The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-12-12

HON. ~. ~ SS'''NoS''
been achieved was brought about
for the comfort and convenience
Of man and the lessening Of
the toll OF human hands. Forces
of nature heretofore hidden have
been evolved by the genius of man
and utilized for the benefit OF the
human race: the railroad, the steam
sh, the telephone, and the wonderful
development of electricity have all
been demonstrated into practical
use.
These are the times in which we
live and this the century in which
was born the Order of Elks. An
order that from its inception has
grown until today it holds within
its fond embrace five hundred
thousand loyal men: an order whose
charity unostentatiously distributed
has found a welcome in homes all
over the land.
To-day we salute our brothers
on the rock-bound coast of Maine,
and turn to greet our brothers who
Pacific; at the same time our ant
Tered friends in the north watt on
a gentle breeze their kindly greet
ings to the Warmhearted, generous,
chivalric brothers whose homes are
in the verdant wales OF the sunlit
south.
Meeting All Over Land.
To-day all over this land where
ever there is an order of Elks, there
is being held a meeting of this
kind in commemoration of our de-
parted brothers; and so we are
assembled here today not only for
the purpose of carrying out an estab-
lished practice, but because of an
intuition springing from the breast
Of every brother Elk, that it is a
duty we owe our departed brothers.
1T is a laudable purpose for us
to meet and let our minds reflect
to the time when our roster was
unbroken by death, recalling the
6OOu III lHC IlNCo VI Oul >
now dead and gone, and to strive
to emulate their virtues, thereby
making us better men, and when
you make the men better make the
lives of women happier and when
the women are happy, the world
looks brighter.
Aim Is Noble One.
Our aim is noble one. 1t is
to elevate ourselves by the practice
of charity; to assist each other by
kind words, genial companionship,
brotherly love and kindness, to res.
cue the fallen and to strengthen
the upright; for no man stands of
his own strength. He needs at
all times the counsel, aid, and assist.
ance Of his fellowmen. And not
only is our aim to thus render our
selves and each other worthy of
membership in this order, but we
extend helping hand to the sick
and distressed; We sooth the aching
brow OF a suffering brother, watch
his. sick bed, render him real as.
sistance, and ease his mind of the
dread fear for his loved ones when
h passes away; and when the last
summons comes we lay him peace
fully beneath the sod of the valley.
His last moments are cheered by the
though THAT his brethren will care
for his loved ones.
! Aim Is To Do Good.
Our aim is to do good and with
this in view we must attain the
object for which tn eorder was
founded. Founded on naught but
the purest motives and having its
principles continually before us, we
VIII endeavor to exemplfy them by
practical tests, and if we shall
successfully carry out this object
we shall feel that our mission has
not been in vain.
Il trust that our labors may not
have been in vain, but may each
brother will say with brave heart
and willing hands and with a self
sacrificing spirit we will go forward
in the work SO well begun and
cease not in our labors until we
are called away, leaving to our
children shield of honor unspotted
and name unsullied on the roll
Of Elkdom.
Our time upon the stage of action
IS but brief and while we live let
us be mn of honor, holding high
above all other things, high as
hopes great hrobbing star above the
darkness of the dead, the respect
OF virtue, the love of wife and
home and friends.
! An American Order,
My friends. let me impress upon
you that the B. P. o. e. is distinctly
an American order; the founders
OF this order had in mind no allie.
CORY, no mythology, no legendary or
traatice on myths to prompt them
in the organizing of this great
order; No, they were imbued with
me idea of men uniting together
ior the purpose of good fellowship,
good cheer, doing good deeds, and
more than all. an organization were
CHARITY extended to it's less fortu.
nate brothers would be its supreme
virtue. 1t is an American order in
spired with patriotism, love of coun-
try, and loyalty to its flag. AS our
rry,tr - a. T. L 4