The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-06

Apout zo years ago when blfthlnS ham had just shed her swaddline clothes and her fame was beginning to spread far and wide couple of sterling pioneer citizens namely the late Capt Frank P. OBrien and W. Y. Thinner decided that the time was ripe for the organization of lodge of the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks in Bir- mingham. The order was not nearly SC well known in those days as now, yet it was regarded as the leader of mod ern fraternal institutions and the two gentlemen who had the matter in charge found but little trouble in se- curing the names of sufficient number of prominent citizens to sign the peti- tion for new lodge to be located in the Magic City.
 On March 25. 1888, a number of the members of the Memphis lodge came to Birmingham for the purpose of passing on the applications and to initiate the applicants into the mysteries of Elk dom. The list contained Is names. As was fitting, Frank O'Brien was initiated first and thus became the father of Birmingham lodge No. 79. Benevolent Protective Order of Ellxs, a lodge which since that time has grown famous In the annals of the order.
 1t was brave beginning and a glance at the IS names that constituted the first lodge will show that those who promoted the lodge had in view a high standard of citizenship for It's members as the following names will show: Frank P. O'Brien, George Raps, W. V. zimmer. Joe w. Cue. C. E. Megle- mary. Joe Frank. D. r. Meyers, c. B. Marx, Henry B. Gray, w. l. Davids, Harry w. English, B. M. Allen, Dan Rowlett. William Black, E. Solomon. Ben S. Thiess, H. w. Goldsby and F. W. Miller. The lodge was instituted in Allen-Scott building immediately after the initiation of the above gentle men and an election of officers was had with the following result:
 Exalted ruler. B. NJ. Allen: esteem leading knight, w V. zimmer; esteem loyal knight. E. Soloman esteem lec- turer. c. E. Meglemary; secretary, H. W. English treasurer, George Rapps; tiler. Joe Frank; inner guard. D. F, Meyers; esquire. Ben s. Thiess trus- tees, Frank P. O'Brien, E. Soloman and c. D. Meglemary.
 Under the skilful leadership of Mir. Allen. aided by his able corps of off cers, the lodge grew apace and on April l, 1888, the following quartet was initiated into membership, the first to be received in the new Iodge Billy Millspaugh, F. J. McCrossin, Harry WheeloclS and Frank Birdsall, and ac- cording to those who were present on that occasion. 1t was "some" intia- ton.
 Soon the new lodge struck its stride and applications poured in and in less than a year the lodge had over 100 members and was still growing. The meeting place was moved from First avenue to the Wilson building, which was located on the site now occupied by that magnificent structure. the pride of Birmingham and the south, the Jeff ferson County Bank building These quarters proved inadequate to the needs of the lodge and the top floor of the three story building on First avenue and Twentieth street known as 'Linn's Folly was rented. Later the lodge moved to the Gelder building on the corner of Fourth avenue and Twentieth street and remained there until the present beautiful home on Eighth ave- nue was purchased.
 Of the original IS who formed the first lodge and of the first officers it is gratifying to know that many of them are still active fin the work of the order. Some have passed to their reward Others have made their homes In distant states. yet there still remain a goodly portion of "the old guard, who are still at their post of duty.
 Of the first IS members of old 79 there is no one that exceeded in faith full devotion to the order than has Capt C. F. Meglemary. who is still in harness, doing efficient work for the lodge. The first exalted ruler, B. M Allen shed added 1uster to the lodge. for step by step he went forward until he was honored by the highest gift of the order and was the first southern member of the order to reach the posi- tion of grand exalted ruler of the grand lodge of Ellxs. Of the other faith full ones might be mentioned. Henry E.. Gray and Ben Thiess.
 Among the first hundred members of the lodge were Harry Wheelock, Billy Mllspaugh, F.. I. McCrossin, Frank Byrdsall. Fred l.. Grambs, w. P. McCrossin Frank Arrico w. M Drennen, M Clifford. w w. Crawford w IT. Kettig, M T. stradford and Sol Caheen.
 Is growing can be drawn from q com B. M Allen and Harry English repre- scented the Birmingham lodge at grand lodge meeting held in New York in 1888, ana at the present time. At the New York meeting 51 lodges were rep resented with a total membership of 8952. while at the recent grand lodge meeting held in Denver July 1914, dele gates from 1916 lodges with a total n, ,,, harehin of A12 I7o u,a-a in attap