The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-14
ELKS SILVER
 ANNIVERSARY
fContiued from Page 1.)


 Mayor Buckingham arose to speak and was greeted with prolonged ap- plause, followed by the singing Of, He's a Jolly Good Fellow. He ex tended a cordial welcome to the guests and gladly turned over to them the keys of the city. He congratulated the lodge upon the occasion of it's 25th Elkdom had played in making bet ter citizens had been strong fac tor in making Bridgeport what it is,- the first city in the State and the best city in America to live in. The mayor said he had been impressed with the fact that, seated in the room was adequate material to give the to transact it's business. He declared th e is no more representative body of men in the city than those afflllat- ed with the organization. In closing he said, "In beginning new year in Elkdom and in the beginning or the new calendar year, let us all as Elks resolve to see to 1t that we :uo all working for the welfare of Bridge port we shall realize more and more that our city is the Pride of New England.i''
 Arthur Moreland. past exalted ruler of New York lodge, No. l. and edltor of the "Elk's Antler," received most enthusiastic welcome. Mir. Moreland has been blind for years, but other wise enjoys the best health. He act ed as one of the installing officers when Bridgeport lodge was instituted and it was most appropriate that ne should be present to take part m the celebration. He said in part: "l nave many pleasant recollections of Bridge port and the many fine people whom V. Twenty-five years is a small matter to talk about. But 20 years Of the past is not to be compared with 2o years of the future. We can LOOK back upon one, but the future is pe- .vond the ken of mortal man. Forty years ago last Thanksglving l was a member of the Bridgeport Stock Co, which rang up the curtain TOT the first time at Segee's Opera House. This fact would seem to many to make me an old man, but am not an old man. for I simply refuse to allow myself to get old. As plainly as though it was a question of weeks instead of years I can recall the faces of the first officers of Brldgeport lodge. They were Colonel William H. Stevenson, Edward H. Hotchklss, Robert Weber, Charles H. Hinman, t'. J. Freyler and there was Arthur W. French the first chaplain, ] wonder IT he is still in the land of the living. For 25 years I have watched the ca reer of No 36. Tonight at this table are seated the oldest ElkS in Connec- ticut and at the same time they are my children. I was present in New Haven 27 years ago when pr. Kelly, who is with us tonight, became an Elk and I was present before that when Brother George Reynolds was made an Elk at the time that Hart ford Lodge No. 19 was instituted.
 s"The Elk fraternity means more than good fellowship. The order IS modern It is non-sectarian. it gives toleration to all crseds. all thoughts, and accepts all men for what they are and judges a man by what he does. Words count for nothing in Elkdom. Actions count for all. In our ranks we have the flower of American man hood The motive of the organization is to distribute sunshine and flowers along life's pathway.
 "The synonym of an Elk is one who loves his fellow man. l congratulate you of Bridgeport that you have been able to carry the beacon of Elkdom so high that it has impressed upon men of your State that Elkdom is the creed that teaches men to love their fellowmen."
 Henry H. Jennings, the Father of Bridgeport Lodge. said in part: "I am grateful to the supreme exalted ruler of all for permitting me to be present at this gathering tonight. It is indeed the happiest moment of my life. In 1882 joined Providence lodge. In 1883 helped institute Hartford lodge. I am Brid8eporter through