The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-04
Behind Closed Doors

no more towns having anything like
the required population to entitle
1t to lodge of this order, 5000 being
the number, it is likely that this will
be the last opportunity for seeing a
i lodge instituted in North Dakota for
some time.
On Saturday night. Feb. IL, a large
class will be taken into the Elks lodge
in this city, and Exalted Ruler Burns
is making preparations for having a
big time. There will be a lunch and
this viii be followed by. social ses-
sion with good variety show There
are a number Of candidates ready for
the goat riding business for this oc-
casion. ...... .
ALI who attended the Elk's dance
last Saturday night are loud in their
praise of the excellent work of the
committee Of arrangements. The even
ing was very pleasantly spent by the
Ellks and their ladies.
Those who attended the institution
at Williston are still talking of the
nice time they had. They say they
could not have been better treated and
all are singing the praises OF the new
lodge.
District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler
Leech paid a visit to the boys OF the
state capital lodge the latter part OF
last week and the first of this week and
he says they are a live bunch.
1t is hoped that a large crowd as
possible will attend the Devils Lake
institution. 1t is early yet, still the
committee would like to know how
many are going.
Col. Ben G. Whitehead, in his paper,
The State, of Williston, in speaking
editorially of the institution of the
Elks' lodge in his state recently, has
the following to say which will meet
the appreciation of every true Elk in
the country:
mo city can fail to be helped by
the proper organization Of a lodge OF
Elks. Among many the idea prevails
that the initials stand for the Best
People on Earth. And this is very
true The official extension of those
initials, however, is Benevolent and
Protective order Of Elks. And there is
good deal of that name carried out in
the spirit of the order. When the
true principles Of the Elks lodge take
hold of a man he is made better by the
He looks with a kindlier aspect on the
world, and he finds the truest happi-
ness in the quiet doing OF good for
those around him. The true influence
of the true Elk Is one that widens with
the passing years. He finds that his
own benefits have come from naturally
desiring to do those things which true
Elks expect OF one another. He does
MT follow his obligations so much as
his obligation describes what his heart
calls out for him to do. The Elk
follows no fixed rule as much as the
fixed rule tells the story Of the Elks'
life, public and private Brotherly
love is conspicuous among those who
cling to the EIk's order for what it is
instead of what it will bring. No
true Elk strikes the first blow at q
brother. When this occurs it is be-
cause the beautiful lesson Of the fate
full initiatory night and Of other beau
tiful nights that have followed have
been lost upon the erring one, that he
has failed TO grasp the sentiment
which for many years has moved
thousands of men into better spheres
and made them more mindful Of the
rights of others. No true Elk does
little things. Some who wear the in
sigma and have taken the obligation
and who pay their dues may do things
upon which people frown, but they are
unfortunate in that degree that they
have failed to rise to the beautiful
heights that are possible by the as
ISOLATION Of Elks with each other"