The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-10
DEGREE OF HONOR
CLOSES OPEN DOOR
Reverses Policy Heretofore
Endorsed as to Admis-
sion of Women.

The superior lodge, Degree Of Honor
has declared by vote that the OPEN door
policy shall not prevail. Although the
Minnesota jurisdiction has for several
years Endorsed this measure, and de-
cIared Itself ready to fight for it at all
times, 1t was defeated in it's own
stronghold. Heretofore the basis Of ad-
mission to the degree has been that OF
relationship to members Of the A. o. u
W., and the Minnesota forces, led by
Mrs. Frances Buell.. Olson, declared
against such restrictions, saying that it
tended to weaken the beneficiary de-
| partment as wellTas general member
ship. Mrs. Olson advanced the theory
that any white woman Of good mora
character should be eligible to member
ship, but the remainder of the confer
ence could not see it that way.
Immediately upon the result of the
vote being made known Mrs. Olsor
stated to T e G 10 b e that the ques-
ton would be made the issue of the
fight next year.
Mr.. Barnes, of California, gave out
as his belief that, were such policy
to prevail as that advocated by Mrs.
Olson, the tendency would be to fall
away from the parent order and thus
end in chaos. The argument was ex-
| tended. Among those who took part
in the controversy were: Mr.. Ford,
Kansas City; Mrs. Kinsley, of Mon
tana; Mrs. Belknap, of Oregon, and
Mrs. Miller, of Missouri, against the
policy. 71
Those who were in, favor of it were !:
Mrs. Olson, of st. Paul; Mrs. Wilson,
of Northfield; Mrs. Webster and Mrs.
Stewart, of Michigan
The remainder -ef the session, which
adjourned at 1 o'clock, was devoted to
routine work.. chiefly the hearing of
committee reports:
An endeavor is. being made by the
superior lodge to raise a fund which
will be applied to the Upchurch fund.
Mrs. Almaretta Morgan, grand chief
of honor Of Missouri, told the story of
this fund. Some years ago Mrs. Nor
gan discovered the four grandchildren
of Father Upchurch, the founder of the
order, living in dire poverty at Steel
vile, Mo. Theft father had recently
died a suspended member of the or
der his father had founded; and
through the efforts Of Mrs. Morgan a
home had been purchased for these
children wherein they had been estab-
liShed, and now a movement is on foot
to raise a sum of money to help them.
Already, through the efforts Of Mis-
souri, Workmen, the sum Of 1,197 has
been realized, and it is hoped that at
this convention an appropriation will
be made to increase that sum.
This is Minneapolis day, for both
Workr1e.I and auxiliary, and they will
be given a picnic by the Mill City
lodges at Minnehaha.
Many are the good works accomplished
by the Degree Of Honor ASA helper and
supporter Of the parent body. 1t is but
eight years of age, organized in 1885, In
Miller, st. Louis Mo-, as its first SUI
perior chief of honor. Mrs. Miller is in
many ways a remarkable woman, but
chief of all her many accomplishments
is her infinite capacity for hard and I'M
RENTING work, which possibly accounts,
in a measure, forykife vast amount she ac-
held all the honoFs the society has to be-
stow. This year she is chairman of the
committee on laws. .F.l
Mrs Mrs. Louise M Bush. the present su-
fatigable worker. She has just returned
from foraging trip through the North
west Of Canada where she organized
other in Regina, N. w T. Had time been
left to her, lodges would now be existent
in Calgary and Brandon, but, as it is. she
managed to plant one In Portage la Prai-
RE, Manitoba and three in British Colum-
bia, at Vancouver, Victoria and Ladners.
Mrs Bush announces her firm determina-
ton Of returning and continuing the work
SO well begun.
Another remarkable woman is Mrs
Elizabeth E. Album, Sioux City, Iowa
She is the recorder of the superior lodge
Tall, of commanding mien, and of at
tractive personality, she is the ideal of a
fraternity woman. Her work in connec-
ton with the degree is most arduous and
exhausting; yet through all she maintains
calm vel-headedness that wins for her
half the battle. a71A s1l5