Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-02
Why Is an Eiks Minstrel?

| question and have heard It asked
! many times. You know that the
Elks assist the. poor in some way but
you have never been interested
| enough to seek any specific in
stances.
| But il YOU would have more en-
lightenment on the subject just in
terview hundreds Of poor boys and
girls. dozens Of widows or parents.
where the father has temporarily
been disabled or has suddenly been
: stricken with illness. They know
only too we'll who put bread in their
mouths to keep precious life within
their bodies. They know who filled
their coal house with the fuel that
made them comfortable and in fact
threw wide all the openings and let
the sunshine in to dispel gloom. In
fact the B. P. o. Z. trademark in the
way of coal, clothing or food has
been the means of routing the wolf
which persisted in seeking the doors
of the less fortunate beings who have
been forced to live a hand to
mouth" existence by some frown of
fate.
| On hundreds. yes. thousand, of oc-
casions have the Elks dispersed the
!, forces Of want as they gathered
about the door Of the destitute.
Never has a deaf ear been turned
to a worthy plea and never will there
be. The members Of the Relief
Committee do not ascend to the
housetops and proclaim the wonder
! full work they have performed. but
the recipients of the. aid do sing
their praises. From many little
mouth in which the Elks placed
food when "the cupboard was bare"
comes the highest words of COM
mendation. In more than one house,
hold the word "Elks" means more
than tongue can express. 1t was
that organization which made the
God Bless Our Home" sign mean
something. Just at times when the
blessings seemed to be fading away.
along comes the Elks life line, which
was only too eagly grasped.
There have been occasions when
=.
food at the door of a family which
knew not the source Of the benevo-
lence. These persons no doubt were
in dire need, but their pride stood
between them and q request for
charity. But to the ears of the Re-
lief Committee came the word that
assistance was needed and, followed
a quick investigation, the family was
cared for substantially-not only
once but until they were able to care
for themselves.
| Thus it is evident that the people
of Augusta and vicinity have been
brought to a full realization that the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks
is not a misnomer. Each letter
means something, not only to the
needy who have been helped but
also to each and every member of
the organization who is obligated to
exert his every effort to help suffer-
ing humanity as the opportunity is
presented.
The B. p. 0. F.. lodge is just the
middle man." In reality you are
! giving the money YOU have paid
either to see this performance or for
an advertisement in this Big Booster
|, Edition to the worthy poor. You
perhaps are placing a pair OF shoes.
/! on feet, blue with cold. perha ps: on
the sidewalk: you are putting coat
, or shirt on a back with little pro-
lection; you are placing food in the
mouths of persons on which the
Grim Reaper has evil designs; you
are intervening between them and
/ the Great Beyond and supplanting
great happiness because where there
4, is Elkdom there can be no gloom
or sadness. What you have given
| to the Elks minstrel may save a life
and may mean a star in Your crown.
The Elks are going to do their bit
year by year. day by day. hour by
hour. and they need your assistance.
| Each and every member of the
Elks Lodge unite in their thanks
for your patronage. They desire to
thank especially each advertiser in
this booster: each man or woman
! who at a loss to themselves and
their business perhaps. have given
their services to the minstrel per-
Torrance. In fact the Elks, whose
| hearts are just full of desire to
scatter the golden rays Of sunshine
. in places where they appear the
most brilliant, take the opportunity
! to individually thank every man.
woman and child who have assisted
even in the most minor way to make
| the Elks' minstrel a huge success,
and when the curtain falls on the
final part Of this performance YOU
can rest assured that you take with
you from this theatre the Elks' fer,
vent God Bless You"