Republican farmer., 1918-07-26

O1SClnCtlOn Tn the ElhS as SeueIdAS 1 many of the ablest men in America, l members of the order, aspire to it's i 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,O0O,0O0 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 magnifcence 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, its text in full is splendid:
 Brother Grand Exalted Ruler, and
 My Brothers of the Grand Lodge: 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 did not express briefly my thanks for 1 the great honor you have done me. I appreciate your confidence and
 thank you for it's splendid expression l here today
 | If. however, this occason was one only of personal honor to myself, then l 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
 any man might be proud to attain.
 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
 
 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
 of our order remains yet to be seen.
 I have before me as an example the
 splendid record of those who have
 preceded me in this office, and par ticu1arly l 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 1 destinies and who is too soon to retire from official labor. I 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 ot :. Jour 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 9 to make this year a successful one. . With your help and cooperation . and with that of our brothers whC e are not here today, I can succeed f Without it I must necessarily fail. : want your loyal help, your earnes
 cooperation, your advice and you assistance, and I want it during tn a entire year.
 I have no enemies to punish, n, t factions to appease and conciliate V and no purpose except to advance tn i interests of Elkdom. I may fail;
 hope and pray not. I may make mis IS takes. Undoubtedly I will, but thes
 mistakes will be well meaning mis d takes, arising from defects of tn le mind and judgment and not from de r fects of the heart and will.
 e Our country is engaged a grea IS world war for democracy and human l. ity. That struggle is still uninishe ,r and it can only end with a complet ,e and lasting victory. That victor ia can, must and will come. It is not ,.I question of if we win this war; bu s only question of when" we win ii y Victory may come this year---w '' pray God it may---it may come nex ie year or it may be years before ly comes.
 IS But come when it may and com
 when it will, until the time of a com )- plete triumph of our arms which wi n secure lasting peace, &he complet - vindication. of the ideals and princi S, ples for which we fight and the es 1e tablishment of those ideals and prin S. ciples as a rule of conduct for ma
 tions and for man. All of our policie! se all of our work will be entirely sub in ordinated to that work which is mos ,n important now to all of us, the win
 ming of this war. We would rathe
 lose our order, our substance or GU
 lives than to lose our country. aA We must first find put if we have A country in which an American fra y ternity like ours can prosper, becaus without a free. triumphant Americ; B there cannot exist a worthy America Order of EIl1s.
 7 Our war activities have been gre; and diversified. Our contributions men. money and labor have bee ] magnificent. This year we wi
 make them even bigger and bett'
 and will even more sacrifice our ow m personal comfort and enjoyment ir the greater purpose of national su r. cess. I do not mean by this th n our pre-War activities will be abaI
 doned. On the contrary they wi IS be continued and promoted in evel n- way that will not interfere with ol
 greater purpose. We will work ar eh labor as before yet we will make al ce sacrifice necessary to help our coul ld try and to bring success to it's mob 10 purposes. subordinating in whole
 in part our other work as may =, | necessar,y to the attainment of tn