The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-10
FRATERS ACCLAIM
GRIM VISAGED ELK
Pershing Shows q Sterner
Side as He Is Received by
Brethren.
CLUBHOUSE rs TANNED
Grand Exalted Ruler Pays
Tribute to Illustrious Mem
Der Of Ell Paso Lodge.
CLUBHOUSE rs TANNED

It was a grim, hard jawed soldier
man that Gen. Persl1ing was last night
in the Elks Club In Forty-third street
a great deal different from the laugh
ing, relaxed officer that he became under
the influence of the whimsical humor Of
Frank Bacon at the Gaiety Theatre. 1t
is likely that never were the two op-
posed sides of a man more fully ex-
plotted.
The General was in the Elks Club
cut a half hour, and there he was given
a tremendous reception by his frater-
nifty brothers Afterward he went to
see "Lightnin' at the Gaiety; and In
that theatre his reception was hardly
less boisterous. At the Elks Club he
was deadly serious: at the theatre he
laughed with the crowd and kept on
laughing most Of the evening.
Pershing. a member Of Ell Paso Lodge,
was escorted to the Elks Club by Frank
L. Rain of Fairbury. Neb., grand ex-
allied ruler. The clubhouse auditorium
was packed. Every ledge. gallery. box
and corridor adjoining the auditorium
was damned.
Nobody ever will be able to tell pre-
cieely how many Elks tried without sue
cess to get into their own clubhouse.
They represented every lodge within 100
miles of New York. The house was en-
blazoned with the Stars and Stripes and
the Elks' colors--puple and white. The
great organ played necessarily all the
stirring war songs and the milder tunes
dedicated to homecomings and the home
land.
The Elks' band, stationed near the
door of the club, waited until the Cen
49, H. etc
and then struck up Hail to the Chief"
and the throng in the auditorium sprang
to its feet
The General, his staff. Mayor Hylan,
Murray Hubert, Rodman Wanamaker
and the Elks War Relief Commission
Joseph T. Tanning, Fred Harper, Bruce
A Campbell. Edward Rightor and
James r. Nicholson-entered in the
order named. Over in a corner a pi-
anist struck chord and John MeCor-
mack sang THE Star Spangled Ban
ner"
The soldiers, like their Commander in
Chief, faced the singer and stood at
attention. Pershing's face was mask
like. A dozen cameras-sill and movie
began swapping and whirring as the
singer concluded. Two dazzling white
lights blazed from opposite balconies.
The Stars and Stripes, released from
binding ribbons. whipped out over the
heads of the crowd and snapped vicious
ly in the fan wind behind it.
Mr.. Rain. a graduate of the Univer-
sity Of Nebraska. where Pershing, as an
instructor. organized the cadet battalion
known as the "Pershing Rifles" told of
the work of the Elks during the war
OF the 10000 men 1t had sent into the
service: of the $4,000 who had been
awarded commissions; of the two base
hospitals the order had established in
France; the reconstruction hospital in
Boston and on through the entire list
down TO the 1897 Elks who died in
France.
Gen. Pershing." he concluded. "the
nation welcomes you as no other man
has ever been Welcomed. I greet you
as the foremost man in the world"
Pershing arose. his jaws clenched and
his eyes narrowed. A wild tumult
greeted him. He stood stolid while it
lasted.
NO one knows better than 1 what
! this order stands for" he said "Nor
do they appreciate the Elk vows more
than l. 1 can readily appreciate the
great work accomplished by this order.
| We who were fortunate enough to be
| sent to the battlehelds felt that we
had behind us united nation. l
know Of no body whose patriotism,
| loyalty and benevolence has to greater
degree attributed to making that feel
ing of unity possible.
I'VE felt not only the spirit of your
| patriotism but the spirit of your efforts
to carry your work Odespite what
might come. l am proud to be able to
| tell you this so soon after arriving in
the home land and l congratulate you.
Thank you. I accept this reception
| only in the name of those 1000, 900
who accompanied me and made possible
the victory"
Gen. Pershing did not reach tho
| Gaiety Theatre until almost O. o'clock.
His car. with it's four starred flag. was
compelled to creep along the short route
between the Elks Club and the theatre
because OF the crowds that encircled IL.
! 1t was a curious crowd, but not so noisy
until Pershing stepped to the pavement
! in front of the Gaiety.
John l.. Golden, who helped Frank
| Bacon write ''Lightnin'," conducted the
General to his box. The audience stood
up and roared a welcome. The show
was delayed for five minutes. The Cen
eral declared that he had met Bacon in
the Southwest some years ago and that
led to a meeting of the actor and the
soldier between the second and the third
acts.
Meanwhile the four starred flag on
the motor car at the curb had caused a
tremendous crowd to gather. A fine
\ driZZle began falling, but still the crowd
grew larger BY the time the play
ended Broadway as far south as Forty
second street was tapined and when
Pershing came out OF the theatre there
was a mad surge toward the car and a
bewildering chorus OF shouts. screams
and cheers.
Pershing smiled at the faces nearest
him, hurried into the motor car and re
! turned TO his hotel