The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-06

Never do the members of the Benev-
client and Protective order of Elks
better prove its character than at the
time each year when every lodge
meets in communion to honor the
memory OF its departed dead. when
coming together in their lodge room or
some public building. they observe the
sacred occasion with exercises APP
propriate to the time and place. And
never did the members of He'll Gate
lodge No. 3S3 hold more beautiful and
impressive services than yesterday.
Loses Three.
During the past year. Hell Gate
lodge has lost but three members.
Eddie y. Billups, DIR. William Ray and
DIR. f. A. Grain. and when the people
filed into the Harnois theater they
saw three vacant chairs on the stage
each one draped with black and pur-
pie. Back of these chairs, in front of
background OF black. where were
draped fsstoons of purple and white
the colors of the order and the let
ters, Il. p. o. E. sat the officers of
the lodge. with Exalted Ruler John
Il. Daily in the center. Arranged
around the stage We're the affairs. COW
cred with the national flags and vases
of roses. The exercises began with
Hearts and Flowers" played by an
augmented orchestra under the leader
ship of II. II. Schander. Then the
opening ceremonies of the lodge We're
conducted. and the names Of the de-
ceased were read. AS the names of Ed
die \. Billups. DIR. William Ray and
DIR. l.. \. Grain. the only members
who had died during the year, were
read large and beautiful floral
wreaths were placed on the empty
chairs. after which an ode was sung
by the lodge.
Following the invocation by Rev. W.
II. Bagby. a prayer for the welfare OF
the dead and the living members of
the order. II. NJ. Barratt. one of the
prominent vocalists OF the city. sang
with splendid effect Face to Face"
Rarely has Mr.. Barratt been i'm bet
ter voice than yesterday and the old
song stirred the hearts and the bet
ter feelings of the audience as moth
ing else could have done. The Nc
carthy rendered well 4 sacred seiec-
ton. after which the memorial ad-
dress was made by F.. C. Mulroney.
The sacredness of tho occasion was
not neglected by Mr.. Mulroney. and
his Grafton, filled with sacred senti-
ments and touching thoughts. ranks
as one of the best ever given on an
occasion OF the kind in Missoula. Mr..
Mulroney. always a good speaker. was
at his best yesterday. The benetic-
ton by Rev. Mr.. Bagby was then
given and the orchestra played the
Gloria from MoXart's Twelfth
Mass" and the program was con-
cludcd.
The Memorial.
Mr.. Mulroney's address is given be-
low in its entirety:
Nearly 1000 years ago. the multi
tude gathered on a hillside in Judea
to listen to the sacred accents of the
Sasior's voice as He deliveeed the
immortal sermon on the mount. of all
the beautiful and inspiring sentences
then uttered. there is one that has
come to US hallowed by the consoia-
lion Il has given To the centuries
filled with tenderness and mercy. full
Of hope and confidence for the here
after: blessed are they that mourn.
for they shall be comforted''
In all ages and times. the respect
shown to the dead has been one of
the tests of the civilization of the peo-
pie. The feeling of reverence shown
to those who have left these earthly
scenes Of strife. SORROWS. triumnlls and
joys. has been accounted for i'm diff
ferent ways by scholars. theolosians
and scientists. The best thought of
these men seems to be that this rev.
efence and respect comes from the
feeling implanted In every heart and
conscience as to the Immortality of
the soul. There is In every man. and
there aiw" rs been. that yearnins
Tor a meeting In a happier and bright
err land where SORROWS and sins shall /
be 10 more.
Psganism and harbarism are filled
with examples o: devotion bv the iiv-
ing To the dead, and Christianity has
her nohisst memorials i'm the monu-
ments and epitaphs dedicated to her
servants and heroes
In the old Testament We read af lin.
Hebrew warriors. Jusas AIacca6eus +
who. overcoming his enemies, sent Of
ferinss to the temple Ia make a sac .
rifiee for these who lost their lives
In worthy causa. Walking upon the .
oattiefield and gazing upon the up
turned faces of the dead he ey-
claimed: 1T is hol:- and wholesome
thought to pray for the dead"
King David left crown and thrane