Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-11
THE ELKS' HISTORY.
MIR. vEsAnLE's ADDRESS TRACES
THE ORDER FROM IT'S nrRrH.
SPEECH MADE At MEMORIAL SERVICE
The Eloquent Young Brother from
Norfolk Tells OF the vicis.ifudes of
the Charitable Organizations and
Makes a Profound Impression.

The address of Mr.. w. II. Venable, of
Norfolk, delivered at the Academy of
Music last Sunday on the occasion OF the
memorial service Of Richmond Lodge.
No. 10. b. L. o. E.. made profound i'm
preston on the large gathering which
listened to IL, and as the address partakes
largely of history of this prominent
though comparatively youthful order. the
Dispatch has secured Mr.. Venable's man.
uscript, and this morning presents the
full text Of the address. Mr.. Venable
said:
Exalted Ruler and Brother Elks of
Richmond: AS the honored ambassador
of the Elks of Norfolk. I have come to
you at this sad hour, commissioned by
them to express to you their most cor
dial greeting and sincere sympathy.
Ladies' and Gentlemen,-The Elks
of your city have requested me,
on this, Our Holy Day. to tell you
something Of the early history, the de-
ve!opment, and the praiseworthy objects
of an order that protects the virtue of our
homes. dispenses without ostentation
charity to the living, and honors the MEM
| DRY of its dead.
| "As look out over this great audience
and recognize many earnest faces, those
unmistakable marks of refinement and
kind attention that characterize every
| assemblage where the true sons and faith
| ful daughters OF Virginia meet, L would
1 that my Creator had given me some Of
| those rare gifts and exalted talents with
which He so richly endowed many of
those statesmen and patriots who in the
| dark hours preceding our national indie
| pendence, at time wnen your progressive
| city, now adorned with magnificent build
| ings and stately monuments, was a small
| town and your famous Franklin street
| country road, caused these old hills
around Richmond to resound with words
Of inspired eloquence.
TRUE PICTURE.
Were 1t possible for me- at this hour,
| TO summon to my aid these powers, / be-
lieye that l could use them for no higher
purpose than TO draw for you q true pic
ture, portraying all the beautiful attri-
butes possessed by the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, and so to i'm
press it upon your minds and hearts that
every man in the sound of my voice be-
fore leaving this house would resolve to
become q member of this order.
Looking to nature we perceive that all
its beginnings are small. Growth and de-
velopment in it's early stages are often so
gradual as to be almost inperceptible.
Far away on the side Of lofty noun
tain, sparkling in the genial sun
light one may see the silver
tracings of a tiny brooklet thread
ing its way between rocks and boul-
ders down to the green valley below.
Drawing in new force from every side
gradually the brooklet became the small
stream, and then with ever increasing
rapidity its power and volume is doubled
and trebled and before we realize how
great the changes are, we find ourselves
looking down a broad. majestic river.
bearing on it's bosom the commerce OF
States and nations.
'In Natures beautiful garden we may
watch from day to day the little bud
struggling long and faithfully to break
loose from the strongly-knitted bonds that
confine It within narrow compass; and
then, as II by magic, in the twinkling of
an eye, we may see the bonds give way
and behold the bright-colored petals of
the beautiful flower gradually unfold
themselves to the bamy breeze bringing
joy and happiness TO all the world.
GROWTH LIKE NATURE.
1.-THE laws OF growth and development
in nature very fittingly illustrate the his
tory of the growth and development of
the Order of Elks.
"In 1866 several leading members OF the
theatrical professionalism proverbially
jolly and social class of men-rented a
room over a place on Twenty-third street.
IN the city of New York, and formed
small club, where it's members could meet
and enjoy themselves, as they saw fit,
on the only day in the week that they
could call their own. None but actors of
good standing performing on the Amerl-
can stage were eligible for membership
in this exclusive organization, which call
ed itself the Jolly Corks.' Composed. as
it was. of the best wit and humor of the
American stage and having a name well
calculated to catch the eye Of the public,
at time when the officers Of the city
were rigidly enforcing the severe excise
laws that had recently been passed by
the New York Legislature. the member
ship of the club increased rapidly. Proba- |
bly, no class of men in the country follow
q calling tho income from which is more |
uncertain than do members of the theatri- |
cal profession. AS an evidence OF this |
applications for assistance from needy |
actors soon began to accumulate on the |
secretary's desk Theatrical performan-
ces of a high order were given occasional |
" by the members Of the club in order TO |
meet these charitable demands. AS time |
passed on these earnest appeals for help |
steadily increased and the leading spir- |
its of the club, formed purely for the social |
enjoyment of its members, began to think.
of better things for their organization.
ain the early spring of 1868 a committee !
of five was appointed with Charles Alger- !
non Vivian, the Right Honorable Primo |
of the Jolly Corks' as its chairman, to |
select suitable name, to prepare consti-
tuition, and to suggest rules and regula-
lions for society with broader scope, |
and nobler purposes On the 2lst Of May |
in the same year this committee made an |
elaborate report which was unanimously |
adopted. and thus was born to us the |
Benevolent and Protective Order OF
Elks' To our esteemed brother and |
Z Past Exalted Ruler George w. Thomp
son. the order is indebted for its name and
insignia. His knowledge of the habits
and characteristics Of the noble American
elk. described by natural historians as an
animal strong of limb and feet of foot,
Quick. keen of perception, and timorous
of doing wrong, and avoiding combat ex
cent in fighting for the female, and In de-
fence of its helpless young when COM
municated to this committee doubtless
suggested to their minds the cardinal
principles so happily blended In the forma-
ton of our order. Two years later, on
the 18th of March. 1870. sixty members OF
the New York lodge went over to Phila-
delphia, and organized a prosperous lodge
In that city. Like that OF the Jolly
Corks.' the fraternalism OF the new order
was limited exclusively 10 the theatre
cal profession. and the great difficulty or
-