ELKS, BEN EVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF.
A benevolent fraternal society, organized in the City of New York, February 16, 1868, as the outgrowth of a social dub known as the Jolly Corks, composed principally of members of the theatrical profession. Its first regular organiza tion was New York Lodge No. 1. The Grand Lodge of the Order was incorporated Nlarch 10, 1871, as chapter 19 of the laws of that session, and the past officers of New York Lodge No. 1 'were made the lint members, of the Grand Lodge tinder the act of corporation. The power to form subordinate lodges was given to the Grand Lodge on March 12. 1871. Charters were is sued to New York No. 1 and Philadelphia No. 2. The third lodge was incorporated April 18, 1876. in San Francisco, and subsequently lodges were formed in Chicago. Cincinnati, Sacramento, Baltimore. Laiisville, Saint Louis, Boston. Pitts burg, Indianapolis, Providence, 'Washington, Denver, Cleveland, in the order named, and other cities. During the thirty-five years of its ex istence New York Lodge No. 1 alone has dis pensed $175.000 in direct charity, having in ad dition to assisting its own members, been a contributor to the relief of suffering in national calamities like the Chicago and Bos ton fires. and the Johnstown flood. The Order itself has since its institution dispensed nearly two millions in the same cause. Lodges at the
present time number S16. and subordinate lodges have been established in Skaguay and Juneau in Alaska, Honolulu and Hilo in the Hawaiian Islands, and Manila in the Philippines. Mem bership in the Order can he acquired only by white male citizens of the United States of the age of 21 and upward. of good moral character; only one lodge can he instituted in any one city, and such city must have a population of at least five thousand, and each lodge is given complete jurisdiction over all residents within said corporation.
One of the unique features of the Order. and one which attracts the attention of the outside world more than anything else to its internal organization, is the annual memorial service for the dead of the Order. livid by every lodge on the first Sunday in December of each year. This is termed the Sacred Session of the Order. The similar term 'lodge of sorrow' is applied only to funerals. The membership at the present time is upward of 150,000. and it owns prop erty and cash to the extent of about four mil lion dollars. The Elks-anticr, elaiming to have the largest eireulation of any fraternal paper in the world. is published monthly by the Order.