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Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World

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The Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World or IBPOEW is an African American fraternal order modeled on the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

History

The Order claims descent from the Free African Society, the first formal black society in America, founded by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787. Its formal organization as a separate Order, however, began in February 1897, in Cincinnati by B. F. Howard, a resident of that city and Arthur J. Riggs, a Pullman porter. Their ritual was copyrighted in September 1898.[1]

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, 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."[2] While the judge ruled in favor of the "white" Elks, the decision was apparently ignored.[3]

The IBOEW founded a Civil Liberties department in 1926, and was active in opposing the segregation of schools in Gary, Indiana the next year.[4]

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.[5] Unlike the BPOE, the Improved Elks have an officially recognized female auxiliary, the Daughters of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World [6]

In 1923 the IBPOEW convention in Chicago was attended by no less than 3,000 delegates. At that meeting J. Findley Wilson was re-elected "Grand Exalted Leader'.[7]

Membership

In 1979 the Improved Elks had approximately 450,000 members.[8]

Ritual

Unlike the BPOE, the Improved Elks have kept much of their original ritual intact.[9]

Benefits and Philanthropy

The Improved Elks sponsor scholarship programs, youth summer computer literacy camps, help for children with special needs and community service activities.[10]

References

  1. ^ Schmidt, Alvin J. Fraternal Organizations Westport, CT; Greenwood Press pp.107-8
  2. ^ Preuss, Arthur A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. 1924; republished Detroit: Gale Reference Company 1966; p.206
  3. ^ Schmidt p.108
  4. ^ Schmidt p.108
  5. ^ Schmidt p.108
  6. ^ Schmidt p.107
  7. ^ Preuss p.179
  8. ^ Schmidt p.108
  9. ^ Schmidt p.108
  10. ^ Brief History

Further reading

  • Green, Venus, “Not Your Average Fraternal Organization: The IBPOEW and Labor Activism, 1935–1950,” Labor History, 53 (Nov. 2012), 471–94.

See also

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