The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-07
An Orphans Home to Be Estab-
Iished by the Rebekahs.
They Can Get Along Without
the De BOissiere Estate.
K. P. TO MEET HERE.
Chancellor Britton to Order a
District Convention.
Modern Woodmen Will CeIe-
brate Their Anniversary.

Since the unfortunate outcome OF the
litigation over the DeBoissiere estate,
by which the title of the valuable prop
erty in Franklin county has reverted 10
the owners of the claim, bought from
the descendants of the man who gave
the land to the Odd Fellows for an or
phans' home, the Rebekahs have as
sumed- the task of founding an orphans
home. In the home fund there is now
money and the title to property aggre-
eating about Sc. 500. 1t has been deter
mined to withhold building until $4,000
has been secured. The dispatch with
which the hopes of the Rebekahs can be
realized depends very greatly upon the
outcome of the suit to recover the $780,
600 spent by the Odd Fellows upon the
DeBoissiere estate before it was lost to
them. lien has recently been filed
by the grand officers upon the estate Tor
the amount and within a short time
they will begin acting under teh lnstruc-
lions Of the grand lodge by filing SUIT
against Troutman & Stone. the sum
of 81 500 has been raised by personal
subscriptions and by small lodge enter
tainments among the Rebekahs, VINO.
are going ahead determinedly without
depending upon the results of the SUIT
over the old estate. The last grand
lodge voted to the Rebekahs the title to
the SO-acre fruit farm at Hutchinson
given by D. w. Kent, former grand
secretary, to the lodge in settlement OF
his defalcation difficulties. AS yet the
location of the home is undecided With
out other means of revenue than that
so far employed it will probably be a
number of years before the actual build
ing can commence.
On January s. 1904, the twenty-first
anniversary of the establishment OF the
order of Modern Woodmen of america
will be celebrated throughout the
Ctafne Individual c9mDS and
by larger organizations. The life or the
order has been one of very rapid
growth and the present period appears
to be one of fastest development. In a
letter to each of the 11,000 camps Head
Consul A. r. Talbot has recommended
that the anniversary be suitably cele-
brated. The total membership is now
about $780, 600. On account of special
announcement given by the head camp
the lodges are now making extra effort
to increase their membership. A prop
osition is now being talked of in the
local camps to unite in the celebration
of the birthday on January 5. AS yet
a definite plan for the celebration has
not been proposed, but one will be
within a short time, as considerable dis
cuSsiOn has been had already. 1t. has
been proposed that a big ball be given
in the Auditorium for the occasion.
The Woodmen have a large member
shin in Topeka. and could doubtless
make such a project a social success.
Grand Chancellor F. L. Britton of the
Knights of Pythias has made known his
desire of calling a district convention
to be held in Topeka during the latter
part of this month or early in Deem
Der During the past two weeks one
has been held at Leavenworth and an
other at Pittsburg. both being attended
well and apparently with beneficial re-
suits. The district conventions are not
limited in attendance to any particular
section of the state nor are they at
tended uDon any fixed basis of repre-
sentation. everyone may come who
will. 1t is expected that the official
call will be forthcoming within the
next week or two.
A ball was given by Capital lodge No.
6S, Rathbone Sisters, last Thursday
night. The ball was well attended by
members of the Rathbone Sisters and
knights of Pythias. 1t was held in the
hall at Sixth and Quincy streets.
An entertainment and dance was Civ
en- last Saturday evening by Topeka
lodge SO, K. of P. There was the usual
good crowd. The entertainment pro-
gramme was Of a musical character
and we'll received.
Charles Kutz. member of the school
board from the Fifth ward is to be a
member Of the class of candidates to be
Initiated into the Knights of Pythias
next Saturday night. He win join
No. So.
President Harry Wright of the Ohio
association will shortly begin CORE
spondence with similar associations over
the state regarding the formation of a
state association. He wants to make
such an organization one of the events
of his administration. If possible a
state meeting will be arranged for dur
ing the winter.
Capital lodge No. 3, A. o. U. W.. re-
ceivec from the grand lodge of Kansas.
during the last week in October. a
voucher for the $4,000 payable to the
mother Of Cyrus w. Flanders. who died
OF typhoid fever On October IA. Mrs,
Flanders is also very i'll with typhoid
and on account of the seriousness Of her
condition the lodge has been unable to
turn over the voucher. The personal
receipt of the beneficiary is required and