The Billings gazette. [volume], December 05, 1905, Image 1

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le li ns Gazette.
VOL. XXI. BILLINGS. MONTANA, TUNSDAY.:DECEMBER 5, 1905. NO. 63
ELKS OBSERVE
MEMORIAL DAY
Solemn and Impressive Ceremonies
Mark the Occasion.
LARGE AUDIENCE PRESENT
Programme the Most Appropriate Ever
Given by Billings Lodge.
The members of Billings lodge No.
394, B. P. O. E. have reason to feel
proud of their officers, the committee
and all others who in anywise contrib
uted to the arrangement and carrying
into effect the programme that was
given at the opera house, Sunday after
noon, in observance of Elks memorial
dlay. It is doubtful whether the local
lodge ever observed the day with more
impressiveness and with deeper and
truer sentiments of loving remem
brance for the departed of its member
ship, than marked the services that
were held on this occasion.
At 2:80 the members of the lodge
assembled at their hall where they
were formed in line with C. J. Davis,
the esquire and George W. Hubbard,
color bearer, leading. Headed by the
ban@ the delegation, nearly 100 strong,
marched to the opera house where
seats had been reserved. The officers
took their position on the stage, to
gether with the chief orator of the day,
the Honorable Lee Mantle, of Butte.
The stage was dressed with rare
good taste and appropriateness. It was
set in a box scene formed by sides and
background of the colors of the order,
white and purple. At the rear was an
arched opening, the background of
which was of the same material and in
the center of the visible background
was suspended the head of an elk, the
tips of the entlers of which bore lights
of the Elks colors. In the front of the
stage were four vacant chairs draped
in black and upon each had been
placed a beautiful vase filled with the
rarest roses. Back of these was a
table decorated with Elks' emblems
behind which sat the pr esiding officer
and in a semi-circle behind him were
ranged the officers of the lodge and the
speaker. During the progress of the
exercises the stage was brilliantly
illuminated by artificial light, and with
its flowers, plants and other decora
tions, presented a beautiful picture in
deed.
An Harmonious Programme.
The programme was a most har
monious and impressive one through
out. C. C. Bever, the exalted ruler of
the local lodge presided, and after an
excellent and exceedingly well-render
ed overture by West's orchestra, Mr.
Bever briefly addressed the large and
representative audience that was be-
fore him. Mr. Bever said in part:
"My brethren, we are again remind
ed that the day and hour has arrived
that calls us together to pay a solemn
tribute to our honored dead. Often
will we be reminded during these sol
emn services that we are born to die;
that others have taken their departure
before us. It is the custom of Elks to
lay aside all other duties and spend
this one day, the first Sunday in Dec
ember, in paying $ solemn tribute to
those of us who have gone to the
realm of the Great Exalted Ruler of all.
The light of the eye has gone out. The
lips which ever breathed the language
of fraternal greeting are silent forever
more. Yet these annual gatherings
only tend to unite the great brother
hood more closely together. There is
not a brother here who cannot look
into the future and discern the end
at which all humanity arrives. Those
of us who are left are preparing for
that end, while those who have gone
have left the fruits of their labors and
their good deeds which we are proud
to honor and reverence on this sacred
and solemn day. The animal from
which we derive the name of our order
is noted for its gentleness and timidity.
It is strong of limb, fleet of foot, keen
and quick of perception. So should
we always be, my brothers, quick to
perceive the cry of distress, timorous
of doipg wrong, and feet of foot to aid
the upifortunate. The burial of our de
partg4 brothers, thbe keeping alive and
com tpmoratiag the virtues of those
who have fallen in life's battle is a
duty ipnposed upon us qs Elks. Brother
aecretary, you will call the roll of our
honored dead. (In solemn voice the
secretary here called the names of the
deceased brothers of the lodge.) It!
vain we call upon them. They have
passed into the light of the great be
yond; have crossed the valley of the
shadow of death. The places that
have known them will know them no
more, and once motre we are called
upon to realize that in the midst of
life we are in death. That He who
watches over all of our destinies has
the spirits of the departed under his
watchful care, and on the last great
day will again connect the chain of
fraternal love which has so recently
been broken. Let us write the
faults of our departed brothers upon
the sands and their virtues upon the
tablets of enduring love."
Following Mr. Bever's opening add
ress Miss Amy Bennighotf rendered as
a violin solo with Miss Sophia Bennig
hoff accompanist, the 'Invocalion,'". by
Van Gomens. The selection was o~
tirely in keeping witl the solemn c
casion and was faultle sly rendered by
the talented young lady.
Then came the questions and re
sponses by the officers of the lodge,
followed by the singing of the opening
ode with all the Elks, both on the stage
and in the audience, standing. The
Reverend Father Stack then invoked
the divine blessing in a fervent man
ner, after which the address of the
Honorable Lee Mantle was delivered.
Following the address George M. Hays
sang in fine voice Gounod's beautiful
and touching composition, "There is a
Green Hill Far Away."
Cass. Prudhomme, the efficient sec
retary of the lodge, than whom there
is no one in the country who has the
welfare of the Elks more closely at
heart, delivered the eulogy. Mr. Prud
homme gave a brief biographical
sketch of each of the dead members,
speaking in terms of endearment of
their lives and characters. He stated
that a quarter of a million of people
throughcut the United States were par
ticipating in like services that after
noon.
Mrs. S. Roberts, who is a late ac
cession to the ranks of excellent read
ers of the city, then recited Thana
topsis, the doctrinal foundation of the
Elks, in an impressive manner.
The closing ceremonies, the singing
of the closing ode and the benediction
by the Reverend Father Stack closed
the exercises.
The Dead of Billings Lodge.'
Doctor Henry Chapple, former
mayor of this city and one of its most
popular and greatly beloved citizens
during his lifetime. William J. Reifen
rath, who was killed in a railway acqi
dent near Livingston five years ago.
Vj
..... THE HONORABIL LEE "MANTLE
THE
Adolph Mueller, the well known travel
ling man, who was taken ill and died"
at Bozeman three years ago. Albert
J. Fohey who was killed by being run
over by cars at the stockyards in this
city fourteen months ago. Billing"
lodge has been organized eight yeard
and its list of departed members con
sists of but four.
Senator Mantle's Address.
Senator Mantle said in part:
Exalted Ruler, Brothers and Friends;
In accordance with the beautiful.
custom of our organization we meet
once more in our lodge of sorrow.to
pay our mournful tribute of respect
to the honored themory of those broth
ers of ours who have laid down the*
cares and burdens of life; who have
surrendered its joys and sorrows, its
hopes and fears, and who have gone
forward upon that mysterious journey
whence none return.
Sorrowful though they be these
gatherings possess a chaste and pa
thetic significance sweet and hallow
ing in their influence, even though
they be an eloquent and impressive
reminder of the certainty r of death.
For on these occasions the fragrant
essence of friendship gathers about
us, filling our minds with pure, unsel
fish thoughts, eliminating the grosser
qualities of our nature, softening the
asperities of life and stirring every
chord of our hearts with tender recol
lections.
Today as it were we gather around
the graves of our beloved dead, strew
ing about them "the beauties of na
ture;" commending with sober and
earnest words all that was good and
true in their lives, remembering only
their virtues and forgetting those
faults and weaknesses which are in
herent in human nature.
It is grateful and comforting to
meet in the seclusion of this lodge of
sorrow, and with sacred song, with
solemn ceremony and fervent prayer,
give ourselves over, not only to a con
templation of the worthy lives of our
departed friends and associates, but
also to a calm consideration of the
great problems of life and death. Such
a gathering for such a purpose is ele
vating and ennobling. It lifts us above
the more sordid phases of life to a
broader and more unselfish concep
tion of the higher obligations resting
upon us.
Look on Nature's Better Side.
In coming here today we endeavor
to purge our hearts and minds of
every unworthy sentiment, to purify
our thoughts and feelings by casting
out all malice and envy, and to look
only upon the finer and sweeter side
of human nature. Coming together in
this spirit of forbearance, we bring
into our lives loftier aims, nobler as
pirations, a gentler leniency and a
closer approach to the beautiful fra-.
ternal principle of the fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of man.
It is generally understood that the
Elks is largely a social organization
and that much of its time is devoted
to a rational enjoyment of the good
things of life. Its social sessions, for
which the order is famous, bring out
in charming relief the sunny side of
human nature. With wholesome
mirth, with genial companionship and
fwarm comradeship, it binds its mem
bers in a bond of good fellowship
hidc nothing but death can sever.
Tht While our chief aim is to increase
sum total of human happiness we
.nebettheless- keenly appreciate that
there is a graver side of human ex
Ilstene, and that we must cheerfully
"accepi our full share of the solemn
responsibilities resting upon us in
1common with all mankind.
The religion of the Elks is as broad
as humanity itself. A generous opti
mism lies at the base of its creed.
"It is slave to no sect *** takes no
private roada; -
'Buft-'looks thbpugh nature up .to .nor
tire's God.
"And knows where faith, law, morals
all began,
"All end in love of God and love of
man."
Within our fraternal circle are gath
ered men of every class, of every sect
and creed, all worshiping at the shrine
of Charity, Justice and Brotherly
Love. Our chief article of faith is to
do good. wherever we may; to lessen
the sorrows of life and increase its
joys.
We realize that in this life there
must be suffering, we know that there
must be winter as well as summer
nigkt as well as day; that sorrow must
ever walk hand in hand with joy and
that it is. the thought of death which
makes life sweet. And we believe
that .these opposing conditions, these
contrasts in life, are essential to hu
man happiness and contentment.
The World a Looking Glass.
Thackeray tells us in "Vanity Fair"
'that the world is a looking glass which
casts back to each of us the reflection
of our own face. If we smile it smiles
in return. If we frown upon it it
frowns back upon us. It we hate it it
hates us, if we love it it will love us.
The Elks recognize this truth and so
we are 'endeavoring to smile 'u~on the
world, to love humanity, to overlook
its faults, to see only its goodness, 'its
virtues, its good intentions, to the
end that the world may amile back
upon us and love us in return.
Today we pause in the incessant
strife for gain, in the rush for
wealth, in the struggle for power. To
day we put aside our selfish ambi
tions, our differences, our animosities,
our clashing interests, and surrender
ing ourselves to higher and nobler
thoughts and sentiments we meet to
gether upon the gentle plane of sym
pathy and affection for the memory
of our departed friends and brothers
WhO, in life, shared with us the rare
joys, and the true fellowship which
come from association with our or
ganization. Hand in hand with us
they trod life's pathway bravely en
countering its storms and adversities,
enjoying its pleasures and adding to
its benefactions. But today their
places are vacant., In vain we 'call
their names, there is no response for
.their lips are sealed in the silence
of the tomb.
"But oh for the touch of a vanished
hand,
And the sound of a voice that is
still."
(Ouondaued on Eighth Page.)
CONGRESS IS
IN SESSION
Senate and House Organize for
Fifty-ninth Time.
ALL ABSENCE OF FLOWERS
New Rule Prohibiting Floral Displays
Marked in Its Effect.
[By Associated Press]
Washington, Dec. 4.-The assem
blage today of the members of the
Fifty-ninth congress for the first ses
sion was marked by no unusual inci
dents, but it attracted to the capitol
crowds of spectators who took a lively
interest in the proceedings. The day
was perfect. The sun shone brightly
and the air was keen. Society was
out in force and filled *he reserved
galleries, while visitors upable to fli.u
seats filled the corridors to catch
glimpses of public men. In the senate
the proceedings were brief, but mest
of the spectators seemed to find quite
as much to interest them in observ
ing the senators on the floor after ad
journment as they could have expe
rienced had the session continued
longer.
The house was in session for more
than three hours, and while the pro
ceedings followed the programme that
has marked the opening of congress
for many years, there was enough of
interest to hold an exceptionally large
audience during the entire time.
Floral Display Missing.
One noticeable feature was the ab
sence of flowers, which heretofore
have been common to both chambers.
On opening days the display has been
so great that this exhibition alone
would have been sufficient to draw
great crowds and the absence of noral
tributes, due to a resolution adopted
unanimously by the senate and to an
order of the speaker of the house,
robbed the occasion of much of its
picturesqueness.
The only color scheme given to the
chambers today was of the galleries,
where hundreds of handsomely gown
ed women gave a splendor to the
event that marked the beginning of
the congressional social season. Dur
ing the sessions senators and repre
sentatives visited the galleries and
chatted with friends.
Senators Allison and Morgan were
appointed by Vice President Fair-'
banks as a committee to notify the
president that congress was ready for
any communication he desired to
make. The senate was in session only
20 minutes. Adjournment was taken
in respect to the memory of the late
Senator Platt.
Primary steps to organize were
taken by the house. Joseph G. Can
non of Illinois was re-elected speaker.
The memebrs of the house took the
oath of office and the officers and
floor employes of the body were re
elected, the rules of the last congress
were adopted, and members went
through the formality of drawing for
seats, which was .enlivened by the
presence of the crowds that filled the
galleries, the animation of the reunion
of veteran members and the interest
of new ones.
Williams Gets Busy.
In a brief speech against the adop
tion of the rules, the minority leader,
Mr. Williams of Mississippi, touched
on the interest of the country in
tariff legislation and told of the new
republican "ideas" which were being
"wafted to Washington on the breezes
from every part of the country."
These, he said, might be properly leg
islated for, should the "minority of
the majority" stand with the demo
cratic members in the adoption of the
old rules and forming new ones which
would permit con'sideration of such
legislation as popular opinion might
dictate.
Mr. Williams was asked by the
youngest member of the house, Mr.
Wharton of Illinois, for an explana
tion of what he had meant by the
word "kid" in asking for support in
opposition to the rules from the new
lý iublican members. The retort was
instantaneous and caused a burst of
laughter at the young member's ex
pense. "With that degree of rever
ence which the personal appearance
of my interrogator excites in my mind;
I would say he would be the last
member of this house to ask that ques
tion," said Mr. William:. .
A committee was appointed to act
with the senate in notifying Presi
dent Roosevelt that the house was
ready to trandact business, and the
committee on mileage was appointed.
The house adjourned after a session
which lasted three and a half hours,
•n compliance with resolutions an
nouncing the death of Senator Platt
of Connecticut and Representative
Marsh of Illinois.
FILLING THE HOPPER.
Food for Congressional Mill Promises
to Be Plentiful.
[By Associated Press]
Washington, Dec. 4.-A large num
ber of bills and joint resolutions were
introduced in the house today. They
cover. a large variety of subjects, in
cluding the Philippine tariff, state pen
sions, regulation of the hours of em
ployment in the executive depart
ments, merchant marine, increase of
salaries of the vice president and
members of the cabinet, requiring cor
porations to make full reports of their
affairs to the commissioner of cor
porations, increasing the powers of
the interstate commerce commission;
investigation of campaign funds, of ex
penditures on the Panama canal, of
insurance companies doing interstate
business, of cotton reports and of the
condition of child labor, provision for
a six year term for the president and
the election of senators by a direct
vote of the people.
GIVEN TO CALIFORNIAN.
Lane Will Succeed Fifer on Interstate
Commerce Commission.
[By Associated Press]
Washington, Dec. 4.-Senators Per
kins and Flint of California called on
the president today to discuss with
him the appointment of a successor
to former Governor Fifer of Illinois
on the interstate commerce commis
sion. At the conclusion of the con
ference the announcement was made
that the president would appoint
Franklin Lane of San Francisco to the
vacancy created by Mr. Fifer's resig
nation, which takes effect January 1,
next. The nomination will be made
tomorrow.
MONTANA WEATHER.
[By Associated Press]
Washington, Dec. 4.-Fair, warmer
Tuesday; Wednesday fair.