The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-12-11

ing so kingly as kindness.
Neither do l claim that the Elks al
ways attain the highest in character,
but the world recognizes now that this
order is moving toward the heights
! that its members have added to the sum
of human happiness.
On this day of days we meet to pay
tribute to our absent brothers.
Our absent brothers they lived with
honor, and that is the best that can be
said OF man.
One OF the dramatic scenes Of the
worlds history is when Richelieu spoke.
not OF the trembling moment men call
life, but OF honor.
The messenger had been sent to bring
the papers concerning the conspiracy
against France and her king. Kneeling
ing before tho Cardinal and confessing
his failure, the page begged him to &C.
quit his faith, but not to spar, his life.
Then the great man, soldier. statesman,
/
his full dignity, uttered the words that
still ring in the corridors OF Time:
"Who spake of Life? told thee
Grasp that paper as thine Honor
A Jewel worth whole hecatombs of lives?"
The most beautiful customs of our
order are the Eleven o'clock sentiment Of
Remembrance, and this annu al memorial
service In the midst of song and mirth
and laughter, we pause to think OF the
brothers who are separated from US.
On these occasions we drink at the
fountain Of eternal youth. No Elk ever
grows old. He retains the lavish heart
OF youth because he loves his fellow man
and is beloved by him. When, at last,
he sleeps "in the low green tent, whose
curtain never outward swings" the Elk
is still remembered.
Englands famous Cardinal, bereft OF
power and fortune, renounced by his
king, deserted by those who had kissed
his hand in fattery. though mourning
not the loss of royal wealth. nor princely
favor. nor fawning friend, uttered the
cry Of a broken heart when he said,
when am forgotten, as l shall be. and
sleep in dull, cold marble, where no mon
| ton of me more must be heard off,
thus the great Woolssy, that once trod
the ways Of glory and sounded all the
| depths and shoals Of honor, voiced mans
dread Of the spectre that turks at every
tomb.
Since time was, brave men have met
death bfavely. They have not been
afraid as they bowed before the grim
destroyer, but this fact, that after they
had fought life's little battle, after they
had lived and loved and hoped and dis
appeared, they should be forgotten-this
has given death its terror. But we who
are Elks thank God that not one of all
our band will ever be forgotten.
Eeach night AZ the clock, that beats
out the little lives of men, tolls the hour
of eleven, in every assemblage Of Elks
they drink the same sentiment: ITO our
absent brothers." We recall every face
and every personality. The brother may
wander afar-aye, he may have crossed
that mysterious sea whose shore the foot
of him that lives has never pressed-he
may lay upon bed Of sickness and pain
but wherever he may be-standing in
this beautiful world Of sunshine, form
and color, or asleep in the windowless
place Of rest, cIreless alike Of sunshine
and storm-wherever he is, there goes
out to him from every heart that bears
the impress Of the Antlers sentiment
OF tender and loving remembrance. 1r
this hour we wreathe with rosemary
every vacant chair.
How many Of us whose heads are now
covered with the dust Of the journey oi
life have seen the brother standing or
the hillside, standing in the sunlight
filed with high ambition to scale ths
summit and plant there the banner oi
success? Then. the marvellous beauty
that comes to these hills of ours at even
ing, and covers them from base to snow
trimmed peak with splendor, when all is
fire and glow and glory. Then darkness
falls-and night.
But they who know the Lord and Hi
wvys, they know that all is we'll with
our brother. They know the Shepherd
has gone into the hills and led back into
the fold His owu.
This lodge Of sorrow need not be one
Of tears. Rather let it be the Elk's grand
Thanksgiving Day. Let US thank the
giver Of all good gifts for the lease He
has given US Of this life.
Hon. Erwin L. Regsnnitter in IA briei
conversational but impressive and dis
tinct style delivered the Special Eulogy