The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-12
ELkS' NATIONAL HOME DEDICATED
 AT BEDFORD, VA,
Governor Stuart of Old Doj minion State Thrills /
 Antlered Throng.


 Members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks throughout the United States are interested in the dedication of the completed national home of the order at Bedford. Va. The exercises were held Saturday and a prominent figure in the program was Grand Exalted Rules James R. Nfch- olson of Springfield lodge.
 Several thousand persons were pres ent when Fred M.>Harper, of Lynch burg, Va, handed over the keys of the home to Grand Exalted Ruler Jas. R. Nicholson. The dream of Virginia Elks, in particular and all Elks in general, was realized in the act. The members of the fraternity in the Old Dominion state have labored for years for the establishment of the home within -the confines of Virginia and E1ks throughout the United States have longed for such a haven for the weary members of the great order who have no other place where they may spend the last years of their lives. The magnificent structure was for ma1ly dedicated to charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity, the car dinal virtues, the tenets of the order, by the grand lodge officials and by Governor Henry Carter Stuart of Vir- ginia. The address delivered by Gov ernor Stuart wass tribute to the fra ternity and to Virginia.
 Members of the order came Into Bedford on trains from all directions. There were a number of special trains, including one from Richmond, with more than 100 Elks and with Governor Stuart as the guest of the occasion. There were more than 1000 members of the fraternity present. The invi- tatfon to inspect the home and to par take of the hospitality of the occasion was extended to the entire county, and there were several thousand people of | the town and surrounding country present l Inspected by Visitors.
 The morning hours and early after noon were spent in inspecting the grounds and buildings The home Is arranged in semi-circular fashion with the administrative building occupying the center, and the cottages, connected with several corridors, stretching off in two wings. The whole is done in | white stucco with concrete base. It is fire proof throughout and cost approx imately $60O,000
 At o'clock the ceremonies began with concert by the Roanoke Ma chine Works hand. The stand for the members of the grand lodge and distinguished guests was placed on the lawn several hundred feet from the I main entrance of the administrative building.
 The grand chaplain, Rev. John Dy- sart, opened the exercises with pray CT. James R.. Nicholson, grand ex- alted ruler. presided while the ritual of the order Appropriate to public oc- casions.S was gone through with. Af- rewards he introduced Governor Stu art
 l In his opening remarks, Governor Stuart congratulated the state upon receiving the home. He said it means much to the commonwealth and to the county in which 1t is located. He tspoke for few minutes on the ritua as exercised by the grand lodge off. cers. In beginning the ceremonies four blocks had, been placed one upor the other. They bore the ~ words Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love ana Fidelity" Upon these was spread . the Stars and Stripes and upon thii the Bible, followed by sthe "antlers.' I the emblem of the order.
 Governors Speech. I Governor Stuart referred to thu blocks, the building of the altar, ana said that any nation built upon sucl tenets was safe., In speaking of the lStars and Stripes, he said:
 My friends,' as he turned to the grand lodge officials, many of whom iare from north of Mason and Dixon'l lime, "this is a day of confessions. have no apologies to make; but there Twas a time when considered that flag ,l the emblem of tyranny. There was a time when would have trampled il 'l under foot challenge you to show
 me today people more loyal to that flag than Virginians. To whom is il more dear than to Virginia"
 There was almost a demonstration lat the aconclusion of the remark, and when Governor Stuart referred to "pre A ro1