Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-04-27


for the female and in defense of the
young, the helpless and the weak"
On February 16, 1868, was born the
Order Of Elks, destined to be one Of
the greatest of all charitable fraternal
orders, and early in its history the Elks
adopted feature now most highly
| prized-its Americanism. None but
Americans may become members.
The order endeayors to teach not on
| " the highest moral education, but to
Include patriotism and devotion to the
country and home in its tenets. The
/ Star Spangled Banner covers every al
tar in every lodge room of the B. P.
/ O, E. and no effort is spared to impress
upon candidates the facts of it's Amer
lean origin and form of government. It
initiates no religious rites, but is not
antagonistic to any religion, and an
adjunct to all A lodge may be legally
started only upon territory of the
United States.
In less than forty years the orde&
Las grown to ], 15O lodges, 29O,32 mem
bers, property worth $15,5O0,0O0, and
charity list of half million dollars
per annum. The order has very little
that is mystic about it. 1t has the
ritual of the average secret organiza-
ton, with all the mummery eliminated.
1t has no grip or password. The faults
Of our brothers we write upon the
sands, their virtues upon the tablets
OF love and memory. We do unto 9TH
ers as we would they would do unto
u.s."
The only real secret it possesses is
the list of persons to whom charity is
extended. In fact, charity and good
fellowship are the bulwark of the or
der, They make the building a temple
Of democracy-judges, senator's, bust
ness men, statesmen, tradesmen, work
men, artists, players-one and all are
On a common footing. An Elk knows
nc sect. There are ministers of all
denominations, priests and rabbis
among them
/ Qualification for membership re-
ouires the applicant to be a white male
citizen of the United States of the
age of q years or more and of good
moral reputation in the community. He
snust have resided within the jurisdic-
ton of the lodge to which he applies
for a period of at least six months
riorp to his application, so that the
ldaking of member from chance ac-
quaintances is almost unknown.
The first Sunday in December Of
each year is solemnized by every lodge
of Elks in sacred session, the memo
rails of departed brothers commemc
rated, and is known as Elks' Memo
rial Day
On June IA of each year Flag Day
is observed with patriotic and impress
i've ceremonies.
Why the hands of the Elks' CLOCK
point to the hour of eleven IS a hidden
mystery that only members may know
and appreciate. But to the outer world
it is explained that there is tende:
and beautiful sentiment connected with
the figure, 1t is an hour of altruistio,
unselfsh, broad sympathy; an hour
when all brothers are of one mind at
one moment, and when each thinks of
the other.
The order maintains at Bedford City.
Vt. national home for aged Elks at
an annual expense of over $4,000. The
Benevolent and Protective Order CT
E!ks today is the highest development
.ot secret organization, Invested o.
mummery, and in line with the princi-
PIES of the electric age in which il
lives, being modern without cynicism
and progressive without iconoclasm,
broad and liberal believing that it is
the duty of man to help his fellows and
leaving its benevolence only known to
those upon whom it may be bestowed.
New York Lodge. No. |, although i,