The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-11

Today the following history OF the
Ancient Order OF Foresters OF America
10 given "a furnished by Mr.. j. A. West
berg
sea IL perhaps not as well known 10 the
general public as some other fraternai
societies In this state Its aims and OBJ
1ects are very much similar 10 her sister
associations. the members being bonded.
together for mutual protection and to pro-
vide for a weekly benefit In case or dis
ability, also medical attendance. and In
some instances medicine. From a special
fund set aside for the purpose Is also
paid the burial expenses of deceased
brothers The order IL not the oldest la
this state. but II has made a record for
Itself OF which II can be Justly proud.
The first appearance of the order in the
state of Washington was six years ago
in Tacoma by the institution OF Court
Tacoma on June II. 1859. which court
therefore has the honor of being the first
court Of Foresters Instituted In this
etata. This court was speedily followed
by the Institution of courts Washington
OF Tacoma. Robin Hood of Puyallup. Cap
ital OF olympia, Kent Of Kent Enter
prise of Seattle. Eden of Centraila, and
Columbia of whatcom. These courts
were by order of the Supreme Court at
tached 10 the Grand Coure OF Oregon at
the convention OF that body In Portland
on May Is. 1881. the estimated total mem
bership In Washington at that time be-
Ing 30. During the following year but
slow progress was made In Forestic cir
cles. no organizer being In the field TO
Institute new courts and only one. Court
Fairhaven. No. s.06s. marked the In
crease.
This seeming relaxation Of energy was
not Of prolonged duration however. for
the next year iSa5. was a red letter year
among Foresters In Washington. espe-
cIsiiy I'm the Sound cities. A general dis
satisfaction was felt at the administration
OF the Grand Court of oregon, and a
growing desire 10 have a Grand Court
jurisdiction established In this state.
With this purpose In view several able
organizers were sent out by the courts.
principally Court Enterprise OF Seattle.
The result was highly gratifying and
within a very shor, time the following
courts wsTe instituted:
Court Qneenof the Sound, Seattle: Court
Pride of Seattle, Seattle: Court Monte
cristo Snehomish: Court Crescent. OF
Ballard. Court ivanhoe, of Tacoma:
Court Energy. OF BLACK Diamond; Court
Newcastle. OF Newcastle: Court Good
speed of Wiikeson. Court City of Rosiyn.
~ Resign; Court Eureka. OF Halter City
Court seiro. OF searo, Court Brainhridge.
Court Sctiio. OF Setsro. Court Bainhridge,
of Mount Vernon; Court Rainier OF Sc
attic. Court Excelsior. OF Seattle.
Sufficient number cf courts now hcing
established an appsscatsou for power To
call convention for the purpose OF per
teeting the organization of the Grand
Court was NJ once forwarded To the SUI
rrame Court and this body. in granting
she application, appointed Brother J. W,
sprisgs deputy supreme chief ranger FOR
the state with power TO institute the
Grand Court Of Washington.
In June ~ tSfy pursuant go an invita-
ton from Court Enterprise. No. 1870. del
caateS assembled ia this city from al
the courts In the Jurisdiction Of Washing
toA and Immediately took steps TO form
Grand Court. Brother l. 4. Neville
J. g. n, of Court Enterprise. called shs
convention 10 afvisr. There We're present
twenty delegates. representing sixtcef
courts. with a membership OF Ice. Aftel
tho necessary prgiimiuaries were con
eiAded officers we're elected as follows
Il q II. u. 4. Neville O. s c. n. +
J. Fswcett grand treasurer. g NJ. Stew
art, grand secretary. = ], Whitman
grand recording secretary. 3. ~ Turner
q $. W. j, :, Bgrrows q !. w. :. $
Andrsws. -, =. .. l. Dobrtn. G. J. r.
j. n. Bradbury.
J. w spriEgS WAS elected 60 represent
the Grand Court az the supreme Cnur
convention. which convened at Newha
Yen. Conn. August L Following.
A. the close Of the year ike the mem
hershia had reached total 81 I 7sS an
the Disability claims paid during tho yea
had Amounted 10 81 SAL leaving Il haianc
Of s. ssl 50 i0 the treasury
nariug iSsi about ten more courts wer
added ~ the erier, leaving az the 1ana
AIRY report twenty- SIX courts with mem
bssrsl3lr ~ s.Fssa During the year henevc
lent expenses - lhe amount os s. " wszr
paid leaving n balance on hand Of s. 81
The past history af TIE order ia Wash
tugsoa "a encofra gtDg and * ia sieStiap4
60 become ore cf the most popular @
mutual tereTt societies in TIE state. an
q already heads ah ether Iohfn Hoo
fgaternlties en- this continent
IN brooklyn. n Y. tihe fourth lar..es
eitY ou the ceuttnoTti the \ - =. 81 4
far exceeds In nunsiev os les courts an
ss,s rafseeshtp. the member % losi&es an
membership ~ Kindred associations.
also has 'he lAresst membership ef an
sscret cnier IN San Francisco and lie
AHEslez. Cal.