Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-26
TOO WARM FOR
FOR CANDIDATE
Woodmen Team Said to Have
Used Red Hot Poker
on Member.
SUIT AGAINST THE SOCIETY
For $4,000 Damages is Brought -
Talking of Big Pic
mic.

Mai. c. w Halves. heard clerk of the
Modern Woodmen. today was notified
of the beginning of a suit for $4,000
damages against the order at Esther,
Iowa. by'a candidate of class that
was recently initiated by the lodge in
that town. 1t is alleged that during
the ceremony a portion of the plain
ti1's clothing was removed and red
hot poker applied to his body, inflict-
ing injuries that caused him great suf-
fering
My attention has been called. with
in the last month, To the fact that sew
eral concerns and individuals are max
ing a very active canvass of the local
camps in several of the states in the
jurisdiction, with view OF persuading
them to take up side degrees" Maj
Hawes said.
Il wish To call 10 the attention of
all clerks of camp, and would request
them to submit same to their next reg
ular meetings. information concerning
the provisions of section 247 of our
latest revised bylaws. touching on the
prohibition of certain classes of de
gree work: Every local camp and
the members thereof are hereby pro
hibited from using any dangerous ap-
pliances or INDUCING in any ceremon-
les while comforting the degrees or
adopting a member other than those
prescribed in the ritual of this society
Horse Play DiscOu' ged.
There have been several instances
in our history where the society has
been involved in expense and litiga-
tion. and has in one or two cases been
mulcted for damages. because of the
action of local camps in indulging in
horse play, or in using unauthorized
paraphernalia i'll comforting the de-
grees.
1T is proper. where the ritualism
permits latitude along this line. that
the neighbors should take fair advan-
| tage of il to have little fun, but there
| is a clearly defined line of demarcatiOR
between legitimate entertainment in
conducting a candidate through the
forest and Indulgence in dangerous
horse play. We can not very well find
safe middle ground. and therefore the
head camp continues to recommend to
the local camps that they confine them
| selves strictly TO the secret work of
our ritualism.
Big Picnic for Next summer.
1t is likely there will be big Wood
in
participated in by the members in the
Fourteenth congressional district.
There was formerly Congressional
District Picnic association. but it was
allowed to die a natural death after a
misunderstanding among some of the
cities and the reapportiOnment of the
district Three piCnics were held here,
and they attracted thousands of peo-
pie from the surrounding country. In
other sections of the jurisdiction of the
societies these lOg-TOllings are a per
manent feature, and surely the district
that is the home of the headquarters
should not be behind in this direction.
There has been correspondence on the
question, and probably there will be
called in the near future meeting OF
representatives HUH lllt SNN'i a. NC'AAA
ties for the purpose of forming new
district association. 4 One-day picnic
will be favored.
\ Notable Case.
This society not only promptly pays
it's legitimate claims, but makes every
effort TO assist in locating beneficiar-
les where conditions justify. On the
22d day of July, 1895. John Wickius
applied for membership through Camp
No. 1887 of Ozawkie. Kans. a bene-
fit certificate for 81 900 was issued
in which his brother. II. T. Wicklus.
of SeeIfg. Bavaria. in Germany. was
named as beneficiary. Wicklus died
May 26. 1899. and inquiry was made
thereafter concerning his beneficiary
but he could not be located. Camp
officers and friends residing near
Ozawkie made diligent inquiry, but
, could find TO trace of the beneficiary.
Finally the head clerk took the mat
ter up through the Office of the Ger
man consul in Chicago. In April last
the beneficiary was located in Ger
many and proofs Of death and proof
nj the identity of the beneficiary were
submitted 10 the board Of directors at
its September meeting and the claim
allowed. and the benefits will be paid