The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-04-07
Representatives From the Lo-
cal Unions Are Busy.
Are Welcomed to Mankato BY
Dr.. A. 0. BjelIand.
Supreme Officers Are Present to
Aid in the Work.
From SATURDAYS Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
The first state convention for Mime
sofa of the Equitable Fraternal Union
opened this forenoon in the /. o. 0. F.
hall, with most of the fortysiX assem-
blies in the state represented, besides
several officials who were present. The
convention was a very fine looking body
of representative people, and Mankato
is glad to extend them welcome and
hopes that their meeting will be pleas
ant and productive of much good to the
order.
The Equitable Fraternal Union is
fraternal insurance order, eight years
old, and the first assembly in Minnesota
was organized four years ago next Sat
urday, in this city. The membership in
the country is now about 1900 and
that in the state is about 1890.
Each assembly is entitled to one
delegate, and the following had reported
up to noon: ]. r. Snow, Mankato; c.
c.. Francis, Ceresco; William Cutter,
Austin; C. B. Hurst, Cleveland; F. E.
Beardsley, Elysian; William Potter,
Lake City; N. E. Manrud, Pipestone; j.
M. Schouweiller, Wabasha; c. H. Dirks,
New Ulm; w. F. Fritze, Sleepy Eye; G.
A. Hess, Winona; H. w. Bixby, Gar
den City; T. c. Norman, Lake Crystal;
Miss Jessie Granger, LIE Sueur Center;
H. G. Anderson, jackson; w. M. iced,
Window; Paul Heasacke, st. Peter;
Judge D. d. Devine, Waseca; Fred Fow-
Ter, Faribault; A. M. Beline, Owatonna;
Mrs. Winiger, New Richland; M. 7.
Brady, Winnebago.
Besides the delegates, the following
were present: Supreme Secretary M. L.
Campbell, Neenah, Wis; State Deputy
w. H. Peterson, Minneapolis; District
Deputies Isaac Roberts, Mankato; E.
j. Haseltine, Wabasha; j.. I. Leaf, Wi
mona; E. Rose, Minneapolis.
The convention was called to order
at about ll:20 a. m. by State Deputy
Peterson, who appointed Mr.. Heasacke
temporary chairman and Mr.. Beline
temporary secretary.
Mr.. Heasacke said that he was glad to
see so many good and jovial faces.
DR.. A. 0. Bjelland of this city extend
ed welcome to the visiting delegates.
He said that he was heart and soul with
the order in the protection of the FAM
lilies. The order is composed of middle
aged, earnest people, and it appeals to
sober minded people, as it offers pro-
lection to their families The speaker
complimented Isaac Roberts on his eff
ficient work as district deputy. To rem
der our homes safe from want is di-
vine duty. The Equitable Fraternal
Union is. safe and conservative, and
mingles the idea of sociability and fra
ternity with that of protection. He
hoped that the good work accomplished
today will bear wonderful fruit.
Rev. Fritze responded, saying that the
members are in good work and in a
good society. The more he studied the
plan of the order the more he liked
it. He was sure that the society will
stand if any does. 1t is young, but grow
ing well. We must work and spread
ourselves.
the following committees were APP
pointed:
Observation-Disclosures Hess and Nor
man and Miss Granger.
Resolutions Judge Devine, Mr.. Potter
and Rev. Fritze.
Adjournment was taken until 1870 p.
m.
This afternoon a permanent Organiza
ton was formed and officers elected for
the ensuing year. Other business will
also be transacted, and at six o'clock
supper will be served by the ladies of
the Baptist church at the expense of the
local assembly. This evening class
of twenty will be initiated, and pro-
gram carried out. After that, light re-
freshments will be served.
Tomorrow a school of instruction for
deputies will be held.