The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-02

actor or artisan, priest or printer.
asking only that his character De
worthy; that he believe In Supreme
Being, and that he subscribe himself
TO the objects Of the order.
Growth of the ORDER.
Under the operation OF this pr.n-
cipaI and these requirements the or
der has grown to q membership OF
quarter of a million, representing one
thousand lodges
The objects OF the order. said afr.
Harper. are expressed in the four
cardinal principles of the order
charity, justice. brotherly love, IL
deity. Explaining each of these IN
order the speaker said in part;
The Benevolent and Protective
Order of Eiks questions no mans re-
iigion. nor bars him on account OF
creed But IT does strive to cuitiyats
that noble quality of the heart which
liz embraced In the teachings Of all
religions--charity And SIS ii is the
concern Of all mankind, so it Is the
particular concern Of every Elk, for.
II liz the very foundation stone upon
which the whole order is erected.
Charity Ia q word Of many mean
ings and admits of many different in
terprefations, but in It's fullest and
freest significance II embraces all the
other virtues, for charity is love. II
spreads It's gentle influence abrood In
the world and clothes the faults of all
mankind In the garment OF tender for
giyeness. Love ye one another was
not spoken to the members of par
ticular family or to the followers of
a particular religion. 1t WAS the
eomman nd of the Divine Master to all
the listening world. And 1t is THIS
charity taat has set q watchword for
every faithful Elk"
But the order of Eiks is not
merely an organization for the prac-
tice OF charity toward all mankind"
he continued. cit has a high and
noble purpose to subserye among its
own members in the cultivation of
those qualities Of the mind and
heart that elevate and refine. that
enable and exalt. Not the least of
these is Justice. 1t has been said
| by great thinker that justice is
the one particular attribute that dis
tinguishes man from the mere ami
mai. 1t Is that quality that makes
man to render what is rightly due.
that restraints the ruthless hand of
vengea nee. but withholds no merited
discipline; that disdaius the proffered
/ bribe OF seif-interest and scorns the
specious arguments of that false
philosophy, might makes right. 1t
| liz the very foundation of govern
ment'
Brotin,riy Love
OF the third principle of the order
| brotherly love-the orator said in
| part:
Perhaps the one peculiar feature
| of the order which gives an Elk the
81 nd v.IA HI
membership is the fact that wherever
| he may go in this broad land and
| wherever he may find a man who re-
| spends to his hall. he finds not onl,
| a man but a brother. This feature OF
the order is one whose advantages anc
pleasures can scarcely be oyeresti,
| mated. 1t Ia the purpose OF the order
| of Eiks TO cultivate among its mem
| bers determination to seek that good
in brothers heart, and. when he ha,
| found 1t. to stimulate and encourage
| 1t. and thus draw strength for the bet.
ter growth of what is good and trus
| love in its highest and best sense
| 1t is brotherly love of Elkhood"
Passing on to fidelity. Mr.. Harper
said that this solemn service with al
It's ceremony and hidden meaning, Is
held In accordance with earnest tea IN
ing of fidelity to the memory Of those
Of our brothers to whom the irea,
| summons has come. and who ha,
gone before us into the Great Beyond
1t Is an annual service, held on thi.
particular day by each lodge. There
is something inspiring in the thought
that. even as We meet hero at this
hour. like meetings are being heii :.
| more than one thousand cities all
over the land for the same purpose
TO recall In loving memory the Fir.
tues. and good deeds OF our absen,
brothers. and to brush away the s4n1
In which their faults have been in
scribed."
Following is the program:
The Program.
overture--'Merry Wives of Wind
sor ,,.......,..... -. NICOLA
Academy Orchestra.
Prayer-Rep. s. n. Tyler
tQpartet-"Still, Sell With Thee"
Foots
Mrs. John Murphy, Mrs. Jasper
T., Rowe, Mr., Lynn Tucker, Mr..
Howard Bryant.
Opening ceremonies-R h mont
Lodge. No. s5. r, +. O. Il.
Exalted Ruler, Nj. r. Richter and
Officers.
During which the Roll OF Our Hon
ored Dead" since last Memorial
will he called.
Efks' Opening Ode-~~Melody. "AulG
Lang Syne.'
~
Great Ruler OF the Universe,
All seeing and benign
Look down upon and bless our work
And be all glory Thine.
o hear our prayers for the honored
dead,
While bearing In our minds
The memories craven on each heart
For Aud Lang Syne.
Audience requested to unite In sing.