Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-29
COLORED ELKS MEET
FIRST SESSION OF THE GRAND
BODY FoR 1905.
Program Of Today Includes Parade
Through Principal Streets Of City
to Lincoln Park


The first grand sitting OF the Improved
Benevolent and Protective Order of E'ks of
the World, colored. was called to order at
True Reformers' Hall, 18th and u streets
northwest, today at II o'clock. The OPEN
ing hymn. Aud Lang Syne,' echoed
through the hall. Prayer was offered by
Rev. J. H. Gray and addresses of welcome
made by w. r. Griffin, chief Of the Wash
ington Division. United Order OF True
Reformers: by J. w. Patterson on behalf of
the Morning Star Lodge. No. 40, and for the
District of Columbia by Commissioner II. b.
F. Mcfarland. The response on behalf Of
the Grand Lodge was made by Rev. John
III. Gray. Following the remarks of 3. F..
Howard Of Covington. KY. grand exalted
ruler, the benediction was pronounced.
At 2:3O in front of the True Reformers'
Hall the various lodges assembled and were
formed for the parade. The order of march
was from 18th and to Vermont avenue.
along Vermont avenue to X street to 18th
street, along 18th street to Pennsylvania
avenue northwest; Pennsylvania avenue to
LIST street, along LIST street to B street. to
14th street east. to Coliseum Park, where
there was picnic scheduled to occur. A
base ball match game between the Eastern
Empires Of East Washington and the True
Blues of South Washington was also on the
program.
The organizations assembled for the pa
rade in the order Of procedure published in
The Star yesterday.
Welcomed by Mr.. mcfarland.
Commissioner Mcfarland, who was in
troduced by John w. Patterson, master
Of social session, said, in part:
ut gives me great pleasure to welcome
this Grand Lodge to the national capital.
This is the first time the session has been
held in Washington. but the organization
is only five years old. l take 1t. like true
Americans. youswill desire to come to this
city often as possible. Every year
brings more devoted people to this. their
home city. ever more beautiful ever more
attractive. We desire to greet here men
and women whom we know to be worthy
since we know the members of the order
here.
lit is satisfaction to meet you in hall
built by your own race. Feeling. as deep
ly do, profound interest in the welfare,
prosperity and progress Of your people, 1T
gives me particular satisfaction to greet
men whose courage and industry are to
upltft and advance the cause of your peo-
pie. You, as leaders. are responsible for
the standards of citizenship of your follow
ers. They must be carried to higher ideals
Of citizenship, of living. of success.
Il welcome you men who are right
minded men imbued with a clear idea of
the duties of a citizen of the republic
The Response.
]. Wilfred Holmes, secretary of the
Grand Lodge OF Protective Order OF Elks,
responded to the address of Commissioner
mcfarland. He said in part: although
1 am, as has been said, a member Of the
Pittsburg bar. am no stranger to the Dis
trict Of Columbia. This building stands
where I roamed as a boy. 1t Is triumph
Of negro mechanical art and a fitting SYM
boil of the genius and strength of the negro
of America. Here. where the laws are
made to govern this great Union. 1t is
proper that the negro should have uni
versty, like Howard, the memorial Of that
grand old man, General Howard, who saw
the negro pour out rich flood Of Grim
son blood for the stars and stripes in civil
war.
He knew what the amendments to the
Constitution meant to the negro. When
the Shackles were stricken off and the i'm
mortal Lincoln had so contributed to the
welfare of the negro that the opening lines
as we'll to him that all men are created
free and equal then began that sweeping
away Of evils which must go on today.
''The press. the pulpit, the lecture plat
the country. Fair play will come. The
hydra-headed lynch law will stop. The
1900 or more Elks are liberty-loving men
and will cherish the ideals of the negro for
MI Grifin's Address
On behalf of the Washington Division.
welcoming the Elks to their hall, w. H.
Griffin said:
Exalted Ruler of the Independent Order
Of Eks Delegates. Ladies and Gentlemen
From time immemoral 1t has been the GUS
tom and pride of nations. races and individ-
uals to welcome the strangers within their
gates. I am therefore most highly pleased.
and rejoice in the fact, that have the
pleasure to welcome you to this building.
1t is dedicated to the cause of unity. tenn
perance and charity by more than $500
True Reformers in the District of Columbia
and more than $1,000 in the United States
Of America
Grant exalted ruler. congratulate your
organization upon it's highly interesting Oh
feet, which has caused you to meet in such
numbers and spirit you have today TO
better the condition of your organization.
which means to better the conditions OF
mankind.
of Columbia here in the city Of Washing
ton a city transformed and made beautiful
in body and in spirit. You are here where
the ablest and best men of the country are
sent to devise plans OF government and
enact laws and shape the destiny Of the re-
public. You are here where the stately pill
lars and majestic dome Of the Capitol OF
the nation looks down upon you and where
who must follow you will be recorded.
Extends Cordial Welcome.
II bid you welcome on the part OF Rev.
w. L. Taylor. D. D.. president OF the True
Reformers' Bank and grand worthy master
In charge of $1,000 True Reformers. Our
welcome means more than an ordinary
greeting or superficial assurance Of our de-
light to have you as visitors to our city
and guests in our homes. 1t means that
an organization, starting with $50 and 100
members has been in a progressive line of
march for twenty-five years. We have
stopped long enough to bury in mother
earth 6S63 members; we tarried long
enough to pay to the families of the de-
ceased 81. 1877 ,794.S5; we have on deposit in
our own bank $4,000: we own in real estate
100000. You need no better demonstration
of our idea Of progress and good taste than
the building you now occupy.
again. most grand exalted ruler, we
throw wide the doors OF this building and