Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-20
DIVORCE MAY BE
SPRUNG DUR ING
THE CONVENTION
Some Talk Again INDUCED in OF
Separating R.N.A. From
the Woodmen.
UNION NOW ONLY NOMINAL
Subject Asitated From Time to Time
for 10 Years, but Never
Brought to a Vote,


supreme camp of the Royal Nefghbors
will develop a divorce scandal. Now
don't get excited about it for both
parties are entirely willing and It is
not expected that it will be necessary
even to take the matter into court The
union which there is talk of dissolving,
as often happens in affairs of this kind,
has been merely nominal for mum
Der of years and this is not the first
time that divorce has been suggested
The high contracting parties who
may decide to dissolve their relations
are the Royal Neighbors and the Mod
ern Woodmen. Talk outside the con-
vention is being INDUCED in OF taking
the long delayed step which is believ-
ed will be for the advantage of both
societies, particularly of the r. N. A
Although when first instituted, the
Royal Neighbors of America was in
tended as a.real society to the Mod
ern Woodmen, yet the ties which once
were close and firm are now merely
nominal ones.
The delegates to the supreme camp
have discussed the matter considera-
bly, wherever they have gathered and
while it cannot be determined how
they stand on the matter, it is said
that the proposition of divorcing from
the Woodmen is favored by many.
Never. Formally Presented.
Separation was first preached about
ten years ago, and at each succeeding
tri-ennial supreme camp since, the
matter has been discussed informally
by the delegates. The matter was new
er presented at a supreme camp meet
ing in business session, and therefore
it has never been learned as to wheth-
er it met with general favor.
When the Royal Neighbors of Amer
lea was first Instituted, woman could
not join the society unless she was a
wife, sister or daughter of Woodman.
AS the society grew, the constitution
and bylaws we're changed so that any
woman could become a Royal Neigh
Dor
The one tie which now holds the
two societies together is the provision
that no man can become a member of
the society unless he first becomes a
Woodman.
When the bylaws of the women's or
ganisation were made, the opening
clause stated that the society should
be known as the Royal Neighbors of
America, and should be an auxiliary
organization to the Modern WoodmeD I
of America. 4
As the society grew and the changes
were made which gradually meant
widening the gap between the two
talk relative to the separation arose
Rate Dissension Figures.
In recent years when dissensionA
arose. among the Woodmen over the
rate question, the subject of separa,
ton was again up but the discussion
of the matter was not instituted among
the delegates here until yesterday.
Claims are made by some of the del
egates that divorce from the Wood
men would damage the smaller soci
ETY.. They claim that the prestige Civ
en- by the Woodmen, means much
There are others of the Royal NeiCh
bors who favor the move, claiming
that the dissension among the Wood
men over the rate question is hamper
ing the growth of the Royal Neigh
bors.
fective the vote of two-thirds of the
delegates would be required to amend
the constitution.
Officials of the Woodmen are indif-
ferent to the matter, holding that the
separation of the two societies should
have taken place ten years ago. One
Of the officials said:
Il do not see how a separation of
the two lodges would in any way af-
feet either organization. l do not
think it would mean anything to the
growth either way, and ! believe that
all of the officials of the Woodmen are
heartily in favor of the plan
The Royal Neighbors now are hard
y an auxiliary to the Woodmen. and !
believe that 1t has been more through
neglect than anything else that the
matter was not attended to years
ago as it should have been"