Gilpin observer., 1910-12-08


bers and influence not because it haa
taught doctrine, but because It has
pract.ced everlasting truths; not be-
cause 1t has advocated the building
of hospitals, but because it has built
them; not alone because it has spok-
en- words of sympathy, but because 1t
has relieved distress.
"It has not reserved beautiful bo-
quets 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 the joys
and cares of today, rather than to
guess as to the morrow, l speak to
you tonight Of this Life, and not Of
that unknown condition that les
beyond the vale Of darkness.
"The founders of this fraternity
builded far better than they knew.
A little band of actors, outcasts of
so-called society, seeking a friendly
shell er from the criticisms of those
who sought to rid!cule Their calling
and to beEttle their characters,
enunciated as the prime principle of
their brotherhood, Charity The
warrant for assuming that charity is
the greatest of all the virtues is
found in inspiring pages
FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY;
these three-But the greatest of
these is CHARITY
Faith is the supreme gift of the
gods. 1t comes not to every man.
Well may thcee who have implanted
in their hearts sublime Faith-who
feel is consolatson-have Charity for
their less fortunate brothers who
have not felt and cannot feel the
divine spark in their hearts that
might clear away the mis.s Of Doubt.
without Hope. how could man
wage that unequal contest with. Fate
and Chance? In the darkest night,
Hope leads the way.
But Charity is mishtier than
Faith stronger than Hope.
Fifteen centuries ago, Mahome-
the founder of the religion which has
been the greatest barrier to the
spread Of Christianity, declared.
Every good act is charity; your
smiling in your brothers. face is
charity; an exhortation to your fe!-
low man to virtu,u us deeds is equal
to aims giving; your putting a wan
derer in the right road is charity;
your assisting the blind is charity;
| other distractions in the road is
charity; your giving water to the
thirsty is charity
1.-The true Elk believes in charity
of thought and word and deed. The
charity We preach and practice in
cludes consideration OF the rights of
others. tolerance Of opposite views,
whether political or religious; charity
for the environment and Temptations
that surround and beset a brother as
he journeys through life. Giving 10
the poor from an abundant purse, dis
tribut'ng millions that may have been
acquired by wringing pennies from
the hard hands Of peasants. contri-
butiors to charity balls that the
name OF the donor may be heralded
in the newspapers. signing sute:rp
tion Ests that all may see how gener-
Gus the subscriber is, these acts do
not constitute the charity We teach.
Almsgiving may be vulgar. Charity is
always divine. Charity irc.udes un'
/ derstanding and sympathy and hep
| for thcse who rave fallen in tia
ed defeat where the more fortunate
have won success. Charity is human
ity, charity is love towar's cur fellow
man.
I'VE believe, too. in Justice. but
not the stern. unyielding. exactina
Justice that Puritan would deman1
and a Shylock would enforce. An old
philosopher admitted: Il am not
wise enough to know what Justice
is.' The gentle Portia said, In the
course OF Justice none of us should
see salvation" Justice that walks
with Mercy is our ideal.
when we speak CT Brotherly love
we mean an earnest attempt on the
part OF every Elk to understand every
other Elk and to be his friend. II
has been said that Friendship Is
a necessity OF the SOUL Perhaps the
best definition that was ever given
of friendship was by the little school
boy who was asked. What is a
friend? He replied. A friend Is one
who knows all about you, but who
loves you Just the same
"The Elks' creed is tod in the