This is a trend among Pantheon-inspired buildings because its religious associations have always remained ambiguous, instead of being directly referenced in its architecture.
Just as with most other buildings inspired by the Pantheon, the Elks National Memorial has a use that does not align with the Pantheon's religious history. However, the grand and historical design does lend itself well to the aspirational goals of the Elks organization for a memorial that would be monumental, iconic, and beautiful. This unique design helps the Elks National Memorial stand out in comparison to all the other buildings that are inspired by the Pantheon, while still remaining clearly derived from the original design. His design very clearly borrows the rotunda and dome of the Pantheon, but it does not have the same exterior qualities of the front portico instead, it stretches the colonnade around the exterior of the building and forgoes a portico altogether. Within the context of this long history of American Pantheon designs, it comes as no surprise that Egerton Swartwout chose to also adopt the famous design for the Elks Memorial. He also designed the Union Station for Richmond Virginia (1917), which was a looser interpretation of the dome and portico design, as well as the National Gallery of Art (1941) in Washington, DC, which bears close similarity to the original Pantheon. Even more inspired by the Pantheon was architect John Russell Pope, whose design for the Jefferson Memorial (1943) was a fittingly Pantheon-esque monument, for the man who himself was so enamored by its form. Monticello, his plantation mansion, is loosely based on but still clearly inspired by the Pantheon. The University of Virginia Rotunda was designed by him, directly inspired and closely based on the design of the Pantheon.
Thomas Jefferson is the most famous of them all. Its use in American classical architecture can also be traced to specific architects. These are all examples of the adaptation of the Pantheon into a university building, showing that American architects looked up to its beautiful geometric design as fittingly collegiate. These include Columbia University's Low Memorial Library (1895), the Killian Court Dome at MIT (1916), and the University of Virginia Rotunda (1819). The Elks National Memorial may be the unique example in Chicago, but other such buildings exist throughout the States, and often in an even more blatant Pantheon style. The Pantheon has also been a strong inspiration in American architecture, where it has a long history of being adapted in building designs. It is just one of many Pantheon-inspired buildings found in Europe, including ones in Italy and England. One of the most famous examples of the Pantheon's legacy is the Pantheon of Paris, finished in 1790, which kept the name and the facade of the original building, but adapted its dome with a more Parisian neoclassical style. It reads: "The Pantheon, the most celebrated edifice in the whole world." This legacy has been inscribed on the building since 1832, placed by Urban VIII. The Pantheon's historic and architectural significance, as one of the most iconic symbols of classical architecture, has made it a popular model for buildings designed for hundreds of years. The Elks National Memorial is one of many Western buildings modeled after the great Pantheon of Rome. The portico has eight Corinthian columns at the front, with two layers of four columns behind the front colonnade. The dome has five layers of rectangular coffers that lead to a large, central oculus that lets in sunlight. Architecturally, it is defined by its large rotunda and dome, and its portico entrance. Its continuous use throughout history is the reason why it is so well-preserved. It still remains a Catholic church today.
Originally a Roman temple built for the worship of all gods, it was later converted into a Christian church in 609 by Pope Boniface IV, and was then converted into a memorial chapel in 1870 for the kings of Italy. This building was lost in a fire, and the Pantheon that stands today was built on its location between 118 and 128 AD. The original Pantheon was built by Agrippa after the Battle of Actium in 31 BC.