Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-17
BEECH CAMPS JUBILATION
Modern Woodmen Of America Have a Big
Celebration Of Their Own.
HALF A THOUSAND MEMBERS THE CAUSE
Growth of the Camp such ~ to Give
Occasion for u Demonstration of
Satisfaction which BecOmes
an Enthusiastic Blowout.

Beech camp, No. 1454, Modern Woodmen
Of America, engaged In large degree OF
festivity last evening at its lodge rooms at
Fourteenth and Dodge streets. Some 200
woodchoppers participated in the pleasures
of the evening and the rooms were crowded
to a degree unknown before. 1t was no an
niversary or fete day In the order, but the
occasion was the celebration over the fact
that the active membership roll OF Beech
camp had reached 500 names. Half a thou
sand axes can do great deal Of knocking"
IL the implements are used In that way and
they can cut of innumerable Jumps Of sor-
row and distress when used properly, and
that is the manner in which they are ma
nipulated by the Beech boys, and there was
considerable chopping last night. 1t is pos
sibly not an improper figure to apply TO a
man with an ak to say that the members
cut loose from all formality and went In
for good time, which the shouts Of laugh
ter and bursts OF applause last night indi-
Gated that everybody was having.
After short secret session Of the camp
for the transaction Of regular routine bust-
ness the doors were thrown open for the en-
tertainment Of all. That the tinge OF nun
ger might not interfere with the enjoyment
Of any Of the laborers In the forest, supper
was first served. While the table accom-
modations were large. 1t was necessary for
the Woodmen and their friends to visit the
dining room in shifts, and while one sec
ton engaged itself with the bill OF fare the
other regaled itself with cards and music.
1t was late before the other parts Of the
program were taken up and 1t was found
necessary to hint to the speakers to abbre-
viate their remarks as much as possible tnat
the members might not be under the neces-
sity of walking home.
Subjects of the Toasts.
The program Of toasts was as follows:
"Our Team" w. M. Thomas; "Our Early
Days Of Camp Work." William MacDiar-
mid; walnut Camp, and What We In
herited." A. F. Johnson; Beech Camp in
Society and Politics." J. w. Houder Of CO.
lumbus; "Our Newer Members" G. H.
Hollenbeck; "Our Sick and Dead" A. H.
Vosburgh; why We Meet in Weekly ses-
sions," John L. Pierce; "The Local
Physician" DR.. w. o. Henry; 1.-The Five
Hundred" Frank Whitmarsh; 1.-THE Work
Ahead" Charles L. Hopper; 1.-THE Moral
Effect OF Fraternal Societies on Civiliza-
tion," T. F. Sturgess. The toastmaster Of
the evening was w. F. Chaplin.
In connection with the toast "Our Team
w. M. Thomas presented the camp with a
picture OF the team. 1t showed the boys in
groups and individually, and also contained
the pictures Of the officers Of the camp.
This was a complete surprise to the camp,
but was none the less appreciated. Tho
team is one OF the features OF the organi-
zation and is the pride Of every member.
1t captured the first prize at the exposition
on Modern Woodman day from a field Of
eleven competitors. J. c. Page Is captain
of the team.
During the evening and interspersing the
other numbers an orchestra livened the pro-
gram with music. An abundance Of cigars
were pressed upon all those who had use
for the weed. Really nothing was omitted
which could contribute to the enjoyment Of
the occasion.
Beech camp was organized with about 100
members on August 10, 1890. and has been
steadily growing in membership. During
the last year the camp decided to make
play for the banner which Is awarded tho
largest camp In the state and began to
hustle for new members. The result was
that few days ago the membership roll
passed the 500 mark. and there are thirty
Ave candidates waiting for initiation. While
1t may not be able to secure the coveted
banner (Omaha camp, No. 120, having
nearly $50 members) Beech camp will make
LILO DoSI ouoWIuS ou pSICcutd6c VI coSc'
OMcsrs of the Camp.
The frst set Of officers in the camp was
as follows: John ]. McClintock, v. G.; DR..
A. e. Edmiston. W. A.; M. Parr. B.. G. G..
Hayes, c.; p. H. Cook. E.; r. c. Hemphill.
W.. Robert Ross, s.; DR.. Robert Mcdonald,
p; DR.. R. M. Gilmore, A. p; T. J. Ma
honey, J. H. Hawkins and H. M. Morrow.
managers. The present officers are: A. A.
Smith, v. c.; w. F. Chapin. w. w.; c. L.
Hopper, B.; F. Whitmarsh, c.; L. B. Nc
Gown, A. c.; ]. r. Himoe. E.; Hans Beck
enson. W.; G. H. Long, g.; DR.. W. o. Henry.
p; DR.. e. G. Henry, A. p; Or. F. f. Teal.
A. p; A. H. Vosburgh. r. G. Hemphill and
J. L. Pierce. managers.
Those in charge of the entertainment last
evening, and to whom the credit is largely
due for the success Of the celebration, were:
H. p. Leavitt. c. L. Hopper. John g. King.
r. c. Hemphin. w. F. Chaplin, L. B. Nc
Gown. P. H. Cook. A. A. Smith. A. H. Vos-
burgh. c. H. Long. F. Whitmarsh, J. L.
Pierce. J. G. Page, c. H. Hollenbeck, J. q.
Himoe and j. w. Houder.