The Owosso times., 1897-06-04
wOODMEN CELEBRATE.
Thirty-Six New Members Initiated
quet Served by Royal Neighb0rs.

rIOm Tne freSS.
The local camp of the Modern Wood
men OF America has been enjoying {
boom of late, fifty-four applications fol
membership having been made in tht
past three weeks. Deputy Grand Coun
selor Thomas, of Grand Rapids, who ha'
been working in the interests of this ben
evolent organization in Owosso of late
is largely responsible for the new life
that is being instilled into the local camp
by way ofmembership, made up of some
of Owosso's best citizens.
The fraternity of Modern Woodmen oi
America was founded in 1888, and owing
to the many attractive features of its plan
of insurance it has enjoyed steady
growth until today there are in the United
States 51S3 camps, with total member
ship of 244, ,403. The total benefits dis
bursed since its organization has reached
the enormous sum of So, 1l9, ,l35, and dur
ing last year alone 81 ,1O4, 500 was paid to
the widows and orphans of deceased
members.
The Woodmen plan of insurance differs
from the other freternal insurance socie-
ties inasmuch as they restrict their field
OF operation to the country and smaller
cities, and those engaged in hazardous
employment are strictly barred, fact that
reduces the death rate to minimum.
The local camp made extensive ar
rangements for the reception of the many
applicants for membership who were to
be initiated last evening. Many repre-
sentatives from St. Johns camp were
present and the Lansing camp was invit-
ed to do the work.
Thirty-six of the fifty-four applicants
appeared for initiation promptly at s
o'clock last evening, and were taken in
hand by the Lansing team, who kept
them interested until near midnight
when the doors OF the lodge room were
unbarred and seats made vacant for near
ly one hundred Royal Neighbors, who
were in waiting in the reception and BAN
quet rooms
The meeting was turned over at this
point to the ladies, who furnished an ex-
cellent musical and literary program.
Mrs. Milo Bott in few appropriate re-
marks extended hearty welcome to the
visiting Woodmen and also to- those who
had just gained possession of the secrets
of the order. The ODell sisters, two very
bright and entertaining little ladies, fav-
ored the audience with song, and each |
responded to an encore with recitation.
Little Alta Dennison followed with
recitation that was heartily applauded as
was also Miss Edith Kousch, who was the
youngest of the entertainers. Mrs Miles
Crawford read very appropriate selec-
tion that told of the happy, termination
OF the courtship of widower and q wild
ow who had received benefits from the
Woodmen and the Royal Arcahunl.
The Lansing team in full Woodmen
uniform then entered the room and gave
a fine exhibition of their proficiency in
drill, and in response to the hearty APP
plause accorded them, they brought out
the Woodmen goat, placed candidate
thereon and gave public exhibition of
how it was done, seance that was thor
oughly enjoyed by all present.
Owing to the fact that the crowd was
much too large for the accommodations
afforded in the banquet hall, it was
thought best TO do the toasting on empty
'tcmachs, and accordingly DR.. A. Moses
Hume was called to the chair to act as
The doctor opened his re-
marks with glowing tribute to the Roy
u Neighbors ard was showering compli-
nents on the ladies in his usual RECKLESS
manner when he CHANGED to spy Mrs.
Hume who had entered unobserved and
AIKEN seat in the back part of the room.
the POSTMASTER changed
lis tactics, became visibly confused, and
lfter referring to himself several times as
retired farmer he called w. f. Bullard
,ut of the crowd to respond to the toast,
Seasoned timber"
Mr.. Billiard responded in that happy
manner which indicated that he was
quite as much at home speech making as
when he is holding the "slack" in the
back Of coat while he calls the atten-
ion of his customer to the perfect (?) fit
IN front. He told of how the local camp
was organized some nine years ago, and
what struggle they had made for exis-
tence. Time was when they had no
lodge room of their own, but met in some
81 ore or the Office of Woodran, and
from the lack of candidate 10 initiate
they were obliged to listen to Hume's
stories as their only amusement. They
were never disheartened, however, and
now had the supreme satisfaction of see-
ing the camp in flourishing condition.
There was merry twinkle in the toast
masters eye when he arose to tell how
when boy Oh tie farm he assisted in