The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-08

Supreme Court Justice Makes Ells
Memorial Address.

In an address delivered at Manhattan
yesterday, as a part of the Elk memoir
ial exercises in that city, Justice Henry
F. Mason took as his text the variant
sentiments regarding the question of
Immortality as expressed by the great
writer's whose thoughts have been pre-
served in prose and verse. and drew the
lesson that to some extent the con-
nicting opinions were the result OF q
difference in mental attitude: and that
this difference, more apparent than real
frequently depended upon the readers
Interpretation Of the language en-
ployed. 465
The same words may have different
meaning to different authors, and may
give to one reader a different impress
sion from that given. to another. The
effusive man EXPRESSES his good will
by profuse cordially. The reticent man
may mean as much by his grudging
monosyllables. One clergyman defines
his task as saving human souls; an
other as upbuilding human character;
and perhaps they mean essentially the
same thing.
While the Elk order is not a religious
body, Judge Mason emphasized the
point that its creed contains many of
the principles of brotherhood and fra
ternity upon which every religious sect
is founded. The Elk is not censorious.
He comedies to every man the right Of
opinion. He Is tolerant. Perhaps q
better word than federation" to ex-
press this Elk idea is Charity" used
in it's broader sense as descriptive OF
a frame Of mind.
But by constant use." said Judge
Mason. I'VE have SO associated charity
with the relief of distress-the giving
of aims, that this has become it's pri-
mary meaning. This consideration led
the revisers of the New Testament to
change the time-hallowed verse: And
now abideth Faith. Hope and Charity.
these three; but the greatest of these
is Charity and to substitute for 1t,
And now abideth Faith, Hope and
Love, these three; but the greatest OF
these is Love- I venture the prediction
that this new version will not endure.
Properly understood the word love Is
entirely appropriate. But it likewise.
by force Of custom, carries special
meaning. 1t has a wide diversity of
uses. but it suggests sentiment. II not
oentimentality. It is not well suited
to the practical commonplaces Of every
day life.
I'VE don't need to love a man, in the
sense in which the word IL ordinarily
used, in order to acknowledge that he
has the same right to his opinions that
we have to ours. Whatever you may
call that spirit, 1t is to be found here
in the ritual of the order. It is not
q religion or a substitute for religion.
but 1t has just a place in every code
which attempts to define the duties Of
men toward one another.
THE philosophy of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks is essen
TALLY practical. 1t seeks to deal with
the things of this world. 1t declines
to view our life here as Of little con-
sequence or as a vale Of tears. 1t
realizes that there need be no more
beatific heaven than this world might
be II all conformed to the teachings Of
the founder of Christianity; that no
perdition could be more desolute than
this world If human nature were al
ways at its worst.
THE spirit of the Elks order is op-
timistic. 1t looks on the bright side.
1t seeks the lessons Of life not In the
remote days of some far-off land. 1t
reads the wisdom and goodness and
mercy of an all-powerful Father. not
merely in miracles wrought in ancient
times. but in every opening flower. in
every returning springtime. in every
manifestations of the divine law that
governs the universe 1t believes that
the best preparation for q world to come
Is constant striving to make this
world brighter. better and happier