The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-07-20

The new GrdnQ EXdlLeQ hulcI OA the B. P. o. E., Bruce Alexander Campbell, of East St. Louis. H., was chosen unanimously. This is rare distinctionS in the Elks as generally many of the ablest men in America, members of the order, aspire to its leadership. The Bridgeport Elks who attended the convention have for the most part, arrived home. They speak in the highest terms of the patriotic character of the convention and of the splendid set of officials chosen to guide it's destiny during the great world crisis.
 To the splendid strains of Onward Christian Soldiers" sung by the entire membership numbering 1,400 Grand Lodge members present, the body voted $1,O00,OOO for the use of our government. This makes the second donation which the Elks have given to the government. This makes the second donation which the Elks have given to the government, the original amount being for the same sum and voted at the Boston convention one year ago.. The new chief, Bruce Campbell, electrified the members by the magnificence and eloquence of his acceptance address. The theme was intensely patriotic and he has proclaimed the slogan for the Elks this year to be Twin the War" In view of the great interest manifested in this strikingly patriotic address, it's text in full is splendid:
 Brother Grand Exalted Ruler, and of T a1o I would be unworthy of your ex pressed confidence, unmindful of the great compliment conveyed, and un- appreciative of the high position to which you have so unanimously and generously elected me if I were not profoundly grateful to you, and if I did not express briefly my thanks for the great honor you have done me.
 I appreciate your confidence and I thank you for it's splendid expression here today.
 If, however, this occason was one only of personal honor to myself, then this election would be of little mo- ment to me except in the personal satisfaction of successful effort and in the attainment of an ambition that
 
 But in this signal honor of election to the highest office within your gift, I see more than that for I have be- fore me in my year as the temporary head of our beloved order, the op- portunity of service and of labor that rarely comes to any man. Whether or not I shall be equal to that oppor- tunity and whether or not that service shall rebound to the credit and honor i of our order remains yet to be seen. have before me as an example the | splendid record of those who have preceded me in this office, and par 1 ticularly I have as a guide and moni- tor, the record of great achievement and ceaseless effort of our leader and our friend who now presides over our destinies and who is too soon to retire from official labor. shall have the advice and counsel of all of these and of all of you, and that is almost enough to insure a, successful admin istration.
 I have before me the fundamental principles, teachings and traditions which bind us together as brothers
 I have the desire for the success of our labors, the physical ability and energy to stand hard work, the inten- tion to give without stint al the abil- ity that I may possess and the pur- pose to do what I can in every way to make this year a successful one. With your help and cooperation and with that of our brothers who are not here today, I can succeed Without it I must necessarily fail. want your loyal help, your earnest cooperation, your advice and youl assistance, and I want it during the entire year.
 I have no enemies to punish, nc factions to appease and conciliate and no purpose except to advance the interests of Elkdom. I may fail; hope and pray not. I may make mis takes. Undoubtedly I will, but these mistakes will be well meaning mis. , takes, arising from defects of the mind and judgment and not from de , fects of the heart and will.
 Our country is engaged Il a grea world war for democracy and human ity. That struggle is still unfinished and it can only end with a complete and lasting victory. That victory can, must and will come. It is not z question or II we Win th1S war, Du
 only a question of when we win it
 Victory may come this year---wt pray God it may---it may come nex year or it may be years before i : comes.
 But come when it may and come when it will, until the time of com plete triumph of our arms which vii 7 secure lasting peace, the complete vindication of the ideals and princi 5 pies for which we fight and the es
 tablishment of those ideals and prin , ciples as rule of conduct for ma
 tions and for man. All of our policies 4 all of our work will be entirely sub
 ordinated to that work which is mos r important now to all of us, the win ming of this war. We would rathe ,, lose our order, our substance or ou
 lives than to lose our country.
 We must first find out if we have
 country in which an American fra , ternity like ours can prosper, becaus 7 without 8 free, triumphant America there cannot exist a worthy American . Order of Elks.
 Our war activities have been grea and diversified. Our contributions c men, money and labor have bee