Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-12-09
ElKS' ANNUAL TRIBUTE
TO DECEASED MEMBERS
Six Answer Last Roll Call dur.
ing the Year-Americanism
the Theme of Patriotic Men,
orial Address by William Z.
McFeeters of st. Adams

Burlington Lodge, No. eIs of the Benev-
client and Protective Order of Elks held
their annual memorial exercises Sun
day afternoon in the lodge rooms on
Bank street. with william, r. McFeeters
of st. Adams delivering the memorial
day address. During the past year Bur-
lington Lodge lost six members through
death. The deceased members Of the
lodge are w. C. Limoge, Frank W. FL
Holt, John f. White, Harry w. Kim
ball, b. A. Stone and Arthur l.. Roberge.
Preceding the address by Mr.. Nc
Feeters, selections were rendered by
.Lessor's orchestra. A quartet composed
Of e. G. Hillary, i. r. Wilmington. w. j.
Gotta and F. NJ. Bell rendered several
selections. following numbers by the
orchestra. r. NJ. Bell. sooist, also rem
dered selections during the afternoon.
The meeting was presided over by +. L.
Linsenmeir, acting exalted ruler, in the
absence of B. j. Boynton. the exalted
ruler. The program was In charge II
r. w. Quincy, chairman OF the memorial
committee.
MR. McFEETERS ADDRESS
Mr.. McFeeters' address follows. in part
On this dnr. when we gather to pay
tribute - the memory Of our brothers.
we are reminded that. in spite Of our
loss. the world goes ever on.
1--WE uncommiserate pass into the night
From the loud banquet and departing
leave
A tremor in mems memories faint and
sweet
And frail as music. Features OF our face.
The tones of voice. the touch of the
loved hand
Perish and wants one by one from
earth.
Meanwhile in the hall 0, song the multi
Applaud. the new performer One per-
chance,
Ono ultimate survivor, fingers on
And smiles and to his ancient heart re-
calls
The long forgotten. Ere the morrow die
He. too. returning thru the curtain
comes
And the new age forgets us and goes
on"
The Omnipotent has stretched forth
His hand and removed our brothers from
our sides, leaving us to walk alone. 1t ia
not for us to question His wisdom, nor
for us to complain.
What tribute shall we pay to these our
departed brothers? What indication Of
our respect shall we show before the
world? monument, a eulogy. a solemn
meeting with bowed heads? All these are
natural and just. But, II we have a real
appreciation Of what these men have
been to us and to the world. II we truly
desire to honor their memory will we
not do so by taking up the work where
they have dropped It and by bringing
their plans to realization pay lasting
tribute to their memory?
~
their heritage. gladly accepting the OBJ
legations. Can we, their brothers, In fond
memory do better than to exemplfy by
our actions and lives tho principles for
which they stood?
Those principles have never changed
since they were set forth in the preamble
Of the Federal Constitution:
I'VE, the people of the United States.
IN order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice. insure domestic tran.
guilty, provide for the common defense
promote the general welfare. and secure
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution Of the United States of
America"
There you have the tenets of the
American faith the goal sought by our
brothers the mark toward which we
must strive II we are to keep faith with
them.
What was this perfect union? 1t was a
State in which there was no sovereign
no person above the law. In which the
benefits and obligation fell on all alike
In which the rights of the individual
were subservient to the welfare of the
whole community. That was the battle
cry Of our fathers. 1t is the watchword
Of all Americans to-day.
Avna hnc <hA lls&
the nations she has been the mora
force working for the betterment OF
world conditions. Shall she now become
the object Of scorn and ridicule because
her citizens fall to apply to their owr
affairs that high standard Of devotion
and idealism which they have insistes
on in others?
Have we not come to look upon citizen
ship merely In the light Of its benefits
forgetting It's obligation?
IT Is n trite saying that we are passne
through period of unrest and dissatis
faction. On every hand we find preach
ers Of new doctrines, sellers Of new nos
trums to cure the ills Of our day. Propa
ganda is being artfully spread and unless
we throw open the doors and windows t.
let in the air and sunshine of clear
American thought. a dangerous infection
may set in.
Preach the truth. tell OF our ideals
practice them in your daily lives an,
you will find that these germs Of unres
will be vanauished; that those who com
to conduer by untruth will be conquere
by the truth; that the ideal Of our faith
ers. the heritage of a sovereign people
will be saved.
This is our duty, and carried out II will
result in an Americansm which shal
stand as a lasting monument to GU
brothers and to the glory of this, thei
great brotherhood.