The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-09-11
noon and spent the time in social in

noon and spent the time in social in
tercOurse.
At one of these convivial gatherings
Vivian proposed that a permanent So
ciaI organization be formed. The sug-
promptly acted upon. Early in the
organization was perfected and
christened the Jolly Corks." vi
Wan was the first imperial cork, as the
presiding officer was officially desig.
mated. The organization was pattern
ed after the 'Buffaloes,' a social Or
der popular in England. and to which
Vivian belonged. The charter men,
bers. as it We're. of the original "Jol-
ly Corkers,' were Charles A. S. WV
ian, Richard X. Steirly, William Car
Teton. Henry Vandermark, William
Sheppard, Edgar NJ. Plat, William l..
Bowron, Harry Boswor,i, NJ. &. A she,
John 7. Kent, }. G. Wilton, Frank
Langhorn and John IL. Blume.
The new candidate for public favor
was very popular from its inception,
and the parlors of Mrs. Giesman S
modest hotel We're soon inadequate for
the erry thrOng of people who We're III
sympathy with the movement an
were enrolled as members of the
order. New quarters were secured at
the house of Paul Summers. II De
lancey street. The Jolly COrks"
grew rapidly in numbers. and it was
at Summers place That reOrganlZa-
tion was affected ana the name chang
ed 10 t.e Benevolent and Protective
Order Of Elks. This important event
transpired on Sunday. February 10.
1868. The selection OF new and
more appropriate name Was left to a
comml,tee of five. Vivian and Vande
mark suggested the name of ''buifa
loes, while NanderMark was par,a
10 "Camels.
The three Americans en- the commit
tee insisted that the new order
should be thoroughly American. A
number of the members of this com
miJtee happening to NEE, at Barnum S
old museum We're favOrably struck by
the appearance OF fine elk head,
which was suspended i'll cOnspicl-
Gus place. In looking up the history
Of the elk, the chairman became deep
ly impressed by the description of the
noble animal in GOdsni. his Animal
Nature" and Buffons Natural His
tory" wnere II is described as fleet
of foot and timorous of doing wrong,
avoiding all combat. except in fight
ing for the female. and in defense OF
the young. the helpless and weak"
His researches and report confirmed
the cOlGm4,tee in their choice of the
name "Elks" for the organization.
The elective officers titles in the
new order are as follows: Right honor
able primo. first. second and third
prinlOs, honorary secretary, cores
pODdlng secretary, treasure. and tyler.
The first constitution of the grand
!od"e OF the b. p. o, f., organized
February 10. 1865, gives Charles Wv
lans name in mentioning the presid-
ing officer. The preamble of the con-
$ tuition recites that: THE undersign-
ed members of the theatrical, Minstrel
musical, cY,ies; ran and literary pro-
fessions. and those who sympathize
and approve OF the object in view do
hereby organize an order to promote,
protece and enhance The happiness and
welfare of each other"
The constitution con. aims 10 ar
cles. and is brief, but is The founda
tiOn of al subsequent ones. and its
principal features are still retained.
1t provides for two degrees, and
candidate can only be proposed by
members of the second degree. There
are 2! rules and regulations to which
eAe rosulant must subscribe. No
one can become a member who does
n0t Delieve in a supreme being.
The 13 original Jolly CorkS' COM
rrisCd the char er members of the
first lodge of the f,onevolent and Pro
,ectlve Order of Eiks. The first ritual
copied from the English order of
"BuTa!ocs." called for but one de-
gree. A degree containing The lee
lures was added within the year WV
ian was chosen right honorable primo
and assisted in the installation of sev-
eral candidates. The Elks continued
to meet at Summers place uniiI the
.ou~e membership had grown beyond
is capacity. The initiation fee was
s.. The upper floor at Military hail.
1913 Bowary, was selected. and the in
itiation fee IVES raised to s.. In the
closing days of 1869 the lodge was re-
moved to Masonic Temple on Thir-
teenth street, and the fee was raised
to $40.
The first benefit was given a. the
Academy of Music, June IS, 1868. vi
Wan. tho founder Of the order, vo,un
;eercd TO appear a, The benefit. Prior
TO the event he went to Philadelphia
to fiji an engagement at Fox's Casino
Before he left New York a nun3ber OF
his admirers pres n ed hi,1, vi h q
god Elk badge. When he returned
to New York 10 take Fart in the bene-
fit he discovered that MS name did not
appear on the pose nor the pro
gramme. This slight anecreI Vivian
and his friends. and precipitated a
row. in the lodge. An attempt was
made to eXpel Vivian summarily. His
friends protested so vehemently that
adjournment was taken without ac-
ton on expulsion. Vivian was never
expelled from the order. He was pos
sessed of wonderful voice He was
of a cheerful. sunny nature. and was
one of the most versatile arias in
his profession. He died at Leadvil!e,
Col, March 90. 1880. aged "a years
The funeral took place on the follow
ing Sunday. the Pythian Knights TAX
ing charge Of the ceremonies In 1889