Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-09
ELKs AT DEDICATION
HEAR GOVERNOR STUART
Executive Delivers Address at New
Home Ceremonies at Bed
ford City.
LEADING MEMBERS ATTEND
Past Grand Exalted Ruler jerome
Fisher, Of jamestown, n. ", Is
Another Observation-Disclosures Just
Erected Cost About 100000
ispecial'to The Times-Dispatch. !

Especial to The Times -Dispatch.l
BEDFORD CITY. VA, July S.--sev-
eral thousand persons were present to-
day when Fred NJ Harper of Lynch
burg, handed over the KEYS of the
completed national home of the Be-
nevolent and Protective Order OF Elks
10 Grand Exalted Ruler James K.
Nicholson The dream OF Virginia
Elks. In particular. and all Elks in
general, was realized in the act The
members of the fraternity in this Com
monwealth have labored for years for
the establishment Of the home within
the confines Of Virginia. and Elks
throughout the United States have
longeh for such a haven for the weary
members Of the great order who have
no other place where they may spend
the last years Of their lives.
The magnificent structure was for
mally dedicated to charity, Justice.
brotherly love and fidelity, the cardi-
nal virtues. and the tenets of the or
der. by the grand lodge officials and
by Governor Henry Carter Stuart. of
virginia. The address delivered by
Governor Stuart was a tribute to the
fraternity and to Virginia.
Members OF the order came into Bed
ford on trains from all directions
There were a number Of special trains.
including one from Richmond with
nor stuart as the guest Of the occa-
sion. There were more than 1000
members Of the fraternity present The
invitation 10 inSpcc; the home and TO
partake OF the hospitality of the oc-
casion was extended 10 the entire
county. and there were severed thous-
and people Of the town and surround
ing country present
BUILDING INSPECTED
by THE VISITORS
The morning hours and early after
noon were spent In inspecting the
grounds and building. The home ls
arranged In semi-circular fashion with
the administrative building occupying
the center. and the cottages. connect
ed with severed corridors. stretching
Off In two wings. The whole Is dOhe
IN white stucco with concrete base
II Is fire proof throughout and cost APP
proNinateiy SGoG.o6o
Al o'clock the ceremonies began
with concert by the Roanoke, Ma.
chine Works Band. The stand for the
members OF >ihc grand lodge and dis
tinGuished guests was placed on the
lawn several hundred feet from the
main entrance "f the administrative
building.
The grand chaplain. rev. John Dy
sart, opened the exercises with prayer,
James K. Nicholson. grand exalted
EULER. presided while the ritual OF the
order, appropriate 10 public occasions
was gone throug: with. Afterwards
he introduced Governor stuart.
In his opening remarks. Governor
stuart congratulated the state upon
receiving the home. He said il rneans
much to the Commonwealth and to
ne county in which IL Is located He
spoke for a few minutes on the ritual
as exercised by the grand lodge Off
Gers. In beginning the cerempnies.
four blocks had been placed one upon
tho other. Thcy bore the words
Charity. Justice. BrotherIy Love and
Fidelity. Upon these was spread III.
stars aud stripes and upun this TIA.
!Hble, followed by the "nntlera," tn.
emblem OF the order.
DECLARES FLAG -
DEAR no N,RGINIiNS
Governor stuart referred 10 The
blocks. the buildin.. or thu altar and
said that amy nation built upon such
tencts Was SAFE. II speaking 81 tn"
Stars and stripes, lie said:
My friends as lc turned 10 INC
grand lodge officials. many OF whom
arc from north OF Mason and DiXon's
line this is a day OF confessions
have no apologies 10 make; but there
was a time when ! considered that
Nag the emblem OF tyranny. There
WAS time when ! would have tram
show me today people more loyal To
that Nag than Nirginians. To whom
is i, more dear than ITO Virginia."
There was almost II demonstration at
the conclusion OF the remark and when
Governor Stuart referred to prepared
ness" there was. prolonged applause.
lie closed his address by stating that
the altar built by the Elks was COM
piete, when IL had for its capstone the
liible--"The Word of God"
Fred NJ. Harper. OF Lynchburg. dc
livered short address, in which he
told of the cost OF the home. lie
gave detailed statistics as to the
buildings. grounds and furniture
Past Grand Exalted Ruler Jerome r.
Fisher, of JarGestown, y. Y, told of
tho early struggles of the IElks for
national home. lie alluded TO the late
senator John w. Daniel and other dis
tinghshed men being present when the
first pome was opened in the old hotel