The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-13
WOMAN MASONIC ORDER
To Be Formally Organized in the
Coming Conclave at Pittsburg.
THREE HUNDRED MEMBERS
Was Organized In the City of Pittsburg
Some Three Years Ago and Has
Grown to Remarkable Proper
tions In This Brief Time.

'a6 INK III Nb' H -
Masonic conclaves a distinct. regularly
organized and formally recognized body
OF women will take Its place in the line
OF hospitality and good fellowship. well
coming the sir knights and their ladies
to the Smoky City during the coming
great conclave. This club or lodge Is
known as the Wimodausis. which name
is a of wife, mother, daugh-
ter and sister. Only wives, mothers.
unmarried daughters and unmarried
sisters of master Masons are eligible
to membership and all must have at
tanned the age OF II years. Three dis
senting votes will reject a candidate.
The club has its inner guard, its con-
ductress and chaplain. Admission to
all deliberations Is by password. OF
course. there Is a club pin, since a wo-
mans organization, and equally, of
course. IL is artistic-a pretty blu en-
ameled trinket, bearing the talismanic
word "Wimodausis."
This society Is n product of Pittsburg
and is without state or national afili-
alton, but, born within the sacred pre-
cincts Of h temple. baptized therein,
and launched under the approving eyes
of those of high degree. who. in num-
beers. broke bread together at the in
ugura feast. its place of honor Is not
contested. The organization was af-
fected December. 1895. ratified by a re-
ception and banquet in the Masonic
hall. and Endorsed by leading members
OF the local ~commanderies. II now
numbers more than 300 members. The
object of the club briefly stated is: ITO
promote friendship and a kindly inter-
est in the welfare OF the members and
to stimulate intellectual activity by
an interchange Of thought on all sub
jects which will tend 10 the mutual
advancement of the wives. mothers,
daughters and sisters of master Masons
who have attained the membership
age"
Though having received the fraternal
grip of Masonry. Wimddausis evident
ly intends 20 be a law unto itself. and
we hear that a humble of women who
will accompany sir knights to the con-
clave are coming with the expressed
purpose of finding the ins and outs of
this new organization. and IL Is their
belief hat after the conclave similar
clubs will spring up everywhere. nee
essitating state n national organiza-
tions I'm time.
That Wimodausis has taken fast hold
of the affections OF the Pittsburg COM
manderies is very evident. not only in
the friendly interests of the Masons i'm
the beginning, and continued favor and
a,S'H ~ .AASN ~ W. AA'Ah NV 49,
that for years these local orders have
persistently frowned down the Masonic
sisterhood known by the pretty name
Of Eastern Star" the first chapter of
which. born in this state. was fathered
by st. Johns ~commandery of Philadel-
phia. The Eastern Star is now a quar-
ter of a century old. and was recog-
nized quite from the beginning i'm al
most every state outside of conserva-
tive Pennsylvania. Particularly has
the Eastern Star grown strong in the
Western and New England states. 1t
now has a membership of $4,000. and
embraces 1900 active chapters. 1t is
more ritualistic than Wimodausis. and
its rites and services are conducted
with all the impressive secrecy Peculiar
To Masonry. Members attain to de-
grees and certain regalia Is a require
ment. A five pointed star. between
whose points the scary word Fatal
is inscribed. is the badge of the order.
a sort of observation-disclosures badge
that. and quite enough to scare a
shrinking sister clear off the track.
Although state recognition has stead
lastly been withheld, yet mber 81
the Eastern star are hopeful of the
keystone state. There are now five
chapters in Pennsylvania, two of them
in P~ittsburg. and these two will assist
in entertaining during the coming on
clave. many of the Eastern Star mem
bers being also members of the Vino
dausis, but the last named ~organiza-
ton has the call" as we say. since
under the wing of C~ommandery No. 1.