The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-02
WILL CLOSE THE DEAL TODAY.
BUILDING AND CORPORATION COMMIT
TEES OF WILMINGTON ELKS
LODGE TO CONFER.
Plans for EIks' Home, and Pass Upon
application for Charter at a Meeting
Today Phenomenal Growth of the
District Deputy of North Carolina.

weeks in a quiet but very effective way
toward the establishment OF an "Elks
home" and the arrangements have so
far developed that at a meeting of the
building and corporation committees
to be held today a trade is to be closed
for a site and steps taken looking TO
tn. Incorporation of the "Elks corpor-
alton company" by whom the building
is TO be erected.
The Messenger has from the incipien-
c. of the movement been in touch and
hearty sympathy with the plans Of the
Wilmington Elks but by reaso of
urgent requests of lodge officials and
leading members has not been at lib
erty to refer definitely to the status Of
the movement until now.
The site to be purchased is, as
previously minated in the Messenger,
on Front street adjacent to and just
south of the SeabOard Air iii build
ing.
JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING
TODAY.
Aside from closing the contract for
the site, an especial feature of the
business to be considered during the
joint session of the building and cor
poration committees today will be TO
pas upon the application for the char
ter which has already been drafted
and a general discussion of the plans
for the proposed building. The "ElkS
corporation company is to be incor-
porated for a term II 80 years, the in
cOrporators being Mr.. H. j. Gerken,
Mr.. w. s. Johnson, Mr.. w. A.
French, Jr., Mr.. Thomas H. Wright,
Mr.. L. Stein, Mr.. II. E. Wallace and
DR. A. H. Harriss.
1t is proposed that the capital stock
shall be limited to $4,000.
The incorporators of the company
named above constitute the corporation
committee which will meet with the
building committee today. The gen.
tlemen comprising the building COM
mittee are Mr.. F.. H. Stedman CHAIR
man, Mr.. r. w. Wallace. Mr.. Sam
Bear, Jr., Mr.. C. C. Chadbourn. Mr..
J. H. Sweeney, Mr.. w. NJ. Divine
and w. j. Bellamy, Esq.
No plans have yet been drafted for
the building but several architects are
now preparing rough sketches with a
view to competing for the contract
The structure is to be 33X1OO feet,
three stories and a basement. The
street floor is to be a store which the
Elks will rent out. The basement will
also be rented with the store room. On
the second floor will be the Eik's club
apartments consisting of ladies recep-
ton room p~arlOrs, reading room, pool
rooms, toilet rooms and other apart
ments. The third floor Fourth count
ing the basement) will be fitted up as
lodge apartments. The details as to
material, etc, have not yet been set
tied upon.
PHENOMENAL GROWTH OF THE
LODGE.
1t was only two months ago (Decem-
Der 3Oth), that the Wilmington lodge
was organized with 80 members. Now
fhara ~ "A uoar- hnrc and civ ann1iRa-
tons are on file for consideration at
the next meeting. the membership be-
ing almost doubled within two months.
Not Only that but the lodge in perfect
ing arrangements for a home of their
own in this very short time has also
the unusual record of having raised
all the money necessary for its erec>
ton within the lodge membership.
That is to say. of the S12.0OO first and
second mortgage bonds to be issued
in buying the site and erecting the
building they hav all been taken by
Wilmington Lodge men. 1t may be
noted in this connection also that the
work on the new home will in all prob
ability begin not later tina May list.
1t will be of interest to note in this
connection that of the three Elk lodges
in North Carolina the Wilmington
lodge, the youngest. is to be the first
to have a home owned by the lodge
The Charlotte lodge is now we'll quar-
tered in a home which was built for
them by a company who gave them a
lease for a term of years. The Winston
lodge. the only other lodge in the state,
is inaugurating a movement for a
building of their own. but a definite
plan has not yet been adopted.
PRAISED BY DISTRICT DEPUTY
ROBERTS.
Yesterday Mr.. H. j. Gerken, the eX-
allied ruler of the Wilmington lodge, re-
ceived a letter from Mr.. d. j. Roberts,
of Winston, district deputy for North
Carolina, in which he took occasion to
make the following complimentary
reference to the progress being made
by the Wilmington lodge, to-wit:
Il am more han pleased to learn
hat through your efforts and those
of your brothers you nave accomplish
ed that which should be the main OBJ
ject OF every body of Elk in making
satisfactory arrangements towards
building you and yours a home which
/ trust will be fully up to the expecta-
ions and desires of all interested.
You and the brothers of Win ng-
ton So are to be congratulated, not
oply in this respect, but in the remark
able growth of FOUR membership in
the two months you have been in ex-
istence.
Winston takes her hat off TO the
brothers in the City by the Sea, n
wish you ali KINDS or good luck anu
success in all your undertakings"
is A NOBLE ORDER.
1t will not be amiss in this connec-
ton to refer briefly to the objects and
aims OF Elkhood. The following is an
extract from an admirably written
"Brief History" of the Benevolent and
Protective Order Of E1ks:
The Order of Elk is a child of
America and one of it's noblest OFF,
springs. 1t could not have been de-
vfsed by the mind of man under any
other conditions han those that exist
in our country and under our free in
situations. 1t has no ranks or titles;
it IL no ~respector of persons. AL Elks
are equal, differing only as one may
excel another in loving the good and
beautiful and in performing noble
deeds In silence and with out parade.
It's primary object is to aid those in
sickness and distress, and to help the
weak and unfortunate and cheer the
~dispondent. Following modestly in the
train of this grand purpose are other
aims thai aid in it's fulf1llment bv
fooob4ro a how TO live by reQuent