The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-02

Of a kindly word or deed, If misfortune be his lot. Or the brother be in need.'' We are this day in voiceless com munication with our departed broth CTS. Their glorified spirits are look ing down upon us from the windows of their mansion in the skies, they are stretching their invisible arms to us, benedictions and beckoning us to come to them on the golden shores of that mysterious realm beyond the stars, from whose bourne no traveller shall return
 ''The shadow ships are waiting, Their phantom sails are spread To wait us over the shoreless sea To greet our sacred dead- We believe that somewhere beyond beyond the dark impenetrable mid night of death. there exists a sweet eternal spirits of mortals, land where endless morn prevails, where the sun shines forever and the skies are perpetua1ly serene. In that bright realm there are no aching hearts, no disappointed hopes, no stifled anbi- tions, no terrors of sickness or death tae of vstory 1 0f aaa without the slightest regret, because we will then realize that the circun- stances which surrounded us in this
 
 and burnish our immortal souls. Our brothers lives go on with ours thrown aside we seem to see their clear light shining down upon us as inspiration to leave behind the and daily lives with kindness, charity, benevolence and prayer, and leave no place for doubts. distrust, darkness and despair
 Thomas Carlyle, has said, life, is but little gleam of time between two eternitiee''
 But that little gleam of time called and evil, joy and sadness, pleasure and pain Take the mornings wing and as you soar to mountain heights, and all the world seems filled with glad ness, you will hear the wind signing through the trees; again as you stand upon the shore and see the sunshine dance and play upon the water, the waves will break at your feet with moan, but it is this sadness and eor- row oa that nat has developed all that ad is is the best justification for our existence as an Order.
 The Benevolent and Protective Order of EIxs has gone hand in hand with the Church in teaching morality, char ity and fraternity, and with the State it has gone side by side in inspiring within the breast of its members 8 more exalted and truer patriotism and a greater love and reverence for our flag and for the noble institutions that 1t represents.
 That little handful of men who in the year 1868 in the City of New York, banded themselves together in the bonds of good fellowship, little dream ed of the growth and importance this Order would attain: but today there exist nearly 1900 lodges with total membership of 100000 and the Order Of Elks is without doubt the grand est fraternity this great American Re- public has ever seen.
 The portals of our order are clos ed to no one because of his religious belief. Within the sacred precincts Of each lodge sit men of all denomina- the fatherhood of God and brother hood of man The principles of our Order are Charity, Justice: Brotherly Love and Fidelity-no institution was ever erected upon a safer, surer or more enduring foundation.
 Love of virtue, deZotion to honor and ples everywhere and at all times. sets upon any man the distinctive seal of true nobility.
 In faithfully carrying out these grand principles, this order of ours has enshrined itself sn the hearts of a grateful humanity. In world where often disregarded; where the widow and the fatherless too often cry. in vain for assistaace, how like blessings from on high are the acts of kind this great benevolent order.
 Forged in the living fire of friend. ship. and welded on the anvil or or song and praise are the perennial links in an endless chain of remembrance, girdlipg the world of E1kdom. ana ous unity, the earthly ana heavenly divisions of our glorious fraternity.
 The purpose Of tnis seTvice e IS o9 o@ the living and to quicken It to sense of duty, to give a moment of reveren- tial thought to those comrades who lad fn, safe in the harbor of death, and to bring such consolation as we may to the sorrowing ones in whose nveS ana friends who must find much comfort in the thought that their loved ones were identified in life with an organi- tive Order of Etks.
 Stone, marble and bronze may per- ish and fade away, but the lives of our brothers, and the good they taught by precept and example. will live so long as this great order shall live. As we have witnessed their worth and the be transmitted to those who follow US in the keeping of the records of this order.
 believe that over the great beyond. in Gods beautiful kingdom, that whether it be on the mountain tops, bathed in breath of life everlasting. or whether in the dewy valleys below, 'mid the flowers and the songs or p1roS. or whether in the green pastures, Or be- side the still waters. that there, some where, Soneh sometimes: we shall again meet our absent brothers. ..Endeared to us all by their goodness, Their absence we deeply deplore, And sadden. when their names areI
 mentioned
 In a lodge that will know them no They W are gone-but today let us
 whisper
 A prayer born in sorrow and love, Farewell! God grant thee, our
 brothers, High place in the Grand Lodge
 above!' i" N0RNAN MACK ENDORSES