The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-07-17


dinate Lodge to be centralized. The
result is that practically every city in
the country OF over 5000 inhabitants
has an Klks home or club.
During the war hundreds of these
homes were given over either wholly
ried on In the community by such or
ganizations as the Red Cross. the Y
NJ. c. A., the Knights of Columbus, the
Salvation Army, the Jewish Welfare
and others that had reason to appre-
ciate the patriotic spirit of Elkdom as
thus exemplIfed,
Elks War Relief Commission.
Early in the war the Elks became
especially impressed with the unselfish
spirit in which the Salvation Army was
CARRYING on its work and particularly
with the standing it had with the boys
at the front. The result was that hun
dreds Of Elks Lodges placed all their
resources behind the Salvation Army
drives for funds, and the slogan "Elks
Raise Dollars for Doughnuts" became
countrywide,
At the Elks Grand Lodge session in
Boston in July, 1917, provision was
made for the appointment of a special
committee to be known as the Elks
War Relief Commission, which, togeth-
er with the grand exalted ruler, would
have charge of the expenditure Of
whatever moneys were raised by the
Elks for war work or war relief pull
poses. This commission was made up
of ex-Governor John X. Tener of Penn
sylvania, Joseph T. Tanning of Indian
,apolis, Jerome B, Fisher of Jamestown,
N. Y. James r. Nicholson of Boston,
Harper of Virginia, all past grand ex-
alted rulers, and Grand Exalted Ruler
Bruce A. Campbell of East st. Louis,
Ill
This Commission at once rendered its
services and resources to the United
States government through the war
department. At that time the Univer-
sity of Virginia and the University of
Oregon were organizing base hospitals
for service in France, but no provision
had been made for Quitting and equip
ping them. This was undertaken by
the Elks Relief Commission, each hos
pital being equipped at a cost of $780,
900. They were operat l during the
remainder of the period of the war un-
der the joint name of the Elks and the
universities designated, and made Won
derful records for efficiency.
Reclamation Hospital at Boston.
Later there was seen the need of
reclamation hospital in this country to
rebuild the disabled heroes who were
returning from the battle fronts. The
Elks War Relief Commission took the
matter in hand and built what is said
to be the finest hospital of the kind in
this country, on Parker Hill in Boston.
1t was turned over to the government
to be operated, having cost the Com
mission considerably more than $780,
900 to construct. Its record has been
of the best The government medical
staff has given it the highest praise,
ity ever since the day it was opened.
Camp Sherman Community House.
During the influenza epidemic crit
ical situation arose at Camp Sherman,
training. There were not sufficient
housing Accommodations at Chillcothe,
Ohio near which the camp was located,
to care for the parents of the boys who
we Ill in camp and it was therefore
impossible for many of these parents
to visit their sons. When this condi-
tion was disclosed to the Elks War Re-
lief Commission an Elks community
house was built at Chillicothe in rec
ord time at cost of about $4,000. This
house made it possible for hundreds
of the sick boys to be visited and looked
after by their mothers, and the army
officials in charge of the camp regard
ed it as one of the best things done at
any of the training camps during the
time of the epidemic. 1t was declared
Elks had as much to do with speeding
up the laborers and contractors who
were building this community house, as
the money that was paid them for the
work.
At the time of the signing of the ar
mstice Governor Tener chairman Of
the Elks War Relief Commission, was
under instructions to proceed to France
for the purpose of rendering to Gen.
eral Pershing such assistance within
the war zone as the resources of the
Benevolent and Protective Order Of
Elks could command.
EIks Help Salvation Army.
The signing Of the armistice and the
ending of active hostilities found the
Elks War Relief Commission with a
considerable sum of money on hand.
This money had been raised exclusive
ly among the membership Of the Order,
a total of $2,000,000 in assessments hav-
ing been authorized, although it was
not all called. Investigation was at
once begun, however, for the purpose
of determining suitable use to make
of the balance on hand, all of which had
been given for war relief work.
On January l last Chairman Tener.
Secretary Tanning and Grand Exalted
Ruler Campbell, on behalf of the Elks
War Relief Commission, called on
Evangeline C. Booth, commander of the
Salvation Army in the United States
and presented her with a certified check
for 100000 as fitting recognition and
in appreciatiin Of "the great work your
organization has performed and is per-
forming in the name of God and hu.
manity." In accepting the gift Miss
Booth said
This is not the first time the Benev-
o1nnt and prntnntiua Ordar of Ellis h a