The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-11-24
appreciated the keen interest that
was apparent in wood-craft.
Has Hold On Members.

There is something in the Wood
man lodge that has very deep hold
| on the hearts of our members, and
| that is the protection of the home, -
| said Mr.. Sunbeam. "The Modern
Woodman lodge comes nearer to the
heart of the home than any other Or
ganization. There is no order in the
land that has taken such hold upon
the home as the Modern Woodmen.
We appeal to that great mass of peo-
, pie who love their homes, and want
| their families to be taken care of in
case the husband and father is taken
away. The family life is the inspira-
ton of the Modern Woodmen OF
| America, which itself is one great
family of universal power" Gap
plause.) Mr.. Sunbeam explained that
the Woodman lodge was the poor
mans lodge, and illustrated his talk
with apt poems in German and Irish
dialect. He was well received, and
the Woodmen were not slow to ap-
plause every point made by the
speakers during the evening.
Mr.. Ellsworth prefaced his intro
duction of the next speaker by tell
ing of the sanatorium at Colorado
Springs, which had been built and
was maintained by the order. He
stated that six hundred thousand
dollars had been spent for the pur-
post of maintaining this worthy VEN
ture "The leader in the movement
which made this sanatOrium for the
cure of Woodmen afflicted with tu-
berculosis possible, is here tonight"
he said. He then humorously alluded
to the fact that this worthy person
was also a leader in democracy, and
stated that it was always wonder
to him that anyone engaged in such
bad business as democracy should
also engage in such good work as
the Woodman sanatOrium. He then
introduced Hon. E. E. Murphy from
Kansas. The little repartee between
Congressman Ellsworth, republican,
and Mr. Murphy, democrat, concern
ing their respective political parties
was enjoyed and applauded by the
Woodmen.
Talk On Woodmen Lodge.
Mr.. Murphy gave quite lengthy
talk on the Woodman lodge, explain
ing in detail many things of interest
to Woodmen in general. 81 have been
working in Minnesota for the past
few days." he said, land l was never
so highly pleased and gratified, or
more enthusiastic than 1 have been
since l came here. The late unpleas-
antness in the lodge is rapidly fading
away, and is almost forgotten. have
been associated with the Modern
Woodmen of America for the past
twenty-six years, and have travelled
all over the Union preaching this
doctrine of humanity. 1t is my re-
ligion, and 1 have told my wife that
when 1 die 1 want this epitaph en-
graved on my tombstone, Here lies
Ed Murphy who believed in the Epis
copal church, the democratic party,
and the Modern Woodmen of Amer
ica.'" A storm of laughing APPLAUSE
greeted this remark. The speaker
continued to urge the Weodmen to
make the order better and grander
than ever before. "The lodge of the
Modern Woodmen of America is too
big, strong, and grand to be lost to
the world" he said, when there is
so much to do, so many in the world
whom we can keep from want, misery
and VICE."
Poor Mans Society.
With facts and figures to prove the
riches of the lodge, and the immense
amounts paid out in surance Mr.. Muir
ply proceeded to show that the lodge
was poor mans society,"" and one
in which he could safely invest with
the assurance that his family would
be well provided for in case of his
death. "The Modern Woodmen of
amounts paid out in insuranceMr.M Muir
mainly, more fraternity, and more
good fellowship than any other or
ganization," he said, the remark be-
ing received with much applause. He
then told in detail of the organization
of the Woodmen Sanatorium at Colo
RADIO Springs, and how it had been
made possible by voluntary contribu
ton of ten cents per capita, and was
being maintained by three cents per
capita. When called for the volun-
tary contributions at ten cents each
udu IueC WIFI uOSC generous re-
spouse, the Woodmen contributing
$254,16 what greater tribute can
man pay to humanity than these
Woodmen have done?" asked Mr.
Murphy. He told of the 1,645 Wood
men who had been cured of tuber-
culosis in this sanatorium and sent
out strong men, able to take their
places in the world, due to this in
spired movement of the Woodmen
which was winning victories over
death, and hoped that every Wood
man thus afflicted would be cured of
the dreaded white plague.
Mixed 1t With Humor.
Mr.. Murphy mixed the leaven of
humor with his facts and figures. He
told of what he considered the two
greatest forces for civilization and
good in the world, which were the
Modern Woodmen of America and
Henry Ford. He told of visit to the
Ford factory and the benevolence of
Mr.. Ford, who employed $40 ex-con-
victs among his workmen, and gave
standing invitation to such unfor-
tunate men to come to his factory,
where they would be employed and
started on the way to manhood again.