The Lamar register., 1922-02-15
nous animal collection.


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
large moose-head attracted attention,
but was at last turned down. Then
an Elk's head, with graceful, spread
ing antlers, met with general approval
and divided honors with "Bufaloes,"
which Vivian had advocated strongly,
but which half the committee opposed
because they did not wish to copy the
name of an existing order.
From this trip to Barnum's Museum
the committee went to the meeting
where the name of "Elks" was chosen.
Since then the Order has grown by
giant strides. 1t embraces American
citizens from the humblest, to Warren
G. Harding, President of the United
States, and life-member Of Marion
(ohio) Lodge No. 80, B. P. o. Elks.
In 1922. Elkdom, with gifts to chari-
ty already totalling more than s20.-
900, 900, stepped out of the role of the
purely fraternal organization into the
rank Of ore Of Americas greatest hui
manitarian brotherhoods.
William w. Mountain, of Toledo,
Ohio, Grand Exalted Ruler of the Or
der announced his policy:
make every Elk lodge the civic and
humanitarian center of the community
in which it makes its home"
In Chicago, by Lincoln Park, over
looking Lake Michigan, the Elks are
building their 100000 National Me-
mortal to the 10000 Elks who served
the United States in the World War,
and the more than 1000 Elks who
died in that service. The building will
also house the Orders central execu-
tive organization, and the National
Elks' Magazine.
Only men OF 81 years or more,
American citizens, are eligible to mem
bership.
"The faults Of our brothers we write
upon the sands-their virtues upon the
tablets of love and memory" is Elk
-iom's motto.
The four cardinal principles OF the
Order are "Charity - Justice - Bro
therly Love - Fidelity"
"T guess we built little better than
we knew" says old "Joe" Norcross.
only surviving charter member.
And from the Great Beyond where
those long-dead Jolly Corks' look
down upon this earth, they probably
agree with him.
There could be no more appropriate
coincidence in history than that the
birthday of this greatest of American
patriotic orders should fall almost mid
way between the birthdays of the two
supreme American patriots-Lincoln
and Washington.
Lamar Lodge No. 1919 has been
very typical of the order in general.
Started less than seven years ago
on Lamar's birthday, May "a, 1915
it has grown so rapidly that it is now
the city's largest secret organization
and leader in all works of charity
and for the advancement of the city.
Starting with list of only fifty mem
bers on its charter roll it now num-
bers about ten times than figure and
is still growing 1t has also created
new lodge out of it's territory which
is also now husky infant with five
hundred members.
The Lamar Lodge is now vigorously
taking up the proposition of building
its own home, and committees are at
work with that end in view. The lodge
owns a fine location at the corner of
Fourth and Elm streets-just east of
the postoffice and north of the pro-
posed court house site, and by the
time the national organization is Gel
ebrating its next birthday there are
strong hopes that the Lamar Elks
will have a home of their own and be
in shape to fittingly observe the day.
Besides the location, 100 140 feet,
the lodge has fund of nearly fifteen
thousand dollars to start the work of
building, and with the large member
ship the securing of funds for hand
some home will not be difficult prob