The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1910-07-23
OVER THREE
HUNDRED THOU.
SAND MEMBERS
Tenderfoot Gives History
of the Founding of the
Order.
The Order Of Elks.


That WAS brave crew which as.
senbled at Detroit ON the llch, on
the occasion of the opening of the
forty-sixth annual reunion of the Bene.
VIOLENT and Protective Order of Elks,
fraternity that in many ways in ALB
solutely unique. One of its fundament.
al conditions IL its cosmopolitanism,
which is jcalously guarded first q, all
by law which provides that lodges
may only be organized in cities Of
5000 population or more. You fnd
Ellis alI over the country, for the first
of this year therewcre 30i.S9" mem
hers in the United States. but their
membership H. held IN cities Of the
,lus, named or better. Ihey are good
fellows everywhere, and take an intense
pride in the spirit which has promted
the investment of over SG,OOO,OOO in
lodge buildings, AID the expenditure by
tue lodges of over thrc, millions ~
benevolcncos and benefits, with probab'
" ten times that amount in personal
h"stownlH Ia '!islrpSs' 4 members.
II is an interesting history that oi
the Elks.
On one Friday in the fall OF 1867
Charles A. Vivian. the son OF an Eng
lish clergyman, came across the Allan
tic in an English trading vessel. lie
found his way in New York to the
old "Star Hotel chop house on
lspenard street near Broadway, Sew.
eral people were present and Ricnard
Steirly, the pianist, was playing for
them. Vivian volunteered To sing a
song. and so enchanted the proprietor
of the place with his excellent voice
that the proprietor of the American
theater was summoned. lie immediate
ly engaged Vivian. The latter was
invited by Stcirly 10 sup with him at
his boarding house, and there intr0duc.
ed him 10 W. l.. Bowren, whom he
knew in England. The house was n
favored spot for theatrical folks. New
York's excise laws were then very
strict and Vivian aud several happy
friends were in thH neh,t of assembling
there on Sunday for social in,erc curse.
On one of these occasions Vivian sng.
gested that the crowd have a perman-
ent name, and the idea was given
hearty support. Inc organization was
auected carry. in the winter of 1868.
II was purely a social society and
named the Jolly Corks" alluding to
trick which vi-ian and Bowron had
learned in England, and had rendered
TO the keen delight of all who saw 1t.
The society was not benevolent one.
OF the "Jolly Corks" the following
are still living: William l.. Bowron,
Of New York; Richard l.. Sterly, OF
lloboken; John T. Kent, of Jersey City;
Harry Bosworth o. Astoria, Long IL.
land; Jonn H. Bloom Of New York, and
Frank Langhorn of PlainHeld, New
Jersey.
The society grew rapidly and soon
the boarding house was entirely to
small for the meeting. New quarters
we're obtained at IL Delaney street,
where the membership grew by leaps
and bounds and the financial strength
became huge. A more dignifed title
seemed appropriate and careful con.
sideration was given 10 this subject.
A committee, consisting Of Vivian,
steiriy, Riggs vandermark and Me.
"A ii a.. a. ~
on Sunday, February 10, 1858, the
name of "Elk" was adopted by vote
Of eight to seven. Vivian was the
first ruler of Elkdom, all stories to the
contrary Notwithstanding. A copy Of
the first constitution read this way;
"The Benevolent and Protective Or
der of Elks. Grand Lodge organized
February 10, 1868. Officers for the
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