THE MEDFORD DAILY TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. ()RE(i()X. THURSDAY. SEI'TEMRKR L.'t. VM).
HISTORY OF ELKS.
(Continued from PugaJ.)
'Sweet Kvnliim," or it may have boon
Shoo Vy." Tin' time was of their
era.
At liny rale it gave Vivian his open
ins for lmttins; in, with results today
llmt stiiiul as one o.f the Invest, love
liest iiml best of fraternities.
The. young Englishman walked up
to Steiilv nnil offered to entertain
the company by singins.'. and his pro!
for was accented. He had a sweet
sympathetic voice, ho was alone and
discouraged, and something ot all tun
nma have been heard in his tones
for when he finished and started to
resume his seat, he found himself the
center of the assembly, and with the
vivacity and impulsiveness of the
craft, the actors at once mane mm
mi nld wnrm friend.
Meanwhile the landlord had come
in and heard the youth's voice; he
saw he needed employment, and he
sent nt once tor the manager or iJut
ler's theater, who heard Vivian and
pave him work.
Steirlv could not do enough for a fel
low artist, so he took Vivian home
with him to the actors" boarding
house, kent bv Mrs. Giesraan at 18(5
Elm -street, and stood good for his
board bill.
On a Sunday afternoon Stcirly took
his new old friend downstairs to the
back parlor, where he found a dozen
actors, engaged in telling stories,
knocking their rivals, singing and
joshing as actors will on a no mat
inee day.
It was Vivian who made the thir
teenth, but lightheaded folk make
light of omens, and wisely they sjent
an afternoon of rivalry in good-fellowship.
This was nil sunshine and susten
ance of sentiment to Vivian, nnd he
insisted that permanency should be
given to the meetings and to that end
they should organize.
This was done at once, and after
some argument, for the English mem
bers wished the club made a chapter
of a secret society of their own one
called the Buffaloes it was finally
decided to take the name of the Jolly
Corks.
There is a tone of perhaps super
fluous exhilaration about this title,
but it proved most popular, and the
society grew rapidly away from its
13 founders.
It ish just as well you should know
who those 13 were, who built so wise
ly for the good of the'good.
For of them six are. or were at last
information, living: These are Rich
ard R. Steirly of Hoboken, X. J.,:
William R. Bowron of Kew York
lodge, No. 1. now a familiar figure in
Los Angeles; John T. Kent of Jersey
City lodge, Xo. 211; Frank Lang
horn of Plainfield. X. J.; John H.
Blume of Xew York city, and Harry
Bosworth of Astoria, Long Island.
Those who are numbered with the
"absent" at the 11 o'clock toast are:
William Carleton, Henry Vnndermark.
William Sheppard. Edgar M. Piatt. M.
6. Ashe, J. G. Wilton and Charles A.
S, Vivian.
Of course, the Elks are no longer
Jolly. Corks. Vivian's association de
veloped with such speed that Mrs.
Giesman's back parlor was too small
and a hull was taken at a place con
ducted by Paul Summers at 1" De
Laneey street, and on Sunday, Feb
ruary -10, 18G8. the name was chang
ed to the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks.
Ry what, process of reasoning this
designation was taken has not been
made clear, but the executive com
mittee found that it was most appro
priate when they held their first
meeting, which was in the offices of
Barnum's old museum.
Over the door hung nn elk's head.
A copy of Goldsmith's "Animated
Nature" was sent for, and the com
mittee read up on the Elk.
Mr. Goldsmith said that the Elk
was "fleet of foot, timorous of doing
wrong, avoiding all combat, except in
fighting for female and in defense
of the young and helpless."
That determined the question fi
nally, for though the title had been
chosen, the report of the committee
was to be heard on Sunday, Febru
ary 10. and by a vote of eight to
seven the Elk was chosen ns the crest
of the order.
For a brief period the association
was confined to actors, the full title
being the Performers' Benevolent and
.Protective Order of Elks, but after
the first benefit performance at the
Academy of Music on Jim 8. this was
dropped and members of the requir
ed personal quality were taken from
all walks of life.
It was nt. Ihis point that the first
and last display of "temperament"
wns made, nnd for a time an unpleas
ant condition 'resulted. I'"r when the
benefit was plained Vivian, the foun
der, was playing in Philadelphia.
Oulv an netor or a theatrical re
viewer can understand his feoling
when he found that his name had been
left off the programs ami the post
ers. Poor Vivian was like many other
men to whom the world owes grati
tude: he could build more wisely for
oilu'rs than himself.
lie was infuriated, and his friends,
including Steirly, Kent, Vanderinark.
Piatt, Ash, Hliime, and I.anghorn.
made a lively scrap for him.
This led to reprisals, and at the
next lodge meeting they wcro drepriv
ed of the password, and there was a
strenuous controversy.
Viviuu, meanwhile, had dropped the
order, from resentment at his treat
ment, so no proceedings were taken
against him, but his opponents suc
ceeded, without trial, in expelling
Steirly, Langhorn, Kent, Vnndermark,
Piatt, Ash and Blume.
Possibly, under the stress of the
situation, the prime virtues of mem
bership in the order were infringed
for the tune.
The order of expulsion stood, and
Vivian, father of Elks, remained a
self-exiled brother.
There was constant, however, a
feeling that injustice had been done,
and, ns the tide of excited animosity
ebbed, the feeling spread that the
wrong should be righted.
While this spirit was developing,
Vivian drifted away to Colorado. He
dropjied out of touch with the broth
ers and, in fact, was forgotten, as
new members flocked in and the old
stepped to the background in the ac
tivities of the order.
And, ip 1880, he died in Leadville,
and was given a wonderful funeral
by the Knights of Pythias. Every
citizen of Lendville marched in the
parade, the only band headed the pro
cession, and, as far as expenses went,
the event was made notable.
But again Vivian, as in life, in
death became forgotten. The plank
headboard to his grave rotted, nnd
when, teu years later, the order offi
cially learned of the situation, ns full
amende as was possible was made.
The unmarked grave in the Lead
ville cemetery was opened; the bones
of the man who sung the Elks into
existence were taken to Boston, given
interment under a monument of beau
ty, and today the mausoleum of the
Elks' father stands a constant wit
ness to their gratitude to their foun
der. True to the traditions of justice
and right, the order did not stop at
this, but the whole matter of the ex
pulsion of Vivian's supporters was
laid before the grand lodge meeting in
Detroit in 1893.
It was not an impassioned nor sen
timental view of the proceeding
which was made, but a clear, judicial
passing upon facts and evidence.
On this basis, and after thorough
trial, the snap decision of former
years was reversed and the expelled
Vivianites were restored in all honor
and standing as members of the or
der. As far as I have heard, this was
the only occasion of strife in the or
der, and as soon as it was realized
that wrong had been done reparation
was made and the dignity of doing
whati s right maintained.
For a time histrions dominated the
order.
And even now their influence is
considerable, for every actor of posi
tion is either nn Elk or desires to be
one. ,
In fact, all Elks are good actors,
but all Elks are not actors. Today the
great preponderance is made up of
men in other walks of life, a wise and
broad catholicity of judgment in de
termining the selections of members
has prevailed, so that in the lodges
are found the best, the brightest and
the most attractive of the world of
men.
But throughout a happy masculin
ity of sentiment exists.
It is due to this trait that the
agreeable familiarity of "Hello Bill"
is in vogue.
"Hello, Bill" has no part, T am
told, in the official ritual of the or
der, but is simply a growth of the
easy association that binds the kin
dred personalities which form the or
ganization. An Elk may be a judge of the su
preme court, and another may be of
a humble vocation; but if the two
meet, recognizing each other as mem
bers, one. is likely ns the other to ex
tend the greeting of "1T0II0, Bill."
The little phrase means nothing
teinicny, but practically it has
more eloquence nnd feeling to it than
is often contained in pa 1:1' of ritual.
There is much about the older that
hud its birth in uu illusive oli-ciir-
ity.
Such is the touchiniily beautiful 11
o'clock toast, "To Our 'Absent Broth
ers."
v lierevcr hi Us anther, whatever
they may be doing, as the clock hand
mark the hour of 11 in the night, a
glass is filled ami lifted toward heav
en and is quaffed with each having
in mind the "absent."
"Absent" may mean a mile nwav or
a thousand, or gone over into etor
nity. for Elks never die they are
simply "absent" vvhoir called by the
one permanent Exalted Killer.
Tridition associates with this love
ly custom the name of Vivian.
For some hold that it was at that
hour his soul flitted in that lonely
room in the lodging house in Leadville
and that he wns not oulv the first
Elk. but the first to be "absent." ,
That this is not sustained by the
facts, that before mini's death the
toast had become a feature of Elks'
meetings, may bo so; still it can do no
harm to believe that the tribute does
pay a duty to the memory of that
apostle of companionship, who sn-
vored the sweetness of life and hand
ed it on to his present three hundred
thousand brothers.
True to its first principles, the or
der has never assumed anything of
a commercially practical trait.
It is solely fraternal with no insur
ance nor sick benefit appurtenances.
But fraternity does pot reply on the
provisions of insurance policies, nor
the exact income of n disabled mnn
has been earning. .
I cannot spenk by the card, not
having the fortune to be a member,
but ns a sort of brevet Elk. as one
who has professionally learned much
of what they do, which is not pro
claimed in the uewspnpcrs, I can tes
tify to the fact that were I an Elk
I would not worn- nbout neglect or
want in case of misfortune.
There is charity about the order,
not officially, perhaps, but also not
limited by the restrictions that are
bound to official benevolence.
What they d- for each other offi
cially in case of need I cannot say;
what they do for each other in case
of need unofficially I do know to be
the limit nnd considerably more.
And what they do for others, such
as poor children, nnd the afflicted
generally, if you knew it all. would
force you to take off your hat every
time vou had the honor of seeing nn
Elk. '
Meet nn Elk for the first time and
vou will wnnt to meet him again. It is
har dto define just why, but there is
some mystic hypnotism nbout him.
Before you hnve been with him five
minutes he has snid something pleas
ant and kind nnd you leave him feel
ing better for hnving met him. The
essence of eood fellowship instilled
by Vivian still lives and thrives. Tt is
there, it is always there. Let it be
hoped it may never, wane.
You haven't rend all the news un
less you have rend the ads some in
teresting items for your purse in ev
ery issue.
1 QUART
OF
VANILLA
FLAVOR
FOR
50 Cents
Guaranteed under the Pure Food
nnd Drug Acts
t
HAS KINS
DRUG STORE
OH!
YOU
ELK!
(jThe town
is yours and
the best shave
or hair cut in
it can be had
at the
Nash
Barber
Shop
Are You an
ELK
?
We hope you are, but
if you are not, you are
not barred from hav.
. . ing a good time, as '
we have plenty of
OYSTERS,
FISH
AND
DRESSED
CHICKENS
ON HAND.
I
ROGUE
, IVER
Fish Market
NOTICE.
in hereby given that the undersigned
will apply nt the next meeting of the
city council of Medford, Oregon, Oc
tober 5tji, for license to sell malt,
vinous and spiritous liquors in loss
quantities than one gallon ut lot 10,
block 20, in Medford, Oregon, for a
period of sir; months.
BASS & IIA1.K.
Dated .September 15, 1000.
Yes; the other fellow read this, so
did his wife. Mora! --Advertise. F.
ATTENTION
Those who aro looking for good invest
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Twenty-eight fine lots located mi Main street, six
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There is no question but what one will make 50 to
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J. W. Dressier Agency
West Main St.
DON'T GAMBLE
Experiments are often costly. No one can afford to experi
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family's future.
THE MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
is NOT an experiment. It is tho oldest active life insurance company
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It has paid to members nnd now holds FOR THEM nearly one
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In 1908 the totnl benefits to policyholders EXCEEDED payments BY
THEM of nearly seven million dollars.
OREGON POLICYHOLDERS PARTICIPATED IN THIS.
Refore placing insurance, ascertain the difference between a
STOCK and a MUTUAL company.
J. H. COCHRAN, DISTRIST MANAGER,
THE MUTUAL LIFE INS. CO. OF NEW YORK.
Medford, Oregon.
The Last Word
In Harness, Saddles, Bri- '
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Successors To I. F. SETTLE
317 E. 7th Street Medford, Oregon
C'- "f l,Hcn- Ton, Mnffat.
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