Arizona sun., 1947-05-30
|EIks Delegates From Seven
Western States, Mexico and
Hawaii, Assemble For a Busy
Four-Doy Session in Phoenix

or the Independent, BeneVOlent
and Protective Order of ElkS of
the World are now convening in
Phoenix, the Valley of the Sun,
for the biggest conclave in the
history of the association, COM
prising seven Western states
Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Cali
fornia, New Mexico, Nevada and
Arizona; Mexico and Hawaii.
Delegates have been arriving as
early as Sunday to attend the
four-day session which began
Thursday morning at 10 o'clock
at the beautiful new $4,000 home
of William H. Patterson Lodge of
ElkS at 1907 S. Seventh Avenue,
where most of the convention ac-
tivities will be held. Hundreds OF
delegates and out-of-town visitors
have arrived. A local committee,
headed by Wade Hammonds, has
made all the necessary arrange
ments to house all delegates at
tending the convention.
About 500 delegates are ex-
pected during the four days, in
addition to many other visitors.
Some so lodges, 10 temples and
81 parent lodges and many Grand
Officers are in attendance.
Among the early arrivals were
j. Bentley Strathers, president of
the association, and E. Preston
Greene, secretary, who arrived on
the scene last Saturday to set up
temporary offices in Phoenix and
to lay the groundwork for the big
convention, Mr.. Strathers, with
Mrs. Augusta G. Balch, president
of the Women's Auxiliary, will
preside over the sessions. He has
brought the association up to par
in the last three years during his
presidency. Also attending is Jim
Kelly, Grand Secretary, who has
served % years and also served
as Exalted Ruler of his Lodge in
Birmingham for about IS years
and is considered one of the top
notch men of the Grand Lodge.
The election of officers, re-
ception, presidents ball, grand pa
rade and the Seventh Regional
District oratorical contest high
light the program.
The, Hon. Ray Busey, Mayor of
Phoenix, gave the welcome ad-
dress at the reception Thursday
evening, at which time he turned
over the key to the city to the
visiting Elks. The Grand parade
is scheduled at 4 p. m. this after
noon, followed by the presidents
ball to be held tonight at 333 w.
Washington Street. On Saturday
night, the civil liberties and health
meeting will be held at the First
Baptist Church, Fifth Street and
E. Jefferson. The Memorial serv-
ices will be held Sunday at the
Tanner Chapel, A. M. E., with eu-
loby by the Rev. T. A. Patterson
of San Bernardino, association
chaplain. At 8 p. m. Sunday, the
Seventh Regional District oratori-
cal contest at Phillips Temple, c.
M. E., Fourteenth and E. Adams,
is scheduled. Ten to IS high
school students are expected to
participate, including William
Maxwell, a senior at Carver High,
who will represent Arizona. The
winner of this contest will COM
pete in the national oratorical
contest in Philadelphia.
Too much nraicn cannot ho given
the committees on arrangements
of the William H. Patterson Lodge
and the Grand Canyon Temple for
their tireless efforts in making
the delegates visit a pleasant one
and also preparation for the great
est Pacific States Association in
history. Mr.. Charles N. Patter-
son, Exalted Ruler of the Phoe-
nix branch and one of the out
standing Exalted Rulers in the
country, together with Mr.. Glenn
o. Mallory, Secretary of the local
branch, who is reputed to be one
of the greatest Secretarys in Elk
dom, have worked diligently to
make this convention unsurpassed
in the II years of its existence.
Mr.. Leon H. Washington, Jr.,
of the Los Angeles Sentinel ar
rived Wednesday to take over the
publication of the convention,
which will be broadcast over
KOY, a local broadcasting station,
during the session.