Richmond planet., 1925-08-29

The advance guard of the twenty.
sixth annual session Of the Grand
Lodge, Improved Protective Order OF
Elks, came in Saturday and Sunday
and crowded the official headquarters
at 400 East Clay Street, at which
place every arrangement had been
made for its reception. The West.
ern Union Telegraph Company had
| installed a special station for the
sending of messages. The local white
lcammittee was assisting and direct
| ing the handling of affairs. Female
clerks were registering the visitors
according to States. The. rate fol
lodging was announced to be S2.75
per day, presumably with board in
cluded. The charge for. a couple
was $4.O0 per night. For single per-
son the lodging price is $1.50.
Second Street presented gala ap-
pearance. Flags were stretched across
the streets from Broad Street out to
Baker Street. Electric lights had
also been strung Manhattan Lodge,
No. 45, came with j. Dalmus Steele
for Grand Exalted Ruler. This lodge
had previously engaged the upper
floor of the Richmond Athletic Club
at 701 North Second Street. A ban
ner was swung across the street
with a life-sized portrait of j. Dal-
r7Us Steele, the Exalted Ruler of this
lodge. He was represented N many
poses. Buttons and circulars were
there for distribution. The opposi-
ton had leased the Biltmore Hotel
and had banner declaring fidelity
to j. Finley Wilson, the present
Grand Exalted Ruler, for reelection.
Automobiles are coming in with
touring parties. Three special trains
arrived from New York Sunday af-
ternoon. The famous Monarch Band
VIII arrive here Monday afternoon at
6:30 and will stage a serenade of
the Richmond, Va, News-Leader at
$50. The crowds have been order
ly. Anniversary exercises were held
Sunday night at the Fifth Street
Baptist Church. The edifce was
filled to it's capacity, while hundreds
were turned away. Attorney James
T. Carter, Grand Treasurer, presided.
The opening ode of the Elks was
sung by the orchestra and the audi
ence.
The devotional exercises were
conducted by Rev. T. j. King. D. D.,
pastor of the Fifth Street Baptist
Church. A selection was rendered
by the Sabbath Glee Club under the
leadership of Joseph Matthews. Rev.
DR.. w. George Avant was introduced
and delivered a sermon from 2 Kings
4:24. His subject was go For
ward" He exhorted the member
ship to follow the instruction of the
Scriptures and go forward. The All
Star Female Quartette rendered a
selection, after which j. Finley Will
son, Grand Exalted Ruler, was intro
duced. He announced that he had
recently returned from California,
and that his itinerary for the Order
had carried him into foreign coun-
tries.
The membership of the Order has
been increased from 30,185 to
around 100000, and the membership
of the Daughters from 10000 to
around $4,000. There were 5000
Juveniles. Mr. George E. Bates,
Grand Secretary, was introduced and
spoke, after which the Sabbath Glee
Club rendered selection. The fea-
tpre of the evening was the speech
Of Colonel Henry Lincoln Johnson,
Grand Legal Adviser In a few min
utes he had swept the audience from
it's feet, so to speak, In referring
to his being the Republican national
committeeman, he attributed his
success to his own people of humble
origin. He lauded the principles of |
he Elks and gloried in the fact that |
ne hailed from Georgia. He is an
orator of rare subtle power, and as
applause swept through the audience