River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-10-12
Our Eraternal Societies


as any city OF It's size in the state.
Orders OF the Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Masons-the "Blue LODGE
and Chapter; Independent Order
of Odd Fellows; Modern Woodmen of
America; Ancient Order OF United
Workmen; Knights OF the Maccabees;
Woodmen of the World; independent
Order of Foresters; United Order Of
Foresters; Grand Army of the Re-
public; Sons of Veterans,-are all
represented here by flourishing and
harmonious associations. In addition
to these organizations in which men
only are associated there are societies
composed wholly or in part of women.
The Order of the Eastern Star is an
auxiliary OF the Masonic Lodge; the
Rebekahs of the Odd Fellows the
Royal Neighbors of the Modern Wood
men; the Degree Of Honor of the Unit
ed Workmen and the Women's Relief
Corps Of the Grand Army. To these
may also be added the Good Templars,
an order devoted exclusively to the
advocacy of Temperance.
These orders are called secret
societies, but the designating term
must be considered with very re-
stricted Specification. There is no
| secrecy in regard to the objects or
| intentions of the Societies; the time
and places of meeting are well known;
the members never disguise their
identity; there is very little of the
ritual, or order Of business suppressed
from outsiders. The only secret
feature attached TO any OF them is
that pertaining to The Identification
of the real from the spurious associate,
which in fact is but q business rule in
practice. All these orders are beneyo-
lent organizations but they all place
certain restrictions upon, or demand
certain qualifications for admission to
membership. They are non-partizan
and non-sectarian. No test of a
political character is made and only
in negative way is the question of
a PERSONS religious belief raised, and
this question only as it is supposed to
affect ones moral character as test
OF honor and fidelity.
People who are opposed to secret
societies often criticise these orders
with questions like these: "Why do
you not admit to affiliation those per-
sons who are really objects Of charity;
those whose unfortunate conditions
make them deserving of alms;-the
| blind, the cripple, the sick-who are
incapable of supporting themselves?
| If your organizations are benevolent
in intention why do you exclude from
their benefits the very people most
deserving of assistance?p None of
these societies claim to be charities.
| They are business rganizations-a
set of men banded together for
mutual acknowledgements associations.
| The members enter into a business
agreement to assist one another for a
consideration. They pay their money
| AOl q GOlll unity VI
A certain and specific condition OF
membership is practically the same
in all-the worthy alone can enter
into the copartnership association. In
fact the primary condition Is to ex-
clude those who are objects of charity,
or likely TO become so, and to admit
those only who can care for them
selves, and, prospectively, help the
whole. Thus strong men, capable of
| ''hoeing their own row." assume a
mutual relationship, contribute TO a
| general fund and have an equal claim
| in prospective benefits.
The M. w. A., the A. O. u W, the
X. O. T. NJ, the w. o. W, 1. o. f.,
and the U. o. o. f. are insurance
orders.
Besides these secret fraternal orders
there are several other associations of
benevolent or literary character
not counting the religious societies
as the Women's Christian Temper
ance Union, the Tuesday Club, the
| DefJhlck society.
The aggregate membership of all
these societies in the city is consider
ably over 1000, of which those organ
lied primarily for life insurance ben
| etits-siX in mber--have mem
bership Of $50.
The Official Directory and number
| of mem bers of the different societies
is here given:-Ancient Free and Ac-
copied Masons, Blue Lodge; G. r.
Morse, Worshipful Master; o. w.
Newcomb, Secretary; so; Chapter, RS.
Freeman, High Priest; Harry Camp
bell, Secretary; co. Order Of The
Eastern Star; Mrs. J. p. Carroll, Wor-
thy Matron; Mrs. e. Van Voorhis,
Secretary; TO- Independent Order of
Odd Fellows; p. L. Annis, Noble
Grand; A. a. Smith, Sec'y; 80. Rebek-
abs, Mrs. Nettie Glendenning, Noble
Grand: Mrs Fl. Fl. Brown, Secretary;
| IS. Modern Woodmen of the World;
A. w. Stiles, Venerable Counselor;
| o. W. NeWcomb, Clerk: 125. Royal
| Neighbors; Mrs. Charles Chinook,
Oracle; Mrs. A. Boles. Secretary; A.
knights of the Maccabees: Frank
Peterson, Sir Knight Commander; Q.
S. Halverson, Record Keeper; 30.
Woodmen of the World; T. M. White,
Consul Commander: a. f. Morgan,
Clerk; SO. Independent Order of
Foresters; G.. w. Chinook, Chief
Ranger; f. P. Ainsworth, Recording
Secretary; 49, United Order Of For
esters; Irving Winsor, Chief Ranger;
! H. W. Radcliff, Secretary; so. An
Gent Order of United Workmen; j.
n. Chinook, Master Workman; w.
H. Tozer, Recorder; 90. Degree of
Honor; Mrs. w. Fl. Tozer, Chief Of
Honor; Mrs. Eva Shepard, Secretary:
So Grand Army of The Republic, /.
n. Nichols Post, No. III; Charles e.
Burnett, Commander; G.. E. Pratt,
Adjutant; 81. Women's Relief Corps;
Mrs. A. p. Weld, President; Mrs. j.
H. Langdon, Secretary; 10. Sons of
Veterans, Richard Lowell Camp, No.
48; F. D. Ensign, Captain; Glen Hea-