The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-07-16
PROMISES TO BE A MAMMOTH
AFFAIR IN EVERY WAY
THE E11O'CLOCk TOAST
Explained by John Calvin, the Past
Grand Exalted Ruler of the
Order.

The Elks' carnival at Cincinnati
promises to be big thing. Elabor-
ate preparations are being made TO
entertain the guests, which Will
amount to several thousand. One OF
the nice features of the big meeting
will be the parade in which the dlt-
ferent lodges will participate, each
delegation wearing a different uni
form. At the II o'clock toast each
night the following verses will be
sung:
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind;
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And davs O. auld lang syne?
"For aul lang syne, my dear,
For aul6 lang syne,
We'll tax cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.'
Very few persons not Elks under
stand the II O'Clock toast, its origin
and significance. Many imagine it IS
simply an occasion for Elks to drink
a toast. Nothing could be further
from the truth, for no prettier SEN
timent exists in all fraternalism than
the IL O'Clock toast Of the Benevo-
lent and Protective Order Of Elks.
Mr.. John Calvin, of Cincinnati, Past
Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks, and
one of the ablest members of the Or
der furnishes tho following brief his
tory of the custom:
The IL o'clock Toast.
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 II o'clock is reach
ed, they pause 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 mem
bers, who were at that time made uE
entirely Of actors and professional
people, met together, after the regu-
lar business was over they invariably
resolved themselves into social ses-
SION
The Law of the Order.
y At one of these meetings, on May
81, 1868, 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 8
toast, "To Our Absent Brothers. -
and there and then was ushered into
existence the II o'clock toast, which
has since become and is now one OF
the most conspicuous landmarks OF
our fraternity. 1t has passed from
a custom into a law of the order, fol
Elks, when gathered together for busi
ness or pleasure at the hour Of l.
O'Clock to recall the touching sentl
ment, "To Our Absent Brothers
By the absent we mean and WI
think of those who are still in th'
land Of the living but who are else
where engaged in the duties of life
or perhaps absent in temporary voy
), ages to other lands or other climes
but We especially think of those VIII.
are eternally absent on that voyage
which we must all sooner or latel
take, and from which no voyager eve
returns.
In the observance of this custom
where Elks are together in any mum
Der after thinking in silence for a mo
ment of those who are absent, hand
are clasped and verse or two O
"Auld Lang Syne' are sung.
JOHN CALVIN,
Past Grand Exalted Ruler, Benevo
4 lent and Protective Order of Elks.
This mornings Cincinnati En-
/ quirer contained an excellent pictur
4 of Joe Nicholson dressed in Quake
s2Aostume. From the picture 10