The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-02
E.ks Revere Memory
 Of Absent Brothers
Annual Memorial Exercises Held at EIks' Home Yesterday
 Afternoon
Brilliant OratiOns by J. William Clarke and Rev. Dr. E. J.
 Craft--Impressive Exercises

Memorial services for their depart ed brothers were held yesterday after noon by the local lodge Of Elhs at Elks' Home, State street and were attended by goodIy representation of the lodge. The first Sunday in De- cember is set apart by the order as the time for recalling 1he virtues of the absent brothers" Yesterday for the first time Bridgeport lodge held the services privately there being none ad- mitted save E1ks and those participat- ing the exercises.
 The beautiful lodge room was taste fully and becomingly gowned in the sombre colors symbolica1 of the occa- slon At the hour for the commence lodge room was filled. Exalted Ruler Joseph I. Flint delivered an appropri- ate introductory address in which he services and welcomed the visiting brothers and the speakers.
 Under the direction Of George N. Finkelstone there were number of appropriate orchestra selections and the auartette comprising Miss Ger trude Laubscher, Miss Judith Lund- berg, MT Austin MacConnell and Mr. William A. Tonlinson rendered seIec- tions peculiarly appropriate to the oc- casion. Each of the singers also sang solos.
 The impressive opening and closing ceremonies of the Lodge of Sorrow were finely exemp1ified by the lodge, the membership Joining in the rendi- tion of the several selections pronounce ed by the ritual including the opening B. J. Craft, rector of Christ Episcopal church delivered a most eloquent and learned discourse on Memories
 The Memorial address was given by J. William Clarke, Past Exalted Rul- CT of New London lodge and was one of the finest tributes ever paid to the eulogy by the gifted New London Elk orator follows:
 On this delightful December Sab bath, wherever our beloved stars and stripes float over this great country and it's possessions, thousands upon thousands of our best citizens, mem oder or of Es in their respective cities paying their loving tribute of remembrance to the memory of their honored dead.
 The first Sunday in December of each year is designated by the laws of our Order as a Memorial Day for the minds that there is grim reaper whose name is death. and suggesting that we pause from the busy turmoil of daily life and devote a few hours to the public expression of sorrow for. the loss of many Of our beloved broth CTS. who have gone but a little while before.
 Therefore, this Day of Memoriam is milestone in the pathway of every Elk's life. when with due regard and appreciation for his surroundings he sweet environment of nobler thoughts.
 The object of these exercises is not as I understand it, to mourn the loss Of our departed brothers. but rather to commemorate their virtues and re- were their memory in services of praise and song for living or dead an Elk is never forgotten-never forsaken.
 The Grand Exalted Ruler of the Universe has seen fit. in His infinite the Grand Lodge 11s of our brothers, whom you have today by this symbol so beautifully remembered.
 It is not for me to attempt to euIo- gize them individually, but you who knew them well can each of you do so yourself, and I will ask you to your thoughts upon them. Think of their good qualities, forget their faults and renew your faith and your hope that sometime in the glorious realms them face to face.
 ''In the midst of life we are in phatica1ly impressed upon us every day. Yet death with it's terrors for the dying and it's tears for the living is but the open door to everlasting joy This is indeed a beautiful thought and should serve in a meas ure to assuage the keennesS Of our sorrow at the loss of those near and
 As the hardwood forests ripen and yield their harvest of leaves to form the mould of another season, so must each succeeding generation of human ity speed onward to maturity, be har- vested by the grim reaper and re- turned again unto the dust of ages past from whence it came.
 Death is but a sleep and an awaken ing in a more exalted sphere-the be- ginning of the life everlasting. Why. then, should the man be afraid to die-l which is but to live again
 We look upon the loss of our de- . rryif +1,n of despair, for we contemplate the coming of death with the same feeling we view the closing of the year. beautiful garments of spring and sum mer and her royal robes of autumn and seems to be putting on the shrouds with its new life. and verdure, and its flowers, symbo1izing a resurrection; thus we see that the coming 2 of the epringtime of a happier existence.
 Life and death are the two great mysteries The one not more remark 1 able nor mysterious than the other, | for the uncertainties that face the l cradle are those which surround the 1 grave.
 Since we know that death must come. is it not wiser that we seek to | make this this, life I n better 1ita one e. than to
 seTeach the living might we'll be 1 considered an appropriate text for these services. reach the lVlng the friendship of love, and demonstrate its l virtue by the practice of Charity, in 1 every thought, word and deed.
 In the Golden Rule, 'tDo Unto Others | as Ye Would They Should Do Unto You,' lies the secret of all earthly l happiness, but this ancient command l of eleven words may be still further l condensed into one word which hold | the hidden power of life, and that one word is ''love-"
 ssI,ove is that affinity of souls which | binds hearts together and draws them | close to God ma king heaven possible | I,oro ,,nnn earth as well as hereaftRrn n |