Evening star., 1903-07-25

more to arrange for quarters for the vari-
Gus lodges which will attend.


Who was the founder of the Elks? Was
it was it not Charles Vivian? These are
the questions heard at intervals among the
members OF the antlered fraternity. That
gentleman has long been considered as the
founder of the famous benevolent and pro-
tective order Two of the three founders of
the order were in attendance on the ses-
sions of the Grand Lodge this week In Bal
timore. They were Richard r. Steirly and
John T. Kent. Mr.. Kent of Jersey City and
Mr.. Sterly of Hoboken were both in the
city and, having anticipated the probable
question, provided themselves with suffi-
cent data to prove conclusively that Vivian
was the first exalted ruler of the Lodge of
Elks No. l. The question probably first
arose when Arthur c. Moreland. editor OF
the Antler, an Elk publication publicly dis
puted the fact that Vivian was the first
head of that body. After that publication
Grand Exalted Ruler Meade d. Detwfler
published a book giving full history of the
Order of Elks and attributing to Mr.. Vivian
the credit of being founder. This was again
disputed by pamphlet published by
Exalted Ruler George w. Thompson. In
which he has stated. in part: For many
years 1T was my intention to leave as
legacy to the order history not only of its
origin. but with all the obtainable data OF
the formation of the various subordinate
lodges but the growth of the order has
made the task 50 herculean and has been
deferred so long that fear 1T is beyond hu-
man accomplishment. The publlcaton OF
a complete and exhaustive history by Grand
dered this step unnecessary. except that
dispute one sentence in his Introductory re-
marks when he says The G. f. K. regards
AS forever settled beyond any cavil or ques-
ton the fact that Brother Vivian is the man
to whom belongs the honorable title OF
founder of the Elks l do not dispute any
fact stated in Mr.. Detwiler's book except
that one" On what ground Messrs. Thomp-
son and Morland state that Vivian was not
the founder is not exactly known. although
Mr.. Thompson makes many statements IN
his pamphlet regarding the early history or
the Elks Order which MesSrs. Stelrly ana
Morland both enphatically deny.
The following is portion of the matter
published in Mr.. Thompsons pamphlet. the
greater part of which is denied by the
above two members:
I'm the winter of 1867 a convivial order.
called the jolly Corks held their meetings
on Sunday evenings in frame building at
II Delaney street near the BOwery, in the
city of New York. In the year of 1861
was playing in New York city and conduct
ing ii dramatic and variety agency, In CON
junction with Brother Thomas q. Riggs.
Brother Riggs had become affiliated with
the COrkS. who met every Sunday evening
and held what we now call a social session.
Brother Riggs introduced me to the party,
and l was initiated with some mummery
and the payment of a dollar or so, thereby
becoming a Jolly Cork. l left the place in
company with Brothers Riggs and McDon-
aid, and the latter said: This thing is bet
ter than mere jolly crowd and will one
day amount to something. Vivian was
chairman, and favored organizing branch
of the Buffaloes, English benevolent
order. of which he had been member on
the other side of the Atlantic. A commit
tee was appointed to find a suitable name.
We visited Cooper Union, where there was
extensive library, and read many works
on natural history. but could find nothing
to suit us. So, finally. the term elk was Sc
lected. Mr. Riggs, who was a member of
the committee. and who was born on Elk
street in Buffalo was chosen. The greater
part of the above both Mr.. Steirly and Mr..
Kent deny. Both, however, claim that the
book published by Mr.. DetWeiler Is correct,
and when the question is brought before
the Grand Lodge they will be able to prove
that Vivian was the founder and the first
exalted ruler
Mr. Steirly has in his possession a small
book which contains a copy of the original
or charter members, also of the rules and
regulations. Although a few men have dis
puted the right of Vivian to the honor of
being the founder of the order few Elks
are of that opinion. and when brought be-
fore the Grand Lodge it is probable that
Vivian will be officially given the credit.
The national convention Of Elks which
has just closed at Baltimore is considered
by leading members of the order the most
successful ever held since the foundation of
the order in point of numerical representa-
ton of business transacted and of pleasant
social Intercourse. Much business OF i'm
portance was transacted. 1t was decided to
copyright the national emblem, which is
B. z. O. E. between the antlers, and clock
with the hands indicating the hour of II in
the neck. 1t was also determined to restore
the charter taken away from the lodge 1t
Macon. Ga, when it was admitted that The
lodge had been in error in connection with
a schism among its members as to the run
ming of a cafe. The suggestion for another
Elks home at some place in the north
western part of the United States was
favorably received 1t was pointed out that
the order was growing rapidly, and that
}l,ae ,f
National Elks' Home is too distant for the
members living in the western cities. The
suggestion will be acted upon in the near
future. The members Of the Grand Lodge
did not look favOrably upon the frolics
arising out of the throwing of confetti, as
witnessed at Baltimore. A motion intro
duced by Baltimore representative to the
effect that confetti have in future no part
in any Elks' conventions was almost unani-
mously carried. 1t was stated that the
effect of the general surroundings was de-
moraliZng and tended to lower the dignitied
aspect of grand reunion. While the reso-
luton was passed the throwing of con-
fetti at high-water mark at the doors
of Ford's Theater, In Baltimore, where the
session was being held.
The general prosperity of the ElkS was
magnfcently in evidence at Baltimore. The
annual report of Grand Secretary Reynolds
showed that eighty new lodges were
organized during the year with member
ship of 1854. making the total member
ship of the order of Elks 153,722. This is
order. During the past year S41. 600 was eX-
pended in the purchase of home for aged
Elks and $4,000 expended for
flood sufferers. The general treasury has
now on hand $4,000 cash. The amount OF
money expended during the year for charity
was $1S9.616.19 The amount of money on
hand March 81 1902, was 81 $1.o09,S79.
1t is claimed that the Elks and their
friends got away with fifty thousand dozen
OaD,Ot0) crabs at Colchester Thursday last
The Baltimore American says: For more
than eight hours Elkdom owned Tolchester
Beach, and that they made excellent use
of the propIietorship can be amply testified
to. Ten thousand ElkS and their ladies
made the trip on the beautiful Chesapeake
bay, many of them. especially those from
inland points. enjoying of the most
unique and interesting experiences of their
lives Not one regret was there for most
of the excursonists to express, for one and
all had their fill of pleasure At the grounds
and on the steamers while en- route either
way the Eks gave their fun full reign Ev-
cry moment was full of interest and the
thousands made the most of their oppor-
tunties Every day has been the most
eventful for the visitors to judge from their
expressions and praises showered upon Bal
timore and BaltimOreanS, but for the vast