Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-20
|tAMONG THE
u FRATFRNlTlES

| Inc Hello, Bills or Elk dom mad genu-
Inc hot time in Philadelphia this week. The
mercury did its full share in welcoming"
the antlered herds, and the great parade of
Thursday was about the warmest thing
ever pulled off in the historic city since the
British went out of the Quaker town for
ever Notwithstanding the intense heat
| which, 1t is to be regretted Frustrated
many of the marching Elks. including Henry
J. Walker, the exalted ruler of the Phila-
delphia Lodge of Elks himself. the parade
was a great success, nearly $4,000 Elks,
representing lodges in all parts of the
United States being participants. The hos
ptal forces were busy during the week,
but merriment prevailed and the Elks were
glad they went to the City of Brotherly
| Love.
The vast Quaker village was also fully
satisfied with the bovine invasion although
for a time there were hints that the big
! entertainment and reception committees
did not think they were getting quie all
| that was coming to them in return for the
100000 expended in making the Elks of
America welcome. Great arches and court
OF honor were particular features, which
| cost the municipality a considerable amount
| OF lucre. But in the final parade and cere-
| monies Philadelphia got all that was due
| TO he ancient self and the state of Penn
and Franklin secured the office of grand
exalted ruler. the highest antler on which
| an Elk can hang his hat.
| The most important legislation of the
| Grand Ledge was that abolishing the use
| of elks' teeth as symbols of the order. This
| Is drastic change in the regulations. The
| b. p. o. E. is endeavoring by every means
| to preserve the noble kings of the American
! forest, whose numbers have unwittingly
| been greatly reduced by an indiscriminate
| slaughter. which has resulted in the deci-
| nation of the big-horned race, like the buff
| faloes before them. This legislation has
| been long projected by subordinate lodges,
but first came up for serious and definite
consideration before the convention Of the
present week, with results as stated
Washington Lodge and Alexandria Lodge
were familiars at Philadelphia and con-
sorted together there and on the trains
| both going and returning Washington
| Lodge was headed by Exalted Ruler Rich
ard A. O'Brien, and Alexandria Lodge by
Exalted Ruler Harry Fleischmann. Each
| of the lodges was represented by a large
| delegation of its members, and all the re-
| turned Elks describe the entertainment and
| reception they received at Philadelphia as
| the right kind of time at the right time
| and In the right way
| Washington Lodge, No. Is, had its own
| troubles incident to the proposed appear
a aI as its military escort of the United
| organizers of the parade, and the
troversy was finally settled by the Wash
inGton contingent marching without must
| cal or other escort, because the Phila-
| delphia union bands protested against the
| Marine Banda non-unon organization
! participating in the parade.
| The Washington Elks want no more real
| hot days in Philadelphia. They all speak
| well of the hospitality of the third city of
America, but say it was little too warm
for health-to say nothing of comfort.
| AS was expected, the Grand Lodge denied
| the right of recognition to the colored Elks,
| so-called. 1t took official cognizance of the
state Elks associations. which is new
| lodges of the body in the boom towns Of
/ Goldfield and Tonopah, New
The action of the Elk fraternity is ex
pected to result in the saving of the elk
| from extinction. This is by no means
wholly due to the stoppage of the slaughter
| of this notable animal to supply watch
| charm ornaments for more or less thought
| less human Elks
DR.. Higgins, official taxdermist Of the
New York Museum of Natural History,
| says:
"If it were not for the resolution of the
| order of Elks to abandon elks' teeth as its
| official symbol" he said In an interview
| the demands for teeth to supply the
| ciety with emblems would have utterly
| terminated the elk in this country in ten
years. Hundreds of elks have probably
| order with teeth. Now that this demand
| is at an end the elk in the western states
| will probably never be eXterminated The
| unanimous resolution of the Grand Lodge,
| B. P. o. E., to do away with elks' teeth
| as symbols deserves the heartiest approval
| and the warmest commentator" says DR..
| Higgins. He is considered one of the best
| authorities on the elk in the United States.
| During the session of the Grand Lodge,
| B. P. o. E, John d. Shea of Lynn, Mass,
| chairman of the board of trustees of that
| body, was stricken with apoplexy, probably
| superinduced by the great heat of the
week. He died Tuesday night at his rooms
| in the presence Of his brethren and the
| physicians He was stricken while chat
| ting with his friends. He had work ed very
| hard during the convention week, and had
complained of being very tired. He was
one of the best known Elks in the country.
having been for ten years chairman of the
| board of grand trustees. He was born in
| 1861.
The Templars at Saratoga Springs got
| into warm weather, although they escaped
getting into any too hot water. About 300
| Washington knights took part in the excur-
| sion to Saratoga with its extensions The
Washington fraters have returned from
| their summer outing, and all are saving
| that they more than delighted. They
have forgotten all about the hot weather,
and are recalling only their two notable
successes at Saratoga. The Grand Com
mandery of the District of Columbia sup
| ported Harrison Dingman for grand cap
| tain Of the guard with signal success, and
Columbia Commandery's drill team won.
victory in carrying off second prize in
competition with the renowned St. Bernard
Commandery of Chicago.
1t is an interesting and somewhat singu-
lar fact that the winning commandery's
drill team which defeated Columbia by
the wink Of an eyelash' in the Saratoga
drill made the same percentage in the con-
test as that achieved by Orient Command
cry, No. g. on the last field day of the local
communicates at Friendship the country
home of John R. Mclean. Orient's aver
age was SO per cent, and the winner at
Saratoga reached the same figure in the
international contest.
Potentate Frank A. Sebring of Almas
Temple. A. A. o. N. NJ. s., will visit the
jamestown exposition July q, at which
time he will complete the arrangements for
the coming Shrine excursion down the Po-
tomac to the ter-centennial, which is fixed
for September 13.
At the last regular convention of Rath-
bone-Superior Lodge, No. %, knights Of
Pythas, there was an excellent attendance,
the season considered This lodge is now
the second in size among the lodges of
this domain.
Phi odr