Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-05-25
Hundreds Of Lodgemen and Two
Thousand Friends HsrrIy
Celebrate EIks' Day.
ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR SWANSON
Virtues of the Order EIoqucntIy Elk
toIlcd by Vireinia's Executive
Temporary Organization Of State
Grand Lodge With Sol Miller as
chairman-Rcsuts of Contests.


Yesterday WIS :; day OF days ut Pine
Bcach-it was "l!lks' Day" Hun
dreds of the antlercd tribe from all
sections of The Old Dominion and full
~ two thousand Of their friends gath
cred at the Beach 10 make The day
one oil the greatest in the history of
Elkdom in Virginia and so it undoubt-
cdly was
Mrth saicty and good fellowship
rcisncd supreme at the beach from
The time of the arrival of the first del
cSation, soon after noon. until the
last cars anu boats took the crowds
bak To their homes al midnight. Ncv-
er before in the history of the popular
resort has such good-natured and
conscnial crowd gathered there ''rhc
best People on Earth" proved them
selves worthy of that title.
more ideal day for the celebration
could not have been desired "Old
Sol" smiled down upon the crowd
from cloudlcss sky of blue and the
genie zephyres from lIapton Roads
lent just the proper degree of GOODNESS
To the atmosphere to make it comfort
able. Nature contributed her mart to-
ward making the day Il successful one.
the Elks did the rest
Practically the full membership of
inc local lodge WAS i'll attendance and
Hampton, Norfolk, Berkeley, Ports
mouth, Suffolk and Smithficld lodges
were. represented by large delegations.
Special committees represented the
remaining lodges in the Stale. The
local lodge no doubt sent the Iarces;
delegation to the beach and it was due
IN great measure to their unliriur
efforts that the meeting was such
success.
Early in the afternoon large crowds
OF people flockcd to Fine Beach from
this city and every rar leaving Ivy
avenue between that time and s.
o'clock last might was crowded. Very
lew people returned ha', nntil late
last night ana extra cars wcrc needed
to handle The crowds.
Primarily the meeting was for The
purpose of starting a movement look.
ing toward the organization of
State Grand Lodge of Elks. That
movement was launched at Pine
Beach hotel at 6 o'clock in the after
noon and the organization will be con-
sumated ut Richmond on June 20.
Movement Started Here.
In tho past few years the l1lks of
Virginia have taken rapid steps for
ward and the lodges have now assum-
cd such proportions as to make il nee
ccssary To have n State Grand Lodge
TO govern the many lodges in Virgin.
Ia. TO Newport News Lodge. No. 315
is due the credit for starting the
movement for a Grand Lodge In that
as in all things 1t stands first. The 9th
cT lodges have fallen in line. because
they have seen the wisdom of such n
move the ccd for sue an organiza-
'tion .i,sr
Probably the most important event
of the day was the address by Cover.
nor Claude A. Swanson
Owing to the fact that lie had been
absent from Richmond for two DAYS
Governor Swanson was unable 10 re-
main mt the beach for more than an
hour as he had to return to Richmond
last night and take up mis- executive
duties.
During his short stay at the resort
however. every attention possible was
paid him by the Elks, first because
he is one of The best Elks in the Old
Dominion and second because he is
governor Of the State.
Accompanied by special commit.
tees from the St.uc lodges. Governor
Claude a. Swanson arrived at the
bsach from Norfolk ON the parlor
car old Point" at 2:i5 O'Clock ana
WAS escorted to the speakers stand
on the south side of the pavilion
The news of the arrival of Tho GOV.
crnor spread rapidly and soon hund.
reds Of his friends were crowding
around him for word His excel
lcncy spent about fifteen minutes
shaking hands with fellow lodgemen
and friends and at 3 O'Clock lie step
ped upon the platform.
In a few we'll chosen remarks AT
torncy u, B. semmcs. of this. city.
introduced Governor Swanson to the
audience. AS the governor arose he