The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1916-10-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sz.,.s..s.....s9 -. j.
NEW HOME IS LAID
(Continued from Pare 1.) - \

NEW HOME Is LAID
., Continued from Page l., :. :,
That the order Is today, withoGtE any
claim upon it's part, given a high
place among fraternal organizations
is due to the fact that the members
are conspicuous for their charity and
brother love and good fellowship and
good cheer.
"Someone has said that selfishness
is the root of all evil. To live a life
of selfishness is to degrade ones self.
Through the unavoidable contamina-
ton and contagion and contact with
others the selfish degrade them and
the result is general degradation.
Charity or charitableness is the an
tonym of selfishness, and it may be
added the antonym of all that is
must, as the Elks are, be kind, for
giving, liberal and benevolent. We
are constructing this building where
may be enjoyed, to the fullest extent,
the pleasant atmosphere of Elkdom
and association with friends who are
kind, forgiving, liberal and benevol-
ent towards all.
"The good work that is to be done
in this building and the influence to
radiate therefrom is to be never
known except by those who may be
the recipients thereof But the gen.
erous aid to the frail and the needy
cannot compare with the acts or
works of good fellowship and good
cheer extended in and radiating from
this home. Good fellowship and good
cheer are the principal characteris-
tics that distinguish the order from
others. Many good person has laid
down the burden of life discouraged
and disheartened when with the aid
of good fellowship and good cheer of
our order he would have seen the
rainbow of promise in the near future
and continued his battle and won
marked success. How many have
failed for want of good fellowship
and good cheer can never be told.
Those who have been assisted to sue
cess by the good fellowship and cheer
radiating from our order no man but
the man cheered on to success will
ever know. When you are thorough
ly discouraged and disheartened, with
every hand apparently against you,
what matters it that someone places
few cold coins in the palm of your
hand. 'Tis but the prolongation of
your misery Let this, or even
less amount be placed in your hand
accompanied by the cheer that comes
from the true Elk, and a new feature
appears to your vision and resolu-
tion to renew the struggle is formed
at once. The battle that was about
to be given up is fought out to VIC
tory.
Deeds of Elks.
"I care not what the future holds
in store for us, it must be that, under
the plan which the all-wise Provi-
dence has adopted relating to the
eternity of the soul, of man, due
credit will be given for all acts OF
charity, benevolence and good cheer
practiced here on earth. Let the re-
ward be what it may, it must be that
each Elk will receive greater or less
reward in the great future as he lives
near or far from the standard OF life
to which the Benevolent and Protec-
tive Order of Elks is so thoroughly
pledged and dedicated.
1T then becomes solemn yet
pleasant duty for each Elk to see that
this building is constructed properly,
appropriately decorated and furnish
ed and that nothing is done within
it's walls, yes, nothing within the
sphere of it's influence that can ever
detract one single iota from the glory
and the beauty Of true Elkdom. May
this building never be used, so far as
the Elks are concerned, to advance
selfish ends. Any departure from
this course will threaten disaster.
LET not any act of commission or
omission be perpetrated within the
building, except in furtherance of the
lofty ideals of the Order..,~
"As we cross the Threshold then
let the interest of self and self-ad-
vancement give way to the interest
of our friends and our brothers. Let
the love of liberty and loyalty to our
country stand first in our hearts. The
order of Elks Holds high above other
things, as high as hopes great throb-
bing star lis above the darkness of the
dead, the love of wife, of home, of all
friends Let this building ever spur
us on in the direction Of the orders
lofty ideal in life. Let all your acts
be tempered with kindness and benev-
olence that all who learn thereof will
know they are deeds of Elks.