The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-01-27
WOMAN PEERS
into ELKS' HALL
Gets onto Ritual and Wants
to Join the Order,

SEATTLE, Jan. 27.---lntense curiosity
and no mean degree of athletic skill have
combined to make Mrs. lnez King. the
wife OF Ballard drug clerk. an aspiring
candidate for the distinction OF being the
only woman Elk in the world. Not only
Is Airs. King an aspirant for this dis
tinction. but If the representations of local
Elks nigh in the councils OF that order
are rIgntiy interpreted by the candidate,
she mas every reason to believe that she
WI shortly experience a realization OF
her ambitions III refusing 70 reveal ner
knowledge OF the secret workings OF that
exalted order.
Mrs. hing claims TO have, within the
past eight months, witnessed the initiation
OF no less than ~ candidates Tor member
ship in the order, ana to have gained an
insight into its most cherished secrets to
such degree that she can not only con
vince AN Elk OF her familiarity with his
lodge doings, but, If necessary, can reclte
the ritual from beginning to end. Mrs.
King gained her insight into the mys-
teries OF Elkdom from an elevated perch
on the ledge OF window commanding
a view of the Ballard lodge room, located
in a second-story hall adjoining a ROOT
to which she gained access from a fiat
alongside, in which she resides.
" ILL MEL 1nE on4ChELS.
ans. Amg, lnsteau Oh procialInlng tn,
doinks GA Tie sdCfeu IIoni ths, a.Ouse-
LOps purposes 20 wltnnOiu tnis iniOrIla-
Lluu ia CONSIDERATION Oh ASSURANCES BtNcli
ncr MlLnIi tne past ~ ncuts tnat, ~
recognition OF ner cnterpils AMI proves,
the supreme rouge WIN pronounce her az
least an nonoIaiy, IA not tullHedgeu
member Oh the society. ohe processes W
nave httle rear that her knoWledge OF
me oruer seclet uoings VIII cause ner 70
snare the late oil the historic W imam
morgan, VINO mysteriously disappeared
after puDlIsnlng volume purportmg 10
eNpuse the secrets OF Jne oruer VI rfee
AIasons, out calculates upon gaming uls-
unctlon wnlcn has never heretofore de-
scended upon the mead OF any hvlng te-
male.
MRS. King distinctly disc.aims any am
bitlon to slI IN lodge councils and drink
to the welfare OF departed members, but
she is not SLOW in giving the ballard mem
bers OF the order 10 understand that she
would make common street gossip OF ITS
most profound secrets unless assurances
were gwen her that she would receive rec
IGNITION from this heretofore exclusively
masculine organization.
TO SHIELD HUSBAND.
The candidate for these hitherto un-
achieved honors was first lmpened to her
AID her knowledge OF the dolngs IN Elk
dom, or rather her CLAIMS to TINS lntorma-
ton, by the fact that her husband was
about 10 become a member OF the order,
and her consequent desire to shield MN
from the charge that, II 1t became neces-
sary for her to proclaim her knowledge TO
~. mud INN IL
TO her.
When Mrs. King first announced her
possession OF the lodge secrets the mem
bers or the order treated the matter as
a Joke, but she invited several OF her
husbands friends to witness demonstra-
ton OF her claims, and after short re-
hearsal, in which the self-appointed DEM
onstrator gave pass words, grips ana re-
cited portions of the ritual for good mea-
sure, the scoffing patriarchs OF the Ballard
band came to a realization of the situation
and began TO treat for quarter.
1t then occurred TO Mrs. King that the
time was opportune for her to achieve a
master stroke and she promptly proclaim
ed her ambition to become an honorary
member of the band of forest denizens
who have heretofore deigned to treat with
the fair sex only on the causes which de-
layed their arrival home.
AC1OhI AN1ED DL iIllei~ANI-
Accompanying Mrs. Kings application
was yelled threat that unless the ala
billions of the candidate were realized not
only the civilized world but the very in
habitants OF darkest Africa would shortly
be able to revel in the ritualistic secrets
of the order.
Mrs. King processes to believe that her
declaration will accomplish the desired
result, for she claims TO have already re-
eeived communication from an officer
Of the supreme lodge at Saginaw. Mich,
imploring her TO forego womans pre-
rogative in the belief that by some SPECIAL
dispensation she can be initiated into the
mysteries of the lodge which failed to
draw the blinds and bolt the windows adj
joining a hat-roofed store building AT 237
Ballard avenue.
Notwithstanding Mrs. Kings assertions
that she is possessed of secret information
which will insure her recognition by the
order. many local Elks are inclined to
characterize her claims as ridiculous.