The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-14
AN ORDER OF CATHOLIC, WOMEN
wosENssoMETHNG ABOUT THE WoNENs
AND IT'S MINEsoTA-NEXT CONVENTION
MINNEAPOLIS. So.

esters is g. benevolent organization which
has courts In nearly every state outside
Of the yellow fever district. The order
will hold it's annual convention in Minne-
apolis next summer and Minneapolis peo-
pie are interested in it's history. 1T was
founded in Chicago by Mrs. Elizabeth
Rodgers, who has held the position of high
chief ranger from the beginning.
Mrs. Rodgers has been an active worker
for the good of humanity for twenty five
years. She was born in 1S47 and when
thirty years old organized the first work
ing girls union by means of which the
condition of thousands of factory wokers
was improved. Her work in this cause
and in that of temperance brought her
and Frances y. Willard together and made
them lifelong friends. Mrs Rodgers also
organized the first assembly of the
knights Of Labor for women. In her girl
hood Mrs. Rodgers was a shoe worker
and her husband is an iron molder.
In May, 1891, Mrs. Rodgers began to or
ganize the Womon's Catholic Order Of
Foresters. It took four years Of hard la
bor to get the number of members re-
quired by the Illinois insurance law to OBJ
tain a state charter. When the number
was sufficient the application was sent in
and refused. The women found they were
neither. citizens nor voters and the aud
itor would not grant them license. The
attorney wished Mrs. Rodgers to make a
test case, but inside of two weeks she had
obtained a license withuut litigation and
the first convention was held in the Pal
mer House in Chicago In 1894 with dele
gates from sixteen courts representing 9S7
members. At that time the death rate
was one dollar member At present there
Is q membership OF over 1000 and the
death rate is cents. The organization be-
gan life without a cent in Its treasury and
"a FRO Of 10 acf
tion turned over $15S, S,460.12, deposited in
four Chicago banks.
There are sixty-two courts in Minnesota
and Illinois is the only state that has a
larger number. Minneapolis contributes
ten courts to the Minnesota quota. The
first court in the city grew out Of So
cial organization of Catholic women. The
members wanted other benefits than those
that come from sociability. They heard OF
the w. C.. O.. F.. in Chicago, and investi-
gated it. An organizer was sent to Min
neapolis and st. Rosa's court, No. 81, was
formally chartered. The present officers
are Mrs. James Mulvihill, chief ranger;
Mrs. Julia Dempsey, vice chief ranger;
Miss Ellen O'Leary, recording secretary;
Mrs. Sarah O'Hara, financial secretary;
Mrs. j. Mcdonald, treasurer 1t is in the
parish of Immaculate Conception but
Father Cleary is the chaplain. It. has q
membership of seventy six and holds reg
ular meetings twice month, in addition
to social gatherings.
Notre Dame de Lourdes court, No. 231,
has membership of 126 and is In Notre
Dame parish. Father Andre is the chap
lain and meetings are held in st. An
tome hall ON Central avenue. Miss Celina
Cayuette is chief ranger; Mrs. Angelo La
liberte, vice chief ranger; Mrs. Emma
Collie, recording secretary; Mrs. Malvina
Campeau, financial Secretary; Mrs. Lucy
Matthew, treasurer. r.
L'Etoile du Nord court, No. 263, is four
years old and has fifty-one members. 1t
belongs to ST.. Anne's parish and Father
Vanden Heuvell acts as chaplain. Miss
Marie LeNoir is chief ranger; Mrs. An
tome Chouinard, vice chief ranger; Mrs.
G.. H. Dunafs, recording secretary; Mrs.
Gilbert Chouinard; financial secretary;
Mrs. Laurance Tuscany, treasurer; Mrs.
]. A.. Page, deputy high chief ranger.
Meetings are held In Krafft's hall the first
and third Monday Of every month.
st. Bridget's court, No. 534, has for
its chief ranger, Mrs. William Boardman;
vice chief ranger, Mrs. M j. Walsh re-
cording secretary, Mrs. Lizzie Rice; finan-
cial secretary, Mrs. j. McBreen; treasur-
er, Mrs. Annie Connolly; deputy high chief
ranger, Mrs. NJ H Cummings. The court
has ninety three members and belongs
in Ascension parish. Rev. ]. Harrington
is the chaplain and meetings are held
In G. A. r.. hall on Twentieth avenue N.
on the second and fourth Wednesdays in
the month. In addition to being chief
ranger OF st. Bridget's court, Mrs, Board
man is deputy high chief ranger Of st.
GATHERINGS court ia lie Sueur and st.
Theresa's court IN Faribault.
st. Agnes court, Mo- 335. has eighty
eight members, and is Ia the parish OF
st. BonifacesE Fother Timothy Wade is
the chaplain The meetings are held
twtces a month Ia Forester's hall on
Fourth avenue NE. Mrs. Mary Schneek-
enberg is chief ranger: Miss Bernadina
Peck, vice chief ranger; Mrs. Annie Bach,
financial secretary; Mrs. Mary Cramer,
recording secretary: Miss Helen Peck.