Gilpin observer., 1913-12-11
ELKS' LODGE
OF SORROW

ed at the opera house last Sunday
evening, were held at the Elks' hall
on account Of the storm, which pre-
vented any from outside districts at
tending. Judge Peter Palmer, of Den
yer, was on the program to deliver
the memorial address, but was pre-
vented from attending on account of
the inability to move trains, and his
place was filled by State Senator L..
j. Williams, who delivered a master
ly address on the fraternity in gen.
eral, and to supplicate for those who
can no longer plead for themselves
The writer, not being member of
their order, can only Judge of their
benevolence and worth by the tenets
OF their ritual, and their daily de-
pertinent in their several walks of
life toward their fellow men. The
speakers allusion to single vase of
flowers placed at the bedside of a
sick friend, furnish more comfort and
solace than tons of flowers banked
against his tomb after death, was
well received by his hearers, and af-
fords serious reflection to a thinking
mind. With the three principal ten
cts of their order, charity, justice
and fidelity, ever in mind, it is hard
for tried and trusty Elk to ma
terially err. The solo, Eternal Rest,
rendered by Mrs. Frank Gray, was
well received by the audience, also
the baritone solo, Hold Thou My
Hand" rendered by that prince of
impersonators, Geo. L. Hamllik. The
exercises closed by all singing the
doxology. The following is the ad-
dress in full:
Brother Exalted Ruler and Brothers,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1T must be gratifying to every
one of us, whether members of this
order or not, to know that there is a
great fraternal organization, purely
American, devoted to patriotism and
..ae betterment of mankind. The
Besevoleht and Protective Order OF
Elks is that society, and in its steady
growth has become a power for good
in our country. The grand lodge of
this order, in its wisdom, has set
aside two days in each year for our
members to observe, one being that
IL emory of our departed brethren
and the other, that known as Flag
day. to keep fresh tie love and re-
spect due our country's flag.
Il am not here, however, to glori-
fy our order, or lay stress on its vic
tories, hut to humbly and reverently
pay homage to our brethren, who, in
their lifetime, were in the heat and
strife of The day, and manfully bore
their burdens while on earth.
Even at this time the eternal pres
ence of death is strikingly recalled
to our minds by the names of breth-
rem whom many of you knew init
mately, and renews the pangs of sep.
aration from those who were near
and dear to us in life, and whose
memory is kept green in our hearts
in death.
I'VE experience at this present
something of the same feeling as
at the grave of brother, though in
lesser degree. We realize that ma
ture will exact from each of us the
same end of our own careers, but
none of us will admit that the enc
is likely to be very near at hand fol
himself. Hope always attempts t.
postpone the inevitable close of life
| 1T has been often and truly said
that IL the members of fraternal so
cieties would live up to the precept'
of their orders, they would haster
the day when oppression would nj
longer overcome us, and evil pas
sions and injustice be forever Danish
ed. But like all men, We fall fal
short of those teachings and struggle
onward in an endeavor toward per
fection, but actually fall far short o
our ideals.
Thinking men, however, have notl
ing but scorn for those who say thi
old world is growing no better ant
we rejoice in the constant effort
made by our brethren and those o
other fraternal orders to lessen TIL
burdens and increase the happines
of mankind A friend told me recen
ly that he believed that we had abou
reached the summit of knowledge
and that the increase of vice in th'
world meant an end not far off.
contended and still contend that th
present gain in knowledge is but al
opening wedge to greater achieve
ments for the human mind, and tina
the great influence for good Of on
own order is but one Of many sur