The San Francisco call., 1899-06-22
ELKS MARCH IN
A GREAT PARADE
Lodges Cheered by the
Spectators.
THOUSANDS ARE IN LINE
CONSPICUOUS COSTUMES WORN
BY THE MARCHERS.
The Grand Lodge Decides in Secret
Session to Hold the Next Con-
clave at Milwaukee in
July, 1900.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

ST. LOUIS, June 21.-In-coming
trains brought in several hundred be-
lated Elks from various parts Of the
country. Chairman Kehrman, whose
committee on registration and head
quarters has been busy taking care of
the visitors, estimates that there are
fully 5000 Elks in the city.
The weather continues fine though
warm. To-day the principal event was
the parade, in which all the Elks here
participated. Starting at Twelfth street
soon after noon the procession moved
east on Washington avenue and thence
through the business section Of the city.
Almost every building had been deco
rated in their honor and on Olive street
at Seventh an elaborate arch spanned
the roadway. Along the line of march
We're thousands of spectators, who
cheered the different lodges as they
marched past
given point and during that time not
car wheel was turned in the down.
town district owing to the congestion
of traffic and business on the streets
was practically suspended. Each lodge
in line had some distinctive dress,
either uniform or something unique or
startling in effect. The st. Louis Lodge,
with 400 men in line, dressed in gray
and carrying purple and white umbrel-
las, made a fine appearance. Owens
bOro (Ky) Lodge No. 513, the youngest
in the order, attracted attention all
along the line. Calling themselves the
babies Of the order they dressed ac-
cordingly, with long white slips with
white bonnets and carrying bottles of
milk.
Cincinnati Lodge No. dressed as
golfers, with *l coats and short trou-
sers, the cherry pickers" of Toledo in
red uniforms and carrying rolled UNI
brellas, Terre Haute. Ind, Lodge No. Sc,
in white duck Prince Albert suits and
Louisville Lodge No S in immaculate
white flannel drill uniforms, divided
hOnOrs for neatness in appearance and
the precision in their movements.
The members of the Greenville, Miss,
Lodge No. 14S, were dressed as South
ern field hands, carrying bags Of cotton.
Davenport, Iowa, Lodge No. 29S made
great hit. 1t appeared as the prospec-
tive Manila lodge, the members being
blackened up and dressed as Filipinos.
a platoon of mounted police led the
parade, followed by the marshal and
his aids on horseback and the st. Louis
lodge acting as escort to the grand Of
ficers and members of the Grand Lodge
in carriages. Organizations from the
following cities were in line: Ottumwa,
Iowa; Lexington, KY; Belleville, Ill;
Grand Forks, N. D.; Owensboro, KY;
New York, Cincinnati. Toledo. Terre
Haute, Baltimore, Denver, Milwaukee;
Greenville, Miss; Kansas City; Allie
gheny City, Pa; Greensburg, Ind;
Louisville Ky.; Joliet, III Nashville,
Davenport, Sioux Falls; Newport, KY;
Indianapolis, Washington and a dele
cation from Arkansas.
In secret session the Grand Lodge
decided to hold the next meeting at
Milwaukee. The meeting is to be held
on the second Tuesday in July, 1900
The new constitution also provides
for the abolishment of the Australian
system of voting, and orders that cleo
tiOns be made by roll call. No city
of less than 5000 inhabitant will be
given an Elks' lodge, and in each case
the list of charter members must be
submitted to the next nearest lodge.
No city will be given two lodges. New
York now has two, because of it's con-
solidatiOn with Brooklyn.
In future the grand trustees will be
elected for one, two and three years,
instead of for one year terms as at
present. This will make it necessary to
elect but one trustee each year. The
bond of the grand treasurer was raised
from 900 to $4,000, and that of the
grand secretary from $4,000 to $4,000
These bonds must be furnished by an
indemnity company, the expense to be
borne by the Grand Lodge. Under the
new constitution no one not a member
of the order can be made an honorary
member of the Elks. This action was
taken because a number of lodges have
in the past made women honorary
members by reason of some favor done.
A new code of procedure for trials
and appeals was submitted and num-
ber of other changes made in the old
laws. The constitution will go into
effect January l, 1900, If it is ratified
by the lodges not represented at the
present meeting by delegates.