The Washington times., 1903-02-15
DEEDS OF CHARITY
ELKS' ONLY SECRET
PhilanthrOpiC Aims of This
Popular Order.
WASHINGTON LODGES WORK
From Small Beginnings It Has Risen to
Proud EmiHence IN a Quarter
Of d Century.

Early I'm the year 1852. the fame tbr7
accorded the Elks for their Eood-feIIov-
ship, brothcrly love. and. above all. their
boUnteous charity. reached tho CaritaI
City, and q few genial spirits whose in-
clination TO fraternity and whose nm
bounded bcncvolcncc were well known
TO Neutrality-suspicious. Of that day. banded
themselves together. and on February
T. instituted Washington Lodge No. -.
b. p. O. Elks which was duly incor-
poratcd October -. and chartered De-
ccmber 10 Of tho same year.
From its small beginning. meeting IN
rented halls Of limited dimensions. the
lodge matured by the enthusiasm OF us
gradually increasing membership. and
sustained by generous public. has
steadily prospcrcd until today. with a
roll Of over 800 active members. II is
proud ia the unincumbcrcd possession OF
its own building. handsomely decorated
and furnished. and in record showing
the unostentatious and judiCious cxpend-
iture and distribution Of many thousands
or dollars for the relief OF the sick and
distressed i'm this and other cities among
persons both in and out of the order
Charity Their Only Secret
Though the Elks are cIassed with Sc
cret organizations their one great and.
in fact. their only secret is the dispcr-
satiOn or deserved charity without the
knowledge Of others. The greatest
crime against their laws is the dis
closure by a member to a person not an
Elk Of the name Of a brother receiving
aid or relief from the order, and the
punishment provided for an infraction
OF this injunction is so severe that
violation OF this feature Of their obli-
cation has seldom. If ever. occurred.
In addition 20 their charity the EIks
are noted for their congeniality aud
brothcTly love. They cndeavor to BRING
together men Of intelligence and liberal
thought, and aim TO make the world
brighter and more agreeable to live in
They do not attempt 90 make bad men
good, but rather TO make GOOD men bet
ter. and when it Is considered that the
order today. after but little more than
thirty years existence. ranks with the
foremost fratcrnal societies Of the hour
and embraces over 15C,COj American
Cifzens-for the order is strictly AMER
tcan-includinE men in all ranks O. Hfe.
from high Government officials and mil
Honaire commerciaIists 70 struggling
clerks and artisans. regardless of either
their politics or their religion. IL cer-
tainly must be admitted that their
merits are manifest ana desirable. Many
stellar lights in various walks OF tho
present time owe their prominence or
wealth. and some men their lives and
10 Of hot
assistance received from the Elks In
one form or another. FOR they practice
charity not only by furnishing this
worlds goods 10 the destitute. but also
by extending a helping hand TO aid alonr
the weary. or a kind and pleasant word
TO arouse, the dropping spirits OF the dis
couraged.
Good Done in Many Ways.
And in this work in all its branches
the members OF the Washington Lodge
have been perslstcntly though incon-
spicuously active. Brothers Of no. H..
either collectively or individually. have
been the cause OF assisting some TO at
tain success. others TO lead better lives
and still others 10 shake off q feeling OF
lethargy and dependence and take up
anew the battle OF life to their out
spoken qualification I'm later years
This lodge is also widely known for
the grandeur as well as the unique
character OF its entertainments. given
periodically in aid OF It's charity fund.
and the elaborateness Of its annual me
mortal services in honor OF its deceased
members. II was the first to introduce
here the continuous performance OF the
atricals: 10 charter special trains 10
bring companies from New York and
Philadelphia; have them appear here in
the afternoon and return them I'm time
for their regular performance in the
evening; 20 present refined vaudeville
acts az time and place whe1 women
and children could safely attend, 10 in
troduce musical and literary programs
on excursions 10 tho Potomac River re-
sorts, and in many other ways f. was
The originator OF novel entertainments. /
an Of which the public has appreciated .
and generously supported Indeed each .
year has Witnessed the Introduction in .
Washington Ly this lodge of some new .
and pleasing amusement th-ret0fOrc uu- .
known here