The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-06
KNOCKS FOR NELL.
Elks Insinuate That the Actor Isn't
"Good Fellow
WOULDN'T sTANDTHE INITIATION
Local Fraters Looking for a Chance
to Make Their Displeas-
ure Felt.

Actor James Neill. the whilom matinee
favorite of Minneapolis theatergoers, Will
not get 2 rousing reception the next time
he shows in this city if the local lodge OF
Elks has anything to say about 1T. MT.
Neill has got himself heartily disliked not
only among Minneapolis members OF the
antlered tribe. but among Elks through
out the country. because OF the sens a.
tional charges he recently made in de-
scribing the indignities said to have been
heaped upon him by the Spokane lodge,
before which he was a candidate for hon
ors as q baby Elk.
The actor refused to go through with
the initiation after the bare preliminaries
had been gone through with. He tore off
his mask and robes and left the hall in
disgust. At Butte, Mont, last evening,
he consented to make a statement of the
affair. He charged that he was subjected
to indignities and brutalities las soon as
he had been persuaded, under protest, to
remove q portion of his attire in the ante
room, and put on mask and woman's
night robe
He declared further that if all Elks
have to undergo the initiation to which
he was partly subjected. they are less of
men after they pass through it than be-
fore
Such asnersions on the order, coming
from man as we'll gnown as Neill is in
this city, have worked the Elks up to a
high pitch Of Indignation. They unite in
saying that he has done the order great
injustice, and declare that q man who has
received so many favors from the Elks
here and elsewhere in the past, in the
way OF patronage and otherwise should
have known better than to make such a
break. The incident will be kept fresh in
remembrance, they say, and will be re-
called to mind greatly to the disadvantage
of the EMIL company when next it makes
it's bow before a Minneapolis audience.
The trouble with Jim Neill," said Dr.
c. w. Bachman, SIS that he has long been
a sufferer from a chronic case of ele-
plaintiffs: in othar words he has an aggre
waited case of swelled head, and as usual
he has gone Off half cooked on slight
provocation. His statement is a libel
on the whole body of Elks and should re-
act upon him m the manner which it de-
serves. Any one who has any acquaint-
ance with Neill will pay little attention
to anything he says. II is incredible that
| the Spokane lodge of Elks should have de-
| parted greatly from the usual initiatory
ceremonies as Dracticed elsewhere. The
J Elks ritual is celebrated the world over as
| being the most beautiful secret society
! service in existence. and Neill is the first
| man on record without manhood enough
| to stand for the initiation, which is much
| tanner than that rracticed in most socie-
| ties. IL. .-- 49, -
| Judge w. A Kerr. for mer ruler of the
Minneapolis lodge of Elks thinks that
| Neill made bad break and believes it
| will react upon him. .-.-.t... .. ~.
! , Even if he couldn't stand for the in
itiation," said Judge Kerr, ''he ought to
have been man enough to keep his mouth
| shut after withdrawing There is an un-
| written law which makes it obligatory
| upon a candidate to keep his mouth shut
! about ledge room mysteries, even II he
| backs cut before going through the initia-
| tion. I think Mr.. Neill has placed him
| self in ridiculous position and his
! charges are impolitic, to say the least
have no doubt but that he exaggerated
| the nature of the treatment which he re-
! ceived."
There is nothing in the Elks initiation
| according to G. II. MeNeill, of the North
| ern Pacific, to which any one should take
exception. The man who takes his med
| icine when he joins any order, says, Mr.
| Mcneil, has the right kind of stuff in
| him. ,..,
Mr.. Neill,' he said, has squealed in
| a decidedly undignifed fashion, and his
! attack On the Elks will add nothing tt
his popularity
E. w. Goddard thinks there is absolute
| ly no excuse for the actors allegations
and has no doubt but that the affair viii
| cut into the box Office receipts when Jane!
! Neill comes to town.