![]() ![]() The lodge also does not have any women, who are still excluded by the rules. Retired policemen use their law enforcement contacts to conduct background checks, he said.ĭespite the removal of the color ban, Hohlman acknowledged that the Long Beach lodge still has no black or Latino members, although it has a few Asians. “The order is open to any race, color or creed, but they’ve got to be investigated and voted on by the members,” Wiseman said. Rules were changed in 1973 so that Elk lodges are presumably color blind. Until a few years ago, it also meant that members must be white. Membership in the Elks is open exclusively to “American gentlemen.” That means they must be citizens, age 21 and up, with no criminal records. “The Elks outlook requires a certain maturity, outlook and philosophy,” he said. Mike Kelly, assistant to the grand secretary at the Elks’ national headquarters in Chicago, blamed the decline on the hesitancy of baby boomers to join-at least until now. There are no national figures for Odd Fellows, a spokesman said, but “the trend is we’re still losing.” The number of Masons, now 335,000, drops about 10,000 a year. The Shriners’ membership peaked at 941,000 in 1978 and has fallen since to 850,000, a spokeswoman said. While the nation’s population has increased about 9% since the Elks’ national membership reached 1.6 million in 1976, the group’s ranks have dipped to 1.55 million today. Over the next two hours, they went through more routines-reports on hospitalized members following the good news that none had died-then heard a talk by a world explorer, who laced the narration of a film about his trip to Thailand with well-received condemnations of opium use and cigarette smoking.Īlthough fraternal organizations pride themselves on the pomp and ritual of such evenings, it apparently does not hold as much interest for younger generations. Then the meeting was declared officially under way. When the lodge “esquire” informed Wiseman that the altar had been properly arranged, the lights were dimmed and a chaplain recited the prayer. An elaborate ritual followed in which “knights,” standing at podiums marked “charity,” “justice” and “brotherly love,” placed an American flag, a Bible and elk antlers on a table at the center floor. The Elks honored visiting “brothers” from other lodges and gave away dollar coins to entire rows of members chosen in a drawing.Įxalted Ruler Richard Wiseman wielded his gavel to order the doors shut. A somber mood was set by the dimming lights recessed inside the smooth ceiling, which peaks about 15 feet above the floor. On one such night recently, organ music lilted through the chamber as those attending filled about 500 of the 680 seats. On two meeting nights a year, however, family, friends and prospective members are welcome to attend. The lodge is open to outsiders except on Monday nights, when the male-only club is sealed for the weekly meeting of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Hohlman, secretary and a former exalted ruler, the title given each year’s lodge leader. “We’re trying to get membership of 4,500, and (then) let people wait in line to get in,” said Mel J. ![]() Elk leaders hope that the new, $5-million lodge will attract a herd of younger members with its exercise room, Jacuzzi, handball courts and members-only policy. “The dome” will be replaced by a smaller, more pragmatic structure due for construction on a parcel next door. ![]()
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