The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-28
Lodge Was Pounded By Actors
 and Their Friends
AMONG GREATEST SPENDER
The Recent Parade at Philadelphia Was Probably the Most Elaborate Ever Seen In Amerlca-PIans
 to Erect a Monument.
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

Good fellowship between brothers and charity to the distressed are the moving principles of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, fraternity that orig mated in New York less than forty years ago, and now has lodges from the At lantic seaboard to Manila. As a doer of charities and as a doer of 'stunts'' the Elks hold an unbeaten record, and their annual conventions are sought for and fought for by the largest cities in America because of the thousands of per- sons, outsiders as we'll as members, who are attracted by them. Dallas, with $10o- GOO guaranteed has secured the next con yention, and already plans are under way to repave and improve thorouglrfares over which the great parade will pass.
 The original Elk Is ". Lloyd who holds card No. 1 in Lodge No 1, New York city. He is an Englishman who came 10 America to live, and who in 1867 re- newed old London associations with Charles Vivian when that actor came to New York. These two friends with other congenial spirits formed the habit of spending their evenings together, and the question of who should order the re- treatments was settled by what is known as the cork trick Each candidate for membership in this informal club was given cork as soon as he entered the the room. With the other men he placed his cork on table. and at the word "Go" each tried to pick up his cork. The last man to accomplish this feat paid for the refreshments or paid a fine. These gay 
 Jolly corks."
 One evening an actor from Tony Pas tors theatre, himself a Jolly Cork, pro posed that something more than a purely social club be made of the organization and a result the Order of Elxs came into existence in 1868. meeting at Military hall on the Bowery. The Jolly Corks continued their meetings in their quarters on Delancey street until Vivian, the nov ing spirit. went to Philadelphia to fill professional engagement, then the In terest died out. All of the original Elks, however, were Jolly Corks. and if the name had any influence on the life of the order, 1t finds reflection in the lives of the members and in their annual conven- tions-conventions that are marked by elaborate expenditures, unique features, and a general lvellness hardly equalled by any other events of similar propor- tions.
 But good fellowship is merely one char acteristic of the Elks. Since the organl- zation of that first lodge in New York the order has been noted for It's charity that runs tho whole scale of generosity from a small contribution toward individ- ual needs, to a systematic benevolenoe on a large basis. It was the Elks that beat the whole world into San Francisco when the great earthquake brought ds- vastation to the city. Robert w Brown, managing editor of the Louisville Times got the first wire into the stricken city. It. read: Five thousand to your credit If bad reports true spend five more. Not for Elks. For everybody" This man was an Elk who knew the philanthropic spirit Of his brothers. He was not a rich man, nor had he authority to offer these funds but knowing the need of the city, and knowing the mettle of the Elks he fought for right of way over the wires and made the pledge which the order so gloriously made good. New York lodge, alone. has in the period of it's existence given away nearly S200,000 and the general order has distributed over $2,0O0,0oO
 
 and it's possessions are eligible to mem bership fin the Elks and the candidate must be of age and good moral standing. Lodges can be established only in cities of population of 5000 and over and the membership of over 225,000 is distributed not only among the leading cities and towns of the United States but a gener- ous share goes to Juneau, Alaska; Homo lulu and Hilo Hawaii, and Manila. Brotherlness is deeply rooted. and key of reverence is struck when this order holds It's annual sacred session the first Sunday in each December and prayers are made for the absent brothers" An- other bit of brotherliness applies to the living It is the eleven o'clock evening toast drunk always ito the absent ones whenever two or three Elks are gathered together.
 Although the first members of the Pro- tectiVe and Benevolent Order Of Elks were actors and the friends of actors, the membership rolls include men of prominence In all walks of life. Presi- dent Mckinley was an Elk. Vice Presi- dent Fairbanks belongs to the order, as does a lso William Jennings Bryan Other well known men who are Elks are sen ators Bailey, Tillman, LaFollette ana Guggenheim; Governors Beckham of Kentucky. Higgins of Rhode Island Cummings of Iowa and Johnson of Min nesota; John Sharp Williams of Mlssis- sinpi. Colonel w F. Cody of the Wild West show. and Perry Belmont, the New York capitalist.
 The recent Elks convention in Phila- delphia was an admirable illustration or the orders willingness to put forth any amount of energy and enterprise in order that the national meetings may be made attractive to outsiders as well IS cred itable to the members. Under a tropical sun a half million spectators in Philadel- phia saw a parade that was fifteen miles long, required four hours to pass a gwen point and was more varlegated than any circus parade that P. T. Barnum ever dreamed of There were from So.Wo to 5OOOO men in line. and every lodge was in individual uniform. The badges were as widely divergent in design as the points of the compass, the bunch Of cher rIes for the Toledo Cherry Pickers. the small wooden coffins for Deadwood, South Dakota and the tiny bean pots Tor Boston making distinct bid Tor popu- laritv. An enthusiastic member from New Orleans had his badge painted on his bald head as the best means of keep ing it safe from collectors. One badge | collector, eager to acquire all he wanted. l traded a small burro for badge, and | thought he had made a good bargain. The question of expense seemed to nave | cut little figure with the lodges when l they were preparing to make gooo | show for their city The Fl Paso lodge, | o,in,ar of three nrfzes, headed its pro-