The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-05-22
GALA, FLORIDA. FRIDAY. NAY p. 1908
THE ELkS BANQUET.
The Old AntIers Show the Young
Fawns the Mysteries of the
Order

There were strange ard mysterious
1oings in the old town Friday night.
About noon part of the herd of Elks,
belonging in the jacksonville pasture
broke out and racing down the Sea-
board track, wandered into the green
very green fields OF Ocala about sun
down, causing considerable cOnster-
nai ion among the old bucks and COM
pletely stampeding the young and un-
initiated.
After cOaXIng process, in which
the tempting GecOys were delectable
viands and palate tickling beverages,
the flock was finally coralled in the
Masonic Hall. Left there To their
own devices, the spirit of play soon
became manifest among the staid old
patriachs of the herd and finding "A
ready and responsive spirit alive in
the breasts of the youthful contingent
| of the flock, they proceeded 10 take
| the latter out into the yet green and
untrOd fields of ElkdOm and they gam.
| boiled almost until the break of morn.
Tue spirit OF fun and play and gay
| abandon was on exhibition every
where. The atmosphere was fairly
surcharged with it, and the herd feel
| ing the freedom of new fields, and re-
joicing in the satisfying happiness of
new and cOngeninl cOmpaniOnship,
frisked and cavOrted and played TO
their hearts content.
As the Older Elks explained" the
| mysteries of the mountain paths and
| led the young into the many by ways
and jumped them over the hedges,
their JOY in watching the happy ex-
pressions of the youngsters as they
roamed over the fields and came face
to face with it's delightful revelations,
| was expressed in their own pleased
antics, while the newly tried showed
their i'll contained surprise aud joy by
unmistakable signs.
4
! were satiated with the mysteries and
| fun to be found in the new pastures,
the herd was driven to the Ocala
| House and ushered into the spacious
dining room. Sudden transformations
took place and we find them happy
lot of men seated around festive
| board.
Manager J. +. Edwards had pre-
pared repast such a. he alone knows
how to prepare. \ perfect menu of
savOry soups, appetising entrees, de-
licious meats, rare old wines and pleas
ing ices with perfect service testify to
his ability to cater to the wants of the
inner man.
The large dining room was elabOTa
tely decorated for the occasion. The
pillars were twined with vines and
| banked with ferns, palms and ported
plants and the walls festOOned with.
bamboo and other vines. The tables
were ma Ie beautiful with quantities
of roses aud magnolias and in the
center of each table was the bronze
+, figure of an Elk.
The usual after dinner speeches
came as a matter of course. Mr.. n.
A. Ford as POSTMASTER was the real
thing. Appropriate and appreciated
remarks were made by visiting Elks,
Messrs. funston, Ackerly, Hamerick
and Hartley. Responses in a happy
vein were offered up by Messrs.
Green, Alfred, Hooker and Bittinger,
the latter representing the Ocala
Press.
At the business session of the Lodge,
the following Officers were elected.
Exalted Ruler, Edward Hitler.
Esteemed Leading Knight, Geo. X.
Robinson
Esteemed Loyal knight, Geo. r.
Mexican.
Esteemed Lecturiug Knight, J. E.
Chace.
Treasurer, Edward Holder.
Secretary, Frank l.. Watson.
TiIer, Charles Y. Miller.
Trustees, AIessrs. II. y. Ford, y. NJ.
Alfred and O. T. Green.
Delegates to Grand Lodge, Edward
Hitler.
The Jacksonville Elks returned to
their homes last night and today.
Ocala Lodge S5l has started under
bids fair to rank among the first in
numbers and stability as it already
does in its motives and past achieve
ments.
Lesson In Health.
Healthy kidneys filter the impure