Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-06-09

the interests Of the order throu0houe
the United States - for the Elks do
not claim any lodges outside of the
country that gave the order birth. The
matter of annual reunions was broachsd
by certain Of tho western lodges early last
year and Detroit was settled upon as tho
place for the first meeting. But the idea
was new one to the members Of the
order at that time, there was only q
meager attendance and very little was ac-
complished besides tho selection Of Gin
cinnati as the place for the reunion this
year, and the adoption by the brothers Of
mental resolution to make It q success.
The fact Of the matter Is that the Elks
have outgrown their swaddling clothes
and the western members Of the order
are going to help them to moro mature
garments. 80
When, in 1866, a few actors met in New
York city and resolved to form social
club for mutual improvement and mutual
enjoyment. they little thought that their
project would, In score Of years. result
In one of the strongest beneficiary orgsni-
zations In tho United States. aThe
Corks" was the name adopted by the pro-
fessional gentlemen, and meetings were
held In Delancey street. Hero are some
of the actors and men engaged In the
amusement business who made up Dor.
tion of tho membership Of forty Of THE
Corks".
William G.. Bowron, now leader Of the
Fourteenth Street theatre orchestra; T.
Grattan Riggs, now starring In Australia;
George w. Thompson, at present with
the N. s. Wood theatrical company; Tony
Pastor. Charles Vivian, Henry and Hugo
O'Noil, George f. Mcdonald, Henry Ven
denmark, William Sheppard. Thomas J.
Gaynor, Fernando Faster, George w.
Rockefeller; James Glonn, Claude Goldis
and john Mulligan. Charles Vivian was.
the first right honorable primo Of ths club.
of the members were English actors. A
part OF the exercises at the regular Weekly
meeting was tho mock trial Of any one
of tho members against whom any other
member preferred charges, aud tho fines
imposed by the right honorable primo pur-
chased the cigars and ''ice water con.
sumed during tho session. After The
Corks" had been in existence year better
things for tho club were thought Of by
tho members, and committee Of seven
was appointed to form o society that
could become national In Its scope. OF
that committee but three are now alive
George w. Thompson, William q. Bow.
ron and Thomas (Arattan Riggs. The re-
suit Of their deliberations was the forma-
tion, In 1857, Of .'The Benevolent and Pro.
tective Order Of Elks." George w. Thomp-
son was elected the first exalted ruler and
held the Office for three terms. Vivian,
who was tho presiding officer Of The
Corks," was never made an Elk.
In 1870. after some little pecuniary
loss, on account Of It's working without
charter and therefore not being able In
law TO hold its treasurer to strict &C.
countability for the faithful performance
OF his duties, tho lodge petitioned the
legislature for leave to become an incor-
poratcd body. Opposition was made and
the petition was refused. An application
to Judge George Barnard, Of the supreme
court, for charter, with permission
TO hold $4,000 worth of property. was
granted, and ut the next term Of the
Legislature bin was passed incorporat.