Ernst T. Grube
Lone Scout Alumni Organizations
The LSA merger with the BSA in 1924 resulted in the discontinuation of Lone Scout magazine, which had served as a common meeting ground for all Lone Scouts. It was in effect the glue which bound the Lone Scouts together. In fact, the bond was so strong amongst old-time Lone Scouts, many of them tried to replace Lone Scout with other means of communication, even though BSA started publishing The Lone Scout to replace the LSA Lone Scout magazine. To overcome this loss of an essential medium of communication, and, in part, to satisfy the need to know what had happened to old Lone Scout pals, two "alumni" organizations were formed.
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Ernst T. Grube |
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Lone Indian Fellowship lapel pin; the actual size is about three-eights inch square |
In 1926, Ernst T. Grube formed The Lone Indian Fraternity (LIF) and was only open to men who had been members of the Lone Scouts of America. He began publishing The Lone Indian, which continued until his death in 1994. After it was first organized, the LIF was changed in name to the Lone Indian Fellowship and began to admit Lone Scout wives and others connected to the Lone Scouts who were members. Grube edited the publication, The Lone Indian initially, but as the membership grew, Grube turned over the editorship of the paper to successive editors. He also allowed the group to organize and elect officers. The LIF held conventions and get-togethers throughout the years and sometimes met jointly with the Elbeetian Legion members in their annual conventions.
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Charles J. Merlin |
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Charles J. Merlin organized the Elbeetian Legion in 1927 and launched a mimeographed publication, Elbeetee, which was first circulated among about 25 of his Lone Scout friends. The organization grew in number to 1601 in 1994 when the Elbeetian Legion ceased to exist as an organization. The Elebeetee magazine grew in pages and circulation over the years until Merlin passed away in 1995. Merlin didn't allow any "organization" within the Elbeetian Legion and he remained the titular head until his death. There were no dues imposed but each year a "Round-Up" was held to garner donations to publish the Elbeetee magazine and fund other items required within the organization.
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Elbeetian Legion celluloid pin |
Ostensibly, the Elbeetian Legion was only open to men (except there was at least one woman) who had been LSA members between 1915 and 1924. Later, Lone Scouts who were members of the Boy Scouts of America Lone Scout program were also admitted as members. The Legion held many conventions and reunions over the years beginning in 1934.
Their motto was: "Through Eternity, We'll Never Forget."
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Here are several different Elbeetian Legion pins produced by various Elbeetian Legion members for many purposes, but mainly for either give away or sale at Elbeetian Legion Reunions. Note the one in the center is from the 1966 Vincennes, Indiana Reunion
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Elbeetian Legion |
Elbeetian Legion |
Elbeetian Legion |
There was no distinct lapel pins or emblem for the Elbeetian Legion, but there were many buttons produced by Elbeetian members for various purposes. All the above buttons were about one-half inch in diameter and came in several different versions. All were either made or commissioned by Elbeetian Legion members.
When the Lone Scouts of America merged with the Boy Scouts of Americas, many of the Lone Scouts who were living in other countries had no other organization in which they could become members. There were, however, other established alumni organizations in other countries. One of these was in Canada. It was called the Totem Club and the pin of the organization is shown below.
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Totem Club of Canada Pin |
The Lone Scout Foundation, which was established by old-time Lone Scouts, became the successor to both the LIF and LBT organizations, when they became dormant mainly because of declining membership numbers mostly due to deaths of so many "old timers."
The Lone scout Foundation maintains the same motto to this day, "Through Eternity We'll Never Forget," and is determined to not let the history of the Lone Scouts of America die without a just and loyal effort.
