New-York tribune., 1907-07-18
AWAKEN PHILADELPHIA
EEKS' BANDS THE CAUSE.
Eight Hundred Musicians Play as
One IN the Quaker City.
5cy Telegraph to The Tribune. !


philadelphia, July 1.-THE greatest volume Of
music probably ever heard in this country was
that from the nassed bands attending the re-
union of the Eks in this city this morning
More than eight hundred musicians, players in
scores OF bands from all parts of the United
states, took part in the unique procession which
drew the attention OF great crowds assembled
III Broad street.
A mounted squad Of twenty-four policemen
preceded the parade, while ten mounted men
handled the huge crowds that attempted to
follow in the bands wake.
Thousands Of persons crowded the sidewalks
along Broad street and swarmed around the
crossings Of the intersecting streets. AS the
great massed band proceeded down Broad street
rom fairmount avenue its starting point, il
vas greeted by continuous tumult Of cheers,
which threatened even 10 drown its notes. The
band was led by William Jocher a local Elk,
who was perched on the rear seat Of a large
tally-ho. When the band reached the grand
stands AZ the north side Of City Hall, the mel
ody produced by eight hundred musicians in
grand rendition Of The Star Spangled Banner"
ana the strains OF Aud Lang Syne' fell upon
The ears OF the multitude as il il came from one
gigantic instrument. a stop was also made at
the south side Of the City Hall. and the musi-
clans again rendered the national anthem
It was the greatest spectacle OF its kind ever
seen here. The band was composed of fifty
musical organizations, the members OF which
were scattered through the procession, the vary
ing costumes presenting a striking picture Ihe
only thing like il which Philadelphia has ever
seen, and which the spectators used as a basis
OF comparison. was the massed band which
played Onward. Christian Soldiers" during the
knights Tenplar conclaVe several years ago
sixteen abreast, the musicians marched around
the north plaza Of City Hall and then down the
Eesr side They turned back into Broad street and
continued their progress down the street through
= crowded lane Of shouting, cheering thousands
N South street where the parade dispersed
New York Lodge No. l, the parent lodge OF
them all got into the city soon after + O'clock
his afternoon, four hundred strong, with the
Mexican band of fifty pieces footing its mer-
rest and strongest for the Indians" When
the lodge, having marched from the station.
drew up in front Of the Bellevue-Stratford,
scue one caught sight Of Eddie Leach. one Of
its popular members, who had just been elected
grand treasurer There was a shout and
cheer and then. BEIGE the struggling Leach
knew what was happening. he the
shoulders Of bunch Of the biggest and strong
est EIks from New York and being carried
along the line Of his admirers. New Yorks
presence added materially TO the gayety Of the
city. although the immense crowds are enliven-
ing II as II has never been enlivened before.
One Of the features OF the day was have
been the exhibition Of airship wonders by Lin
coin :. Beachy, who expected 10 make a trip
around the City Hall tower but Mr.. Beachy
cid not sail He said the wind was too strong.
The complete and official returns Of the cleo
ton held yesterday We're announced to-day
follows:
Grand exalted ruler, John K. Tener, of Charlie
roi. Penn; grand esteemed loyal knight, w. T.
Leckie. Dowagiac Mich; grand esteemed lee
turing knight, Bayard Gray. Of Frankfort. Ind
grand esteemed leading knight D. Shsa, Hart
ford. Conn; grand secretary. Fred c. Robinson,
Dubuque. Iowa; grand treasurer, Edward Leach,
New York; grand trustees. Thomas. B. Mills.
Superior, Wis: Thomas F McNulty. Baltimore,
and Mayor Charles c. Schmidt Of Wheeling,
W Va: grand tyler. James Foley. and grand
inner guard, A II. Taylor
During the sessions Of the Grand Lodge IL was
decided 10 establish a flag day for Elks on June
a 4 resolution adopted calling for the ap-
uolrr-rent OF a commission 10 devise ways and
means 70 prosecute outside users OF the Elks
emblem subsequent resolution calls for the
aupointrnent OF a commission TO confer with
Congress TO find means TO prevent the use OF the
emblem
The Memphis lodge was authorized 10 prose-
cute the negro EIks Of that city. In this con-
nection resolution was passed reprimanding
the Newark " J.. lodge for electing man
said 20 be a negro. 4 further measure IN
structs the grand ruler to order the Newark
lodge 70 investigate the mans antecedents and
II IL be found that he is Of negro extraction 10
ss FrOr-o ne rolls