The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-02
ELKS HONOR DEAD
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES AT
NEWARK THEATRE.
Father Reaney, United States Navy
Chaplain, Eulogizes Departed-Large
Attendance of Members.

Many of Newark's leading citizens, with
their wives and members Of their families,
attended the memorial exercises held last
night by the Newark Lodge of Elks at
the Newark Theatre. These exercises
proved interesting and impressive, not
alone to the members of the order, but to
outsiders who were fortunate enough to
secure entrance to the theatre. Many Of
the dead members families were In at
tendance.
The eu1ogy and address were delivered
by Father Reaney, chaplain of New York
Lodge No. /, who is also a chaplain In
the United States Navy, and was with
Dewey at the battle of Manila.
The officers of the organization and the
| member of the committees in charge of
the ceremonies were seated In a semi
circle on. the stage. Over the rear en-
trance hung the huge elk's 0ead that has
decorated the walls of the home In Green
street, every antler tipped with a purple
incandescent light, while to the left was
the symbolic clockface, with the hands
pointing to II. The head, with the nntlers
of silver, rested on a fag-draped stand
near the front.
The exercises were opened with a selec-
ton. The Omnipotence," by II. F. Won
der Heide's orchestra. which was followed
by the official opening of the ceremonies
by George A. Guenther, exalted ruler, and
those of the lodge On the stage.
AT the direction Of the ruler the names
OF the nine in whose memory the services
were held were called from the rolls, ana
as each was spoken a light appeared be-
fore each name written on a tablet at the
side of the stage.
AS the gavel dropped and the ruler an
nounced the opening ode every light In
the house was ~extlnguished except those
on the head over the doorway and those
behind the clock. The ode was God Is a
Spirit and was sung by a quartet con-
sisting of Mrs. L. Carroll Beckel, Mrs.
Theodore G. Stats, Frank B. Sayer and
George FL. Simonds.
w are living among the dead tonight,
said Mr. Reaney in his address. we are
like ships in n fog; we know other ships
are passing and we see the lights on their
decks and call to our friends. Tonight the
spirits of those whom we have come 10
honor reach out and call to us.
Mature has constructed a wonderful
telegraph system between the hearts OF
friends. Each knows its W call, and
though the character OF the communication
may seem strange to others we know what
1t means.
This Sunday in December has been set
aside for us to renew the sacrament OF d.
vine love. Some spirits have been dulled
by commercialism; some have lost their
brightness by contact with baser Things.
There was once n queen whose pearls LOST
their lustre. so she sent for a lapidary OF
her kingdom and asked hin what was the
matter. He told her that the stones were
home sick and advised that she allow them
to remain in the sea for a time. She did
so and the pearls came out bright and
pure. That is the way with our souls. We
battle them in the waters of brotherly love
and they will come out with renewed
brightness.
There is not an atom in nature lost;
orxarxrfIfn0 fc SURF nf room rrnQfinn Tho
trees that thousands of years ago drank
in the sunlight today give back that sun
light on a million hearthstones. From the
dead leaf is formed carbon and from the
carbon the diamond. The diamond was
once the withered trampled leaf.
.In these annual communications be-
tween us and our friends there can be no
communication where there is no inter-
change. What is this interchange? 1t Is
the Elk spirit. Let us take care of the
living; God viii take care Of the dead.
Some of us cannot reach the heights that
others can, but we can honor those
who do"
Other musical numbers on the program
were: ''The Lost Chord by the orches-
ira; contralto solo, "And I Saw the Holy
CITY, by Mrs. Stats; 'tSpring Song" by
the orchestral; trio, "Praise Ye;'' ''Conzone
Amarosa." by the orchestra; soprano solo,
might Song" Mrs. BeckeI, accompanied
on the cello by Miss elsa Livingston:
closing ode. "Blest Are the Departed" and
"Bunona Notte,' by the orchestra. The
vocal music was under the direction of L.
Carroll Beckel.
Those in charge of the arrangements were
John A.. Hunter. chairman of the COM
mittee; Frank X. Keeling, secretary; Jo-
seph Holmes, treasurer; l.. Carroll Beckel,
T.. T.. Burke and George A. Guenther.
On the reception committee were owen
J. Mcdonald, chairman; Charles Montalvo,
Joseph Hansberry. John Weber, Richard
Rooney, Richard Hensler aud Charles H.
Edwards.