The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-01
ELKS MAY MAKE QUARTER LEVY
 FOR NEW HOME

Atlantic City, May 31-That every member of the great American Order of Elks shall be taxed the munif1cent sum of fifty cents in two per capita assessments of quarter each for the purpose of erecting a new National Home that will be in keeping with the prestige of the fraternity, is but one of the big propositions to be submit ted at the forty-seventh annual con- vention of the Grand Lodge in this city in July.
 With the unqualified endorsement of Grand Exalted Ruler August Herr mann the Board of Grand Trustees, of which Thomas F. McNulty,of Balti- more, is chairman, has accepted and will refer to the Grand Lodge for adoption, plans for a magnificent new National Home for aged and inf1rm members of the order to cost it is es- timated, $250,OO0.
 Adoption of the plans and the grand trustees recommendation to the At lantic City meeting will be the outcome Of action taken at Detroit year ago wi.en the trustees were authorized to eXpend s7,500 for repairs to make the present National Home at Bedford City, Va, serve the purpose for which ii is designed. The board found that iu was impractical to effect the repairs and changes needed without a much greater outlay and thereupon decided to recommend instead new institu- tion in keeping with the growth and present prestige of the order.
 The question of selecting another sit than that at Bedford City for the new National Home will hinge up- tr the acceptance of the Grand Trus- tees recommendations in all proba- b:Hty. While many members of the order are opposed, for sentimental reasons, to leaving Bedford City, the a e. lected, more accessible and in close proximity to a large centre of popula- tion. is said to have many followers. There is every probability that the latter question will be only secondary in interest to the matter of building a new Home.
 How the funds shall be provided, if the Grand Trustees recommendation is accepted by the Grand Lodge, is another subject that may furnish ma- terial for debate, if sticklers upon con- stitutional questions in the big con- rention rise to insist that the proviso that the Grand Lodge can levy but one per capita assessment of 25 cents ill any grand lodge year shall be inter rreted exactly as it appears. Two per capita assessments of the amount stated will produce total of $200,O00 and the balance may be taken from Grand Lodge funds now on hand which
 
 pose.
 A more liberal construction of the aSSoSSne mt proviso is that the Grand Lodge may levy any number of as- easements of not to exceed 25 cents each but the Grand Trustees report will recommend. it is said, that the funds be raised by assessments in two successive years.
 Advocates of a change of location naiL tain that if the Grand Lodge votes to abandon Bedford City no less than four centrally located cities will ten der a site free for the magnificent building contemplated.
 It is already evident that Atlantic City will offer a surprisingly beauti- f;a, background for the activities of Reunion Week. Always gay in mid- summer the big seashore metropolis will be literally a mass of rippling bunting by day and aglitter with in candesceat brilliancy after nightfall.
 Among the other prizes provided for by the Reunion Executive Committee of Atlantic City Lodge are cash awards for the best decorated and the best illuminated buildings, and it is ex- pected that the rivalry ensuing will make the resort surpass the record es- tablished last September during the national encampment of the Grand Army.
 Rolling chair parades on the Board walk and deep sea sailing trips are but two of the features upon an elab- crate program of entertainment