Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-30
WELCOME TO THE WOODNEN
Reception to the Delegates En- Route to the
Head Camp Meeting.
SPEAKING, MUSIC, FEASTlNG, DANCING
Movement for n woodmen building Mt
the Exposition Given "a Good
Stnrt. Backed by En-
thusinstic Friends.

van Itb4HidAt III idNuT u lut bErtllOu OF Il ]
building for the order on the grounds of the
Transmississippi Exposition in this city next
year. This proposition. which has advanced
rapidly within the past few weeks, reached
its highest mark last night. the occasion
being a meeting and reception rendered by
the local lodges to the delegates en- route to
Dubuque at the Commercial club. A Wood
men building for the exposition grounds was
the theme of the evening. 1t received it's
first endorsement from Mayor Moores in his
address OF welcome, and was the principal
topic of conversation afterward.
It was somewhat after 3 o'clock when J.
w. Houder of this city called the meeting to
order. and introduced the mayor. who was
most cordially received. His address Of well
come follows:
II am glad to be present with you this
evening to express my interest in the pur-
pose for which you are met and to assure
you that II l can cooperate with you in any
way in securing the success of your UNDER
taking l Will be most happy to do so.
1T is eminently fitting that the Modern
Woodmen of America should be properly
represented at the TransmhsisSippi and In
ternatiOnal Exposition in Omaha in 1898.
The west by the very nature of things is the
home of such great fraternal organizations
as this of yours.
The western idea Of fraternity Is i'm
measurably greater than that of the east.
There. ocean, lake and mountain range. often
completely divide states and even COM
munities. and many men do not recognize
that they owe any allegiance to their fellow
men living beyond the narrow limits of their
town or neighborhood.
NO DIVISION IN THE WEST.
THE west. on the other hand, is laid out
on bread lines. No great mountain ranges
separate our states. Even our great rivers
hardir anara+a .nfrsaE nanna na
they are by massive bridges. which accom-
modate the trade and traffic Of the continent,
making the great central west one vast
family. The men OF the west have been in
fuenced by these surroundings. TIL mutual
trials and priyations, joys and successes,
incident to the early history of the western
states are too fresh in the minds of men to
have allowed the milk of human kindness TO
dry. The broad charity, sympathy and
generosity of the west produced a Lincoln,
who had malice toward none and charity
for all, and whose idea of brotherhood was
not limited by race, color or previous con-
dition of servitude; a Grant, whose match
less charity and magnanimity at Apponattox
wiped out the bitterness of defeat and helped
to heal the wounds of civil w1r.
when our illustrious forefathers declared
in the Declaration of Independence that all
men are created equal they realized that the
broad principles of universal brotherhood
were the only foundation upon which popular
free government could be successfully estab-
lished and maintained. The Modern Wood
men of America stand for these great prin-
ciples OF charity and fraternity, as must all
popular institutions which ara to have per-
manent existence.
1T is a western institution and we are
pruud of it's achievements and of it's pros
perity. It should be represented at our eX-
position as truly as should the other great
products Of our western energy, activity and
sagacity. Your order has merits which justify
its being brought prominently to the atten-
ton of men, and nowhere else can this be
as well accomplished as here AZ Omaha in
1898, in the very center Of the good fellow
ship of the world. And it can be done in no
better way than by such a building as IL
contemplated, where tens of thousands of the
big-hearted men of the central west would
be attracted by it and by the lively good
fellowship displayed among the host Of Mod
ern Woodmen of America vino would daily
visit ii.
Gentlemen. I wish you every success, and
il I can assist you in any way, you have but
to me-
ORDER IS WELL BUILT.
C. A. Atkinson of Lincoln, a delegate-at-
large to the head camp, responded eIoquently
TO the address of welcome. He dwelt on the
charitable purposes of the order, saying that
its foundation had been laid broad and deep,
its beautiful pillars and arches carefully
erected, and that the great superstructure
! WouE0, Wlen cOmpltieu, tower uDOVe all
others. He said that during the past two
years 100. 900 members had Joined the order
in twelve states; that the order was four
teen years old and had a membership Of 240,-
900. In the workings of the order It was the
earnest endeavor Of all to exempiify the
noble principle Of malice toward none and
charity for all"
The Olympic Banjo club followed with two
we'll rendered selections, and Miss Bertha
Saxman delivered a defamation.
A. R. Talbot of Lincoln, one Of the board
of directors OF the order, made a brief ad-
dress. calling attention to the Importance
of the auxiliary organization, the Royal
NcighbOrs. Though Illinois had given birth
to the parent organization, it was left to the
western states. and largely to Omaha and
Council Bluffs. to establish the women's
auxiliary. He said the delegates were going
to the convention for business, not for senti-
ment, and that they would improve the
organization so that even greater protection
than now might be offered its members.
Mrs. ]. ]. Watt of this city, supreme oracle
OF the Royal Neighbors, next spoke. She
said the auxiliary branch had been lncor-
porated in 1895, and that IL now embraced
over &c, 1000 members. There were 1000 bene-
hciary members enrolled. The insurance
plan was the same as that of the parent
| organization. II was a part Of the household
OF the Modern Woodmen Of America and
was willing to aid it in all ways.
IOWA WILL HELP.
C. G.. Saunders of Council Bluffs spoke
briefly on the order in Iowa, saying that its
membership there was the second largest
among the twelve states in which the order
was represented. He took occasion 10 as
sure the Nebraska delegates that their Iowa
brothers would labor most industriOusly in
behalf Of the exposition building proposition.
HI said: Wen do all in our power TO help
you. We haven't time 10 be jealous. You
have gone forward, perhaps, beyond us, but
we are ready to do what is for our common
good"
After another selection by the banjo club
and an encore. which was the best rendered
OF any Of the numbers, the delegates. with
their wives and sisters and others sisters,
adjourned TO the banquet room, and partoOk
OF refreshments. About the banquet board
| there were a number Of impromptu addresses
by prominent members Of the order from
various parts Of the state. After refresh
ments had been served there was dancing
until an early hour.
This morning the visitors will attend divine
worship at ST. Mary's Avenue Congrega-
tional church, a special sermon for the oe-
casion having been prepared by Rev. S.
Wright Butler. In the afternoon they will
Traverse the city in a number Of special
trolley cars. They will depart for Dubuque
at ) o'clock in two special cars attached to
the Burlington's eastbound express.
TI.AU Had rha sEnnIa