Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-05-18
Grand CHAPTER
?. O.E. IN SALEM
ON NEXT TUESDAY
Large Attendance Of Dele
gates Is Expected During
Three Days
What is the P. 0. E.q

Nhdi 10 thN l. VI Ess
That question is being asked by
many Salem citizens since the an
nouncement was made that the Oregon
Grand Chapter, P. f. o., is going to
hold its seventh annual meeting in
this city next TUESDAY, Wednesday
and Thursday, and that delegates will
be here from all parts of the state.
What do the letters, p. u. D. stand
for, anyway
Some people insist that they stand
for "Pigs Eat Onions" but the mem
bers of the society only smile and look
wise when such guesses are made.
The P. Il. 0. is an Organization ex-
clusively for women, and regardless OF
that fact they have kepHthe secret as
to what the initial letters mean. The
p. L. 0. Sisterhood is the largest secret
organization of women independent of
an organization of men in the nation,
The first chapter was organized in
1869 by a group of college girls who
were students in the Iowa Wesleyan
college at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Their
friendship for each Other was peculiar
ly close and as the time for graduation
grew near, a plan for a secret society
to make the tie still closer, was sug-
gested. 1t met with immediate favor
and thus informally, with the enthus-
iasm of youth, this sisterbood came
into being.
As stared by members Of the society
the object and aims Of p. d. O. arc
growth and improvement among its
members in all things mental, moral
and spiritual. AS one line of the
society's activities, an educational
fund has been provided and il being
used to aid worthy girls through
college.
Alice Bird, who later became Mrs
Babb, was the first president of the
first chapter CT the sisterbood and in
giving an account Of the founding Of
the society she says:
The surface reason for our existence
is, that seven of us college girls had
been together for three or four years
in study and in society, and we founC
the tie a strong one, unusually go. Al
our tastes ran in the same direction
our natures were congeniaf, and when
the problem Of separation confronted
us, we felt that something must mark
the era Of our friendship-some toker
might strengthen the bond and re
veal to others what a lovely friendship
ours had been.
"It is impossible for any Of US to
day to state definitely who Suggested
the forming of a secret society, bui
the proposition was made, and hastily
made, that we identical seven be thC
nucleus of a sisterhood. OF course, al
that time we little dreamed Of thu
great outcome, and yet we were il
earnest, and even then desired some
thing broad and substantial. We dif
not for one moment wish II to be q
mere college fraternity, we wished
society Of more lasting name and repu
tation."
When the State Grand Chapter o
Colorado of the p. Il. o. was organized
Miss Virginia Corbett, the president
spoke of the sisterhood az follows;
"P. e.. 0. is not merely a %literar,
club. 1t is this, but more, II is no
simply an agency for organized char
ity, though many can speak with graft
tude of such work accom- lished by on
order it is more than this--it is
sisterhood, and that term can only b.
fully understood by those who can lool
back 10 life with sisters IN che family
"This close, loving symratby j. I'm
phasized IL our constitution, the fins
item mentioned in the elaboration 0
our objec1 being. fIadiyilua
growth in charity toward each p. +. O
and toward all with whom we associ
ate The literary. social and mora
aims Of the organization are the
mentioned, the selection closing Wit
the expression Of an aim AZ temper
ance in opinion, speech and habits.
This is a phase of tho temperate
question not often agitated, but wha
sweet Influences will 90 out from gu