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"The friezes are just above a legend in Gothic script that reads The Triumphs of Peace Endure - The Triumphs of War Perish which is carved above the great bronze doors of the main entrance. The Terror of War frieze is to the right of the doors and The Glory of Peace is to the left."
From Riedy “Chicago Sculpture”
“The introductory motive in The Terror of War, reading from right to left, shows The Sway of Might—symbolized in the figure of a man of powerful proportions, enthroned, with crown and scepter and clad in the accoutrements of war—surrounded by the figures of Force. Avarice, Suspicion, Fear, Rumor and the Sower of the Seeds of Strife. Following to the left is the flying figure of Alarm with plunging horses, and men in battle array obeying the Call to Arms while the Dogs of War strain furiously at their leash. The following group to the left shows the Terror of War, a figure of gigantic proportions in full armour, bearing a two-handed sword and burning torch, accompanied by the Fury of Hatred mounted upon a blind nag and the Fury of Revenge on fiery steed, both rushing headlong into the fray. Following the Terror of War to the right is the heavily draped figure of Death, with cup uplifted and beckoning his followers to the bloody feast. Following this group is the Battle, showing a hand-to-hand conflict of helmeted and armored warriors hurling the javelin, wielding the battle ax and sword or speeding the deadly arrow. Following is The Human Wreckage, a group of dead and dying warriors over which hovers a Vulture, as symbol of Destruction, while in the lap of the lamenting Mother rests her dead son, her sacrifice to her country’s cause. The climax is reached in the heroic figure of the Mourning Victory, arm resting wearily upon a sheathed sword, her laurel-crowned head bowed low in deep contemplation of the scene of misery and desolation before her, while a sprightly youth with wings of frail fibre holds out to her a branch of evergreen, symbol of Hope.
The introductory motive in the Glory of Peace is the heroic winged figure of The Spirit of Peace giving blessing to the group of mother and children about to lay floral offerings upon her altar, while in her shadow repose Virtue and Contentment, hovered over by chanting angels. Following to the right is the Sower, the Reaper, and the Husbandman with his ox and~ plow. Now follows a series of themes symbolizing the four cardinal principles of the Order of Elks: Charity, offering food and shelter to life’s unfortunates and warding off Hunger and Despair. Justice is symbolized in the enthroned figure of Justice before whom Innocence pleads her cause, while Nemesis with fiery sword lays her avenging hand upon the evil-doer. Brotherly Love is symbolized in the two powerful men who are relieving their heavily burdened brother, while another is giving succor to him whom illness has afflicted. Fidelity is depicted in the group by a vigorous man standing steadfast by his mate, spurning Temptation, shown in the siren holding aloft the brimming cup that cheers, and warding off Adversity and gaunt Poverty. Following this is Pegasus, the symbol of creative inspiration, surrounded by the Bearer of the Sacred Fire and the Singers of the laden horn of plenty. The climax is reached in the group of the Human family surging onward to the self-revealing figure of Truth and the Higher Life.
In carefully observing the frieze, one can discover stylistic features of classical Greek sculpture: the action or movement is transmitted from figure to figure in a horizontal direction; overlapping is used to provide a horizontally linked pattern of line and form and to avoid the dullness of a mere progression of separate events; and, as in Greek reliefs, Weinman’s figures exist in front of or against their background, not as mere protuberances on a plane. Moreover, Weinman made arbitrary use of scale and took advantage of so-called hierarchic proportions: the size of figures is determined by their status and importance in relation to other figures.”
Sculptor Weinman was born in Germany and was a designer of several medals including the US Mercury dime. His Elks memorial sculptures (Patriotism, Fraternity and The Triumphs of Peace Endure - The Triumphs of War Perish reliefs) have been described as among his boldest and most imaginative large-scale works.
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"The Elks Veterans Memorial is a tribute to the bravery, loyalty and dedication of the thousands of Elks who have fought and died for our country. It has been described as one of the most magnificent war memorials in the world but with its monumental architecture and priceless art, the Memorial is more a symbol of peace and of the patriotism of the members of the Elks fraternity."
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