The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-12-06

in the story of Creation as given IL
Genesis, and can look up IN faith and
see the glorious image OF the Omnipo
tent on the Creation morn of our frs
day, when from choatic nothingnes;
He bade worlds to roll, ana from the
universal gloom commanded light.
1T was the same hand OF God thai
formed and fashioned the blushine
dewdrop on the lIy's lip; that EN-
broide7ed with Jewels the curtains Of
night with its moon and planets and
trembling stars He breathed on the
Illuminate dust and man, the image Of
his Maker, stepped out from his
chrysalis of clay. he smiled, when 10!
Eden bloomed and blossomed Every
treetop was full of melody, every path
way was hedged by Jungle of roses;
every river rippled with music as II
rolled; every breeze was laden with
laughter from angelic lips; every
zephyr caught the perfume from mil
lion unwithering flowers. Such was
Gods Eden for mankind when the
morning star was young. We as Elks
believe it was but the prototype, pic
ture in miniature, of God's Eden be-
yond the sky whose jasper walls and
gates of pearl, with mansions built by
a masters hand are forever Dathed In
the effulgent light of Gods eternal
love.
"There, my brethren, on those
Elysian fields, shall our scattered
band be reunited, and forever shall
We camp on the River of Life and rest
under the shade of the trees, whose
leaves are for the healing of nations.
Such, ladies and gentlemen of Co
lumbia, Is the faith Of our order in
Almighty Cod ~
Brethren. we who still remain here
for little while, can best honor our
dead and keep green their memory,
by continuing the work which fell
from their nerveless hands, When
tired eyelids forever closed DER tired
eyes" The great work begun with
them, in building up our beloved or
der, and practicing the tenets taught
us around its sacred affairs.
81 know that some misinformed peo-
pie think our order too convivial and
full of life. Our songs of gladness as
we scatter sunshine on the way, doing
deeds of mercy and kindness, will
never be music 20 pitiless ear. But
who would Danish sunshine from the
world? What cruel creed would rob
the lip Of laughter and Of song? Should
the lily and the rose and the modest
violet be banished from the garden?
Should man live unto himself alone,
scorning friendship and brotherhood?
Would they have us take the greatest
Christian virtue, Charity, and bind 1t
to the chariot wheels Of avarice and OF
greed? Would they destroy mans
faith in God and in the brotherhood
of mankind? II such were the phil
osophy believed by men, there would
be no Elks, for our order is founded
on faith in God, charity, justice, broth
erly love and fidelity, and II these
great attributes Of human faith and
conduct were banished from among
men. this world would become a
Of misery and OF tears.
mo, no, my brethren, let lis go on
with laughter on our lips and the song
OF love for mankind in our hearts,
scattering sunshine on our pilgrimage,
practicing that sweet charity which 10
heet-footed, yet so gentle that, like u
summer zephyr, 1t kisses the fever
from the sufferers brow, yet no one
knows from whence II came.
Let the world learn from our daily
walk in life, that, we are a brother
hood whose chief tenet is that we love
our fellow.man. For him we would
hang q bow OF promise on every sky.
and whisper words of encouragement
and help into every troubled heart.
For, after all, my brethren, there Is
nothing stable or lasting in this dying
world, save kind and generous deeds.
The things that appear most stable
pass away and vanish under the pitt.
less hand Of time. Nations and civili-
cations rise and fall and their wreck
and ruins. are strewn along the high
way OF the centuries
"The battlefield is not the only place
where heroes are found. Some of the
bravest noblest souls are men who
fight the battles OF life In poverty