CHAPTER III.
 

THE BIRTH AND RISE OF THE B. AND P. O.

OF ELKS.

THE FORMATIVE PERIOD.

NE of the several evidences that Vivian's work and ideas were
adopted and incorporated into the fabric of the new organiza¬
tion, is that the titles of the officers elected under the new
regime were all of Buffalo nomenclature, viz.: Charles A.
Vivian, Right Honorable Primo; Richard R. Steirly, First
Deputy Primo; William L. Bowron, Second Deputy Primo;
James W. Glenn, Third Deputy Primo; Wifliam Carleton,
(Recording) Secretary; William Sheppard, Corresponding
Secretary; Henry Vandemark, Treasurer; William Sheppard,
Tiler. The Tiler was appointed, but Sheppard being unable
to discharge the duties of both offices, Albert Hall was
afterwards appointed Tiler.

After the change of name was adopted on February i6, 1868,
and the organization continued under the title of B. P. O. E., Vivian, as Right
Honoraljle Primo, presided at two sessions of the lodge thereafter, February 23
and March i, 1868. At the session of February 23 he conferred the First Degree
upon a number of brothers, among, the number being George W. Thompson, who
so informed Bro. Meade D. Detweiler when that G. E. R. was making a search
for historical data. Necessitated soon after (March 2) to leave New York for
Philadelphia, in pursuit of his vocation, Bro. R. R. Stierly, as the next highest
officer, presided- in Vivian's absence, and continued so to do until June 14 of that
same year.

The committee which had been appointed on Constitution and By-laws re¬
ported early in March, 1868. The constitution contained fifteen Articles, which
were followed by twenty-one rules and regulations. Although the growth of the
Order has, from time to time, compelled many additions and emendations to meet
our changed circumstances, it is substantially the basis of Elk jurisprudence as
we have it to-day. The title of the Order and the list of officers as* given on the
second page thereof definitely settles, for all future time, any question that may
have been raised in the past as to the right of Brother Vivian to be recognized as
the first presiding officer in Elkdom, as well as to the time when the title Benevo¬
lent and Protective Order of Elks came into use. So important and decisive is it,
that it is here reproduced verbatim:                                            __

THE CONSTITUTION, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
BENEVOLENT ORDER OF ELKS.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks—Grand Lodge.
Organized February 16, 1868.
officers for the year 1868.
R. PI. Primo—Charles Vivian.    First Deputy Primo—R. R. Steirly.    Sec¬
ond Deputy Primo.   Third Deputy Primo.   Honorary Secretary—William Carle-

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