Gilpin observer., 1908-12-10


this order of Elks about forty years ago
in the state of New York. Little did
they think that the fraternalism then
inaugurated would encircle the earth,
and champion the cause of humanity
with so much zeal as the growth of this
order has witnessed in recent years. To
the roster of death wherein their names
are written, has been added the sacred
name of many departed brother. Their
lifeless forms are sepulchred in the
voiceless city of the dead, but their
memory is engraven on the tablets of
our hearts, while their spirits faithfully
guide our footsteps. To their memory
and the speechless philosophy which
they teach, the fond heart turns ever
and anon.
The monoliths of the Assyrians, the
pyramids of Egypt, the marble tombs
and catacomDs of the Greeks and Rom
ans, the cathedrals and abbeys of Chris
tendon were reared by the handicraft,
the genius and the art of man as memor-
ials to their dead and their own destiny,
and have thus bound the memory of the
departed in volumes of stone and marble.
Yet, as remorseless ages come and go,
these memorials will topple to the earth
again and disappear from the view of
man. Fraternalism, however, does not
bring pomp and pageantry, shafts of
marble or granite blocks, to mark the
burial place or place of worship of the
sacred dead of this fraternity. The
memory of our dead is engraven on the
heart, and honored by the precepts
taught the living.
Fraternalism bids US think more of
others than ourselves, veil the faults of
our brothers in forgetfulness, pluck
from gossip's throat the tongue of
slander, tear the mask of hypocrisy
from the double face, sheath the dag
gers of revengeful eyes, repress the
curling lips of scorn, smite the hydra
headed serpent of discord and pierce the
panoply of falsehood with the darts of
truth AS Perseus held in triumph
Medusa's head and trampled under foot
that monsters ifeless form, SO may
the better part of human nature,
strengthened by justice, charity and
brotherly love, overcome mans self
created enemies. AS Michelangelo be-
held in the marble block the sleeping
form of David and bade the scrip
tural: hero go forth into the world to
Lnt
may we behold in the materialism of
the age enchanted forms of beauty,
love and duty and beseech these ideals
take shape and purpose, to battle
against bigotry, intolerance and selfish
ness.
The individual is but as the mist of
the morning on the ocean of eternity,
and the wonder will increase as frater-
nalism grows, that the brotherhood Of
humanity was ever limited by creed or
church. There have been too many Lon
don towers and not enough parliaments
of religions. The progress of events
is demonstrating the survival of the fit
test as the centuries and nations come
and go. Paganism evolved the fairy
land of mythology and mans religion
has progressively advanced out of the
darkness of the domain of imaginary
gods and demi-gods, poetic bacchantes
and fauns, and idols of myth and clay
and gold, and the burning brand of ig-
norance, superstition and fear has been
transformed into the stimulating light
of charity, justice and brotherly love.
AS the human mind has grown wiser,
80 has the human heart grown better,
and both mind and heart now vie with
each other in the declaration of hum, n
ICoptinted m paua AZ