The Washington times., 1902-04-20
FRATERNALIsM FOR WOMEN.

Fraternalism for women like every pro-
grcssiye movement which history can
show us. has had its Hill Difficulty to
climb and its giants to meet and over
come. Never since society began has a
living thought come into being, quick
with the germ of mighty evolution,
filled with possibilities for the advance
ment of humanity, but these self-same
giants have sprung to meet it, eager to
destroy. Doubt and unbelief. tradition
and conservatism tanother name for ar
rog.Dt indolence). fear and hesitaney, sa-
tire and sneer, cold disdaiR and ridicule.
whose poisoned shaft is deadliest OF all:
these friends of stagnation and decay
have from the beginning Joined hands in
common cause against any new embodi-
ment of progressive thought.
Against fraternalism with its lodge
room, its closed doors. its whispered pass
word, and its secret obligation. the war
fare has been especially bitter. 1t has
taken the record of many patient years
, to convince society that the closed door
conceals no dark, nefarious rites. that
the whispered password is an efficient
means of protection. that the secret
obligation binds only to the doing unto
others Of that which we would have others
do unto us. and that the lodge system.
with its .ritualistic ceremonies. is most
successful means of binding women to-
gether for mutual helpfulness and for
concerted work for humanity. Today,
however. the objects and advantages Of
fraternalism for women are so well un-
derstood as to need at this time no plea
or defense.
BY the addition of the element of life
protection to the purely fraternal or
ganization. the fraternal beneficiary So
ciety for women has come into existence.
A society of this class confers financial
benefits upon its members in manner en-
tirely distinct from any form of charity
or philantrophy, benefits which are re-
ceived without less of self-respect or in
dependence of character, which are con-
ferred with no inference of superiority
on the part of the organization or its
members.
The Ladies of the Maccabees OF the
World is the first fraternal beneficiary
society for women OF national scope in
America The fact that today its mem
bership has reached 80 600 speaks elo-
quently OF the energy, devotion and ex-
ecutive ability of the women who pion-
eercd the work. The organization today
has 1900 local hives distributed through
thirty-seven States. five Territories, two
Provinces ard the District of Columbia
1900. In the month of December, 1901,
total net gain Of 1856 was made. Two
millions of dollars in life benefits have
been paid into the homes OF its members.
During the past year 1922 600, or an aver
age of $500 per month, was sent out
from the general office to these homes
in the darkest hour that can come to any
home, when the wife, the mother. the
home keeper has been taken, and the
home left desolate
The motto of the Ladies of the Macca-
bees of the World has not been how cheap.
but how good. Wise measures for future
safety Of the order through the estab-
lishment Of an emergency fund. were some
years ago adopted. Today this fund has
reached grand total of s3741S3. and is
steadily increasing by setting aside one
assessment annually for this purpose.
Every detail Of this vast business, in
local organization, Great Hive or Supreme
body is in the hands of women. Every
step of its development has been accom-
plished by women alone; the success Of
the order affording a striking illustration
of woman's adaptability to business and
finance. Every individual member of a
local hive is receiving something of busi-
ness training through the actual transac-
tion of important business, while she at
the same time acquires self-reliance and
self-cCntrol and q broad tolerance for the
position and opinions of others
EMMA S. OLDS
Great Commander for Ohio, Ladies o. I. ".