Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-31
YEAR SEES CLOSE
Of CRISIS WHICH
MENACED NJ. WA,
Action of Head Camp at Toledo
Places Society on a
Firm Basis.
MORE GROWTH ASSURED
Close OF 1914 Finds Membership Again
Rapidly Approaching the
Million Mark.

These words are Just as true today
) as they were when they were spoken
nearly two thousand years ago. Not
] only are they true in reference to
prophets. but they apply with equal
force to noted persons and to famous
places and things.
Those who see these things every
day lose interest in them. An Irish
man once said that We could get used
20 anything. even hanging. and per.
haps this IS true. At least We have
observations and exemplihcations ev-
cry day which tend 40 confirm the
view that constant association with
people OF renovn and daily observ-
ance Of famous things causes one TO
become indifferent 20 them and tends
TO prove the truth OF the old adage
that familiarity breeds contempt"
Rock Island is fortunate, indeed. in
that IL hass1nore than its share of in
situations and business enterprises
that are known from one end of the
country to the other. There is the
RocE Island railroad. named for the
city, its lines extending from Chicago
west to the Pacific coast, and its cars.
bearing the name OF this city, found
rolling throughout every state in tbs
union; the Rock Island arsenal, the
greatest m the United States; and
there are other institutions that in
the matter OF advertising alone are
of the greatest value and benefit and
do much towar4 making Rock Island
a household word throughout the ma
ton.
Woodmen Touches Many Lives.
Among these institutions Modern
Woodmen Of America. a fraternaI in
surance organizations, with its head
Offices in this city. perhaps touched
more lives in the United States and
Canada than any other local institu- |
ton, and touches them In a way that
is different from that OF the Ordinary |
business enterprise. IN that its benefit /
certificates, in, thousands of cases. |
constitute the only protection to the |
mother and her babes in case the I
breadwinner Is taken from them by |
death And yet Il swould be a safe /
wager that not more than 20 per cent /
Of the citizens OF Rock Island have
any idea Of pe magnitude of this or
gsnization; OF it's high standing in the
insurance world or Of its history.
This society was organized at Ly-
ons. Iowa. IN 1888. but was chartered
at Fulton, Ill, in the same year. be
cause therstvas some difficulty in Sc
curing q charter in Iowa. The first
head consul of the society was the
late J. G. Root Mr.. Root Served as
head consul of the Modern Woodmen
Of America from the date of its or
ganizetion toI November. 1890. In
that year the head camp met at
Springfield. Ill. and because Of dis
satisfaction with Mr.. Roots manage
ment OF theisociety's affairs. he was
defeated for reelection, and at the
same time all or nearly all OF the
then head oficers;of the society went
to defeat with Mr.. Root. In their
places the following officers we're
elected: Head consul. w. A. North
colt; head klerk. c. W. Halves: d.
rectors. A. r. Talbot. Milton w. Math-
ews. J. w. White, c. T. HeydeckeI
and J. @. Johnson
Build Up Society.
When these men took charge OF
the society # had a membership OF
about 10000 in good standing. 1t had
Just passed through what was con-
sidered a grave crisis. Its funds were
depleted; its field forces were dis
heartened and disorganized, and the
prediction was freely made that the
society could not survive. How badly
the prognosticators were mistaken is
disclosed by the wonderful record Of
growth which the society made dur
ing the succeeding years. A state
ment OF its membership at the end of
each decade will suffice for the aver
age reader. AS stated, in 1890. II had
a membership Of about 10000 In
1900 II had grown TO more than 50O.-
900 members, and in 1910 II had a to-
tai OF 1,129,sO5 members In = good
greatest fraternaI ben
efciary society in the United States
and perhaps in the world
Some OF the officers who were elect
ed In 1880 are still with the society d,
and in advanced positions. In 1893
W. A. Northcott declined 10 be can
didate for reelection, and Director .
A. r Talbot OF Lincoln, Neb., was
elected head consul. He still holds
.nis once. Last year when the head
,ampmet at Toledo, Ohio. Head Clerk
Halves declined "a reelection, and
James Mcnamara OF this city was
elected head clerk. Major Halves I
served the society in the capacity OF
head clerk for nearly a quarter OF Il
century During the years in which I
tn'. society made such wonderful b
s.7oss In point OF membership Major .
I've. was the chief administrative s
- and he established a system .
49, Senrns that is not only the q
fn.n-.et the model OF the fraternai h
TO al. world In the years 1890 s
a uunhs ssnt time there have been q
Of the 49, changes In the personnel =
en-, board eo :. directors. The pres h
chsirmaa. De. ~ Of p r. Korns. n
NorOAS L>ssenvorrs. k powa; = r 5