The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) was founded in the USA in 1868, apparently as a method of getting around tavern closing hour laws in New York. It soon took on a more substantive benevolent role, although it is more of a fraternity than a benevolent society.. In 1976 it had over 1.6 million members.
It was all male until the mid 1990s and never has officially had a women’s affiliated group. There have been unofficial women’s groups: the Emblem Club (founded 1926), the Lady Elks (entirely local and informal), the Benevolent Patriotic Order of Does (founded 1921).
There was a youth group, called the Antlers, formed 1922. It died out after World War 2.
It did have an insurance fund, the Elks Mutual Benefit Association, founded 1878, disbanded 1907.
In 1897 an African-American society, the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, was formed. There have been court cases fought between the two Elks organizations. The Improved Elks have a women’s auxiliary, the Daughters of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World.
The Elks of Canada were founded in 1912 in Vancouver. It is not affiliated with the BPOE but the two organizations are friendly. They have a female auxiliary, the Order of Royal Purple, founded 1915. Men have been able to join the Royal Purple since 2006. Women have been able to join the Elks of Canada since 1998. There is an early history of the Elks of Canada, written in 1937.
The qualifications to become a member of the Elks are: Any person of good reputation, a believer in a Supreme Being, an adherent of lawful government and having attained the age of 16.
The local unit is a Lodge and only one is permitted per city. The governing body is the Supreme Lodge.
Click for a list of Lodges and Royal Purple in Ontario
References:
http://www.elks.org/
Stevens p229
http://ibpoew.org/
http://elks-canada.org/
Edward Redeker – Early History of the BPOE of the Dominion of Canada and Newfoundland – (1937)