The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-09

committee consisting Of j. T. Dunn. Z. w.
Cappleman and Ed Pierson was authorized
to carry Ii out.
Orders were sent TO F. w. Fisk In New
York, and as a result big bronze elk look
ing as natural as life arrived here this
week.
Contracts were immed lately let for con-
crete foundation and marble work, and the
operations were commenced on Monday
The contractors will push the work rap
idly. On February -, just seventeen years
after the first lodge of Elks was organized
in this city, the formal dedication ceremo-
MES will take place.
The monument 10 a very fine one and will
doubtless be greatly admired when IT Is put
In place.
On the pedestaPs front are marble plates
with the inscriptions Charity" 'Eks
Rest" and Fidelity" and on the west side
the letters "Brotherly Love" will appear
near the base.
The purchase Of the plot and the mcnu-
ment required an outlay of over $500
San Francisco has the only Elks' Rest on
this SIDE Of the Rocky Mountains and there
are only eight others IN the United States.
These are located in New York, Phila-
delphia, Chicago. Detroit, Louisville, ST.
Louis, Baltimore and Boston.
The origin and history of thu Order of
Elks are Of much interest.
In 1868 five actors who used to meet in
idea of founding II frsternal order whose
membership should he confined 70 profess
siOnal people only.
They talked the matter over with others
and found that their idea struck c0rre-
spending chords everywhere.
George W. Thompson. the Canadian, who
is still alive. was the man who compiled the
ritual. and soon the new order became
reality.
For quite awhile /: was confined to New
York only. but as the time passed by other
cities fell into line. and now there is hardly
city of any size III the United States which
had not one or more lodges of Elks.
San FraneiscO's experience with Elkdom
was struggling one for a long time
The first lodge, called San Francisco No.
was organized on February %, 1876, and
Tom Keene, the tTagedian, was its first
president or exalted ruler.
For short time matters went on all right ::
but soon dissension spread among the mem
beers, and things grew so bad that some OF
them seeded. obtained new charter and
founded a rival lodge In this city called
California No IL.
years which followed the Elks had hard
time OF It.
There were not enough members In either
lodge to make them Self-supporting, and
owing to continued warfare for superiority
carried on between No. 3 aud No. Il neither
of them prospered.
Matters grew worse evary year, and many
times il looked as II one or the other Of the
lodges would have TO throw up its charter
and quit.
Meetings were held because the constitu-
ton made them compulsory, but 1t was
often quite task to get quorum together.
The treasures were not only empty. but
the lodges were compelled to contract debts.
Death or sickness, always deplorable,
were made more so because there was call
for the payment Of sick benefits and no
money in the treasury.
Seeing the impossibility of keeping mat
ters up in such manner the wise men OF
the two lodges. assisted by some members
OF Eastern lodges, concluded, after much
negotiating and debating, to amalgamate
No and No. IL into one fralernal body.
The consolidation took place on Decem-
Der 6, 1885. and from it came the present
lodge, Golden Gate No. g.
From that time on a new impetus was
given to Elkdom and ever since the order
has made phenomenal progress In every
direction.
New lodges were organized all over the
coast and the local lodge increased its men,
bership.
Itnow has 100 members and many thous-
and dollars in the treasury.
The most active man in bringing about
this happy state OF affairs was w. c. Dud-
ley. who, for great many years, has served
as secretary, first of Lodge 3 and later of
No. 6.
He was and is an enthusiastic, earnest
worker and inevery respect the right man
In the right place.
Mr.. Dudley and C omittee are now busy
preparing the programme for the dedica-
ton celebration on the 22d.
The committee for. That occasion consists
of w. c. Dudley, A. a. Terry. G. S.iHoff-
man. DIR. George j. BuckDall and A. Nj.
Blaine