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{{short description|American fraternal order}}
{{Cleanup|reason=References|date=December 2022}}
{{Use American English|date = October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = October 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
| abbreviation = BPOE
| logo = BPOE logo.png
| logo_alt = Logo of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
| founded = {{start date and age|1868}}
| founder = Charles Vivian
| headquarters = [[Chicago, Illinois]], United States
| coords = {{coord|41.9323|-87.6400|type:landmark_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
| status = [[Benefit society|501(c)(8) fraternal benefit order]]<ref name= 990-2014>"[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/360/793/2014-360793011-0b7bd41c-9O.pdf Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". ''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''. [[Guidestar]]. May 31, 2014.</ref>
| tax_id = 36-0793011<ref name= 990-2014/>
| affiliations = 1,928 local lodges,<ref>"[http://www.elks.org/lodges/default.cfm Local Lodges]". ''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''. Accessed on March 18, 2016.</ref> Elks National Home and Retirement Center, Elks National Foundation, Elks National Veterans Service Commission, Elks Veterans Memorial Restoration<ref name= 990-2014/>
| website = {{URL|http://www.elks.org/}}
}}
The '''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''' ('''BPOE'''; also often known as the '''Elks Lodge''' or simply '''The Elks''') is an American [[fraternal order]] founded in 1868, originally as a [[social club]] in [[New York City]].
[[File:Elks Bldg., Idaho Springs, CO IMG 5414.JPG|right|thumb|The Elks building in [[Idaho Springs, Colorado|Idaho Springs]], Colorado]]
==History==
The Elks began in 1868 as a social club for [[minstrel show]] performers, called the "Jolly Corks".<ref name= minstrel>{{cite news |title=Elks Founder Dies. J. M. Norcross, Minstrel, 84, Was Last Signer of Lodge Charter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/03/01/archives/elks-founder-dies-j-m-norcross-minstrel-84-was-last-signer-of-lodge.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 1, 1925 |access-date=2015-01-27 }}</ref>{{efn|Perhaps from [[burnt cork]], a traditional stage makeup}} It was established as a private club to elude [[New York City]] laws governing the opening hours of public taverns. The Elks borrowed rites and practices from [[Freemasonry]].
==Membership==
Belief in a [[Supreme Being]] became a prerequisite for membership in 1892. The word "[[God]]" was substituted for Supreme Being in 1946.<ref>Schmidt pp. 103–104</ref>
{{Wikisource|Flag Day Resolution}}
In 1919, a "Flag Day resolution" was passed, barring membership to even passive sympathizers "of the [[Bolsheviks]], [[Anarchists]], the [[Industrial Workers of the World|I.W.W.]], or kindred organizations, or who does not give undivided allegiance to" the flag and constitution of the United States.
The BPOE was originally an all-[[White people|white]] organization. In the early 1970s, this policy led the Order into conflict with the courts over its refusal to allow [[black people]] the use of its club and leisure activities. In nearly all instances, the [[Color line (racism)|all-whites clause]] was made public after someone was denied the use of the Elks' dining or leisure facilities. Membership was restricted to whites until 1973.<ref name=Schmidt>{{Cite journal |jstor = 274186|title = The Unbrotherly Brotherhood: Discrimination in Fraternal Orders|journal = Phylon|volume = 34|issue = 3|pages = 275–282|last1 = Schmidt|first1 = Alvin J.|last2 = Babchuk|first2 = Nicholas|year = 1973|doi = 10.2307/274186}}</ref>
In 1979, the qualifications for membership included being male, at least 21 years old, of sound mind and body, a [[Citizenship of the United States|citizen of the United States]] and not a member of the [[Communist Party USA|Communist Party]].
In ''Beynon v. St. George-Dixie Lodge 1743'' (1993),<ref name="auto">{{cite news| url=http://law.justia.com/cases/utah/supreme-court/1993/910551.html|title=Beynon v. St. George–Dixie Lodge 1743}}</ref> the [[Utah Supreme Court]] ruled that while [[freedom of association]] allowed the Elks to remain a men-only organization, "the Elks may not avail itself of the benefits of a [[liquor license]] and the license's concomitant state regulation" as long as it violated the Utah State Civil Rights Act. Faced with losing their liquor licenses if they did not admit women, the Elks Lodges of Utah voted to become [[unisex]] in June 1993,<ref name="auto2">{{cite news| url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/297730/ELKS-MUST-ADMIT-WOMEN-OR-LOSE-LIQUOR-LICENSE.html| title=Elks Must Admit Women or Lose Liquor License}}</ref> which was followed by a vote at the Elks National Convention in July 1995<ref name="auto1">{{cite news| url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0929/29142.html|title=Elks Lodges Vote on Whether to Admit Women}}</ref> to remove the word "male" from the national membership requirements.
The current requirements include belief in God, American citizenship, willingness to recite the [[Pledge of Allegiance]], willingness to salute the flag of the United States of America, willingness to support the laws and Constitution of the United States of America, being of good character and being at least 21 years of age.<ref name="More Information">{{cite web| url=http://www.elks.org/who/information.cfm|title=Elks.org :: More Information|website=www.elks.org}}</ref> There is also a background interview conducted by the Membership Committee, who make the final recommendation to the Lodge members. The members then use a ballot box,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/newtonfiremuseum/746573768| title=Secret Ballot Box photo}}</ref> with the back drawer first being displayed to the members to be empty, then the members drop their vote one at a time into the hole in the back, typically a white glass marble to accept or a [[Blackballing|black lead cube]] to reject. A 2/3 majority of member votes is necessary for acceptance.<ref>Schmidt pp. 102–103</ref>
In 1976, the BPOE had 1,611,139 members.<ref name="Schmidt p.103">Schmidt p. 103</ref> As of June 2020, it claimed to have more than 750,000 members.<ref name="More Information"/>
===Women===
Until 1995, the Elks had traditionally been an all-male fraternal order. Unlike many other male orders, it never had an official [[female auxiliary]], after passing a resolution in 1907 that ruled "There shall be no branches or degrees of membership in the Order, nor any insurance or mutual features, nor shall there be other adjuncts of auxiliaries".<ref>Schmidt, Alvin J. ''Fraternal Organizations'' Westport, CT; Greenwood Press p. 109</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2018}} The Elks enforced this resolution through at least the 1970s. Nevertheless, several unofficial female auxiliaries were created: the [[Emblem Club]], the Lady Elks and the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does. The Lady Elks appear only to exist on the local level and vary from place to place with regard to its activities. There also does not appear to be any published or printed ritual.<ref>Schmidt p. 202</ref>
More organized are the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does who were chartered on February 12, 1921. This organization does have an organization above the local level, complete with districts, state organizations and a national "Grand Lodge".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bpodoes.org/AboutUs.asp |title=Grand Lodge, Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does – {{sic|I|t's|nolink=y}} History and Organization |access-date=2013-08-15 | url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815162913/http://www.bpodoes.org/AboutUs.asp |archive-date=2013-08-15}}</ref> The Does also have a written secret ritual based on the [[Magnificat of Mary]] and which makes reference to [[St. Paul]]'s [[First Epistle to the Corinthians]] [[1 Corinthians 13|Chapter 13]], emphasizing love and charity.<ref>Schmidt p. 93</ref>
The Emblem Club was founded in 1926, with a ritual written by a male Elk. It also has a national organization with local Clubs, State Association and a national Supreme Club of the United States.<ref>Schmidt pp. 109–110</ref>
===Racial discrimination===
{{quote|No person shall be accepted as a member of this Order unless he be a white male citizen of the United States of America, of sound mind and body, of good character, not under the age of Twenty-one years, and a believer in God.|source= Article VII, Constitution of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elk (repealed 1973)
<ref name=corn>''Cornelius v. Benevolent Protective Order of Elks'', [https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2596907/cornelius-v-benevolent-protective-order-of-elks/ 382 F. Supp. 1182] ([[D. Conn.]] 1974)</ref><ref name=col>{{cite journal |title=New Test for Suits Seeking to Halt Governmental Support to Private Discriminating Organizations – Impermissible State Action|journal=U. Colo. L. Rev. |volume=44 |issue=1973–1974 |pages=447 |url= https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/ucollr44&div=31&id=&page=}}</ref>}}
In 1972, the Elks expelled the head of the [[Ridgewood, New Jersey|Ridgewood]] lodge (Richard J. Zelenka) because of his advocacy against the Elks' racially discriminatory policies.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/13/archives/elks-dismiss-opponent-of-their-allwhite-rule.html| title=Elks Dismiss Opponent Of Their All‐White Rule| last=Kandell| first=Jonathan| date=1972-03-13| work=The New York Times| access-date=2019-02-13| language=en-US| issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| journal = Saint Louis University Public Law Review| last = Pfefferkorn | first = Michael |title=The Ability of Voluntary Associations to Control Membership through Expulsion Comment |volume=7 | page=209 |year =1988 | url =https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/stlpl7&i=218}}</ref> A resolution to repeal the discriminatory clause of the national constitution of the Elk lodge (see above) passed in 1973 after failing at three previous national conventions.<ref>{{cite news| newspaper = Chicago Tribune | first = Frober | last = Enstad | page =12 | title = Elks open source to blacks | url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/383704734/ | date =July 20, 1973}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Meehan |first1=Thomas |title=The other July convention |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/13/archives/the-other-july-convention-the-bpoe-best-people-on-earth-in-atlantic.html| newspaper = The New York Times |date=August 13, 1972 |language=en}}</ref>
In 1989, there were allegations of applicants being denied membership in lodges located in various parts of California because of their race.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fleeman |first1=Michael |title=Despite Reforms, Blacks Still Struggling to Join Elks Lodges |url=https://apnews.com/0762542d25bb1d1fdb231d039026cfbd |work=Associated Press |date=September 30, 1988}}</ref>
==Structure and organization==
===Headquarters===
[[File:BPOE Chicago.JPG|thumb|upright=1.4|Grand Lodge in [[Chicago, Illinois]]]]
The Elks' national headquarters are located in Chicago at the [[Elks National Veterans Memorial and Headquarters]], overlooking [[Lincoln Park, Chicago|Lincoln Park]], near [[Lake Michigan]]. This building was originally conceived as a memorial to the nearly 1,000 Elk brothers who were lost in [[World War I]]. The cornerstone was laid July 7, 1924, and the building was officially dedicated on July 14, 1926.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elks.org/memorial/historicalTour.cfm|title=Elks.org :: History of the Elks National Memorial|website=www.elks.org}}</ref><ref>"[http://www.elks.org/memorial/ Welcome to the Elks Veterans Memorial]". ''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''.</ref>{{third party inline|date=January 2019}}
The [[Rotunda (architecture)|rotunda]] displays murals and statues illustrating the Elks' four cardinal virtues: charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. The [[friezes]] depict the "Triumphs of War" on one side and "Triumphs of Peace" on the other. The entrance is flanked by large bronze elks.<ref>Schmidt p. 104</ref>
===Grand Lodge===
The BPOE is organized on five levels: the national or "grand" level, the regional level, the state level, the district level and the local lodge level. The highest level is the Grand Lodge, which meets in convention annually. The Grand Lodge elects all the officers of the order, such as the Grand Exalted Ruler—the [[chief executive officer]] of the organization—Grand Secretary, Grand Esteemed Leading Knight, Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight, Grand Esteemed Lecturing Knight, Grand Treasurer, Grand [[Tiler]] (in charge of regalia), Grand Inner Guard and Grand Trustees. The three Knights assist the Grand Exalted Ruler and officiate in his absence; furthermore, the Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight acts a prosecutor in cases when an Elk is accused of an offense against the order. The Grand Trustee have general authority over assets and property owned by the order. The Grand Esquire is appointed by the Grand Exalted Ruler and organizes the Grand Lodges and serves as marshal of Elks parades. The Grand Chaplain is also appointed by the Grand Exalted Ruler.<ref>Schmidt pp. 104–105</ref>
''Elks Magazine'' is published 10 times a year and goes to all members.<ref name="elkmag">{{cite web |url= http://www.elks.org/elksmag/default.cfm |title= Elks Magazine Online |access-date=October 17, 2008 |work=Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks }}</ref>{{third party inline|date=January 2019}}
===Grand Exalted Rulers===
This is an incomplete list of the organization's Grand Exalted Rulers:
{{div col}}
* 1871 – George J. Green / [[Charles "Charlie" White|Charles T. White]]
* 1872 – Joseph C. Pinckney
* 1874 – James W. Powell / Henry P. O'Neil
* 1876 – Frank Girard
* 1878 – George R. Maguire
* 1879 – Charles E. Davies / Louis C. Waehner
* 1880 – Thomas E. Garrett
* 1882 – John J. Tindale
* 1883 – Edwin A. Perry
* 1884 – Henry S. Sanderson
* 1910 – [[August Herrmann]] (1859–1931)
* 1919 – Frank Lewis Rain (1877–1941)
* 1924 – John G. Price (1871–1930)
* 1935 – [[James T. Hallinan]] (1889–1969)
* 1959 – William S. Hawkins (1910–1971)
* 1968 – Robert E. Boney
* 2000 – Dwayne E. Rumney
* 2001 – Arthur Mayer, Jr.
* 2002 – Roger R. True
* 2003 – Amos A. McCallum
* 2004 – James M. McQuillan
* 2005 – Louis James Grillo
* 2006 – Arthur H. "Jack" Frost, III
* 2007 – F. Louis Sulsberger
* 2008 – Paul D. Helsel
* 2009 – James L. Nichelson
* 2010 – Michael F. Smith
* 2011 – David R. Carr
* 2012 – Thomas S. Brazier
* 2013 – Millard C. Pickering
* 2014 – John D. Amen
* 2015 – Ronald L. Hicks
* 2016 – Michael F. Zellen
* 2017 – Malcolm J. McPherson Jr.
* 2018 – Michael T. Luhr
* 2019 – Robert L. Duitsman
* 2020 – Paul R. Ryan
* 2021 – T. Keith Mills
* 2022 – Bruce A. Hidley
{{div col end}}
Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elks.org/history/pgers.cfm |title=Grand Exalted Rulers |website=elks.org |access-date=September 16, 2020}}</ref>
===State Associations and Lodges===
The state level organizations are called "State Associations"; state level officers include presidents, vice presidents, secretaries and treasurers. Local groups are called "Subordinate Lodges". Lodges officers are essentially the same as the ones on the national level, with "Grand" prefix removed. Lodges also may establish dinner and recreational clubs for members. In 1979, there were 2,200 lodges.<ref name="Schmidt p.105">Schmidt p. 105</ref> Lodges which are incorporated are required to be governed by a board of directors. Otherwise, the Lodge Trustees are the governing board.
===Elks Mutual Benefit Association===
Like many other fraternal orders, the Elks at one point sponsored an insurance fund. The Elks Mutual Benefit Association was founded in 1878. At the 1885 Grand Lodge, it was reported that the EMBA was prosperous, but its finances were carelessly managed. The Association was disbanded after the 1907 Grand Lodge passed a resolution banning mutual or insurance features, as well as degrees and auxiliaries.<ref>Schmidt pp. 108–109 Schmidt's main source is James R. Nicholson and Lee A. Donaldson, ''History of the Order of Elks'' 1969. He also cites back issues of the proceedings</ref>
===Antlers===
Despite its 1907 resolution banning any auxiliaries, the Elks at one point had a youth affiliate for young men called the Antlers. The first chapter was organized in February 1922 by San Francisco Lodge #3. The 1927 Grand Lodge approved the junior order, granting the Grand Exalted Ruler the power to permit subordinate lodges to instituted organizations for males under 21. In 1933, there were 45 local units of the Antlers with 3,584 members. However, the Antlers numbers were decimated during the [[Second World War]], with so many young men having gone off to war. Despite 86 local Antlers groups still existing in 1946, the Grand Lodge deleted all reference to them in their constitution and bylaws that year. However, some local Antlers groups were still active in 1979, according to one source.<ref>Schmidt p. 44 Schmidt's main source is "The Antlers" in James R. Nicholson and Lee A. Donaldson, ''History of the Order of Elks'' 1969. The source for the continued existence of the Antlers after 1946 was apparently an Elks official he spoke to. The text of the relevant portion of the 1907 resolution is on p. 109</ref>
==Activities==
===Social quarters===
[[File:Elk's Carnival, BPOE Welcome Home. - DPLA - 9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894 (page 1).jpg|thumb|right|Elk's Carnival in Toledo, Ohio, 1912]]
Most Elks lodges operate a social quarters with a private bar. According to [[sociologists]] Alvin J. Schmidt and Nicholas Babchuk, members primarily joined the Elks to be "provided with entertainment, liquor, and food at reasonable rates" in the social quarters.<ref name=Schmidt/>
===National charity programs===
Lodges are encouraged to participate in national Elks charity programs. There are also State Elks Associations charity programs. This usually includes a State Major Project. Elks Lodges are usually involved in other local charitable efforts.
Due to the willingness of most Elks Lodges to respond to community needs and events, it is common to turn the BPOE abbreviation into a [[backronym]] for "Best People on Earth".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.elks.org/lodges/LocalNews.cfm?news_id=30469 | title = A Message From Bill Beck | first = Bill |last= Beck |work= Springfield, Illinois, Lodge #158 |publisher= Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks | quote = I will forever remember that BPOE also stands for the Best People On Earth, a line you have used often... }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elks.org/history/toast.cfm |title=The origins of The 11 O'Clock Toast |first=Mike |last=Kelly |work=B.P.O.E. Grand Lodge Historian |publisher=Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks |quote=I will forever remember that BPOE also stands for the Best People On Earth, a line you have used often... |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112162846/http://www.elks.org/history/toast.cfm |archive-date=January 12, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.elks.org/history/hikers.cfm
|title=Elks Walk 2,223 Miles to Attend 1912 National Convention
|last=Sparks
|first=Eva
|work=Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
|quote=Four athletic young men, members of the local B.P.O.E Lodge (Best People On Earth) and employees of...
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301231817/http://www.elks.org/history/hikers.cfm
|archive-date=March 1, 2007
}}</ref>{{third party inline|date=January 2019}}
====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 $750 million, has contributed more than $500 million toward Elks' charitable projects nationwide. Since inception, the Elks have received more than $288.7 million in contributions and bequests. As of the close of the 2021 fiscal year, they boast more than 120,000 active donors and an endowment fund valued at $833.1 million.<ref>Elks National Foundation, About ENF, Annual Report 2021, https://www.elks.org/ENF/background.cfm</ref>
===Veteran services===
The Elks pledge that "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elks.org/programs/vetsprograms.cfm |title=Veterans Services |access-date=3 July 2013}}</ref> {{third party inline|date=January 2019}}
* [[Elks Veterans Memorial]] in Chicago, Illinois
* The Army of Hope, established in 2003, primarily serves families of deployed service members.<ref>[http://www.elks.org/programs/history.cfm History of veterans programs], Elks website</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Journal Entries: Saint Peter's gets $100K grant from Provident Bank | website=NJ.com | date=September 22, 2015 | url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/09/journal_entries_three_students_graduate_from_njits.html | access-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref>
* Adopt-a-Veteran Program
* Freedom Grants!
* Veterans Leather Program
* Veterans Remembrance
* Playing Cards for Veterans
* Re-Creation USA
===Youth programs===
* Elks National Foundation Scholarships
* ''Hoop Shoot'' (National free throw contest)
* [[Drug education|Drug Awareness]]
* Soccer Shoot
* ''Junior Golf Program''
* [[The Dictionary Project|Dictionary Project]]
* Youth Recognition
===Americanism===
[[File:Elks Flag Day Resolution 1919.jpg|thumb|1919 Flag Day Resolution barring membership from people perceived as [[unpatriotic]]]]
The Elks have shown their devotion to [[Americanism (ideology)|Americanism]] by conducting bond drives, promoting [[civil defense]] programs, and [[Flag Day (United States)|Flag Day]] observances. During World War II, they designated the week of March 15, 1942, as "Win the War Week", and helped recruit for the [[United States Army Air Corps]]. An "[[Elks National Service Commission]]" was in operation from 1946 to 1950, and the Grand Lodge adopted a "[[Declaration of American Principles]]" in 1961 in Miami.<ref name="Schmidt p.102">Schmidt p. 102</ref>
===Elks National Home===
The [[Elks National Home]] is a retirement home in [[Bedford, Virginia]], built in 1916. In late 2013, the Elks sold the home to a private organization.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
==Rites and traditions==
[[File:BPOE Building Ouray Colorado.jpg|right|thumb|The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks building in downtown [[Ouray, Colorado|Ouray]], [[Colorado]]]]
The Elks originally borrowed a number of rites, traditions, and regalia from the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]]. However, by the first decade of the twentieth century, much of this had been abandoned as the Elks sought to establish their own identity. The original two degrees required for membership were consolidated into one degree in 1890, the [[Masonic apron|apron]] was discontinued in 1895, the [[secret password]] was gone in 1899, and the badges and [[secret handshake]] were abandoned by 1904.<ref name="Schmidt p.102"/>
Initiation and funeral rites still exist, however. The initiation rite is not considered a secret. The initiation involves an altar, with a Bible upon it and chaplain leading the brethren in prayers and psalms. The candidate must accept a "solemn and binding obligation" to never "reveal any of the confidential matters of the Order". He further promises to uphold the [[Constitution of the United States]], protect brother Elks and their families, only support worthy candidates for admission and never bring political or sectarian questions up into the Order. The funeral rite is called the "Lodge of Sorrow" and also involves prayers.<ref name="Schmidt p.103"/>
===The Hour of Recollection===
Deceased and otherwise absent lodge members are recalled each evening at 11 p.m. Chimes or sometimes a bell will be rung 11 times and 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:
{{Quote|sign=|source=http://www.elks.org/|You have heard the tolling of eleven strokes. This is to impress upon you that with us the hour of eleven has a tender significance. Wherever Elks may roam, whatever their lot in life may be, when this hour falls 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 in the West, but ere the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory will be pealing forth the friendly message: "To Our Absent Members."}}
===Communal burial===
[[File:Wiki-elks EMY1236-Edit.jpg|alt=Elks Lodge 315 burial ground|thumb|The communal burial ground and statue for Elks Lodge #315 at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Newport News, Virginia]]
The Elks have communal [[cemetery]] plots, which are often marked with impressive statuary.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
==Famous Elks==
===Athletes===
* [[Willie Keeler]], Brooklyn, New York Lodge #22<ref>{{cite book |last1=Solomon |first1=Burt |title=Where They Ain't: The Fabled Life and Untimely Death of the Original Baltimore Orioles, the Team That Gave Birth to Modern Baseball |date=14 March 2000 |publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-0-385-49882-1 |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MFuUDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 |access-date=31 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Babe Ruth]], New York, New York Lodge #1{{cn|date=June 2023}}
===Politicians===
====Presidents of the United States====
* [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* [[Gerald R. Ford]], Grand Rapids, Michigan Lodge #48{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* [[Warren G. Harding]], Marion, Ohio #32{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* [[John F. Kennedy]], Boston, Massachusetts Lodge #10<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
* [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], Poughkeepsie, New York #275<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
* [[Harry S. Truman]], Kansas City, Missouri Lodge #26<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
====Vice Presidents of the United States====
* [[Alben W. Barkley]], 35th vice president of the United States<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom">{{cite book |title=Congressional Record | year=1968 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iD0keoZvrp0C&dq=%22order+of+elks%22&pg=PA3727 |access-date=30 August 2022 |pages=3726| publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office }}</ref>
====Governors====
* [[Fred P. Cone]], Florida (1937–1941)<ref name=GRAVE>{{cite web|title=Cone, Frederick Preston|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/conduit-conkling.html|publisher=The Political Graveyard|access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref>
* [[David Sholtz]], [[Governor]] Florida (1933–1937), Exalted Ruler of Florida.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=November 10, 1932|title=Florida's Next Governor |volume=8|page=4|work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|issue=33|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1787&dat=19321110&id=SEscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M2QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2797,3174607|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[William M. Tuck]], Danville, Virginia, Lodge #227 Governor of Virginia (1946–1950){{cn|date=June 2023}}
====Members of Congress====<!-- Please respect alphabetical order -->
* [[Richard E. Connell]], United States Representative representing [[New York (state)|New York]]<ref>{{cite book|title=United States Congressional Serial Set|date=1914|publisher=[[U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=43|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KNaQxh7RG-4C&q=richard+e.+connell+catholic&pg=RA2-PA43|access-date=1 March 2018|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Barry Goldwater]], United States Senator representing [[Arizona]]<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
====Other politicians====
* [[Lonnie O. Aulds]], member of the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] from 1968 to 1972, real estate developer in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2012.pdf |title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812–2012 |publisher=legis.la.gov |access-date=July 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235758/http://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2012.pdf |archive-date=October 4, 2013 }}</ref>
* [[Edward Francis Blewitt]], [[Pennsylvania State Senate|Pennsylvania State Senator]] and businessman. Great-grandfather of the 46th and current [[President of the United States]], [[Joe Biden]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=O'Dowd|first1=Niall|title=Biden's Irish Roots|url=http://goballycastle.com/BidenIrishRoots.html|access-date=26 April 2020|website=www.globallycastle.com}}</ref>
* [[Emory Cole]], lawyer and state legislature in Baltimore, Maryland<ref>{{cite web |title=Emory Cole , MSA SC 3520-14301 |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/014300/014301/html/14301bio.html |website=Archives of Maryland |access-date=16 July 2022}}</ref>
* [[Richard J. Daley]], 48th [[Mayor of Chicago]]<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
* [[David Dank]], member of [[Oklahoma House of Representatives]] since 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okhouse.gov/District85|title=Representative Dank, David, District 85|publisher=okhouse.gov|access-date=August 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102021513/http://www.okhouse.gov/District85|archive-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Gilbert L. Dupré]], state representative and district court judge in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* [[Truly Hatchett]], first African American member of the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] and real estate investor<ref name="Elk">{{cite news |title=Truly Hatchett Elected Exalted Ruler of Elks |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dyUmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xv0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2879%2C3604776 |access-date=14 July 2022 |work=The Afro American |via=Google News |date=16 June 1928}}</ref>
* [[John W. McCormack|John McCormack]], 45th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom" />
===Military===
* Captain [[Eddie Rickenbacker]]<ref>http://www.elkshistory.org/ "April 1943 Elks Magazine reported that the Life membership card of Brother Eddie Rickenbacker was featured in several national weekly magazines. This was bestowed upon him by the LA Elks on June 18, 1919"</ref>
===Entertainers===
* [[Jack Benny]]<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom" />
* [[Irving Berlin]]<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom" />
* [[Lawrence Welk]]<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom" />
==See also==
* [[List of Elks buildings]]
* [[Elks of Canada]]
* [[Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World]]
* [[Moose Lodge]]
{{clear}}
==Notes and references==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist}}
* {{cite web
|url=http://www.elks.org/about/celebrity.cfm
|title=Name That Elk
|last=Kelly
|first=Mike
|publisher=elks.org
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814035235/http://www.elks.org/about/celebrity.cfm
|archive-date=August 14, 2007
|quote="Although the original Elks were actors and entertainers, members of other professions soon joined the organization. Today's Elks represent just about the full spectrum of occupations in America."
|url-status=dead }}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.elks.org/}}
* [http://www.elkshistory.org/ Unofficial site – collection of images and articles illustrating early Elkdom]
* [https://www.elkslodge885.org/elks-on-the-web/ Link to State Association pages]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks| ]]
[[Category:1868 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Men's organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1868]]
[[Category:Service organizations based in the United States]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | 'The Elks is an inclusive charity organization founded in the late 1800’s. It was started by a group of performance artists originally from England. When one of their members became ill the company began doing charity outreach to help the family.
BPOE is the benevolent protective
Order of Elks and is a non political organization focused on community service. Members carry the motto of charity, justice, love, and loyalty to service, (or fidelity).
The organization welcomes people who are American citizens who believe helping ones local community members is a high value. Elks nation wide provide more scholarships than the US government.
Elks is a non political organization that allows diversity of opinion and promotes social interaction through service and community. Leadership positions are often held by women and leadership rotates every year. People learn the roles of leadership through holding the positions reflecting the values of loyal knight (justice), lecturing knight (love), leading knight (charity) and Exalted Ruler (loyalty to community and country). Members may be of any religion, with faith resting in belief in some form of a higher power.
The initiation meeting to join the Elks uses the poetry and ceremony text created by the original performance troupe to welcome new members. Once a member, people are supported and invited to bring their ideas to the organization, starting activities and opportunities all the way from teen tutoring to billiards clubs to weekly social dance nights, bridge clubs and to charity interests. Members are made welcome and can visit Elks lodges throughout the country.
The Elks animal is the symbol of protective care as in an Elks herd. Deceased members are fondly remembered in the hearts of Elks at the eleventh hour, meaning the stroke of 11pm is a moment to remember those who have passed on.
Local organizations can be found nationwide providing community,
fellowship,, and charity. Children and families are as welcome and loved as are individuals.
Many leaders of this country have been Elks members, and like many organizations founded in the late 1800’s, the Elks started with an all male white membership and then evolved with the times of society to include people of color and welcome women into the organization.
Elks don’t wear fancy hats or uniforms or seek recognition. However many opportunities are provided to society through quiet financial gifts from Elks lodges. To understand more , it is suggested to meet the people directly in your local Elks lodge.
==History==
The Elks began in 1868 as a social club for [[minstrel show]] performers, called the "Jolly Corks".<ref name= minstrel>{{cite news |title=Elks Founder Dies. J. M. Norcross, Minstrel, 84, Was Last Signer of Lodge Charter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/03/01/archives/elks-founder-dies-j-m-norcross-minstrel-84-was-last-signer-of-lodge.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 1, 1925 |access-date=2015-01-27 }}</ref>{{efn|Perhaps from [[burnt cork]], a traditional stage makeup}} It was established as a private club to elude [[New York City]] laws governing the opening hours of public taverns. The Elks borrowed rites and practices from [[Freemasonry]].
==Membership==
Belief in a [[Supreme Being]] became a prerequisite for membership in 1892. The word "[[God]]" was substituted for Supreme Being in 1946.<ref>Schmidt pp. 103–104</ref>
{{Wikisource|Flag Day Resolution}}
In 1919, a "Flag Day resolution" was passed, barring membership to even passive sympathizers "of the [[Bolsheviks]], [[Anarchists]], the [[Industrial Workers of the World|I.W.W.]], or kindred organizations, or who does not give undivided allegiance to" the flag and constitution of the United States.
The BPOE was originally an all-[[White people|white]] organization. In the early 1970s, this policy led the Order into conflict with the courts over its refusal to allow [[black people]] the use of its club and leisure activities. In nearly all instances, the [[Color line (racism)|all-whites clause]] was made public after someone was denied the use of the Elks' dining or leisure facilities. Membership was restricted to whites until 1973.<ref name=Schmidt>{{Cite journal |jstor = 274186|title = The Unbrotherly Brotherhood: Discrimination in Fraternal Orders|journal = Phylon|volume = 34|issue = 3|pages = 275–282|last1 = Schmidt|first1 = Alvin J.|last2 = Babchuk|first2 = Nicholas|year = 1973|doi = 10.2307/274186}}</ref>
In 1979, the qualifications for membership included being male, at least 21 years old, of sound mind and body, a [[Citizenship of the United States|citizen of the United States]] and not a member of the [[Communist Party USA|Communist Party]].
In ''Beynon v. St. George-Dixie Lodge 1743'' (1993),<ref name="auto">{{cite news| url=http://law.justia.com/cases/utah/supreme-court/1993/910551.html|title=Beynon v. St. George–Dixie Lodge 1743}}</ref> the [[Utah Supreme Court]] ruled that while [[freedom of association]] allowed the Elks to remain a men-only organization, "the Elks may not avail itself of the benefits of a [[liquor license]] and the license's concomitant state regulation" as long as it violated the Utah State Civil Rights Act. Faced with losing their liquor licenses if they did not admit women, the Elks Lodges of Utah voted to become [[unisex]] in June 1993,<ref name="auto2">{{cite news| url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/297730/ELKS-MUST-ADMIT-WOMEN-OR-LOSE-LIQUOR-LICENSE.html| title=Elks Must Admit Women or Lose Liquor License}}</ref> which was followed by a vote at the Elks National Convention in July 1995<ref name="auto1">{{cite news| url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0929/29142.html|title=Elks Lodges Vote on Whether to Admit Women}}</ref> to remove the word "male" from the national membership requirements.
The current requirements include belief in God, American citizenship, willingness to recite the [[Pledge of Allegiance]], willingness to salute the flag of the United States of America, willingness to support the laws and Constitution of the United States of America, being of good character and being at least 21 years of age.<ref name="More Information">{{cite web| url=http://www.elks.org/who/information.cfm|title=Elks.org :: More Information|website=www.elks.org}}</ref> There is also a background interview conducted by the Membership Committee, who make the final recommendation to the Lodge members. The members then use a ballot box,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/newtonfiremuseum/746573768| title=Secret Ballot Box photo}}</ref> with the back drawer first being displayed to the members to be empty, then the members drop their vote one at a time into the hole in the back, typically a white glass marble to accept or a [[Blackballing|black lead cube]] to reject. A 2/3 majority of member votes is necessary for acceptance.<ref>Schmidt pp. 102–103</ref>
In 1976, the BPOE had 1,611,139 members.<ref name="Schmidt p.103">Schmidt p. 103</ref> As of June 2020, it claimed to have more than 750,000 members.<ref name="More Information"/>
===Women===
Until 1995, the Elks had traditionally been an all-male fraternal order. Unlike many other male orders, it never had an official [[female auxiliary]], after passing a resolution in 1907 that ruled "There shall be no branches or degrees of membership in the Order, nor any insurance or mutual features, nor shall there be other adjuncts of auxiliaries".<ref>Schmidt, Alvin J. ''Fraternal Organizations'' Westport, CT; Greenwood Press p. 109</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2018}} The Elks enforced this resolution through at least the 1970s. Nevertheless, several unofficial female auxiliaries were created: the [[Emblem Club]], the Lady Elks and the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does. The Lady Elks appear only to exist on the local level and vary from place to place with regard to its activities. There also does not appear to be any published or printed ritual.<ref>Schmidt p. 202</ref>
More organized are the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does who were chartered on February 12, 1921. This organization does have an organization above the local level, complete with districts, state organizations and a national "Grand Lodge".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bpodoes.org/AboutUs.asp |title=Grand Lodge, Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does – {{sic|I|t's|nolink=y}} History and Organization |access-date=2013-08-15 | url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815162913/http://www.bpodoes.org/AboutUs.asp |archive-date=2013-08-15}}</ref> The Does also have a written secret ritual based on the [[Magnificat of Mary]] and which makes reference to [[St. Paul]]'s [[First Epistle to the Corinthians]] [[1 Corinthians 13|Chapter 13]], emphasizing love and charity.<ref>Schmidt p. 93</ref>
The Emblem Club was founded in 1926, with a ritual written by a male Elk. It also has a national organization with local Clubs, State Association and a national Supreme Club of the United States.<ref>Schmidt pp. 109–110</ref>
===Racial discrimination===
{{quote|No person shall be accepted as a member of this Order unless he be a white male citizen of the United States of America, of sound mind and body, of good character, not under the age of Twenty-one years, and a believer in God.|source= Article VII, Constitution of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elk (repealed 1973)
<ref name=corn>''Cornelius v. Benevolent Protective Order of Elks'', [https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2596907/cornelius-v-benevolent-protective-order-of-elks/ 382 F. Supp. 1182] ([[D. Conn.]] 1974)</ref><ref name=col>{{cite journal |title=New Test for Suits Seeking to Halt Governmental Support to Private Discriminating Organizations – Impermissible State Action|journal=U. Colo. L. Rev. |volume=44 |issue=1973–1974 |pages=447 |url= https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/ucollr44&div=31&id=&page=}}</ref>}}
In 1972, the Elks expelled the head of the [[Ridgewood, New Jersey|Ridgewood]] lodge (Richard J. Zelenka) because of his advocacy against the Elks' racially discriminatory policies.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/13/archives/elks-dismiss-opponent-of-their-allwhite-rule.html| title=Elks Dismiss Opponent Of Their All‐White Rule| last=Kandell| first=Jonathan| date=1972-03-13| work=The New York Times| access-date=2019-02-13| language=en-US| issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| journal = Saint Louis University Public Law Review| last = Pfefferkorn | first = Michael |title=The Ability of Voluntary Associations to Control Membership through Expulsion Comment |volume=7 | page=209 |year =1988 | url =https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/stlpl7&i=218}}</ref> A resolution to repeal the discriminatory clause of the national constitution of the Elk lodge (see above) passed in 1973 after failing at three previous national conventions.<ref>{{cite news| newspaper = Chicago Tribune | first = Frober | last = Enstad | page =12 | title = Elks open source to blacks | url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/383704734/ | date =July 20, 1973}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Meehan |first1=Thomas |title=The other July convention |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/13/archives/the-other-july-convention-the-bpoe-best-people-on-earth-in-atlantic.html| newspaper = The New York Times |date=August 13, 1972 |language=en}}</ref>
In 1989, there were allegations of applicants being denied membership in lodges located in various parts of California because of their race.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fleeman |first1=Michael |title=Despite Reforms, Blacks Still Struggling to Join Elks Lodges |url=https://apnews.com/0762542d25bb1d1fdb231d039026cfbd |work=Associated Press |date=September 30, 1988}}</ref>
==Structure and organization==
===Headquarters===
[[File:BPOE Chicago.JPG|thumb|upright=1.4|Grand Lodge in [[Chicago, Illinois]]]]
The Elks' national headquarters are located in Chicago at the [[Elks National Veterans Memorial and Headquarters]], overlooking [[Lincoln Park, Chicago|Lincoln Park]], near [[Lake Michigan]]. This building was originally conceived as a memorial to the nearly 1,000 Elk brothers who were lost in [[World War I]]. The cornerstone was laid July 7, 1924, and the building was officially dedicated on July 14, 1926.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elks.org/memorial/historicalTour.cfm|title=Elks.org :: History of the Elks National Memorial|website=www.elks.org}}</ref><ref>"[http://www.elks.org/memorial/ Welcome to the Elks Veterans Memorial]". ''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''.</ref>{{third party inline|date=January 2019}}
The [[Rotunda (architecture)|rotunda]] displays murals and statues illustrating the Elks' four cardinal virtues: charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. The [[friezes]] depict the "Triumphs of War" on one side and "Triumphs of Peace" on the other. The entrance is flanked by large bronze elks.<ref>Schmidt p. 104</ref>
===Grand Lodge===
The BPOE is organized on five levels: the national or "grand" level, the regional level, the state level, the district level and the local lodge level. The highest level is the Grand Lodge, which meets in convention annually. The Grand Lodge elects all the officers of the order, such as the Grand Exalted Ruler—the [[chief executive officer]] of the organization—Grand Secretary, Grand Esteemed Leading Knight, Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight, Grand Esteemed Lecturing Knight, Grand Treasurer, Grand [[Tiler]] (in charge of regalia), Grand Inner Guard and Grand Trustees. The three Knights assist the Grand Exalted Ruler and officiate in his absence; furthermore, the Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight acts a prosecutor in cases when an Elk is accused of an offense against the order. The Grand Trustee have general authority over assets and property owned by the order. The Grand Esquire is appointed by the Grand Exalted Ruler and organizes the Grand Lodges and serves as marshal of Elks parades. The Grand Chaplain is also appointed by the Grand Exalted Ruler.<ref>Schmidt pp. 104–105</ref>
''Elks Magazine'' is published 10 times a year and goes to all members.<ref name="elkmag">{{cite web |url= http://www.elks.org/elksmag/default.cfm |title= Elks Magazine Online |access-date=October 17, 2008 |work=Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks }}</ref>{{third party inline|date=January 2019}}
===Grand Exalted Rulers===
This is an incomplete list of the organization's Grand Exalted Rulers:
{{div col}}
* 1871 – George J. Green / [[Charles "Charlie" White|Charles T. White]]
* 1872 – Joseph C. Pinckney
* 1874 – James W. Powell / Henry P. O'Neil
* 1876 – Frank Girard
* 1878 – George R. Maguire
* 1879 – Charles E. Davies / Louis C. Waehner
* 1880 – Thomas E. Garrett
* 1882 – John J. Tindale
* 1883 – Edwin A. Perry
* 1884 – Henry S. Sanderson
* 1910 – [[August Herrmann]] (1859–1931)
* 1919 – Frank Lewis Rain (1877–1941)
* 1924 – John G. Price (1871–1930)
* 1935 – [[James T. Hallinan]] (1889–1969)
* 1959 – William S. Hawkins (1910–1971)
* 1968 – Robert E. Boney
* 2000 – Dwayne E. Rumney
* 2001 – Arthur Mayer, Jr.
* 2002 – Roger R. True
* 2003 – Amos A. McCallum
* 2004 – James M. McQuillan
* 2005 – Louis James Grillo
* 2006 – Arthur H. "Jack" Frost, III
* 2007 – F. Louis Sulsberger
* 2008 – Paul D. Helsel
* 2009 – James L. Nichelson
* 2010 – Michael F. Smith
* 2011 – David R. Carr
* 2012 – Thomas S. Brazier
* 2013 – Millard C. Pickering
* 2014 – John D. Amen
* 2015 – Ronald L. Hicks
* 2016 – Michael F. Zellen
* 2017 – Malcolm J. McPherson Jr.
* 2018 – Michael T. Luhr
* 2019 – Robert L. Duitsman
* 2020 – Paul R. Ryan
* 2021 – T. Keith Mills
* 2022 – Bruce A. Hidley
{{div col end}}
Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elks.org/history/pgers.cfm |title=Grand Exalted Rulers |website=elks.org |access-date=September 16, 2020}}</ref>
===State Associations and Lodges===
The state level organizations are called "State Associations"; state level officers include presidents, vice presidents, secretaries and treasurers. Local groups are called "Subordinate Lodges". Lodges officers are essentially the same as the ones on the national level, with "Grand" prefix removed. Lodges also may establish dinner and recreational clubs for members. In 1979, there were 2,200 lodges.<ref name="Schmidt p.105">Schmidt p. 105</ref> Lodges which are incorporated are required to be governed by a board of directors. Otherwise, the Lodge Trustees are the governing board.
===Elks Mutual Benefit Association===
Like many other fraternal orders, the Elks at one point sponsored an insurance fund. The Elks Mutual Benefit Association was founded in 1878. At the 1885 Grand Lodge, it was reported that the EMBA was prosperous, but its finances were carelessly managed. The Association was disbanded after the 1907 Grand Lodge passed a resolution banning mutual or insurance features, as well as degrees and auxiliaries.<ref>Schmidt pp. 108–109 Schmidt's main source is James R. Nicholson and Lee A. Donaldson, ''History of the Order of Elks'' 1969. He also cites back issues of the proceedings</ref>
===Antlers===
Despite its 1907 resolution banning any auxiliaries, the Elks at one point had a youth affiliate for young men called the Antlers. The first chapter was organized in February 1922 by San Francisco Lodge #3. The 1927 Grand Lodge approved the junior order, granting the Grand Exalted Ruler the power to permit subordinate lodges to instituted organizations for males under 21. In 1933, there were 45 local units of the Antlers with 3,584 members. However, the Antlers numbers were decimated during the [[Second World War]], with so many young men having gone off to war. Despite 86 local Antlers groups still existing in 1946, the Grand Lodge deleted all reference to them in their constitution and bylaws that year. However, some local Antlers groups were still active in 1979, according to one source.<ref>Schmidt p. 44 Schmidt's main source is "The Antlers" in James R. Nicholson and Lee A. Donaldson, ''History of the Order of Elks'' 1969. The source for the continued existence of the Antlers after 1946 was apparently an Elks official he spoke to. The text of the relevant portion of the 1907 resolution is on p. 109</ref>
==Activities==
===Social quarters===
[[File:Elk's Carnival, BPOE Welcome Home. - DPLA - 9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894 (page 1).jpg|thumb|right|Elk's Carnival in Toledo, Ohio, 1912]]
Most Elks lodges operate a social quarters with a private bar. According to [[sociologists]] Alvin J. Schmidt and Nicholas Babchuk, members primarily joined the Elks to be "provided with entertainment, liquor, and food at reasonable rates" in the social quarters.<ref name=Schmidt/>
===National charity programs===
Lodges are encouraged to participate in national Elks charity programs. There are also State Elks Associations charity programs. This usually includes a State Major Project. Elks Lodges are usually involved in other local charitable efforts.
Due to the willingness of most Elks Lodges to respond to community needs and events, it is common to turn the BPOE abbreviation into a [[backronym]] for "Best People on Earth".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.elks.org/lodges/LocalNews.cfm?news_id=30469 | title = A Message From Bill Beck | first = Bill |last= Beck |work= Springfield, Illinois, Lodge #158 |publisher= Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks | quote = I will forever remember that BPOE also stands for the Best People On Earth, a line you have used often... }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elks.org/history/toast.cfm |title=The origins of The 11 O'Clock Toast |first=Mike |last=Kelly |work=B.P.O.E. Grand Lodge Historian |publisher=Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks |quote=I will forever remember that BPOE also stands for the Best People On Earth, a line you have used often... |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112162846/http://www.elks.org/history/toast.cfm |archive-date=January 12, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.elks.org/history/hikers.cfm
|title=Elks Walk 2,223 Miles to Attend 1912 National Convention
|last=Sparks
|first=Eva
|work=Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
|quote=Four athletic young men, members of the local B.P.O.E Lodge (Best People On Earth) and employees of...
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301231817/http://www.elks.org/history/hikers.cfm
|archive-date=March 1, 2007
}}</ref>{{third party inline|date=January 2019}}
====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 $750 million, has contributed more than $500 million toward Elks' charitable projects nationwide. Since inception, the Elks have received more than $288.7 million in contributions and bequests. As of the close of the 2021 fiscal year, they boast more than 120,000 active donors and an endowment fund valued at $833.1 million.<ref>Elks National Foundation, About ENF, Annual Report 2021, https://www.elks.org/ENF/background.cfm</ref>
===Veteran services===
The Elks pledge that "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elks.org/programs/vetsprograms.cfm |title=Veterans Services |access-date=3 July 2013}}</ref> {{third party inline|date=January 2019}}
* [[Elks Veterans Memorial]] in Chicago, Illinois
* The Army of Hope, established in 2003, primarily serves families of deployed service members.<ref>[http://www.elks.org/programs/history.cfm History of veterans programs], Elks website</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Journal Entries: Saint Peter's gets $100K grant from Provident Bank | website=NJ.com | date=September 22, 2015 | url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/09/journal_entries_three_students_graduate_from_njits.html | access-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref>
* Adopt-a-Veteran Program
* Freedom Grants!
* Veterans Leather Program
* Veterans Remembrance
* Playing Cards for Veterans
* Re-Creation USA
===Youth programs===
* Elks National Foundation Scholarships
* ''Hoop Shoot'' (National free throw contest)
* [[Drug education|Drug Awareness]]
* Soccer Shoot
* ''Junior Golf Program''
* [[The Dictionary Project|Dictionary Project]]
* Youth Recognition
===Americanism===
[[File:Elks Flag Day Resolution 1919.jpg|thumb|1919 Flag Day Resolution barring membership from people perceived as [[unpatriotic]]]]
The Elks have shown their devotion to [[Americanism (ideology)|Americanism]] by conducting bond drives, promoting [[civil defense]] programs, and [[Flag Day (United States)|Flag Day]] observances. During World War II, they designated the week of March 15, 1942, as "Win the War Week", and helped recruit for the [[United States Army Air Corps]]. An "[[Elks National Service Commission]]" was in operation from 1946 to 1950, and the Grand Lodge adopted a "[[Declaration of American Principles]]" in 1961 in Miami.<ref name="Schmidt p.102">Schmidt p. 102</ref>
===Elks National Home===
The [[Elks National Home]] is a retirement home in [[Bedford, Virginia]], built in 1916. In late 2013, the Elks sold the home to a private organization.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
==Rites and traditions==
[[File:BPOE Building Ouray Colorado.jpg|right|thumb|The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks building in downtown [[Ouray, Colorado|Ouray]], [[Colorado]]]]
The Elks originally borrowed a number of rites, traditions, and regalia from the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]]. However, by the first decade of the twentieth century, much of this had been abandoned as the Elks sought to establish their own identity. The original two degrees required for membership were consolidated into one degree in 1890, the [[Masonic apron|apron]] was discontinued in 1895, the [[secret password]] was gone in 1899, and the badges and [[secret handshake]] were abandoned by 1904.<ref name="Schmidt p.102"/>
Initiation and funeral rites still exist, however. The initiation rite is not considered a secret. The initiation involves an altar, with a Bible upon it and chaplain leading the brethren in prayers and psalms. The candidate must accept a "solemn and binding obligation" to never "reveal any of the confidential matters of the Order". He further promises to uphold the [[Constitution of the United States]], protect brother Elks and their families, only support worthy candidates for admission and never bring political or sectarian questions up into the Order. The funeral rite is called the "Lodge of Sorrow" and also involves prayers.<ref name="Schmidt p.103"/>
===The Hour of Recollection===
Deceased and otherwise absent lodge members are recalled each evening at 11 p.m. Chimes or sometimes a bell will be rung 11 times and 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:
{{Quote|sign=|source=http://www.elks.org/|You have heard the tolling of eleven strokes. This is to impress upon you that with us the hour of eleven has a tender significance. Wherever Elks may roam, whatever their lot in life may be, when this hour falls 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 in the West, but ere the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory will be pealing forth the friendly message: "To Our Absent Members."}}
===Communal burial===
[[File:Wiki-elks EMY1236-Edit.jpg|alt=Elks Lodge 315 burial ground|thumb|The communal burial ground and statue for Elks Lodge #315 at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Newport News, Virginia]]
The Elks have communal [[cemetery]] plots, which are often marked with impressive statuary.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
==Famous Elks==
===Athletes===
* [[Willie Keeler]], Brooklyn, New York Lodge #22<ref>{{cite book |last1=Solomon |first1=Burt |title=Where They Ain't: The Fabled Life and Untimely Death of the Original Baltimore Orioles, the Team That Gave Birth to Modern Baseball |date=14 March 2000 |publisher=[[Crown Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-0-385-49882-1 |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MFuUDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 |access-date=31 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Babe Ruth]], New York, New York Lodge #1{{cn|date=June 2023}}
===Politicians===
====Presidents of the United States====
* [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* [[Gerald R. Ford]], Grand Rapids, Michigan Lodge #48{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* [[Warren G. Harding]], Marion, Ohio #32{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* [[John F. Kennedy]], Boston, Massachusetts Lodge #10<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
* [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], Poughkeepsie, New York #275<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
* [[Harry S. Truman]], Kansas City, Missouri Lodge #26<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
====Vice Presidents of the United States====
* [[Alben W. Barkley]], 35th vice president of the United States<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom">{{cite book |title=Congressional Record | year=1968 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iD0keoZvrp0C&dq=%22order+of+elks%22&pg=PA3727 |access-date=30 August 2022 |pages=3726| publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office }}</ref>
====Governors====
* [[Fred P. Cone]], Florida (1937–1941)<ref name=GRAVE>{{cite web|title=Cone, Frederick Preston|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/conduit-conkling.html|publisher=The Political Graveyard|access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref>
* [[David Sholtz]], [[Governor]] Florida (1933–1937), Exalted Ruler of Florida.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=November 10, 1932|title=Florida's Next Governor |volume=8|page=4|work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|issue=33|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1787&dat=19321110&id=SEscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M2QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2797,3174607|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[William M. Tuck]], Danville, Virginia, Lodge #227 Governor of Virginia (1946–1950){{cn|date=June 2023}}
====Members of Congress====<!-- Please respect alphabetical order -->
* [[Richard E. Connell]], United States Representative representing [[New York (state)|New York]]<ref>{{cite book|title=United States Congressional Serial Set|date=1914|publisher=[[U.S. Government Printing Office]]|page=43|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KNaQxh7RG-4C&q=richard+e.+connell+catholic&pg=RA2-PA43|access-date=1 March 2018|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Barry Goldwater]], United States Senator representing [[Arizona]]<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
====Other politicians====
* [[Lonnie O. Aulds]], member of the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]] from 1968 to 1972, real estate developer in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2012.pdf |title=Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812–2012 |publisher=legis.la.gov |access-date=July 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235758/http://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2012.pdf |archive-date=October 4, 2013 }}</ref>
* [[Edward Francis Blewitt]], [[Pennsylvania State Senate|Pennsylvania State Senator]] and businessman. Great-grandfather of the 46th and current [[President of the United States]], [[Joe Biden]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=O'Dowd|first1=Niall|title=Biden's Irish Roots|url=http://goballycastle.com/BidenIrishRoots.html|access-date=26 April 2020|website=www.globallycastle.com}}</ref>
* [[Emory Cole]], lawyer and state legislature in Baltimore, Maryland<ref>{{cite web |title=Emory Cole , MSA SC 3520-14301 |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/014300/014301/html/14301bio.html |website=Archives of Maryland |access-date=16 July 2022}}</ref>
* [[Richard J. Daley]], 48th [[Mayor of Chicago]]<ref name="Schmidt p.105"/>
* [[David Dank]], member of [[Oklahoma House of Representatives]] since 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okhouse.gov/District85|title=Representative Dank, David, District 85|publisher=okhouse.gov|access-date=August 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102021513/http://www.okhouse.gov/District85|archive-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Gilbert L. Dupré]], state representative and district court judge in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana{{cn|date=June 2023}}
* [[Truly Hatchett]], first African American member of the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] and real estate investor<ref name="Elk">{{cite news |title=Truly Hatchett Elected Exalted Ruler of Elks |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dyUmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xv0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2879%2C3604776 |access-date=14 July 2022 |work=The Afro American |via=Google News |date=16 June 1928}}</ref>
* [[John W. McCormack|John McCormack]], 45th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom" />
===Military===
* Captain [[Eddie Rickenbacker]]<ref>http://www.elkshistory.org/ "April 1943 Elks Magazine reported that the Life membership card of Brother Eddie Rickenbacker was featured in several national weekly magazines. This was bestowed upon him by the LA Elks on June 18, 1919"</ref>
===Entertainers===
* [[Jack Benny]]<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom" />
* [[Irving Berlin]]<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom" />
* [[Lawrence Welk]]<ref name="Centennial Anniversary of Elkdom" />
==See also==
* [[List of Elks buildings]]
* [[Elks of Canada]]
* [[Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World]]
* [[Moose Lodge]]
{{clear}}
==Notes and references==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist}}
* {{cite web
|url=http://www.elks.org/about/celebrity.cfm
|title=Name That Elk
|last=Kelly
|first=Mike
|publisher=elks.org
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814035235/http://www.elks.org/about/celebrity.cfm
|archive-date=August 14, 2007
|quote="Although the original Elks were actors and entertainers, members of other professions soon joined the organization. Today's Elks represent just about the full spectrum of occupations in America."
|url-status=dead }}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.elks.org/}}
* [http://www.elkshistory.org/ Unofficial site – collection of images and articles illustrating early Elkdom]
* [https://www.elkslodge885.org/elks-on-the-web/ Link to State Association pages]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks| ]]
[[Category:1868 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Men's organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1868]]
[[Category:Service organizations based in the United States]]' |
Unified diff of changes made by edit (edit_diff) | '@@ -1,23 +1,18 @@
-{{Redirect|Elks|the animal|Elk|the Canadian counterpart|Elks of Canada|other uses|Elks (disambiguation)}}
-{{short description|American fraternal order}}
-{{Cleanup|reason=References|date=December 2022}}
-{{Use American English|date = October 2019}}
-{{Use mdy dates|date = October 2019}}
-{{Infobox organization
-| name = Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
-| abbreviation = BPOE
-| logo = BPOE logo.png
-| logo_alt = Logo of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
-| founded = {{start date and age|1868}}
-| founder = Charles Vivian
-| headquarters = [[Chicago, Illinois]], United States
-| coords = {{coord|41.9323|-87.6400|type:landmark_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
-| status = [[Benefit society|501(c)(8) fraternal benefit order]]<ref name= 990-2014>"[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/360/793/2014-360793011-0b7bd41c-9O.pdf Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". ''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''. [[Guidestar]]. May 31, 2014.</ref>
-| tax_id = 36-0793011<ref name= 990-2014/>
-| affiliations = 1,928 local lodges,<ref>"[http://www.elks.org/lodges/default.cfm Local Lodges]". ''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''. Accessed on March 18, 2016.</ref> Elks National Home and Retirement Center, Elks National Foundation, Elks National Veterans Service Commission, Elks Veterans Memorial Restoration<ref name= 990-2014/>
-| website = {{URL|http://www.elks.org/}}
-}}
-The '''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''' ('''BPOE'''; also often known as the '''Elks Lodge''' or simply '''The Elks''') is an American [[fraternal order]] founded in 1868, originally as a [[social club]] in [[New York City]].
-[[File:Elks Bldg., Idaho Springs, CO IMG 5414.JPG|right|thumb|The Elks building in [[Idaho Springs, Colorado|Idaho Springs]], Colorado]]
+The Elks is an inclusive charity organization founded in the late 1800’s. It was started by a group of performance artists originally from England. When one of their members became ill the company began doing charity outreach to help the family.
+BPOE is the benevolent protective
+Order of Elks and is a non political organization focused on community service. Members carry the motto of charity, justice, love, and loyalty to service, (or fidelity).
+The organization welcomes people who are American citizens who believe helping ones local community members is a high value. Elks nation wide provide more scholarships than the US government.
+
+Elks is a non political organization that allows diversity of opinion and promotes social interaction through service and community. Leadership positions are often held by women and leadership rotates every year. People learn the roles of leadership through holding the positions reflecting the values of loyal knight (justice), lecturing knight (love), leading knight (charity) and Exalted Ruler (loyalty to community and country). Members may be of any religion, with faith resting in belief in some form of a higher power.
+
+The initiation meeting to join the Elks uses the poetry and ceremony text created by the original performance troupe to welcome new members. Once a member, people are supported and invited to bring their ideas to the organization, starting activities and opportunities all the way from teen tutoring to billiards clubs to weekly social dance nights, bridge clubs and to charity interests. Members are made welcome and can visit Elks lodges throughout the country.
+The Elks animal is the symbol of protective care as in an Elks herd. Deceased members are fondly remembered in the hearts of Elks at the eleventh hour, meaning the stroke of 11pm is a moment to remember those who have passed on.
+
+Local organizations can be found nationwide providing community,
+fellowship,, and charity. Children and families are as welcome and loved as are individuals.
+
+Many leaders of this country have been Elks members, and like many organizations founded in the late 1800’s, the Elks started with an all male white membership and then evolved with the times of society to include people of color and welcome women into the organization.
+
+Elks don’t wear fancy hats or uniforms or seek recognition. However many opportunities are provided to society through quiet financial gifts from Elks lodges. To understand more , it is suggested to meet the people directly in your local Elks lodge.
==History==
' |
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Size change in edit (edit_delta) | 554 |
Lines added in edit (added_lines) | [
0 => 'The Elks is an inclusive charity organization founded in the late 1800’s. It was started by a group of performance artists originally from England. When one of their members became ill the company began doing charity outreach to help the family. ',
1 => 'BPOE is the benevolent protective',
2 => 'Order of Elks and is a non political organization focused on community service. Members carry the motto of charity, justice, love, and loyalty to service, (or fidelity).',
3 => 'The organization welcomes people who are American citizens who believe helping ones local community members is a high value. Elks nation wide provide more scholarships than the US government. ',
4 => '',
5 => 'Elks is a non political organization that allows diversity of opinion and promotes social interaction through service and community. Leadership positions are often held by women and leadership rotates every year. People learn the roles of leadership through holding the positions reflecting the values of loyal knight (justice), lecturing knight (love), leading knight (charity) and Exalted Ruler (loyalty to community and country). Members may be of any religion, with faith resting in belief in some form of a higher power.',
6 => '',
7 => 'The initiation meeting to join the Elks uses the poetry and ceremony text created by the original performance troupe to welcome new members. Once a member, people are supported and invited to bring their ideas to the organization, starting activities and opportunities all the way from teen tutoring to billiards clubs to weekly social dance nights, bridge clubs and to charity interests. Members are made welcome and can visit Elks lodges throughout the country. ',
8 => 'The Elks animal is the symbol of protective care as in an Elks herd. Deceased members are fondly remembered in the hearts of Elks at the eleventh hour, meaning the stroke of 11pm is a moment to remember those who have passed on.',
9 => '',
10 => 'Local organizations can be found nationwide providing community,',
11 => 'fellowship,, and charity. Children and families are as welcome and loved as are individuals. ',
12 => '',
13 => 'Many leaders of this country have been Elks members, and like many organizations founded in the late 1800’s, the Elks started with an all male white membership and then evolved with the times of society to include people of color and welcome women into the organization.',
14 => '',
15 => 'Elks don’t wear fancy hats or uniforms or seek recognition. However many opportunities are provided to society through quiet financial gifts from Elks lodges. To understand more , it is suggested to meet the people directly in your local Elks lodge.'
] |
Lines removed in edit (removed_lines) | [
0 => '{{Redirect|Elks|the animal|Elk|the Canadian counterpart|Elks of Canada|other uses|Elks (disambiguation)}}',
1 => '{{short description|American fraternal order}}',
2 => '{{Cleanup|reason=References|date=December 2022}}',
3 => '{{Use American English|date = October 2019}}',
4 => '{{Use mdy dates|date = October 2019}}',
5 => '{{Infobox organization',
6 => '| name = Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks',
7 => '| abbreviation = BPOE',
8 => '| logo = BPOE logo.png',
9 => '| logo_alt = Logo of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks',
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14 => '| status = [[Benefit society|501(c)(8) fraternal benefit order]]<ref name= 990-2014>"[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/360/793/2014-360793011-0b7bd41c-9O.pdf Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax]". ''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''. [[Guidestar]]. May 31, 2014.</ref>',
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16 => '| affiliations = 1,928 local lodges,<ref>"[http://www.elks.org/lodges/default.cfm Local Lodges]". ''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''. Accessed on March 18, 2016.</ref> Elks National Home and Retirement Center, Elks National Foundation, Elks National Veterans Service Commission, Elks Veterans Memorial Restoration<ref name= 990-2014/>',
17 => '| website = {{URL|http://www.elks.org/}}',
18 => '}}',
19 => 'The '''Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks''' ('''BPOE'''; also often known as the '''Elks Lodge''' or simply '''The Elks''') is an American [[fraternal order]] founded in 1868, originally as a [[social club]] in [[New York City]].',
20 => '[[File:Elks Bldg., Idaho Springs, CO IMG 5414.JPG|right|thumb|The Elks building in [[Idaho Springs, Colorado|Idaho Springs]], Colorado]]'
] |
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12 => 'https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331',
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Parsed HTML source of the new revision (new_html) | '<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>The Elks is an inclusive charity organization founded in the late 1800’s. It was started by a group of performance artists originally from England. When one of their members became ill the company began doing charity outreach to help the family.
BPOE is the benevolent protective
Order of Elks and is a non political organization focused on community service. Members carry the motto of charity, justice, love, and loyalty to service, (or fidelity).
The organization welcomes people who are American citizens who believe helping ones local community members is a high value. Elks nation wide provide more scholarships than the US government.
</p><p>Elks is a non political organization that allows diversity of opinion and promotes social interaction through service and community. Leadership positions are often held by women and leadership rotates every year. People learn the roles of leadership through holding the positions reflecting the values of loyal knight (justice), lecturing knight (love), leading knight (charity) and Exalted Ruler (loyalty to community and country). Members may be of any religion, with faith resting in belief in some form of a higher power.
</p><p>The initiation meeting to join the Elks uses the poetry and ceremony text created by the original performance troupe to welcome new members. Once a member, people are supported and invited to bring their ideas to the organization, starting activities and opportunities all the way from teen tutoring to billiards clubs to weekly social dance nights, bridge clubs and to charity interests. Members are made welcome and can visit Elks lodges throughout the country.
The Elks animal is the symbol of protective care as in an Elks herd. Deceased members are fondly remembered in the hearts of Elks at the eleventh hour, meaning the stroke of 11pm is a moment to remember those who have passed on.
</p><p>Local organizations can be found nationwide providing community,
fellowship,, and charity. Children and families are as welcome and loved as are individuals.
</p><p>Many leaders of this country have been Elks members, and like many organizations founded in the late 1800’s, the Elks started with an all male white membership and then evolved with the times of society to include people of color and welcome women into the organization.
</p><p>Elks don’t wear fancy hats or uniforms or seek recognition. However many opportunities are provided to society through quiet financial gifts from Elks lodges. To understand more , it is suggested to meet the people directly in your local Elks lodge.
</p>
<div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#History"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">History</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Membership"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Membership</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="#Women"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Women</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="#Racial_discrimination"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Racial discrimination</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="#Structure_and_organization"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Structure and organization</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="#Headquarters"><span class="tocnumber">3.1</span> <span class="toctext">Headquarters</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="#Grand_Lodge"><span class="tocnumber">3.2</span> <span class="toctext">Grand Lodge</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="#Grand_Exalted_Rulers"><span class="tocnumber">3.3</span> <span class="toctext">Grand Exalted Rulers</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="#State_Associations_and_Lodges"><span class="tocnumber">3.4</span> <span class="toctext">State Associations and Lodges</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="#Elks_Mutual_Benefit_Association"><span class="tocnumber">3.5</span> <span class="toctext">Elks Mutual Benefit Association</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="#Antlers"><span class="tocnumber">3.6</span> <span class="toctext">Antlers</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="#Activities"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Activities</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="#Social_quarters"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Social quarters</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="#National_charity_programs"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">National charity programs</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-15"><a href="#Elks_National_Foundation"><span class="tocnumber">4.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Elks National Foundation</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16"><a href="#Veteran_services"><span class="tocnumber">4.3</span> <span class="toctext">Veteran services</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="#Youth_programs"><span class="tocnumber">4.4</span> <span class="toctext">Youth programs</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18"><a href="#Americanism"><span class="tocnumber">4.5</span> <span class="toctext">Americanism</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-19"><a href="#Elks_National_Home"><span class="tocnumber">4.6</span> <span class="toctext">Elks National Home</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-20"><a href="#Rites_and_traditions"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Rites and traditions</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-21"><a href="#The_Hour_of_Recollection"><span class="tocnumber">5.1</span> <span class="toctext">The Hour of Recollection</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-22"><a href="#Communal_burial"><span class="tocnumber">5.2</span> <span class="toctext">Communal burial</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-23"><a href="#Famous_Elks"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Famous Elks</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-24"><a href="#Athletes"><span class="tocnumber">6.1</span> <span class="toctext">Athletes</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-25"><a href="#Politicians"><span class="tocnumber">6.2</span> <span class="toctext">Politicians</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-26"><a href="#Presidents_of_the_United_States"><span class="tocnumber">6.2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Presidents of the United States</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-27"><a href="#Vice_Presidents_of_the_United_States"><span class="tocnumber">6.2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Vice Presidents of the United States</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-28"><a href="#Governors"><span class="tocnumber">6.2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Governors</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-29"><a href="#Members_of_Congress"><span class="tocnumber">6.2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Members of Congress</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-30"><a href="#Other_politicians"><span class="tocnumber">6.2.5</span> <span class="toctext">Other politicians</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-31"><a href="#Military"><span class="tocnumber">6.3</span> <span class="toctext">Military</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-32"><a href="#Entertainers"><span class="tocnumber">6.4</span> <span class="toctext">Entertainers</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-33"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-34"><a href="#Notes_and_references"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Notes and references</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-35"><a href="#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="History">History</span></h2>
<p>The Elks began in 1868 as a social club for <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minstrel_show" title="Minstrel show">minstrel show</a> performers, called the "Jolly Corks".<sup id="cite_ref-minstrel_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-minstrel-1">[1]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2">[a]</a></sup> It was established as a private club to elude <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York City</a> laws governing the opening hours of public taverns. The Elks borrowed rites and practices from <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry" title="Freemasonry">Freemasonry</a>.
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Membership">Membership</span></h2>
<p>Belief in a <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Being" class="mw-redirect mw-disambig" title="Supreme Being">Supreme Being</a> became a prerequisite for membership in 1892. The word "<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God" title="God">God</a>" was substituted for Supreme Being in 1946.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3">[2]</a></sup>
</p>
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<div style="margin-left: 10px;"><b><a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Flag_Day_Resolution" class="extiw" title="wikisource:Flag Day Resolution">Flag Day Resolution</a></b></div></div></div>
</div>
<p>In 1919, a "Flag Day resolution" was passed, barring membership to even passive sympathizers "of the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolsheviks" title="Bolsheviks">Bolsheviks</a>, <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchists" class="mw-redirect" title="Anarchists">Anarchists</a>, the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Workers_of_the_World" title="Industrial Workers of the World">I.W.W.</a>, or kindred organizations, or who does not give undivided allegiance to" the flag and constitution of the United States.
</p><p>The BPOE was originally an all-<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people" title="White people">white</a> organization. In the early 1970s, this policy led the Order into conflict with the courts over its refusal to allow <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people" title="Black people">black people</a> the use of its club and leisure activities. In nearly all instances, the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_line_(racism)" title="Color line (racism)">all-whites clause</a> was made public after someone was denied the use of the Elks' dining or leisure facilities. Membership was restricted to whites until 1973.<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt-4">[3]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 1979, the qualifications for membership included being male, at least 21 years old, of sound mind and body, a <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship_of_the_United_States" title="Citizenship of the United States">citizen of the United States</a> and not a member of the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_USA" title="Communist Party USA">Communist Party</a>.
</p><p>In <i>Beynon v. St. George-Dixie Lodge 1743</i> (1993),<sup id="cite_ref-auto_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto-5">[4]</a></sup> the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Supreme_Court" title="Utah Supreme Court">Utah Supreme Court</a> ruled that while <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_association" title="Freedom of association">freedom of association</a> allowed the Elks to remain a men-only organization, "the Elks may not avail itself of the benefits of a <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquor_license" title="Liquor license">liquor license</a> and the license's concomitant state regulation" as long as it violated the Utah State Civil Rights Act. Faced with losing their liquor licenses if they did not admit women, the Elks Lodges of Utah voted to become <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unisex" title="Unisex">unisex</a> in June 1993,<sup id="cite_ref-auto2_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto2-6">[5]</a></sup> which was followed by a vote at the Elks National Convention in July 1995<sup id="cite_ref-auto1_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto1-7">[6]</a></sup> to remove the word "male" from the national membership requirements.
</p><p>The current requirements include belief in God, American citizenship, willingness to recite the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance" title="Pledge of Allegiance">Pledge of Allegiance</a>, willingness to salute the flag of the United States of America, willingness to support the laws and Constitution of the United States of America, being of good character and being at least 21 years of age.<sup id="cite_ref-More_Information_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-More_Information-8">[7]</a></sup> There is also a background interview conducted by the Membership Committee, who make the final recommendation to the Lodge members. The members then use a ballot box,<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9">[8]</a></sup> with the back drawer first being displayed to the members to be empty, then the members drop their vote one at a time into the hole in the back, typically a white glass marble to accept or a <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackballing" title="Blackballing">black lead cube</a> to reject. A 2/3 majority of member votes is necessary for acceptance.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10">[9]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 1976, the BPOE had 1,611,139 members.<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.103_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.103-11">[10]</a></sup> As of June 2020, it claimed to have more than 750,000 members.<sup id="cite_ref-More_Information_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-More_Information-8">[7]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Women">Women</span></h3>
<p>Until 1995, the Elks had traditionally been an all-male fraternal order. Unlike many other male orders, it never had an official <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_auxiliary" class="mw-redirect" title="Female auxiliary">female auxiliary</a>, after passing a resolution in 1907 that ruled "There shall be no branches or degrees of membership in the Order, nor any insurance or mutual features, nor shall there be other adjuncts of auxiliaries".<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12">[11]</a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="A complete citation is needed. (October 2018)">full citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> The Elks enforced this resolution through at least the 1970s. Nevertheless, several unofficial female auxiliaries were created: the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem_Club" class="mw-redirect" title="Emblem Club">Emblem Club</a>, the Lady Elks and the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does. The Lady Elks appear only to exist on the local level and vary from place to place with regard to its activities. There also does not appear to be any published or printed ritual.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13">[12]</a></sup>
</p><p>More organized are the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does who were chartered on February 12, 1921. This organization does have an organization above the local level, complete with districts, state organizations and a national "Grand Lodge".<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14">[13]</a></sup> The Does also have a written secret ritual based on the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificat_of_Mary" class="mw-redirect" title="Magnificat of Mary">Magnificat of Mary</a> and which makes reference to <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Paul" class="mw-redirect" title="St. Paul">St. Paul</a>'s <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_to_the_Corinthians" title="First Epistle to the Corinthians">First Epistle to the Corinthians</a> <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Corinthians_13" title="1 Corinthians 13">Chapter 13</a>, emphasizing love and charity.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15">[14]</a></sup>
</p><p>The Emblem Club was founded in 1926, with a ritual written by a male Elk. It also has a national organization with local Clubs, State Association and a national Supreme Club of the United States.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16">[15]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Racial_discrimination">Racial discrimination</span></h3>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r996844942">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>No person shall be accepted as a member of this Order unless he be a white male citizen of the United States of America, of sound mind and body, of good character, not under the age of Twenty-one years, and a believer in God.</p><div class="templatequotecite">— <cite>Article VII, Constitution of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elk (repealed 1973)
<sup id="cite_ref-corn_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-corn-17">[16]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-col_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-col-18">[17]</a></sup></cite></div></blockquote>
<p>In 1972, the Elks expelled the head of the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridgewood,_New_Jersey" title="Ridgewood, New Jersey">Ridgewood</a> lodge (Richard J. Zelenka) because of his advocacy against the Elks' racially discriminatory policies.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19">[18]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20">[19]</a></sup> A resolution to repeal the discriminatory clause of the national constitution of the Elk lodge (see above) passed in 1973 after failing at three previous national conventions.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21">[20]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22">[21]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 1989, there were allegations of applicants being denied membership in lodges located in various parts of California because of their race.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23">[22]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Structure_and_organization">Structure and organization</span></h2>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Headquarters">Headquarters</span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:312px;"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BPOE_Chicago.JPG" class="image"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/BPOE_Chicago.JPG/310px-BPOE_Chicago.JPG" decoding="async" width="310" height="233" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/BPOE_Chicago.JPG/465px-BPOE_Chicago.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/BPOE_Chicago.JPG/620px-BPOE_Chicago.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3944" data-file-height="2958" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BPOE_Chicago.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Grand Lodge in <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago,_Illinois" class="mw-redirect" title="Chicago, Illinois">Chicago, Illinois</a></div></div></div>
<p>The Elks' national headquarters are located in Chicago at the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elks_National_Veterans_Memorial_and_Headquarters" class="mw-redirect" title="Elks National Veterans Memorial and Headquarters">Elks National Veterans Memorial and Headquarters</a>, overlooking <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Park,_Chicago" title="Lincoln Park, Chicago">Lincoln Park</a>, near <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Michigan" title="Lake Michigan">Lake Michigan</a>. This building was originally conceived as a memorial to the nearly 1,000 Elk brothers who were lost in <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>. The cornerstone was laid July 7, 1924, and the building was officially dedicated on July 14, 1926.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24">[23]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25">[24]</a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template noprint Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Independent_sources" title="Wikipedia:Independent sources"><span title="This claim needs a reference to a independent, third-party source. (January 2019)">third-party source needed</span></a></i>]</sup>
</p><p>The <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotunda_(architecture)" title="Rotunda (architecture)">rotunda</a> displays murals and statues illustrating the Elks' four cardinal virtues: charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. The <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friezes" class="mw-redirect" title="Friezes">friezes</a> depict the "Triumphs of War" on one side and "Triumphs of Peace" on the other. The entrance is flanked by large bronze elks.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26">[25]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Grand_Lodge">Grand Lodge</span></h3>
<p>The BPOE is organized on five levels: the national or "grand" level, the regional level, the state level, the district level and the local lodge level. The highest level is the Grand Lodge, which meets in convention annually. The Grand Lodge elects all the officers of the order, such as the Grand Exalted Ruler—the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_executive_officer" title="Chief executive officer">chief executive officer</a> of the organization—Grand Secretary, Grand Esteemed Leading Knight, Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight, Grand Esteemed Lecturing Knight, Grand Treasurer, Grand <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiler" title="Tiler">Tiler</a> (in charge of regalia), Grand Inner Guard and Grand Trustees. The three Knights assist the Grand Exalted Ruler and officiate in his absence; furthermore, the Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight acts a prosecutor in cases when an Elk is accused of an offense against the order. The Grand Trustee have general authority over assets and property owned by the order. The Grand Esquire is appointed by the Grand Exalted Ruler and organizes the Grand Lodges and serves as marshal of Elks parades. The Grand Chaplain is also appointed by the Grand Exalted Ruler.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27">[26]</a></sup>
</p><p><i>Elks Magazine</i> is published 10 times a year and goes to all members.<sup id="cite_ref-elkmag_28-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elkmag-28">[27]</a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template noprint Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Independent_sources" title="Wikipedia:Independent sources"><span title="This claim needs a reference to a independent, third-party source. (January 2019)">third-party source needed</span></a></i>]</sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Grand_Exalted_Rulers">Grand Exalted Rulers</span></h3>
<p>This is an incomplete list of the organization's Grand Exalted Rulers:
</p>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1147244281">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="div-col">
<ul><li>1871 – George J. Green / <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_%22Charlie%22_White" title="Charles "Charlie" White">Charles T. White</a></li>
<li>1872 – Joseph C. Pinckney</li>
<li>1874 – James W. Powell / Henry P. O'Neil</li>
<li>1876 – Frank Girard</li>
<li>1878 – George R. Maguire</li>
<li>1879 – Charles E. Davies / Louis C. Waehner</li>
<li>1880 – Thomas E. Garrett</li>
<li>1882 – John J. Tindale</li>
<li>1883 – Edwin A. Perry</li>
<li>1884 – Henry S. Sanderson</li>
<li>1910 – <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Herrmann" title="August Herrmann">August Herrmann</a> (1859–1931)</li>
<li>1919 – Frank Lewis Rain (1877–1941)</li>
<li>1924 – John G. Price (1871–1930)</li>
<li>1935 – <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_T._Hallinan" title="James T. Hallinan">James T. Hallinan</a> (1889–1969)</li>
<li>1959 – William S. Hawkins (1910–1971)</li>
<li>1968 – Robert E. Boney</li>
<li>2000 – Dwayne E. Rumney</li>
<li>2001 – Arthur Mayer, Jr.</li>
<li>2002 – Roger R. True</li>
<li>2003 – Amos A. McCallum</li>
<li>2004 – James M. McQuillan</li>
<li>2005 – Louis James Grillo</li>
<li>2006 – Arthur H. "Jack" Frost, III</li>
<li>2007 – F. Louis Sulsberger</li>
<li>2008 – Paul D. Helsel</li>
<li>2009 – James L. Nichelson</li>
<li>2010 – Michael F. Smith</li>
<li>2011 – David R. Carr</li>
<li>2012 – Thomas S. Brazier</li>
<li>2013 – Millard C. Pickering</li>
<li>2014 – John D. Amen</li>
<li>2015 – Ronald L. Hicks</li>
<li>2016 – Michael F. Zellen</li>
<li>2017 – Malcolm J. McPherson Jr.</li>
<li>2018 – Michael T. Luhr</li>
<li>2019 – Robert L. Duitsman</li>
<li>2020 – Paul R. Ryan</li>
<li>2021 – T. Keith Mills</li>
<li>2022 – Bruce A. Hidley</li></ul>
</div>
<p>Source:<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29">[28]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="State_Associations_and_Lodges">State Associations and Lodges</span></h3>
<p>The state level organizations are called "State Associations"; state level officers include presidents, vice presidents, secretaries and treasurers. Local groups are called "Subordinate Lodges". Lodges officers are essentially the same as the ones on the national level, with "Grand" prefix removed. Lodges also may establish dinner and recreational clubs for members. In 1979, there were 2,200 lodges.<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.105-30">[29]</a></sup> Lodges which are incorporated are required to be governed by a board of directors. Otherwise, the Lodge Trustees are the governing board.
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Elks_Mutual_Benefit_Association">Elks Mutual Benefit Association</span></h3>
<p>Like many other fraternal orders, the Elks at one point sponsored an insurance fund. The Elks Mutual Benefit Association was founded in 1878. At the 1885 Grand Lodge, it was reported that the EMBA was prosperous, but its finances were carelessly managed. The Association was disbanded after the 1907 Grand Lodge passed a resolution banning mutual or insurance features, as well as degrees and auxiliaries.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31">[30]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Antlers">Antlers</span></h3>
<p>Despite its 1907 resolution banning any auxiliaries, the Elks at one point had a youth affiliate for young men called the Antlers. The first chapter was organized in February 1922 by San Francisco Lodge #3. The 1927 Grand Lodge approved the junior order, granting the Grand Exalted Ruler the power to permit subordinate lodges to instituted organizations for males under 21. In 1933, there were 45 local units of the Antlers with 3,584 members. However, the Antlers numbers were decimated during the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Second World War">Second World War</a>, with so many young men having gone off to war. Despite 86 local Antlers groups still existing in 1946, the Grand Lodge deleted all reference to them in their constitution and bylaws that year. However, some local Antlers groups were still active in 1979, according to one source.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32">[31]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Activities">Activities</span></h2>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Social_quarters">Social quarters</span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elk%27s_Carnival,_BPOE_Welcome_Home._-_DPLA_-_9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894_(page_1).jpg" class="image"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Elk%27s_Carnival%2C_BPOE_Welcome_Home._-_DPLA_-_9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894_%28page_1%29.jpg/220px-Elk%27s_Carnival%2C_BPOE_Welcome_Home._-_DPLA_-_9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894_%28page_1%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="352" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Elk%27s_Carnival%2C_BPOE_Welcome_Home._-_DPLA_-_9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894_%28page_1%29.jpg/330px-Elk%27s_Carnival%2C_BPOE_Welcome_Home._-_DPLA_-_9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894_%28page_1%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Elk%27s_Carnival%2C_BPOE_Welcome_Home._-_DPLA_-_9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894_%28page_1%29.jpg/440px-Elk%27s_Carnival%2C_BPOE_Welcome_Home._-_DPLA_-_9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894_%28page_1%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1487" data-file-height="2378" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elk%27s_Carnival,_BPOE_Welcome_Home._-_DPLA_-_9eb5b1bc32bfbb14c145da76edb92894_(page_1).jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>Elk's Carnival in Toledo, Ohio, 1912</div></div></div>
<p>Most Elks lodges operate a social quarters with a private bar. According to <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociologists" class="mw-redirect" title="Sociologists">sociologists</a> Alvin J. Schmidt and Nicholas Babchuk, members primarily joined the Elks to be "provided with entertainment, liquor, and food at reasonable rates" in the social quarters.<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt-4">[3]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="National_charity_programs">National charity programs</span></h3>
<p>Lodges are encouraged to participate in national Elks charity programs. There are also State Elks Associations charity programs. This usually includes a State Major Project. Elks Lodges are usually involved in other local charitable efforts.
</p><p>Due to the willingness of most Elks Lodges to respond to community needs and events, it is common to turn the BPOE abbreviation into a <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym" title="Backronym">backronym</a> for "Best People on Earth".<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33">[32]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34">[33]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35">[34]</a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template noprint Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Independent_sources" title="Wikipedia:Independent sources"><span title="This claim needs a reference to a independent, third-party source. (January 2019)">third-party source needed</span></a></i>]</sup>
</p>
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Elks_National_Foundation">Elks National Foundation</span></h4>
<p>Established in 1928, the Elks National Foundation is the charitable arm of the BPOE. The foundation, with an endowment valued at more than $750 million, has contributed more than $500 million toward Elks' charitable projects nationwide. Since inception, the Elks have received more than $288.7 million in contributions and bequests. As of the close of the 2021 fiscal year, they boast more than 120,000 active donors and an endowment fund valued at $833.1 million.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36">[35]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Veteran_services">Veteran services</span></h3>
<p>The Elks pledge that "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them."<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37">[36]</a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template noprint Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Independent_sources" title="Wikipedia:Independent sources"><span title="This claim needs a reference to a independent, third-party source. (January 2019)">third-party source needed</span></a></i>]</sup>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elks_Veterans_Memorial" class="mw-redirect" title="Elks Veterans Memorial">Elks Veterans Memorial</a> in Chicago, Illinois</li>
<li>The Army of Hope, established in 2003, primarily serves families of deployed service members.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38">[37]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39">[38]</a></sup></li>
<li>Adopt-a-Veteran Program</li>
<li>Freedom Grants!</li>
<li>Veterans Leather Program</li>
<li>Veterans Remembrance</li>
<li>Playing Cards for Veterans</li>
<li>Re-Creation USA</li></ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Youth_programs">Youth programs</span></h3>
<ul><li>Elks National Foundation Scholarships</li>
<li><i>Hoop Shoot</i> (National free throw contest)</li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_education" title="Drug education">Drug Awareness</a></li>
<li>Soccer Shoot</li>
<li><i>Junior Golf Program</i></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dictionary_Project" title="The Dictionary Project">Dictionary Project</a></li>
<li>Youth Recognition</li></ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Americanism">Americanism</span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elks_Flag_Day_Resolution_1919.jpg" class="image"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Elks_Flag_Day_Resolution_1919.jpg/220px-Elks_Flag_Day_Resolution_1919.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="298" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Elks_Flag_Day_Resolution_1919.jpg/330px-Elks_Flag_Day_Resolution_1919.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Elks_Flag_Day_Resolution_1919.jpg/440px-Elks_Flag_Day_Resolution_1919.jpg 2x" data-file-width="765" data-file-height="1035" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elks_Flag_Day_Resolution_1919.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>1919 Flag Day Resolution barring membership from people perceived as <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unpatriotic" class="mw-redirect" title="Unpatriotic">unpatriotic</a></div></div></div>
<p>The Elks have shown their devotion to <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americanism_(ideology)" title="Americanism (ideology)">Americanism</a> by conducting bond drives, promoting <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_defense" title="Civil defense">civil defense</a> programs, and <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_Day_(United_States)" title="Flag Day (United States)">Flag Day</a> observances. During World War II, they designated the week of March 15, 1942, as "Win the War Week", and helped recruit for the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corps" title="United States Army Air Corps">United States Army Air Corps</a>. An "<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elks_National_Service_Commission&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Elks National Service Commission (page does not exist)">Elks National Service Commission</a>" was in operation from 1946 to 1950, and the Grand Lodge adopted a "<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Declaration_of_American_Principles&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Declaration of American Principles (page does not exist)">Declaration of American Principles</a>" in 1961 in Miami.<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.102_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.102-40">[39]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Elks_National_Home">Elks National Home</span></h3>
<p>The <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elks_National_Home" title="Elks National Home">Elks National Home</a> is a retirement home in <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford,_Virginia" title="Bedford, Virginia">Bedford, Virginia</a>, built in 1916. In late 2013, the Elks sold the home to a private organization.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Rites_and_traditions">Rites and traditions</span></h2>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BPOE_Building_Ouray_Colorado.jpg" class="image"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/BPOE_Building_Ouray_Colorado.jpg/220px-BPOE_Building_Ouray_Colorado.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="332" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/BPOE_Building_Ouray_Colorado.jpg/330px-BPOE_Building_Ouray_Colorado.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/BPOE_Building_Ouray_Colorado.jpg/440px-BPOE_Building_Ouray_Colorado.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2014" data-file-height="3039" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BPOE_Building_Ouray_Colorado.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks building in downtown <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouray,_Colorado" title="Ouray, Colorado">Ouray</a>, <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado" title="Colorado">Colorado</a></div></div></div>
<p>The Elks originally borrowed a number of rites, traditions, and regalia from the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry" title="Freemasonry">Freemasons</a>. However, by the first decade of the twentieth century, much of this had been abandoned as the Elks sought to establish their own identity. The original two degrees required for membership were consolidated into one degree in 1890, the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonic_apron" class="mw-redirect" title="Masonic apron">apron</a> was discontinued in 1895, the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_password" class="mw-redirect" title="Secret password">secret password</a> was gone in 1899, and the badges and <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_handshake" title="Secret handshake">secret handshake</a> were abandoned by 1904.<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.102_40-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.102-40">[39]</a></sup>
</p><p>Initiation and funeral rites still exist, however. The initiation rite is not considered a secret. The initiation involves an altar, with a Bible upon it and chaplain leading the brethren in prayers and psalms. The candidate must accept a "solemn and binding obligation" to never "reveal any of the confidential matters of the Order". He further promises to uphold the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_States" title="Constitution of the United States">Constitution of the United States</a>, protect brother Elks and their families, only support worthy candidates for admission and never bring political or sectarian questions up into the Order. The funeral rite is called the "Lodge of Sorrow" and also involves prayers.<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.103_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.103-11">[10]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="The_Hour_of_Recollection">The Hour of Recollection</span></h3>
<p>Deceased and otherwise absent lodge members are recalled each evening at 11 p.m. Chimes or sometimes a bell will be rung 11 times and 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:
</p>
<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r996844942"><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>You have heard the tolling of eleven strokes. This is to impress upon you that with us the hour of eleven has a tender significance. Wherever Elks may roam, whatever their lot in life may be, when this hour falls 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 in the West, but ere the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory will be pealing forth the friendly message: "To Our Absent Members."</p><div class="templatequotecite">— <cite><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.elks.org/">http://www.elks.org/</a></cite></div></blockquote>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Communal_burial">Communal burial</span></h3>
<div class="thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki-elks_EMY1236-Edit.jpg" class="image"><img alt="Elks Lodge 315 burial ground" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Wiki-elks_EMY1236-Edit.jpg/220px-Wiki-elks_EMY1236-Edit.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="thumbimage" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Wiki-elks_EMY1236-Edit.jpg/330px-Wiki-elks_EMY1236-Edit.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Wiki-elks_EMY1236-Edit.jpg/440px-Wiki-elks_EMY1236-Edit.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2250" data-file-height="1500" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki-elks_EMY1236-Edit.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div>The communal burial ground and statue for Elks Lodge #315 at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Newport News, Virginia</div></div></div>
<p>The Elks have communal <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemetery" title="Cemetery">cemetery</a> plots, which are often marked with impressive statuary.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Famous_Elks">Famous Elks</span></h2>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Athletes">Athletes</span></h3>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Keeler" title="Willie Keeler">Willie Keeler</a>, Brooklyn, New York Lodge #22<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41">[40]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babe_Ruth" title="Babe Ruth">Babe Ruth</a>, New York, New York Lodge #1<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li></ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Politicians">Politicians</span></h3>
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Presidents_of_the_United_States">Presidents of the United States</span></h4>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower" title="Dwight D. Eisenhower">Dwight D. Eisenhower</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_R._Ford" class="mw-redirect" title="Gerald R. Ford">Gerald R. Ford</a>, Grand Rapids, Michigan Lodge #48<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G._Harding" title="Warren G. Harding">Warren G. Harding</a>, Marion, Ohio #32<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy" title="John F. Kennedy">John F. Kennedy</a>, Boston, Massachusetts Lodge #10<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.105-30">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt" title="Franklin D. Roosevelt">Franklin D. Roosevelt</a>, Poughkeepsie, New York #275<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.105-30">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman" title="Harry S. Truman">Harry S. Truman</a>, Kansas City, Missouri Lodge #26<sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.105-30">[29]</a></sup></li></ul>
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Vice_Presidents_of_the_United_States">Vice Presidents of the United States</span></h4>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alben_W._Barkley" title="Alben W. Barkley">Alben W. Barkley</a>, 35th vice president of the United States<sup id="cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom-42">[41]</a></sup></li></ul>
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Governors">Governors</span></h4>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_P._Cone" title="Fred P. Cone">Fred P. Cone</a>, Florida (1937–1941)<sup id="cite_ref-GRAVE_43-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-GRAVE-43">[42]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sholtz" title="David Sholtz">David Sholtz</a>, <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor" title="Governor">Governor</a> Florida (1933–1937), Exalted Ruler of Florida.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-44">[43]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._Tuck" title="William M. Tuck">William M. Tuck</a>, Danville, Virginia, Lodge #227 Governor of Virginia (1946–1950)<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li></ul>
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Members_of_Congress">Members of Congress</span></h4>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_E._Connell" title="Richard E. Connell">Richard E. Connell</a>, United States Representative representing <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state)" title="New York (state)">New York</a><sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45">[44]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater" title="Barry Goldwater">Barry Goldwater</a>, United States Senator representing <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</a><sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.105-30">[29]</a></sup></li></ul>
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Other_politicians">Other politicians</span></h4>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_O._Aulds" title="Lonnie O. Aulds">Lonnie O. Aulds</a>, member of the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_House_of_Representatives" title="Louisiana House of Representatives">Louisiana House of Representatives</a> from 1968 to 1972, real estate developer in <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreveport,_Louisiana" title="Shreveport, Louisiana">Shreveport, Louisiana</a><sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46">[45]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Francis_Blewitt" title="Edward Francis Blewitt">Edward Francis Blewitt</a>, <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_State_Senate" title="Pennsylvania State Senate">Pennsylvania State Senator</a> and businessman. Great-grandfather of the 46th and current <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President of the United States</a>, <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden" title="Joe Biden">Joe Biden</a><sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47">[46]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emory_Cole" title="Emory Cole">Emory Cole</a>, lawyer and state legislature in Baltimore, Maryland<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48">[47]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_J._Daley" title="Richard J. Daley">Richard J. Daley</a>, 48th <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_Chicago" title="Mayor of Chicago">Mayor of Chicago</a><sup id="cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Schmidt_p.105-30">[29]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Dank" title="David Dank">David Dank</a>, member of <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_House_of_Representatives" title="Oklahoma House of Representatives">Oklahoma House of Representatives</a> since 2007<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49">[48]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_L._Dupr%C3%A9" class="mw-redirect" title="Gilbert L. Dupré">Gilbert L. Dupré</a>, state representative and district court judge in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truly_Hatchett" title="Truly Hatchett">Truly Hatchett</a>, first African American member of the <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_House_of_Delegates" title="Maryland House of Delegates">Maryland House of Delegates</a> and real estate investor<sup id="cite_ref-Elk_50-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Elk-50">[49]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_W._McCormack" title="John W. McCormack">John McCormack</a>, 45th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives<sup id="cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom-42">[41]</a></sup></li></ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Military">Military</span></h3>
<ul><li>Captain <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker" title="Eddie Rickenbacker">Eddie Rickenbacker</a><sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51">[50]</a></sup></li></ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Entertainers">Entertainers</span></h3>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Benny" title="Jack Benny">Jack Benny</a><sup id="cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom-42">[41]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin" title="Irving Berlin">Irving Berlin</a><sup id="cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom-42">[41]</a></sup></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Welk" title="Lawrence Welk">Lawrence Welk</a><sup id="cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom-42">[41]</a></sup></li></ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span></h2>
<ul><li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Elks_buildings" title="List of Elks buildings">List of Elks buildings</a></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elks_of_Canada" title="Elks of Canada">Elks of Canada</a></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improved_Benevolent_and_Protective_Order_of_Elks_of_the_World" title="Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World">Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World</a></li>
<li><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_Lodge" class="mw-redirect" title="Moose Lodge">Moose Lodge</a></li></ul>
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Notes_and_references">Notes and references</span></h2>
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<div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Perhaps from <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt_cork" class="mw-redirect" title="Burnt cork">burnt cork</a>, a traditional stage makeup</span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1011085734"><div class="reflist">
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<li id="cite_note-minstrel-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-minstrel_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1133582631">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}</style><cite class="citation news cs1 cs1-prop-jul-greg-uncertainty"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1925/03/01/archives/elks-founder-dies-j-m-norcross-minstrel-84-was-last-signer-of-lodge.html">"Elks Founder Dies. J. M. Norcross, Minstrel, 84, Was Last Signer of Lodge Charter"</a>. <i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i>. March 1, 1925<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2015-01-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Elks+Founder+Dies.+J.+M.+Norcross%2C+Minstrel%2C+84%2C+Was+Last+Signer+of+Lodge+Charter&rft.date=1925-03-01&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F1925%2F03%2F01%2Farchives%2Felks-founder-dies-j-m-norcross-minstrel-84-was-last-signer-of-lodge.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt pp. 103–104</span>
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<li id="cite_note-Schmidt-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFSchmidtBabchuk1973" class="citation journal cs1">Schmidt, Alvin J.; Babchuk, Nicholas (1973). "The Unbrotherly Brotherhood: Discrimination in Fraternal Orders". <i>Phylon</i>. <b>34</b> (3): 275–282. <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.2307%2F274186">10.2307/274186</a>. <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/274186">274186</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Phylon&rft.atitle=The+Unbrotherly+Brotherhood%3A+Discrimination+in+Fraternal+Orders&rft.volume=34&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=275-282&rft.date=1973&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.2307%2F274186&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F274186%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.aulast=Schmidt&rft.aufirst=Alvin+J.&rft.au=Babchuk%2C+Nicholas&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-auto-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-auto_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://law.justia.com/cases/utah/supreme-court/1993/910551.html">"Beynon v. St. George–Dixie Lodge 1743"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Beynon+v.+St.+George%E2%80%93Dixie+Lodge+1743&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Flaw.justia.com%2Fcases%2Futah%2Fsupreme-court%2F1993%2F910551.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-auto2-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-auto2_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/297730/ELKS-MUST-ADMIT-WOMEN-OR-LOSE-LIQUOR-LICENSE.html">"Elks Must Admit Women or Lose Liquor License"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Elks+Must+Admit+Women+or+Lose+Liquor+License&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.deseretnews.com%2Farticle%2F297730%2FELKS-MUST-ADMIT-WOMEN-OR-LOSE-LIQUOR-LICENSE.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-auto1-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-auto1_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0929/29142.html">"Elks Lodges Vote on Whether to Admit Women"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Elks+Lodges+Vote+on+Whether+to+Admit+Women&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.csmonitor.com%2F1995%2F0929%2F29142.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-More_Information-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-More_Information_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-More_Information_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/who/information.cfm">"Elks.org :: More Information"</a>. <i>www.elks.org</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.elks.org&rft.atitle=Elks.org+%3A%3A+More+Information&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.elks.org%2Fwho%2Finformation.cfm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/newtonfiremuseum/746573768">"Secret Ballot Box photo"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Secret+Ballot+Box+photo&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fnewtonfiremuseum%2F746573768&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt pp. 102–103</span>
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<li id="cite_note-Schmidt_p.103-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.103_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.103_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt p. 103</span>
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<li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt, Alvin J. <i>Fraternal Organizations</i> Westport, CT; Greenwood Press p. 109</span>
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<li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt p. 202</span>
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<li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130815162913/http://www.bpodoes.org/AboutUs.asp">"Grand Lodge, Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does – It's [<i>sic</i>] History and Organization"</a>. Archived from the original on 2013-08-15<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2013-08-15</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Grand+Lodge%2C+Benevolent%2C+Patriotic+Order+of+Does+%E2%80%93+It%27s%26%2332%3B%26%2391%3Bsic%26%2393%3B+History+and+Organization&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.bpodoes.org%2FAboutUs.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">cite web</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: unfit URL (<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_unfit_URL" title="Category:CS1 maint: unfit URL">link</a>)</span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt p. 93</span>
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<li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt pp. 109–110</span>
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<li id="cite_note-corn-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-corn_17-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Cornelius v. Benevolent Protective Order of Elks</i>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2596907/cornelius-v-benevolent-protective-order-of-elks/">382 F. Supp. 1182</a> (<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._Conn." class="mw-redirect" title="D. Conn.">D. Conn.</a> 1974)</span>
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<li id="cite_note-col-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-col_18-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation journal cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/ucollr44&div=31&id=&page=">"New Test for Suits Seeking to Halt Governmental Support to Private Discriminating Organizations – Impermissible State Action"</a>. <i>U. Colo. L. Rev</i>. <b>44</b> (1973–1974): 447.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=U.+Colo.+L.+Rev.&rft.atitle=New+Test+for+Suits+Seeking+to+Halt+Governmental+Support+to+Private+Discriminating+Organizations+%E2%80%93+Impermissible+State+Action&rft.volume=44&rft.issue=1973%E2%80%931974&rft.pages=447&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fheinonline.org%2FHOL%2FLandingPage%3Fhandle%3Dhein.journals%2Fucollr44%26div%3D31%26id%3D%26page%3D&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFKandell1972" class="citation news cs1">Kandell, Jonathan (1972-03-13). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/13/archives/elks-dismiss-opponent-of-their-allwhite-rule.html">"Elks Dismiss Opponent Of Their All‐White Rule"</a>. <i>The New York Times</i>. <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331">0362-4331</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-02-13</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Elks+Dismiss+Opponent+Of+Their+All%E2%80%90White+Rule&rft.date=1972-03-13&rft.issn=0362-4331&rft.aulast=Kandell&rft.aufirst=Jonathan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F1972%2F03%2F13%2Farchives%2Felks-dismiss-opponent-of-their-allwhite-rule.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFPfefferkorn1988" class="citation journal cs1">Pfefferkorn, Michael (1988). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/stlpl7&i=218">"The Ability of Voluntary Associations to Control Membership through Expulsion Comment"</a>. <i>Saint Louis University Public Law Review</i>. <b>7</b>: 209.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Saint+Louis+University+Public+Law+Review&rft.atitle=The+Ability+of+Voluntary+Associations+to+Control+Membership+through+Expulsion+Comment&rft.volume=7&rft.pages=209&rft.date=1988&rft.aulast=Pfefferkorn&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fheinonline.org%2FHOL%2FP%3Fh%3Dhein.journals%2Fstlpl7%26i%3D218&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFEnstad1973" class="citation news cs1">Enstad, Frober (July 20, 1973). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/383704734/">"Elks open source to blacks"</a>. <i>Chicago Tribune</i>. p. 12.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Chicago+Tribune&rft.atitle=Elks+open+source+to+blacks&rft.pages=12&rft.date=1973-07-20&rft.aulast=Enstad&rft.aufirst=Frober&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fimage%2F383704734%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFMeehan1972" class="citation news cs1">Meehan, Thomas (August 13, 1972). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/13/archives/the-other-july-convention-the-bpoe-best-people-on-earth-in-atlantic.html">"The other July convention"</a>. <i>The New York Times</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=The+other+July+convention&rft.date=1972-08-13&rft.aulast=Meehan&rft.aufirst=Thomas&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F1972%2F08%2F13%2Farchives%2Fthe-other-july-convention-the-bpoe-best-people-on-earth-in-atlantic.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFFleeman1988" class="citation news cs1">Fleeman, Michael (September 30, 1988). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://apnews.com/0762542d25bb1d1fdb231d039026cfbd">"Despite Reforms, Blacks Still Struggling to Join Elks Lodges"</a>. <i>Associated Press</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Associated+Press&rft.atitle=Despite+Reforms%2C+Blacks+Still+Struggling+to+Join+Elks+Lodges&rft.date=1988-09-30&rft.aulast=Fleeman&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fapnews.com%2F0762542d25bb1d1fdb231d039026cfbd&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/memorial/historicalTour.cfm">"Elks.org :: History of the Elks National Memorial"</a>. <i>www.elks.org</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.elks.org&rft.atitle=Elks.org+%3A%3A+History+of+the+Elks+National+Memorial&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.elks.org%2Fmemorial%2FhistoricalTour.cfm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/memorial/">Welcome to the Elks Veterans Memorial</a>". <i>Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks</i>.</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt p. 104</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt pp. 104–105</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-elkmag-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-elkmag_28-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/elksmag/default.cfm">"Elks Magazine Online"</a>. <i>Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 17,</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Benevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks&rft.atitle=Elks+Magazine+Online&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.elks.org%2Felksmag%2Fdefault.cfm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.elks.org/history/pgers.cfm">"Grand Exalted Rulers"</a>. <i>elks.org</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 16,</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=elks.org&rft.atitle=Grand+Exalted+Rulers&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.elks.org%2Fhistory%2Fpgers.cfm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Schmidt_p.105-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.105_30-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt p. 105</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt pp. 108–109 Schmidt's main source is James R. Nicholson and Lee A. Donaldson, <i>History of the Order of Elks</i> 1969. He also cites back issues of the proceedings</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt p. 44 Schmidt's main source is "The Antlers" in James R. Nicholson and Lee A. Donaldson, <i>History of the Order of Elks</i> 1969. The source for the continued existence of the Antlers after 1946 was apparently an Elks official he spoke to. The text of the relevant portion of the 1907 resolution is on p. 109</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFBeck" class="citation web cs1">Beck, Bill. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/lodges/LocalNews.cfm?news_id=30469">"A Message From Bill Beck"</a>. <i>Springfield, Illinois, Lodge #158</i>. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. <q>I will forever remember that BPOE also stands for the Best People On Earth, a line you have used often...</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Springfield%2C+Illinois%2C+Lodge+%23158&rft.atitle=A+Message+From+Bill+Beck&rft.aulast=Beck&rft.aufirst=Bill&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.elks.org%2Flodges%2FLocalNews.cfm%3Fnews_id%3D30469&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFKelly" class="citation web cs1">Kelly, Mike. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070112162846/http://www.elks.org/history/toast.cfm">"The origins of The 11 O'Clock Toast"</a>. <i>B.P.O.E. Grand Lodge Historian</i>. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/history/toast.cfm">the original</a> on January 12, 2007. <q>I will forever remember that BPOE also stands for the Best People On Earth, a line you have used often...</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=B.P.O.E.+Grand+Lodge+Historian&rft.atitle=The+origins+of+The+11+O%27Clock+Toast&rft.aulast=Kelly&rft.aufirst=Mike&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.elks.org%2Fhistory%2Ftoast.cfm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFSparks" class="citation web cs1">Sparks, Eva. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070301231817/http://www.elks.org/history/hikers.cfm">"Elks Walk 2,223 Miles to Attend 1912 National Convention"</a>. <i>Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/history/hikers.cfm">the original</a> on March 1, 2007. <q>Four athletic young men, members of the local B.P.O.E Lodge (Best People On Earth) and employees of...</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Benevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks&rft.atitle=Elks+Walk+2%2C223+Miles+to+Attend+1912+National+Convention&rft.aulast=Sparks&rft.aufirst=Eva&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.elks.org%2Fhistory%2Fhikers.cfm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Elks National Foundation, About ENF, Annual Report 2021, <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.elks.org/ENF/background.cfm">https://www.elks.org/ENF/background.cfm</a></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/programs/vetsprograms.cfm">"Veterans Services"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">3 July</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Veterans+Services&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.elks.org%2Fprograms%2Fvetsprograms.cfm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/programs/history.cfm">History of veterans programs</a>, Elks website</span>
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<li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/09/journal_entries_three_students_graduate_from_njits.html">"Journal Entries: Saint Peter's gets $100K grant from Provident Bank"</a>. <i>NJ.com</i>. September 22, 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 10,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NJ.com&rft.atitle=Journal+Entries%3A+Saint+Peter%27s+gets+%24100K+grant+from+Provident+Bank&rft.date=2015-09-22&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.nj.com%2Fhudson%2Findex.ssf%2F2015%2F09%2Fjournal_entries_three_students_graduate_from_njits.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Schmidt_p.102-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.102_40-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Schmidt_p.102_40-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Schmidt p. 102</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-41">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFSolomon2000" class="citation book cs1">Solomon, Burt (14 March 2000). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=MFuUDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6"><i>Where They Ain't: The Fabled Life and Untimely Death of the Original Baltimore Orioles, the Team That Gave Birth to Modern Baseball</i></a>. <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Publishing_Group" title="Crown Publishing Group">Crown Publishing Group</a>. p. 6. <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-385-49882-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-385-49882-1"><bdi>978-0-385-49882-1</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">31 May</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Where+They+Ain%27t%3A+The+Fabled+Life+and+Untimely+Death+of+the+Original+Baltimore+Orioles%2C+the+Team+That+Gave+Birth+to+Modern+Baseball&rft.pages=6&rft.pub=Crown+Publishing+Group&rft.date=2000-03-14&rft.isbn=978-0-385-49882-1&rft.aulast=Solomon&rft.aufirst=Burt&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DMFuUDwAAQBAJ%26pg%3DPA6&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Centennial_Anniversary_of_Elkdom_42-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=iD0keoZvrp0C&dq=%22order+of+elks%22&pg=PA3727"><i>Congressional Record</i></a>. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1968. p. 3726<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">30 August</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Congressional+Record&rft.pages=3726&rft.pub=U.S.+Government+Printing+Office&rft.date=1968&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DiD0keoZvrp0C%26dq%3D%2522order%2Bof%2Belks%2522%26pg%3DPA3727&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-GRAVE-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-GRAVE_43-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/conduit-conkling.html">"Cone, Frederick Preston"</a>. The Political Graveyard<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">February 19,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Cone%2C+Frederick+Preston&rft.pub=The+Political+Graveyard&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fpoliticalgraveyard.com%2Fbio%2Fconduit-conkling.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-:0-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-:0_44-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1787&dat=19321110&id=SEscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M2QEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2797,3174607">"Florida's Next Governor"</a>. <i><a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasota_Herald-Tribune" title="Sarasota Herald-Tribune">Sarasota Herald-Tribune</a></i>. Vol. 8, no. 33. November 10, 1932. p. 4.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Sarasota+Herald-Tribune&rft.atitle=Florida%27s+Next+Governor&rft.volume=8&rft.issue=33&rft.pages=4&rft.date=1932-11-10&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnewspapers%3Fnid%3D1787%26dat%3D19321110%26id%3DSEscAAAAIBAJ%26sjid%3DM2QEAAAAIBAJ%26pg%3D2797%2C3174607&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news" title="Template:Cite news">cite news</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: url-status (<a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status" title="Category:CS1 maint: url-status">link</a>)</span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=KNaQxh7RG-4C&q=richard+e.+connell+catholic&pg=RA2-PA43"><i>United States Congressional Serial Set</i></a>. <a href="/https/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Government_Printing_Office" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Government Printing Office">U.S. Government Printing Office</a>. 1914. p. 43<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 March</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=United+States+Congressional+Serial+Set&rft.pages=43&rft.pub=U.S.+Government+Printing+Office&rft.date=1914&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DKNaQxh7RG-4C%26q%3Drichard%2Be.%2Bconnell%2Bcatholic%26pg%3DRA2-PA43&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235758/http://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2012.pdf">"Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812–2012"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. legis.la.gov. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.legis.la.gov/legisdocs/members/h1812-2012.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on October 4, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">July 8,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Membership+of+the+Louisiana+House+of+Representatives%2C+1812%E2%80%932012&rft.pub=legis.la.gov&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.legis.la.gov%2Flegisdocs%2Fmembers%2Fh1812-2012.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFO'Dowd" class="citation web cs1">O'Dowd, Niall. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://goballycastle.com/BidenIrishRoots.html">"Biden's Irish Roots"</a>. <i>www.globallycastle.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">26 April</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.globallycastle.com&rft.atitle=Biden%27s+Irish+Roots&rft.aulast=O%27Dowd&rft.aufirst=Niall&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fgoballycastle.com%2FBidenIrishRoots.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/014300/014301/html/14301bio.html">"Emory Cole , MSA SC 3520-14301"</a>. <i>Archives of Maryland</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">16 July</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Archives+of+Maryland&rft.atitle=Emory+Cole+%2C+MSA+SC+3520-14301&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fmsa.maryland.gov%2Fmegafile%2Fmsa%2Fspeccol%2Fsc3500%2Fsc3520%2F014300%2F014301%2Fhtml%2F14301bio.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150102021513/http://www.okhouse.gov/District85">"Representative Dank, David, District 85"</a>. okhouse.gov. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.okhouse.gov/District85">the original</a> on January 2, 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 21,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Representative+Dank%2C+David%2C+District+85&rft.pub=okhouse.gov&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.okhouse.gov%2FDistrict85&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Elk-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Elk_50-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dyUmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xv0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2879%2C3604776">"Truly Hatchett Elected Exalted Ruler of Elks"</a>. <i>The Afro American</i>. 16 June 1928<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 July</span> 2022</span> – via Google News.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Afro+American&rft.atitle=Truly+Hatchett+Elected+Exalted+Ruler+of+Elks&rft.date=1928-06-16&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnewspapers%3Fid%3DdyUmAAAAIBAJ%26sjid%3Dxv0FAAAAIBAJ%26pg%3D2879%252C3604776&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.elkshistory.org/">http://www.elkshistory.org/</a> "April 1943 Elks Magazine reported that the Life membership card of Brother Eddie Rickenbacker was featured in several national weekly magazines. This was bestowed upon him by the LA Elks on June 18, 1919"</span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFKelly" class="citation web cs1">Kelly, Mike. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070814035235/http://www.elks.org/about/celebrity.cfm">"Name That Elk"</a>. elks.org. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/about/celebrity.cfm">the original</a> on August 14, 2007. <q>Although the original Elks were actors and entertainers, members of other professions soon joined the organization. Today's Elks represent just about the full spectrum of occupations in America.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Name+That+Elk&rft.pub=elks.org&rft.aulast=Kelly&rft.aufirst=Mike&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Frp.liu233w.com%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.elks.org%2Fabout%2Fcelebrity.cfm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ABenevolent+and+Protective+Order+of+Elks" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span></h2>
<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1134653256"><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409">
<div class="side-box-flex">
<div class="side-box-image"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="noviewer" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></div>
<div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Benevolent_and_Protective_Order_of_Elks" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks">Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks</a></span>.</div></div>
</div>
<ul><li><span class="official-website"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elks.org/">Official website</a></span></span></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elkshistory.org/">Unofficial site – collection of images and articles illustrating early Elkdom</a></li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.elkslodge885.org/elks-on-the-web/">Link to State Association pages</a></li></ul>
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.navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1038841319">.mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}</style><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1038841319"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-labelledby="Authority_control_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2895789#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist 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srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">International</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://isni.org/isni/0000000410891433">ISNI</a></span></li>
<li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://viaf.org/viaf/132449892">VIAF</a></span></li>
<li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n85052420/">WorldCat</a></span></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">National</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><span class="uid"><span class="rt-commentedText tooltip tooltip-dotted" title="Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://d-nb.info/gnd/5113813-X">Germany</a></span></span></li>
<li><span class="uid"><span class="rt-commentedText tooltip tooltip-dotted" title="Elks (Fraternal order)"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n85052420">United States</a></span></span></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>' |
Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node) | false |
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp) | '1686953839' |
