The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-12-02

Keokuk lodge Of Elks and theil
friends assembled at the Grand thea
ter at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon tc
honor the dead members Of the
lodge.
Sixtyfive names were on the pro
gram in the list of those who have
4 died since the organization of the
local lodge, and eleven members
have died since the last annual me-
mortal services were held.
II The members Of the order sat in
the front seats of the parQuet. The
house and stage were beautifully
decorated
There were ferns and flowers at
Y the front Of the stage, and flags
q we're everywhere; the balcony balus-
trade was covered with them and
they hung from the boxes. The
4 I&rge flag in the rear OF the stage
had before it the service flag of the
keokuk lodge Of Elks, with It's thir-
d ty3ive blue and one gold stars.
The Solemn Services.
On the stage was the Elks' altar,
With its bible, flag and spreading
antlers. between two large and
beautiful bouquets Of chrysanthe-
NUNS. On either side were the sta
lions of lodge officers, that on the
right being near a stand with eleven
Aghted candles, one for each brother
who departed into the silences dur
ing the last year. The station OF the
exalted ruler was prominent, and
the Keokuk Concert band filled the
rear half of the stage.
Il was a solemn scene when Leroy
J. Wolf. secretary, slowly called the
roll Of eleven brothers, Frank r.
Morgan, William Tumeity, r. P. Nc
Manus. ]. w. Brinkman, DR.. E. C.
Fielder, George c. Pechstein, !. 8.
Aclkley, ]. Perdew Sheldon, Frank
w Davis, Wells NJ. Irwin and Ste
pllen Irwin, and after a pause fol-
lowing each name the answer was
intoned, Absent" and a taper was
extinguished-
The forget-me-not and the anna
rfth and the ivy appeared in the
ritual exercises emblematic OF the
ever present memory of the departed.
The eulogy of the exalted ruler
was particularly impressive in its
delivery. with perfect information and
clear-cut enunciation, and each Off
Ger Of the lodge helped to make the
ceremony really dramatic. The lodge
officers participating were G. l.. Nor
man, G. r. Milligan, C. B. Johannes,
Irwin G. Griffey, Dr. J. B. How'd and
i. J. Wolf.
The Excellent Music.
The musical part of the program
was both elaborate and pleasing. The
Keokuk Concert band played the
EIks' march as the opening number.
After the ritual, it played THE
Rosary with remarkable musical In
depreciation and feeling, and Its rem
d.tion OF fantastic by Boyer showed
good phrasing and fine shading OF
tone. It closed the program with
THE Star Spangled Banner"
The soloist was Mrs. o. W Sand
berg, who again showed herself a
thoroughly trained artist. She sang
God of Our Fathers with purity OF
tone and in perfect voice. sweet and
true, and reached much expression
in her singing of Some Sweet Day"
Mrs W. II Carter played her &C
compliments with repression but real
assistance to the vocalist and -
to the audience.
A Good Address.
IF there is anything by which We
can Judge a society or organization,
their dead" said Rev. James w. Gil
lespie in the beginning Of his ad-
dress, and then he drew a parallel
between Christians bowling their
heads and saying q prayer at and
u o'clock and the Elks' tribute to
their dead at II o'clock.
1.-THE best way to honor the dead
is to live good lives" Father Giles
pie said, and this was the principal
theme of his address. 1t was a
thoughtful, forceful address, delivered
superbly.
AS he lives, so shall he die" was
the topic of another phase of the
lecture, with emphasis on the duty
to perform every obligation Of life,
and if heaven is lost, all is lost.
1.-THE good Elk or the good citizen
is conscious Of the good he has re-
ceived from God" and last, but not
last, THE enjoyment of good con-
science is a priceless gift. We should
walk so that every step brings US
closer and closer to God. We are
here today and gone tomorrow and
we should not Hnger by the wayside
to feast on what comes not from
God"