The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-12-17
A Beautiful Testim onial

A Beautiful Testimonial
Below = pa6lished synopsis Of the
gssssal sulogy delivered by J. w.
Kelley ct the Elk's Memorial services
Last Sunday evening:
Forty-one years ago there was
called into existence the fraternal
organisation known as the Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks.
The aims and purposes of its found
ers were such as to do credit to
men whose hearts beat true to the
promptinss of friendship. They were
men who aspired out Of the goodness
OF their natures to fulfill the scrip
tural Injunction which tells u to com.
fort the afflicted. visit the sick and
bury the dead. In all the years that
have passed since the order was born
its principles have never changed. 1t
now has a quarter of a million mem
bers who today. with one accord, lay
aside the ordinary affairs of life and
assemble together in the Lodge Of
Sorrow.
There are those who affect to think
lightly Of ceremonies held in memory
Of the dead. But the world is for
tunate that there are not many with
minds 20 narrow and hearts So cold
that they can dismiss the claims of
friendship at the grave. Those to
whom loyalty and affection have be-
come a habit Of life. cannot coldly
forget when the earth has closed above
their friends. They may say, as was
said three thousand years ago. that
the judgments Of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether but as long
as they live their hearts will bear the
scars.
Life 10 like a mighty river that
finds its source at tiny spring far
up amid the mountains of eternal
snow. and flowing onward gather vol
ume as 1t rolls. loses itself at last in
a sea as vast and shoreless as eter-
nifty. The beginning. the progress and
the end of mans existence are themes
of which the world never tires. The
vague mystery of creation challenges
the human intellect only to BATTLE it;
the motives and mistakes of men sup
ply problems 30 intricate that no NOR
tai mind has yet been able to solve
them: the melancholy tragedy Of death
leaves US all standing. forlorn
group, at the brink Of the grave,
dreading the vast and mysterious
power we do not understand.
We must all die. and each would
choose, II he could, the same majestic
setting for his last act upon the
stage Of life. We dread to die alone,
friendless, forgotten, with none to pity
or to weep. We would go if we could
surrounded by friends and kindred,
bidding each farewell, and bestowing
upon them all a thousand hallowed
memories OF happy days when loving
words and kindly deeds bore testi-
mony to our mutual esteem. To go
nobly into the future from among a
circle of brothers is not a terror. To
look back from the undiscovered coun.
try upon a life that has merited true
and unwavering affection to the end
takes away much of the sting of
death and robs the grave Of its trag-
edy.
Whatever cities lie beyond the twi
lights purple hills, touched by the
last beams Of life's setting sun, will
hnya friQnd.
ships golden keys.
There is a desire for human SYM
pathy implanted in the heart of man
Ny the mystic soul of the universe
1shat cannot be eradicated. In the
esence Of death hate is vanquish-
ed; we forgive. By the grave i'm
perfections are forgotten; grief alb
serbs all evil emotions. When the
soul has left its tenement of clay re-
venge Is softened; we are just. When
the chill winds blow from the icy
caverns of death, we cannot with
hold our sympathy from those who
go out with the tide. We wish them
all prosperous voyage for we know
that each Of us must some day step
upon the deck of the phantom ship
that sails beyond the shores Of time
to reach, we trust, safe harbor In
a fairer land.
From this impulse of man to deal
tenderly with his brother In distress
has sprung a mighty order of fratern-
al men. under whose auspices we
meet today, to stand for moment
in reverent contemplation, Of those
who have passed away. The order
Of Elks does not depend upon any
solemn oath to bind its members to-
gether. Ties Of love and friendship,