Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-24
ELKS ANNIVERSARY
Fifteen Years of Life That has
 Not Always Been Rosy.

session, no matter what the occa
 sion, it can be generally expected
 that a good time will be the result
 When a herd of 250 congregates te
 do honor to the fifteenth birthday
 of a lodge, then can be realized the
 old and trite saying that the Elks
 are the "best fellows on earth 7
 That realization came last evening
 in the banquet hall of The Elton when Waterbury lodge, number
 265, celebrated the fifteenth ami
 versary of it's existence. It was . = grand gathering of the horned breth-
 ren, assembled to do honor to one
 of the noble orders of fraternal fel-
 lowship and was a fitting way in
 which to attest the fifteenth birth
 day of lodge, that has fought it's
 way from diversity and darkness to
 the sunlight of success. This pro- y gressive flight up the ladder of
 Elkdom is appropriately pictured in
 the following epitome of Water
 bury lodge. inscribed on the menu
 cards under the title of The Lodge
 at Home"
 Through trials and tribulations
 Waterbury lodge of Elks is ap-
 preaching it's pastures green. It
 has taken the first solid step in the
 acquisition of it's permanent home.
 the recent purchase of the beauti-
 full and commodious Curtiss home
 stead on West Main street, provid-
 ing quarters, from which 1t is not
 likely to remove in the present gen.
 eration of Elks. It has not been
 easy going all the way to the present
 milestone of progress; discourage
 ments and difficulties have oft cloud
 ed the horizon of the lodges hopes;
 darkness and doubt have lowered till
 it seemed at times that the posses
 sion of home was mere idle
 dream too flimsy ever to promise
 hope of realization. But at last the
 clouds have cleared; the light has
 come; the dream Is fading; the real
 ity dawns. The financing of the home has been arranged for, and the architect and contractors who are to construct the new lodge room
 and social chambers hold out sub stantial hope that the beginning of the new year will mark the en- try of the lodge into its permanent quarters. Many brilliant successes in various lines are recorded to the credit of the lodge during the Is years 1t has been in existence, but nothing truly in all its list of achievements is comparable in inn portance and glory to this splendid | acquisition. As an addition to the tn C Gtitnttnnc Ato ,~lo np Waterbury, the Elks' home is sure to shine with a splendor as bright | as that which radiates from the beautiful ideals on which our fra ternity is reared. May the hopes of the lodge be realized in the antici- pated, early completion and occu- pancy. of its home while yet the curtain Is rising on the new year; and may this home long stand as monument to the glories and grand eur and greatness of Elkdom."
 Commenting on the success that has followed the local lodge, a suc- cess so commanding and so en- couraging, the following little clap on the back, under the title of Waterbury Lodge, 1896 to 190S," does not exaggerate. neither does 1t absorb too much self esteem in tell ing a little story of the possibilities Tor the future. This, too, was pie tured on the menu cards and was as follows:
 Fifteen years ago Waterbury lodge, No 265. was baptized in the waters of Elkdom. Its early years show desperate struggle for exist ence and recognition, but thanks to the vigorous work and indomitable spirit of Its first members the lodge gradually wore down all difficulties and started on the career of wonder Full prosperity that has made it tho foremost fraternal organization of Started with but 3S members, and growing slowly, there s vas not much promise that its fif- { Ieenth anniversary would see the odge nearing the 500 mark in mem oership and standing third among ' Inc lodges of Connecticut in the T amount of its vested assets. Yet c 'uch it Is as shown by reference to | he official reports on file at the of ' Ice of the grand secretary. It is a t 'ecord to be proud of and one that 'enects the living force and eternal k Iitality of the principles on which f slkdom is built. Should the same elative ratio of growth continue. 1t q not improbable that the twentieth E of the lodge will see I, ully thousand members enrolled c lnder It's banner, all enlisted fin the ,, 'iorious cause for which Elkdom : Vas founded, the dissemination of ' he beautiful gospel of charity. ius- Ice. brotherly love and fidelity. Tor the spread of these living ideals ' aay all Eks labor and may this u fteenth anniversary banquet renew them the enthusiasm and hone ulness that marked the bpethers mo stood al the baptismal font of H Waterbury lodgel"
 The banquet tables were loaded own with good things and once lore did The Elton establish a rem h tation for knowing just how to en- IT srtain and just how 10 make lis V nests enjoy themselves An m trough the repast Professor Fulton ts nd his orchestra made merry music pl lat made the appetites sharper and tf le digestive organs more respon- so ve. The post prandial pastime fol- ul wed and there were many gems of ki ratory. Exalted Ruler Charles A hl ,ckson was the toastmasfer and nj ptiy opened the post prandial field ti 1d fttingly introduced the gentle ar en who participated in the pro- n 'amme. Mayor William E. Thoms. m mself an Elk. welcomed the herd ra the city In appropriate terms. hs