The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-05
Address at the EIkS Memorial
By J. BENNETT GORDON

takes down the scaffolding, clears
away the litter of human effort and
then we behold in the sunlight of
Gods truth that structure which they
were erecting. that structure built OF
noble thoughts. kind deeds and worthy
purposes. that mansion not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens"
and We exclaim
Honor and reverence and the good
repute
That follows faithful service as its
fruit
Be unto them, whom dead, we living,
do salute"
That is why today, wherever there
is lodge of the Benevolent and Pro
tective Order OF Elks, there are as
sembled the living brethren to do
honor TO their living dead. That is
why there breaks upon the silence
the eleven strokes-symbolic of the
souls immortality. That is why the
mystic roll Is called. sweet reminder
of the teaching that living an Elk is
never forsaken; passed to the great
beyond, an Elk is never forgotten.
That is why-the fact that death robs
us of everything trivial and leaves us
only the strong and permanent-we
write the faults of our brothers upon
the sands of time that the swiftly re-
current tides OF forgetfulness may
wash them out into the sea OF oblivion.
and that is why with the strong arm
of fraternal love and justice we deeply
engrave their virtues upon the adam
antine tablets of hallowed recollect-
ion.
Dead-yet living! Living in the af-
lection of their families and loved
ones: living in the memory of their
brother Elks; living in the honors here
paid them; in the words often spoken
OF them. in the thoughts always loyal
to them.
Our roll call Of Absent Brothers
sounds no name to which Fame paid
homage; they were all men from the
humber walks of life. None of them
was wealthy. as that term is applied
in this age of colossal fortunes. Yet
they are as rich today as the man who
has amassed millions; they are as
mighty today as the man to whom rul-
ers make obeisance.
Death is a great leveler most Just
arbiter. During life we give praise
to those who achieve largely, forget
full that those who accomplish less
may be the more deserving. The man
who works under the stimulus of pub
lie praise and wins, is less a success
than the man who works unnoticed
and conquers. The knowledge that
his success will win him the applause
Of the multitude is an inspiration to
the man in public life, squirting him
on to higher things and more strenu-
Gus endeavor. While his success is
not to be underestimate it is to the
man in the humber walks of life who
performs his duty faithfully, in the
full knowledge that it will bring him
no public recognition that the greater
praise is due. The man in public life
has his character strengthened by the
knowledge that his every act, his ev-
cry motive, is constantly being sub
jected to the closest scrutiny. Did
his inclination urge him to the COM
mission of sins the fear Of public dis
approval would be safeguard to him
in the hour of weakness But the man
on whose deeds the public sets no
watch has not this fear of oppro-
brium to deter him from stepping
aside from the path of rectitude. If
he remains true, 1t is for the sake of
truth, and out of respect to himself.
Great as are the victories OF camp
and forum, the achievements of indus
try and finance
yet greater them who on life's bat
tlefield
With unseen foes and fierce tempta-
tons fight"
unarmed except with their own con-
science, unhonored in their hours of
victory, unwept in event the odds
prove too great Such men are up
right because 1t is their nature SO to
be. To this class of men belonged