The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-17
George BonnelI, lecturer.
 Court Burnhanl.

I 9, 1897. although one of the youngest I is one of the strongest, it having a l mem bership of 175, with the following officers: Thomas McGee, chief rang CT; Robert Donaldson, sub chief rang | CT; Joseph Scott, / senior woodward; Charles Edwards, junior woodward l J. Edward Bronson, recording secre- tary; Thomas Flynn, financial secre- | tary; William Russell, treasurer; J. J ! Callan, senior beadle; J. H. Meehah, junior beadle; J. Sinto, lecturer. Courts Roma and Norden.
 Court Roma, the Italian court, and Court Norden, the Swedish court, are late additions to the order and are reported as prospering. They, how ever, are not interested in the class initiation and work along on their own lines.
 The class of candidates secured for the initiation are from all of the courts and will materially swell the membership of some, according to the number they have secured.
 The auxiliary of the order is called the Companions of the Forest and was instituted on June 23, 1883. It has had a rapid growth and conducted along lines similar to those of the Foresters of America is enjoying a very hea1thfu1 growth. Its member ship is very large and is scattered oveA practically the entire country.
 Headquarters Here For Time.
 For a time practically the head quarters of the organization were locat- ed here in Bridgeport as Miss B. A. Lester was the supreme secretary, fill ing this office with marked ability and fidelity.
 The first circle, as the lodges of this auxiliary are called, to be estab- Ished in Bridgeport was Star of Penn broke, No. 117, instituted on Dec. 23, 1890. It now has a membership of about 200.
 Some little time elapsed before the second was instituted and this was CataIpa,. No 425, on Oct. 22, 1897, which now claims membership of 250.
 Largest Local Circle.
 Lucetta Warner circle, No. 472, was the third circle instituted, the date of it's institution being Nov 19, 1898. It is by far the largest of the live local circles and has a membership of 41e; This is the only circle that does not meet in Foresters' hall, holding its meeting in Steuben hall.
 Seaside circle. No. 5S3, was insti- tuted on Dec. 6, 1900. It has mem bership of ITO.
 Stratfield circle. No. 942, is the youngest in the city, it having been instituted on Feb. IS, 1909. It has a membership of 5S,
 During the past there has been con- siderable talk about uniting all of the courts into one big court, but the plan does not seem practicable. It is held by those opposing it that one big court would prove too unWie1dy a body and that d1ssensions would soon arise, re- solving it into several courts again. Some of the court have a good sum of money in their treasury and they do not feel like giving this up, espe- cially when other courts having much less would get the same benefit of it as they themselves. The matter has been discussed several times and Vot- ed on by the several courts but has failed of approval of those very courts that are vitally necessary to make the plan success.
 To Build Structure.
 At present a plan is under consid- eration by which it is proposed to take the money in the treasuries of structure for the sole use of the or der, similar to Masonic temple. Plans to this end are now under consider ation.
 Glance at Committee Heads
 The F'oresters of Bridgeport have been planning for this class initiation for some time and a committee chosen from the different courts has been at has been the chairman of this general committee. He is past grand chief ranger and a past chief ranger of Court Iranistan. At present he is the state organizer of the order.
 J. Edward Borosnan is secretary of the reception committee and chairman of the press committee. He has been the recording secretary for Court Burnham for the past five years, for which court he is one of the best workers. reception committee, is one of the best known Foresters in the city. He was one of the organizers of Court Marina, of which court he is a past chief a number of years At present he is cashier at the local postoffice. having been for some years a member of the secret service department of the gov ernment. in which he displayed high abilities as a bold and courageous de- tective and a quiet but sure reasoner. While working in this branch of the government service he was connected with the capture of some dangerous and clever criminals He is about as enthusiastic member of the order as can be found in the city.
 John E. Lyddy, treasurer of the gen. eraI committee, is easily the most prominent man locally in the order. He has been in it for years and has always been a tfreless worker. MT Lyddy belongs to Court Pequonnosk. and has served that court as chief ranger, also becoming grand chief ranger later, and finally supreme sub- chief ranger, the next to the highest office in the order. He was rendered the nomination for supreme chief ranger at the last meeting of the su- preme court, but declined to stand for election, feeling sure that he could not give the office the time that it de- handed He was assured of an cleo tion had he but consented to run.
 Prominent Candidates.
 James Stone, chairman of the hall committed is past chief ranger of Court Wa1demere, the oldest court in the city, and has been prominently Identified with the order for the past 20 years. Last year he was the presi- dent of the board of public charities.
 John J. Morrissey, a member of the general committee, has been prorni- nent in political life in Bridgeport. He has served as an alderman from the Sixth district and was last fall promi-