The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-09

$50. New Orleans, May 4, 1917.
My Dear Brothers:
Since the United States has de-
clared that a state of war exists with
Germany, so many members of this
Order have written this office and in
quired what would be the effect
thhereof upon the coming Grand
Lodge session in July, that it is the
duty of the Grand Exalted Ruler to
communicate to the Order in general
what, after consultation and deliber-
alton, has been concluded.
It has now been the unbroken
precedent of half century for the
order to annually assemble, and
nothing has done more than this to
cement us together and to strength
en- the distinctively national charac-
ter of the Order. Local or statewide
Elk reunions, beneficial though
they are in some features, take from
rather than add to this result.
If the Boston meeting was detri-
ment at this time to the nation at
large, whatever good it might do to
the order of Elks, it should not be
held Our country comes before our
Order.
1t is perfectly clear that, whilst
this nation is the richest and most
powerful in the world, and that the
patriotism of its people is great, this
patriotism is not Nnow thoroughly
aroused and those riches and power
are not fully prepared to certainly
prevail in a struggle with other
strong nations. Hence, it is that our
country's leaders are devoting their
energies to arousing dormant pa
triotism into action and making its
resources fitted for the task that lie
before US.
The Order of Elks is not only a
great American order, but it is
great practical order, and we should
respond to the line of action sug
gested by the leaders Of the nation,
The task, however, is one of many
months and not of few days. But
two months will pass before the
Boston meeting, and by it much
good can be done in this direction.
Our duty then is clear-we should
more than ever meet this year, be-
cause we have higher task to do.
The social and fraternal features
should be lessened and the practi-
cal and patriotic features brought
to the front.
Not as a summer pleasure, but as
a real duty, all good Elks should as
semble this year and help to consi-
der and wisely determine what the
Order in the future should under
take.
Should we devote our energies to
encouraging enlistment Should we
aid the Red Cross in its noble work?
Should we bend our efforts to pre-
vent a lack of food supply? What
is the problem we are best fitted to
help to solve? l do not know.
The Grand Lodge should deter
mine it. All good Elks should sit at
its council board.
The scene for this great epoch
Elkdom is set in the splendid city of
Boston, at the foot of Bunker Hill
within sight of Lexington and Con-
cord and near the classic shades of |
Harvard. Here lies the very Ameri-
can liberties and American letters.
Rich with the traditions Of our coun-
try's past, no better place could be
found for the great American order
to assemble and drink in the renew
ed inspiration given by the scenes
that surround this historic town. We
will return to our homes with strong
er devotion to our cause and higher
resolves to do our full duty by the
nation.
May not the order ask that its
justify its successful !
past and guarantee a more secure
future by attending, every man who
can, this most important meeting
and determining the lines of its des-
tiny for years to come
Sincerely and fraternally,
z N M,rn,,i