The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-12-13
MEMORIAL ADDRESS
Delivered by Rev. II. II. Barber Before
Fredericksburg Lodge of Elks in
Trinity Church.

Fredericksburg Lodge of Elks in
Trinity Church.
The following is the address made
by Rev. Dr.. HuberA H. Barber az
Trinity church ION sunday. Dec. 9Th,
1910. the occasion being the annual
memorial of Fredericksburg Lodge
No. SIS. Of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks:
You have asked me, my bro o.
ers OF Is. p. o. r.. 10 address you
on this your day OF memorial OF
your departed brothers and am
thankful TO you for the confidence
and love you have shown to me in
doing me this honor, IND more es'
pecially | am glad to welcome you
into this house of God. where we
meet as brethren having one Faith
err. for by your presence here you
declare you belief in God; you show
that your deeds of benevolence and
protection are actuated by motive
higher and no6ler than the applause
OF men. Indeed, as we all know,
so contrary to our order is TINS
principle of Pharaseism. performing
for the mems applause. that the
mention OF the name of any apph-
cant or recipient of charity or ma
terial help is not permitted in
the open councils of our lodge. But
| am not going TO deliver an eulogy
upon the good things of our or
der: if our individual lodge has not
grasped with sufficient charms what
Elkdom represents in the world and
in our national life no words or
mine will enforce it upon you.
The organization OF ours. which
is composed Of 335, 200 American
citizens. stands for patriotic fratcrn-
alism in our land. Man is pre-
eminently a social being. and organ
izatiOns such as this are necessary
TO civilization. We all inherently
possess the feelings OF charity, }.
b. l.. and F.. and the greater the
opportunity for the expansion Of
these faculties the broader We be-
come as men and the better We
equip ourselves for the duties of
citizenship. Your order. my broth
ers. was created for this very pur-
pose and lives to that end. AS
your C. Ex. r. said. 1T was ins'i-
tuted that these virtues might be
natured and encouraged. and has
for its corner stones those more
than worldly characteristics that
must perpe;uate its existence and
extend its usefulness so long as men
appreciate fidelity. possess the in
stincts of brotherly love. retain
within their hearts the natural de-
sire for justice and have as Il con-
Meeting link between them and Their
Maker the heavenly quality OF
charity; tn sum and substance Of
all religions are embraced within the
principles of charity, justice b. l..
and fidelity; Love for God and our
neighbor. Love. is the fulfilling OF
the law"
Ny brothers. let us for a very
few moments consider the four
great virtues which form the fOun-
dation OF our order.
The first of these and the great
est is charity and without this all
else is of none avail AS you we'll
know il is placed as the noblest
Tree in the garden of virtues; its
roots are imbedded in the soul Of
man: is tendrils environ his heart;
its blossoms are fragrant with the
perfume Of good deeds. and its fruit
Dlesses alike the giver and the re-
ceiver.
The second in their order is jus
ice. THAI fire OF divine truth, "
whose lichr we ere enabled 10 pr
csivo the merits OF others and our
0s n short comints. aud in whose
pure name envy malice and hatred
r- consumed. and honor. cancor
and manhood arise PhoeniN-'iHe
rom the ashes
BrOtherly iO.e c. mes next. the
mystic cord which unltes the hear,s
OF men Il viora q with sympathy
al the touch of ST. ring and makes
the misfortune Of one the sorrow
of all.
Then we have fidelity, the guar
dian angel Of all the virtues. Fc4
the devotees of each sle holds IL
one hand the iron rod OF duty and
in the other bears the golden cha
lice of reward. These are tn
grand principles upon which Is
erected the b. P. o. of Elks, and
may their spirit personified dra
around you, my brothers, an
enchanted circle.
During the last 80 years, during
which time only a record of the
sums given in charity has been kept
beginning with 1880, when $4.44O
was donated, up TO last year when
over 100000 was given, $3,55O,OOO
has been made in gifts for various
charitable purposes. This surely
is something to encourage us in our
work and labor Of love.
And here | want TO remind you
that good as the principles OF Elk
dom may be they were never IN
tended to supplant the church. The
principles upon which the order
exists are the very product of our
holy religion, for nothing of these
have ever been found in heather
countries. No man can become
member of this order without first
affirming his belief in God, for no
mans obligation or oath is held to
be worth anything without such
belief. And every intelligent man
will recognize the truth that true
belief in God must result in the
worship of that God, and in a wor-
ship which is not ashamed of itself.
which desires not to hide itself in