The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-07
SOME FIX HISTORY,
Statement Regarding the Orders Tan
uled Affairs by One OF Its Officers.

To THE EDITOR OF The SuS-Sh: In THE SvN
Of tn" 18th inst. find Il mention of thc meet
inE Of the Grand Lodge. Il. T. q. Elks. in Now
York. with n comment uron the met that tho
delegates were ONLY from New York Lodge.
which made thu Grand Lodge seem TO be Il
peculiar body. Some time last winter. no-
leve. Charles Vivian was mcnt ionrd rs the
founder of the order. The facts regarding tho
order are as follows:
New York Lodge o. tho Benevolent and Pro-
tectivo Drd"rU: islks was founded by number
of theatrical. minstrel. and variety PERFORM
crs on Feb. Ii. ISIS. 1t spranG from II social
club called 'rhc Jolly t"rks.' whose sole OBJ
Jcct WAS to ay in 4 stock OF wnt goods on Sat
urduy night to drinK on sun lay. in defiance Of
the newly enacted ENc,Sc law. Vivian was u
Cork anlits presiding officer. He had been
buffalo" III Lngand and when Il form Of
initiation was proposed he introduced some
Of tho buffalo ritual. In June. 1868. while
tho order was yot merely social club.
Vivian and his friends. to the number Of
about twelve. were expelled. Among the
number was the treasurer. who had all tho
funds Nd with Vivian he started an oppoSi-
tion lodge. which lasted on.Y for Il week.
Vivian was expelled Tor misconduct at II bcno-
iit,,ihc first. heltve-Giv,n at the Academy
OF Mus!: n lew ioik
clu,, bur the benevolent and Protective Order
oil ElSs was formed. with two degrees. the
ones entitled to benefits. with ritual. laws.
and an avowed charitable purpose. TO AS
riety. circus. musical. and literary profess
sions. and to take as n",mhcrs the above
these objects. TIC order consisted. as ut rres-
emf. OF onlv one lodge until early in 1871. whom
some Of the mcmorrs r".lt!n.; in i'hiIndelphia
I'y' arose. ""' T. mr%' III" iss%s s * ::
of New York for the formation Of n Grand
Lodge OF the !icn"y"lcnt and ''rotectiyo Order
! Of tiks. said net being known as chapter XIX.
! # Laws of 1871. %hirh permitted the estab-
lishment OF branch or s',ordlnIla organza-
! tions. trun the receipt Of III" state charter q
Grand Lodge vas formed 10y tho inGorrorators
"harters war" issued 10 New York Lodge No /
! ciitrtcg was not lssu"d until 1876. when san
! irancisr" o'EAEi5"i Il. ~ -, =: ana was i1l-
| cinnat Sacramento Baltimore. Louisville. 1t.
| Louis. Boston itt~hmrH'', hc. until now thors
! '.his growth was raIil. hHt not healthy: tho
Il atri "'""ri r! -istancc nl the nm usement
m more, !, irct,r ior ,hr benefit Of IN" ainuss-
orders Of wnl'n they might no members.
! white th.r -"rv"cs and presence made the
inniiII,rrlm aacI" OF course tho formation mot Of
l,L-"s ma!" IeySnM' TO me grand lodge
( toward n. er.urtn. Of such fund thoy pushed
IN nWcu lmcnt - tho ronsi II ion removing
the grand lodge rom New York city. where It
haIal",ys hccn held. and attempted. in VIC:
l"tiun 81 ii" charter. to take tho grand
lodge from Tho jurisdiction OF, tho in
"rr!rrAtinE body. New York Lodge No,
]. which had boon. for years. protesting
! against tho destruction OF the theatrical char
actor Of thu order. obtained first u temporary
Injunction from Judge barrett aud next
rcrPrtnai Injunction from Judge Lawrence re-
| stH,'nnG tho order from its M grafton. These
orders of tho court were disoneyed. and :
sufficient quorum of the Grand Lodge met In
Now York City, july 1897, after proper no.
tirc. and in nrrnr'anc" with thu law and Iude-
mcnts given above. took upon themselves the
legal status Of the Grand Lodge Of tho Benevo-
lent and Protective Order oil l.iks under it's
charter Of 1871.
There Is. therefore. but ono lodge OF this
order. but til" delegates and officers havo
many amonE them who belonged to the other
lodges hut who preferred to remain with the
| original body.
The original Grand Lodge is now seeking In
! tho courts the recognition Uf its solo use Of the
tito. aud as soon rs til" val lily Of tho charter
/ Is cstn she'd a| it undoubtedly will be- will
| proceed to organize lodges in IL" theatrical
centres 81 tho country carefully avoiding ths
! way stations aud water tanks.
| BUTTE. Mont July -. CEIyUs AICEs