Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-07-10
DALLAS WELCOMES
tLkS

attracted by the annual national as
semblage of the Benevolent and
Protective Order OF Elks. otherwise
known as the Best People on
Earth The advance guard looks
good to the enthusiastic people OF
the North Texas metropolis and they
are preparing to make next weeks
convention a record-breaker in Elk
dom history. Ii is admitted that
Phlladelphia did lair job OF enter
tanning last year, but the Texans
nave fixed up few high jinks that
VIII make Philadelphia effort re-
scmble a Quaker prayer meeting.
Already the streets OF Dallas have
taken on purple and white tint.
In honor OF the visitors, and the
work of decorating has been well
nigh completed. Only a few fin
ishinS touches remain to render
Dallas distinctively Elks city,
which will gladden. the eyes OF the
good fellows who will be here from
all over the land. One hundred
thousand dollars represents the
| amount to be expended In the weeks
festivities and nearly every citizen
OF the town has contributed to this
great fund.
The most distant delegation will
be that from the Philippines. and
Will extend an invitation to the
grand lodge to hold next years
| meeting in Manila. IL is not likely
| that this proposition will receive ia,
vorable consideration, however as
Seattle, Wash, apparently has a
cinch on next years convention,
since 1t offers the added attraction
OF an International exposition.
Washington and Baltimore dele
gates will begin booms for the 1910
convention.
The reunion will begin Sunday.
when it is expected that most of the
delegates and visitors will have ar
rived. Monday will be given over
to receptions and entertainments.
The business sessions OF the grand
lodge will begin Tuesday. Three
great food tests Will be held during
the week and will cost In the neigh
borhood of $4,000. The feature
Will be Mexican dinner, with all
the Mexican dainties on tap. and
will be one OF the biggest grub
stakes on record, since the commit
tee in charge expects to feed 49,
600. There will also be a typical
southern barbecue an da more form
al dinner for grand lodge officers
and delegates. There will be balls.
band contests, competitive drills,
garden parties, fire works displays
and last, but not least, n grand pa
rade which the promoters declare
will eclipse any pageant ever wit
messed in America" That will be
going some, but Dallas feels equal to
the job.
While thousands OF dollars are
being spent in entertaining the
rank and file of Elkdom the OF
cials will not be forgotten. There
| will be many social events provided
for them and special honors will Je
paid to the grand exalted ruler OF
the order. John K Tener. banker
Of Charleroi, Pa
ASIDE from his present position.
Tener is famous as one OF the great
est veterans Of the baseball dia-
mond. In 1888 he became one of
Captain Anson's colts. and for years
was one Of the best known pitchers
Ven the National League He was
| one of the twiTlers I'm the AlI-Amer-
lean team which made a tour OF the
world and introduced the national
game to the people Of Australia, Eu-
rope and the islands OF the Pacific.
After deserving the diamond Ten
er settle in Charleroi. a small town
not far from PittsDurg, and engaged
| In the banking business. He was
always a loyal Eli, and in 1899 ne
organized the Charlsroi lodge Of
Elks, serving three years as its
treasurer. In 1902 he was elected
its exalted ruler I'm 1904 he was
elected grand treasurer of the
grand lodge, holding the position
until his election last year as ex-
allied ruler
The order OF Elks was organized
/ in New York m 1868. and had its
inception in small social club.
composed principally Of actors ana
| known as the Jolly Corks. The ElkH
have continued to merit the name Of
/ Jolly" but the order OF the pres
ent day has many other claims to
consideration, chief among which !.
IT'S spirit OF charity.
Nor is II a narrow or sectional or
partisan charity, that Of the Elks,
Bound tog ether though they are by
the ties Of good fellowship the
charity Of the Elks knows no con
/ fines It extends 20 every man. wo-
man or child in time Of need This
spirit II universal brotherhood was
never better illustrated than az the