The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-12-06
Your soul shall 60, from the World
below
Where there is room enough for
all.

If were permitted to make furth-
er revelations concerning the Benev
client and Protective Order of Elks !
would tell you that every lodge room
of the Order is a school in patriotism
lit is distinctively an American order,
and the American flag Old Glory,
there. adorns its every altar through.
out the length and breadth OF the
land. 1t is no part of my present
purpose to dwell upon the glories OF
this free republic. 1t is sufficient to
| say in this connection that if this ma
ton is to endure the shocks Of time
and fortune and WELD q controlling
hand in shaping the worlds affairs
now that it has become a world power,
! 1t is incumbent upon us as American
citizens in greater degree than ever
before to maintain constant and
| vigilant watch over our laws and lib
critics. we must cultivate more than
ever before a patriotic love of coun,
| try and renew daily our pledges OF un
| faltering devotion to those just prin
ciples of government and to those
civil and religious institutions which
have, under the guiding hand OF Prov
| idence. so wonderfully prospered us
as a nation and made us capable OF
accomplishing so much for humanity,
We need to saturate ourselves, as 1t
were, with the ideas and principles
which have made this model gov.
eminent, and which are as indispens.
able to national life and vigor as the
free atmosphere is to the life and
vigor Of the individual Among the
active, potent means to this great end
the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks holds an important place At
every regular session it inculcuates
sentiments Of loyalty and patriotism
and establishes fraternal feeling OF
devotion to country Every Elk is
| taught to honor the flag of his coun.
| try and revere the principles for
which 1t stands. It recalls to him al!
the sufferings, all the achievement, all
the heroisf, all the glories that have
become enshrined in 1t during our ma.
tional existence, and he is pledged to
die, If need be, in It's defense. Is it
any wonder that Elks are proud of
their order and are bound together by
ties that are sweeter than life and
stronger than death? OF the bonda
which unite the living of our frater-
nity with the dead this memorial occa-
sion is living witness "Our absent
brothers.. What world Of meaning
the expression conveys to every Elk
within the sound of my voice. They
are gone. but they are not forgotten.
Nor will they be forgotten while heart
hath power to feel, voice to utter and
ear to hear
In recalling them let ,is not fail to
recall also the fact tnat we can best
honor them by emulating the virtues
they exemplified in their lives. The
good work in which our departed
brothers were engaged while here
with us on the arena Of earth Is not
vet completed. The battle is still on
are tears to be wiped away, want tc
be relieved and faith to be Ye-estab
lished in an all-wise GOO 1t will con
tinue as long as there is human I'm
derstanding to be enlarged, sym
Epathies to be quickened and broaden
ed, aspirations to be increased and
: elevated, and until the Good shall
everywhere and at all times BIZ
! triumphant This is our work, ant
| to it we here and now dedicate our
selves anew, that we may hasten tn,
, coming of that unshadowed day who's,
mellow dawn the prophets sang il
| ages long gone by, when "all men,
, good shall be each mans rule, ant
I universal peace lies like shaft o
, light across the land, and like
t lance. Of beams athwart the sea
through all the circle of the colder
: year.