St. Landry democrat., 1893-03-25
SECRET SOCIETIES.,
Masonic.

No man should be induced or invited
to apply for the mysteries of Masonry.
The character of our membership IN
morality and our acts of charity and
benevolence should be all the sollcita-
ton offered to the initiated. The can
didate should, ID fact, come OF his own
free will and accord, without any soli-
citation Oh the part of any member OF
the fraternity.
Three hundred and sixty-fve thous-
and dollars for Masonic charities is re-
ported by the fraternity Of England for
the past year. What noble record of
benevolence! What glorious example
for others to follow. What bright
page in Masonic history!
knights OF Honor.
On the 30th of June the order of the
Knights of Honor will have been in ex-
istence 20 years. Let there be one
grand celebration all over the country.
a. o. q. W.
Net gain in membership for past
twelve months, 9O,348.
Net gain in membership in December,
1899, 1908.
Amount of beneficiary fund paid out
in Decem Der, 1899, $430, 1875.
Total beneficiary fund disbursed in
1899 to Jan. l, 1898. as shown by the
monthly reports, $500, 507 70.
Grand total beneficiary fund disburs-
ed by the order from organization to
Jan. /, $34, 454, O1457.
10. OF.
Ohio expel?ds forrelief annually about
100000.
The District of Columbia has 10 lodges
and membership OF over 10000.
The trustees of the Odd Fellows
Home and National Sanitarium of Jack
sonville, Fla, reports the receipt of S4,-
372 70 from 81 states, the sums donated
sum having been given 10y the lodges of
Ohio.
Mobiles of the Mystic Shrine.
There are 20 temples and $4,000 menu
bers of the Order Of the Mystic Shrine
in the United States, and increasing by
the thousand every year, owing allegi-
ance to an imperial council that meets
annually (next session in Cincinnati,
1889. Since the first introduction of
the order in this country the work has
been perfected under the super
vision of Illustlous Noble Fleming, who
received his instructions from Rizk AL
Ian Hassoon Effende, who was given SUI
preme jurisdiction in America.
The Order OF the Mobiles of the Mystic
Shrine was instituted by the Mohamme-
dan Caliph Alec, sOn-in- law Of the pro-
sphet Mohammed, in the year A. ID.
$50, at Mecca, in Arabia. and the order,
even to- day, is one of the most highly
favored among the many secret socie-
ties which abound in oriental countries
and gathers around its shrine a select
few of the best educated and cultured
classes.
Red Men.
Ponemah council, No. S. is the only
council of the degree of Pocahontas in
New York. In Brooklyn there are 3.
The degree of Pocahontas is a branch
for ladies, but is somewhat new depar-
ture, not having become thoroughly ap-
preciated as yet. Still its membership in
the United States is not far from 1000
The American Legion of Honor
The American Legion of Honor pays
death benefits, $1,000 to 5000. pays
weekly sick benefits. s. 90 t" $4,000. and
has an Emergency Fund of S576, O15 "a.
Occasionally we meet men who, while
they know very little about the Order
refuse to protect their families in it, be.
cauae some person with whom they were
acquainted was cheated by the failure
of AN old line company. This shows an
inability on their part to keep up with
the times, and reminds one of that other
broad minded individual who does not
want to lea money for some other fell
low to spend.
Fratcrnal beneficial societies have
made men better. They have made them
appreciate O DObler manhood. Made
them understand better the problem of
living. They have clothed the naked
and fed the hungry; built homes for the
homeless and asylums for the sick; edu-
Gated the ignorant and sheltered the ia
theress Their work is to ameIorate
the condition of unhappy humanity, and
they should receive the appreciation and
good wishes of all classes Of citizens.
When the law was passed at the last
session of the supreme council guaran-
teeing to new members but eighteen as
easements per year for the first two
years. there was u general murmur of
disapproval and dissatisfaction, espe-
cially from the stay at home element
The reason for this action was thor
oughly explained. Still this element
and some other members could not uD-
derstand why new members should pay
less than they do, and why they should
be called upon to carry and sustain these
new members. After fair trial of one
year, the records being very carefully
kept, the result is one that will astonisI
many, and will show the wisdom and
foresight of adopting such plan. From
Sept. /, 1891, to Sept. 1, 1892, there were
taken into tho order 6.30S members, who
were to pay but 19 assessments per wear.
and of W ON but very few would have
joined without this guarantee These
members paid into the widows and or
phans' benefit fund $56,672 Ten of the
number have died during the year, and
their beneiiciaries have been paid S17,-
900, leaving credit balance 10 the wild .
nws' and orphans benefit fund of $780,
672. This amount should be very much
larger next year from these same mem
bers, as a large majority of them have
Joined within the last six months.