The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-21
WORK IS BEGUN.
Corner Stone of Elks Home
Laid Today.
Judge Dana Delivers an I'M
preSsive Address.
WHAT 1T STANDS FOR.
Something More Than Social
Side to Order.
Many Distinguished Visitors
Are Present.
WHAT 1T STANDS FOR

AT twenty-seven minutes past on
O'Clock today the big white conversion,
of the new $4,000 Elk club house set
tied slowly into place in the mortar bee
spread with silver trowel by the
grand exalted ruler of the order, Johr
K Tener. Prior to the cornerstone lay
| ing half of the membership of Topeka
lodge b. p. o. E. No 2o4 gathered at thei1
club rooms on the opposite side of the
street in the Masonic building. and
later marched to the site of the new
building.
Inc cornerstone is triangular block
aoout Two Dy three feet and on the sur
lace racing the south was the dial of a
CLOCK IN gold with the hands pointing
10 the mystic hour of II which has a
pecular significance to all members of
the order. Directly under the dial are
the words benevolent Protective Order
OF EIks. On the face of the stone to
1907"
A platform had been arranged for tbA
grand lodge officers and the OFFICERS of
the local lodge on the site of the new
quarters, surmounted by poles entwined
with the purple of the order from the
tops OF which American flags were fly
ing. Immediately following the settling
oi the cornerstone of the building into
place William Henderson, chaplain of
the order, delivered a prayer.
Judge Dana of the district court
tnen delivered a short address and
ment as we contemplate this gather
ing mere today and its purpose For
years it has been the ambition of the
Topeka lodge Of Elks to own their
home and now today we see the full
hi!ment of the longing in the laying of
this cornerstone.
We see before us huge piles OF
Dr1ck and stone but this building
means more than this to the members
or the order who are gathered here
cornerstone. 1t means that at last
the home they have longed for is
reality and that within a short time
the Elks of Topeka will have home
which they may truly call their own.
1T is true that the Elk order is
social one, but it means more than
that to the members as we'll as the
public at large for it has as its car
dinal principals, justice, charity,
Drotherly love and fidelity. Not JUS
o one or brotherly love or fidelity to
he members, but all of these. attri-
0utes to all men, ~
OF the membership of over 500 of |
which the Topeka lodge boasts perhaps |
half of the number were in attendance |
1t the dedication, many who would |
nave been present if possible being |
away from the city at this time, as a |
arge per cent of the membership OF
he order is composed of men whose
lutieS take them away from the city
or a considerable of the time. Numer-
JUS lodges in the state as well as st.
oseph and Kansas City We're well
epresented at the event, Kansas City
aving twenty-five members present
nd Lawrence nearly as many.
The Order of Elks was eSta blished
n Topeka in 1891 with a membe rship
f less than half hundred on Kansas
venue between Fourth and Fifth
treets in what is now known as Met
opolitan hall. A year later they
moved into quarters in the old Craw-
ord opera house building where a
1dge room was maintained for three
ears and since that time the quarters
ave been in the Masonic building.
The lodge has grown until at pres
Mt it has over 200 members enrolled
nd there is hardly a business worthy
{ the name in the city which does not
oast of a member who belong to the
lks. There were a number of the
1arter members of the order present
the exercises today including Charles
. Holiday, president of the CONNER
el club, Fred Freeman, cashier of the
-erchants' National bank and Pick
nith one of the first district deputies
the state, who has not been inside
the lodge room for several years on
count of illness.