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

the alter OF loyal Elks. The stars
and stripes, All. What inspiring
Thoughts cling to the memory of our
loyalty TO the teachings of Elkdom,
and believe that men by their
affilation with this great order-an
orde. inspired with patriotism
nurtured with the sweet incense OF
CT arity-cannot help but become
imbued with higher aims in life,
and the elfsh spirit of our brothers
is broken by The tears of the widow
and the cry of the orrhan.
Remember Their Goodness.
Brother Elks, as We gaze uoon
the roster of our departed brothers
it brings back the past; we recall
their work with us, we remember
their goodness and worth. and cher.
ish the memory of their social com
panionship, and
The faults of our brothers we write
upon the sand,
Their virtues on tablets OF love
and memory
Splendid thought beautiful senti
ment. but unless lived up to and
practiced by those Of us still living
it were better it had not been
written in our ritual. And so, my
brothers, let us strive to 1--we up to
our teachings, keeping alive in mem
DRY the virtues of our brothers now
dead and gone; living up to those
teachings, it can't help but make
us look with pride and satisfaction
upon our membership in the order
of Elks, an order in which we
have every reason to believe will
have tender recollections of Our
having lived with them when we
too, have passed away.
Praise For Fraternals.
"All of the fraternal societies, as
far as | know. are imbued with a
high and noble purpose: the best
impulse of mans nature is brought
out by his association with his
brothers in the exercise of charity
friendship. and sociability. And II
men, young men especially, would
join the order of Elks, or any othel
order with the idea and for the
purpose of how much good they
may do the order, not with the idea
and purpose of how much good per
sonal advantage they can get ou
of the order-then the orders would
have higher rating in the STANDARD
Of estimation. And with member
ship of that character. to be privileg
, ed to wear the badge of an Ell
would be a certificate of characte
commanding tho respect of ever.
society.
'Tis OR Decoration Day.
This is our Decoration day. WI
come laden with wreathes of re
membrance for our brothers wht
have fallen in life's battle. Mem
cries of famous men and brillian
deeds are recalled by celebrating
their anniversaries. 1t was the un
swerving devotion and loyalty o
Washington that made the 22nd o
February a national holiday.
."On the Fourth of July we cele
brate the Declaration of Independ
ence, in loving and never endin,
remembrance of those brave heroe
who sacrificed their lives in battle
we have our Decoration day.
Days have been set apart an,
! dedicated to the memory of heroes
statesmen and warriors. their deed
have been recorded in history an,
handed down to our children in thu
public schools, our university, ant
| colleees: the mind of the graduate
is filled with them, it being par
| of their education to keep alive tn,
memory of those who have added t,
our nations history: so we too
my friends, have set apart tn,
first Sunday in December of ever,
year to recall the memory of "Ou
Absent Brothers"
What could be more beautiful
what more appropriate, than at tn,
f. close of the dying year, we gathe
today and pay our mournful tribute
! OF affection for those brothers VIII
! have embarked upon that sea that
never yet has borne on an,
wave, the image of returnin,
! sail" But
Even they, the dead though dead
SO dear
Fond memory to her duty true
Brings back their fc ms to view.
How lifelike throngs the mist O
years
Each well-remembered face appears
We see them as in time long past
From each to each kind looks ar
cast;
We hear their words. their smile
behold
They're round us as of old"
Senator Johnson is pleasin,
! speaker and at times eloquent. Prio
TO the address, he recited William
Cullen Bryants' "Thanatopsis," which
was appropriate for the occasion.
The following was read by Rev
P. X. Edwards:
In Memoriam.
| Brothers and Friends: 1t is sal,
that at Lincoln's famous Gettysbur,
speech, for space no acclaim brok
| the solemn quiet, in which the as
sembled multitude had listened. Hi
words had struck a sacred cord il
the hearts of his hearers. Instinc,