East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-12-05

illt mas DtihS piNtNA'y A~N'
presence and then notes and soon for
gets it's loss
Some may engage in mercantile
pursuits; others may become known
to the professions; one may be Of high
command, and another of humble
calling. Hod carrier or millionaire,
toiler with brain or toiler with mus
Gle, the results accomplished by one
life may be more far reaching than
those achieved by another. The cir
Gle in which one moves may be wider
than that described by another or 1t
may be that some "to fortune and to
fame unknown" are laid to rest in
their narrow cell with a rough board
to mark their lowly bed and yet no
life that Is moved guided and govern
ed by the promptings of heart and
conscience is lived in vain. But the
sphere within which such a life was
lived is better because of the living
of that life. The Influence left by 1t
is lasting and is not transient.
at is like the vase in which roses
Have once been distilled
You may break. you may shatter the
vase If you will
But the scent of the roses hangs
round it STILL
Obedience to the commands of the
obligations of an Elk has never brok-
en- law of right conduct written or
unwritten. Observance of the teach
ings of Elkdom has never lowered a
brow in dishonor nor flushed the
cheek of woman with the crimson
blush of shame. A strict adherence
to the tenets of this fraternity has new
er caused a tear of pain nor broken
a heart; has never darkened home
nor convulsed a bosom with poignant
grief.
But the creed of Elkdom has dried
many a tear, lessened many a sor-
row, and assuaged many a grief 1t
has relieved many a despair with the
glow of hope and kindled many a
Joy. 1t has strengthened the weak
and lifted up the fallen. 1t has whis-
pered sweet words Of cheer and with
out show or display extended a help
ing hand in the hour of need.
Clothed in the language of the in
comparable poem, the creed of Elk
dom bids thee to
$50 live that when thy summons
comes
To join the innumerable caravan
That moves to that mysterious realm,
Where each shall take his chamber
In the silent halls of death.
Thou go not like the quarry slave at
night,
Scourged to his dungeon,
But sustained and soothed by an un-
faltering truth
Approach thy grave like one
Who wraps the drapery of his couch
about him
And lies down to pleasant dreams"
We proffer no pecunary rewards,
| but offer as the sole inducement to
join our ranks the good that comes
from the practice and observance OF
the teachings of Elkdom. We seek
| to impress the truth that life is not
an empty dream but that it is worth
the living We do not believe that
the good men do is buried with their
bones nor that the evil they do alone
lives after them. We realize that
| litlAiitI Aiit N'iilb il'l Alt
can serve to keep fresh the recollec-
ton of the past. Because we know
that
| "Only the actions of the just
| Smell sweet and blossom in the dust
And it is this philosophy that in
spired the creed of Elkdom.
THE faults of our brothers we write
upon the sands;
Their virtues upon the tablets Of love
| and memory"
| This does not mean that evil should
be immune. It does not mean that
the laws of the land shall be defiled
the standards of morality held fol
naught nor that a disregard for the
rights of others shall go unnoticed
| But it does mean that IL is better tc
point out the way of right to the weak
and erring. 1t does mean that no mar
should be stunned or condemned be-
cause of the frailties, or foibles of hui
man nature. 1t does mean that 1t |!
better to follow the lesson of mere!
taught by the recording angel who af
ter hearing the final account of the
flown spirit wrote, with letters Of en-
during gold, the story of righteous
ness wrought upon earth; and wheI
done, upon a single page dimly wrot'
of the weaknesses which flesh wa
heir to and then shed a tear upon th'
writing of that page and blotted /
out forever.
This day of each year is dedicated
by the Brotherhood of Elks to tn
memory of the deceased members
This hour is consecrated by the recol
lections of their merits and is hal
lowed by the virtues which are writer
upon the tablets of love and memory
/ Within the precincts of Elkdom mel
are forgotten because of their fault
and are remembered because of thei
virtues. If it be worthy to remembe
merit it is yet worthier to enact mer
1t If it is nobler still to be the doe
of whatever is entitled to the com
mendation of others. Many a caree
has been blghted by the tongue o
slander and so too many a life ha
been rendered lusterous by the voic
of encouragement.
zone kind word to the living said
Is worth a hundred laurels an
wreaths to the dead"
AS they whose memory we rever