Gilpin observer., 1907-12-05
ELKS' MEMORIAL
Services Most Impressive and
Largely Attended---In-
dividual Eu1ogies.

Sunday evening at the opera house
were held the annual memorial services
of Central City lodge, No. 557, B. P. O.
Elks. Every seat in the large theatre
was occupied by members of the order
and their friends. On the stage, which
was tastily and appropriately decorated,
was seated the Lodge of Sorrow.
Since the Elks lodge was organized in
this city there have been eight deaths.
During the past year, or since the last
memorial was held, two members of the
order Joined the silent majority Robt.
Mcdonald and Jas. A. Gilmour
Henry Eilmann, exalted ruler, pre-
sided over the Lodge of Sorrow and
every feature of the beautiful ritualistic
service was carried out with precision.
The musical numbers and the singing
has seldom been equaled at an Elks'
memorial. H. Irving Jones rendered
two or three pieces on the violin in IN
excellent manner and the quartette COM
posed of Mrs Ada Russell Davis, Mrs.
Humphrey G. Williams, Mr.. Arthur
Penna and Mr.. j. C. Fowler sang most
beautifully.
Former State Senator Arthur Corn
forth, of Colorado Springs, a member
of lodge No. 300, delivered the memorial
address. Judge w. c. Matthews eulo-
gized the two members of the order who
had been called by death within the past
year. Mr.. Matthews made splendid
talk and his sympathetic words were
listened to most intently. His eulogies
of Robt. Mcdonald and Jas. A. Gilmour
follow:
During the past year we have lost by
death Brothers Robert Mcdonald and
James A. Gilmour, both, our brothers
and personal friends; and, while we can
no more solve the mystery of death,
than we can the problem of life, we are
not without hope in the future; we are
here because of the Divine fiat, and we
go hence at the Divine will. And, while
as Elks we have no distinctive religious
creed, we are all. subscribers to the
pagan philosophy of Cicero, that there
is no other way by which men can ap-
proach the Gods, than by contributing
to the welfare of their fellow creatures, -
and also to the Christian duty of visit
ing the fatherless and the widow in their
tribulations.
While, therefore, the death of oul
brothers is loss, and keenly felt, as
Elks, we submit thereto with humble
faith in Him who doeth all things
WELL, content to know that we are ir
his hands, and that revealed evidence
unites with and strengthens our com
mon human belief, born of Hope, thai
the Immortality of the soul is part Of
His divine economy.
| Brother Robert Mcdonald, lived will
seven years, and was thirty-one year.
old at the time of his death. His occu
patton was that of miner. He con
tracted, and was victim of what i!
generally termed miners consump
tion;" and, for more than a year priol
to his death, vainly sought relief anc
health in various parts of the country
all without avail, in August last giving
up the unequal conflict at Santa Monica
California. His remains, through tn,
efforts of our order, and the efforts of
sister order, to whom we accord heart,
recognition and thanks, were brough
back to his friends and kindred at Erie
Colorado, and are at rest in the littl
cemetery there, under the Colorado sun
shine and skies he loved so well. Amoni
his virtues, as l remember him, wer
cheerfulness and hopefulness. In thei
exercise he radiated about him, and i'm
parted to others, cheer and brightness
he had the hopefulness of youth and tn
optimism of an Elk. He was also help
ing and helpful, how much so, like man.
an other Elk, only himself and his Go
knew. And, while he died early in lif
and young in years, it was but the in
evitable and common lot of all.
1.-THE streams must cease to flow;
The winds must cease to blow;
!, The clouds must cease to fleet;
The hearts must cease to beat,
For all must de-
Brother James A. Gilmour, was fiv
years an Elk, and fifty-seven years ol
, at death. When most of us who ar
here this evening came to Gilpin county
we found James A. Gilmour here. Fo
, many, many years, all the strong year
of his life, he went in and out anon
this people; his life and his life's wor
, is part of the development and histor
of this county, and it's chief industr,
mining. He identified himself wit
every work for the advancement of OF
local iterasfs and his doafh ,r,aa and