Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-19

whenever and wherever they could Law their
hands upon them. When the great Richard
Couer de Lion and the gallant Jacques de
Moiay Were striking down the inffdeis who
Holy Land. the Order Of Forestry took form.
Robin Hood. from who so many of our
courts take their name, was an outlaw
outlawed because OF his firm and noble
stand against the oppression Of the con-
Quered Saxons. He was friend of the poor
people. or, as they were called In those
days. serfs; hence the hatred of the mobiles
Mutual Aid.
The very men who were proclaimed out.
laws OF that day by the government banded
themselves together for mutual protection
10 relieve the distress of their fellow suffer.
ers, establishing that broad and glorious
principle which we as Foresters revere.
viz: Liberty, unity, benevolencs and con-
cord, ever ready in the cause of humanity
to feed the hungry. relieve the distressed,
administer to the SICK bury the dead and
protect the widows and orphans Royal
soresters was the original title Of the or
der, which appears to have been founded at
knaresborough Castle, York shire in Octo-
Der. .1745. The first authentic record. how
ever. appears at Leeds-Court No. /, or
ganized in 1870, and which had at the end
of the year 1899 eighty names OF members
on the courts book In the year 1915 the
f1rst anniversary of the Supreme Court was
neld on Whitmonday. June 3. at Leeds, and
a ritual was adopted in the same year.
From the year 1916 until the close of 1884
charters were granted to 35S courts having
membership Of 1900. The order at that
strides
Up to the year 1893 the courts of ROYAL
foresters were governed with moderation
put az that date disruption Of the order
eIsued. and at Rochdale, August T. 1894
\ the order was reconstructed under the
Game or the Ancient Order Of Foresters,
342 delegates enrolling their courts under
the new laws. At the High Court meeting
OF 1885 the Ancient Order Of Shepherds
made Its appearance, and was recoRnized
as the second degree" called Ancient
Snepnerds s,e Modern Forestry reached Lon
Court Victoria, No SIS, and had a member
ship of thirteen; from this unlucky number
In 1888 to the present time the city of
London alone contains more than 100000
members. 1t nay be said England has the
proud distinction of creating the largest
benevolent and secret society in the world
The number Of members in England ex-
ceeds 'O,OOO; the capital invested and In
II easurers' hands amounts to over So4 OOO
OOO; the amount paid out annually in sick
Dement'S reaches considerably over 81 Co.,
gvo: Forestry was first instituted in the
United States at Philadelphia, Pa, In 1882
ard the oldest living court now in the
United States Is Court BROOKLYN No 442I
OF Brooklyn, n. Y. 1t was established In
May, 1864. "
Dny or Independence.
The first important step in Forestry in
America was the formation Of a subsidiary
Hish Court for the United States, which
tcok place December, 1874. by authority of
the High Court of England. The first meet
Ing OF the executive council was held at
Brooklyn, N. Y, and at that time there
were forty-three courts In the United
States. with a membership Of $500; matters
went on smoothly and evenly until the
eleventh meeting of the subsidiary High
Court which was convened at Detroit
Mich. August II. 1885, with 245 delegates
In attendance. This convention boldly re-
fused the request Of the High Court of
England to strike out the word white by
vote of IS yeas to 233 nays. At the thir-
tenth cow ton of American Foresters
at Minneapolis. August Is, 1889, independ-
ence of the High Court of English Forest
ers was proclaimed amid great enthusiasm
and rejoicing. Mr.. Taylor of Middletown,
Pa, the poet of Pennsylvania, wrote his
masterpiece in the song America Was
Bound to Have Her Way" At the close Of
July, 1889, there were $50 American court.
in existence, with total membership Of
5614O
Following the declaration Of Independence
a new code of general laws was adopted,
and the name changed from the A. o. +.
to the A. o. F. Of A. Its foundation was
based upon the broad principles of benevo-
lence to provide relief, and aid IN sickness
and distress burial at death, and to inspire
Its members with the eieVatlng lnnuence
Of a proper recognition OF the sterner real
tiles and responsibilities Of life. The new
order was composed of the Supreme Court,
grand and subordinate courts in states, ter
ritories, provinces and dominions OF Amer
lea.
The state Of the order, taken from official
reports OF January 1. 1894 shows grand
total of OS7 courts, with a membership Of
lI4Os1 For the year 1893 funeral benefits
were paid by the aggregation of the courts
to the amount OF 1874 800. So, and for sick
benefits alone s455, 147.85; the management
has cost S315.s13 92. and the sum OF $50, S4l.53
has been paid out for benevolent and other
expenses. At the beginning Of the year
1894 the balance on hand In all funds
amounted to s737, 80.
The Various Degrees.
Forestry, with It's American influences and
methods. has made great strides in the
United States, and. for its age, IL second to
none of the various benevolent societies
now In existence. 1t has extended its field
for benefcent ends and has created auxil-
larry branches The first auxiliary branch
was the Ancient Order of Shepherds This
order was instituted IN England and was
recognized as the second degree of the order
by the High Court in 1885. The Shepherds
severed their connection with the order in
England, and became Americanized shortly
after the Minneapolis convention in 1889
1t is a beneflcent branch of the order but
its distinctive aim Is to socially unite the
brethren OF the different courts. There are
at present in the United States twenty
seven sanctuaries, with a total membership