The Cairo bulletin., 1904-07-21
GENERAL LOCAL NEWS ELEVEN O'CLOCK TOAST
Observance OF Custom in Cincinnati is
Attracting Much Attention and
Comment.

The Eleven O'clock Toast which Is
observed by Elks is one OF the pretti.
est sentiments observed by any order
and is attracting much attention at
! the reunion of Elks in Cincinnati The
tolling of the fire bells at IL o'clock
and the stopping of street cars for a
| period OF eleven minutes ads much
10 the occasion. But the most striking
feature of all is the multitude of Elks
and their ladies assembled on govern
ment square each night singing the
song that always accompanies the Elk
observance of the hour
Very few persons not Elks under
stand the II o'clock toast, its origin
and significance. Many imagine 1t is
simply an occasion for Elks to drink
toast. Nothing could be further
from the truth for no prettier senti-
ment exists in all fraternalism than
the IL o'clock toast of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks.
One of the most beautiful customs
connected with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks is that when
ever and wherever two or more Elks
are met together, whether for pleasure
or for the more serious affairs of life,
and the hour of IL o'clock Is reached,
they pause a moment in the rounds
Of pleasure or the whirl of business
to think of those who are absent.
This custom had its origin in the
very early history of the order. The
order was founded on the 10th day of
February, 1868 When the members,
who were at that time made up en-
tireIy of actors and professional peo.
pie, met together, after the regular
business was over they invariably re-
solved themselves into social ses
sion.
At one of these meetings. on May
81. 1868, a little over three months
after the first meeting of the order,
as the members were about to dis.
perse Brother George Mcdonald
checked the abrupt and informal ad-
journment by the suggestion OF
toast ITO our absent brothers." and
there and then was ushered into ex-
istence the ii O'Clock coast. which has
since become and is now one of the
nose conspicuous landmarks of the
fraternity 1t has passed from Gus
tom into law of the order, for Elks,
when gathered together for business
or pleasure TO recall the touching sen.
timent ITO our absent brothers"
BY the absent we mean and we
think of those who are still in the
land of the living, but who are else
where engaged in the duties of life, |
or perhaps absent on temporary yoy
ages to other lands or other climes |
but we especially think of those who |
are eternally absent ON that voyage |
which we must all sooner or later |
take, and from which no voyager ever |
In the observance of this custom l
where Elks are together in any num- I
ber after thinking in silence for
of those who are absent, |
hands are clasped and verse or two /
of "Auly Lang Syne" are sung.
Dallas, Texas, is after the reunion I
for next year. and to show they mean |
business the Elks from that city are /
IN Cincinnati with certified check /
for $4,000 and assure the grand lodge /
hat every cent of it will be spent for
heir entertainment If they will ge |
70 the Lone Star state next summer.
rhe Buffalo Elks have worked up
such a strong sentiment in their be.
half that the southern Elks will have
% struggle to get the prize. II the
Dallas Elke do not win out they will
ave the $4,000 check which was Civ
N them by the business men of Dal
as.