The Dickinson press., 1912-12-07

IN the state OF ~00ne86ee Wnefe R0tQ.
cred together there that day were cit
liens of the city ard of that commun-
ity. and in commemoration of those
who were sleeping in their final resting
place, in honor of the valiant deeds
which they had performed for their
country. kind words were said and
beautiful flowers were placed upon their
graves. They we're known as brave col
diers, men who had given up their lives
for their country. IN defense of their
flag, and on that day they were remem-
bered and honored by the same people
who fifty years ago were their enemies
in arms.
The people who had gathered there
OF that day were foreetful of the past
and hopeful for the future. They came
only to show their appreciation, their
respect for the many brave deeds which
the men who were sleeping there had
performed in the dark and gloomy
days of the early sixties. No n knew
who lay beneath those plain white.
marble slabs. marked with the simple
inscription unknown" but deep down
into the heart of every patriotic Amer
lean citizen those men are known.
recognized. loved and honored. and the
memory of their courageous deeds ut
C%hicaquama. Lookout Mountain and at
Missionary Ridge, and the knowledge of
their soldiers death will be handed
down from generation to generation as
a priceless heritage of American liber-
ty.
Those men were once the nucleus of
the greatest army the world has eve
known. For four long years they march,
ed. and fought for the old stars and
stripes. They enlisted in that great
army because they felt as though their
country called. them; they answered
the call. they fought. bled
and died: they departed to enlist in
that great army beyond the skies.
There they will have no ~tireless march,
AAl6s III OOOl11AAlS - SlC NotAOlas A1O
ing of the muskets. no bloodshed. but
life everlasting. Their duty, their mis-
sion in life was accomplished. They
went forth to the call of the bugle will
ing and ready to pay the price MOTH
ing on earth was as sweet to them as to
give up their lives for their country's
sake. So a day had been set aside by
the government for the people of this
country to honor these men in comment
grafton of their lives. and the way in
which they died.
Thus it is with the great army of.the
Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, an army which has been march
ing and fighting for God, for country
and for home for many years. Every
where that the sun touches the beautiful
stars and stripes you will find a knight
of that army. they are spread upon the
earth but there is a bond and a tie of
sympathy. which joins together every
living Elk, whether he be upon his ma
tive soil or upon foreign fields. This
day has heen set aside by the Grand
Lodge as memorial day. a day in which
w meet together and honor those of our
brethren who became weary and who
laid down beside the wayside and fell
into that endless sleep from which there
is no awakening. Every day some
member Of that great army joins the
ranks of the immortal, but each day
there is a new recruit to take his place
the gap is always filed and the march
continues.
ITO those departed brothers of ours. to
those who have taken their earthly de-
nit to the Grand Lodge beyond the
skies, we have no fear as to their fu-
ture life. for if they were true Elks, if
they lived according to the teachings of
Elkdom they have Joined the immortal
ranks above the skies. That army is
marching under the American flag its
purpose is to quicken the spirit of
American patriotism, to inculate the
principles of charity. justice, brotherly
love and fidelity. There is no dis
sention amongst its members. They are
in harmony. They are fighting for the
same cause. seeking to reach the same
goal. striving and pleading for those
things which 60 towards uplifting and
upbuilding of humanity. tending to the
doing of those things that will give to
us a greater civilization and a better
realization of own important duties.
Our work is not done for display nor
for show. We care not for the opinion
of the world. Praise is not that which
we seek. The consciousness of doing
that which is right is our reward, the
only compensation we ask and the only
compensation that we receive. An Elk
is never friendless. no matter what his
walk in life may be, no matter whether
he be rich or poor. II matters not
whether he be up or down, if he has
been true to his VOWS and true to the