Imperial Valley press., 1925-11-05

Elks, came into being on January
6, 1916, and as it moves into it's
new home, lacks two months of be-
ing 10 years old.
The pleasant work of organic
ing lodge here fell to the officers
and members of San Diego Lodge,
No. 1853. who Gathered the lodge
through the preliminary days of
organization, until the time came
| for the initiation of the first mem
bers and the election of officers,
when the baby lodge was able to
start taking care of itself.
1t showed considerable vigor for
youngster, and in less than three
years the original 81 charter mem
bers had increased the membership
to 175 and today the lodge numbers
47S names upon its rolls.
Edgar McFadyen of Long Beach,
district deputy grand exalted rnl7
er for California, south, officiated
at the institution Of the lodge as
the representative of James r.
Nicholson, grand exalted ruler of
the Elks. The institution was con
Quoted by the San Diego lodge,
with numerous Elks from all parts
! of Southern California in attend
ance.
Were Charter Members
The charter members of the lodge
included: J. Stanley Brown, Phil d.
Swing, f. B. Browne, Frank f..
| II ~ l.
Mccoy, C. w. Barton, Earle Rich
mond. Wiley NJ. Weaver, Fred NJ.
| Blood, John F.. Davis. Harry Baum,
J. V. Wachtel .Jr., Charles y. Per
! ~, Harry L. Person, Charles NJ.
| Applestill, A. w. Rogers, John r.
Mccormick, Sam w. Dunaway, Ben
Salomon, c. w. Baldridge, James
w. Glassford, Nern M. Bishop,
Frank A. Preston, Phil w. Brooks,
Arthur Edgar, Fred B. Clark, Otis
B. Tout, Herbert L. Provost, Wal
ter L. Milan. H. w. Going. Frank
, r. Spencer, James ID. Huston and
Peter P. Hovley.
j. Stanley Brown was chosen to
be first exalted ruler of FL Centre
lodge, the other original of ficers be
ing, Phil ID. Swing, esteemed lead
ing knight f. b. Brown. esteemed
loyal knight; Frank Birkhauser, es
teemed lecturing knight; O. \. Sc
bastian, secretary; w. I. Mccoy
treasurer; Nern NJ. Bishop, esquire
Earle Richmond, tiler; Wiley NJ
Weaver, chaplain; Fred NJ. Blood
inner guard: John f. Davis, Harry
Baum and j. V. Wachtcl Jr., trus
tees.
Lost Charter in Fire
For the first few months the new
lodge met in Davis hall, and later
meetings were held in Masonic hall
In the fire which destroyed the
latter building in 1918, the Elk.
lodge charter was destroyed and il
was necessary to obtain new ont
from the grand lodge.
In October, 1918, the lodge movet
to its recent quarters in the Free
man building at Sixth and Stat,
streets, and here was experienced
the healthy growth of the lodg,
which has made it unquestionabl
the strongest fraternal organiza
tion in the city, if not the entir,
valley.
During the years that FL Centr,
lodge has been in existence, it ha
created an enviable record for tn,
interest it has shown in all civil
affairs in which it might engag
without becoming involved in poll
ties. Its record during the war wa
on par with the high standard Sc
by the national organization. Th
lodge purchased $500 worth of Lib
erty bonds and invested $500 il
war savings stamps. The member
ship of the lodge gave much of thci
time, talents and money in adm,
the various war and relief activitie
of the community.
Many Went to War
The lodge was we'll represente
in the army, navy and marine corps
and one member, Charles Frederic
Allen, lost his life in the grea
struggle, thereby permitting FL Cen
tro lodge the proud distinction o
displaying gold star on its sec
vice flag.
The Elks have interested then
selves in the relief work of the Sa
! walton Army, it being largel
through the aid of the lodge tina
the Army was induced to enter In
perial Valley a little over yea
ago.
FL Centre lodge has shown its i,
terest in moulding the future cit
zens of the country by adopting
boy scout troop which ranks hichl
with the other scout troops of tn
county.
Big Christmas Event
No mention of FL Centre lode
would be complete without refeI
ence to its annual Christmas ire
which is the big event of the yea
IN the lives of hundreds of II Cer
tro Youngsters. From a small b,
ginning in the early days of tn
lodge, the custom of distributin
gifts and providing entertainment
ror the youngsters at Christina
time has grown to such proportion,
that last Christmas over 2000 L
Centre kiddics were made harp
by the Elks. No distinction what
ever is made by the Elks bceaus
of race, creed or color and the poor
est child in the city is made (,
reel equally as welcome as the chil,
of any mmber of the order. Th,
members of the lodge enter into tn,