The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-28
HE SECRET SOCIETIES:
Some Points About the Royal Arcanum
and the Golden Chain.

anu the Oolden Nuain.
The ROYAL Arcanum is "a benevolent, so
cial and fraternal secret order, organized in
/ Boston, Mass. June 23, 1877. with nine
members, and incorporated under the laws
of MASSACHUSETTS, November 9th. 1877. For
twelve years il has met every obligation
promptly, and now numbers nearly $1,000
members. There have been in this order
during this period nearly 1900 deaths, and
/ the amount paid to benchcIaries is over
twelve million dollars. which amount has
been raised 10y assessments on each member
Ia the different councils.
To become member of this organza-
] ton. a man must be physically sound.
socially acceptable, and Of good moral
character, and age ranging from twenty
one 10 ffty-hve years. No Councils are
formed in territory subject to epidemics
The medical examinations are very ugid
and thorough by both Council and State
Examiners.
The form Of government of this order
is vested in supreme, grand, and subOrdi-
nate councils. The supreme council is the
head Of the order, with fun power 10 make
laws for the government Of itself and the
grand and subordinate councils. Grand
councils are composed of representatives
elected by subordinate councils. and the SUI
prome by representatives. elected from the
I
/ ton is business in theory and practice. il
has a distinctive social character. and
unites the members i'm one common bond of
sympathy and iraiernal allegiance, a iea-
| ture Of the order which insures its perma-
nency. No interference with either religion
or politics permitted. There Is but one de
gree, and the ceremony of initiation short
ana interesting.
Degth claims are paid exclusively out of
the funds realized from assessments. run
ming expenses out Of council dues collected
quarterly. The order in this city and State
had not been pushed with YigOr until 1855
and 1850. When the members, finding that
other States were fast leaving them. deter
mined 20 push their claims, and the result
was marked. New councils were formed.
and the membership of the old councils was
increased. At the last session Of the Supreme
Council. held I'm Atlantic City, Nd. Virginia
showed an increase of l4i per cent. leading
all others. Al this session, Judge Leigh X.
Watts was unanimously chosen Supreme
Regent, such "a mark of honor has been
highly appreciated 10y his fellows not only
in this state, but where ever he was
known.
New councils are being organized all over
the state, and this year promises 10 be one
of great increase in the order i'm this State.
The Grand Council of this State have ar
ranged a series of yisitatiOns 10 all of the
subordinate councils, and they hope during
the year 90 visit all under their jurisdiction.
The yisltations are greatly desired by the
subordinate councils and have been pro-
ductiye Of much good, viz, increasing in
terests and attendance, developing the work
and charging the social feature. Around
Norfolk and the vicinity this order has been
unusually active, but the rest of the State
has shown that earnest work is being done
The present Grand Regent James b. Blanks
is "a we'll known order man, and has pushed
the Royal Arcanum, aided by other mem
bers OF this body.
The veteran and maybe called father of
the Royal Arcanum in this state, Though
young in years and actiyel William LOyen-
stein, the efficient Grand Secretary, probably
is better known than any other for his ef-
forts, as he has been engaged for years i'm
the service, and has been, and is now. the
supreme Representative. He had the honor
of paying the first assessment ever called.
The material of which this order is COM
posed is far above the average, comprising
as IL does, the leading men in all the states.
The entire management is in the hands of
thoroughly competent business men as the
records shows.
The members Of the present Grand Coun-
Gil in the state are as follows: Grand Re-
Grand Vie Regent Walter r. Irvine. Nor
folk; Graud Orator, l.. J. Lefaucher, Berk-
ley; Past Grand Regent II. A. Dobie. Nor
folk: Grand Secretary, William LOvenstein.
Richmond; Grand Treasurer. A. b. Bolts
fredericksburg; Grand Chaplain, c. W.
HarwOod, Richmond. Va; Grand Guide.
W. ID. Morris, Petersburg; Grand Warden.
DR.. III. c. Scott, Ashland; Grand sentry.
John T. Edwards, Lynchburg.
The eighth session Of the Grand Council
will be held at Richmond, Va, on Tuesday
March y, 1890.
ORDER GOLDEN CHAIN.
This order was formed in Baltimore city.
Md, and has steadily grown in favor in all
States, and possesses advantages of being
a southern cooperative association. man.
aged by business men. Unlike other organ
izations II has no grand body, each subordi- !
nate lodge dealing directly with the SUI
preme Lodge. They have five lodges in this |
city, two over hundred members each. and
steadily growing. The lodges here, in addi- |
ton 70 those IN Lynchburg, fredericksburg /
and Norfolk, having acquired a sufficient /
number Of members 10 entitle them 10 a 4
voice IN the supreme body. had their past
commanders meet here last week and So.
lected as their representative II. VI. Smith.
Jr., a prominent young lawyer. who has had
much experience in lodge affairs.
THE B'NM BIRTH.
The BNai Birth Society, Of the states OF
New York, New jersey, Pennsylvania. Del
aware, Maryland and the Nirginias, which
= holding a convention i'm Newark. New
lcrse{ elected the following officers sestcr-
lay President Davis Klein, PHILADELPHIA.
'ice-Pres dent. Frank Mink. Newark. Sec,
etary, NJ. h. Cohen, Philadelphia Treasu-
er, NJ. C.iiirsch, Philadelphia.
Inc con- cation 0f the whole order will be
eid ri Richmond in June. Rev. Joseph !
ieyer, delegate from Pittsburg, went 10
'ew York on sunday night, aud his watch |
M CHAIN, valued at $40, were stolen. The
elegates 10 the convention last night pra. | .