The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-15
EIKSARE GATHERING
GRAND LODGE MEETING WILL BE-
 GIN TO-DAY.
Philadelphia Is in Gala Attire to Re- ceive B. F. o. E. and q Fine Program Has Been
 Arranged.

Philadelphia, July 14-Members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks swarmed in this city tonight, and the streets are filled with visa- tors. Upwards of 10000 Elks have en- rolled their names at the official regis tration bureau since Saturday.
 During the day delegations from Mo bile. Atlanta, Waco, Tex, Florence. $. C., Santa Fe, N. NJ, and New York ar rived and each train brings additional delegations.
 The convention will formally open tomorrow night when the visitors will be welcomed by Mayor Reyburn. The first grand lodge business session will open Tuesday at II o'clock. Other ses- sions will be held Thursday and Fri day.
 Wednesday morning there will be parade of bands, and the parade of lodges will take place on Thursday, at which time it Is officially estimated that from 2O.000 to 30.000 will be in the procession.
 The new constitution adopted at the last annual session of the grand lodge will go into effect on Tuesday. and un- der it some important matters will be brought up for consideration at the present session.
 The discarding of the elks tooth as an emblem of the order, though it has never been an official emblem, is one of the most important matters that will be taken up. The destruction of elks to secure the teeth and the foist- ing of cheap imitation elks teeth upon members of the fraternity at excessive prices, are among the causes that led to the agitation.
 The election of delegates will also take place for the first time under a new system Lodges of the even num- bers will, in the future. elect delegates on the even years. and lodges of the odd numbers will elect on the odd years, so that delegates will be elected for two years, whereas in the past they have been elected each year.
 Another matter that will be brought up for discussion is that relating to the negro Elks The Elks object to the negro organization styling themselves Elks. and will take steps to protect the name in court, if necessary.
 Under the new constitution the Elks will have a court before which they can settle their differences. Should there be hitch. five Justices will be elected to the court which will be known as the Grand Forum.
 Tomorrow will be given over to the reception and entertainment of the. wis itors. The principal feature of the entertainment program will be a boat excursion for the members of the Grand Lodge and their ladies. The objective point will be Washington Park, on the Delaware river, where the visitors will be treated to a clam bake and sea flood dinner For the other visitors music and other entertainment will be pro yided in the city park. The University l of Pennsylvania, Girard College and other institutions are open to the in spection of all those wearing the off, | cial badge of the order.
 1 The Exalted Ruler of the Philadel- phia Lodge, Henry J. Walter, will pre- | side over the formal opening of the l Grand Lodge meeting at night in the
 Grand Opera House. Governor Stuart,
 Mayor Reyburn. Congressman J Hamp- i ton Moore. and Grand Exalted Ruler | Melvin, will be the speakers, The chief business session of the week will
 be held Tuesday morning In the Gar
 rick Theatre.