10/23/26 – Elk Sharing

A hidden gem within the Gateway to the West is the Saint Louis Speaker Series (see – B – below) which has been dishing out brain food on winter Tuesdays since 1998. Speakers have included Mikhail Gorbachev, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Henry Kissinger, Margaret Thatcher, Ken Burns, Robert Redford, Colin Powell, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, President Bill Clinton, Jay Leno, Susan Rice, Bob Woodward, John Kerry, Chris Wallace, Malcolm Gladwell, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Dr, Anthony Fauci, and James Comey who shared a tale about President John F. Kennedy. As the story goes, during a visit to the NASA space center in 1962, JfK noticed a janitor carrying a broom. JfK interrupted his tour, walked over to the janitor and said, “Hi, I’m Jack Kennedy, What are you doing?” The janitor responded, “Well, Mr. President, I’m helping put a man on the moon.” On a similar note, I offer a second story about Christopher Wren, one of the great English architects, who one day walked into St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, which he had designed, unrecognized among the men who were at work upon the building, “What are you doing?” Christopher inquired of one of the workmen, and the man replied. “I’m cutting a piece of stone.” Chrispher Wren posed the same question to a second worker who replied, “I’m earning five shillings a day.” And then to a third workman, who answered, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren build a beautiful Cathedral.” My take away from these stories are Vision and Big Picture thinking and to that I’ll proclaim, “Ask not what you lodge can do – ask what you can do for the lodge.” B – I’ve been attending since 2012-2013 (https://www.stlouisspeakers.org) and note that the current season features Pete Buttigieg (Former US Transportation Secretary), Boris Johnson (Former UK Prime Minister), Anne Applebaum (Pulitzer-Winning Historian), Andrew Ross Sorkin (Financial Journalist & Bestselling Author), Charles F. Bolden Jr. (12th NASA Administrator & Astronaut), Nicholas Burns, (Former US Ambassador to China & NATO), and Lynsey Addario (Award-Winning War Photographer).

3 – Closing Strong

To close out my second to last month as Exalted Ruler I offer the following words spoken during a State of the Union,

Mission Statement, To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.

We are: A fraternal order with hundreds of thousands of members and a 150+ year history, 2 – A network of nearly 2000 lodges in communities all over the country, and 3 – A generous charitable foundation that each year gives millions in scholarships, an inspiration to youth, a friend to veterans and more.
Origin: The Elks organization was founded in New York City on February 16, 1868 under the name “Jolly Corks” by 15 actors, entertainers and others associated with the theater. In ensuing years, membership expanded to other professions.
Purpose: This Fraternal Order was founded “To promote and practice the four cardinal virtues of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its members; to quicken the spirit of American Patriotism and cultivate good fellowship.”
Membership: The Order is a non-political, non-sectarian and strictly American fraternity. Proposal for membership in the Order is only by invitation of a member in good standing. To be accepted as a member, one must be an American citizen, believe in God, be of good moral character and be at least 21 years old.
What We Do: The Order spends more than $80,000,000 every year for benevolent, educational and patriotic community-minded programs in such fields as benefiting special needs children, sponsoring Elks National Foundation scholarships, scouting, athletic teams, veterans’ works, a national “Hoop Shoot” free-throw contest involving more than 3 million children, physical and occupational therapy programs and patriotic programs. The youth of our country have always been important to the Order. It is for this reason the Elks Drug Awareness Education Program was launched to warn primary grade students and their parents of the dangers in drug use. Additionally, every lodge observes June 14th as Flag Day, a tradition which the Elks began in 1907 and was later adopted by the Congress as an official observance.

In the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), the four podiums located around the perimeter of a lodge room represent the four cardinal principles of Elkdom: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity.. These podiums serve as the physical “stations” for the lodge’s principal officers during formal meetings and ritual initiations. Architecturally and geometrically aligned around a central altar, each podium carries unique symbolic meaning:

1. The East Podum: Justice
– Officer Station: Exalted Ruler / President
– Symbolism: Positioned in the East, this podium represents the rising sun, authority, and leadership. The principle of Justice emphasizes fairness, dignity, and treating all human beings with respect

2. The West Podium: Brotherly Love
– Officer Station: Esteemed Loyal Knight / 2nd in-command
– Symbolism: Positioned in the West, this podium represents the setting sun and reflection. The principle of Brotherly Love highlights the bonds of fellowship, mutual support, and the collective strength found in bringing communities together

3. The South Podium: Charity
– Officer Station: Esteemed Leading Knight / 3rd in-command
– Symbolism: Positioned in the South, representing warmth and the fullness of the midday sun. Charity is considered the cornerstone of the Order. This station symbolizes active benevolence—giving time, resources, and hearts to support those in need (such as youth, veterans, and local families)

4. The North Podium: Fidelity
– Officer Station: Esteemed Lecturing Knight / 4th in-command

A BPOE tradition is he 11 O’Clock Toast (rather than a 4 o’clock toast), though it serves as a sacred hourly remembrance for absent and deceased members. At every meeting of the BPOE, and every social function, when the hour of 11:00 p.m. tolls, the Lodge conducts a charming ceremonial known as the “Eleven O’clock Toast.” In fact, the clock tolling the eleventh hour is part of the BPOE official emblem, and is directly behind the representation of an elk’s head in the emblem of the Order. You have heard the tolling of 11 strokes. This is to remind us that with Elks, the hour of 11 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.” Another cool BPOE tradition is that the following is stated during all Flag related rituals, “Please salute our Flag. As this emblem is first in our hearts as loyal Americans, so is it close to our altar as loyal Elks. The gentle breezes with lingering caress kiss the folds of no Flag which can compare with it in beauty. There is no such red in budding rose, in falling leaf or sparkling wine, no such white in April blossom, in crescent moon or mountain snow, no such blue in woman’s eye, in ocean’s depth or heaven’s dome, and no such pageantry of clustering stars and streaming light in all the spectrum of the sea and sky.”

TrL – 10/23/26