of the role of the dead, all the lights in the house and on the stage were extinguished with the exception of eight purple disks which illuminated the horns of the Elk's head. As each name was call ed one of the purple lights disappear ed until the last name had been call ed There were eight members of Waterbury lodge. who have passed away since last year, as follows. Flu gene IL. Jacques, Richard Martin, Chris Strobel. James G. Wesson, Frank E. Loud. T. V. Lacey, H. E. Loucks and Jacob Kaiser.
 The hall was tastefully decorated with the colors of the order and the members of the lodge took their seats in front, marching in to the strains of the Coronation" played by Prcfes- sor Fulton and his orchestra The opening ceremonies were conducted by the Exalter Ruler William ]. Spain. assisted by the other officers of the lodge who were seated in their proper stations. The members parti- cipated fin the ceremonies and sang the opening and closing odes. Seated on the stage with Exalted Ruler Spain were Secretary Moran. Acting Treas urer Clearwater, Acting Chaplain Johnston. Esquire John NJ. Mulville, the past exalted rulers of the lodge. the eulogist. James K. Nicholson Of Springfield lodge and William s. Null Ter of New Britain lodge, who dellv- cred the Thanatopsis.
 The musical portion of the program was remarkable for its excellence. Director Isaac R. Clark with the St Johns Musical association rendered three delightful numbers as follows: "Softly Now the Light of Day" new composition of "Ncarer My God to Thee" and Goodnight" Not rough spot in the whole chorus could he detected and the voices blended as if they were organ notes. It cer. taInly is an association that should be heard more often In public.
 Perhaps the most pleasing number on the program was the singing of Mrs wllhelmIna Wright Calvert. It was the first time that the majority of those present had the pleasure to hear this lady artist and after each of her numbers the audience almost forgot the injunction that no applause should be given. Her rendition of "These Are They" from tho Holy City, startled her hearers for they did not know there was such n voice fin Waterbury. Sweet. tender and en- trancing in her lower measures and swelling into power and bearing you with her in her fight in the upper tones. Her second number "Where is Heaven" by Felix Marti. was an- other gem which Mrs Calvert polish cd even more brightly. It was sweet little prayer and sang with ev cry note almost perfect and every possible good that was in 1t ex- tracted. If left her hearers longing for more and perhaps sometime In the near future Mrs Calvert will afford her audience of last night an opportu- pity to show her how much they ap- precinted her singing.
 William <. Muller of New Britain delivered the Thanatopsis in very appropriate and fitting manner. The eulogy was delivered by Mir Nichol. son of Springfield lodge of Elks. and perhaps there were hut very few present last night who knew that the speaker was an old waterburlan and graduated from the Waterbury High school in 1894. He spoke In ex- cellent voice and his choice of Ian guage could not have been surpassed. It was 9 eulogy that held your Inter- est from first to last. and at its con. clusion he was heartily complimented by the members of the local order. A corset solo by Louis Bovina and the playing of the orchestra under Proses- sor Fulton also contributed to the ex. cellence of the program. The memorial were: c. A. Jackson. chair man: William IT. Johnson. who also acted as chaplain and pronounced the Dr Charles A. Monagab. Harry F.. Parsons. Maurice C. Gull hane and Jacob Kaiser. one of the oe- ceased members.