The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-04

Woodmen, the largest fraterna1 society
on mutual assessment plan, furnishes
benefit certificate" (same thing) for an
average of $3.50 per s., 600 per year. 1t is
equally sound insurance and the differ
ence in cost doubtless attracts many
thousands Of members who do not take
into account anything else. But in the
main, their social and fraternaI features,
with elaborate and richly panoplied Sc
cret serenoniaIs and symbolism, are the
magnets that draw n1oareft- men andIWo-
I men from the busy world to the lodge
room. There is a sentimental. as well
as practical reason for this. The local
lodges in the rural districts are agencies
of charity and brotherly love. Also they
performs the functions of the clubs in the
metropolis. They are social centers, with
a vital social influence. In addition, that
ritualistic ceremonies permit the freer
play of mans imagination, and pander to
his love of the mystical, the wonderful,
the unllnowahlA, which is constantly I'M
der restraint in his every day lffe This
is the great 'secrets=of the popularity Of
such societies of the WoodHen and kim
bred organizations; and their immense
social influence may be judged from the
number of local lodges in thousands OF
cities, towns and villages, embracing in
the men: berShip men from every rank and
walk in life. The Modern Woodmen alone
have over 800 local lodges in the rural
districts of the several states in their
Jurisdiction, all under the immediate con-
troll of the head Office at Rock Island, Ill.
Others are not quite so powerful numeri-
cally, though the A. o. U. w. has over
5000 camps scattered over the world. The
numerical strength Of the Woodmen is
notable in this connection from the fact
that their law limits them to the North
western and Western states, while other
rival societies have the entire country
from which to recruit their membership.
UNUSUAL INTEREST
attaches to the big meeting at Kansas
City, as the largest beneficiary society In
the world. Questions of unusual import
ance to all fraternities will be decided at
Kansas City Men of national promi-
hence will lead in the debates.
On Thursday, June 8, Hon. Webster Da-
Wis, assistant secretary of the interior,
whose oratorical notes are more power
fully musical than a pipe organ 75-wind-
power strong, and who, every time he
opens his mouth makes Demosthenes look
like nine spot, will speak on Wood
craft - Hon William J. Bryan will ad-
dress the convention on the subject of
Fraternity" Both are members of the
society, and Mr.. Bryan has been a dele
gate to past Woodman national conven-
lions.
On Tuesday morning, the opening day,
besides the address Of welcome by Kasas
City's executive, there will be an address
by Gov Stephens, of Missouri In the
afternoon, Gov. Stanley. of Kansas, will
tell the "Neighbors" Gas. Woodmen term
each other) how happy he is to be with
them
Lieut.. Gov. Northcott. of GreenvflIe
ILL.,, the head consul of the society will
respond for the society to all these but
tered words of welcome. Ex-Gov Hoard
of Wisconsin, and Gov. Lind Of Mime
sofa, will also be present and will make
addresses during the week And last. but
not least Gov. Teddy Roosevelt has given
half promise to be present and make
an address, on his return from the re-
union Of the rough riders in Oklahoma
Besides the biennial election of officers
which is the most important business
severtl matters of unusual import to the
fraternities will be disposed Of The COM
mittee on laws will recommend an amend
ment to the laws, admitting California
! Colorado, Utah and Oklahoma in the
West, and New York, New HAMPSHIRE
Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island and Com
necticut in the East to the society - in
risdiction. Other question to be settled
are:
To adopt standard emblem for the So
ciety.