Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-01
AN APPOINTAll!N'
THE ELK'S GRAND LODGE.
EFFORTS TO BRING IT TO RICH
MOND NENT YEAR.

The Atlantic City Press says: 1t be-
comes more and more apparent every
day that the coming session OF the
Grand Lodge of Ilks and reunion OF
that order, to he held here next July,
will be the largest convention that even
assembled in this city of OF conventions
Reports from all over the country show
that unusual interest is being taken in
the Atlantic City reunion, and the
delegations from many cities will be
the largest ever sent to an affair of the
kind.
The latest announcement is that the
State OF Virginia intends to send prob
ably the largest single body of men
that will attend the reunion. Not less
than 800 to I50 Elks from the Old
Dominion will he here, and they pro-
pose To give their brethren from the
North u taste of genuine Virginia hos
pitality. Chairman, Preston Belvin, OF
the Ways and Means Committee OF
Richmond Lodge, was here yesterday
making preliminary arrangements, and
he said to Press representative that
his lodge intends that the Virginia. dele
cation shall have a front seat in the
band wagon
All this, of course is TO be done with
n purpose or rather, two purposes IN
view. One of those purposes is to be-
come acquainted with members of the
order from other sections Of the coun-
try, and the other. and perhaps most
important, is to CAPTURE the 1901 re-
union. The South wants next years
session of the Grand Lodge, and wants
it badly; and the members Of that see
ton are a unit in naming Richmond
Virginia, as their choice for the con-
venton. They are in dead earnest and
will use every effort 10 accomplish their
purpose. Their battle cry will be one
that was famous in the North some
thirty years ago: ION 10 Rishmond."
but significance now will be different
and its fulillmcnt will be accomplished
by more peaccable methods.
The VirgnianS will come in body,
wearing an attractive uniform and ac-
=t.nl,a 4l.4niAd- hx-ihn--famouS StoncWall
Band of Stanton, Virginia. They Will
have special train, which will prob
ably he run in two sections. and will
be composed of Pullman sleeping cars
if they finally decide to make their
march 10 the sea at night. Headquar-
tcrs will he ooen here and an attrac-
tive canvass started as soon as they
arrive After all This preparation, the
Southern contingent should stand a
good chance Of capturing the convcn-
ton.
But Virginia Will not be the only
L.
although the majority of The other
States will be represented by the indi-
vidual lodges from the various cities.
baltimore has already raised fund
OF some 81 500 10 meet the expenses of
their delegation, and they expect to
double this even before The reunion is
held. In New York state many OF the
lodges are forming Atlantic City clubs.
and similar means of increasing the del
egatons are being used elsewhere.
AS for the entertainment of he'visit-
ing Elks, the local Finance Committee
is now reasonably sure that the hotel
and the business men of Atlantic CITY
will contribute SIS, 900 to $50, 900 toward
the expense fund This is n handsome
sum. but much more could be used to
advantage, as the proper entertainment
OF the visitors will not benefit the
members o. the order alone. but will
help the entire city. The coming con-
vention will bring here IL vast assem-
blage of the most desirable class of Wis
itors. and on the impression made will
depend. in IL large measure. the return
of many OF them for future sojourns
with their families. II is the intention
of the Prize Committee TO offer about
$4,000 in cash orizes for the best turn
out. which will he great incentive 10
the various lodges to send large and
we'll equipped delegation.
Norfolk. Port smnuth, BcrkIey. Hamp-
ton. etc. will he largely represented at
the reunion In fact, active prepara-
tons 10 this end are now in progress
here. and this city will send from 80
TO 100 representatives of the present
lodges in the South To Atlantic CITY.
Opening Postponed.
Mr. ]. II. Faher announces that he
has been unable to get ready for OPEN
ing of his new art studio to-day as ex-
pected owing to the great amount of
work necessary to accomplish this This