The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-18

his dignity, he would not submit.
NELL MET THE GOAT.
1t is said that when ne entered the
| lodge room without being able TO see
he was whacked on the head with a
| bladder. and otherwise handled. Just
what happened then or afterward has
not been disclosed, but Neil refused L
| go on with the initiation. and demand
| ed that he be allowed exit from the
! lodge room As his case is a rare one.
il created much talk among Elks. and
is now being ventilated in the press.
At Butte, Montana, where the Nein
| company was day or two ago, Neil
made statement regarding the mat
/ ter. The Chronicle reports part of his
| statement. as follows:
Reflection convinces me that my
protest against personal indignity and
coarse bEffoonery was timely and en-
tirely Justified. For the first time. in
its history a member OF my family has
received an insulting blow and been
pOwerless TO resent it. The EIks have
protested against the word indignity.
but so far I have been unable to find a
softer word TO describe the inhiction
under the circumstances of a blow with
a stuffed club.
4 congratulate myself that l was
not intimidated into the customary
cowardly submission 10 indignities. the
first and probably the mildest of which
was sufficient to make me declare my
self and withdraw. II was only be-
cause OF the solemn assurances that !
had received in the anteroom that no
indignities would be offered that 1 al
lowed myself TO be blindfolded and led
into the lodseroom. / am convinced
that when time and sober reason have
removed the last vestige of the undig-
nified and debasing practices that dis
graced the order in its primitive days,
I shall be asked again to present my
self for initiation. but until then 1 pre-
fer TO preserve my personal dignity and
American manliness."
SAN FRANCISCO SHOCKED.
The Evening Post. commenting on
the above statement, SAYS: In local
Elkdom today the foregoing vigorous
declaration created much and varied
comment. and il was also discussed by
many friends OF its author. who are
not within the antlered brotherhood.
During his several professional engage
ments in this city Mr.. NELL acquired
an enviable popularity while off the
stage by his genial yet dignified de-
meanor. He convinced all who became
acquainted with him that he was
neither of representative nature nor
tardy TO take affront, but was equipped
with the mental poise Of well-bred
man Of the world.
However, If there is any truth in the
old saying that ones ears burn when /.
things are being said" about one, Mr.. |
NeiII's aural appendages must be well !
nigh adame at this time.
In what Is being uttered is much pro /,
test against the action OF the theatri- /
cal star Local Elks say that Il the
report of his statement does not err
egregiously as 10 what he really said. ,
he has grievously wronged great or
der. and one TO which. even though ne
be not a member. he should feel him ,
self professionally indebted.
DIsCLAIM ANY BUFFOONERY.
Though the order of EIks is often
called an actors organization" be
cause of the fact that there are so
many theatrical men included in its
membership. il is true that in every To-
calftv where its subordinate lodges
thrive il is mainly supported by men /,
of prominence in business. social and ,
circles In this city many ,
Of the leading Elks hold high place
in the affairs Of government, politics !,
and commerce. They are men whom il !
would not be supposed would calmly /
submit TO any ''indignity' or 'buhoon-
cry" and certain il is that none OF
them appears TO have sacrificed any @.
his American manliness" as result
Of hisinitiation.
Their statements as L. the initiatory
practices OF the order are so diametri-
caI1v opposed 10 those of Mr.. Nell that
no ground for reconciliation would ap-
pear. The suggestion that coarse local
rites might have been interjected into
the ritual al Spokane is met with the
declaration that the constitution strict
Is forbids the Interpolation OF rites OF
even sentences not contained in the IS
-ablished exemplification-
After an informal conference OF
number Of local Elks this morning Sec
-aary Herman Kohn said: I think Mr.
Teiu has been very ungracious. to say
the least. There i nothing in the IN
.tfatorv service Of the order tending 70
ndignity or buffoouery. The class Of
men in the order and the great work
hey have done along benevolent lines
iisproves. 10 the intelligent mind. the,
statements credited TO Mr.. Nell.
MAYOR IL a MEMBER
some men in his profession are,
hirsty for free advertising, and this al