, 1900-06-23
THE ELkS ORGANIZE
AMID SCENES OF GREAT ENTHUSI.
Assn THE LARAMIE LODGE
IS INSTITUTED.
The First Organization of It's Kind in
Wyoming Starts Out Under the
Most Favorable Auspices-The
Banquet at the ~Thornburgh a Grand
Success.

With a blare of trumpets and ami,
scenes of the greatest enthusiasm tn,
initial meeting of Laramie Lodge No
5s2, Benevolent and Protective Or1el
of Elks, the first of its kind in Wyo.
ming, was held in this city last night
At 8 o'clock the gentlemen who were
to constitute the charter membership
formed a procession and marched
through the streets to the Odd Fellow
hall. At the head of the column was a
goat adorned with bright colored cloth
and led by an attendant. The kid
band came next, followed by officers
in a carriage and the working team OF
visitors on foot. Then came a feat,
richly adorned with evergreens and
bright colored ribbons, and in the CEN
ter a magnificent mounted elk. Bring
ing up the rear were the prospective
members Of the order, sixty strong,
marching in twos.
After a short march through the prin-
cipal streets, the procession halted at
the hall on Third street, where the
work Of instituting the lodge was car
ried out. This consumed much time
and 1t was after 2 o'clock a. m. before
the ceremonies were completed.
At 2:30 this morning the Elks sat
down to a magnificent banquet at the
~Thornburgh and it was after daylight
when the assemblage broke up. Even
then many Of the participants decided
not to retire, but engaged carriages and
drove around the city and into the sur
rounding country.
There are many tired and sleepy but
well satisfied men in Laramie today.
The visiting officers who instituted the
ledge are emphatic in their praise and
appreciation of the reception accorded
item by the Laramie people. Most of
the visitors, including the instituting
officers and members of the lodge from
their homes on the midday trains to-
day.
The banquet was a SUCCESS in every
way. After the stomachs a the par
Elephants had been satisfied, A. E. Mil
Ter, the newly-elected Exalted Ruler,
gave an address Of welcome and called
upon Mr.. A. D. Kelley of Cheyenne to
act as master of ceremonies. Mr. KEEL
ley was equal to the occasion and In as
Stunning the part gave an acceptable ad-
dress to the assembled Elks.
After concluding his remarks, Mr..
Kelley called upon S. S. Lindholm, depu-
ty grand exalted ruler for Wyoming
and Colorado, the %instituting officer,
who responded with remarks devoted
principally to the objects, purposes aud
accomplishments of the order.
Mr.. Kelley then made a few remarks
in response and called upon Judge A.
H. Pickens of Denver, Past Excellent
Ruler, who also devoted most of his
remarks to a discussion of tha prin-
ciples Of the organization.
Judge Pickens was followed by W. E.
Roberts, chief of the Denver fire do
partment and a prominent Colorado
Elk, whose remarks were witty and to
the point and were well received by the
company.
N. D. Mcdonald of Laramie made the
speech Of the evening AMI
he surprised and pleased his many
friends, who were not aware of his atil-
tiles as an orator. A purse mad been
collected for the benefit Of the young
ladies' who served the tables and to Mr..
was assigned the duty OF pre-
senting it. This he did In a manner