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About The gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925 | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1919)
THE GAZETTE-TDfES, HEPPXER, THURSDAY, JTLY 17, 1019. "AMERICANISM" IS SLOGAN OF THE ELKS PAI0T1 IS FEATURED IT ANTLERD HERD Convention At Atlantic City Sets New Attendance Rec ord for Fraternal Orders. This year's national convention of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks In Atlantic City, with "American Ism" as Its slogan, established a record as the greatest in the history of the or der, and probably sets a new attend ance figure for national fraternal gath erings In this country. In spite of war work activities in which nearly all the cltliens of the country were engaged, and the unprec edented number of deaths from the epi demic that swept the country during that time, the Elks had a net Increase in membership during the laajt year of more than 50,000. Various circumstances account for the prosperity of the Order of Elks during the war. It Is purel'- an Ameri can institution. Its membership Is lim ited to white citisens of the United States, and its subordinate Lodges are to be found only on United States soil. Elks Originate Flac Day. Flag Day, which has become a na tional institution through Act of Con gress, and which this year was observ ed and celebrated in practically every community in this country, was origin ated by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Even now. with the day nationalized as It Is, perhaps the most notable celebrations of it are still held In Elks homes. Thus on June 14 last, among the most notable and Important utterances given to the country in ob servance of Flag Day, was the speech made by Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University, In the Lodge Room of New York Lodge No. 1, the "Mother Lodge" of Elks. Flag Day has been informally ob served by various subordinate Elks lodges for many years. Its official designation and celebrations by the Or der was first proposed by Grand Exalt ed Ruler Henry A. Melvin, now of the supieme court bench of California, at the grand lodge convention held in Philadelphia In 1907. This recommen dation was Immediately adopted and the incoming grand exalted ruler, John K. Tener of Pennsylvania, appointed a committee on woik and ritual to pre pare a suitable ritualistic service for such a celebration. This committee was made up of James L. King, state librarian of Kansas, chairman, Charles Eeecher Lahan of Chicago and William M. Hargest of Harrisburg, Pa. The ritual for Flag Day was prepared by M-. King and exemplified by him at the g nnd lodge session in Dallas, Texas, in 1908. Patriotism and Charity Taught. The iltual of the Elks teaches pa triotism above everything else, unless it is charity, which Is perhaps the foundation stone of the Order. At ev ery meeting of an Elks Lodge, the altar is diaped with the American flag, and newly Initiated members are admon ished to love, respect and defend It This ritualistic teachingX Is not of re tent origin, but is of nearly fifty years' standing. The leaders of the Elks are among the leaders of the country !n soutmer cial, political asd patriotic work. They have placed the Order In the front rank among thop.e institutions that stand for genuine Americanism, and especial ly those which stand, not upon the or der of their doing, but upon the car dinal principle of doing immediately whatever is to be done either for the country or for the Individual In dis tress. General Pershing an Elk. There is no red tape in the Elks creed. In other respects their creed Is expansive enough to welcome all good American citizens to membership, be they Jews, Gentiles, Catholics or Prot estants. The one proud boast of the Elks everywhere Is that they possess the genuine fraternal spirit. And their desire is to infect other good Ameri cans with it General John J. Pershing Is proud of his life membership in El Paso, Texas, Lodge No. 187. A member of the mili tary affairs committee of congress, who knew Pershing when he was a student at West Point but who had not seen him for many years, tells a story worth repeating, about the general and the Elks. This congressman made an offi cial visit to the battle front In France two years ago, and one of the first things General Pershlpg said to him was: "Jack, are you an Elk?" It Is needless to say that that con gressman Is today one of the proudest and most enthusiastic members of the Order. Leaders In War Ilellef Work. With this general understanding of the principles and leadership of the Elks, it Is easy to understand why the Order took a leading part in war ac tivities, and why It Is today in actual, exclusive partnership with the United States government In one of the most Important and far-reaching undertak ings ever put into effect in the history of the world that of vocational train ing or reeducation of disabled soldiers, sailors and marines of the great war. The Elks are unique In one fea ture of their organization though not exclusive among secret fraternal orders In the fact that only one subordinate Lodge Is permitted In each city, which permits the resources of each subor dinate Lodpe to be centralized. The result is that practically every city In thfi country of over 5.000 inhabitants li.n an J: Iks home or club. During the war hundreds of these homes were given over either wholly or In part for war work activities car ried on in the community by such or ganizations as the Red Cross, the T. M. C. A., the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, the Jewish Welfare and others that had reason to appre ciate the patriotic spirit of Elkdom as thus exemplified. F.Iks War Relief Commission. Early In the war the Elks became especially Impressed with the unselfish spirit in which the Salvation Army was carrying on its work and particularly with the standing it had with the boys at the front. The result was that hun dreds of Elks Lodges placed all their resources behind the Salvation Army drives for funds, and the slogan "Elks Raise Dollars for Doughnuts" became countrywide. At the Elks Grand Lodge session In Boston in July. 1917, provision was made for the appointment of a special committee to he known as the Elks War Relief Commission, which, togeth er with the grand exalted ruler, would have charge of the expenditure of whatever moneys were raised by the Elks for war work or war relief pui poses. This commission was made up of ex-Governor John K. Tener of Penn sylvania, Joseph T. Fanning of Indian apolis, Jerome B. Fisher of Jamestown, N. Y., James R. Nicholson of Boston, Edward Rightor of New Orleans, Fred Harper of Virginia, all past grand ex alted rulers, and Grand Exalted Ruler Bruce A. Campbell of East St. Louis, 111. This Commission at once tendered Its services and resources to the United States government through the war department. At that time the Univer sity of Virginia and the University of Oregon were organising base hospitals for service In France, but no provision had been made for outfitting and equip ping them. This was undertaken by the Elks Relief Commission, each hos pital being equipped at a cost of 160, 000. They were operat '1 during the remainder of the period uf the war un der the joint name of the Elks and the universities designated, and made won derful records for efficiency. Reclamation Hospital at Boston. Later there was seen the need of a reclamation hospital in this country to rebuild the disabled heroes who were returning from the battle fronts. The Elks War Relief Commission took the matter in hand and built what is said to be the finest hospital of the kind in this country, on Parker Hill in Boston. It was turned over to the government to be operated, having cost the Com mission considerably more than $300, 000 to construct. Its record has been of the best. The government medical staff has given It the highest praise, and it has been operated at full capac ity ever since the day it was opened. Camp Sherman Community House During the Influenza epidemic-a crit ical situation arose at Camp Sherman, Ohio, where over 40,000 boys were In training. There were not sufficient housing accomodations at Chillicothe, Ohio, near which the camp was located, to care for the parents of the boys who we e ill in camp and it was therefore impossible for many of the3e patents to visit their sons. When t'i'.s condi tion was disclosed to the Elks War Re lief Commission an Elks community house was built at Chillicothe in rec ord time at a cost of about $40,000. This house made it possiblefor hundreds of the sick boys to be visited and looked nfter by their mothers, and the army officials in charge of the camp regard ed It as one of the best things done at any of the training camps during the time of the epidemic. It was declared that the fraternal spirit among the Elks had as much to do with speeding up the laborers and contractors who were building this community house, as the money that was paid them for the work. At the time of the signing of the ar mistice Governor Tener, chairman of the Elks War Relief Commission, was under instructions to proceed to France for the purpose of tendering to Gen eral Pershing such assistance within the war zone as the resources of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks could command. Elk Help Salvation Army. The signing of the armistice and the ending of active hostilities found the Elks War Relief Commission with a considerable sum of money on hand. This money had been raised exclusive ly among the membership of the Order, a total of $2,000,000 In assessments hav ing been authorized, although it was not all called. Investigation was at once begun, however, for the purpose of determining a suitable use to make of the balance on hand, all of which had been given for war relief work. On January 1 last Chairman Tener, Secretary Fanning and Grand Exalted Ruler Campbell, on behalf of the Elks War Relief Commission, called on Evangeline C. Booth, commander of the Salvation Army in the United States and presented her with a certified check for $60,000 as a fitting recognition and in appreclatiln of "the great work your organization has performed and is per forming In the name of God and hu manity." In accepting the gift Miss Booth said "This Is not Ihe first time the Benev olent and Protective Order of Elks has shown practical sympathy for and given substantial aid to the Salvation Army.. But this gift, of such generous proportions, coming to us unsolicited at a moment when unprecedented op portunities exist for helping mankind, Impresses us beyond words to express, and as the leader of the Salvation Ar my In the United States, I can but say with emphasis that we are profoundly grateful and by all means appreciative of the very wonderful thing you have done." Vocational Training. The attention of the Elks War Relief Commission was next directed to an opportunity to aid disabled soldiers, sailors and marines by co-operating as a private agency with the Federal Hoard for Vocational Education, in the vocational training and reeducation of the wounded war heroes. This work was entirely a new ven tu e. Nothing of the kind had ever lefoie been undertaken following any war. Heretofore disabled soldiers had ' een granted a pittance of a pension m which they could barely live, and In 'heir old age were put in a soldiers home to ponder over the Ingratitude of the country for which they had fought Quite by accident It was discovered by a Telgian gentleman who was car ing for some wounded soldiers that the men became Interested In working with some tools he had In his house, and that this work stimulated their interest in life and hastened their recovery, In nddition to making them adepts In the use of various tools according to their fancy or In conformity with their par ticular physical defects. This was the start of vocational training for disabled war veterans. It has been carried on In Frahce, Eng land, Canada and Italy as well as In Germany for nearly four years. It Is asserted by those who have been Iden tified with it that no wounded man has yet been found and put In training, no matter what his physical disability, but who has been vocationally trained or reeducated so that he has as great or greater earning capacity than before he was disabled. This pointed the way to making every disabled man Inde pendent, self -supporting and conse quently more self-respecting than If he were left to shift for himself on a small pension. By unanimous vote In both houses of congress a bill was passed and was signed by the president on June 27, 1918, putting this vocational training in the hands of the Federal Board for Vocational Education. This law was Intended to provide free vocational training for disabled war veterans and also to find employment for them at the end of their period of training or reeducation, without In any way affect ing the compensation paid them by the government for whatever degree of dis ability they had suffered by reason of their wounds. Elks Assist the Government. In the administration of the law, however, It was found that there would be thousands of worthy cases of dis abled men who were entirely outside the purview of the law passed by con gress. These Included American boys wounded while In the service of the Allies, those wounded before the pro visions of the law took effect, and those wounded or disabled while In the ar my but not while in the line of duty. The law also provided that no one cuuld be placed in vocational training until his compensation had been fixed by the Bureau of War Risk Insurance. The sudden termination of the war overloaded the Insurance Bureau with claims for compensation so that It fell weeks and months behind In its work. This resulted In the anomaly of dis abled men being "broke" and unable to take advantage or the nee vocationoi offer of the government while at the pa me time that government was owing them money! Fortunately, the law provided that the Federal Board for Vocational Edu cation could accept the cooperation and assistance of private agencies in car rying out its provisions. The Elks War Relief Commission had its atten tion called to this avenue for the use ful expenditure of money, and a very brief Investigation convinced the mem tie s of the Commission that there was probably no more worthy cause to which its funds could be devoted. A fund of J150.000 was therefore tendered by the Commission to Dr. A. C. ProsHer, Dhector of the Federal Board for Vo cational Education, to be used at his discretion for necessary publicity work among the disabled men and with the general public, and for caring for the rases of disabled men who were with out the purview of the law. The offer was promptly accepted by Dr. Prosser. The Elks Fund has since Increased to $250,000, and the proceeds from a fea ture motion picture produced by the Commission and donated to the Federal Hoard, which Is soon to be distributed for exhibition,, is expected to add an other $100,000. Federal Board Thanks Elks. In referring to the assistance grant ed the Federal Board for Vocational Education by the Elks War Relief Commission, Dr. Prosser, Director of the Board, has said: "No one action taken by any public or private agency will do so much to bring about a prompt and effective care of disabled soldiers, sailors, and marines resulting from the War as the action taken by the Elks War Relief Commission. As the result Instead of waiting for weeks and months, under privation and humiliation such as no soldier of the republic should undergo, because of official delays, many of which are unavoidable, they will now find themselves properly taken care of at once and placed in the line of re education which will enable them to make their future safe for themselves and their dependents.'1 Soldier Friend Committees. By direction of Grand Exalted Ruler Campbell, every subordinate Lodge of F.Iks has appointed a Soldiers Friend Committee which is charged with the duty of assisting in this vocational training work. At the present time there are about 2,000 disabled soldiers, sailors and marines in vocational train ing on the Elks War Relief Commission Fund. The work has proven so suc cessful that a bill now before congress extending vocational training Into civil life and industrial life seems assured of passage. Speaking on the floor of congress on the subject of the cooperative arrange ments between the Federal Board for Vocational Education and the Benevo lent and Protective Order of Elks, Con prewmim John F. Miller of the State of Washington said: "The Elks fund thus provided Is the first Instance of the kind In the history of the country where a great patrioiiv. fraternal organization has come to the aid of the government In so timely, helpful and substantial a manner." Commander Booth's Appreciation. Recently, when the Salvation Army was entering upon a drive for u.uu, 000, Grand Exalted Ruler Campbell offi cially directed that all Elks subordin ate Lodges lend their support to this undertaking. In many cities the Elks took entire charge of the drive. In all of the cities In which Elks Lodges are located nearlv 1,300 In number they were cmong the leaders In the organ ized effort to put the fund across. Com mander Evangeline C. Booth has per sonally thanked the Elks, through the Grand Lodpe for what thev have done for the Salvation Army during the per iod of the war. "Without the help of the Elks," she savs, "the Salvation Ar mv could not have made the success It did at the battle front." It Is a matter of record that through the subordinate Elks Lodges members of the Order have subscribed for five million dollars of Liberty and Victory bonds: they have given over three hun- the lodge returned to the fold In 1893. dred thousand dollars to the Red Cross. In 1894 a split resulted over a question more than a hundred thousand to the of authority as between the grand ex Y M C. A. and more than a million dol- alted ruler and the grand trustees, but lara to various other war charities. Humble Beginning of the Elks. The Benevolent and Protective Or der of Elks, with a membership today of approximately 650,000, whose subor dinate lodges span the country from coast to coast and reach from Skagway, Alaska, to Honolulu and Manila, had a very humble beginning in an attic of a cheap boarding house In New York City about the close of the year 1867. The moving spirit of the gathering of a hnlf dozen actors who got together on a few Sunday afternoons for purely so cial purposes, was a young English music hall singer named Vivian Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian, as he was christened. He landed In this country on Friday, November 15, 1867, coming on an English trading vessel from Southampton. Being of convivial habits, Vivian soon was the center of a group of seven or eight fellow spirits with musi cal and theatrical connections who sought relief from the rather strict ex cise laws of the day in New York. At these attic gatherings an outsider was occasionally Invited In, with the re quest that he bring with him a cork, each one present being similarly pro vided. A simple cork trick would be proposed, the loser to provide the re freshments. The newcomer was In variably the loser and his payment for the refreshments constituted his Initia tion fee Into the club, which became known as the "Jolly Corks." Selection of the Name "Elks." Before leaving England Vivian was identified with the "Royal and Antede luvian Order of Buffaloes," with a long and Illustrious history and the names of kings and queens on Its roster. In 1866 he had listened to Charles Dickens deliver a lecture on the subject of a "Benevolent and Provident Charity Fund," which he afterwards confessed had left its Impress on him. This may have had something to do with an early practice of the "Jolly Corks" of raising $5 or $10 by assessment, to be sent to some ill or needy associate. About this time a committee was appointed to draw up a constitution for a "benevo lent order," and Vivian was its first slpner. Early In 1868 it was decided to give the organization a new name. A com mittee was anpointed for this purpose, consisting of Georpe M. McDonald, chairman, William Shennrd, Oh-Mes A. S. Vivian. Edgar N. Piatt and Thos. 0. Riggs. This committee followed tin Its investigations in hooks on natural history by a visit to Barnijm's Museum near Broad wav and Ann streets. It is of record that Vivian stood for the name "Buffalo" hut voted to make unanimous the selection of the name "Flks" when it was shown that the Elk Is distinguished for fleetness and for timidity at wrong-doing, and that the animal avoids all combat save in the defense of its weak and vouner and helpless, and the female of its snecles. It was the antness of this simile wih the Ideals of the deve'npment nf the o-der that nut the final ennflrrnation and approval on the word "Elk." Vlvlnn Recognised Founi.er of Order. Vivian was the son of a clergyman of the Church of England and was born In Exeter, Devonshire, October 22, 1842. He died in LeaUville, Coionulo. March 20, 1880, of pneumonia, after a short life time of many theatrical vicissi tudes, ranging from touring with his own company to being stranded in Denver, penniless. H.s giave, un marked save for a message scratched with some hard instrument In a pine board at its head, tested undisturbed until on April 28, 1889, the order ex humed the lemains and placed them In Elks Rest Mt. Hope cemetery, Boston. There, on a massive, iriegular boulder in whose face theie is a large bronze plate. In raised letters on the plate stands out this inscription: "Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian, Founder of the Order of Elks. Died Match 20, 1880, aged 34 years. A liver of his kind who founded a great order and In doing so wrought much goo.c." The natal day of Elkdom Is February 16, 1868. This is the date of the first charter issued, as well as the date on the original old first banne of We.v York Lodge No. 1, still preserved. As constituted today, howeve , the order of Elks dates from 1871, on Janu ary 1 of which year a resolution was reported founding the grand lodge. This was ratified In New York on Janu ary 29 and on March 10 the legislature of New York granted the newly formed grand lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, power to grant charters to subordinate lodges throughout the country. That year the grand lodge held three regular communications, or conventions, and New York Lodge, No. 1, was rejoicing in its great prosperity, with $538.81 In its treasury. Charity a Cardinal Principle. As Illustrating a spirit that has al ways actuated the Elks, on October 20, 1S71, a great benefit was staged by New York Lodge No. 1, to aid the suffeiei s from the great Chicago fire. And in 1906 at the time of the San Francisco disaster Grand Exalted Ruler "Bob" Brown rushed out to the Pacific Coast metropolis where the banks were closed and money was, needed, and planked down five thousand dollars In cash as a starter on what the Elks proposed to do. Afterwards Brown had so much Elks money at San Farncisco that he could not spend it all and the Elks In addition sent out 400 car loads of food to the stricken city. The foregoing are Incidents of a pub lic character, but the favorite method of the Elks in disbursing thousands of dollars annually In charity is not to invite any publicity whatever In regard to It. It is known, however, that no poor children are allowed to miss a proper Christmas celebration where there is an Elks lodge located, and trousands of poor families are carol for every year by the practical charity of the Elks. It was back In 1868 that the Eleven O'clock Toast of the Elks was started by George F. McDonald, who launched the "To Our Absent Brothers" that has since ripened Into tender significance with all members ef the order. Elks Home In Virginia. The order of Elks has esabllahed a beautiful home for aged and indigent members at the base of the famous Ot ter Peaks at Bedford City, Va. On this site of 100 acres has been erected a home costing $1,000,000, all operating expenses of which are borne by the grand lodge. An Elk In good standing, upon proper certification of his lodge that he Is infirm, or indigent and con sequently unable to care for hi"ie'f, Is entitled to the home, Is admitted to it with the minimum of red tape, and is made heartily and humanly comfort able for his remaining years. . Strengthened by Vicissitudes. At the end of 1870 the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks had a membership of 149, and It has gone through many vicissitudes In reaching its present pinnacle of prosperity and popularity. But It ha emerged from every Internal dlssentlon appareim, stronger In purpose and dete-minntln because of them. In 1890, when the grand lodge was called to meet In ftAveland. Ohio, the New York lodge disputed the right of the grand lodge to hold Its sessions outside of the state IE" - - tr I. nUA Va.i Va.I. , . I, n ....... .1 OI iNBW rim. J Liini iu' was suspended and not restored until ,111 the breach was completely healed at the grand lodge session of 1895 in At- lantic City. At the Cincinnati session in 1S9G the flag, Bible and antlers were formally designated as the altar drap ery. In 1909 the official emblem of thej order, comprising an Elk head across the face of a clock marking the hour of 11, was adopted and patented. Elk for "AmericanUm." The present rallying cry of the Ben evolent and Protective Order of Elks Is "Americanism." Its responsible officers have made it plain that it will occupy no neutral or doubtful position on this Issue. No man with Bolshevik senti ments or beliefs will be eligible to membership in it and Its Influence and resources willlhe everywhere available to the constituted authorities Is back ing up and building up real American sentiment. Everywhere, also, the Elks as an organization aie taking mote and more interest in civic affairs in their respective communities. And while the discussion of some real or alleged or fancied crisis is at nearly all times rife in this country, the progressive order of Elks may be depended upon to dis cuss and help solve such problems In the intet est of law, of order, of right and decency of true Americanism. BOLSHEVISTS BARRED. The constituted authorities of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at their annual convention In At lantic City, have officially decided that any man who is a sincere Bolshevist or who supports the principles of Bol shevism, is not eligible to membership In the Order; the same authorities hold that a member of the order who de clares himself a believer In Bolshe vism violates his obligation as an Elk and is subject to expulsion from the order. This pronouncement was made by the grand lodge committee on judiciary through its chairman, William M. Ab bott of San Francisco, in a discussion of the subject of Bolshevism that gives a clear understanding of what the doc trine really js, and how utterly con trary to our principles and form of government Strained Sight D:es not necessarily mean Poor Sight You May See Perfectly Though Painfully If so, your eyes need attention and need it badly if they are to last. 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