The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-13
ROYAL NEICHBORS MEET
SUPREME CAMP OF THE ORDER BE-
GINS ITS SESSIONS.
Mrs. e. ID. WANT, OF Omaha, Supreme
Oracle, Submits Her Report
Change I'm the Bylaws.


preme Camp of Royal Neighbors of Amer
lea is now in session in Indianapolis. the
opening session being held yesterday morn
ing at the Denison Hotel and the after
noon session at Masonic Hall. Mayor
Bookwalter made the address of welcome
and the response was made by Mrs. Mary
Fay Halves. of Rock Island. one of the
supreme board. The business of the day
was the reading of reports by the grand
officers and the appointment of committees.
The opening address was made by Mrs.
E. D. Watt, of Omaha. supreme oracle.
She thanked the working committee of In
dianapolis for the complete arrangements
that had been made for the reception of
the Supreme Camp. Her report in part
follows:
I'VE here assemble In convention, the
representatives of a society with a men,
bership of 6,391, which represents over
half of the States of the Union, extending
from the Atlantic ocean the east. to
the Pacific on the west: and from the
British possession on the north to the
southern boundary of Oklahoma.
AT our last report, made April 1, 1901,
the membership of our society numbered
110,6S3, and of this number 52,7S6 were
beneficiaries; and the net gain in the benef-
ciary department for the two years previous
to the last Supreme Camp was 1888. The
number of camps on April !, 1901, was 2,465.
and ii affords me great pleasure to report
a marked increase in the total membership.
beneficiary members and in camps. On
April /. 1903. the number Of camps was
1854; the total beneficiary membership on
April /, 1903. being 1.335 showing an in
crease in benefit members since last re-
port OF 1882"
WORLDS FAIR BUILDING.
Mrs. Watt called attention in her report
to the worlds fair fraternal building. AS
$1,000 was the minimum amount that any
society must raise to have representation
in the fraternal building. and as the amount
raised by voluntary contribution was only
$1.12l65. she recommended that the Supreme
Camp consider the subject of contributing
the remainder Of the amount required from
the general fund of the society and that
during the next term a portion Of the gen.
ing the field work of the society In order
to promote the growth OF new work and
compete with other societies
The report of Mrs. Winnie Fielder, Of
PEORIA supreme recorder, showed that the
total receipts for the term amounted to
S156. 754H and with the balance on hand
total disbursements aggregated $153. 107.13.
leaving a balance In the hands of the
preme receiver on Dec 81. 1902, of $50, 2S7. 46.
The report of Mrs. Myra b. Enright, SUI
preme receiver, showed the total receipts
for benefit fund amounted to 1851, 910.04; paid
out on account of death losses, $5lS, 3O0 leav-
ing a balance of $79, $1,000. The total in all
funds on hand Dec. 81, 1902, was sl35. sos A.
Reports were also made by the beneficiary
recorder and the supreme physicians.
The following committees were appointed
nv Mrs Watt.
Credentials-Mrs. Adeale Brown. Clinton,
Ia. Miss Cora Wilcox. Yankton, s. D.;
man. North Bend. Neb.; Miss Louise
Drumm. watsekl ILL.,; Mrs. Kate E. Nc
Kenzie, Concord, Mich.
Mileage and Per Diem-Mrs. Blanche
Walker, Kalispell. Mont: Mrs. Ella Wig
field. Cygnet, o.; Mrs. Fannie B. Crum,
Centralia, Kan.
Resolutions-Miss Burkella Pierce, Salt
Lake City, Utah; Mrs. Eliza Chesley, Dan
Vile, H.; Mrs. Lulu Menzie. Cheyenne,
Wyo.
Supreme Oficers' salaries-Mrs Eta NJ
Mountz, ST. Paul; Mrs. Matte Stevens,
Mansion. Wis; Mrs. Mary Speers, Kansas
City.
Supreme Officers Reports-Mrs. Nettie
Williams. Topeka, Kan; Mrs Jennie H.
Stacey, Usage, Ia; Mrs. Anna Nance, Mon
roe, Wis.
CHANGE IN BYLAWS.
The most important matter to come before
the Supreme Camp is a radical change in
the bylaws, which, If made, will mean a
considerable increase in the membership.
According to the present bylaws, no wom-
an is eligible to membership who is not the
wife of a member of the Modern woodmen
Of America or a blood relation Of men,
Der of the Woodmen. No men are eligible
except those who are members Of the Mod
ern Woodmen. The change proposed would
allow any woman over seventeen years old,
of good moral character, to become a men,
Der. and would thus throw open the asso-
citation to many women who are at present
| barred. This change will probably cause a
great deal of discussion.
1t il also proposed to increase the salaries
of some of the supreme officers, especially
that Of the supreme receiver. This office
pays a salary of $50 month, and it will
probably be doubled
The election of officers will be held this
morning. and will be closely contested. Mrs.
z. d. Watt is a candidate for reelection
as supreme oracle. There are two other
| candidates.
A reception was given last night at the
Denison to the visiting delegates and off,
GERS by the Indianapolis members Of the
society.