The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-05
fORESIfRS OF STATE
INITIATE Big CLASS
Three Hundred New Members
Taken in at State Joint
Meeting

Ihree hundred new members were in
itlated yesterday afternoon at the Met
ropoiitan opera house during the first
state joint initiation meeting held in
minnesota by the Catholic Order of
f'oresters. The candidates represent
eQ nrteen different courts, or local
pranches, Of the order, but visitors
were present from nearly all the 178
courts in Minnesota. Every one Of the
z.Oo0 seats was occupied and many
stood IN the aisles. As the, occupants
or seats changed from time to time it
| was estimated that 5000 Foresters
| heard more or less of the proceedings.
| "A special train had brought 400
| members from Manbato and New UIm.
Other towns whose courts sent large
delegations were Saltwater. sOwatonna,
Austin, lie Sneur, Faribault, Hastings,
st. Cloud and Duluth.
The guests Of honor included Bishop
j. N. Stariha, of Lead, S. D., formerly
vicar general of the archdiocese and
pastor of the Church of st. Francis de
Sales, st. Paul: Thomas H. Cannon, of
Chicago, high chief ranger, or head of
the order; Thomas f. Mcdonald, of
Chicago, high secretary; and other
members Of the high court, or govern
ing body of the Foresters.
Special Mass for Order
A special mass for the Foresters was
| held at o'clock yesterday morning
at the Church OF ST. Louis. Wabasha
and Exchange streets, where the SER
| mon was in French. English speaking
| delegates were directed to the Cathe-
dral. and delegates more familiar with
German took advantage Of the masses
at Assumption church, Ninth and
Franklin streets.
AT 1 O'Clock P. H. Martin, Of Du-
luth, state chief ranger, opened the
| initiation meeting. He congratulated
the members present upon their evil
| dent success of the first joint meeting
| to be held by courts from every part
| of the state. H
| Bishop Stariha then thanked the or
|. der for its liberality in presenting him.
| few days ago, with the sum Of $4,000
| as a contribution towards the cost of
educating Indian children in his do
| ceSe.
| Address of Welcome
The address of welcome was made by
State Senator julius A. Collier, Of
Shakopee, one of the high trustees
| With special eloquence, which was sin
/ cerely applauded. the senator linked
| the growth and influence Of the order
in Minnesota with the high standard
1 of North Star citizenship as productive
of the best type of social, mental and
moral development.
/ The initiation ceremonies that fol-
lowed added 800 members to the or
4 der. 1t was by far the largest class
in the Minnesota records of Forestry
initiation Besides the regular degree
| candidates received the adjunct degree
Eof exalted membership.
j That the degrees might be conferred
under the best auspices the services of
Brother Jacob F. Mehren, of Chicago,
and his well known initiation team had
I been secured. The six members of the
lteam displayed ideal proficiency.
First of the speakers after the final
Initiation was High Chief Ranger T. H.
i Cannon, Of Chicago. He reviewed the
benevolent and social features Of the
order and dwelt upon the advantages
| Of membership.
Frank e. Hoonan, of Indiana, one Of
! the high trustees, discussed the duties
! of high court officers. The order, he
said, had it's business as we'll as it's
! fraternal duties. The officers Of the
| high court were particularly obligated
1 to protect the interests of all members
| by insistence upon business precau-
tons in the matter of life insurance
! risks. Applicants for insurance could
not be accepted, nor could death claims
be paid. without proper investiga ton.
| Members affected by such investiga-
| tions should stop to consider how
necessary they are to the welfare Of
| the order.
] Speaking of 'Rates Of Assessment
DR.. E. w. Buckley. of st. Paul court,
| No. SO, explained that if too low a rate
were charged in the beginning, MEM
| bers, as they grew older, would have to
| pay rates altogether too high in order
! to make up for earlier losses.
/ History Of the Order
| The Catholic Order of Foresters was
founded at Chicago in May. 1893. 1t
confers insurance and sick benefits, as
well as the advantages of fraternal and
/ religious cooperation. It has now
| 1900 courts and lie, 900 members in the
United States and Canada. The first
court in Minnesota was st. Paul court,
/ No. 80, established sixteen years ago
| The state membership has since risen
| to 178 courts and 1850 Feresters,
| making Minnesota fourth in the list Of
| influential states and provinces. Illi-
nois ranks first, the Province of Quebec
! second, Wisconsin third.
| The Twin Cities boast of 5000 For
esters. st. Paul, the banner city of the
] state, has eleven courts and 1,600 men,
| bers; Minneapolis, nine courts and
| 1,4e0 members.
| p. H. Martin, of Duluth, state chief
ranger, leads the state officers John
| Grutsch, of Minneapolis, is vice chief
ranger; George w. Stenger of st. Paul,
| state secretary; Henry Won der Weyer,
| of ST Paul, state treasurer; and the
/ trustees are p. M. Maroney, st. Paul;
DIR. G. Van Beck, Hastings; Andrew J.
Eckstein, New Ulm; r. ]. McMahn
Minneapolis, and Alois Schwob. of LIE
| Sueur..