The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-18
Modern Woodmen of America Re-
member Dead of Past Year.
REV. slMoNDs ORATOR OF DAY.
Speaks on "Dreams of Human
brotherhood" Before 200 Repre-
sentntives of Seattle Camp and
Their Friends-First Unitarian
Church Prettily. Decorated for oc-
casion-SpeciaI Services and Music

The Modern Woodmen o. America held
memorial services yesterday morning at
the Unitarian church for members OF their
order who have passed away during the
past year About 200 representatives of
the camps N Seattle. were in attendance.
The church. which was prettily decorated,
was we'll filled by the Woodmen and their
friends A special service in harmony
with the occasion was used. and good
music was rendered by the churcn choir.
Rev. W. ID. Simonds, the orator OF the
occasion, selected as his subject. Dreams
of Human brotherhood" and traced the
gradual growth of fratsrnal feeling an6
practice since the midnight of the dark
ages. In illustration of progress toward
brotherhood the speaker mentioned the
partial abolition of war. the almost COM
plete abolition of the use OF -orture In
the administration of government. the
granting of freedom to the slave, and
the more humane treatment of women
and children in all countries.
After sketching the growth of cooper
alive endeavor in modern society, Mr.. ST.
monds explained at some length the
characteristics of fraternal orders whose
mission it is to dethrone the worst of
tyrants, poverty, and enable the poor
man by the exercise of little self-dsnial
to provide for his wife and children even
AFTER ucdtn nHs ldlu the iHbpreT low.
"A few years ago II would have been
impossible" Mr.. Simonds said. "for the
honest craftsman who felt strength and
health failing him TO have made any
thing like suitable provision for those de-
pendent upon him
Even in the period of perfect health
no society existed empowered to say to
toiling men. You need not fear that TO
the sorrow of death will be added the
woe of poverty when those you love car
ry you away to the burial
The state could promise the laborer
nothing better than the workhouse or
the poorhouse for dependent women and
children. The church could offer nothing
more than n spasmodic and uncertain
charity. But In and by our noble fra
ternal orders security from absolute
want when the breadwinner works no
more, is assured to the widow and the
fatherless. 1t is now possible for a man
to lift, as It were a hand from the grave
itself, and shield the beloved of his heart
from cold. and hunger and nakedness.
"Once II was the poor mans dire mis-
fortune that he could not provide for the
comfort of wife and child after death
had claimed him. Now--if a man Is elig-
ible to membership In any one OF a score
OF fraternal societies--it Is almost n crime
II he fails to put every possible barrier
between his helpless children and the
misery of want. Gladly and earnestly
I preach this gospel of insurance. Few
things In modern life offer larger hope
for better tomorrow.
THE Modern Woodmen of America-to
which order I have the honor to belong
has In the seventeen years of its exist
ence paid nearly sl7,0100o0 10 the fami-
lies and friends of deceased members.
Think OF the boys and girls saved from
want ana crime; the modest homes pro-
tected from the creditors grasp. the al-
deviation of sorrow In the assurance that
love still guarded the Preside and cared
for age and infancy alike. This is the
fruit OF brotherhood. II is develop
ment of the religion OF love.
But protection is not all. The lodge
room Is n council chamber OF brothers.
II Is n place where men OF fraternai
spirit meet TO forget the false and fool
ish distinctions of society. Differences
OF station. OF politics. of religion. Of
race. are lost in new realization of the
brotherhood of man. In the lodge room
men pledge TO stand by one another In
prosperity and to be true--true as the
love Of God-in the day of adversely,
And when death comes-as come II must
no stranger hands shall make broth
ers grave. The old fables tell us of an
artist who carved from the shapeless
marble the form and figure OF beautiful
goddess,
so faultless was his image that our
sculptor fell in love with the work of
his own hands called her ondearing
names and begged her to love him in
return. Whereupon his love worked n
miracle. for the statue became living
goddess and blessed the artist with the
treasures OF her affection.
Brothers. we have given 70 the world
new uriuCtpie. hope. n NOW
faith. We have said that cooperation Is
better than competition that peace Is
nobier than war. that love is better than
hate Let VS. he true to this gospel Of
brotherhood Preach 81. Live IT, Pub
fish II throughout the world. and II shall
yet MI the hearts and homes OF men
with comfort and with peace"