The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-06-07
A BRILLIANT RECEPTION
The EIks of OcaIa Receive Their
Members and Friends Monday
Night at the Lodge Rooms

/ For the first time in several years
the Ocala loIge of Elks held open
house, receiving their members, fam
lilies and friends at the lodge rooms
on Monday evening, between the
hours of eight and twelve o'clock.
The reception was very largely at
tended, several hundred being present
on this occasion. There was no for
NAL receiving line, but each Elk pres
ent constituted a committee to see
that everybody was enjoying the
evening as much as possible.
The evening was exceedingly infor.
NAL and proved to be very pleasant
Judge Williams, Capt. Maughs, Mr..
George K. Robinson, Exalted Ruler
hampton, DR.. Anderson, Dr. McClane,
Secretary Bell, Mr. Muncaster, Mr.
Galloway and other prominent mem
bers of the Elks were on the receiv-
ing and entertainment committees
and performed their duties most
Ipleasingly.
The various rooms of the lodge
We're prettily decorated with the Elks'
colors-white and purple-festoons of
moss, ferns, etc., and in each one of
the rooms was bowl of. punch, which
was served by different ones through
out the evening.
The opening number of the musical
dance hall, was an overture by a ten
piece orchestra, followed by a beau
tiful cornet solo by Mr.. A. E. Gerig
Mr. Campbell Gray then delighted
the guests with a couple of songs,
which he sang magnificently. Follow
ing Mr.. Gray, Miss Cecil Downs sang
two songs, her voice being perfect on
this occasion, Mr. A. E. Gerig follow
ing Miss Downs, singing two very
attractive songs. This completed the
musical program, which had proven
SO enjoyable.
Exalted Ruler H. NJ Hampton then,
in a few we'll chosen remarks, eX-
planned that the evening was intend
ed as a purely social one, and that
he took great pleasure on the part OF
the Elks in turning the hall over to
their guests for dancing, cards, pool,
social conversation, or anything that
pleased the visitors. Mr.. Hampton
was taken at his word, and from then
on until past the midnight hour so
thoroughly enjoyed was the reception
thta nearly the entire crowd remained
during the entire evening enjoying
themselves with the various diver
sions.
The orchestra played for the dane
ing, and in spite of the warm wealth
ar the young people "tripped the
light fantastic" indefatigably until
midnight, while others played cards,
etc.
At eleven o'clock-the mystic hour
of Elkdom-when the heart of every
true Elk turns to thoughts of absent
brothers, the lights were turned down
and as the last stroke of the gong
died away in the darkness and still
ness, Mr. Emmett E. Robinson deliv-
cred a beautiful toast to "our absent
brothers." who are remembered and
loved in death as they are in life.
This bit of sentiment is very pretty,
and on this occasion was quite inn
pressive.
During the evening a beautiful col
lation, including chicken salad and
waters, ice cream, cake and punch,
was served, the good things to eat
being enjoyed equally in proportion
to the other pleasures of the Elks' re
ception for nineteen hundred and
twelve.
A large crowd from Burbank and a
number from Belleview, Summerffeld
and other nearby towns came in es
pecially to attend the Elks' reception,
and enjoyed a charming evening with
the Ocala Elks.