Who Are the Elks
The Elks are American Citizens who want to save America’s great values. Elks love others and want to make sure they are healthy and happy. They love life, and want to contribute to it, as well as to share it.
Mission & Purpose
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.), founded on February 16, 1868 in New York City, is a non-profit organization dedicated to practicing its four cardinal virtues: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity.
The goal of the Elks is to:
- Promote the welfare and happiness of members
- Inspire American patriotism
- Foster fellowship and community spirit
Why the Elk?
The animal from which the Order took its name was chosen because its attributes were typical of those to be cultivated by members of the fraternity. The elk is distinctively a North American animal. It habitually lives in herds. The largest of our native quadrupeds, it is yet fleet of foot and graceful in movement. It is quick and keen of perception; and while it is usually gentle and even timorous, it is strong and valiant in defense of its own.
A representation of the majestic head of the male, with its spreading antlers, was adopted as the first badge of the Order, and is still the most conspicuous element of its copyrighted fraternal emblem.