The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-01
RoYnl ArcAnu11.


All mem bers of the Royal ArcAnum
under twenty-one years OF age are 70
be organized into Junior councils for
the purposes OF military training.
Judge c. Arch Williams. supreme
regent OF the order. announced to-
day. Special uniforms are to be proc
vided and men with knowledge Of
the youths for participation In mill
tary and patriotic events.
In outlining the plan Judge W1-s
liams said today:
In order to be OF largest help -
the government in what Is perhaps
the most vital need today, the Royal
Arcanum has decided to do what Il
can to encourage the military train
ing OF the young men in its organixa-
ton. We have found that councils
in every large city have added %
many young men to their rolls. as res
suit Of recent membership drives. that
we can gather together a substantial
number OF youths and help prepare
them for military service which the
government proposes for the young
est men Of the coming draft
Trained military men will take
charge and our new soldiers will
have attractive uniforms that will help
t TO arouse their enthusiasm in the idea.
We are going to take this opportunity
to instruct the younger men how to-
proceed In governing themselves along
lines similar TO those in vogue for
senior council organize tons. In cer-
tain cities. these young men Will come
! from the local colleges and high
! schools and our local authorities will
endeavor to secure the co-operation4
| of the school heads, so that young men
can be brought together and can learn
the history. methods and ideals OF our
order
We have found that in a number
OF cases thousands OF young men lave
assumed responsibilities heretofor4s
borne by their fathers or older broth-
ers. They are intensely patriotic and
! frequently have no opportunity to So
cure physical and mental drills that
would make them better soldiery for
Uncle Sam. That is what we are try
ing to provide and all OF our older
memb ers are giving a hearty welcome
and every assistance to the youths
who wish to secure the advantages Of
| fraternal association which the Royal
Arcanum provides.
| In every large city where the frater-
nal society has strong organization.
I the younger members are being given
an opportunity to secure preparatory
training for actual service when called
| in the next draft Recently. the order
lowered the age limit for membership
to sixteen years, and large addition
of the younger element of thes mem.
bership has resulted. IL
! To meet the conditions placed upon
! 1t by the war this plan has hoen de-
vised by the supreme regent 1t 10 in
I line with the efforts OF the order to
encourage local organizations. to aid
the government In accordance with
the determination OF the war depart-
ment TO lower the draft limits ana
train young men from eighteen years
up for actual service. the supreme
council has decided to use this cham
mel for nlacing the large facilities Of
I the organization at the direct aid Of
the government. Every grand regent
Throughout the country has been asked
to institute junior council In every
important American city j It 10 ex-
! pected that in this way the Royal Ar-
/ canum will be able to gather thou-
sands OF young men under its banner
| and to give them valuable military
training.