Omaha daily bee., 1911-02-13
ELKS READY FOR BIG JUBILEE
Local Lodge to Have Great Even
Tomorrow Evening.
TWO THOUSAND WILL ATTENI
Twenty-Five Years Of History VIII n,
Celebrated by Grand spectscIes
at Auditorium-Hns Inter-
estnE History.


estinE History.
The Omaha lodge OF Elks will celebrate
tomorrow night at the Auditorium twenty
five years Of history. At least 1900 persons
will attend the silver Jubilee OF the order
on that occasion A quarter OF a century
ago distinguished ira gedian Of that day.
Thomas w. Keene, was a most enthusiastic
member OF fraternal order that had been
organized eighteen years previous and
known as the Elks Keene was especially
popular in Omaha. He came to the old
Boyd opera house. Fifteenth and Farnam,
every season, and on the occasion Of each
visit he urged the establishment OF an Elk
lodge in Omaha. The fruits of his labors
were realized in the fall of 1885. when steps
we're taken to organize the Omaha lodge.
| II was Installed in February, 1856, with
twenty charter members. The lodge was
instituted by DR.. Simon Quinlan, past
grand exalted ruler OF the order, and
delegation from the Chicago lodge. The
ceremony OCCURRED in Clark & Kouny's
hall, Fourteenth and Dodge streets, and
after the lodge was duly installed a ban
quet was served at the Willard hotel to
the visitors and the members Of the new
! lodge.
ne AiTbL heSblOnh Oh lile lOuke were utlu
in the old Boyd opera house on the top
floor, the principal one being a stag social
rendered to II. c. Barnabee, George Nc
! Donald, Tom Karl George Frotheringham,
Director S. l.. studley and other male
members Of that most famous organization,
4 the Bostonians. Later the lodge secured
! the top floor OF the Continental block, Fiji
| teenth and Douglas, where they maintained
/ the most luxurious club rooms In the city
at that time The expense, however, was
| too great for the membership and after
running In debt to the extent Of 5000 they
decided to liquidate and economize. A
| small hall was secured at 1920 Farnam
street, where the lodge met until May, 1896.
when the third floor of the Ware block,
Fifteenth and Farnam, was leased. There
the lodge remained until January, 1870
when removal was made to the new Elks'
home formerly in the Granite block s13-315-
81 South Fifteenth street, which had been
purchased by the Omaha Elks Building
company an organization within the lodge.
The building with it's furniture represents
an investment Of $135,OOO
six Charter Members Active.
J OF he twenty charter members of the
! lodge six are in active membership today;
/ two are nonresident, namely, Thomas +.
Boyd, in Cheyenne, WyO., and A. B. Dav-
export OF Steubenville, o. -Four OF the
number are residents in Omaha today,
namely. S. F. Woodbridge Of the World
Herald, Alfred Sorensen of the Examiner,
d. w. Van Cott, retired, and 1. w. Miner,
the present secretary Of the lodge The
| lodge has grown to a membership of LOO,
and It is gaining at the rate of about 300
new members year. A total of 1886 men
have been initiated into Omaha lodge since
its foundation; 1O7 have died and the re-
mainder showing the difference between
the above named totals, have Omitted or
lost their membership. for various reasons.
Omaha has a larger membership of
Elks than any other city Of the same
size in the country The personnel of it's
] membership has been warmly praised by
Elks all over the United States, who
know their high character. For this rea-
son Omaha lodge stands high in the ma
tional councils of the order
Anticipating its silver jubilee several
weeks ago, the lodge went deep into its
treasury for the purpose of celebrating
the event at the Auditorium and en-
trusted the arrangements to a large COM
mittee, headed by Gus Renee known all
over the state as 1.-THE wizard of Ak-Sar-
Ben" A splendid program has been ar
ranged spectacular in most of it's gem
eral effects, as befits such a large build
ing, where speech making is difficult.
The singing of old songs will be a pre-
dominant feature, accompanied by Dim
ick's orchestra, a double octet and the
audience Joining in the chorus,
To Develop Surprises.
Carl f. Herring will act as chairman
and master Of ceremonies, and the addresses
| Of tba norf Will he Nv I I
Dunn. Sidney W. Smith, exalted ruler of
the lodge, will act as chairman OF the
committee OF reception. Captain II. W.
Dunn will have charge of the auxiliary
| committee who will serve the guests with
cigars, refreshments and lunch. The COM
mittee Is very reticent concerning the
program, its plan being to develop as
many surprises during the evening as
possible.
Many delegations will come from neigh
boring lodges large number will be
here from the state capital. A special
train will arrive at the Burlington depot
at 1850 Monday evening, containing at
least thirty-five members of the house of
representatives, fifteen from the state
senate and at least forty members Of
the Lincoln lodge of Elks. They will be
met by a special reception committee
consisting of Mayor James c. Dahlman.
Colonel J. c. Martin, G. A. Schoedstack,
George F. West and Thomas F. Godfrey,
who will escort them 10 the Auditorium
Special parties of fifty from Plattsmouth,
! forty from Council Bluffs and twenty
five from Shenandoah, Ia, are expected,
with smaller delegations from many
| other lodges.
All visiting Elks have been invited and
will be admitted to the Auditorium on
presentation Of their membership card
/ at the door.