The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-12-06

of mankind are inclined to evil, that
the world loves a spice of wicked
ness. Be this as it may, it is none
the less true that many have gone
the wrong road for lack of friendly
advice and kindly influence from
those who are in position to render 1t,
and If only the kindly word were spo-
ken and helping hand extended be-
fore In their ceaseless march they
had plunged into the qulcksands Of
dishonor, they might have turned on
the road and retracing their steps to
the point of divergence been saved
from ruin.
At no time in the history of our
country has the development ana
lpractice Of the splendid principles of
our order been as necessary as to-
day; and as time runs on, unless con
dtlons materially change, the neces-
sity will increase.
This great republic has moved most
swiftly, and especially pronounced
has its progress been during the past
score of years, with the extension OF
our territory, the extension OF our
business affairs, and the vast accum-
uations Of wealth; and with all of
this advancement our responsibilities
have proportionately increased. We
are getting, in one sense. to be an
old nation, an old settled country. We
have great cosmopolitan city of al
most five million inhabitants Pitts
burg riva'ing in manufacture Eng
lands boosted Birmingham, and a
Chicago that annually sends out food
stuffs enough to feed one-half Of the
world. Corresponding to an Increase
in wealth and growth, there Is an
increase in competition. In all OF
| this resistless rush Of commerce and
restless activity in business affairs,
men have gradually lost time to be
sociable. lost time to be charitable
The busy man who moves along the
Broadways and Wall streets of our
great cities with his eyes bent on the
walk. has not even time TO shake
hands or bid the courtesies OF the
day. The result of II all Is that we
are becoming of human interest in the
the element of human interest In the
welfare OF others is becoming more
and more faint. In other words. we
are becoming cold and frozen. Or
ganized capital, organized society Is
becoming destructive. We must des-
troy that we may live. That would
seem to be the great law as II is read
today. and deplorable as this condit-
ion is. II would seem as II we were
fast approaching II in this great Am
erican Republic.
The thrifty man starting out in life
wonders why men he well knows
pass him on the street almost unnot
iced. but as his business grows and
his responsibilities increase, he finds
himself doing exactly the same thing
Must this condition continue to grow
and weigh down upon us with In
creasing leverage, is the burning
question OF today.
We believe that our order teaches
way to relieve the strain and ten
dency toward stolid indifference, tC
establish confidence In human natur,
and crush out the crueltles of com
merce and hard business ways, L
bring about a better understanding
and a closer communication between
men, TO take away criticisms an,
punishments unjustly placed. and Z,
make the real motives OF manknt
! better understood.
Man is social by nature. He mus
have a wave for its freedom: h
must have some opportunity. som,
time, somewhere to exercise this In
!, herent instinct. The God OF heavel
created that force In his nature an,
: I must have vent
The ideal OF Elkdom Is that me
should draw nearer In friendship, a
. lection and confidence. and by tn
" pure interchange of hearts an
thoughts. see more clearly the usefu
y ness and virtues OF each other an
D thus be enabled to dismiss envy fror
= their bosoms and give place to gel
erous admiration. To stretch OF
willing hands to heal, to help, I
:, guide, to protect, to save. In shor
y to discharge their obligations and D,
y form their duties IN manner TO ear
- the appreciation OF conscience, an
y cave memories soft and dim and 81
:, cred beyond the painters art to cop
- but hung up as In an ancient CALLER
for the visits and contemplation
y maturer years. mellowed, perhaps an
= graced by the tasteful hand OF time
I. The ideal OF Elkdom teaches not
:, be Indifferent to neighboring ma
" kind all their lives and when the
u" die send flowers 20 the house
mourning. and expect them to DC
" form the duty We have for years ne
u lected. but to let our deeds OF kin
IN ness and words OF announcement
- out to the living, to cheer some Il
" lorn spirit and solace some brok,
vi heart, and TO let our flowers emb,
~ fish the chamber OF the invalid rae
" ed with pain, so that by their beau
le and fragrance. the cheer and era
:, tude which they silently testify q
y. be appreciated and cherished.
~ IL teaches when we know pers
ne merits praise by reason OF the pert,
vi nance Of good deeds to tell him of
Ilh for that may be the only earthly co
re pensation he will receive, and II
~. find those whose pathway Is sire,
p" Continued on Page Three)