Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-16
AMONG THE ELkS.
What the Fort Worth Boys and Those
Elsewhere Arc Doing.


The latch-string Of the Elks' home on
Fourth street has been hanging out Us
usual. Among the distinguished gentle
men who have been entertained by them
the past week were Mr.. Charles COnnery Of
Boston, J. II. Choate, president of the
Overland cotton mill at Denver, formerly
superintendent of Colorado division of the
Union Pacific railroad, and Col. Welmot,
general manager of the same mill.
The following from the speech of Grand
Exalted Ruler Simon Quinlin delivered at
the grand lodge held at Louisville, Ky, is
worth remembering:
We had every reason 20 feel proud OF
our last grand lodge gathering at Cleveland,
Ohio, tine attendance upon that annual
meeting being larger than upon any similar
event. This year, my brothers, we will far
surpaSs the Cleveland gathering IN point of
numbers, ana l trust make il equally rs in
tercsting and instructive.
Il congratulate you, my brothers, upon the
steady growth of the order, which has of
late gained the confidence of both press
and public. The noble and glorious prirci-
pies and purposes of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks have been so
widely spread throughout the nation that
the better classes of the people are eagerly
seeking admission within our ranks.
And thus our order has grown and
achieved magnificent results, the character
isting society and superior TO many. Con
siderinG, my brothers, that we have over
two hundred lodges i'll our order, extending
from the state OF Maine in the East, to far
oil Oregon and Washington, in the Wesr,
and all through the North and the South,
We have much to congratulate ourselves
that our complaints are 50 few.
This lodge year consists OF but ten
months, the change Of meeting of the grand
lodge from July 10 May thus Curtalling it
two months Nevertheless l have issued
dispensations for the institution of forty
lodges. all OF which | am pleased to inform
you will dO credit to our institution, and Z
list of which is herewith attached.
AT the last grand lodge communication
held IN Cleveland, l called your attention
TO the fact that dispensationS had been re
QUeStcd 10 form lodges in Canada and
throughout Europe, but recommended that
you take no action thereon at that time.
These requests have been repeated and
urged therefore respectfully ask YOU 10
consider this subject.
"Personally | am in favor Of remaining as
we are, d strictly original American institI-
ton, copying from 10 other order in the
world. However. tLesc requests have been
so numerous l deem it my duty TO lay the
question before you for your action
Some time during the present term YOU
will remember, my brothers, of the dis
grace brought upon the good name of this,
our beloved order, by the admission into
Newark lodge, \. J.. of 4 celebrated prize
fighter named John L. Sullivan.
The Associated Press dispatches of the
country sent this news over the wires 10
every city in the land, and the news was
indeed an electric shock that brought the
blush Of shame 20 the cheeks of every good
brother-every true Elk.
The press commented upon it as most
lamentabie act, and one that the order would
deeply regret unless the gross error of his
admission as a brother was soon remedicd
The expression of the public was clearly to
show that if the Benevolent and Protect
i've order Of Elks favored the admission of
such characters that it should be branded
as disreputable order, unworthy of its
pretended morality and boosted virtues,
and no longer entitled to its sympathieS or
aid in its charitable objects.
Il was flooded, SO to speak. with CORES
pondence from all sections calling upon me
to act in the matter and try by indignant
disapproval 10 recover, if possible, our good
name. Letter upon letter came informing
me of the injury done, Of the disgrace,
likely to be lasting unless some act Of mine
with equal publicity was made known 10
the world that we did not approve of the
reception into our lodges of persons whose
reputation was so bad, so malodorous and
undesirable in character as to preclude their
admission into decent society
K
The time has passed in my Judgment
when the membership of the B. 2. o. Elks
should be else than composed of men of
sterling integrity and the first and best cit
liens of the localities where lodges exist
and whom to call brother is to befriend and
worthy a seat in our family circle l was
called to suspend Newark lodge for confer
ring the degrees on said Sullivan, but for
reasons which will appear hereafter, I
deemed such 4 step inadvisable.
caused to be sent to Newark lodge against
said Sullivan, considered it best to sus-
pend Sullivan pending the charges in the
Newark lOdro >