NO MAN STANDS SO TALL AS HE WHO STOOPS TO HELP A CHILD"
SINCE OUR BEGINNING THE ELKS HAVE HELD IN THEIR HEARTS THE
YOUTH OF AMERICA . THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY AS WELL AS THE
CONTINUANCE OF THE ELKS ORGANIZATION FALLS IN THE LAPS OF THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE.
EARLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE ELKS, LODGES EVERYWHERE HAD BE-
COME ACTIVE IN HELPING THE KIDS AND TRYING TO BROADEN THEIR
OPPORTUNITIES. IN 1911 IT BECAME AN ELKS NATIONAL MOVEMENT.
IN 1913 WE ELKS THREW OUR SUPPORT BEHIND THE "BIG BROTHER"
MOVEMENT AND BY 1917 OVER 400,000 ELKS FROM 1100 LODGES WERE
LOOKING AFTER 30,000 LITTLE BROTHERS.
FROM 1920 TO 1945 YOUTH PROGRAMS HELPED BUILD GOOD
CHARACTER IN THE "JUNIOR ELKS" AGES 15 TO 20. BUT THE START OF
WWII CAUSED THE DEMISE OF THE JUNIOR PROGRAMS AS MANY OF THE
YOUNG MEN WERE CALLED TO SERVE THIS NATION IN THE WAR
THE BOY SCOUT PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1910. LODGES BEGAN
SPONSORING TROOPS IN LARGE NUMBERS. 14 TROOPS IN 1920, GROWING
TO OVER 1,200 IN LATER YEARS. PROVIDING THE SCOUTS NOT ONLY A
SAFE PLACE TO MEET BUT LOCAL LODGES GIVE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MONEY AND EQUIPMENT EACH YEAR TO THE
SCOUTING PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY MANY ELKS HAVE BECOME THE
SCOUT MASTERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
RICK G. PHELPS
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