Semi-weekly herald., 1913-12-11
ELKS PAY TRIBUTE TO
DEPARTED BROTHEES

DGT AM
AT the stroke of eight Sunday mig
Durango lodge No. 507, B. P. o. Elks
assembled at Red Men hall for their
annual lodge of sorrows and said and
sang requiem in memory of their
departed brothers. The large audi
torium was beautifully decorated in
the Elks' colors-royal purple and
white. Old Glory was draped ON
either side the platform and seemed
to stand sentinel in the solemn ser
vice. On the platform Immediately
back of the presiding officers, purple
shaded lights bespoke the spirit of
those for whom the service was held.
A white robed angel pointed to the
dial that marked the hour of II when
all Elkdom pauses a moment to re-
call the absent members and in words
or thought eulogizes their memories.
Their duty it is to write the faults of
their brothers upon the sands and
their virtues upon the tablets of love
and memory"
AS the orchestra rendered the pro-
cessional the large number of men
who form the membership of the local
lodge, took their places in the center
of the hall where seats were reserved
for them. Fully seven hundred peo-
pie were present to witness the cere-
monies.
W. F. McDevitt, exalted ruler of the
Durango order, presided and with the
other officers opened the services ac-
cording to the ritual. The roll call
of the deceased members was an i'm
pressing part of the ceremonies.
Three times each name was spoken
by Secretary Hart No sound broke
the profound silence but when the
call was made for the last time one
of the purple shaded lights went out
an eloquent message that the pass
ing of brother was not final far
well even though he had gone where
he seemed to us shrouded in darkness.
The program was well arranged
and perfectly carried out. In addi-
tion to the members of the orchestra
who rendered such ecellent music.
those who had a part were the Mes
DANES Harry McDevitt, j. j. Musser,
L. III. Miles, the Misses Hazel Hart,
end Golda Hooker and the Messrs.
W. lar MnrriC
Donald, all of whom are among the
city's most talented musicians. Every
nun ber was in accordance with the
feeling that prompted the keeping of
the day sacred, each feature having
an important part in the beautiful
service that was marked by its sin
cerity.
The memorial address was deliver
ed by Rev. NJ. Burgoon of Bowling
Green Lodge No. S16 He paid fit
ting tributes to the noble Elks and
the virtues for which they are famed.
He dwelt especially upon the beauty
of the custom of devoting one day to
the eulogy of their absent brothers.
He called to mind the value of the
great teachings of the lodge and how
| if these were made a motto for daily
life, all would be prepared when the
call from the Great Exalted Ruler of
the Universe came
The following ode in which audience
joined the lodge, was a part of the
perfect closing features of the cere-
monies:
We've finished our labor, the parting
has come,
And each of our brothers now goes
to his home;
And our voices blending, we now will
depart
In perfect love, giving each note from
the heart.
Each duty accomplished, each broth
err content
Oh, thus may we ever our friendship
cement
May Charity, Justice and Brotherly
Love
AT last lead US all to the Grand Lodge
above.