A TOAST TO OUR ABSENT BROTHERS

Tis' the hour of eleven,
throughout Elkdom does it chime.
As we remember our absent brothers,
And their virtues at this time.
One by one they've left us,
To carry on each day.
Even though they've gone now,
They'll help show us the way.
While they were here with us,
They served their country well.
They will never be forgotten,
As it makes our heart throb and swell.
At the mystic hour of eleven,
We remember the brothers we once knew.
And on their journey through eternity,
Always thinking of them as we do.
So when we hear the tolling,
We very quietly stand.
And remember our absent brothers,
Whom we've walked with hand in hand.
TO OUR ABSENT BROTHERS

By Tracy E. Kareha, 1977

TO OUR ABSENT BROTHERS

The hour of eleven has tolled again;
We pause, in our human endeavor
To renew our faith in the friendship of those
Whose virtues stay with us forever.
With hearts full of hope and voices of cheer
For an Elk is never forsaken,
We think kindly thoughts and speak tender words
Of those whose place we have taken.
The hours speed by and the days turn to months.
We cherish this brief retrospection;
The pages of time tell of memories dear
In the book of fond recollection.
Whatever the task, be it large or small
To lighten the burden of others;
Together we'll work and together we'll give
A toast —"To our absent brothers."
TO OUR ABSENT BROTHERS

THE 11 O’CLOCK TOAST

Tis' the hour of eleven,
throughout Elkdom does it chime.
As we remember our absent brothers,
And their virtues at this time.
One by one they've left us,
To carry on each day.
Even though they've gone now,
They'll help show us the way.
While they were here with us,
They served their country well.
They will never be forgotten,
As it makes our heart throb and swell.
At the mystic hour of eleven,
We remember the brothers we once knew.
And on their journey through etetnity,
Always thinking of them as we do.
So when we hear the tolling,
We very quietly stand.
And remember our absent brothers,
Whom we've walked with hand in hand.
TO OUR ABSENT BROTHERS

Created and delivered by Dr. C. H. Harvey or Erie PA Lodge No. 67, 9/8/1896

THE ELEVENTH HOUR

Eleven has struck on the Eastern coast,
The Elks have given their standing toast,
"To our absent Brothers," where'er they be.
Whether on land or on the sea.
"To our absent Brothers," from East to West.
Good wishes we send our very best.
The Lodge in the mountains and on the plain.
At eleven takes up this glad refrain:
"To our absent Brothers," the toast peals forth
From the sunny South, to the frozen North.
Though many in foreign lands may roam.
They know at that hour they are thought of at home
The toast even reaches the other shore.
Where they live who meet with us no more.
Like an echo, it comes back loud and clear
"To our absent Brothers," 'till we meet here
So with loving thought, and helping hand,
The work goes on o'er all our land.
And only the Ruler Supreme can know
The good Elks do wherever they go.
Eleven strikes on the Western coast.
The Elks are giving their standing toast.
"To our absent Brothers," from West to East.
Including the greatest unto the least,
For at this Elks' hour we all agree,
"To our absent Brothers," B. P. O. E.

Written by Mrs. H. A. Morton, 10/31/13 and dedicated to
Santa Monica CA Lodge 906

THE ORIGINAL JOLLY CORKS TOAST

Now is the hour when Elkdom’s tower
Is darkened by the shroud of night,
And father time on his silver chime
Tolls off each moment’s flight.

In Cloistered halls each Elk recalls
His Brothers were’er they be,
And traces their faces to well known places
In the annals of memory.

Whether they stand on a foreign land
Or lie in an earthen bed,
Whether they be on the boundless sea
With the breakers of death ahead.

Whate’er their plight on this eerie night
Whate’er their fate may be
Where ever they are be it near or far
They are thinking of you and me.

So drink from the fountain of fellowship
To the Brother who clasped your hand
And wrote your worth in the rock of earth
And your faults upon the sand.

A TOAST TO OUR VETERANS
(please join hands)

On the 11th month,
The 11th hour of the 11th day
The Elks honor our Veterans
Who have been in harms way
They fought many battles
In both World Wars
In the air, on the seas
and defending the shores
In Korea, Viet Nam and
Desert Storm too
They did it for me
And they did it for you
They fought for our freedom
They fought for our pride
Many returned but
some of them died
They answered the call
And don't boast or brag,
All they ask in return is that
We salute our flag
They don their uniforms
And march in parades
To remind us all
When memory fades
Some gave their lives
And for that we are sad
But they gave us our freedom
And for that we are glad
So please raise your hands
for this special toast,
To our American Veterans
Whom we owe the most

To Our Veterans

Written by Jerry and Carol McCorkle
Clawson-Troy Elks Lodge #2169

The toast you see here was adopted at the
Grand Lodge Session in Reno by a vote on
the Grand Lodge Floor. It is a tribute to the
American Veterans that served in this country’s
Armed Forces. Please reprint this toast into
your November newsletters and use the toast
in your Veteran’s Day celebrations.

Past State President Jerry McCorkle,
and his wife Carol wrote this toast.
Our hats off to Jerry and Carol for
such a touching and meaningful
tribute to our nations veterans.
Thank you Jerry and Carol.

Remember…

So long as there are veterans, the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
will never forget them

Please print this toast and article
in your November Newsletters.

Thank You,
Bruce A. Stark