The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-02-18
LOCAL ELKS TO HOLD
 TRIPLE CELEBRATION
Grand Exalted Ruler Mountain To Be Guest Of Honor Monday Evening At Birthday Of Or der And Local Lodge.

1 aloft in his right hand. History
 does not tell who bought those | drinks. But it wasn't Stuart Robson | ously enforced in 1887 and 1868
 closed all places of public entertain
 ment on Sunday. The Jolly Corks
 installed a piano. a keg of beer and box of sandwiches, in the attic of
 Mother Geisman's boarding house
 in the theatrical district, and met
 there. with music, songs, stories and
 mock-courts at which fines were im-
 posed for various whimsical "of-
 weeks beer and sandwiches. Their
 festivities cost them their home. drate at the noise, f'Mother'' Geisman
 drove them out.
 ed their fraternal order It was
 nearly named the "Buffaloes," after the Royal Antediluvian Order of
 Buraloes" of England, to which
 Vivian, the ruling Cork. belonged.
 The vote stood seven to seven, dead locked on ''Buffaloes" and "EIks.'
 Only a handful recall the name of ". h Bowron of New York, today. Yet it Is to him that the "Elks'' owe their name. On the second ballot he switched his vote from Buffalo" to
 ELk Vivian, in the chair. though an ardent advocate of 'aBuffaloes,'' rathed the majority of one, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of E1ks was born.
 One other circumstance, little known, paved the way for the name of "Elks." The committee charged with selecting a name was to meet at Broadway and Ann street, New York Some were tardy. Others, weary of waiting, strolled into Barnums Mu- through the famous animal coI1ec- tion.
 'tBears," was suggested, but discard ed as animals of few inviting traits, were brought up as examples of in- dustry, but cast aside as too deStruc- tive. Foxes" suggested were voted down as too cunning and crafty. A but was at last turned down. Then an E1k's head, with graceful, spread Ing ant1ers. met with general approv- al and divided honors with 'Buffa- strongly, but which half the commit tee opposed because they did not wish to copy the name of an existing or der.
 From this trip to Barnun,s Mu- scum the committee went to the meet ng where the name of "Elks'' was chosen.
 Since tf1en the Order has grown can citizens from the humblest, to l G. Harding, President of the | United States, and 1ife-me memter of | Marion (Ohio) Lodge, No. 32, B. P.
 
 In 1922 E1kdom, with gifts to char ty already tota1Hng more than S2O,- 100000. stepped out of the role of he purely fraterna1 organization into he rank of one of Americas greatest brotherhoods.
 William w. Mountain, of Toledo. l Ohio, Grand Exalted Ruler of the | Order, announced his policy:
 Make every Elk lodge the civic | md humanitarian center of the com | nunity in which it makes its home" |
 In Chicago, by Lincoln Park, over | ooking Lake Michigan the Elks are | their $3,0O0,00o National Me | norial to the 70,00O E1ks who served | he United States in the World War, l md the more than 1000 Elks who lied in that service. The building | will also house the Orders central ex- cutive organization, and the Nation I EIkS' Magazine.
 Only men of 21 years or more, American citizens. are eligible to nemb bership.
 'tThe faults of our brothers we 7rite upon the sands-their virtues pon the tablets of love and mem ry," is E1kdom's motto.
 The four cardinal principles of the 'rder are t-Charity-Justice-B rly Love-Fidelity."
 q guess we built a little better than re knew,' says old "Joe' Norcross, nly surviving charter member.
 And from the Great Beyond, where hose 1ong-dead Jolly Corks" look own upon this earth, they probably gree with him.