The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-08


One Of the strong fraternai orders
not only In this city, but in almost
every part OF the United States Al well
Y the Modern Woodnnen Of America.
The local lodge or camp as it is term
"a among members, has al the
present time 500 active members In
good standing. With this number the
lodge As put we'll along toward the lead
n point of numbers, probably stand
ing first Of any of the insuring fra
ternities.
Woodmanism was first brought into
existence on Jan. 5, 1883. Starting az
was necessary, with practically an en-
rollment Of zero ii has grown in it's
twenty-six years of life to be one Of
The very largest lodges In the country
with membership OF 1,075,O6s.
It's purpose In to furnish a high class
Of fraternal benefit insurance to it's
members. Speaking in stricter terms
that was its original purpose How
ever, the rapid growth of the order has
brought out many other commendable
features. The fraternaI side is not
neglected--in fact it Is very strongly
3 developed. Woodmen will not stand
back and see brother Woodman suffer
or want without lending all the aid
possible for his relief or the relief of
his family.
This is all done from fraternal in
Epiration on the part of the members
as no provision is made by the SUI
preme organization for such works Of
charity and help. 1t il always the work
Of the local camps. Another feature
lis being brought out in many places.
The M. w. A. Is beginning to occupy
b place in the business world. In some
Of the cities of the country the local
camps own several OF the business
buildings, greenhouses. etc
Representative Government.
One OF the admirable things about
the Woodmen is the manner of officer
Ing its head camp. A representative
form of government is used entirely.
the officers being chosen every third
year. The elections and all legisla :
tion Is done at the national convention
which is composed of representatives
from every state on the basis of one
representative for every 1900 members.
ACEG REPRESENTATIVES, dAG GAAOGSH az
the state convention which in turn is
made UP Of representatives from each
county chosen by county conventions,
The delegates to the county conven-
ton are chosen by the individual
camps on the basis OF one representa-
tive to everye twenty members or
major fraction thereof.
This system gives every Woodman
some voice in the making OF the laws
which are to govern the order and also
I'm the electing of the head officers with
the exception of the head physician and
the deputies. which are appointed
Every national delegation goes from its
state instructed as to matters and men
In fact 1t makes an ideal system dis
pite the fact that 1T is rather volumi
nous--a feature that would be hard "a
get away from when 1t Is considered
there are over a million members who
are to be represented. Some idea OF
the rapid growth of the order can be
gained when it is known that in the
past seven months the lodge has gain
cd $1,000 members. In addition to the
membership In the United States
which includes every commonwealth
with the exception Of a few Of the un-
healthy southern states, the order Il
working It's way into Canada where i
promises to become quite larges
A War on Tuberculosis.
y The Modern woodmen of Americ;
a has Unlisted Its mighty forces in the
great war on tuberculosis, which within
the past few years has become 81
prominent in the United States. Adopt
ing the only feasible method Of cur
ing tuberculosis members-that o
i fresh air and wholesome food--th'
Woodmen secured tract of land o
nearly 2000 acres near Colorado
Springs and established a fresh all
sanatorium. Here beneficiary mem
bers of the order may be treated fre'
of charge for the terrible disease.
II is opened on Jan. Of this yea
and has met with great success during
the past spring and summer. II is
notable fact that the local camp o
the Woodmen was the first to donat
the required sum for the erection Q
one of the tent houses for the patients
Also a North Dakota man was tn
first to apply for treatment. He Is N
Wolavis of Camp 10579, Norwich, n. Z
Four months treatment cured him.
While there Is no doubt that there !
method hack OF this move on the par
of the order inasmuch as 1t Is cheape
To cure a member during the earl
stages of the disease than pay III
death claim, still there is humanity i
the movement and the order should .