The age-herald., 1900-06-10
IN THE FORESTS
 OF THE NORTHWEST
RoamS the Chief Elk of All
 Elkdom.
RECEIVED WITH MUCH HONOR
Hon. B. M. Allen Meets With a Warm Reception at the Hands of the Altered Tribe Reception
 at Butte, Mont.

Hon, B. M. Allen, of this city, grand ex- l alted ruler of the Benevolent and Protective | Order of Elks, who is touring the northwest in the interest of the order, is meeting with a warm reception at the hands of the ant lered brotherhood of that wild and woolly section of the country.
 The following from the Butte (Mont) Miner, of June 5h, will be read with inter- est by his many friends here:
 "B. M. Allen, grand exalted ruler of the B. P. O. E.. was rendered a reception by the Butte Elks yesterday afternoon at their lodge rooms. About 100 Elks took advant- age of the occasion to meet the biggest Elk in Elkdom, and the warmth of the reception will no doubt make a lasting impression on the distinguished visitor, who left for the west last night
 'The feature of the occasion was the pre- sentation to MT. Allen by the Butte Eks of memento of his visit in the form of beautiful badge. The presentation speech was made by eX-Senator Lee Mantle. MT. Allen was genuinely surprised and pleased with the gift. The badge is a beautiful one. Suspended from the gold bar and arranged in the form of a Maltese cross are four elk teeth of exquisite coloring. In the center of the obverse in gold and blue enamel is a handsomely executed elks head, and on the reverse is a dial with hands pointing to Il o'clock, indicative of the hour when the Elk always thinks of his absent brother. On the bar is engraved the words: Pre- sented to Grand Exalted Ruler B. M. Allen by Silver Bow Lodge No. DO"
 After being received in due and proper form by the lodge, MT. Allen was called upon for some remarks. He said when coming in on the train from the east a friend pointed out to him a cloud of smoke and said, That's Butte. Mr. Allen said he thought he was going to his home in Birmingham Ala, as that is also enveloped in smoke. He complimented the Elks on their representative membership, and said that no state in the union had so many ac- cording to population. He found Elks run ming everything in Butte. Down in the mines he met them; in the clubs, and hold ing most of the important city and county offices. He mentioned the fact that both President Mckinley and William J. Bryan are Elks, but he said it was not the big men who did the work. Like in war times, he said, it is the boys in the trenches and those behind the guns who did the real work and attended to their lodge meet ings.
 During the past year the growth of the order has been larger than in any other year in the history of the order. This was due to the harmony which prevails all over the country and the favor with which the order is being received by the public. Dur ing the year eighty-three lodges have been established representing a growth of 2O,- GOO, the whole membership being about 75,- OGO. He complimented Ben E. Harris, dis trict deputy, who, during the year, organ ized four lodges in this state, which is the second best record of the year.
 Speaking of the charitable work of the order, he said at the last annual grand lodge meeting, when somebody suggested establishing home for indigent Elks, $20,- GOO was subscribed in twenty minutes Af- ter a thorough investigation it was found that there were old and indigent Elks who needed a home and the proposition will very likely be abandoned.
 MT. Allen said he was convinced that those people of the east and south who spoke against the people of the west had never met them. For himself, he found the same cordial hospitality and whole some fraternal feeling that is found in the south. Although holding the high posi- ton of grand exalted ruler he found in the west new mysteries of Elkdom he had not met with before, notably the drinking with the left hand and he would not soon forget it. He thanked the Elks for the honor done him in leaving their work and busi- ness in midday to pay him this couresy, and said he would always remember it.
 Senator Mantle was called upon to re- spond, which he did in his usual happy vein, and concluded by presenting MT. Allen with the medal above described