La Junta tribune., 1907-12-07

ds oosS e'N SHOW under summer
! sun.
Elkdom is gulf stream in the cold
ocean u humanity. carrying warmth
to shores chilled by sclfskness.
| Our purpose is to foster patriotism
and MAKE our country the greatest.
our flag the proudest and TO make
the American home the nucleus OF
| happiness, Aristotle the wise taught
| that the earth was the center of the
| universe; twenty centuries later CO.
pernicus told the world that Aris-
totle was wrong. No philosopher in
| hundred ages will rise to deny that
the home is the seat of virtue, hap
pincss and national power.
The hrst duty of Elkdom is to bull
wark the home, to be citadel to re-
pei any invasion OF its sanctity and
its purity. This holy work our order
has carried on in the modest line OF
private influence. but il the shame
less tendency OF moral protligacy. as
manifested IN the acts and evidence
of our divorce courts continues il
will become the duty OF Elks and OF
all good men and women to join in
a crusade Tor the abolition OF the
present loose methods OF divorce.
| The revelations oi the divorce courts
| in Dcnvcr. Pueblo and other cities
show a disregard OF morals and de-
cency thar rivals the iniqui,ies OF cit
les upon which in ancient times fell
| the curse oi God They shame state
and nation and are 4 reproach to the
manhood and womanhood OF the
age. Arc the people indifferent or
are they ignorant? In either there
is peril Marriage is not a joke; II
| is not 4 trial or an experiment: not
4 temporary contract To be annulled
at wish OF either party, but TO con-
| ,inue unit death do us part. The
home is founded upon marriage and
upon its integrity are rooted its lib
critics aud pcrInanencc OF the repub-
| lie. This unuseating talk about out
side affnticS. by husband or wife, is
! the harlul's plea and an insult to
| family Write and fidelity The weak
ness and tolerance of our laws are
making orr courts forced sanctuaries
OF immortality and prostitution as
were the Phallic temples OF old
! Egypt There are legitimate causes
| for divorce but laws and courts
| should not pauder to the wiim. pas
sion or sclfshncss oi the libertine aud
| the prohgatc. As oath-bopud de-
!
| tolerate these assaults upon its most
sacred rclutioms;
When Pike fell with mortal wound
at TORONTO his coat was opened to
staunch ihc life blood flooding from
| his heart i book fell from his pock-
! ct. in this book was written his will
TO his son-' Preserve your honor
without bIemsh and be ready a; all
I
| These sentiments could well be ad-
dcd to tile ritual of the Elks Home,
| country. brother. is the triuity of our
worship We do not claim IT, be the
richest. the largest or the blucst
blooded organization. We have no
altar butt to the golden calf; there
is no worship of ancestors in our
creed: 1--WE are more concerned as to
the kind of son our brother is rails
ing than we are as to the kind of a
! tfathcnfAat raised him. We have no
| religions test Simple belief in Di-
vino Providence and in soul I'M
mortal satisfies our requirements. In
our ranks are represented every faith
! from Mormon to Mohammedan. In
politics all are there. democrats, re-
publicans. prohibitionists, mug
wumps. socialists; not perfect. but
really bad men are as scarce as SIN
ners in cemetery. :,
| We do not ask the flag that waived
over mans cradle So that he has
J bowed at the shrine of American lib
erty aud pledged allegiance to the.
! stars and stripes. All honest trades
are represented There is no aristoc-
racy of profession, no trade either
! cuDblcs or debases. all trades are
honorable that are fonorably con-
| ductcd Those who work with their
hands are as welcome as those who
| use their wits and brains. In ordin-
AIRY lie those with soft hands and
] fashionable raiment are usually OF
| fcred the front seats. With us a
callaused hand is not Il badge OF dis
credit The loafcr only is barred. 1t
| is no place for the lily of the. valley
exquisite. II the Elks were to issue
mautal of health its first line would
| prescribe physical toll for botl, bod
| iIy aud moral health and eight hours
daily manual labor as cure for IN
somnla.
OR club houses are given to sane
and cheerful amusemcnts. but we Ia
/ vor no entertainments that requires
| bromo-scltzcr next morning. Neith-
er bigotch in religion or intolcrant
as to individual manners or habits.
A temperance. but not prohibition
society Yet the passing of the bar
from club rooms would not lessen
the welfare OF members or the
strength Of the order The glorify-
ing ci wine is not the best thing that
some of our eloquent and poetic
brothers do. Optimist Temple is a
good title for an Elk club house. We
try TO see and develop the best i'll
man as a band OF sensible, common
sense men, we meet without hysteria
the Joys and troubles of life. doing
our best to enjoy the one and ease
the other. Some men see no good in
life. they cat the rind of the melon
and throw the core away. Some men