In 1871 Article A of The Constitution set the 2nd week in December as the Annual Session and the 2nd week in June as the Semi-annual Session.
In 1889 the Forty-First Session designated and dedicated the first Sunday in December to be celebrated as a “Lodge of Sorrow.” The Grand Lodge Session of 1890 then designated and dedicated the first Sunday in December as “Elks Memorial Day.”
The Elks War Commission opened an Elks Fraternal Center in New York City on December 11, 1943.
Elks National Foundation offices were moved from Boston to the Elks Memorial Building during the month of December 1966.
Written by Greg Rill