The "Jolly Corks," the beginning of the Elks, lasted from Nov. 25, 1867, to Feb. 15, 1868, and included their founder, Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian and E.M. Platt, F. Langhorne, William Carleton, William Sheppard, Richard R. Steirly, John T. Kent, H. Vande-mark, H. Bosworth and M.G. Ashe.
In 1919, the use of the "Eleven O'clock Toast" on occasions where non-Elks were present was given official Grand Lodge permission.
On May 9, 1961, the Grand Lodge Session created the "Americanism Committee."
On May 26, 1969, the Lodge Esquire's instructions on procedure was moved from the end of the initia-tion ceremony to its present position following the Obligation
On May 31, 1889, the tragic Johnstown Flood killed 2000 people, and the B.P.O.E. began its tradition of helping American citizens with a donation of thou-sands of dollars for relief.
On Feb. 16, 1868, the "Jolly Cork" members voting for "The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes" were C.A.S. Vivian, R.R. Steirly, M.G. Ash, H. Vande-mark, H. Bosworth, Frank Langhorne and E.W. Platt. Voting for the name "Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks" were W.F. MacDonald, G.W. Thompson, T.G. Riggs, W. Carleton, W. Sheppard, G. Guy, H. Dougherty and W.L. Bowron. The name "ELKS" was chosen by a committee viewing an Elk head at Bar-num's Museum.
In 1874 the B.P.O.E. instituted the position of District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler.
On June 8, 1868, the first B.P.O.E. fund-raiser was held at the Academy Of Music at 14th Avenue and Irving Place in NYC.
On March 17, 1889, members of the Boston and Omaha Lodges bring the body of Charles A.S. Vivi-an to from Leadville, CO to Boston, MA where he is interred in the Elks Rest.
Listed below is a few celebrities that were Elk Members:
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
President Gerald Ford
President Harry Truman
President John F. Kennedy
Former U.S. Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen of Illinois
Former Senator Robert J. Dole of Kansas
Former Speakers of the House Tip O'Neill
Carl Albert
John McCormick
Sam Rayburn
Entertainers
Lawrence Welk
Will Rogers
Jack Benny
Andy Devine... Devine was even Exalted Ruler of San Fernando, California, Lodge.
Clint Eastwood is a member of Monterey, California, Lodge.
Vince Lombardi
Casey Stengel
Mickey Mantle
Whitey Ford
Robert Montgomery "Bobby" Knight
Jim Finks