Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-16
Story OF the Early Struggles Royal
Now the largest Woman's Society n World

firing work performed by these faith
ful neighbors at that time. Supreme
Oracle Watt, with the limited funds in
her control, found it almost impossible
to secure deputies to solicit new mem
bers. At this time the woman life in
surance solicitor was an almost I'M
known quantity.
Uphill Battle at Outset.
Society was so constituted that
our so-called best women were not
inclined to look with favor upon the
strange woman who came to their city
soliciting applicants for membership
in comparatively unknown society.
When, however. the husbands became
enough interested to inform their
women friends that the Royal Neigh
bors were the much appreciated auxil-
larry of the Modern Woodmen of Amer
lea, the work became more easy, bet
ter deputy supreme oracles were Sc
cured and in Illinois especial efforts
were put forth to secure the number
of beneficiary members sufficient to OBJ
tain a charter.
The fourth annual meeting of the
head camp held at Armourdale, Kan,
really marked the true beginning of
the Royal Neighbors of America as
great fraternal beneficiary society.
The report of the credential commit
tee showed that there were "a dele
gates present, representing the 100
camps then in existence. The report
showed an increase in membership
since the Peoria head camp, of the
year before, of 1924, making a total
membership of 4.124. The report also
showed that 81 deputies had been ap-
pointed and during the year these depu-
ties had instituted II camps in Illinois,
Il in Kansas, seven in Wisconsin, six
in Michigan, five in Iowa, three in Ne
braska, two in Minnesota, and one in
Missouri. In fact they had performed
the marvellous feat of just doubling
the lumber of camps that had been in
existence at the beginning of the year.
Getting a FoothoId.
The report of the supreme recorder
made at this meeting was also very
gratifying. The reported that she had
received s2,62976, had expended ST.
1888 and the receiver had on hand
SS36.43. The beneficiary committee
also made a report, which while not
entirely satisfactory or as encourag
ing as had been hoped. showed that
progress was being made in securing
beneficiary members in Illinois, but
stated that the 500 applicants had not
at the time of. the meeting been Sc
cured. Mrs. Z. ID. Watt was reelected
supreme oracle, Mrs. Fielder was re-
elected supreme recorder and Mrs. |
Florence Brown was reelected supreme |
receiver. At this meeting the follow |
ing were elected members of the board |
of supreme managers. Their names /
are given because ii was during the !!
term of office OF this supreme board |
that the society received its charter |
from the state of Illinois and was per-
mitted to do business as fraternal !
beneficiary society: The members of
the board were: Mrs. Lizzie Grist, De-
catuf. ILL.,; Mrs. Mary Fay Halves, Full
ton. ILL.,; Mrs. w. E. Cady. Omaha, !
Neb.; Tom G. Franks, Peoria,
H.: Ira l. Maxon, Nortonville,
Kan. AS it was quite certain that the
society would soon be passing upon
applicants for beneficiary member
ship, DR.. Susan MEG. Snyder of Coun-
Ill Bluffs, Iowa, and Dr. Franc E. Nor
III VI NUN ais, III, "ciC SiCNtSu SUI
,reme physicians Parenthetically 1t
night be added that both DR.. Snyder
md DIR. Morrill, are still supreme ply
icians for the society. At this meet
ng of the head camp the bylaws were
,arefully revised and many changes
made in view of the fact that the So
.iety was about to add a beneficiary
department.. The salaries of the Off
ers were again changed because the
york was gradually increasing, so that
more and more of the time of each was
equired. The supreme oracle was
aid SO month. the supreme record
r $40 a month, the supreme receiver
rs a year. while the compensation of :
he board of managers remained at 50
Ter day for actual work, the same as
'efore.
incorporated in 1895.
At this session It was decided to i
ave an official paper A motion was ,
lso adopted authorizing the supreme !
oard OF managers to have the society ,
as a fraternal beneficiary ,
ociety on or before March 1, 1895, and :
: the required number of beneficiary 1
pplicants could not be secured in Hi ;
OILS by that time they were to apply +,
Or a charter in some other state. In 6
assing it might be said that this {