The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-02-11
ELKS WILL MARK
GOLDEN JUBILEE
Party VIII Be Held in Club
house Here Friday
100000 ARE MEMBERS
Order Has Grown Greatly
Started in New York,

Usually the Oklahoma City lodge OF
ElkS observes February II with a party
IN honor oi ST. Valentine, but this
year the lodge has a more important
junction TO observe and keep In mind
aH on Friday the lodge will observe
the golden jubilee OF Ilkdom IN America
by holding appropriate exercises and a
party in the club house in West Main
Street. Thi, will combine the enjoyable
features Of the usual 81 Valentine
party wilh'lhe exercises called for by
observance OF the Eiks birthday
The committee Of Oklahoma City
lodge having the program in charge
consists Of &. T. Templeton /.
NJ Hanson. + q kooch, 5. + Dixon
and Oliver Black
Robertson Chief Speaker
The program has not yet been wholly
completed but It Is announced that the
principal address Of the brlei cNer-
cises will be made by ] B A. Robert
son The Elks do not desire TO under
take any very elaborate exercises but
will conine themselves TO having an
old fashioned party, as they term IT,
with dancing and playing cards Tor
those who wish such amusement, some
good music and vocal selections and
an ali around good time
The Oklahoma City lodge is credited
with being the states Oldest having been
in,titnted here about 1892 At the
present time It has over 700 members
At this time when the RlkS IN all
parts OF the country are TO in almost
every instance, appropriately observe
the founding Of the order fifty years
ago, Oklahoma City ElkS wish 10 have
it called to the attention Of citizens in
general as to how the lodge first got
IT'S start
Founded in New York.
In the fall OF 1877 a young English.
man landed in New York named
Charles Vivian, son OF an English
clergyman. Sooner or later he became
a irequcnler Of noted New York
chop house called the Star hotel. one
OF whose attractions was a pianist
named Richard Stcrly Vivian who
had a good voice and frequently sang
at the chop house. and Steirly became
good friends. Vivian in time getting
a chance to sing in a thealer
I'm the course OF time Steirly invited
Vivian to his boarding house which at
that time was patronired by theatrical
people OF the period. Mutually con-
genial and good friends formed the
habit Of meeting at this boarding house
and formed an organization which
called itself. for want OF better name
the Jolly Corks" 1t grew fast and
so many theatrical and men OF other
professions wanted to join it " such
numbers it outgrew the boarding house
parlor
Membership 10000.
Larger quarters were secured in De
lancey street and after a time as the
name. Jolly Cork" did not seem
wholly appropriate for an organization
of such dignity, good works and in
ilucncc. il was determined to secure a
better name. After many had been con
sidered on Sunday, Rcb. II, 1898, the
name "Elk' was almost unanimously
adopted and Elk has been the name,
much beloved. ever since.
The grand lodge was incorporated in
1871 and the parent lodge OF all, the
New York lodge took the name Of
New Nory lodge No. l. A short
time later Philadelphia formed a lodge
and by 1892 there were fourteen lodges
in the country with total OF 1000
members Today there are no less man
l,340 branches in this country with a
total membership Of nearly hall a mil.
lion.