The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-02

Hlks yesterday fittingly conlmemorat- ed the memory of their members who departed this life during the past year. The services were held at the lodge rooms in State street yesterday afternoon. The capacity of the spa cious enclosure was taxed, there be- ing many visiting Elks and not a few of those present were clad in khaki or in the blue of the navy.
 The Exalted Ruler of Bridgeport Lodge, Dr. Edward F. McGovern, Captain in the Medical Corps of the United States Army, is serving his country In France, and in his absence Past Exalted Ruler Clifford and Dis trtct Deputy Joseph c. Ivers presided. There was a most appropriate mu- sical service directed by Prof. John J. Raynolds. There was an augmented orchestra of 50 pieces. One of the un- expected features of the services was the presence of Lieut.. Joseph F. De- vine of this city who was in the thick of the fighting in France and who is now at a base hospital in this coun- try undergoing treatment for g. shat cd arm. Lieut.. Devine thrilled the membership with a graphic recital of the accomplishments of the American boys in France and the American blue jackets on the seas.
 | The lodge was extremely fortunate in having for the orator of the day the eloquent Homer s. Cummings of Stamford Lodge. MT. Cummings was in rare form and a splendidly patr1- otic address was listened to with rapt attention throughout it's recital.
 MT. Cummings spoke in part as
 follows:
 "In the presence of a great catas-
 trophe, an overwhelming disaster the
 tragedy of which presses hard upon
 us, humanity, which always has some
 thing of the Divine in 1t, finds renewed faith and fresh courage. When the German tide of invasion beat high at
 the breast of France, the spirit of France did not falter. It seemed to
 take hold upon the ultimate forces
 of the universe and, as by 6 miracle, triumphed. The hidden reservoirs of the spirit are inexhaustfble. Life is far greater than anything that can be
 said about it. like to reflect upon
 these things They have a comfort of
 their own in any moment of trial or
 suffering. These men, whose naemor-
 ies are honored here today, were our
 friends and brothers. They are still
 our friends and brothers. We do not
 argue about 1t. We. know it. They
 have simply gone a few paces ahead
 of us. Some of them died in the ser
 vice of their country. Thrice blessed
 are they. Theirs was the greater
 privilege. not necessarily the greater
 sacrifice, Soon or late death finds us all,
 'Trhs lessons are for the 1fving-to
 reverence the worthy, to remember
 the kind, to adhere to the right, tc honor justice. to love liberty and to dc . our part. The world Is being made ) and remade. There are innumerable - forces at work but surely we who have seen America turn her face to tht , sun and perform g. wondrous work fol ' humanity may rejoice in ths belle l that the forces of evil are yielding tt } the forces of good, Tn such 8 vas } plan who shall know his part? Events disclose. Inevitably one finds hi! place. It may be on the battlefield l in the shop or in the homo. It ma! , be in 8 high stadon of leadership O in humble place of unknown or un
 requited service. The share may bt
 great or small, Circumstances con f trol that, But we are all part of tn great plan,
 s Many years ago visited the Gobeli n near Paris. There wonderful tapastrie i, were made, wrought with infinit care and destined to an everlastin
 place of honor in the halls Of art
 Paintings are faithfully copied an
 scenes of historic interest are repro
 duced. The workers for the most par are humble people who toll unceas {, ingly and with such infinite pains ths |. oftimes the worker dies leaving hi
 labor unfinished and his son comes t take the vacant place. Curiousl '9 enough all this work is performe !" upon the reverse side of the batter l. so that those who toll may perhaI h never see the completed design. It l. much the same way with life, Tn h vast scheme of the universe defies tn er analysis of the finite mind, Million a toll and pass on to unknown grave 'n while the work goes on from genera T. ton to generation through centurit or of human effort.
 IS Wars have devastated the fair fac l. of the wol d, unspeakabIe crueltit Id have shocked our conscience, wron of has had it's periods of triumph an IS, all the things thEt enncble life an of make it worth the living have bee of placed at the hazard. No greater tri sr has civilization ever endured than u ,h Ene through which we have just passe CT The perils we have escaped are yet IS near that life itself seems to ha7 K