The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-27
PROGRAM OF ELKS
IS NOW COMPLETE.
Upwards 15O,OOO Visitors Will Attend Convention
 in Philadelphia.

The formal opening of the Grand lodge will take place at the Grand Opera house at s p. m., where the guests will be welcomed by the gover- nor. the mayor and other officials. At the same hour bands will discourse pa- triotlc airs in Independent Square.
 Tuesday, July IS.
 The Grand lodge opens in business session at Il a. m. at the Garrick the ater. On that day Washington Park n-the-Delaware will be the scene of what will be the greatest festal occa- ion ever attempted by any organiza-. ton. Every Elk in the world is in- vited to come to this unprecedented feast. The ocean will be secured for shell fish the rivers for their finny den- izens, the earth for It's gifts to make this feast unparalleled. The only thing necessary for admission is an Elk s card and the official badge.
 Boats will leave Arch street wharf every hour, no tickets being necessary to Elks, identification as above stated being made by the badge and visiting card. These boats will make trips up and down the river before proceeding to Washington Park.
 In the evening a concert at Inde- pendence Square and at Il o'clock the singing of the il o'clock toast on City Hall plaza.
 Wednesday, July r.
 In the morning a trip through Fair mount Park, that embraces within its domain 9,S41 acres, with unsurpassed natural scenery that has inspired ar. lists from every corner of the world. Hundreds of monuments are within Its environments, chief of which is that magnificent work of art, the bronze equestrian statue of George Washing ton erected by the State society of the Cincinnati at cost of $250,000 and is one of the most imposing monuments in America. Then there are the Lin coln monument, Grants cabin, Memor- ial hall, a $1,5OO,OOO reminder of the Centennial in 1876; marvellous Horticul- tural hall, with It's collection of rare exotics and its famous and wonderful "sunken gardens" and then the beau tiful Wissahickon, where nature runs riot. No other great city in the world can boast of such park.
 At Il a. m. a massed band parade of 5000 musicians will take place, each lodge having band of 30 or more pieces entered in this feature and in the general parade receiving $1OO, besides having a chance to win the special first prize of $500 for the largest and best appearing band, or the second prize of $15O,
 In the afternoon a trip to Willow Grove. The Victor Herbert orchestra has been especially engaged to play during the reunion week, and on this day the famous Strawbridge & Clothier chorus of 1000 voices will sing.
 In the evehing grand band concerts in Independence and City Hall squares.
 Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
 The great parade of all lodges of the order will take place on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock and at night spe- cial illuminations and band concerts. This parade will be the largest and most magnificent ever seen in Philadel- phia. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded to those participating. The official trip to Valley Forge is scheduled for Friday, and on Saturday the official excursion to Atlantic City will take place.
 Other features may be added to this program, and altogether the week should be the liveliest Philadelphia has ever experienced.
 Philadelphia, May 23.-With the ex- ception of some minor details, the pro- gram for the convention and reunion of the Benevolent and Protective Or der of Elks, which is to be held in this city during the week of July 15, is complete and Is now presented to the public for the first time.
 From reports received from all sec- tions of the country it is expected that upwards of 150,000 visitors will be in Philadelphia during the convention, and the executive committee of Phila- delphia lodge, No. 2, of which Chester F. Ray is chairman, confidently hopes and looks for the cooperation of the people of this city in the entertaining of this mighty host of strangers.
 The committee is now raising an en- tertainment fund of s10O,0OO, and as it is estimated that the business of Phil adelphia as a direct result of this con- venton will be stimulated to the ex- tent of $5,000,O00, this sum should read lily be forthcoming. Of such large pro- portions is an Elks' convention that councils have taken official recognition of the event, and joint committee has been appointed to cooperate with the local committee of Elks, Mayor Key burn has also expressed himself as in- terested in the convention and will do all his official position enables him to make the convention week the most memorable in the city's history,
 Expect Hosts on Sunday A large number of delegates, par