The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-07
Roll Called for Seventeen Ab-
 sent Brothers
LARUE MAKES ADDRESS
Mrs. Hager, Mother of Mrs. G. H. Ste venson, Dies In Atlanta-Persenal and General News of
 Bessemer.
By J. B. HOUSTON.

Bessemer, December 6.-(Special. )-This afternoon, despite the rough weather large crowd gathered at the Elks hall, and with beating pulse listened to tho beautiful and impressive memorial serv- ices of that order, At 33O o'clock the members who had congregated in the reading room marched in a body to the hall where the services were to be con ducted, headed by Theodore J. Lamar, exalted ruler, with the Rev. I. o. Adams and the Rev. J. F. Sturdivant on either side of him, who took their seats on the rostrum the others taking their respec- tive places in order. MT. Lamar then rapped for order. and with few very appropriate remarks the services began. The esteemed leading knight, loyal knight and featuring knight were called on to explain their duties, which they did, and the secretary, E. A. Little, then called the roll of the departed brothers. These were F in number.
 Nearer, My God, to Thee" was rem dered by members and the audience in concert. Invocation was pronounced by the Rev. l. o. Adams and the benedic- tion by the Rev. J. F. Sturdivant. Face to Face" by Mrs. Perkins, and 70, Dry Those Tears" by Mrs. w. H. B. Rue were sweetly rendered. Violin solo, se- 1ected, and vocal solo, Singing in Gods Acre" by George G. Houston. were also two numbers that were impressive. Mrs G. B. Hollingsworth was the accom- panist.
 J. A. Larue addressed the audience, his subject being Mission of Elkdom" He said that he was about to do what he expected some good loyal Elk would do for him some day, to call to mind the personalities of our deceased brothers, to preserve their memories green, and to extract from their lives the good things for those that yet remained on this side of that mysterious realm. He said that fulsome and senseless praise should not be indulged in on an occasion like this that those that have gone before were simply men; that along with their un- doubted virtues they likewise had their faults, and quoted an old saying: "The evil that men do lives after them; the BOOQ IS OlL lfll6IIGu Wllu luclT DOn6St and said that it was for this reason the Elks preferred recounting the virtues of a brother and encouraging and emulat- ing those virtues than to bemoan their faults.
 He spoke of euloges being of no benefit to departed brother, that all We could do would be to give his clay a decent burial and keep his memory green with the respect and esteem that we held him in life. He spoke of knowing those of the order that had gone before, and beautifully delineated their lives as he knew them, saying that they had their faults along with their virtues, but they were all charitable and none of them was ever known to refuse to do anything that lay in his power to relieve the dis tressed or to help brother in need. He spoke of fidelity embracing all other vir- tues and without this we could not build up a character that would be a worthy legacy to leave behind. He spoke of when the time came for him to pay Charon his toll across the Dark River and depart from his friends and loved ones, the memory of character that was distinguished by the virtues of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity was the greatest favor he could ask of that destiny that rules us all. He spoke of the Elks standing for a certain standard of ethics and intellect; that no man that did not reasonably measure up to that standard would be admitted to the order. He spoke of this order being peculiarly an American order, saying that the founders were Americans and clearly recognized its necessary limitations, that a foreigner would have to be naturalized before he could become member. He spoke of this order being for the bet torment of mankind, and for the help of humanity and by banding together more good could be accomplished in this way.