The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-22

The BEST People on Earth. " m adap-
tation OF the name. Beneyolen. and
Protective Order of Elks. owned the
town last night. Their handsome new
temple in the Rogers block. on Main
street, was dedicated with Impressive
ceremonies, after which there was a
street demonstration, the members of
the order and friends marching down
town to the Arion hail. where the COM
GLIDING features OF the evening was
The stag social.
The lodge-wheellng No. 2s--now &C.
cuples the entire top Goor of the block
and very handsome and convenient
quarters they are. The committee of
the lodge, which has had charge of the
hitting up of the quarters, Messrs.
Charles Schmidt, C. R. Tracy and otha
ers, certainly has done Its work In an
able manner, and there are few or no
lodges In the country that have more
satisfactory rooms. The largest apart
Fnent, Of course, is the lodge room. This
IS n handsomely furnished apartment
35xs5 feet, covered with a fine velvet
carpet, OF beautiful design and high
quality. The walls are covered with a
dead finish paper Of green tint that Is
very attractive, and the ceiling is tres-
coed with a sea-green tint In harmony
with the wall covering. The fittings
are the best that could be obtained, and
altogether the apartment is as COM
pletely equipped a lodge room as can be
found In the city.
The gentlemen's smoking room Is To-
Gated at the front OF the fiat, and is as
Handsomely furnished as the lodge
room. The walls are covered with
paper Of red tint, very pretty, and the
carpet Is OF similar color and elaborate
design. Wicker work chairs and other
handsome fittings are in evidence here.
The ladies parior, also at the front. is
perhaps the most beautiful OF the three
principal apartments of the fiat. A
plum tint paper was used on the walls.
Palms and bric-a-b.ac are among the
decorations
At $3.50 o'clock, the members of the
lodge. VISITING Elks, and friends Of the
lodge, both ladies' and gentlemen, as
sembled IN the lodge room, and the GER
EllOulEh VI NNAAGhAAbAl A1pAs ftANNa 49,
were both Interesting and Instructive,
ana perhaps gave to many present a
more comprehensive and correct idea of
Inc aims OF the order. Rev. c. E.
Clarke, Of Thomson NJ. l.. church, OPEN
ed the ceremonies with an earnest and
eloquent prayer Chairman Charles
Schmidt, on behalf OF the committee in
charge OF the improvements. presented
the completed hall to the order. w. II.
Manning, on behalf OF the grand lodge
OF the order. accepted. Acting Grand
Chaplain Bernie Handlan then led In
prayer, the members Of the order re-
spondlng. Acting Grand Exalted Ruler
Manning then in proper form, dedica-
ted the hall
CAPTAIN DovENER.
The first speaker was Congressman
Dovener, who made an eloquent adj
dress, in the course of which he paid a
glowing tribute to the B. P. o. E. This
dedication, said the speaker. is a grand
occasion to Elks; It Is an occasion that
stirs up the hearts Of all Elks. The
nall had lust been dedicated to the prin-
ciples OF the order. Charity, Justice,
Rrotherly Love and Fidelity. The occa-
sion recalled to the speaker many pleas
ant events IN the history OF the
lodge: also 1t recalled times Of pain and
sorrow, when there had been striking
exemplifications OF the great principles
Of the order.
wheeling lodge was organized on
June %, 1884. OF the seventeen VINO
uarticlpated in the Organization, OF
which the speaker was one, only three
remain, Sam B. Harrison, John Rlcn-
nrdson and B. B. Dovener. But since
that time there has been continuous
and active growth. bringing the mem
bershlp to 142 at present.
One thing about this order that APP
pealed TO the speaker was It's pure
charity. 1t was not reelection upon
othe- orders to speak Of this, but ne
WAS a believer In pure charity and could
not refrain from abiding to u as a
mart OF the great work OF the Elks' or
qanizatlon everywhere. Further, no
brother had ever been reminded that he
had been the object OF the lodge's char
The Elks have their jolly good times,
too. said the speaker. The order was al
FIRST almost entirely made up OF meH'-
hers of the theatrical profession, but
now that It's principles have drawn
such general admiration from all class
"a Of people, the actor is but small
mart of the membership Men who
have been most honored IN business and
n public life, have felt themselves hon
ored in becoming members OF THIS grnEu
order. (Applause.l 4.
al It's start the p. P. o. f. was not
wealthy organization, but with the
nasgIug Of the years It has improved IN
numbers, tone and grandeur; i has
Spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific
froo the Lakes TO the Gulf, In every
direction, until now there Is not state
or territory in the Union that ms mol
one, two or n dozen lodges. AT enc
close OF his address, the captain was en-
Enthusiastically npplauded
HON. JOHN A. HOWARD.
Hon. John A. Howard. a member o.
the order was next introduced. Acting
Grand Exnlted Ruler Manning said that
the lodge had anticipated tho presence
OF the orders head. John Calvin, ''but II
we can't have John Calvin tonight, We
have our John Howard" said the pre-
siding officer. Mr.. Howard was given
nm enthusiastic reception.
Mr.. Howard began by remarkas
facetiously that his talks were always
e1tenporaneous: on this OCCASION &c
make sure his would be eXtempora-
neous, ne had written II. He had hand
cd II to a reporter IN the ante-room
whom he accused of the serious crime
OF having handed his manuscript over
10 Captain Dovener. who then dellber'
ately stole his speech. (Laughter)
Like one OF Wheeiing's best known
citizens, I belong 20 no organization,
excepting the b. p. o. f." continued