The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-12-16
CANDIDATES RIDE REAL GOAT
A. N. Bort of Beloit, Supreme Director
of the Head Camp Tells of Great
Growth of Order and q. e. Whelan
Madison, Pays Tribute to Pioneers.

Members of Pikewoods camp No. 391
Of the Modern Woodmen of America
staged great meeting at Germania
hall on Saturday night when more than
five hundred members Of the order,
many of them coming from other cities,
witnessed the examplifcation of the
work of the order on a large class Of
candidates. It was the first large class
FOR adoption into the Kenosha camp
since the rate war and it proved to be
, great comeback for woodcraft.
Several officers of the head camp
we're present and large delegations
anne from Racine and Waukegan on
pecial cars. There was parade be-
ore the ceremonies at Germania hall
Ind more than three hundred members
# the order were in line. The Keno
ha and Racine forestry teams, two of
he best drilled teams in the whole or
Ter, led the parade to the big hall
where the ceremonies of the evening
ook place.
1t was an old fashioned Woodman
initiation with the work in charge of
he Racine team. The big gathering
vas called to order by Consul Harry
8runer of the Kenosha camp and after
he candidates had been obligated the
ceremonies were delayed long enough
% hear addresses by prominent visit
)rs Judge Clifford E. Randall was in
reduced as master Of ceremonies and
The first speaker was A. n Bort of
Beloit the supreme director of the head
camp. Mr.. Bort is one of the most
popular men of the order and he was
given a great ovation by the large
company of Woodmen present. He
spoke of the condition of the order
showing that during the past year more
than $4,000 new members had been re-
ceived. He gave financial reports
which showed that the Woodmen now
have assets of more than $13,000,000
His report showed membership of
over q million men. Director Bort
spoke especially of the Woodman san
at6rium for consumptives at Colorado
Springs. 1t is now nearing completion
in keeping with the original plans
made years ago and Director Bort de-
clared that it had rightfully been call
ed the greatest sanatorium for the
treatment, of victims of tuberculosis
in the world. 1t is open free to the
members of the order and many of the
eighty-ive cottages are now filed. G.
7. Heydecker one of the pioneers of
woodcraft was the next speaker. Mr..
Heydeeker was the father of the Wau-
kegan camp and for a number of years
he was national lecturer of the order.
He made strong plea for the princi-
pies Of the order and declared that the
Modern Woodmen of America had won
the respect of the world by furnishing
protection to it's members at actual
cost.
Charles E. Whelan of Madison, ma
tional lecturer of the head camp gave
q most eloquent address. He paid
tribute to the men who had re-estab-
lished the order in 1890 and declared
that the foundation laid by these men
had made possible the permanency of
tic order.
The last speaker of the evening was
Judge E. B. Belden of Racine. After
the speaking was over the floor work
was resumed For the first time in
Kenosha candidates for initiation into
woodcraft rode real goat. 1t had
beer brought down from Racine and it
cantered about the hall with the can
didates to the great delight Of the as
sembled neighbors. The goat was not
the only feature of the inltiatory work
but it stood up in the top row. The
initiatory work was completed just
after midnight and buffet luncheon
was Served. Following the luncheon
there was an informal social gathering
and smoker at which extemporaneous
addresses were made by many of the
visiting members of the order. Prom
inent among the Woodmen from other
states present at the big meeting were
O. S. Townley of Macomb, ILL.,, mem
her of the legal department. Of the head
camp; J. VanDerVorn of Chicago, ad-
visorv consul of the Chicago camp
which has more than $500 members;
a. Cary Judd of Racine.