La Junta tribune., 1908-12-12

find. VINO. DOT knowing ana for tbe
first time hearing the ri0tous uproar
OF Niagara as II thunders against The
ear. while It's waters rush tumultous
dowl its dizzy depths below the spray
enmisted falls. would ever believe
that its source was but q ribbon Of
calm flowing water. Who. not know.
ing and for the first time looking up
at the spreading branches of some
grand old giant of the wood. which
seems to reach and touch thai azure
dome, whose limpid blue shows
glImpses thru the interlaced and ieafy
boughs, would ever realize that all
green could grow from the lovly
acorn lying neglected at his feet.
/, And who, considering the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Eiks. with
its One thousand one hundred and
twenty mine lodges. Its three hundred
thousand members. its half nilllion
dollars spent annually to reiicye dis
tress. its fifteen million three hun
dred thousand dollars invested In tax
paying properties. is not astounded
when remembering that this living
organism. this peerless incentige for
good. had as It's source few soci-
able lonely young men.
Less than forty years ago. Charles
MgeSaon Sidney vivian and few
kindred spirits. all actors by pro-
fession. nobIemen by right OF living
II not By birth. foundtime hanging
heavily upon their hands, MOI be
ing Inclined toward Idle dissipation.
they banded themselves together TO
while away the weary hours with
laughter Jest and song. Their good
fellowship was contagious. Just as
the oak adds to its stature. and the
Niagara and Mississippi grew In vol
ume, SO did the Jolly Corks. as
they termed themselves increase in
numbers and broaden in principle.
And this was the secret of their
phenomenal growth-the promulga-
ton and practice of virtues vital to
the well being and very existence OF
mankind.
NO man can be happy unless he
makes others happy" and the Jolly
Corks" did not need to learn This
truth, 1t was theirs by instinct To
gather around the board and sing a
I jolly song is one thing: but to gather
around that self-same board and sing
that self.same song. while opposite
stands a vacant chair, is quite a
different matter. And so the Jolly
Corks." or "Elks" as we are now
called, write ourselves as ones who
! love their fellowmen. and practice
those principles without which the
Golden Rule of our Order. DO unto
others as you would they should do
unto you would be an empty phrase
and without which our beautiful
motto. THE faults of our brothers
we write upon the sands. their vtr.
tues on the tablets of love and mem
ory." would be but hollow mockery
We teach to-day the lessons that
are needed by the world: the lessons
of integrity. honor. character. of use
full purposes, OF truthful. helpful
work We crown him with laurel
who Is victorious in the moral bat
ties fought each day: We hail him as
unseifish who lays sacrifices upon the
affairs of friendship and family: we
regard him as generous who gladly
seeksreconciliaiion after the passion
of misunderstanding has subsidized.
. We believe in charity. Not alone
, the Charity Of aims. but the Charity
that condones. forgives and forgets
the Charity that helps men without
degrading them; the Charity thai
: knows every hour of every day ol
every year for its own. We believe
. in Justice. The Justice that Is tenn,
i pered with mercy; the Justice that
! knows no malice or revenge. no rich
or poor. no high or low: the Justlce
that judges as II would be judged
We believe in Brotheriy Love. The
Brotherly Love that sorrows with
!, those who feel, the sting Of failure.
and rejoices with those who win
! success: the Brotherly Love that has
naught but compassion for the help
less. ever willingly assists. the un-
fortunate. ever gladly helps those
whose feet have stumbled. We be
lieve n fidelity. The fidelity that
ensures the preachment and practice
Of these other principles: the Fidelity
that gives US faith in humanity; the
Fidelity that compels us to respect the
chastity Of woman. the only pearl in
her crown Of jewels: the Fidelity
which makes US honorable and teach