The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-09-09
September 27th Will See
Great FraternaI Demon
StratiOn.
Brief History of the Wood
men of the World. lis
Growth Compared to Other
Fraternal Orders, Four of
the Head Camp Officers
Are Oregon Men.

Woodmen of the World in charge Of the
sports for the great fraternal demonstra-
ton at the State Fair Friday September
9th have their program nearly COM
pleted. The logs for the construction
of the cabin and the preparations for
the installation Of 555 new members are
rapidly nearing completion.
The local committee is composed OF
star members Of Salem camp and Silver
Bell Circle. Star Organizer Williams
is in the city and there is the greatest
enthusiasm over the prospective rally
for woodcrait.
History of the Woodmen.
The Woodmen OF the World was
founded and instituted in the Paxton
Hotel, in the city of Omaha, Nebraska,
on the sixth of June 1894, and is there.
fore eleven years old at the present
time. There were twentysix Of the
founders, Of whom Joseph Cullen Root
and l. A. Fslkenburg were the leading
spirits.
The progress Of the society is one OF
the maryels Of the present era Of won
derful progress in fraternalism.
When the Woodmen of the World
was instituted there were 1856 fraternal
beneficiary orders in the United States
In other words, there were, on June 9,
1890, 1876 organizations Of similar ma.
ture which were larger than the Wood.
men OF the World. Today there are
but three similar organizations in the
United States with greater member.
ship than that Of this young western
iraternal giant and at the present rate
Of progress that one will be passed by
the Woodmen this year.
The membership Of the Woodmen Of
the World is nearly four times larger
than was that CT the next largest benefc-
iary order Of the same age. Briefly
stated, the membership Of the order
was, on June 8, 1890, 20, Today IL is
approximately 226 900.
This growth is all the more remarka-
BILE when it is remembered that the
physical test for membership is ex-
tremely rigid, and in fact no regular life
insurance company is 80 exActing. Then
too IL lists some 40 hazardous and other
vocations as Ineligible. IL will thus be
seen that the order has not sacrificed !
quality to quantity in its marvellous
progress toward the first position among
the American fraternities.
II is an international order, privileged
to operate all over the civilized world,
and has already spread all over the
United States, Canada and a portion Of
Mexico.
II has several features peculiar to it.
self. In addition TO the payment of
$1,000, $1,000, or $4,000 TO the beneficiary
Of each deceased "Neighbor" 1t erects a
handsome monument over his grave.
This II unveils with beautiful ceremony
aud on the Sunday nearest the sixth OF
June in each year, which is the anniver-
sary Of the order, it covers all graves Of
departed ''Neighbors" with odorous
flowers. Over 1000 monuments have
been erected over the graves Of deceased
members.
1t requires that the national flag be
placed behind the presiding officers
chair. at each regular session Of the
Camp" and requires a salutation TO the
flag at every session OF the Camp.
It's ritualistic iS secularily beautiful
and instructive and abounds in legends
and impressions peculiar to the woods,
II is probably due 10 it's ritualistc ser
vice more than any other one thing that
il has made such astonishing progress
during the few years Of its history.
Its system Of government Is a pure
democracy, and it 10 essentially an
Of, by and for It's member
ship.
II differs from all other beneficiary
orders however as regards the field
covered in it's insurance belefts. In
stead Of national Jurisdiction which is
too large and unweildy besides vmbrac-
ing much unhealthy territory, or state
Jurisdiction which create too many
offices and are too expensive. II divides
.intOzrOups Of state sor provinces
Of equal healthiulness. Each group Of
states becomes a separate beneficiary
jurisdiction paying its own death loss,
its own affairs, but holding
iraternal relations and using the same
ritual AZ the entire order.
The Pacific Jurisdiction consists Of
the nine states west Of the Rocky
which is the bealthiest
territory In the known world. Daring q
series Of years therefore the cost Of ib-
suranoe benefits will be less than that
Of any similar organization.
Il has over 5000 members in the Pa
eihc Jurisdiction and over 500, 600 assets.
II has on deposit in Portland banking
over tl00,OOO The head
consul Of the Pacific Jurisdiction is =. A.
with officers At Denver
Colo. There also are located the Offices
Of the head clerk, the head auditor and
the head physician. These officers are
MT. /. / BoAk Of Oakland, Call; Mr..
Frank r. Bertseby Of Denver, Colo, And
DIR. 7. A. Hughes Of Denver.
-Four Of the head company officers are
OTegonians. They are Hon. q. Wi