New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-12-14
ELKs MEMORIAL SERVICES.

| IA pretty CuS'ohi
the Elks throughout the land, IS
that Of holding during the last
month of each year, open meetings
commemorative of their dead.
Within the quiet precincts OF their
lodge rooms are invited the rela-
| tives and friends Of deceased
brothers; there to do honor to the
| memory of dear ones. In pursu-
ance with this custom there as
sembled last Sunday evening a
large and representative audience
of ladies and gentlemen who came
10 join with the local Elks IN DONG
honor and in paying just tribute
to the memory of Franklin M.
Welch to whose untirlng efforts
and unselfish zeal this commun-
ity is so greatly indebted.
Exemplifying the motto OF the
Order, Charity, Justice and
Brotherly love-" the rituallstic
W ork was carried out in most I'M
pressive manner by the Lodge, as
sisted by the Elks choir and by the
Misses Bessie Galliand, Cora Sc
g,1ra. Louise Blanchet, Annie
Archer and ISIS" Renoudet, who
had graciously loaned their ser
vices thereby adding much to the
solemnity Of the occasion, MISS
Bessie Galliand especially contri-
butino by her exquisite rendition
of that most beautiful song, The
Rosary"
ELOQUENT were the eulogies de-
livered by Messrs. Ventress ..
Smith, Porteus R. Burke and Jules
Dreyfus, all three closely allied
in the past with him whose mem
orv was being honored. HIS
hardships and his trials; his vic
tories and his successes were re-
cited; and his final accomplish
ments pointed out as the only
monuments worthy of F. M.
Welch.
Final prayers were offered by
the Chaplain, Capt. John 7. White
and the audience dismissed with
the feeling that in the Order OF
Elks ala
"Life is real, life is earnest
And the grave is not its goal
Dust thou art and dust returneth,
Was not spoken Of the soul.
We herewith reproduce the re-
marks of Mr.. Dreyfus on this
solemn occasion, being unable to
get a written copy from the 9TH
er two gentlemen:
"The touching custom among
the civilized people Of the world,
which is responsible largely FOR
the memorial exercises held am
nually in churches, fraternal bod
les and other benevolent institu-
lions to pay a general tribute OF
respect to the dead, is as old as
the old testament.
The prophets of Israel, those
great immortal philosophers and
students of life have made it an
impressive part Of judaism, a
part which is still being practiced
in these modern days by their dis
|ciples at every anniversary OF the
death Of Jewish parents. He
brew children, as long as life
lasts, have special services and
prayers delivered in their house
Of worship, and must participate
in the special ceremonies remem-
bering the dead.
From material standpoint no
practical good and value can be
ascribed to these efforts and the
impression made on the material
list ELECTS only coarse raillery, Of,
fensive sneer, naughty contempt.
While in our age Of mad and
crushing commercialism, man s
effort has its known, measured
value, based on the utility at
tached to his wealth-producing
capacity a modern machinery OF
political economy, a colossal Jug
gernaut surprising the speed and
execution Of its prototype coined
by Mythology; still there are
some virtues, some values, some
conditions of civilization general
ing peace, comfort and brother
hood, produced by the conscience,
mind and heart, more valuable
than the most precious metals,
typifed by the coin Of the spirit
ual mint, coin not weighed on
the scale Of the gold Of the bank
er or the rapacity Of greed. III
is the point Of view that blazes
the way to a broader view Of life,
where can be felt the exaltation
Of soul, the inspiration Of heart,
the lustre Of the pure, the dull
ness of dross, the immortal life
of the one, the lurking death in
the other.
Paradise, angels, God and the
whole empyrean tapestry studded
with the beauties and wealth Of