Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-12-02
ELKS MEMORIAL
SERVICES HELD
Large Audience Attends Annu-
al Lodge of Sorrow at Strand
Theatre Yesterday

The annual memorial service Of
Perth Amboy Lodge No. 7S4. II. i. q.
Elks, was held yesterday afternoon
in the Strand thcatre and was n most
impressive and touching service.
Shortly before the service commenced
the EilSs, IN n body. marched in and
took the first fifteen rows of the cen
ter section which had been reserved
for them. The theatre was taxed TO
Its utmost e. pacity. even h gallery
being ell filled.
The service was inaugurated with
n selection ~ the orchestra which
was under the direction Of Andrew
Nelson. and several times during the
course Of tic afternoon the orchestra
rendered fitting music.
The STAGE was decorated in an
elaborate manner: ferns and greens
were ~ the foreground and in tho
center MS q table draped with Old
Glory on which was the Bible and
the antlers OF the elk. The officers OF
the lodge sat in n quarter circle
across The stage and in the back
ground WGs a bier. behind which
candles were burning and the purple
color Of the Eilks was predominant In
the decorations.
The opening rites were performed
by Exalted Ruler w. Guy Weaver and
the officers Of the lodge. Mr.. Weaver
explained that the first Sunday in De-
cemher had been set apart by the
order for the purpose OF commemu-
r. tinc the brothers departed. The
exalted ruler called on Esquire Darl-
irg for the signs of the order and the
esquire told OF the flag with the car
dinal in IL which stands for charity.
tho Bible which Is the law adminis-
trating justice and the antlers of the
elk which denotes the widespread in
fiucscc of the order.
A quartet composed OF Miss Edith
Bennett. soprano; Mrs. Elinor NJ.
Hughes, contralto: James II. Rich
ards. tenor. and Wilbour Bache. bari
tone. next sang Rock OF Ages" after
which the lodge and congregation
sang the opening ode.
Chaplain Henry Mccullough offer
ed > prayer invoking Gods blessing
on the departed brothers, and follow
ing tho prayer Wilbour Bache rem
dered the baritone solo, Consider
and Hear Me-
THE second part of the program
was opened by the quartet singing
There Were Ninety and Nine by
Schneider.
~Fhe exalted ruler next called on
the secretary. Edgar +. Reed. TO call
the roll of the absent and as each
n;nae was read n candle in front OF
the bier was e~xtinguished. This was
thes M ost touching part of the service
and was done In such an impressive
manner chat there were not many dry
eyes In the audience when the cere-
mony was over.
A. j.. Archibald delivered the ora
ton Of the afternoon and spoke OF
thes difHculty of keeping the emotions
back at such a service. He spoke
ar6nt the splendid spirit of the Elks
the world around and cited an incl
dcnt about the drive at Chateau
TaterFy where ninety-seven per cent.
of the men were Elks and that thirty
four per cent. never came back. Mr..
Archibald ended his Grafton by quot
I'M. ''Thanitopsis" by William Cullen
Bryant.
Miss Edih~Bennet and Mrs. Eli
r Has1los rendered the duet II
Waited for the Lord" by Mendels-
som. THE closing ceremonies were
then conducted by the lodge. after
which the congregation sans the OK
ology and Chaplain Mccullough
closed the service by offering the
bcnedIetion.