Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-05
SOCIETIES HONOR
ABSENT MEMBERS
voSeru Wo0dmen and Royal Neigh.
hers Hold Joint Memorial Serv-
ices at Chippianuock Cemetery.
FATHER ONEILL GIVES GRAFTON
noelarss Organizations Are Preach
ing Right Kind Of Preparedness
Mrs. Preble Also Speaks.

Mrs. Preble Also Speaks.
Several hundred members Of the
,.ool camps Of The Modern Woodmen
~ Boval NeighborS Of America gath
I'D AZ Chippiannock cemetery, Rock
L.iond Yesterday afternoon to do
ar m the memory of the departed
nom hers Of both societies who, during
,boir lifetime. were affiliated with
,besa societies. The exercises were
held in a shaded spot just east OF the
main driveway and were marked by a
1S;mple solemnity that was especially
.l.s5inc to the occasion.
Bypead Clerk James Mcnamara OF the
ssiodern Woodmen Of America acted as
f,r,aster of ceremonies and introduced
the speakers.
In his opening remarks, following
,ho invocation by Rev. ". H. Tope of
the Snencer NJ. Z. church. he alluded
N the fact that all over the jurisdic-
,ion of Woodcraft. including also the
jurisdiction of the Royal Neighbors,
SIMILAR memorial services were being
held. as provided in the head camp by
laws Of each society.
Many Claims Paid.
Sneaking for the Nodren Woodmen.
10 asserted that since the first death
Lain Of a Rock Island member was
Maid that Of Neighbor George H. Cook
nj Camp No. %, in February, 1885,
.bere had been a total of t74 claims
discharged on account of deceased
members in this city alone. and the
aggregate amount of benefits thus dis
tributed in the community had reach
ID the noteworthy sum of $SS9.325. It
would he impossible, he said, to esti-
mate the actual sorrow and destitu-
ZION which had been sOftened and al
leyiated by this cooperative means,
where the small monthly contributions
| Of the many had resulted in the pay
e-ent of such vast sums TO the surviv-
urs of deceased members. SiXty-five
members of the local WOodmen camps
had passed away during the last u
months and it was TO honor them and
their fellows who had preceded them
l.o their resting place that these COM
D Gemorative services were being held
III Mrs. Preble Speaks.
4 Following Mr.. McNamara'a intro
ductory remarks, 80 little girls. dress
ed in white, sang My Papa Was a
Woodman" under the direction of Miss
Minnie Graham, and delighted the
audinece with their sweet rendition of
this descriptive song Substituting for
Supreme Recorder Hada N. Carlson
who was TO have spoken for the Royal
NeighbOrs of America. but whose voice
was not in condition, Mrs Nellie Z.
Preble, editor of the official magazine
Of that society, delivered a carefully
prepared address in honor of the de-
| ceased members of Woodcraft's great
| auxiliary order, which now stands
third in numerical strength among the
fraternal beneficiary societies of the
nation. The benefits of membership in
these fraternitieS was discussed by
Mrs. Preble in a most telling manner
and the aims and purposes of the
Seighbors society were set forth in
beautiful language, embellished with
many forceful and appropriate quota
/ lions.
Father 0'Neill Eloquent.
Father c. P. O'Neill of the Sacred
Heart Catholic church, as speaker for
Foodmen camps, delivered a mastery
oration, which for eloquence and
good, sound common sense has prob
ably never been surpassed at any SINH
lar observance. He aroused his hear
efs to high state of enthusiasm by his
{ 'eferences to present day problems and
SSde part which the members of the
Vraternal societies are to play in the
great world program The popular
meme OF preparedness" was seized
upon as afording an opportunity to
pay high compliment to the Modern
"oodmen and kindred societies as ex-
employing this doctrine in its best
anu most humanitarian form and his
remarks were frequently interrupted
by applause.
speaking IN a military sense, he de-
cared that while he believed in a rea-
sohaole preparedness, it was not his
view that the people of this nation
ueslred 10 have saddled upon them a
great military establishment, so that.
agufatiyely. each citizen would be
compelled TO carry a soldier on his
uecK' as is practically the case in
sohe OF the countries of Europe.
manner, ne said, he would prefer to
zee the country protected by a great
EaFy' with just enough of a standing
army to give assurance of an adequate
ces.
/ Right Kind Of Preparedness.
i The Modern Woodmer. however. IN
preaching the best kind Of prepared
- IN teaching the young man to
poYlde for the future needs of his
aalily by throwing around them the
nosecuon OF an Insurance certificate
tne greatest and strongest fratern-
me world has ever known. He
ppeaied TO the members OF this fra
fsai'y TO be loyal and patriotic. In
- ne declared. the most essential
An pdredness was 10 be found. for the
s1ofy OF the nation showed that It
vs. ms spirit that had always en-
su re Yankee armies TO conquer,
4 though their training had been
sef and their equipment not al
ass OF the highest standard. He al
70 the fact that he was among
Sob earliest Of the Catholic priests TO
~ A with favor on an organization
M me Modern Woodmen and to af-
.e WITH one Of its local camps