The Order of Elks was formally organized on February 16, 1868, in the City of New York. Its full corporate name is "Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America." Its declared purposes are to practice its four cardinal virtues, 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 to cultivate good fellowship. The …showed first 75 words of 6624 total…

…showed last 75 words of 6624 total…service that may be within his reasonable capacity to render. It is only by the continued display of such a spirit of fraternal co-operation that his Lodge can maintain itself as the instrumentality of community service it is designed to be. And it is only by generously putting his individual service into his Fraternal Association that he will secure for himself in greatest measure the satisfaction and happiness which should attend membership in the Order.