Russell was an honorary member of the Elks Club in Great Falls. In 1912, he was asked to contribute something for the dedication of the new Elks Temple, so he painted this scene for them and inscribed it, “To My Brothers.”

Russell’s composition points the viewer to the exalted ruler with the shed antler pointing from the left and the white streaks of snow pointing from the right. The ruler dominates the painting and looks back at the viewer, his exalted status echoed by his placement in the painting, at the apex of the hill.