The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-12-11
Local EIk's Lodge of Sorrow.

The Lodge of Sorrow, in memory of
the departed brothers, was held by the
Idaho Springs Lodge No. GOT. B. P. o. E.,
in their lodge room last Sunday evening.
There was a large attendance Of the
members and also OF friends and the
program, as published in the Siftings-
News Of last week, was carried through
without break or flaw. The musical
numbers by the two quartets, the solos
by Mrs. Charles Brandstetter, F. Reyn-
olds and D S. Cubberly of Denver, were
rendered in touching and beautiful
manner. The instrumental numbers by
the Leach orchestra we're excellent
The general eulogy was delivered by
Hon. Thos. NJ. Hunter. who for years
was connected with the Denver Times,
was President of the Denver Press Club
and who rendered. such able assistance
to the committee in securing the edito-
rial excursion to this city during the
Democratic National Convention. While
laboring under some throat trouble, yet
his address was delivered in q manner
that could be heard very distinctly by
everyone in the audience. His pleasant
and easy delivery was q matter Of con-
graduation on the part Of his hearers
Space prevents US giving his eulogy in
full, but the following will give q com
prehensive idea Of its excellent merits:
Brother Exalted Ruler, Brother Elks and
Friends:-
come to talk of life. Since the fight
of years began, countless millions have
lain them down in their last sleep. Yet
history. sacred and profane, tells US Of
only one who returned from the tomb,
and the lips Of Lazarus were sealed.
He spoke no word. Where vert thou,
brother, those four dayss" besought the
anxious Mary. There lives NO record Of
reply, which telling what it is to die.
had surely added praise to praise. Faith
and nature point to Immortality and
every man hopes for another and bet
ter life, but we know no more Of the
future than did our ancestors, who. we
are told by some, made their abode in
caves and mumbled DER the bones Of
Of the slain.
The unfathomed mystery Of the ages
is death-the problem ever present is
life. We cannot live in the future, nor
can We dwell in the past. Is it not then
idle, even in this golden hour Of recollec-
ton, to speculate concerning the great
mystery when the battle Of life is on and
the field is covered with the wounded,
the troubled, the hopeless and those who
need our help?
Three hundred years ago the greatest
literary genius Of our world wrote the
doctrine Of a prior time in these words,
"Men's evil manners live in brass; their
virtues we write in water"
Man was cropping toward the light, but
the march was long and weary, and the
highways ran with the blood Of the
weaker.
A hundred years ago Scotland's great
bard. the gentle peasant prince. the low
ing cotter king, bemoaned the fact that
mans inhumanity to man makes count
less thousands mourn.
The brotherhood Of man was a dream
It was the survival not of the fttest iu
character, but Of the strongest in ply
sique.
Forty years ago the dream became a
reality in practice, and there came into
the world the realization Of an old
thought. Ono imbued with the Elks'
spirit, declared: HE who stoops above
a fallen brother stands erect"
In the practice Of that thought the
gospel Of brotherly love triumphed.
Henceforth the spirit Of the gentle Naz-
arene was to animate and rule power.
full fraternity of men.
No more could it be said that "Men's
evil manners live in brass" and that
"their virtues are written in water
Instead, the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks gave the world this bright
or and nobler motto: "The faults Of oul
brothers we write ON the sand; thelr
virtues upon the tablets of love and
memory" ...
This fraternity has grown in numbers
and influence not because it has taught
a doctrine, but because it has practiced
everlasting truths; not because it has
advocated the building Of hospitals. but
because it has built them; not alone
because it has spoken words Of sympa-
thy, but because it has relieved distress
1t has not reserved beautiful bouquets
for the funeral, but it has scattered
flowers Of kindness among the living.
And thus, because the mission Of this
order is to deal with tho joys and cares
Of today, rather than to guess a. to the
morrow, l speak to you tonight Of this
life, and not OF that unknown country