New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-03-14
PIE NEW iberia BELCHAA.
ZAAR GIVING THE ELKS

of New iberia 8 Elkdom was eel
ebrated at the Alma House last
Monday, March 9th. 1t was a
typical Elks performance. A
whole lot Of circus, more bedlam,
capped by a confusion of noise
and agitation were the most sal
lent features of the magnificent
feast enjoyed by every participant.
The special spirit of fraterndlism
symobolized by the ritual, the
deeds and the acts of ElkdOm
was first introduced as an elc-
ment to hold out protection to
those travelling companies known
as actors who used the stage and
the green room as a medium or
instruction Of the people relative
to the social and live problems of
the world. The actor, whether
he be harlequin or comedian,
melodramist or tragedian was the
first to conceive and give life to
the idea of Elkdom and help to
stretch out the National arm Of
friendship not only to the strand
ed, forlorne depressed trouba-
dour, but also to those of every
community in the land to sub
scribe to the virtue and the civ
ilizing influence Of the ideal Of
the universal brotherhood of man.
While the clown in his caricature
and mirth-provoking incongrui-
ties, performing the publicity act
Of the Order to arrest the atten-
ton of the public to- the more ser
ious and substantial work per-
formed by the organization, the
service, the solid beneficence diff
fused among the population by
the Order in the name of charity
and friendship, terms respected
and revered by every Elk must be
written in letters of imperishablc
gratitude by the laymen or the
general public who is the bene-
ficiary of the best and most val
liable activities.
The feast at the Alma House
merely typified the mode Of pro-
cedure Of the Order and the fra
ternal art Of enlisting the anti
podal elements Of our community
in the sacred work of rescue from
misery and poverty those that
have a claim to the attention and
care of the Order.
1t may be true that convep-
tionalities and expected rules Of
dignity and refinement at these
conclaves Of mirth and merr;-
ment may be ruthlessly cast
aside and even scorned and all
licensed outlanquish Antics in
dulged in, but no man can ever
charge that the sentiments Of
charity, brotherly feeling, Of
ideal fraternalism, are not sacred
ly and scrupulously worshipped
and made the hymn of every
member bowling and praying be
fore the shrine of the larger
deity brotherhood of man and
fatherhood Of God. Whilst
mans frailties and foibles need
freedom and action, the serious
conception Of the fraternal work
at hand is never made to suffer.
The feast was presided over
by Exalted Ruler Louis f. Valet
who made an excellent presiding
officer. He endeavored with
much difficulty and labor to ex-
plain the symbols and duties Of
the Order. but on account of the
license and liberties that prevails
on these occasions much of the
service that would have been
rendered by the Exalted Ruler
was lost on the waves of noise
and confusion. Brother Waiter
J. Burke whom everybody ex-
pected to deliver a gem on tho
Americanism of Elkdom or a
classic on citizenship, we're not
only disappointed at the inabil-
ity Of human articulation to COM
pete with Don Quixot army of
windmill fighters not being able
to gain the supremacy of the
warning acoustics. With much
chagrin and more disappoint-
ment Brother Burke had to
abandon his ambitious attitude
as well as his benevolent instruc.
tive advice.
Brother r. D. Southwell, one
Of the most loyal ond active men,
bers of New Iberia's Elk Lodge
acquitted himself most credita.
bly, and appealed even to the
noisest, Rotor or temporary agita-
tor FOR his spirit Of fidelity to the
most sacred principles Of the Or
der. His expression "be white"