Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World

The Order claims descent from the Free African Society, the first formal black society in America, founded in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a mutual aid society by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen. That organization later resulted in the founding of the first African-American congregation in the Episcopal Church, headed by Jones, and the founding of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent black denomination, by Allen. The formation of the Improved BPOE as a separate order, however, began in February 1897, when it was established in Cincinnati, Ohio, by city residents B. F. Howard and Arthur J. Riggs. The latter was a Pullman porter who had been born into slavery. The men had met in another fraternal association and wanted to establish a chapter of Elks; the white organization refused them admission. (It was only in 1972 that the white-majority BPOE opened admission to African Americans and other minorities.) Riggs had gained a copy of the BPOE ritual and received the first copyright for it, establishing their organization in September 1898. The first meeting of the new IBPOEW organization was held on Thursday, November 17, 1898. This was a period of a rise in black fraternal associations, with men organizing to work in community and create strong networks. The BPOE disputed the African Americans' use of the ritual, but they held the copyright. In 1912 the Improved, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World was sued by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in the State of New York to keep them from using the "Elks" name. The New York Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the BPOE, with Judge Barlett stating, "If the members desired the name of an animal there is a long list of beasts, birds, fishes which have not yet been appropriated for such a purpose." The decision was apparently ignored after the IBPOEW made a minor change in the letters on their seal. The IBPOEW founded a Civil Liberties department in 1926. It was active in opposing the segregation of schools in Gary, Indiana, the next year. According to historian Venus Green, the Improved Elks labor activism was distinguished from other black fraternal organizations by their "cross-class alliances, male/female solidarity, racial unity, a willingness to join coalitions across ideologies and to engage in multiple forms of struggle, especially militant mass mobilization." The order's historical importance as a place of activism continues to be a central aspect of its public image, that has even reached the interest of scholars and historians. == Symbols ==

The order's colors are royal purple and white. == Organization ==

The organization and titles of the Improved Elks are reportedly modeled on that of the BPOE. Its Grand Lodge meets annually, and the organization is headquartered in Winton, North Carolina. They were organized by Emma V. Kelley on June 13, 1902, in Norfolk, Virginia. == Membership ==

In 1979, the Improved Elks had approximately 450,000 members. In the early 21st century, they have 500,000 members in 1500 lodges around the world. Like other fraternal associations in the United States, both black and white, the Improved Elks have been dealing with declining membership as older members die. Younger people face a different world, and seem less inclined to join such associations that purposefully discriminated against women and also require religious belief. == Ritual ==

Just like the BPOE, the Improved Elks have kept much of their original ritual intact. == Benefits and philanthropy ==

The Improved Elks in the United States sponsor scholarship programs, youth summer computer literacy camps, help for children with special needs, and extensive community service activities. == Selected US lodges ==

Arkansas • William Townsend Lodge, No. 1149, of Pine Bluff California • Clementine Lodge, No. 598, of San Diego • Warren McCree Lodge, No. 1285, of Pittsburg Colorado • Pikes Peak Region Lodge, No. 473, of Colorado Springs, CO • Empire Lodge, No. 1493, of Denver • Mountain Lodge, No. 39, of Denver Connecticut • Shining Star Lodge of Stamford • Goodwill Lodge, No. 1325, Waterbury • New Nutmeg charter Oak, No. 67, of Hartford, Connecticut • Pride of Connecticut, New Britain, Connecticut • Carter L Marshall of Danbury, Connecticut • Victory Lodge, No 1096 New London, Connecticut Delaware • Paul Laurence Dunbar Lodge, No. 106, of Wilmington District of Columbia • Columbia Lodge, No. 85, of Washington, D.C. Kansas • Peerless Princess Lodge, No. 243, of Wichita • Midwest Lodge, No. 1444, of Topeka • Kaw Valley Lodge, No. 265, of Lawrence Massachusetts • Commonwealth Lodge, No. 19, of Boston • Quinsigamond Lodge, No. 173, of Worcester, Massachusetts • Harmony Lodge, No. 140, of Springfield, Massachusetts • Obie Knox Lodge, No. 1568, Holyoke, Massachusetts Michigan • James L. Crawford Lodge, No. 322, of Ann Arbor New Jersey • Sunlight Elks Lodge of Trenton, New Jersey • Monmouth Lodge, No. 122, of Asbury Park, New Jersey • Pride of Camden Lodge, No. 83, of Camden, New Jersey • Centennial Lodge, No. 400, of Westfield, New Jersey New York • Imperial Lodge, No. 127, of New York City • Brooklyn Lodge, No. 32 • Neptune Lodge, No. 743, of New York City • Industry Lodge, No. 889, of New York City • Syracuse Lodge, No. 1104, of Syracuse Ohio • Alpha Lodge, No. 1, of Cincinnati, Ohio • Waldorf Lodge, No. 76, of Dayton, Ohio • Harvey H. Alston Sr Lodge, No. 1755, Columbus, Ohio • Spirit of Ohio Lodge, No. 52, of Cleveland, Ohio • Glenville Elks Lodge, No. 1494, of Cleveland, Ohio • Prosperity Lodge No. 1971, of Columbus, Ohio • Pride of Rubbertown Lodge, No. 1594, of Akron, Ohio Pennsylvania Philadelphia • Quaker City Elks Lodge No. 720, IBPOEW, Philadelphia, was founded in 1926. In 1945 it was the reportedly the second-largest African-American Elks lodge in the country. In 1930, the Lodge erected a home at 1943 Christian Street, in the area now known as the Christian Street Historic District. • Christopher Perry Lodge, No. 965, of Philadelphia • Leonard C. Irvin Lodge, No. 994, of Philadelphia • Edward W. Henry Lodge, No. 1235, of Philadelphia • O.V. Catto Lodge, No. 20, of Philadelphia Rest of state • John A. Watts Lodge, No. 224, of Chester • B.F. Howard Lodge, No. 580, of Media • John F. Moreland Lodge, No. 801, of Monaca • Maple View Lodge, No. 780, of Elizabeth • North Side Lodge, No. 124, of Pittsburgh • Lawrence Lodge, No. 18, of New Castle • Berks Lodge, No. 47, Reading • Unity Lodge, No. 71, of Harrisburg • Conestoga Lodge, No. 140, of Lancaster • Capt. Levi M. Hood Lodge, No. 159, of West Chester • Cyrene Lodge, No. 169, of Steelton • Arandale Lodge, No. 184, of Altoona • Canon Lodge, No. 186, of Canonsburg • Twin City Lodge, No. 187, of Farrell • Clinton J. Lewis Lodge, No. 201, of Bristol • Edgar A. Still Lodge, No. 207, of Williamsport • Booker T. Washington Lodge, No. 218, of McKeesport • Brighton Pioneer Lodge, No. 219, of Beaver Falls • Valley Lodge, No. 294, of New Kensington • Gem City Lodge, No. 328, of Erie • Flood City Lodge, No. 371, of Johnstown • Elmwood Lodge, No. 438, of Norristown • Monroe Lodge, No. 513, of Stroudsburg • Okay Lodge, No. 697, of Monessen • William E. Burrell Lodge, No. 737, of North Hills • Twin County Lodge, No. 838, of Vandergrift • Montgomery Lodge, No. 1271, of Pottstown • Bethal Lodge, No. 1284, of Bethlehem == See also ==