The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-02-18
WILL IGNOREINCIDENT ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS


The NELL episode Boo connection with
the Bllts initiation ia receiving thor
uugh ventilation among Juu local meme
beers. Contrary tu published state
M'uts 10 is subst8nut,aU tu2t james
N,il. when here. NOT only auIuypd the
hospitality Oh tine local lodge tor spv-
clul hours but unsolicited expressed
his regret uJ not being able To- Join the
local lodge owing tD having previously
made arrangements tu join the order at
Spokane with William Morris, the
stage manager OF the company
The local order will probably taEa
mo- active steps i'm regard To- the matter
and are inclined To- believe the affair
Hr advertising scheme of NeilIs for
rotoriety II would seem that he has
succeeded i'm getting a good many col.
umns i'm the western papers under the
Cld theatrical maxim OF Let them
abuse you just as long as they talk
about you AS far as Elks them
selves are concerned. the present in
/ teutiOn locally, would point TO there
/ being no formal note taken of the whole
affair but hints are numerous that the
| audiences at the next NELL perfor-
! mances may be considerably iesseued
! by the absence of members of the
| ledge and their companions.
As far as uudignided horseplay is
/ concerned the local officers do not
credit the statement that anything
| construed into an insult. The ritual
of the Elks is claimed by it's members
| to be one of the most impressive and
| beautiful i'm its obligations and tests
and what harmless fun prefaces the
more solemn rites is also not without
| its significance. having besides "a praC-
! teal value to show that the nOvitiate
| ig capable of the good fellowship ana
Camaraderie that is considered an es-
sential qualification for membership.
AS far as the American manliness"
| standpoint taken by Mr.. Neil is con-
| Cerned, the local members concur in
statements made on the coast by lead
ing lodge officials that, where the first
| Americans i'm the land, as typifed by
/ presidents, senators, and congressman
have passed the initiation without OBJ
lection, Mr.. Neill had no cause to feel
himself insulted.
j. McCracknell. a visiting Elk, laugh
ingly declares that he must be insulted
for life as he with many others posses
SEES life membership in the order.
/ AR. MCCraCknell has received a num-
bel of clippings and communications
/ fl ON the coast which tend to show
strained relations between the lodges
o. Elks i'm Spokane Portland and San
Francisco and James Neill A letter
from a member of the san Francisco
/ lodge, many of who are members of
the Bohemian club to one of the local
| lodges board of trustees, states that
Gao little hammers will be busily en-
gagged in knocking Mr.. Nein i'm his next
! descent upon that city.
Officially the lodges viii probably al
low the matter to drop but the per-
sCnal feeling among lodge members
seems inclined To run high and will
take some time to entirely subside
Members of other fraternal orders in
Honolulu, notably the Shriners, eX-
press the opinion that Neil acted very
childishly in allowing his feelings to
bC so easily rumpled. Should Neil
owe" become a candidate for a secret
order where any play for merriment
exists during the initiation, it is popu-
larry surmised chat he will get all
that is coming to him"
The Neill company as it played here
last year had CuriOusly enough, no
Elks among its members being per-
h"ps the first American company that
has played in Honolulu without a sin
gle member Of the order included
among the ranks.
Frederick Warde. who plays here
with his company early in June is a
lrOminent. member Of the order with
several Of the members Of the company,
and is in great request as chairman at
social sessions which position he will
be undoubtedly asked to occupy on his
visit here.