Not in many moons has there been such a thoroughly representative gathering of men as that which assembled last night to participate in the dedication of its beautiful new lodge hall by Lodge No. 59, B. P. O. and it is a safe. prediction that nobody who was present will soon forget either the dignity and solemnity of the occasion, or the merriment which immediately followed when the time was called for the famous social session.
When Exalted Ruler John E. King rapped for order there must have been at least 500 members of the horned order in the spacious lodge room, not to forget, perhaps, a dozen or two visitors, present through the courtesy of the lodge officers. Elks were present in goodly numbers from sister lodges, including Minneapolis, Stillwater, La Crosse, Duluth, Fargo and Mankato. Visiting Elks were reported in attendance from Chicago. Milwaukee, and even from Butte, Mont., and Portland, Or.
The hall is substantial and comfortable to the last degree. Finished in hardwood with delicate coloring on the walls and ceiling. The surroundings are suggestive of the utmost hospitality. Four immense elk heads look majestically over the chairs occupied by four of the lodge “firers.. A soft. deep carpet of pretty pattern blends unusually well with the tapestry and color effects. the whole being softly illumined by the subdued electric light.
The St. Paul Globe- March 25th, 1896