Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-07-24

Important Gathering of Representa-.
tives of the Order.
MEETING AT HARPER's THEATRE.
Mayor McConechfe's Address OF Wei.
come and Chairman Agnew's Reply
.-.Getsing Down 10 Bnsiness, Com
mittees Named, Etc. -.-Dr. N Ktnnie
Talks-Interesting Work Ahead.

u
ern Woodmen camps throughout tn,
grand jurisdiction of the order. in re
spouse to a call issued by the camps o
the Eleventh congressional district assem-
bled at Harper's theatre this morning.
The conven ton was called to order BY
Neighbor j l.. Haas. who stated that il
had been suggested that the chairman
and secretary of the meeting from which
the call for this convention was iseued
act as temporary officers of this conven
ton. They were Neighbor Fl. G. Agnew
of Macomb, and Ncighbor " L. Hamp,
ton. of Colchester. and the motion pre-,
vailed amid great enthusiasm. Mr.. Ag,
new introduced Mayor McConochie, who
delivered the following brief address oil
welcome:
WELCOMED BY THE MAYOR.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Order OF
Modern Wooumen:
In behalf o. the citizens of Rock Island
extend TO you the hand of friendship
and bid you hearty welcome to our
city. | have no doubt the members of
your honorable order, residents of the
city. will see to it that every courtesy is
extended to you and will make your short
stay in our midst as pleasant and enjoya-
BILE as possible. for which they will re-
ceive the thanks and appreciation of the
people.
Your motives, aims and objects will
not attempt to discuss, not having the
honor of being member of the organizs-
ton myself; but it is well known fact
that the principles of this and all kindred
associations is TO elevate and raise
mankind up and place him upon a
higher level morally, socially aud
intellectually To teach him his duty
TO his God and to his fellowman, ever
ready with kind word and helping
hand TO lend assistance To poor and UNI
fortunate humanity, ever willing TO
whisper words of counsel in the ear of an
erring brother. and show to him and the
world we are brothers not only in naHe,
but in fact. and when the battle OF life is
ended follow his remains to the grave and
drop an ever green on his coffin as en-
blematical. that you will ever keep fresh
and green in youu memories his many
virtues, forgetting for the time his faults
and imperfeo tons, ever remembering we
are but human. will not attempt to de-
tain you gentlemen; you came here on
business OF Importance. and when look
into the manly and determined faces
of this audience l see before me.
have no doubts as to the re-
suits, that the business will be transacted
in a prompt and energetic manner
becoming honorable and brave men,
and who will do their whole duty like
men and will hew to the line of justice
let the consequences be what they may.
The work performed at this session will
receive the appreciation of not only
the order, but the public in general
throughout The land. Should 1t be that
teaches and bloodsuckers have crept in
and fastened themselves on the vitals of
the order, they will be plucked out Root
and branch. or am deceived by the de-
termined expressions / see on the coun.
tenances of this audience. and judging
from the character of the men who be,
long to the order living in this city.
Gentlemen, thank you. and bid you a
God-speed in the good work you are
about to in augurate. Again l bid you
welcome to our city.
CHAIRMAN AGNEw's REPLY.
On behalf of the convention, as its
temporary officer, and for each individ-
ual member, and for the society as an
organization, Mr.. Aguew returned
thanks for the mayors greetings and
courtesies. Knowing the reputation OF
Rock Island. the Woodmen expected
open. hearted greetings, and in this they
were not disappointed Mr.. Agnew also
returned sincere thanks for the honor
conferred upon him 10y the convention
by making him its temporary presiding
officer. He always felt that in meeting a
WoOdmen be met an honest man. who
was making come deprivation for loved
ones; and when he realized that he had
been called TO preside over convention
of such men who we're meeting
together to protect and elevate
the order from impending danger,
human if heidi not appreciate the compli.
ment. He then went into brief review
of the rece Mt alleged frauds that had been
discovered in the office of the head consul
of the order in the way of snleIfuoui
and illegal printing bills, the Burnham
death claim fraud. etc. Not only had the
public press of Illinois exposed these
frauds. he said, but the head consul hsd
acknowledged them yet neither he nor the
executive officers of the order as q whole
had made any effort to ferret them out.
And furth ermOre the state auditor and
attorney general OF the prairie state OF
Illinois had seeR reason for grave charges
and proceedings looking to the running
down of the frauds. He also spoke of the
attempts by the head officers to delay
prosecutions in Illinois of these
cases, and failing in this had called a
meeting OF the head camp of the order
not only in this state. but in Iowa. The
question is are we Woodmen going tc
stand Loyalty and faithfully by the order
of Modern Woodmen. This is your con.
vention it is not meeting Of the Mod
ern Woodmen camps of Illinois, but OF
all Woodrnen everywhere in the order.
On motion Neighbor Spencer Mattison
was appointed assistant temporary secre
tary.
A motion was made that the chairman
appoint committee of three on perma'
nent orgs nization, and three on resolu-
tions, the latter to be composed as far al
practicable of representatives of the diff
ferent jurisdictions.