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Elks Honolulu Lodge No. 616
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Augustus E. Murphy, First Leading Knight
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Augustus Edward Murphy: charitable Elk, loving husband and father, hard working employee who fights back from crushing illness. Add a Hawaii romance and you have a ready-made TV movie!
A. E. Murphy held Lodge 616 membership number 2[1], and was the first Leading Knight. He served as a Trustee, and as Exalted Ruler (1912-1913). Murphy also participated in the Loyal Order of Red Men and the Knights of Pythias, serving as Chancellor.
ER Murphy headed a committee bringing 616 into the Big Brother movement. In July 1913, Murphy represented 616 at the Grand Lodge meeting in Rochester, New York. There a delegation headed by Murphy successfully lobbied for appointment of a District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler solely for Hawaii. (camera pulls back, full view of crowded meeting room, heavy use of smoke machine for cigar effect)
Entertainment in a pre-television era was community-made. Murphy was a sought-after player in amateur theatricals, an Elks tradition. He was in demand as a reader, “as an elocutionist[2], and for recitations.” (voice over: Casey at the Bat)
A. E. Murphy was born in New York City, May 4, 1861. His family’s five generation residence there didn’t stop an adventurous Murphy from arriving in Honolulu in 1887. He found work as a clerk with Egan & Co. on Fort St. Egan’s advertised to both ends of the market: “Fine custom-made clothing” and “Tourists Outfits supplied at Lowest rates.” Also located on Fort Street in 1887 was John McLain, blacksmith, father of young Kate E. McLain. (background: ringing forge hammer). By 1892, Kate worked on Fort Street in photographer J. J. Williams’ sales room. Williams advertised his portraits and landscapes as “equal to the best American or European,” urging customers to “call and see for yourself.” John McLain was still clanging away at his forge - where surely Kate visited. Love bloomed between the French fancy goods and the photographs of Diamond Head. (cue romantic music) Courting a young lady whose father wielded a forge hammer didn’t deter Mr. Murphy and on June 13, 1893, Augustus Edward Murphy married Katherine E. McLain. (under music: classic wedding march)
Murphy worked in several dry goods[3] businesses, rising to assistant manager of a Kahuku, Oahu, plantation store. Several years passed and their only child, Thelma Katherine, was born. In 1897, when Thelma was two they moved to New York, but the islands called the family back to Honolulu around 1900 (background: Aloha ‘Oe softly).
In Honolulu, Murphy opened a shoe store, but soon joined the Department of Public Works. 1901 marked the beginning of free home delivery of mail, requiring official street numbers for all houses and businesses. Murphy spent several years as “City Numberer.” In 1906, Murphy became a deputy clerk in U. S. District Court, Judge Sanford B. Dole[4], presiding. Promotion to Clerk of the Court came in 1908. Clerk Murphy was described as “always courteous, considerate and obliging and ready to come early and stay late to accommodate the bar.” (transition somber background music, softly)
Murphy suffered a stroke in February 1913, affecting his right side. His recovery was attributed to “personal force of character.” Despite lingering difficulty negotiating stairs (a major problem in a pre-elevator structure), he “faithfully attended to the duties of his position.” Early in 1915 he had a second stroke, but again returned to work. Finally, a September stroke disabled him until his death at his home, 1428 Victoria Street[5], on October 26, 1915, at age 54. Headlines dramatized: “Murphy is Dead: Gloom Cast on Court Circles” and “Faithful Official Answers Last Call”. Obituaries referred to him as “genial” and “a thorough gentleman.” His superiors and co-workers showed their respect by lowering the U. S. flag to half-staff at the Federal Court. The courts closed for the day, and the doors at both court and offices were hung with black crepe. Burial at Nuuanu cemetery followed his funeral at the year-old Sacred Hearts Catholic Church on Wilder Avenue. (heroic symphony, camera pulls back, shows portico)
Murphy demonstrated the Elk virtue of Charity, being described as “generous, sympathetic, ready to lend a hand in any good cause or to help the needy.” May all Elks pledge to live up to the standards set by PER Murphy.
Anita Manning, Lodge Historian
References: Archives of Hawaii, Ships’ Manifests Hawaiian Directory and Handbook of the Kingdom of Hawaii, 1888, 1890, 1892-3 Honolulu Advertiser. Oct. 27, 1915 Honolulu Lodge 616. 1951. Book of Memories, Fiftieth Anniversary. Lederer, William. 1926. 616’s 25th Anniversary: Souvenir Program
Polk-Husted. City Directory.1901-10.
Star Bulletin. Oct. 26, 1915
[1] C. B. Cooper, first ER, had card number 1 [2] formal speaking from memory [3] as distinct from ‘wet goods’ like vegetables and meat or fish [4] Dole served as Provisional Government, then Republic President, appointed 1st Territorial Governor, then resigned in 1903 to take a Federal judgeship. He was not an Elk [5] Ironically, the house number of City Numberer Murphy has disappeared
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