An Archive of 11 O'Clock Toasts
Several different versions of the 11 O'Clock Toast
You have heard the tolling of 11 strokes. This is to remind you that with Elks, the hour of 11 has a tender significance. Wherever Elks may roam, whatever their lot in life may be, when this hour tolls upon the dial of night, the great heart of Elkdom swells and throbs. It is the golden hour of recollection, the homecoming of those who wander, the mystic roll call of those who will come no more. Living or dead, an Elk is never forgotten, never forsaken. Morning and noon may pass them by, the light of day sink heedlessly in the West, but ere the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory will be pealing forth the friendly message, "To our absent members."
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 E1k recalls Their Members where'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 Member who clasped your hand And wrote your worth in the rock of earth And your faults upon the sand. TO OUR ABSENT BROTHERS
The Eleventh Hour Mrs. H.A. Morton Santa Monica, 10/31/13 Dedicated to Santa Monica Lodge No. 906 Eleven has struck on the Eastern coast, The Elks have given their standing toast, "To our absent Members," where'er they be. Whether on land or on the sea. "To our absent Members," 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 Members," 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 Members," from West to East. Including the greatest unto the least, For at this Elks' hour we all agree, "To our absent Memberss," -- From The Pacific Coast Elk Elkdom's house is darkened, the Eleventh Hour is here. The chimes are calling softly to our Members far and near. Wherever their footsteps take them, to near or distant shore, the Heart of Elkdom beats for them and for those who come no more. If you see a Member falter, reach out a helping hand ... Their virtues live in memory, their faults drift with the sand ... To our Absent Members
A 11 O'Clock Toast Created by Dr. C.H. Harvey of Erie, PA, Lodge No. 67 Delivered at a Lodge banquet held 9/8/1896. Here! stop that song, look at the clock, Although it's to our liking; The joke must wait, ease up the talk, Eleven o'clock is striking; Fill glasses for that old-time toast, We hold above all others, The one we love to honor most, "Here's to our absent Members." Good person's all, where are you now? Who came with cheery greeting, In other days, and wondered how, Men thought that life was fleeting; There's Charlie, brightest of them all, His face shines in the claret, He wore a smile to conquer all, As none but he could wear it. Dear one! their shadow in the glass, Shines bright and fair and cheery; I almost hear the old jest pass, "Let's drink and all be merry," And those who died a year ago, When life was in its summer; I see them in the shadows now, A new and loving comer. Dear ones! I know not where you are, Nor do I care to ponder, Upon your home in that far land, Across the fairy yonder; But yet I know where'er you are, You'd hurry out of heaven, To drink this toast with those you love, When the clock points to eleven. So we who gather 'round the board, Remember all the others; Drink deep the toast, without a word, "Here's to our absent Members." Members and Friends: 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 Members."
You have listened to the tolling of the eleventh chime, A reminder our pleasures should cease for a time In order that those who have finished their score, May all be brought to mind once more Wherever our members may wander or roam, On land or sea or their celestial home. Whatever their lot and life may be, It is meet with us the surviving to see. That the hour of eleven on the dial of night, Shall never pass beyond our sight, Without our hearts to throb and swell In wishing our absent members well. Our golden hour of mutual recollection, A time devoted to silent reflection Of the home bound members on a distant shore, And the roll call of those, who will come no more. Regardless of the paths their lives may have taken, They are never forgotten, never forsaken. Morning and noon may pass them by, The light of day fade from the sky, But ere the shadow of midnight shall fall, The chimes of memory shall summon us all. To speed them a message above all others, God grant you peace, TO OUR ABSENT MEMBERS
A Toast to our Absent Members By Tracy E. Kareha Tis' the hour of eleven, throughout Elkdom does it chime. As we remember our absent members, 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 members 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 members, Whom we've walked with hand in hand. TO OUR ABSENT MEMBERS