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Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks) is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868. It is one of the leading fraternal orders in the U.S., claiming nearly one million members.^[1]

History

The Elks had modest beginnings in 1868 as a social club (then called the "Jolly Corks") established as a private club to elude New York City laws governing the opening hours of public taverns. After the death of a member left his wife and children without income, the club took up additional service roles, rituals and a new name. Desiring to adopt "a readily identifiable creature of stature, indigenous to America", fifteen members voted 8-7 to favor the elk above the buffalo.^[2] Early members were mostly from theatrical performing troupes in New York City. It has since evolved into a major American fraternal, charitable, and service order with more than a million members, both men and women, throughout the United States.

Membership was opened to African Americans in the 1970s and women in the mid-1990s, and currently excludes atheists. The opening of membership to women was mandated by the Oregon Public Accommodations Act, which was found by an appeals court to apply to the BPOE, and it has been speculated that the religious restriction might be litigated on the same basis.^[3] A year after the national organization changed its policy to allow women to join, the Vermont Supreme Court ordered punitive damages of $5,000 for each of seven women whom a local chapter had rejected citing other reasons.^[4] Current members are required to be U.S. citizens over the age of 21 and believe in God.

The Hour of Recollection

Deceased and otherwise absent lodge members are recalled each evening at 11 p.m. when the lodge esquire intones, "It is the Hour of Recollection." The exalted ruler or a member designated by him gives the 11 o'clock toast, of which this version is the most common:

"You have heard the tolling of eleven strokes. This is to remind you that with Elks, the hour of eleven has a tender significance. Wherever Elks may roam, whatever their lot in life may be, when this hour tolls upon the dial of night, the great heart of Elkdom swells and throbs. It is the golden hour of recollection, the homecoming of those who wander, the mystic roll call of those who will come no more. Living or dead, Elks are never forgotten, never forsaken. Morning and noon may pass them by, the light of day sink heedlessly into the west. But ere the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory shall be pealing forth the friendly message: To our absent members."

Elks National Foundation

Established in 1928, the Elks National Foundation is the charitable arm of the BPOE. The foundation, with an endowment valued at more than $400 million, has contributed $253.5 million toward Elks' charitable projects nationwide.

An interesting physical artifact of the order is the number of communal cemetery plots once favored by the group. Often these are marked with impressive statuary.

Due to the willingness of most Elk Lodges to respond to community needs and events, it is common to turn the BPOE abbreviation into a backronym for "Best People on Earth." ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Structure and organization

Grand Lodge in Chicago, Illinois

The national headquarters, known as the Grand Lodge, is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Local Elks Lodges, known as subordinate lodges, are located in about 2,100 cities and towns across the United States and its territories (as of 2006). There is one Elks lodge overseas, in Metro Manila, the Philippines, a former US territory; only American citizens can be members. ^[8]

The local Elks lodges are known by their lodge number and the name of the city in which they are located. For example, the first Lodge, located in New York City, is Lodge 1, while the Lodge in Nashville, TN is Lodge 72. When a Lodge is closed, its number is retired, but if re-instituted at a later time, the city name and lodge number can be reinstated by the Grand Lodge.

A Grand Lodge Convention is held each year in a principal city in the United States. It is at this meeting that delegates from the subordinate lodges vote on the next new Grand Exalted Ruler and conduct other items of business.

Elks Magazine is published 10 times a year and goes to all members.^[1]

Local Lodge officers

Chair officers

• Exalted Ruler
• Esteemed Leading Knight
• Esteemed Loyal Knight
• Esteemed Lecturing Knight

Other Lodge officers

• Esquire
• Inner Guard
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Tiler
• Chaplain
• Trustee (5 yr.)
• Trustee (4 yr.)
• Trustee (3 yr.)
• Trustee (2 yr.)
• Trustee (1 yr.)
• Organist
• Justice of the Subordinate Forum

Past Exalted Rulers are not considered officers, but rather a valuable advisory resource. A Lodge's Past Exalted Ruler's Association usually meets monthly, and current officers are encouraged to seek counsel from the men and women who have led Lodges in previous years.

Famous Elks

Military

• General John Pershing
• Captain Eddie Rickenbacker

Politicians

Presidents of the United States

• Warren G. Harding
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Harry S Truman
• John F. Kennedy
• Gerald R. Ford

Members of Congress

• Tip O'Neill
• Carl Albert
• William F. Knowland Oakland, California # 171
• John McCormick
• Sam Rayburn
• Tom Foley
• Hale Boggs

Business People

• Jim Cramer
• Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr.
• Caleb Bradham,Inventor Pepsi Cola, Past Exalted Ruler New Bern, NC #764

Entertainers

• Lawrence Welk
• Will Rogers
• Jack Benny
• Andy Devine, Past Exalted Ruler of San Fernando, California, Lodge No. 1539
• Clint Eastwood, Monterey, California, Lodge No. 1285
• Gene Autry
• William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill)
• Donald O'Connor
• Billy Barty
• Richard Moll

Sports figures

• Honus Wagner
• Vince Lombardi
• Casey Stengel
• Mickey Mantle
• Whitey Ford
• Zack Wheat
• Jim Finks^[9]

In popular culture

National Convention Sites & Presiding Grand Exalted Ruler

See also

• Army of Hope

References

External links

• The official website
• An unofficial site but a unique collection of images and articles illustrating early Elkdom