The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-04-21
An interesting history of how the
order Of Elks was organized is old as
follows by one of the participants:

All interesting history OF how the
order Of Elks was organized is told as
follows by one of the participants.
In the winter of 1867 a cornwall order
called the Jolly Corks' leld their meet
ings on Sunday evenings in a frame build.
Ing, Y Delaney street over the saloon OF
city of New York.
In the year 1867, very nearly its close, |
was playing in the city of New York and
~eondneting a dramatic and variety agency,
5l2 broadway, In conjunction with Brother
mona q. RIGGS; Brother Riggs had be-
come affiliated with the Corks. who met
every Sunday evening and held what we
now call a social session. Brother Riggs
introduced me to the party and / was
initiated with some mummery and the
coming a Jolly Cork. Among those
present on the occasion Of my first visit
Ysf4arer ! thin hin was early In December,
man John T. Kent, w. Lloyd Bowron,
Y, George F. Mcdonald. NJ. q, Ashe, j.
Sheppard, william Carleton. iFs' X Lang
norm. John H. Blume and Harry Wander
mark; / remember we passed a very en-
agreement TO meet on the following Sun
day Brothers Riggs and Mcdonald left
with me and the latter said:
crowd and will one day amount to some
Evidently he had thought deeply upon
- obJNttf " ut tlt ntAl DHtStIiE NE
offered a motion that it organize as a
lodge or a benevolent order anda that q
committee be appointed to draft rules n
Il ritual and to select a name. This evoked
much discussion, and Brother Vivian.
though at first opposed to the idea, sug-
gessed thai it be made a branch of the
Buhaloes. an English benevolent order,
of which he had been n member on the
other side Of the Atlantic.
brotner McDonald's motion prevailed, and
VIVIAN. as chairman of the Corks, appointed
the following as a committee; George w.
deorge 7. sdsIp%sndi wWillla IN s shUwapS,
T.. g. Riggs, j. W. Glenn and Fl. Wander
During the month of January. 1868.
Brother George T. Mcdonald and myself
We're engaged In trying to find some animal
the new organization. We visited Cooper
Un1en, where there was an extensive
library, and read several works on natural
history, bnt could find nothing that suited
us Finally, at the suggestion of Brother
L. G. Riggs, who was born on Elk street,
In Buffalo, we hit upon the name ELK"
f ia on n again visiting Cooper Union we
description of the animal, which Brother
subsequently utilized i'll his lee
or February 2, 1868, the motion to change
the name to the Benevolent and Protective
order OF Elks was laid over for a definite
vote on February l6, when 1t was carried
by n vote, fifteen members voting. The
committee originally appointed on constitr-
ton was continued as a ritual committee
and 500 copies of the new laws were orderedA
printed for the use Of the lodge.
The following Is a complete list of the
officers: George W.. Thompson, exalted
ruler and high honorable primo; James w.
esteemed leading knight and first
assistant primo; William Lloyd Bowron,
esteemed loyal knight and second assistant
primo; George f. Mcdonald, grand lee
turer and third assistant primo; william
Sheppard, secretary; Henry. Vandermark,
treasurer; Albert Hall, tiler.