Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-11-11
NEGRO SOCIETIES.
THE SOUTHERN CoLoRED MANssLovE
OF POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

Wonderfully Named Organizations
to Provide For Members Sick Bene-
FITS and Funeral Expenses How
They Flourish In Charleston.
s The southern negro's love of pomp
and circumstance Is nowhere exempli-
fed more forcibly than in the manner
I'M which he multiplies his charitable
organizations. Unfortunately fond of
company, he has few societies founded
with the sole view Of promoting social
enjoyment. For the most part, what
ever foundations he makes have o
semireligious trend, the dues emitting
members to sick benefits and funeral
expenses. There is usually an elabo-
rate regalia and an intricate ritual.
Not a few negroes of a southern city,
such as Charleston, belong to no less
than a score Of these orders, the names
Of which are oftentimes %curiously and
wonderfully made. What, for instance,
would the ordinary patron Of secret Or
CARNATIONS think Of possessing mem
bership in the Sons and Daughters
Of the Seven Golden Candlesticks In
Charity or in the Sons and Daughters
Of I VIII Arise?
The sons and daughters idea is work
ed to the limit of endurance. There is
scarcely a well known name in Biblical
history that is not tackled on to it.
There are in Charleston alone no less
than seventy-hve of these societies
with charters from the state Of South
Carolina, and how many there are that
have no legal status no man may say
with confidence.
Dues are paid weekly, and, strange
as it may seem when the great poverty
Of the negro Of the south is considered,
the arrears list is a brief one indeed.
OF course the charges are small, usual
ly about % cents a month, but when it
Is remembered that many, individuals
belong to six or eight OF even more
orders it Is little short of marvellous
how the funds necessary to meet the
demands Of the collectors are found,
and yet it is SO deep a disgrace to be
expelled that instances of the kind are
very rare To hold membership in a
number Of societies is regarded as a
badge Of honor.
Meetings are held monthly in private
residences, In public halls or, more fire.
quently still, In churches. These gath
erings begin at the fashionable hour
Of 10 p. N. and continue not infre-
quently throughout the night. Re-
freshments are to be had for a small
consideration, and as these are for the
most part Of a liquid nature the sons
and daughters are prone to be con-
spicuous by their absence from their
several places Of employment next
morning. Often the police have to In
terfere to restore that harmony in
which brothers and sisters should ever
dwell together. i
Among the societies in, Charleston
are the Sons and Daughters Of the Pill
grtms; the Sons and Daughters OF the
Twelve Disciples, the Sons and Daugh-
tiers Of the Bearer of the Cross, the
Sons and Daughters of the Evening
Star, the Sons and Daughters Of the
Seventh Star, Che Sons and Daughters
of the Celestial Travellers, the Sons
and Daughters Of the Good Samaritan,
the Sons and Daughters Of the East,
the Sons and Daughters Of Lazarus,
the Sons and Daughters Of Christian
Love, and there might be added to
these fully twoseore Of others. The
devotion of the negroes to these Or
CARNATIONS and their loyalty to their
fellow members are absolute.
The funeral of colored man or
woman who holds membership in a