Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-12-06
ELKS REMEMBER
THE DEPARTED
Solemnly Beautiful Services
in Their Theater Last
Evening
ORATORS DELIVER EULOGIES
Splendid Musical Program Rem
dered--Large Audience
Present.

In the beautiful theatre that the
Elks built. not for themselves. but for
the community, they gathered last
evening in solemn cOnclave to remem-
ber the brothers that have departed to
the realm of the spirits, as we'll as
those that are away on earthly jour
neys. 1t is a beautiful custom that
was observed Yesterday wherever Elk.
dom has a lodge or a member. II an
swered the great craving OF every hui
man being not 10 be forgotten, to live
in the memory of those who were be-
loved ard friends on earth.
The large stage was set for the oc.
casion with the altar of the lodge
room, around which were placed in a
semi-circle the chairs occupied by the
speakers OF the evening and officers
OF the lodge. A monster American flag
fell from the ceiling to the floor, and
with it as back ground, were sus.
pended the emblems OF the order. the
elks head with majestic antlers, and
the clock with its hands pointing to
the mystic hour of eleven when every
Elk is supposed to drink silent toast
to the absent brother. The emblem
was magnificently illuminated with
various-colored lights. From it, were
draped the purple of the Elks colors.
At other vantage points. the Ameri-
can flag was displayed, and bouquets
of superb carnations graced the sta.
tions Of the officers which were placed
as they are in the lodge room during
the secret rites of the order, large
Bible being part of the equipment of
one station and antlers of another.
Rev. F. W. Pratt, of the Church of
the Holy Faith, pronounced the inyo-
cation after the lodge of sorrow had
been opened in due form with the sig
nificant words of the ritual, and at the
end of the services he also pro-
noInced the benediction.
The orators of the evening were
Colonel George W. Prichard, who ex.
planned the object, the nature of the
order of Elks, dwelling upon its car
dinal principles and upon the fact that
, no one can be the worse for being an
Elk, and that unless one is a good eli
iZen and a believer in God one can
not be a good Elk. Attorney A. B. Rem
chan pronounced the eulOgy upon the
departed brethren both those who
have departed to another world, and
! those who were merely absent in other
fields. 1t was an eloquent effort and
many were the touching and telling al
! lusions that were made to the charity
the faith. and the other virtues of
true Elk
The musical program in which Mrs
Bean, Misses Bean, Mrs. J, e. Clark,
Morrison's orchestra and the choir of
the First Presbyterian church partici-
pated, added much to the impressive
ness of the services. DR.. David Knapp
presided, and the other principal
chairs were occupied by A. ]. Fischer.
Frank P. Sturges and Carl A. Bishop.
Secretary Jose D. Sena called the roll
Of the absent brethren. There is no
need to reiterate that the Elks are do
ing good work, not only among them
selves but for the community. and last
evenings services demonstrated that
the order appeals also to a side of hui
man nature that is placed above the
material, that is sentimental and es
] thetic.