Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-05-23

by and that he was happy that they had seen fit to accept the invitation l at this time. Actions speak louder than words, he said, and he hoped l that the efforts of the entertainment l committee and the Pine Bluff Lodge i of Elks would be appreciated. He paid order and assured the visiting broth {, CTS that the city was theirs to do as they please.
 President s;teers Address.
 Hon Will Steel, of TeXarkana, pres ident of the state association, in most eloquent manner responded to the addresses of welcome. His ad- dress was gem of oratory and he was the recipient of much applause.
 MT. Steel said in part:
 Your program committee has as- signed me the pleasant responsibility of responding to the address of wei come in behalf of the individual Elks VI oui otutC tOiclS uO Ilol lCCI IO" ever, that such response is neces- sary for l have always believed that there is not a place on earth nor in Heaven where Elks are not welcome. Let your committees therefore throw wide the gates of your city for there is a distinguishing characteristic of tpJh hn lh f1y n suffer with impunity the cherished re- treatments of welcome and I further ; assure you that if we do not accept all the goods things which you and yours have prepared for our enter tainment it will be through no spirit of our limited capacity.
 When l think of Elks accepting ! welcome to your beautiful city l am reminded of the story of the old dar- He said he named his mule Corpora ton because he got more abuse than anything else in his community, but had his own way just the same. And 1 so it is with the individual Elk. Your worthy citizens may endure the hard l ships of this entertainment, may claim the laurel wreath of this worthy achievement. but l assure you before ] it is over that the individual Elk, like Doe" Cook, of Polar fame. will take i his share of the roses and the glory.
 'I feel especially honored in being
 the chosen representative of the indi- vidual Elks of our state today, for l ,eel that I represent a body of men
 who in social life and civic duty are
 as brave and gallant as ever wore the
 helmets plume When Knighthood
 was in Flower. l realize the fact that
 the name of our order just as the fair
 name of our state in times past has been unjustly criticised and abused, 1 but my close association with the
 members of this order for many years has convinced me that it's membership l is composed of the best business men and most progressive citizens of our cities, of the state or Arkansas today l that if you would take from the scroll I of those who contribute most to your I municipal progress and material well
 fare the name of your Elks that grass
 would grow ill your streets.
 "I never stand before broad-mind- i ed, big hearted body of Elks but that
 think of the humble patrimony of Gordon Keith Thomas Page in speak ing of his illustrious character, begins his work by saying that Gordon Keith i was son of gentleman And when | ever l meet an Elk. whether under l Northern star or Southern sun, it seems that to him has been handed down the simple heritage of Gordon Keith.
 l Your Mayor and Brother Can't.
 who so graciously have extended us this hospitality. have welcomed to the city of Pine Bluff the flower of the knightheod and chivalry of our state. l Many fraternal organizations are l older than ours: some perhaps have 1 grayer hairs, some can trace their !, lineage far into the silent circles of :, the unwritten past but none can boast of personnel of higher stand ard of genuine refinement and sterl- l ing manhood. My wife has always
 contended that the Elks are the fin- est selected body of men outside of the Methodist church and the Demo-