Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-24
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
The Origin and Development of a Pow
erful Society.

The Origin and Development of Pow
erful Society.
Just sixteen years ago there assembled
in the city of Louisville, KY, seventeen
young men, who met for the purpose of or
ganizing a fraternal association upon
plan that would combine the best features
of the various societies already in opera
ton, together with such additional feat
ures as would, in their opinion, insure sta
bility and growth so steady that there
would ultimately be banded together fra
ternity composed of the very best element
in the community. j. A. Demaree was
the prime mover in establishing the new
Order which was then called the "Knights
of Honor of the World" The movement
thus started by Mr.. Demaree was given
further impetus by Darius Wilson, and to
these two gentlemen belongs the credit of
having founded an Order which, at the
present day, claims membership of 1885,
600, under the jurisdiction of a Supreme
Lodge for the entire country, subdivided
into thirty-six Grand Lodges in as many
States and Territories, with $500 subor-
dinate lodges, of which 100 are in the State
of New York alone, and 65 in the city of
New York, with a membership of over
5000. The astonishing growth of the
Order has proved the wisdom of its found
ers, and the good work accomplished in
caring for its members and benefciaries is
attested by the expenditure of S27 100000
for death losses alone during the period of
sixteen years since the inception of the
Order. Besides this, it has, through SUBJ
ordinate lodges, contributed largely to the
sufferers by yellow fever in the South in
1883; to the flood sufferers in the Ohio
Valley in 1884, to the sufferers by fire at
Galveston, Texas, in 1885; to the earth
quake sufferers at Charleston in 1886; the
yellow fever sufferers at Tampa in 1887, and
the Johnstown disaster few weeks since.
In addition to this, several millions of
dollars have been paid in sick benefits to
members and untold cases of distress and
suffering have been relieved. In word,
the knights Of Honor have record of
which any organization may be proud.
Membership in the Order is confined to
no profession, business or occupation. The
Supreme Lodge is composed of representa-
tives from Grand Lodges, while the latter,
are composed of representatives from each
subordinate lodge in the State All white
male persons between the ages of Is and
80 years are eligible to membership.
Each subordinate lodge pays per capita
tax upon its membership to the Grand
Lodge, and each Grand Lodge pays per
capita tax to the Supreme Lodge, and
from these amounts are paid expenses for
annual sessions, salaries, printing, etc.
The government of the Order is demo-
cratic, each lodge being entitled to repre-
sentation in the Grand Lodge, and each
Grand Lodge in the Supreme Lodge; con-
sequently it contains no self-appointed
Board of Directors. The Order is not in
the field as rival to kindred institutions,
but as an ally to them neither is it an OPP
ponent Of life insurance associations. Each
member entering the Order is entitled to
insurance to the extent of $4,000, 81, 900 or
$500 as he may elect. No oath Is admin
istered to initiates; only promise upon
honor is exacted to live the life of good
citizen. Neither is it a religious or politi-
cal society. Both subjects are carefully
kept out of the lodge room. Jew or Cen
tile, Catholic or Protestant, is alike re-
spected and made welcome. The society
is secret in so far that it has signs, grips
and pass words to keep out intruders.