Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-24
A MONSTER ELK HUNT
Over 1,500 of Them to be Turned
Loose in Pittsburg Streets,
FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
The National Gathering Here Next Month
of Worthy Order.
PARADE IN WHICH ART WILL BE SHOWN

The third annual reunion of the Benevo-
lent Protective Order of Elks of America
will be held in this city on Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday, June 10, 20 and 21.
Local Lodge No. IL is perfecting arrange
ments for the occasion, and expects to give
to Pittsburg the honor of making the meet
ing the largest and most successful one vet
held. Fully !, 800 members of the order,
representing all of the large cities, and some
of the most prominent actors have signifed
their intention of attending, and the local
committee of arrangements expect the num-
Der to be swelled to possibly twice that num-
Der. The time set, being at a lull in the
theatrical season. will make it possible for
large number to attend.
The programme has not been fully
mapped out yet, and will be more definitely
settled in short time. However, this is a
general outline: The Grand Central Rink has
been engaged for the three days of the re-
union. A reception will be rendered to the
visiting members at the rink Wednesday
forenoon, the first day. and the credentials
given out Thursday forenoon, or the second
day, business session will be held. The topics
to be discussed have not been decided on.
Among them will probably be something in re-
Raro 10 the problem about admitting lorelgn
actors.
THE GREAT PARADE.
In the afternoon of the second day the parade
will be gwen. 1t is expected to be grand
affair and the order expects to show as fine
body of men as ever paraded in Pittsburg. An
elegant silk banner will be presented to the
lodge making the finest display. The local
lodge are having 40 large transparencies, with
elks' head on them, painted by John johnson,
scenic artist of the Academy of Music, and IN
tend making bold effort for the plum. They
will wear Prince Alberts silk hats and white
gloves The line of march will be short, but
will take in the usual downtown route. In
the evening of the same day another business
session will be held.
About 1880 or II o'clock on Friday, the last
day, an excursion will be given on the May
flower to DAVIS Island Dam, McKeesport and
other points.
The reunion will end Friday evening with a
social session and banquet at the Grand Central
Rink. As many actors in all branches of the
profession will be present. some fun and witty
things may be expected, interspersed with the
more solid extempore speeches and solos
culled from the drama and opera.
In 1873 Pittsburg Lodge was instituted as No.
II, the order having been founded in 1865, ten
years before. At the last report, in 1857, nine
years later, there were 70 lodges and member
ship of between 5000 and 5000. At present
there are about lbs lodges, with the member
ship nearly doubled When the order was first
instituted its members were nearly all profess
sional actors but of late years the membership
has extended to all professions and among the
120 members of the lodge in Pittsburg nearly
every profession is represented.
ITS PROMINENT MEMBERS.
Among the number are three ball players,
Calvin, Miller and Carroll, and four prominent
newspaper editors of Pittsburg There are
also an ex-Mayor, iron men, lawyers, ETC. In
fact the order seems to have outgrown its
strictly professional feature and taken in all
who wished to subscribe to and enjoy its bene-
fits.
1t is generally understood that the Elks en-
Joy themselves, but as a prominent member
said yesterday, 1--WE are the same as any bene-
fcent organization. The Elks are noted for
their gifts TO charity, and while we enjoy our
self once in a while at social session, people
would find eur regular sessions as sober as
those of any lodge. By the coming parade we
hope to show the citizens what fine body of
men constitute the order of Ellls."
: All of the officers of the Grand Lodge are ex-
pected to be present at the reunion. Among
them are: Hamilton E. Deech of Washington,
d. c., No. Is Grand Exalted Ruler; A. e.
Moreland, of New York, Grand Secretary;
Hugh O'Neil, New York, Grand Secretary; W.
c. Jones' st. Louis, z. L. G. K; Percy Wilson,
Brooklyn, E. l. G. K; Emile Eourler. LOUIS
vile, E. L. 6. K; E. C. Chamberlain, New
York Grand Tiller.
The Grand Lodge of the order will hold its
annual meeting in New York the second week
in next July. At this meeting the insurance
feature of the order will come under discus
sion and an endeavor made to bring it to more
perfection than at present.