Devils Lake weekly world., 1912-12-06

Oay AFTERNOON at Cne IranQ opera
house to the deceased members of the
lodge, Brothers David f. Morgan, Will
liam D. Rees and John j. Samson,
being held in mcmoriam.
The services were indeed suspicious
and we'll attended. Great praise is
due the committee in charge especially
the members of the decorating commit
toe the artists hand being well display
ed.
The stage was banked with flowers
and the colors of the lodge, purple and
white, while the pedestals were de-
corated in the artistic manner with tue
American flag, emblcmatic of the or,
der. Comments were received on all
sides in appreciation of the great eff
fort put forth by the Elks especially
in the art of decoration.
The programs also were especially at
tractive.
The members of the lodge marched
to the opera house in a body occupy
ing the front seats. A beautiful selec-
tion was rendered by the orchestra roll
lowed by the ode of The lodge.
The officers responded in excellent
manner to answers as to the purpose
of the gathering and several splendid
solos appropriate to the occasion were
rendered by Miss Adele Thompson,
Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Romig.
Rev. Clattenburg offered the invoca-
tin and Charles Doyon, exalted ruler,
of the Devils Lake lodge made a few
appropriate remarks giving history
of the day of memorial which was OBJ
served over the United States by The
Elks. Mr.. Doyon in well chosen words
paid beautiful tribute to the absent
brothers that inspired each and every
one in attendance.
G. A. E. Finlayson of Grand Forks
Lodge No. 255 was introduced as the
memorial speaker and in an eloquent
manner delivered the following ora
tion:
This is solemn and, to many of
of those whom we mourn. It almost
seems that if the ceremony were per-
formed in silent reverence, it would be
sufficient unto the occasion. It should
bring to our minds recollcctions OF
those departed in such wi. : that, in
spired by their examples of goodness,
which we now see so clearly, we would
be melted to renewed efforts to follow
the paths of true manhood, and to list
en- more closely to the teachings which
will lead US to that haven of final rest
and to again be with those whom we
loved so dearly. But while it is an
impressive ceremony, and while we are
brought to acknowledge the supremacy
of the Grim Reaper, and the frailty of
this life, we have still to spend the
remainder of our natural life, and it
may not be amiss for us to consider
at this time some OF the special lessons
which we may learn from an occasion
of this kind.
We are ushered into this life by one
door called "birth," and ushered out
of it by another called "deatn." All
who enter must depart and it is not
for you or me to say when we shall
take our departure. "The pale messen-
ger'' with impartial footstep knocks
alike at palace gate and poor mans
cot and it is for US at all times to be
prepared Tor his coming.
Life here is like sea, sometimes
storm swept and sometimes calm. We
are launched upon its bosom and must
make the journey whether we will or
not. We are tossed about or ride at
ease, according to the varying condi-
tions of the sea, until our Journey is
ended
Our brothers, in whose memory we
are here assembled,' have made the
journey. We who knew them as broth
ers and friends feel the LOSS of their
friendship, but those who were nearer
and dearer to them in family ties feel
that deeper personal loss, ever present,
ever sorrowful, and they may well feel
the force of the words:
"There are billows far out in the
ocean
Which never will break on the beach;
There are waves Of human emotion
Which can find no expression in
speech.'
They are gone from us to return no
more. What one Of US, who knew them
but now tondly cherishes pleasant
memoriess In the language of the
poet:
1'Ah! then all his virtues, his merits
shine forth; all the charms that he
owned
Rise up unobscured in their beauty, all
frailties and faults are atoned.
All the good is remembered and pond
cred, the bad swept away out Of
sight,
And in death we behold him trans.
figured and robed in memorial light.
We lament when lamenting is useless,
we praise when all praises are vain,
And then turning back and forgetting,
begin the same sad work again."
I. It is not for me at this time to extoll
their virtues for each one of them has
left light that can be seen. They
have gone beyond the help of the liv-
ing and we can comfort ourselves with
the feeling and assurance that there
was mighty throng with outstretched
hands to welcome them on the other
shore-where we may leave them safe
in the arms Of their Saviour.
To fulfill our duty, it is not suf1i-
cient that we honor their memory only
upon these annual occasions. Their
memory should be unto US an ever
present reminder Of our duties toward
ourselves, toward our fellow.men, to-
ward our country, and toward our God.
feel sure that, were 1t possible to
communicate with them, our departed
brothers would tell us that there are
many things each Of us may do, and
many things each of US may leave un.
done, from this time forward, which