n; HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS OLD CONCORD SCHOOL HOUSE, THE BIRTH-PLACE OF THE Jr. O. U. A. M. GERMANTOWN (PHILADELPHIA). MAY 17, 1853 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS OF THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA BY The Rev. M. D. LICHLITER PAST STATE COUNCILOR OF PENNSYLVANIA. AND NATIONAL CHAPLAIN PHILADELPHIA Press of j. B. lippincott company IQOQ Copyright, 1908 By Rev. M. D. Lichlitek \Q to TO MY WIFE MARY FLORENCE THIS VOLUME IS MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED A FOREWORD THERE was a time when an important part of a book was the preface, in which the author set forth his ideas and gave the raison d' e'tre of the publication. In this instance the work itself shall give the reason for the following pages. Fifty-five years ago to-day the Junior Order of United Ameri- can Mechanics had its birth; and with the exception of a brief record by National Secretary Edw. S. Deemer, issued in 1896, in connection with another publication, entitled " American Land- marks," no comprehensive history of the Order has been compiled, hence the demand for a fuller account of the origin, rise, progress, work and success of this great American organization. To meet this demand, and to place in detail the evolution of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., is our purpose in sending forth upon the sea of litera- ture this volume. It has been our aim not to say hard things of anyone, even of those who once were in the Junior fold, and if there has been good things to say of our brethren — well we have said them, not in a spirit of flattery, but believing the words due them ; as well as firmly believing that 'postmortem love is worthless, that if there are good things to say of others, to speak them when the ears can hear and the hearts can feel and that they may know before they go down to the silence of the tomb that their work has been appreci- ated. Hence if we have not been able to say anything commend- able personally concerning those who have endeavored to wreck the organization in the years of its strife, we have restrained from saying anything to the contrary, feeling all the while with Stevenson : " There's so much bad in the best of us, And so much good in the worst of us, That it hardly behooves any of us To speak about the rest of us." viii FOREWORD How far this history will stand the test of criticism, is not for the writer to determine. To know is one thing; to do is quite another. And it may be observed of writing, as of good blood, that it is much easier to say what it is composed of than to compose it. It has cost the writer more time and pains to abridge these pages than to write them; therefore in submitting this volume to the Order, it is with the consciousness that we have clone the best we could. fa.&.&cJ&U Hakrisbubg, Pa., May 17, 1908. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IN the compilation of data as contained in this volume, the author gratefully acknowledges the assistance rendered and the cour- teous consideration of those whose names follow. Along general lines, we give due credit to " Deemer's History of the Junior 0. U. A. M.", " Scharfs and Westcott's History of Philadelphia," " Hotchkin's History of Germantown," " Kernan's History of the National Orphans' Home," and to the "Proceedings of the X.-i tional Council" and the "Proceedings" of the various State Councils. We wish, in this connection, to express appreciation of the brotherly consideration given and cheering words spoken, by the following brethren: Past National Councilor Brother W. E. Faison, editor of The American, for loan of plates and cuts and other useful data, and by whose courteous counsel we were greatly assisted; National Councilor, Brother H. C. Schaertzer, and Brother W. L. S. Gilcreast, Junior Past National Councilor, for encouragement extended; Senior Past State Councilor Brother John W. Calver, for early data concerning the Order; Past Na- tional Councilor Brother Thos. C. Appleby, for facts associated with Delaware's early history; Past National Councilors, Brothers A. L. Cray and Dr. J. L. Cooper, for kind words and helpful data; Brother Stephen Collins, Secretary-Manager Funeral Benefit De- partment and Beneficiary Degree, for loan of full set of Proceedings of the National Council, as well as rendering other valuable assist- ance; Brothers Smith W. Bennett, Esq., Chief Counsel, Archie D. Wilkin, Esq., of the National Law Committee, and B. D. Hutchi- son, Esq., attorney for the National Council, for data relative to the legal status concerning the litigation in the Order; Brother Z. P. Smith, formerly of The American, for expressions of apprecia- tion of our efforts and for the loan of plates and cuts to be incor- porated in the volume ; Brother Jesse Taylor, formerly Secretary of the National Legislative Committee, for important documents rela- tive to legislation; Brothers F. W. Pierson, D. B. McDonald, A. L. Cray, A. H. Leslie and Hilary E. Howse, Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, for loan of plates; Past State Councilor F. ilil<> in the public schools as neces- sary for a faithful course of instruction therein, and we arc determined to maintain it there in spite of the efforts of naturalized and unnaturalized foreigners to eject it therefrom. "Resolved, That this meeting believes that the recently successful efforts of the friends of the Bible in Kensington was t he exciting cause which resulted in the murderous scenes of the 6th inst." After the passage of the above resolutions, a motion was made that the meeting adjourn to meet in Kensington on the following Thursday, which was lost. Another motion to meet next day met the same fate. A motion was made to meet at once at the scene of the previous day's conflict. This carried and an irregular proces- sion was formed and moved to the spot where Shiftier fell. While the meeting was going on, a volley of musketry was fired into the crowd from the Hibernia Hose House. Notwithstanding the posters and papers had suggested to the citizens to turn out at the afternoon meeting fully armed, not a single weapon was carried by the native born citizens. This battle proved more bloody than the one the day previous, as John Wesley Rhinedollar, Louis Greble, Charles Stillwell and Matthew Hammett were shot dead on the spot, while John Lescher and Joseph Coxe were mortally wounded and subsequently died, and several were more or less injured. Exas- perated and being unarmed, the citizens set fire to the Hose House, which was consumed and about thirty other buildings were swept with the flames, including the "Nanny Goat Market/' By this time the blood of the Philadelphians was " boiling " and the spirit of radical as well as sectarian hatred seized the less law abiding who, with the blood of their fellow-citizens crying unto them from the ground for vengeance, sought out the dwellings where it was supposed the foreign element lived and set them on fire. So great was the danger of indiscriminate burnings, that native born citizens displayed American flags from their windows to indicate that they were not foreigners. The hatred towards Roman Catho- lics became more intense as the crowd increased, and it was not long until the Roman Catholic church, St. Michael's, was set on fire, and with other Catholic buildings, all were consumed by the relent- less flames. The two military companies thai had been called out were powerless to stem the tide of riot and ruin, whereupon Generals George Cadwalader and Robert Patterson, at the head of the First Brigade of Militia, reached the scene of carnage and intimidated the rioters at one point, but other parts of the city being left unguarded, the work of destruction went on and St. Augustine's Roman Catho- 6 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER lie church and other adjoining Catholic buildings were burned to the ground. The presence of the military and the efforts of the city authori- ties brought a cessation of retaliatory measures emanating from the Native Americans, and in a few days all further danger seemed passed. While, however, the riotous proceedings were put down, still the feeling that stirred the entire city was most bitter. A manifesto was drawn up by a number of citizens and presented to the Governor of the State, thanking him, the military and the city authorities for the measures used to suppress the' disturbance. This communication reflected somewhat upon the Native American Party and intensified the bitter feeling existing ; while at the same time the Grand Jury, in their presentment, favored the Native Americans; hence there was crimination and recrimination by the enemies and friends of the Roman Catholics who were blamed as being the immediate cause of the riots and bloodshed. It is not a surprise, therefore, that the Native American Party, which up to this time attracted but little of public attention, should leap into prominence, while thousands united with the organization, attracted by its motto : " America for Americans." There were, however, two classes of citizens that united with the Native American Association : Those who were prompted by sectarian prejudice, and those who were not. Sometime after the excitement of the May riots had passed, these two elements of the Native Americans disagreed and separated, the former party being called by the slang term, " Mountain Sweets." However, to such an extent did the enthusiasm rise after the riots, that the Native American Party resolved on celebrating the Fourth of July of same } r ear with a monster demonstration. The Associations entered into the project with great zest, and it is claimed that never in the former history of Philadelphia and not until 1884 was there ever seen in the city such a party procession. But the end of the tragic story had not yet been reached. Other events, like the Independence Day procession and demonstra- tion, followed to be reminders of the bloody scenes of May previous. Some one claimed that on the Nation's natal day, while the Native Americans were parading the streets, devotees of Eome were drill- ing with arms in one of their churches and the excited throngs were bent on finding out whether the rumor was true or not; and on entering the church, a supply of loaded muskets, axes, pistols, powder, etc., were found. Enraged by the discovery, the people determined on burning the church, but the military and civil UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 7 authorities interfered and saved the edifice. But the spirit of riot had not been extinguished; only subdued. Crowds thronged the main thoroughfares, whereupon the sheriff ordered the people to disperse to their homes. This, however, proved ineffectual and some in the crowd, of more violent spirit, replied tauntingly, where- upon General Cadwalader ordered the artillery company to open fire on the mass of people. As the field piece was being levelled, preparatory to obey orders, Mr. Charles Naylor, a lawyer and a former member of Congress, sprang in front of the cannon's mouth, exclaiming, " No, don't fire ! Don't fire." The humane impulse of Naylor saved the lives of many innocent people who were, as in all throngs, attracted by curiosity. General Cadwalader ordered the arrest of Naylor who was placed under military custody. Quiet having been restored, the military, with the exception of the " Hibernia Greens," a company made up of Irish and Catholics, and one or two other companies, were removed. But it was a short-sighted blunder on the part of the military authorities to permit an alien company to remain on guard over the church property, above referred to, as the fury of the populace increased and again the church was attacked. Cool-headed men, however, arrested the flow of blood and subdued the anger of the crowd, by having Mr. Naylor released from military guard. As if the mili- tary authorities courted violence, by their blundering and suicidal policy, they removed all the military from the church except the much-hated " Hibernia Greens." Their remaining on guard re- vived the pent-up indignation of the people and again the rougher element of the native born population gathered about the church. Acceding to the better element of citizens, the Irish Catholic Com- pany was removed. After their withdrawal the crowds were bent on entering the church, but the leaders of the Native American Party plead with them to desist declaring that they (the Native Americans) were in charge of the building. The people, however, entered the church, and to their credit and heeding the sturdy pro- test of the Native Americans, no damage to property was done, and after satisfying their curiosity, retired quietly to their homes. This was on Sunday, and had the Committee of Native Americans, one hundred in number, been left in charge of the church property, the story of the Philadelphia riots of 1844 would have been ended. It was the old story of the military intermeddling, when all danger was passed and quiet restored. While the Committee of Native Americans were stemming the tide at the church, the bell on Independence Hall was rung, calling 8 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER out the military. Having formed in front of Independence Hall, the military companies marched to the church and demanded the custody of the building from the Committee of Native Americans. The presence of the military, and it being Sunday, attracted throngs of people who followed the soldiers. The crowd was not a " mob " and was peaceable and orderly, with the exception of here and there one who would hurl an insult at the military. The sequel was that a collision took place and one of the soldiers was hit with a stone. The command to fire was given, whereupon a bloody combat ensued, and many on both sides were killed and wounded. However, the military proved the stronger force, and ere the morning of July 5, 1844 came, the " Eiots of 1844 " were over. As a result of these unfortunate disturbances, the Native American Party became a strong political factor in the campaign of that year, having elected several members of the Legislature and two members of Congress. In every campaign they figured con- spicuously, especially in Philadelphia, until 1848, when the Party ceased to be of any prominence in State or National politics. The split in the party, as noted elsewhere, into two bodies, viz. : Pure Native Americans, and " Mountain Sweets," or Sectarian Native Americans, was the beginning of the end of a movement that had much to do in the birth of the Order of United American Mechanics, and the subsequent organization of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. who was george shiffler? But a passing reference has been made to this young man, the first victim of the " Philadelphia Eiots." More than twenty years after his death when Edw. S. Deemer was State Councilor of Penn- sylvania, Brother John D. Goff organized a Council and proposed to name it George Shiftier. Brother Deemer informed him that . To establish a funeral fund. 6. For the establishment of a fund for the relief of widows and orphans of deceased members." From the above Objects, it is apparent that the first inception of the Society was for the protection of mechanics and workingmen alone, and for a time none but operative mechanics and workingmen were admitted to its membership; but the great principles involved in its existence caused a departure from that plan, and the Order has for years existed and exists to-day, as an Order of speculative mechanics recognizing everyone possessed of birth requirements, whether they work with hand or brain. At a subsequent meeting the title of the Society was adopted as follows : " Resolved, That the title of the Society be known as the association of United American Mechanics of the United States." The officers consisted of President, Vice-President, Eecording Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Inside Guard, Outside Guard, and Corresponding Secretary. A few weeks subsequently the titles of the first two officers were changed to Councilor and Vice- Councilor, and the term " Association " to " Council." The first President or Councilor was Ethan G. Briggs. The name of the first Council was Experiment Council, No. 1. Enterprise Council, No. 2, and Perseverance Council, No. 3, soon followed, whereupon, oh November 13, 1S45, nine delegates, three from each Council, met at the house of John S. Sansom for the purpose of forming a State Council. After adopting the same Constitution that governed the Subordinate Councils and drawing lots as to the respective terms of the Eepresentatives to the State Council, the State Council, 0. TJ. A. M., of Pennsylvania, was duly constituted, and William Sharpless was elected President. Sub- sequently the term President and Vice-President were changed to harmonize with the terms in the Subordinate Councils, Councilor and Vice-Councilor. The offices of Conductor and Warden were created in the first year of the Order's history. Within nine months after the institution of Experiment Council, five other Councils were instituted, viz. : Enterprise, No. ,2, Perseverance, No. 3, Re- liance, No. 4, Washington, No. 5, and Pennsylvania, No. 6. (An unfortunate break occurs here in the Minutes for three years; in the meantime the National Council had been instituted and the State Council had increased largely, there having been more than ninety Councils organized in various parts of the state. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS IS The terms "Conductor" and "Warden" m the State Body bad been changed to "Inductor" and " Protector." Ivlitor.) It is not the purpose here I" recite the history of the 0. U. A. M., only to refer to its beginnings as an Order. Suffice it to say, that a perusal of the very carefully recorded Minutes showed that in the early years of the State Council, that body had its troubles and vicissitudes, in dealing with insubordinate Councils and insubordinate members. In the '50s there was some sectional prejudice aroused over the preponderance of Councils in Philadel phia, and in 1851 a circular was sent out by a joint Committee of two country Councils asking for a meeting to take into consideration the practicability of petitioning the National Council for a separate State Council to be known as the " State Council of Middle Penn- sylvania," and making Philadelphia the " State Council of Phila- delphia." The charges made by the country Councils were, that there was an unequal division of the Widow's and Orphan's fund, claiming that Philadelphia paid two dollars to the relief of the brothers' widows to one dollar paid to relief of country widows. The project, however, came to naught, although a number of Coun- cils seceded. As stated elsewhere, the Order was composed entirely of opera- tive mechanics the first years of its existence, but it became evident to the leaders of the organization that its purpose should be of a higher nature and its scope broader, hence, at the session of the National Council held in 1851, the constitution was so changed that professional men, those who worked with brain, should be eligible to membership, if they met the requirements of birth, etc. While this change gave pretty general satisfaction, still a few coun- cils vigorously opposed the change. One Council went so far as to send a protest to the State Council of Pennsylvania, claiming that the Order would be seriously injured by opening the doors to others than mechanics, saying, " That if the National Council persists in enforcing these laws, we would respectfully solicit the proper officers to take possession of our charter, as we do not feel willing, as republicans, to submit to laws so tyrannical." In short, the 0. TJ. A. M. is a Patriotic, Social, Fraternal and Beneficial Order, believes in upholding the Public Schools and stands flat-footed on the immigration question; in fact, it stands for all that the Jr. 0. TJ. A. M. teaches and, though less aggressive, it promulgates the doctrines of true Americanism. At tho close of the year, June 30, 1852, the Senior Order had 68 Councils and 4,233 members. CHAPTER II 2. INSTITUTION AND BIRTHPLACE WE now turn from the Inception and Origin of the Order, to its institution as an organization, and to the sacred surroundings of its opening life. So intense was the American spirit cherished, that at the close of June 30, 1852, as referred to in last chapter, the 0. U. A. M. had more than 4,000 members. The Constitution, by action of their National Council, having been amended so as to admit others than mechanics, many were impressed with the great possibilities that were presented to the Order. Seeing this and deeply interested in the promulgation of the principles of the organization, two mem- bers of Reliance Council, No. 40, viz. : Gideon D. Harmar and Elliott Smith, aided by Wm. M. Weckerly, S. C. Secretary, con- ceived the idea of forming an organization of the youth from the ages of 16 to 21, to act as a " feeder " for Eelianee Council in particular and the Order in general. Acting upon their own im- pulse and receiving recognition from some of their fellow-members, these three brothers instituted Washington Council, No. 1, Junior Order United American Mechanics, in due form, in the upper room of Concord Schoolhouse, Germantown, now a part of Philadelphia, May 17, 1853. Upon entering the hall where the Council holds its meetings, the visitor is attracted to an antique frame hanging on the wall con- taining a yellow parchment — the Original Charter of Washington Council, No. 1, and attached thereto are the names of the first Charter members of the first Council of the Order. This interest- ing relic reads as follows : ORIGINAL CHARTER TJonesty, Industry and Sobriety — Washington Council, No. 1, of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, State of Pennsylvania. Instituted May 17th, 1853. We, the undersigned youth, Americans by birth, have viewed the disadvantages under which Americans labor from the effects of foreign combination and foreign competition, and from past experiences and present appearances of the future, instead of the evils abating, there is a certainty of their increasing, and as we are not eligible to membership in the Order of United American Mechanics until we arrive at the age of 21 years. 14. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 15 therefore form ourselves into an association to prepare the youth of American birth for membership in the American Orders when they arrive at the proper age, to which is added the praise-worthy duty of aiding our fellow-brothers in distress; therefore, for the purpose of advancing such objects and carrying out such principles as shall best promote the interest and secure the happiness of ourselves and countrymen, we pledge hereby ourselves, as Americans, to use every fair and honorable means consistent with our sacred duties, and in accordance with the parental voice of the Father of our Country, " beware of foreign influence." George Keyser, Isaiah Duverse, Isaiah B. Scott, Chas. Waters, Henry Smith, Samuel J. Colli day, Daniel Pastorious, John P. Heffner, Philip H. Kloneqar, Chas. P. Haupt, Chas. Kleaver, Henry Gravenstein. Of the above list of charter members, but one remains (1908), still a member of the Mother Council, P. N". C. Brother Chas. P. Haupt, to whom the honor of the highest office in the Order was given by action of the National Council. That there were a larger number than those on the Original Charter admitted at the time the Council was instituted, is presumably true, as it is inferred from Brother Haupt's " Eecollections " in Deemer's History, that the Charter was not granted until a few months after the institution of the Council, when some who had joined had dropped out, hence the twelve names above quoted should be considered as constituting the first Council of the Order. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 0. U. A. M. AND THE JR. 0. U. A. M. The question arises, " What part, if any, had the 0. U. A. M., as an organization, in the formation and founding of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. ? For years the writer, when engaged in delivering addresses in the interest of the Order, was very careful to impress upon the members of the organization and the public in general, that the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was the child of the O.U.A. M.; that to the latter organization it owed its life as well as sustenance and strength in the formative years of its history. Not until we read the state- ments of Brother Deemer in his History, did we doubt the relia- bility of our own statements so frequently made. No one in the Order is as capable of giving a true version of the disputed fact as Brother Deemer. Being on the field at the time and having early connected himself with both organizations, and so long an officer in the Junior Order, he is perfectly competent to give the exact status of the relationship that existed between the two Orders. 16 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Brother Deemer, after giving the account of the institution of Washington Council, and the part taken in its organization by the three brothers above named, says : '• While we have shown beyond controversy thai the O. U. A. M. did not bring us into being, it is equally true that the first resolve and first action received its impulse in the encouraging words of Gideon D. Harmar and Elliott Smith, of Reliance Council, and even with this encouragement, it is possible that it might all have come to naught, had it not been that Wm. M. Weckerly, the State Council Secretary of the O. U. A. M., came to their assistance and prepared for them the Ritual, Constitution and By-Laws for their government." Again, Brother Deemer says : " While giving due credit to the Senior Order for the assistance rendered, the fact must be stated, that the help came from individuals, rather than from the Order itself. That body failed to appreciate the spirit of Young America, and the Senior who ridiculed the ' boys,' not only provoked their indignation, but in too many cases the entire Order received censure and its members were given little credit for their assistance." Brother Deemer at the time he was making the investigations relative to the part the 0. U. A. M. had in the organization of the Junior Order, stated that he had made diligent efforts to ascertain the facts, and quotes the following from a letter received from former State Council Secretary, Wm. M. Weckerly, under date of December 12, 1892 : " Reliance Council, No. 40, 0. U. A. M., had no hand in the organiza- tion of the Order." This statement of one who ought to know is corroborated by the Secretary of Beliance Council, No. 40, who informed Brother Deemer that he and the Secretary of Washington Council, No. 1, Jr. 0. U. A. M., examined the records of Beliance Council at the time of the institution of Washington Council, No. 1, and failed to find any reference at all to the subject. But some one may say : " Your statements and claims as to the relationship of the two Orders in its institution is largely from the Junior standpoint. What say the records of the 0. U. A. M. ? " With the end in view of getting the facts from both sides, as stated before, we were fortunate in getting the original records of the 0. TJ. A. M., which contained the Minutes of the State Council from its institution up to 1868, recorded in two large volumes by the various Secretaries of that body. It was with a keen interest that we turned to the Minutes of the quarterly and special meetings UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 17 of the State Body in the years 1852 and 1853. Wm. M. Weckerly, so closely associated with the founding of the Junior Order by the institution of Washington Council, and who prepared for the new organization the Ritual, Constitution and By-laws, was the State Council Secretary of the 0. U. A. M. He was the first S. C. Secre- tary to submit to the State Council a report of his official acts during the quarter, at the same time giving an account of the con- dition of the Order in the state. Believing that the purpose of forming the Junior Order would have been brought to the attention of Brother Weckerly, in fact, we are assured that it was, it was natural to suppose that in his report to the State Council some statement would have been made as to the movement contemplated. Impressed with this conviction, we turned to the Minutes of the quarterly session of April, 1853, but found no reference to the subject in the State Secretary's report. Naturally it would be supposed that at the next quarterly meeting, which was the annual meeting of the State Body, that reference would be made by the Secretary in his report relative to the institution of the Junior Order, on May 17, preceding, which, as anticipated by its founders, would add many members to the Senior Order ; but not a word is found in, the carefulty prepared and nicely written record of that session concerning this interesting event in which he had taken so prominent a part. And for nearly seven years, in the numerous sessions of the State Body, the S. C. Secretary made his reports, and also as National Secretary made an annual report of that body to the State Council, not a reference as to the existence of Wash- ington Council, No. 1, Jr. 0. U. A. M., was made either by himself, the Board of Officers or any Representative, as far as the records are concerned. What does it mean? What explanation can be given for the silence of seven long years on the subject? The only conclusion we can arrive at is, that the institution of Washington Council, Jr. 0. TL A. M. did not meet with the approbation of the 0. U. A. M. as a body, and those who had been intimately associated with its organization were familiar with this feeling, hence did not press the matter to the attention of either the State or National Council, for fear of exciting criticism and being subjected to ridicule. It is certainly clear that the opinion expressed by Brother Deemer and others who were contemporary with the times, is correct, that the 0. U. A. M., as an Order, had nothing to do with the organization and institution of Washington Council, No. 1, Jr. 0. IT. A. M.. 18 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER neither had it any connection with the new organization for several years subsequent. After seven years of rebellion in the Order, mutual concessions were made, and in 1859, the larger number of the insubordinate Councils returned to the State and National bodies of the 0. U. A. M., whereupon an era of prosperity dawned on the organ- ization and the Order became more aggressive. To such an extent did the Order advance, that by June 30, 1860, there were 80 Coun- cils and 9,310 members. The amount in the treasuries of the Coun- cils of the State was $69,777.14. The Widow's and Orphan's Fund had $5,227.46%. The State Council of Pennsylvania had 170 widows and 498 orphans under its care. We do not have the stand- ing of the National Body at that time. THE FIRST RECORDED ATTEMPT AT RECOGNITION OF THE JUNIORS BY THE O. U. A. M. It was about this time that the O. U. A. M. of Pennsylvania took notice of the Jr. 0. TJ. A. M. At the quarterly meeting of the State Council, April 15, 1859, the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to report a plan by which we can make known to the Mechanics and Workingmen, who are not members of the Order, its Objects and Principles, and engage their cooperation in our cause by becoming members of the Order." At the quarterly session, October 21, same year, the Committee submitted its report. After recounting the purpose for which they had been appointed, added: " Your Committee beg leave to state they have examined the impor- tant subject entrusted to their charge, and after due deliberation and a free interchange of sentiment, present the following with a favorable recommendation : " 1. The establishment of a Junior Order of the United American Mechanics. " The Committee feel satisfied that an organization of young men (say from the ages of 14 to 21 years), may be established under the supervision of our Order, which may be made to exercise a powerful influence upon the morals of the youth of this community. The ritual, decorations and degrees of such an Order should be so arranged as to make them encourage virtuous habits and a desire for improvement in intelligence, refinement and usefulness. . . . " We can imagine no movement which will be more creditable to our Order, nor any calculated to extend its popularity and influence more than the establishment of such a Junior Order, if it be properly managed." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 19 The report, as partly given above, was, on motion, received, but no action thereon was taken. The State Council, it is evident , did not see the force of the Committee's recommendation. In the meantime seven other Junior Councils were instituted and the State Council of Pennsylvania was launched, still there was no rec- ognition, officially, of the new organization by the Seniors. The next mention in the records of the 0. U. A. M. of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was at a quarterly session of the State Body, held in October, 1860, when a request of Diligent Council, No 42, was read asking for a dispensation to initiate members of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., when they arrive at the age of 21 years, for the sum of $2.00. In the consid- eration of the request, a motion to grant the same was ruled out of order, and the Chair was sustained in an appeal taken from his decision. The Junior organization, alone and unaided, officially, by the older Order, struggled on amidst the great depletion of its rank- by the Civil War until 1862, when, at a session of their State Council, July 15, the faet was brought to the attention of the Senior State Body. At this session, a Memorial from Ellsworth Council, No. 14, Jr. 0. IT. A. M., was read in which the following propositions were presented : "Resolved, That the Representatives of this Council he authorized to lay before the State Council of our Order the following propositions: "1. That the State Council send an address to the State Council of the Senior Order, asking them to recognize us officially as the Jr. 0. U. A. M. and that they be requested to alter their regulations so as to admit members of the Junior Order in their Subordinate Councils for onedialf the initiation fee; provided, however, that such member lias been so one year. "2. That our private work be revised, and that part relating t<> members being obliged to join the Senior Order be omitted, so that persons joining our organization under twenty-one years of age ran remain in our Order after they have arrived at the age entitling them to enter the Senior Order, which they can enter at their pleasure." In the consideration of the above propositions, the second one was amended, on motion of Brother Deemcr, and made to read: "That if the Senior Order refuse to recognize us, the whole matter is then referred to the Committee of Forms." The proposition was so referred. As per action of the State Council, State Council Secretary Deemer sent the above proposition (No. 1) to the State Council, 0. U. A.M., under date of July 16, 1862, which was road at their State meeting July 18. 20 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER LETTER OF EDW. S. DEEMER TO THE STATE COUNCIL, 0. U. A. M. Accompanying the proposition, Brother Deemer, by way of stirring up the remembrance of the 0. TJ. A. M., expressed himself at length upon the failure of the Senior Order in not officially recognizing the Junior Order. The communication contains so many facts of interest that we have quoted the letter from the written records of the Senior State Council. After presenting the proposition referred to, Brother Deemer adds: " In carrying out the provisions of the above proposition, we have only to draw your attention to the following facts. The Junior 0. U. A. M. was instituted by the organization of Washington Council. No. 1, of Germantown, on the 17th of May, 1853, under the auspices of the 0. U. A. M. "The objects of the organization were expressed as the following: ' 1. To assist Americans in obtaining employment. ' 2. To encourage Americans in business. ' 3. To establish a sick and funeral fund. ' 4. To prepare the youth of America to become members of the O. U. A. M. and other American Orders when they arrive at the proper age. '5. To use such means when able as will prevent the present system of emigration of foreign paupers to our land.' " In addition to these objects, our members have been obligated as follows, on being initiated: 'I further promise that in conformity with the fourth object of this Order, I will, when I arrive at the age of 21 years, offer myself a candidate for membership in a legally constituted Council of the' O. U. A. M.' " It was further expressed in the organization of Washington Council, that this Council should act as State Council of the Order until six Councils were organized, and under its jurisdiction, when each should be requested to send three representatives to organize a State Council. ,l This Council stood solitary and alone, comparatively unknown, from the time of its organization until the close of 1859, when Relief Council, 0. U. A. M. instituted the Order in the city proper, by the organization on the 3rd of December, of Relief Council, No. 2. Eagle, No. 9, followed by the organization of Eagle, No. 3, on the 11th of January, 1860. From this time forward our cause has been upward and onward ; and on the 13th of March (18G0), the State Council of Penna., Junior O. U. A. M. was organized in the Town Hall, Germantown, by the Representatives of eight Councils. Since then, although some of our Councils have been well assisted by Councils of the Senior Order, our State Council has never been recognized in any manner whatever. " Our Order had scarcely been in operation ten months, during which time it had increased to 13 Councils and nearly 900 members, when this wicked and unholy Rebellion broke forth, and our members, true to their obligation and principles, enlisted in defence of our flag, and, on a rough estimate, it is calculated that between 400 and 500 of our members have UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 21 offered their lives a willing sacrifice on the altar of their Country. There is scarcely a Council but has been a loser in killed, wounded, and missing by the recent battles near Richmond. As the majority of the Councils have resolved as far as lay in their power, to pay the funeral benefits of those who die in battle, it has now come to the alternative, of us either being recognized by the Senior Order, or the reorganization of our Order, and the so changing of our objects that members will be offered an induce- ment to remain with us, after attaining the age of twenty-one year-. We believe that our recognition by you, and the adoption of a resolution admitting members of our Order for one-half your regular initiation fee, will be of far more advantage to you than you may imagine. "Think for a moment, that at the time of our organization, most of us were about 18 years of age, and without doubt this year will give you quite a number of new members, if such a resolution be adopted, but if not. they will be lost, for it is impossible in these times of uncer- tainty to pay funeral expenses and also $3.00 on the admission of each member to the Senior Order. Kensington Council, No. 5, of the Juniors is the most successful, pecuniary, of any in our Order, being worth over $250.00; of this $175.00 is invested in this hall, and yet if four of their members were to be killed in battle, or 25 wished to join the Senior Order the next three months they would be bankrupt. This is only cited as an example. There are three other Councils worth over $100.00 each, and yet by the present plan of paying by each member of $3.00 on joining your Order and the casualities of war, the first of January of 1863 may find the Junior Order one of the things of the past. For all of the mem- bers we have sent into your I >rder, we have received nothing in return, each Council being dependent for its propositions on the exertions of its own members. "We are not content that our Order should be for the day; that we should strive and build an Order of from 1,000 to 2,000 members and then lose them all in two or three years by their admission to your Councils. We love our organization and desire to see it successful. We believe that if your body would establish some connecting link between the two Orders it would be of mutual advantage. What this connecting link shall be we leave to your superior judgment, and more experience in these matters to determine, but any communication, or suggestion you may see fit to make, either through your Secretary or by a Committee, will be cheerfully and respectfully considered." The communication of Brother Deemer was received by the State Council 0. TJ. A. M., and, on motion, referred to a Special Committee, which, at the quarterly meeting of their State Council, October 16, same year, submitted the following: " We have given the address a full and due consideration. Your Committee believe after due deliberation that this appeal must be met sooner or later; and by meeting it now. it may save us, as an Order, a great trouble hereafter. Your Committee would offer the following reso- lutions and asked to be discharged: " Resolved, That the State Council of Penna. O. U. A. M., hereby recognizes the Jr. O.U. A. M. as an organization, whose objects are synonymous with our own, and worthy the considei-ation and earnest 22 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER attention of our sons, and all young men of this city and State, and all Subordinate Councils are hereby requested to use their efforts toward the establishment of this order, especially in the interior of our State. " Resolved, That we, the Representatives forming the State Council hereby pledge ourselves to use our influence in our respective Councils, toward the success of the object set forth in the foregoing resolution." The State Council adopted the report of the Committee and for the first time gave official recognition to the Junior Order. As far as the records show of either organization, nothing more was said and done for a time, and it is presumed that an era of good feeling prevailed for several years. That the Senior Order gave encouragement to the Junior Order following this official action is apparent from a paragraph in Brother Deemer's report to his State Council, when State Councilor, April 16, 1869 : " I am also largely indebted to the officers of the Senior Order for many favors far too numerous to mention. I rejoice in the reaction which has taken place in the 0. U. A. M., in our favor. Let us show that we appreciate their zeal in our behalf, and on arriving at our majority, offer ourselves for membership among them. Where all have done so nobly, to name a few would be unjust, so I tender to the entire Order our thanks for their cooperation, and hope that it will be transmitted to my successor." BIRTHPLACE May 17, 1853, the time, and Concord Schoolhouse the place of the institution of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., has found an indelible imprint upon the mind of the entire Order. Fanieul Hall, Boston, where the Adamses, James Otis and Joseph Warren first sounded the slogan for Liberty, and Independence Hall, Philadelphia, where the final act was consummated that gave Freedom to an oppressed people, are relics sacred to every American. To the members of the Jr. 0. U. A. 1L, old Concord Schoolhouse is a sacred spot, not only because the Order was born there, but of the hallowed associa- tions of the Bevolutionary struggle that lingers around the place. From " Hotehkin's History of Germantown," published in 1889, and " Scharf's and Westcott's History of Philadelphia," some facts are taken bearing on the early annals associated with this building and surroundings. The building is a two-story stone structure, having cut on the gable end, indicating the date of its construction, the figures " 1775." There is still in existence the first record-book of the school conducted in this famous old building. The title is, " Proceedings of the Order and Management of the School and Building, the Concord Schoolhouse at the upper end of Germantown, 1775." Then comes the following: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 23 "Be it remembered, that whereas a number of inhabitants of the upper end of Germantown taking into consideration the distance and particular inconvenience of sending their children to the lower school (in the Academy), and seeing the number of children is increasing, and the rooms rented for school in the neighborhood mostly be too small and inconvenient. When the building of a schoolhouse was proposed by sub- scription, a number of the inhabitants met on the 24, of March, 177."), to promote the building and erection of a convenient schoolhouse, and establishing an English school in that part of the town. The plan of the house and spot of ground were unanimously agreed upon, being that part of the burying ground lot at the upper end of Germantown formerly intended for that purpose by one Paul Wolf, the original grantor of said burying ground lot, and Jacob Engle, Peter Keyser, Peter Seibert and Jacob Knorr were unanimously chosen managers, by whom it was com- pleted by the latter end of October, and was opened and kept by John Grimes, schoolmaster." Then follows a list of the contributors toward the erection of the building amounting to "245 pounds, 1 shilling, and 2 pence." A note follows that " the Continental that came to nothing, 2 pence. Real amount, 243 pounds, 1 shilling, and 2 pence." The original grantor of the lot that had been intended for burying purposes, in the oldest documents was spelled " Paul Wulff." In 1724 a stone wall was built in front of where the schoolhouse stands, as well as along the entire burying ground Lot. All subscribers to the wall fund were to have the right of burial within the grounds, which went by the name of " Upper German- town Burying Ground." The wall was constructed by Dirch John- son and John Frederick Ax, at a cost of 40 pounds, 8 shillings and 6 pence. A new wall was built in 1776, which remains intact as when built. Dr. Keyser says : " In the latter part of the eighteenth century, a stone schoolhouse was built in a triangular lot adjoining this (burying ground) ground, on the southwest line, which was called Concord Schoolhouse. From the proximity of this house to the ground, it came to be called the Concord Burying Ground, which name it popularly held many years." THE BATTLE OF GERMAN TOWN The story of Concord Schoolhouse not only relates to the Jr. 0. U. A. M., but it forms a part of the story of the struggle for Independence, as around it and in close proximity, was fought one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolution, known in history as tli<' "Battle of Germantown"; hence, it became, very appropriately, the birthplace of an organization that has Love of Country a- its chief corner-stone, Patriotism its life blood, and reveres him who 24 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER led the American army in battle — Washington, the Order's patron saint. Although well planned and finely executed, the attack on the British lines was a failure. Though personally endangering himself, Washington bore his defeat with remarkable patience, cour- age and a sublime trust in God, attributing his loss of the battle to a dense fog that enveloped Germantown that October morning (October 4), 1877. Even one historian, who believed in the " God of Battles " and in the " Lord of Hosts," claimed that the defeat of Washington was Providential, since had the American army been victorious, Washington would have been overpowered by Lord Howe. " History," says one, " is God's footsteps marching through time." Possibly God did send down that fog to bring about defeat, for the story of Valley Forge might never have been written, out of which the patriots with bleeding feet marched to final conquest. Thomas MacKellar's Memorial Ode, read at the dedication of the monument erected to the Soldier's and Sailors of the Civil War, in Germantown, is no more true of the brave men who fell in the defence of the flag of the fathers than of the fathers them- selves : " Heroic deeds Are the immortal seeds — Nourished by the blood and tears That grow the fruit of liberty And conscience free Through time's unresisting years. " Not they Of 1777 who fell on this bloody field; Not they who shout are conquerors alone, For they who fell before the day is won Are also victors, and the laureled crown Fitly adorns the warrior smitten down; No martyr dies A fruitless sacrifice." Hard as it may seem to say that God would so over-rule that the awful winter of Valley Forge should have been experienced when patriots reddened the pure white snow with lacerated feet, while gaunt hunger stood as spector at the doors of the comfortless cabins, yet has not God in other ages shut out the sun and plunged his heroes into the midnight that the morn might come the brighter and more glorious ? Luther on his way to danger and sure destruc- tion, by friendly hands, was assailed and shut up two years in his " own house " in order that he might translate the Word of God to be the commentary in the great work of his life when the morning of the Eeformation arose out of the long night of despotism. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 25 John 1 lun van, shut up in Bedford prison, no doubt dwelt upon the injustice and wrong of his incarceration, but from that prison cell he saw " Christian " leaving the " City of Destruction " and wend his way, beset by dangers, pitfalls and temptations, until finally he sees the " Celestial City " open its gate and the traveller enters in; and to the world was given a book, next to the Bible, that has stirred more souls and warmed more hearts than all the books of the world put together. Is it not possible, then, that God permitted the dark winter of doubt, fear and suffering at Valley Forge that the great heart of Washington could get in closer touch with the Lord of Hosts with a mightier grip of faith so that out of it should come the dawn of renewed confidence, and with it the glorious morning, preceding the more glorious noon-tide and the final triumph at Yorktown. The battle of Germantown is of the past. The armies that faced each other that terrible day are in the dust. But one monu- ment of that struggle, yea, the common center of the battle remains as a reminder of that bloody morning — the " Chew House," which, as Lossing says, " is the most noted and attractive relic of the Revolution." The visitor to the birthplace of our Order, itself a part of the field of battle, and the grounds surrounding it being redolent with patriotic blood, should not fail to visit the " fort at Germantown " as it was called at the time of the battle. The house is built of stone, the masonry being so complete that American cannon could make no impression on its walls. It is two-story, with attic, and of large dimensions as all the old-time mansions of wealthy people were, and many marks made by American bullets can be distinguished as reminders of the fierce contest when many patriots fell in their unavailable effort to dislodge the enemy. CONCORD SCHOOLHOUSE — CHEW HOUSE — TWO MONUMENTS OF BEAU- TIFUL GERMANTOWN Long may they stand to be the Mecca of patriots. As we tread the sacred soil where our fathers fought, how great the change. They fought for liberty and a brighter future ; we bask in the noon-tide splendor of their brightiest anticipations. Like Moses on shining Pisgah, they looked forward to a rich inheritance; we have entered in — the corn, the wine, the oil are ours. Theirs was the song of the sower treading in the furrow; ours is the jubilee of the reaper with the music of the waving harvest in his hearing. They looked onward with expectant gaze to future blessings; we look backward over the winding path of destiny, at Red Seas and %6 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Jorclans whose obedient waters parted at their coming, showing that naught can hinder the onward march of those who step to the " drum beat of Providence." WASHINGTON COUNCIL, NO. 1 The institution of the first Council has already been referred to. Brother Deemer several years ago made special effort's to obtain historical data associated with Washington Council, No. 1, and to him the writer, as well as the Order at large, is indebted for the facts that are already history. Eeference has been made at the opening of this chapter to the three prominent factors in the insti- tution of the first Council of the Order — Bros. Wm. M. Weckerly, Gideon D. Harmar and Elliott Smith, the former, State Council Secretary of the 0. U. A. M., and the latter two members of Ee- liance Council, No. 40. These three without any official action of the 0. U. A. M., or Eeliance Council, organized Washington Coun- cil and launched it forth into the great family of secret societies. The first year of the Council's history was somewhat discourag- ing, and there came a time when it was proposed to disband The cohesive power of the Order was not as strong as it is now, hence there were no great underlying principles then to hold the member- ship together as at the present time, being purely beneficial and protective, the purposes being local. With a view of obtaining the recollections of those who were contemporary with the organization of the Junior 0. U. A. M., several letters were written requesting some facts associated with the " beginnings of the Order." One of these letters was addressed to Bro. P. N. C. Chas. P. Haupt, the only original charter member living who is still a member of the Order, as well as of the Council. A very courteous reply came to our communication under date of July 16, 1906, in which he stated that " I am at all times willing to do anything for the Order or its members, but I cannot give any more of the facts than I gave when I wrote the history that Bro. Deemer had adopted as a true account of the origin of the Order which you speak of." The history referred to by Bro. Haupt, which was given in Deemer's History, and later was published in The American, is as follows : "It is almost 40 years (1892) since the organization of Washington Council, No. 1, Jr. 0. U. A. M., but I will give you, from memory, all the facts I can. " Washington Council was started in May, 1853, in the Council Chamber of Reliance Council, No. 40, in the second story of the old UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 27 Concord Schoolhouse, an old building of Revolutionary fame, on .Main street, above Washington Avenue, Germantown. "The leading spirits were two zealous members of Reliance Council, Gideon D. Harmar and Elliott Smith, who spent much time in trying to get the American youth in line. I can recall the names of the young men who first met for the purpose of starting the Council, viz.: "Geo. Keyser. lsaiali B. Scott, (lias. Waters, Isaiah B. Dewees, Henry Smith, Peter Stroup, Philip Klonegar, (has. Cleaver, Daniel Pas- torious, Jno. J. Hell'ner, Samuel Colladay, Henry Gravenstine, Jackson Rupley, Chas. P. Haupt. " Daniel Pastorious was selected as our first Councilor. He was a lineal descendant of Francis Daniel Pastorious, the founder of German- town, under William Penn. They were all Germantown boys with one exception, that being Philip Klonegar, who was from the city. I think his father was a member of the Senior Order, a printer by trade, and he printed our ritual. " The first parade we participated in was soon after we started. It was a parade of the Senior Order at Norristown, Pa., and we who were invited to participate with them, remember the occasion well. We had no time to order regalia, so we bought linen and got our sisters and mothers to cut and make them. They looked very neat — the collars were bound with red and blue ribbons. We took some eighteen members with us, and made an excellent impression. " After a few months we got in pretty good shape and had a charter drawn up, and as many had dropped out, we had those remaining have their names put in the charter (which you have). Soon after we got the charter drawn up we received several good members in the persons of Jacob Pullinger, Heisler Scholl, .Marshall C. Hong, John Flue and others who names I cannot now recall. " We thought we must have a new flag, so we appointed a committee for that purpose, and started out among our friends of Reliance Council. We secured some forty dollars, which got us a nice silk flag and an eagle. We bought them at Wm. Mintzer's (now Clarence A. Hart), on Third Street, he being a big man at that time in that line of business. The old flag is now in the possession of Washington Council, and is much revered. "Soon after we moved our quarters, along with Reliance Council, to Town Hall, it just being finished. We tried to get members, but it was uphill work, and we got discouraged. At last we determined to disband. Our old friends, Harmar and Smith, used their endeavors with other Councils of the Order, to start new Councils, but did not succeed, and we actually met one night with a list of the proportionate amount due each member, when Isaiah B. Scott, half-dead with consumption, made a strong appeal to try a little longer, and Elliott Smith, coming upon the scene, with his strong appeal, we tore up the paper and did try, and you now see the great result arising therefrom. " The next move we made was to Maxwell's Hall, on Rittenhouse Street, when I soon after became twenty-one years of age, and joined Reliance Council. I was the first Junior who went into the Senior Order, and was followed by Geo. Keyser, Jacob Pullinger, Heisler Scholl and John Flue, all joining while I was still a member of Washington Council. Of the charter members, the following have since died: Geo. Keyser, 28 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Henry Smith, Henry Gravenstine, Chas. Waters, Isaiah B. Dewees, Isaiah .Scott and Chas. Cleaver. " As to the first officers, Daniel Pastorious only met with us a few times, and I think we organized under the charter as follows: "Councilor, Henry Smith; Financial Secretary, Chas. Cleaver; Recording Secretary, Samuel Colladay; Treasurer, C. P. Haupt. " The other officers I cannot remember. I was Treasurer from the start of the Order and served six months after I joined the Senior Order, which was in July, 1855." Brother P. S. C. Jno. K. Fanshawe, in an address before the Council, in May, 1891, in speaking of his connection with Wash- ington Council, says : " Being young, vigorous and in full sympathy with the general purposes of the society, it was not long before I was among those in the lead. The idea soon developed that it would be well to enlarge the scope of its operations by the formation of other Councils. I spent many an hour with Bro. Gaul in making the preliminary arrangements for the organization of Relief Council, No. 2, of the Juniors; Eagle Council, No. 3, followed at once. Then followed five others, when a State Council was considered advisable and necessary.' The State Council was organized at Germantown, and I was honored in being selected the first State Councilor. " The organizations of the first Councils were under my administra- tion as Councilor of Washington Council, and as the first State Councilor. I have no time to refer to personal reminiscences, but to call to mind the services of Bro. Calver and Bro. Keyser, and many others who were then aglow with ardor in their work. Some have gone into the Great Unknown and some remain. The history of the Order seems to be divided into two epochs. In the first are associated my contemporaries and myself; in the second are those of the present; binding and riveting these two into one are Bros. Deemer, Calver and others, who are active represen- tatives of both periods." Following the outbreak of the Civil War, and owing to the large number of its members going to the front, the Council was compelled to suspend its meetings, and it was not until March 31, 1865, that the State Council granted the Council a new charter. The charter had thirty-five names and P. S. C. Jno. E. Fanshawe is the only charter member now on the roll of the Council. Although the " Mother of Councils," still Washington Council has asked and received but few honors in the way of National and State offices. Besides Bro. Fanshawe, one other, Bro. A. P. Keyser, was a State Council officer of rank, being the first Junior Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. Bros. L. A. Harmar and Hob- son served as Representatives to the National Council, and Bros. Jno. S. Harmar and Chas. Stutz held the position of State Council Sentinel and Warden, respectively. The work of the Council, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 29 however, was of a different character. As it started in the begin- ning on actual organization, it continued in that line of work, organizing Councils and aiding in the building up of the Order, not only in Philadelphia, but throughout the state. The new Councils formed in Germantown all received their foundation prin- ciples from No. 1, and owe to her much of the success that has attended them. In the earlier years it was the custom of the Council to attend the State Council sessions by large delegations, thus giving inspiration to that body. The Council has taken hold of every movement that had in it the good of the Order, whether at large or in its immediate locality. When parades were prevalent in the Order, Washington Council figured largely in them, even when but a few months old, the " boys " attended with the Seniors one of the parades near Phila- delphia. She sent in 1889 a large delegation to the parade at Harrisburg, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles, and the year following a strong delegation went to Pittsburg, a distance of three hundred and fifty miles. Although Washington Council has given largely of her mem- bership to the formation of other Councils in that section of the city, doubtless more than a dozen having been organized, and at the same time a large number of suspended members have been gathered by her " children," still she stands second in number in the state, having at last report, 519 members, with an invested capital of $24,000. Her meetings are characterized by the old-time enthus- iasm, and none can visit the Council without feeling the influence and power that still burns around her camp-fire. The character of her membership is of the best. Some of the very best citizens of Germantown are enrolled on her register. Out of respect for the Council as well as a courtesy shown, the National Council, at its session in Louisville, Ky., in 1898, did a noble act by bestowing upon one of her honored and esteemed members, and the only surviving original charter member living. a member of the Order, the honors of Past National Councilor. I refer to Brother Chas. P. Haupt, whose " Eecollections " are to be found above. Another member of the Order known from the Great Lakes to the Gulf, and from the " land of the rising sun to the land whose face is kissed by its departing rays,'' was a member for a time of Washington Council, and who aided in the formation of the several Councils that made the institution of the State Council of Pennsylvania a possibility. I refer to our greatly beloved Senior 30 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Past National Councilor, Brother John W. Calver, who subsequently organized Eagle Council, No. 3, of which he is still a member. To Brother Calver one of our communications was addressed, requesting some of his " Becollections " associated with the " Be- ginnings of the Order," and it is with pleasure that we are able to place upon the pages of history some of the facts of the early years of the Order, as they present themselves at the present time to Brother Calver. The following is the very courteous response to our letter: LETTER OF PAST NATIONAL COUNCILOR JOHN W. CALVER " When I was between fifteen and sixteen years of age. I went to learn my trade and lived with an uncle at Germantown. I made the acquaintance of a fellow-apprentice who was a member of Washington Council, No. 1, Jr. 0. U. A. M., and many of our associates were Juniors, so I heard a good deal about the Council and my interest was awakened in it. Shortly after my going to Germantown, Reliance Council of the Senior Order, dedicated a hall and there was quite a parade. Wash- ington Council, No. 1, followed Reliance Council in the procession and attracted much attention, there being about 40 members in line, that being its entire strength. " I was sixteen years of age in August and was initiated into Wash- ington Council at its first meeting in September, 1859. The Council met only twice a month in the Town Hall, in a room on the upper floor, which was rented to lodges. The laws of Washington Council provided that it should have power to grant charters to other Councils, and act as a State Council until seven Councils should be organized, when Repre- sentatives should be elected by each Council to meet and form a State Council. " At the time I joined the Council, the subject of organizing other Councils was being considered, and I remember that there were parties in Norristown who wanted information on the subject. While the mem- bers were discussing the matter of organizing a Council, a letter was received from the above named place, asking if a Council could not be instituted and the candidates initiated through the mail. This propo- sition was seriously debated, but finally the Council decided that as the Putual was a secret work, that we could not send it through the mail, nor could we properly instruct the Norristown parties in that way, and it was thought impossible to send our officers to organize the Council. (Norristown is about 20 miles from Philadelphia.) " During the fall of 1859, several Councils of the Senior Order sent committees to the meetings of Washington Council to confer about starting Junior Councils to be under its supervision and to act as feeders for the Senior Councils. As the result of these conferences, several Junior Councils were organized, the first being Relief Council, No. 2, on December 5, 1859, with nearly 100 applicants present for initiation. I was present as an officer of No. 1, Warden, I think, and took part in the work. The candidates were divided into three or four squads, and intro- duced that way, because the room in American Mechanics Hall at Fourth UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 81 and George Streets was not large enough to initiate all the candidates at one time. It was after midnight when the work of organization was finished and a few of us who remained until the work waa done were compelled to walk home to Germantown, a distance of more than Bis miles; pretty tired you may be sine. "Eagle Council, No. :i. Diligent, No. I. Kensington, No. •">, Resolu- tion, No. 6, and Harry Clay, No. 7, were organized in succession -onii after Relief Council, and as an officer of No. 1, I was present on each occasion, and they certainly were great events in the history of No. 1. Our members thought they were doing a great work in attending on these different occasions, and as the means of communication between Philadelphia and Germantown was not like it is now, and the cars did not run after 11.30 p.m., the organization work had to he hurried or else we had to walk home, which happened more than once. " Resolution Council, No. 6, was organized at Frankford, Philadel- phia, and it was necessary to take the horse cars into the city proper, then take another to Frankford which is oast of Germantown. and about as far from the center of Philadelphia where we changed cars as was Germantown. When we were through with the organization of No. 6, there was no way to ride home, so those of us that did the work had to walk back to Germantown, some 7 or 8 miles, part of it over very rough roads and it was after 2 a.m. before we got to our homes. "As soon as Harry Clay Council, No. 7, had been organized, each Council elected Representatives to meet in Town Hall, Germantown. to form a State Council of the State of Pennsylvania. Independent Council, No. 8, was organized a day or two before the State Council and was represented on that occasion. "The laws of Washington Council provided that its officers should be elected quarterly, and that only Past Councilors should lie eligible as Representatives to the State Council. I was Councilor of No. 1. I think. at the time the State Council was organized, hence was not eligible for Representative. There were a number of us members of No. 1 who formed a curb-stone committee outside of the Town Hall and interviewed every- one that came out of the meeting trying to find out what was being dune on the inside. "At the first election in Washington Council after the organization of the State Council, I was elected Representative to the State Body, and was reelected each term until I became State Councilor. The meet- ings of the State Council were quarterly for many years, and in the evenings, two or three hours being sufficient to transact all the business; at times we were so short of business, that motion- were made to be voted down, and parliamentary tactics, such as we could pick up, were indulged in to furnish an excuse for our meetings. Some of the meetings were busy and exciting enough, especially when No. 5 would send a Represen- tative who was a "kicker" and came to stir things up, then the meetings would get lively. "Our Order kept growing until Ellsworth Council. No. 14, was organized at about the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, when a great many members answered the call of President Lincoln and enlisted in our country's service, some of them never to return. Ellsworth Council organized into a military company and were enlisted into the govern- ment's service. All our Councils suffered because their members enlisted, 32 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER so that a number of them were compelled to suspend meetings, No. 1 being among the number. " Early in 1862 my uncle moved into the center of the city when I found it not an easy thing to attend all of the meetings of No. 1, because, as an apprentice, I did not have much spending money and walking was not always easy; but with my old friend, John W. Paul, I attended the meetings of Relief, No. 2, which was having a great strug- gle, and sometimes could not get a quorum, and after No. 1 suspended its meetings I was granted a card by the State Council and joined No. 2. Brother Paul and I, with several others, worked hard to build up No. 2. We used to spend hours at night and on Sundays hunting for candidates, sometimes approaching young fellows whom we thought would make good Juniors, yet were strangers to us. After a good deal of work we suc- ceeded in building up the Council. " The State Council continued to meet pretty regularly during all of the Civil War, and towards its close the body often considered the subject of how to build up our Order again. As our members whose time of enlistment had expired or for other reasons were released from service, some of them again became active in their Councils. At one of the sessions of the State Council I made a motion that two Representatives from each Council be appointed to form a convention with a view to reorganize all Councils that still were suspending their meetings. This convention held several meetings, when finally it was proposed that we volunteer to form committees each agreeing to reorganize one Council. I agreed to take up Eagle, No. 3, and hunted up Theodore Rose who had returned home from the army, and we started in and after considerable hard work, succeeded in reorganizing the Council, and to please those I had secured as members, I drew my card from No. 2 and deposited it in Eagle Council, No. 3, where I since have continued. There was a joke in the Order at the time, that I was going all through the organization, but that it grew so fast that I could not keep up. " After the close of the war, mainly through the efforts of Brother E. S. Deemer, assisted by some others, the Order grew very rapidly. Councils were reorganized in different parts of the state, in New Jersey and Delaware, and those who went to organize Councils had the privi- lege of doing the work and generally paying their own expenses, as the income of the State Council was small, and the only recompense was the fun they got out of their trips. We often had funny experiences. " After State Councils had been organized in New Jersey and Dela- ware, the three states sent Representatives to form a National Council. At that time I was elected National Councilor and Brother Deemer National Secretary. In making laws for the government of the National Council, the first term was three months, at the end of which I was reelected National Councilor and served the full term of one year. Brother Deemer was reelected National Secretary, and has been continued in that position ever since. During the early days of the National Council, one day was sufficient to transact all the business, and give plenty of time to the Representatives to enjoy themselves during the noon recess. " I have enjoyed many pleasant times attending the sessions of the State Council of Pennsylvania and the National Council, and have met many brothers whose friendship I appreciate, and believe I have been UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 88 repaid for the time given in the service of the Order. One of the trips made in organizing Councils of the Order that has ever remained fresh in my memory, was to Baltimore, with Brother Deemer, to organize Baltimore Council, No. 1. On reaching the city, we were met by Brother J. Adam Sohl and a number of others who were to form the Council, and after going to our hotel, we were taken to an oyster house where we were filled with oysters in the various styles that only Baltimore can furnish. After that we went to the hall and instituted the Council, following which we were again taken to an oyster house and filled with oysters. We did not get to our hotel until nearly 2 a.m. We went to bed, but having eaten so many oysters, I could not sleep, so I got up and walked the floor for some time before I could rest. When we left Philadelphia we had agreed to indxilge in a peck of Baltimore's steamed oysters, and when we returned we felt as if we had eaten several bushels of them. " Many of the active members of our Order who have been doing such good work, and some of them have had great difficulties to encounter, in the past 25 years, yet I doubt if they have ever fully realized what had to be encountered by us old members who were the pioneers in building up the Jr. 0. U. A. M. ; and though it was composed of boys in its early days, they worked and built up an organization which, I think, has proved to have done good work and has been of service to the country." A very interesting event took place in the hall of Washington Council, No. 1, on the evening of April 26, 1895, and we let Brother Deemer recite it as taken from his report to the National Council at its session held same year : " A NOTEWORTHY EVENT " On Friday evening, April 26th, an event of unusual importance took place in Washington Council, No. 1, of Pennsylvania, it being the readmission of Brother Charles P. Haupt to membership therein. This was followed on the night of the loth of May by Winona Council, No. 63, receiving to membership Brothers Jacob Keyser and Samuel Colladay. Why the admission of these three brothers is deemed to be of sufficient importance to be alluded to in a report to the National Council, is explained in the fact that these three brothers were of the original num- ber who had instituted the Junior Order of United American Mechanics on the 17th of May, 1853. At the expiration of forty-two years they returned to the fold, but the occasion was far different. The Concord Schoolhouse was within a stone throw, but the handful that gathered together on the occasion had grown until now it has taken root in forty states, and comprises a membership of over one hundred and fifty thou- sand. That it was deemed an occasion of more than ordinary interest is evidenced from the fact that Washington Council designated Past National Councilor John W. Calver, initiated September, 1859, to receive Brother Haupt, while Winona conferred the honor upon myself, initiated February 22, 1860, to receive Brothers Keyser and Colladay. " What their emotions were can be better imagined than described." The name of Gideon D. Harmar has been referred to as one of the principal factors in the creation of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. and the 3 34 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER institution of Washington Council, No. 1. For nearly fifty years this patriot and brother lived to see the infant organization which he helped create become a full-grown and powerful body of nearly 200,000 members, distributed throughout more than forty states and territories of the Union. His death occurred in 1900, upon which Washington Council, No. 1, at a meeting held on Monday evening, April 30, 1900, adopted the following resolutions and pre- sented same at the meeting of the National Council, held same year in Philadelphia, which body set apart a memorial page to his memory : " Whereas, In view of the loss that the community has sustained by the death of Gideon D. Harmar, and the still heavier loss by those nearest and dearest to him. Therefore, be it "Resolved, That it is but a jiist tribute to the memory of tbe departed to say that in regretting his removal from our midst, we mourn for one who was in every way worthy of our respect and regard. " Resolved — That in the death of Gideon D. Harmar, Washington Council, No. 1, Junior Order United American Mechanics, and our beloved Order, lament the loss of a friend in whose brain originated the idea of our Order, and to whose active efforts Washington Council, No. 1, Junior Order United American Mechanics, owes its very existence. " Resolved — That we tenderly condole with the family of the deceased in the hour of trial and affliction, and devoutly commend them to the keeping of Him who is a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless. " Resolved — That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this Council, a copy thereof be transmitted to the family of the deceased, published in the local papers, and one sent to the National Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics, and to the State Council of Pennsylvania. " Robert S. Williams, Councilor. " Charles W. Layer, Recording Secretary." CHAPTER III 3. NAME— SIGNIFICANCE— PROPOSED CHANGES ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE ORDER WE have come down for more than half a century, as an Order. with a name, that to some extent is prescriptive, and at present is a misnomer. That the Junior Order United American Mechanics was true to name in its origin, none can gainsay; that it now represents purposes, aims and objects not associated with its opening life, all admit. To such an extent did immigration of aliens affect the mechani- cal and labor interests of the country sixty to seventy years ago, that American mechanics and workingmen felt that their only safety was in organization. In the filling of positions in the various trades, there was a tendency, as now, of employers ignor- ing native labor in favor of foreign labor. To check this trend of favoritism, mechanics, representing the trades in Philadelphia, formed an organization among themselves for their protection, and gave it the name of Order of United American Mechanics of the United States. This organization, as elsewhere stated, was founded July 8, 1845, and its objects expressed were entirely for mutual help by encouraging each other in business and assisting one another in securing employment. Hence, in its origin, operative mechanics only and men who toiled with the hands were eligible to member- ship in the Order, and then only when they had arrived at the 21st birthday. As already referred to in another chapter, the "bo} r s" were organized into an association in 1853, with similar objects and aims as the 0. U. A. M., and were called " Junior " 0. U. A. M. An additional object, however, was framed for the new organization, as follows : " To prepare the youth of America to become members of the O. U. A. M. when they arrive at the proper age." It is clear then that the original intention of the founder- of the Junior Order was, that it should be an organization for " lx»ys " onty, as well as a labor organization. That it should be no more than a " Sunday School " where the " catechism " should be studied before entering the "high church" of the 0. U. A. M. For years the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was distinctly a junior as well as a labor organ- ization, and rightfully bore its name. The State Council of Penn- sylvania, in 1870, adopted resolutions treating on the labor question, 35 36 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER and in 1871, the same body adopted resolutions on the same subject, the preamble of which reads : " Whereas, We recognize that the question of labor is one in which we are particularly interested."' With such proscriptive features, it was apparent to the leaders of the Order that the Jr. 0. U. A. M. would be handicapped in its work. Coupled with the indifference of the 0. TJ. A. M. towards the Order and their failure to give more than a passive recognition of the purposes of the organization, the Juniors were early im- pressed that the only course to pursue was to become independent, and efforts in both the State Council of Pennsylvania and the Na- tional Council were made to strike out the Fifth Object entirely, which required the Juniors to unite with the 0. U. A. M. when they arrived at the age of 21. At the session of the State Council of Pennsylvania, held July 21, 1870, a resolution to strike out the Fifth Object was indefinitely postponed. The first blow, however, was struck at the session of the State Council of Pennsylvania, in 1871, when a resolution, as follows, was carried : " Resolved, That it be left to the option of each Council whether members of the O. U. A. M. shall be admitted to the session." Instructions were given by same body to her Representatives to the National Council at various times in the seventies to ask the National Body to increase the age limit for eligibility to member- ship, as well as to strike out the Fifth Object. Agitation was kept up relative to the subject until 1878, when the National Councilor, in his report, recommended the striking out of the Fifth Object, which was accomplished at the following session in 1879 by a vote of 16 to 15, and the action was reasserted by the National Body at its session at Haverhill, Mass., in 1881, by a vote of 22 to 9, when the ties that existed between the two Orders were completely severed, and the " Junior " in reality was no more. The word " Mechanic," as well as the word " Junior," was true to name until 1883, when the National Council, at its session in Philadelphia, struck from the Ritual the words " American Mechanics and Workingmen," and inserted " American people." This was the beginning of a new era in the Order, when the ties from the older organization were sundered, and when others than mechanics and workingmen could unite with the organization. The name, therefore, as it stands to-day, is a misnomer — that is, it does not represent what we are as an organization. But after all, what of it. It is not the mere phraseology we are after ; it is the significance of it. In other words, it is what we are that UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 37 should be scrutinized, vjhat we have done and are still doing under the caption of the name we love so well. Other organizations are as much misnomers as ours, yet no one thinks of criticizing them because of that fact. Masonry is known the world over. For ages, long before King Solomon built the Temple at Jerusalem, Masonry was true to name — it was a body of masons — builders of temples and castles. But every one knows that Masonry is not that to-day; but is speculative and borrows the terms and tools allied with masons to represent more noble and glorious purposes of molding and fashioning, through symbols, human character. " Odd Fellows " are not " odd," no odder than other men, yet the name given them in derision has proven such a talisman of power for good, in visiting the sick, helping the distressed, burying the dead and caring for the widow and orphan, that the world would think it an " odd " thing to change their name. Hence we should not become impatient, for the nation will soon overlook our seeming misnomer and only look at the practical work we are doing and at the results of that work, in the mainten- ance of the public schools, the upholding of the Bible therein, the restriction of undesirable immigration and the hearty support we give our Orphans' Home. What we are and who we are, is taught in our creed — " Principles, not men," with love of country as our chief corner stone, and " Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism " as our glorious motto, a band of patriots, lovers of the flag and all it represents. PROPOSED CHANGES OF NAME A recapitulation of the proposed changes of name from time to time offered in the highest legislative body of the Order may be of interest to the readers of this history. The first move made relative to change of name, was at the National session held at Philadelphia, in 1876. The Kepresenta- tives from New Jersey, by instruction of their State Council, sub- mitted the following : "Resolved, That the name of the Order be changed by striking out " Junior " and inserting something more appropriate." The resolution, however, was laid on the table. The Kepresentatives of Massachusetts, carrying out the in- structions of their State Council, at same session, offered the following : " Resolved, That the initial word ' Junior ' in the title of the Order be stricken out and the word ' Independent ' inserted." 38 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The resolution met the same fate as the preceding one. No further reference to change of name was made until the session of the National Council that met at Haverhill, Mass., in 1881, at which time the following was submitted : "Resolved, That we strike out the name of our Order (Junior United American Mechanics) and adopt the following name instead: 'Independent Order of Americans.' " The resolution was referred to the Committee on Revision of the Order. The Committee on the Revision of the Order having been appointed at the session of 1881, all matters pertaining to change of objects, name or Ritual were referred to them, which Committee, through the Secretary, Brother Deemer, submitted their approval or disapproval of any proposed change referred to them. Relative to the change of name to " Independent Order of Americans," the Secretary of the Committee wrote the opinion, disapproving the change which, after being acted upon in the Committee of the Whole was concurred in by the National Body. The opinion sub- mitted by Brother Deemer, on behalf of the Committee, was as follows : " I do not endorse this change, nor favor any change in the name of our Order. How many are there in this body who would wish to change their names ? There are, of course, times when a man has very good reason for changing it, when, for instance, a fortune is to be gained by it, but we cannot see why any man with an untarnished name would wish to change it. Our name has been upon our banners for nearly 30 years, and nothing has been done to disgrace it. . . . " The name proposed, is particularly objectionable. The ' Order of United Americans ' was a political organization, intensely proscriptive, and its similarity to the proposed one would cause us to be confounded with them. Then, too, the word ' Independent,' while particularly appro- priate to Fourth of July orations, is contrary to facts and experience. No nation, no family, no person is independent. We are dependent upon each other for life, health and the pursuit of happiness. Then, too, it savors and suggests a split, a quarrel or division. . . . While I am opposed to change of name, I should take more kindly to the American Legion than any other, and yet I am not prepared to vote for that." A suggestion was made to the Committee to change the name to American Legion, which was disapproved. Chas. D. Kidd, Jr., and Robert Carson offered the following resolution at the session of the National Council in 1884, which was held at Georgetown, D. C. : UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 39 " Believing that the time has come when our Order no longer con- sists of mechanics entirely, but of citizens of all occupations and classes; and further, that our present name is a serious obstacle to our further progress, we would offer the following: "Resolved, That the name of the Order be changed; the same to be submitted to a vote of the entire Order on the last meeting night of September, 1884." By a vote of 4 ayes to 22 nays the National Council refused to adopt the resolution. At the session of the National Body in 1885, held at Harris- burg, Pa., two State Councils, through their Representatives, ex- pressed their sentiments relative to a change of name. One was from Ohio, and was as follows : "The State Council of Ohio desires to express it- sentiments regard- ing the change of name of our Order. " We believe that the words ' Junior ' and ' Mechanics ' are unsuited for such an Order as ours, and by conveying false impressions regarding our objects, which seriously retard our growth, " We, therefore, earnestly request the National Council to pass a reso- lution which will submit the matter to a general vote of the Order." The other expression was in the form of a communication from members of the New Jersey delegation, expressing the wishes of their State Council, which was as follows : " By direction of the State Council of New Jersey, we recommend that the name of the Order (Junior Order United American Mechanics) be stricken out and insert the name of ' American Legion ' instead." In consideration of the question, the point of order was raised that the last recommendation being in the form of an amendment to the Constitution of the National Council, must have the signa- tures of the members from two different states. The National Councilor decided the point of order well taken; whereupon, the following was substituted, in conformity with the law, and was signed by members of the National Body from New Jersey and Delaware : "We offer the following amendment to Art. 1, Constitution of the National Council: "Strike out all between the word 'as' on first line to the word 'it' on fourth line, and insert the following as the name of this body, ' American Legion.' " By a vote of 16 to 9, the amendment was not adopted. The friends of a change of name fared no better at the annual session of the National Body, winch was held at Richmond, Ya.. in 40 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 1886. A resolution from the State Council of New Jersey was pre- sented and was as follows : " By direction of the State Council of New Jersey we submit the following : " Resolved, That the name Jr. O. U. A. M. be stricken out." A motion to adopt was defeated by a vote of ayes, 10, nays, 21. The subject of change of name came up at the sessions of the National Council in 1887 and 1888. At the former session, held at Baltimore, Mar} r land, the following, signed by the Representa- tives of Ohio and New York, was submitted : " We, the Representatives of the States of Ohio and New York, do offer the following resolution, That these words of Sec. 1, Art. 1, of the National Council Constitution, ' Junior Order United American Mechanics ' be stricken out and insert the following, ' United Sons of America.' " The resolution having been laid over, it came up for consider- ation at the session of 1888, at which time a substitute was offered to insert " United Order of Americans," instead of the above pro- posed change. Both the substitute and the original proposition failed of concurrence in the final action on the part of the National Body. The necessity for a change of name seemed, in the minds of some members of the National Council, very apparent, hence another proposal was submitted at the latter session, and laid over until next meeting. It was as follows : Section 1. " We respectfully otter the following amendment to Article 1, National Council Constitution : Strike out the words ' Junior Order United American Mechanics,' and insert ' Independent Order of United Americans.' " The National Council that met at Haverhill, Mass., in 1889, gave considerable attention to the subject of " Change of Name." Brother Deemer, in his report to the National Body, has this to say : " The member who is alive to the sentiments of the Order at large, cannot be ignorant of the fact that sentiment in favor of changing the name of the Order is spreading every year. The oldest of us remember when it could number but a corporal's guard in this body, and we have seen it increase until the sentiment is permeating the entire Order. Pennsylvania has always opposed the change, but at this session her Representatives come instructed to favor submitting to the Order at large, a limited number of names for choice ; and unless other States have changed their views, which is hardly probable, this will secure the passage of a resolution looking to a change. Let us approach the consideration of the subject fully realizing our responsibility, and with an eye single to the good of the Order, discuss it calmly, considerately and thoughtfully." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 41 The Representatives of Pennsylvania, as alluded to by Brother Deemer. submitted the following: " In pursuance of the instructions from the State Council of Pennsyl- vania, we offer the following resolution: That the question of changing the name of our Order be submitted to the entire membership of the Order, to be decided by a vote taken in every Council in the United States, the name to be chosen from a list proposed in the National Council and sub- mitted to each Subordinate Council." Following the adoption of the above resolution, a Committee was appointed to prepare a list of names, as proposed, and submit to the National Body, which was subsequently done, as per the following report: " Your Committee on Change of Name of the Order, refer the fol- lowing for action: Jr. O. U. A. M. Native American Patriots. P. O. Native Americans. Order Loyal Americans. Independent Order United Americans. The Order of the United States. The Order of the American Republic. American Legion. " While we submit this large number of names, the committee are unanimous in favor of the last named, ' American Legion,' and would recommend that this name be laid before the organization for a vote." A motion to accept the report and adopt it was made, but had no second. G. Howell Arthur moved to postpone further consid- eration of the subject and take up the amendment laid over from last session, to strike out Jr. 0. U. A. M. and insert " Independent Order of United Americans," which was not agreed to. Upon a reconsideration of the vote, the motion of Brother Arthur was agreed to. A motion was then made to adopt the proposed amend- ment, whereupon, Brother Marlin moved that the consideration of the amendment be postponed, and the name of Order of United Americans, together with the remaining names suggested, be referred to the Order for a vote, was defeated by ayes 20, nays 27. Brother Arthur then moved to strike out of the proposed amend- ment " Independent Order of United Americans " and insert " The American Legion "; which, by a vote of 35 to 6 was agreed to and the action of the National Council was submitted to the vote of the Order in October following. 42 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The National Body met in the City of Chicago, 111., in 1890, at which time the Committee appointed to count the vote of the Subordinate Councils relative to a Change of Name, made their report. The result of the vote was overwhelmingly against the proposition, as per the following report: "Resolved, That in view of the fact of the vote on change of name to American Legion being almost unanimous against, that this Committee considered it unnecessary to count the vote, as the figures from a majority of the Councils have already been published in the Journals of the Order." The report was not accepted, whereupon, the tabulated vote was submitted as follows: POE AGAINST Pennsylvania 520 9,036 Ohio 368 686 Massachusetts 32 192 New Jersey 340 805 Washington 7 18 New York 118 Wisconsin 9 7 Illinois 25 Indiana 1 14 Virginia 9 331 West Virginia 40 132 Alabama 15 Missouri 20 2 Delaware 13 2 North Carolina 1 21 New Hampshire 24 99 Maryland 30 360 Total, 1,625 11,732 This very large vote against a change of name, however, did not daunt its supporters in the National Body, for another resolu- tion on the same subject was at once presented and read as follows : " Strike out the words ' Junior Order United American Mechanics ' and insert the words ' Order United Americans.' " The resolution was adopted and referred to the Subordinate Councils for a vote. The name " Order United Americans/' as per resolution adopted at the last session, was submitted to the Subordinate Coun- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 43 cils and the result of the vote thereon was reported to the National Council which met at Cleveland, Ohio, 1891. The tabulated report, by states, is as follows: FOR AGAINST Pennsylvania 3,777 8,409 Ohio 1,389 938 New Jersey 956 704 West Virginia 89 78 Virginia . . 110 785 Illinois 559 5 Maryland 80 362 Massachusetts 164 80 New York 69 44 Indiana 24 1 Florida 10 New Hampshire 20 95 Louisiana 20 Missouri 8 Delaware 15 3 Wisconsin 78 3 Texas 22 2 Washington 70 17 Total, 7,406 11,580 Notwithstanding the defeat of the resolution, it was reintro- duced, adopted by a vote of 37 to 13, and again sent back to the Subordinate Councils. The National Council for the year 1892 was held at Atlantic City, and the report on the vote on Change of Name was submitted to the body by the Committee appointed to count the vote. The vote in the Subordinate Councils had been taken somewhat different than the previous year, the membership being asked to express by their vote preference for the old name or the new one suggested. After throwing out nearly 4,000 votes that were irregular or imper- fect, the vote stood as follows : In favor of retaining old name 14,324 In favor of Order United Americans 6,673 The question of Change of Name was not brought up before the National Body, following the defeat of the proposition by the Order in 1891, until 189G, when the Representatives of the State of Massachusetts, by instructions of their State Council, presented 44 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER a memorial on the question at the session of the National Body, held at Denver, Colo. The Memorial was as follows: " Whereas, The word ' Junior ' in the title of the ' Junior Order of American Mechanics ' having been adopted when this Order was the sub- ordinate branch of the Order United American Mechanics, popularly known as the Seniors, and retained when this Order became a separate organiza- tion; and " Whereas, The word ' Junior,' while it really means younger, is also indicative in the popular mind of a condition of subordination and dependence, which idea is sedulously cultivated by many who are opposed to this order; and " Whereas, This order has the largest membership of the native American orders, and is the only one with an organization in every State in the Union; therefore be it " Resolved, That the time has come to strike out the word ' Junior ' from our title and insert in place of it some word expressive of the fact that this order is a national one and independent of any other, and stands first in point of membership of all native American orders; and " Resolved, That the Representatives of the State Council of Massa- chusetts to the National Convention be, and hereby are instructed to use every honest and honorable method possible to secure this result, and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the National Board of Officers and to the publications indorsed by this order, and all State Councils be urged to take some action in regard to striking out the word ' Junior ' and substi- tuting therefor some word illustrative of the fact that this is the only National Order of American Mechanics." The National Council refused to approve the resolutions. At the session of the National Council, held at Minneapolis, Minn., in June, 1899, after the new code of laws had been adopted, the following was submitted : " To the National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M., in Session in Minneapolis, June 22, 1899. " Whereas there has been adopted at the present session a new Constitution and code of laws for the government of said Order; and " Whereas by Article XVI of said Constitution provision is made for amendments thereto; " Now, therefore, in conformity with said Article XVI we hereby propose an amendment to said Constitution by changing the name thereof from ' The Junior Order of United American Mechanics ' to ' United Ameri- cans/ and we ask that such action be taken by this body upon said pro- posal as may be consonant with its laws and Constitution. " H. H. Eddy, Colorado, " Smith W. Bennett, Ohio." In accordance with the requirements of Article XVI of the Revised Constitution, the yeas and nays were called and the same UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 45 was agreed to; whereupon, subsequently, during the session the following resolution was presented by Brother Smith W. Bennett, of Ohio : " Whereas, There has been submitted at the present session of the National Council a proposed amendment to the Constitution of said Order to amend the name of the same, as stated in said Resolution, and " Whereas, Said amendment must be submitted to a vote of the several State Councils before becoming operative as an amendment; and it being considered necessary to have a change made in the Charter of said Order if said amendment should carry and be adopted, " Now Therefore, It is Ordered and Resolved, By said National Council Jr. O. U. A. M., that the Board of Officers, be and they are hereby authorized, to take such steps, and incur such expense, as may be necessary in their opinion, to secure the accomplishment of such objects. And they are further authorized and empowered to secure a copyright of the name of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. and United Americans, if they consider it necessary so to do, and if the same has not been done." In conformity with the action of the National Body, the sub- ject of Change of Name was sent to the Secretaries of the various State Councils for State Council action thereon. Eight State Councils took action on same, when a letter from the National Councilor, as published below, stopped further action by the re- mainder of the State Councils. Of the State Councils that took action, two, Indiana and Missouri, voted to change name to " United Americans," while the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, New York, Oregon and West Virginia voted against the proposed change. The letter referred to above was as follows: " It has just been brought to my attention that there is an organiza- tion known as the ' Order of United Americans ' with headquarters in the city of Philadelphia, which was instituted February 19, 1895, and incor- porated by a charter granted January 6, 1896. " The officers of this organization have announced their purpose to resist legally on the advice of their attorneys, any attempt on the part of the Junior Order United American Mechanics to change their name to ' United Americans,' in accordance with the amendment adopted at Minne- apolis, and which has been referred to the various State Councils for their adoption or rejection. " The National Councilor has been legally advised that if this amend- ment is adopted by the State Councils, it will be impossible for the Board of Officers to make it effective, for the reAson that the courts of Pennsyl- vania (under whose jurisdiction the National Council is incorporated) will undoubtedly refuse to grant an amendment to our present charter, authorizing the change of name to be made, and also to grant a new charter under the name of ' United Americans,' because of the ' Order of United Americans ' having already secured a charter. 46 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " In view of this uncertainty, and the threatened legal complications, the National Councilor is of the opinion that the best course to be pursued would be for the State Councils to defer action on the amendment, and let the National Council take the matter up at its next session. " Will you please lay this letter before your State Council at its coming session for their information and action, and oblige " Fraternally yours, " Charles Reimeb, " National Councilor." With the session of the National Council of 1900, when the above action of the National Councilor was approved, the subject of " Change of Name " was " laid on the shelf," so far as the National Council is concerned. It is pretty evident, if all the State Councils had voted on the question at the time designated, a majority of them would have voted against the change proposed ; and while in two particulars, " Junior " and " Mechanics," the name is a misnomer, still to-day there is such a love for the dear old name that it is a question whether any proposed change would not go down in a more overwhelming defeat than when the subject was before the Order in previous years. And why should there be a change? For years the writer was an earnest advocate for a change, and when State Councilor of his State, Pennsylvania, in 1897, one of our recommendations was, that the Kepresentatives to the National Body be instructed to support a resolution asking for a change of name, but the recom- mendation was not concurred in by the State Body. To-day, how- ever, our views on the subject, by force of circumstances, are changed. The insurrection in the Order, when the pirates within tried to scuttle the old ship, has endeared us to the old name. Under its banner we have fought our battles and won our cause, and in brighter colors, reflecting precious memories, the dear name stands out more beautiful and attractive than ever. CHAPTER IV 4. OBJECTS— CHANGES OF FIFTY YEARS ATEEE has roots, trunk, branches and fruit. The perfection of the fruit necessarily depends upon the sustenance given the branches by the life-giving vigor that finds its way from the roots deep down in the earth. The deeper the roots, the healthier the tree and consequently the more fruitful the branches. The roots of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, deep down in the great American heart, is its motto, " Love of Country"; the trunk, the Order itself; the three spreading branches, — Virtue, Liberty, Patriotism; and the fruit of this American tree, are its Objects and Principles, the plucking of which brings happiness and joy to thousands and vigor and strength to American manhood. The Junior Order organization is composed of native-born Americans whose object is to maintain the laws and Constitution of our country; to preserve inviolate, civil and religious liberty; to improve the moral, intellectual and social rights of its members, and to maintain the institutions of our Kepublic. While not a church, the Order teaches the highest morality, and believes in sound Christian principles. These we conceive to be an open Bible both for the home and the public school ; entire separation of church and state; representative and constitutional form of government; popular and free education in the public schools, with liberty of speech, press and conscience. We believe in the right of private opinions, that right knowl- edge for the people promotes the establishment and conduces to the perpetuation of good government ; that the schools are necessary to general intelligence and essential to the safety of the Union, and that such schools should be free from ecclesiastical bias and control. We claim that allegiance is due the government which extends to and cares for our lives, liberty, honor, peace, happiness- and pros- perity ; that it is the duty of the citizen to defend the constitutional authorities of his country against corrupt, hostile and alien in- fluences as well as armed assailants, to the end that the priceless heritage of civil and religious liberty now enjoyed, as handed down by our forefathers, may be transmitted unimpaired to posterity. 47 48 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER To propagate and defend these principles, as well as to assist one another, to visit the sick and relieve the distressed, care for and educate the orphan, and at the same time to encourage virtue and to uphold our free institutions and defend our flag, as an organization, the members of the Junior Order United American Mechanics are bound together as a brotherhood by a solemn coven- ant made around one common altar. FIRST OBJECTS The first Objects of the Order were framed as follows: 1. "To assist Americans in obtaining employment. 2. " To encourage Americans in business. 3. " To establish a sick and funeral fund. 4. " To prepare the youth of America to become members of the Order of United American Mechanics and other American Orders when they arrive at the proper age. 5. "To use such means, when able, as will prevent the present system of immigration of foreign paupers to our land." At sometime during the early history of the Order, and by some authority, of which we have no data, there must have been a change or transposition of the Objects, as first adopted, as the only one upon which there was contention in the subsequent years of the organization, was what was known at the institution of the Order as the Fourth Object, but subsequently, as stated, was changed to the Fifth Object. This Object was the " bone of conten- tion " for years until it was entirely stricken out, as the following pages will show. PROPOSED CHANGES The first effort, of which there is any record, to change or remold the Objects of the Order, was at the session of the State Council of Pennsylvania (the Supreme head of the Order), April 15, 1862, when a motion was carried that a Committee of one from each Council be appointed to consider the propriety of altering and remodeling the Order (presumably the Objects) so that members could remain in the organization after they were 21 years of age. At a subsequent meeting of the State Body, the Committee reported that they had the whole of the forms written out but not yet connected together, and asked to be continued. The report was accepted, but the Committee was discharged, and the first attempt to change the Fifth Object, as well as a reorganization of the entire Order, failed. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 49 No further attempt was made to change the Objects until, al a meeting of the State Council of Pennsylvania, January 17, 1870, the following resolution was offered : "Resolved, That the Fifth Object of this Order, which reads as follows: 'To prepare the youth of America to become members of the 0. U. A. M. when they arrive at the proper age,' be stricken out entirely." In consideration of the question, action thereon was indefinitely postponed. At the session of the National Council, held at Wilmington, Delaware, in 1873, the following clauses were offered to be incor- porated as Objects of the Order : 1. "To maintain the reading of the Bible in the public schools. 2. " To oppose union of church and state, and the appropriating of monies for sectarian purposes." Also a resolution to strike out the Fifth Object was presented, which, with the proposed Objects presented were, under the law, laid over until the next session. However, the following session did not find the members of the National Body favorable to either the proposed Objects or the striking out of the Fifth Object, as both propositions were indefinitely postponed. At a special meet- ing of the National Council, held February 22, 1875, the resolu- tion to strike out the Fifth Object was renewed and laid over. No one was more earnest in his efforts to have the Fifth Object stricken out than our late brother, Past National Councilor Harry Stites. In his report to the National Council at Philadel- phia, July 6, 1876, he has this to say : " I would earnestly recommend to this National body, that the Fifth Object of the Order be stricken out. I do not do this with any ill feeling towards the Senior Order; but 1 do it because I consider it a burden to our Order, and by removing it we will be able to interest a great many parties over the age of twenty-one and induce them to join our Order, while at the present time they do not feel like uniting with us." The Committee to whom the report of the National Councilor was submitted, recommended that action be taken on the proposi- tion of the presiding officer. During the consideration of the question, the National Body declared that it could not consider the subject, and it was recommitted to the Committee and that they proceed according to the Constitution. Subsequently, the Com- 4 50 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER mittee reported back to the National Body, with an amendment to the National Councilor's recommendation, as follows: " We suggest that the National Secretary be instructed to transmit a copy of the proposed alteration to each member of this body, as pro- vided in Sec. 2, Art. 2, of the National Council Constitution." The suggestion was agreed to. The question of striking out the Fifth Object came up as usual at the session of 1877, at the annual meeting of the National Body, held at Dayton, Ohio. In the consideration of the subject, on final action being taken, it was defeated by one vote, there being 10 in favor of striking out the Object and 11 against. The reso- lution to strike it out was reintroduced by P. S. C. Adams, of New Jersey, and again laid over in accordance with law. The question was again brought before the National Council in 1878, when National Councilor Geo. W. Ilgenfritz submitted it as one of his recommendations. Subsequently a resolution to that effect was presented, and again the matter was laid over for another year. When the National Council met at New Brunswick, N. J., in 1879, the members of the body were ready for more decisive action on the question, of striking out the Fifth Object. The resolution submitted at last session was brought before the National Body, whereupon, Brother Calver moved that consideration thereof be postponed until the next session, which was defeated by a vote of 13 to 16. The question coming to a final test, by a vote of 16 ayes to 15 nays, the Object was stricken out, so far as National Council action was concerned, and the preliminary proceedings were started looking towards the sundering of the ties that held the two Orders together. In accordance with the Constitution, the following was adopted: " Resolved, That said question be submitted to the membership of the Order for vote thereon at the first meeting of each Council in the month of October next, and the result thereon be forwarded to the National Secretary under seal prior to November 1." The National Council met at Bichmond, Virginia, June 15, 1880. The question of striking out the Fifth Object, as per reso- lution of the last session of the National Body, had been submitted UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 51 to the Subordinate Councils, with the following tabulated result, which was submitted to this session by the Committee appointed to count the vote : FOR AGAINST Pennsylvania 444 975 New Jersey 239 108 Maryland 97 11 New York 103 23 Delaware 30 Ohio 76 29 Massachusetts 42 1 Vermont 24 The above tabulated vote resulted in 1,061 votes in favor of striking out the Fifth Object, and 1,147 against the proposition, or a majority of 86, thereby not sustaining the action of the National Council. Owing to irregularities, the Committee did not count 90 votes cast in favor of the resolution and 140 that were cast against it. Immediately after the result of the vote had been announced, P. S. C. Adams, of New Jersey, offered the following: " Resolved, That we strike out the Fifth Object of our Order." This, under the rules, was laid over until next session. The following, also, was presented and laid over: " In the First Object of our Order, strike out ' American youth ' and substitute ' Americans '." An additional Object, to be known as the Sixth Object, was proposed and also laid over. It was as follow? : " To maintain the public school system of the United States of America, to prevent sectarian interference therewith, and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein." At the session of the National Council in 1881, which was held at Haverhill, Mass., the question again came up relative to striking out the Fifth Object. In the consideration of the subject, a motion was made to refer the matter to the Committee on the Revision of the Order, which failed. A direct vote then was taken, when, for the second time, and by a more pronounced majority than was given two years previous, the National Body declared itself in favor of striking out the Object, the vote being 22 in favor and 9 against, the total vote being precisely the same as in 1879, when it was 16 to 15 in favor. The question was again sent back to the Sub- ordinate Councils for their concurrence or non-concurrence. 52 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The other change in Object and the additional Object as sug- gested at the last session, were each considered. The striking out of the words " American youth " from the First Object and insert- ing the word " Americans," was adopted and the same was referred to the Subordinate Councils. The new Object, to be known as the Sixth Object, which read as follows : " To maintain the public school system of the United States of America, to prevent sectarian interference therewith and uphold the read- ing of the Holy Bible therein," was amended by striking out all after the word " therewith," and inserting the word " and " after the word " America," so as to read: " To maintain the public school system of the United States of America, and to prevent sectarian interference therewith." After being adopted, the new Object took the same course as the others by being referred to the Subordinate Councils. The National Council of 1882 met in New York City, at which time the action of the Subordinate Councils relative to the proposed changes, etc., of the Objects of the Order, was reported. The fol- lowing report by the Committee appointed to count the vote on the various propositions, was submitted : 1. To Amend First Object. Striking out " American youth " and inserting " Americans," the vote was 1,747 in favor of striking out and inserting and 958 against the proposition, making a major- ity of 787 in favor of the amendment. 2. The Sixth Object. " To maintain the public school system of the United States of America, and prevent sectarian interference therewith." The vote on the new Object was 2,180 in favor of adopting it and 480 against, being a majority of 1,700 in favor of the proposition, thereby adding another Object to the code of Principles. 3. To Strike out the Fifth Object. " To prepare the youth of America to become members of the 0. U. A. M., when they arrive at the proper age." The Committee reported a majority of 568 in favor of striking out the Object entirely by a vote of 1,636 in favor of the proposition, and 1,068 against. Thus, after years of discussion and unrest, the last and really only bond of union between the Senior and Junior Orders was severed, and from henceforth, as an independent organization, the Junior Order United American Mechanics has gone forth to do the great work for which it was instituted. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 53 The strange procedure of the National Body in 1881 in strik- ing out of the proposed new Sixth Ohject the words " and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein," was re-enacted at this ses- sion. Brother Deemer, as Secretary of the Committee on the Re- vision of the Order, referring to the action of the year previous, stated that the obligation by which the Past Councilor's Degree was conferred, as found in the Ritual of the American Legion, or Commanderies thereof, had the words, " and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein," and there were those in the National Body who refused to take the Degree on account of this part of the obligation, and requested that it be also stricken out as it had been in the new Object. In the Committee of the Whole the subject was discussed, Brother Deemer among others opposed the striking out of the words from the obligation, but a motion to strike out carried and when reported back to the National Body, the action of the Committee was sustained by a vote of 15 to 9. At this same session, Past National Councilor S. H. Cram submitted a suggestion relative to the advisability of creating a new Object on the subject of Insurance, but the same was disapproved. Following the action of the National Council, as approved by the vote of the Subordinate Councils, the Objects of the Order were arranged as follows : First. To maintain and promote the interests of Americans, and shield them from the depressing effects of foreign competition. Second. To assist Americans in obtaining employment. Third. To encourage Americans in business. Fourth. To establish a sick and funeral fund. Fifth. To maintain the Public School System of the United States of America, and to prevent sectarian interference therewith. The striking out of the words " and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein " from the proposed new Object during its consideration, and which was ratified by the action of the Subor- dinate Councils, met with dissatisfaction upon the part of many in the National Body, whereupon, at the session of 1883, held at Philadelphia, the following was offered: "Amend Objects of the Order, by adding the following to the Fifth Object: 'and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein'." Under the law, the amendment was laid over until next session. At the meeting of the National Council, held at Georgetown, D. C, 1884, the above amendment was adopted and the same was referred to the Subordinate Councils for ratification. 54 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The Committee appointed to count the vote taken on the pro- posed amendment to the Fifth Object relative to the reading of the Bible in the public schools, reported to the National Body, at its meeting at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1885. The following was the total vote: In favor of amendment 1,694 Not in favor 793 thereby adopting the amendment by a majority of 901. The Object then read as follows : Fifth. '" To maintain the Public School System of the United States of America, prevent sectarian interference therewith, and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein." Eight years rolled around, 1885-1893, before the subject of change of Objects came up for consideration in the National Body. At the session held the latter year in Detroit, Mich., P. S. C, F. A. Buschman, of Maryland, offered the following amendment: " To strike out the words ' and shield them from the depressing effects of foreign competition,' from the First Object, so that it shall read as follows: ' First. To maintain and promote the interests of Americans.' " A new Object was proposed by Brother Buschman to be known as the Sixth Object, viz. : " To oppose the union of church and state, and the appropriations of public monies for sectarian purposes." So far as the records show no action was taken upon the above by the National Council, except that they were referred to the Law Committee, and it is presumed that Committee disapproved the same. By instructions of their State Council, the Eepresentatives of Pennsylvania at the session of the National Council in 1894, pre- sented the following, to be incorporated in the Principles of the Order, or made one of the Objects, but no action thereon was taken : " We believe that each brother should own his own home, and will encourage and assist all in rightfully procuring the same." When the National Body met at Omaha, Neb., in 1895, the following peculiar amendment to the First Object was proposed, but failed in passage. The part in italics was the proposed amend- ment : UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 55 "To maintain and promote the interests of Ajmericans and shield them from the depressing effects of foreign immigration; but nothing in this declaration shall be construed as sanctioning the political ostracism of any man of foreign birth who is loyal to the principles of our Order, and competent to discharge the duties of the office to which he aspires." At the Denver session in 1896, the following were offered as amendments to the Objects of the Order, and laid over: 1. "To establish and erect an Orphans' Home as a home for the orphans of the deceased members of the Order, and to maintain the same." 2. To combine the Second and Third Objects, as follows: "To assist Americans in obtaining employment and to encourage them in business." 3. To make the Fourth Object the Third. 4. To add as the Fourth Object: " To establish a home for orphans of deceased members," so as to read: Fourth. " To establish a Sick and Funeral Fund, and to establish a home for Orphans of deceased members." The above amendments having been referred to the Law Com- mittee, that Committee reported at the Pittsburg session, in 1897. The new Object relative to the Orphans' Home was approved by the Committee, and the same was adopted by the National Body, and the proposition was sent to the Subordinate Councils. Action on the other amendments was indefinitely postponed. The new Object relative to the Orphans' Home, to be known as the Sixth Object, was ratified by the vote of the membership, as per report of Committee, at the session of the National Council held at Louisville, Ky., 1898. The vote was as follows: Number of acceptable votes cast, for 19,140 Number of acceptable votes cast, against 16,224 Majority in favor 2,910 The states voting against the new Object were: FOB AGAINST Pennsylvania 4,908 7,825 New York 275 1,117 New Jersey 526 4,948 Ohio, the home of the Orphan's Home, rolled up 3,714 in favor and had only 79 votes against the proposition. When the members of the National Council met in annual session at Minneapolis, Minn., in June, 1899, they were presented 56 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER with an entire new code of laws, a new Constitution, as well as a remodeled Declaration of Principles and Objects of the Order. The Objects, as reported by the Committee, and approved by the Na- tional Body, were as follows: 1. "To maintain and promote the interests of Americans and shield them from the depressing effects of unrestricted immigration; to assist them in obtaining employment and encourage them in business. 2. " To establish an Insurance Branch and a Sick and Funeral fund. 3. " To uphold the American Public School System, to prevent inter- ference therewith, and to encourage the reading of the Holy Bible in the schools thereof. 4. " To promote and maintain a National Orphans' Home." Following the adoption of the Objects of the Order at Minne- apolis, no further change was proposed until the session of the National Body at St. Louis, Mo., in 1904, when a resolution was offered to amend the Second Object so that it would read as follows : 2. " To provide for the creation of a fund or funds for the payment of benefits in case of sickness, disability or death of its members, to members, their legal dependents or representatives, and to issue certifi- cates of membership for same." The resolution was approved as to form by the Law Committee and was adopted by the National Council by a vote of 122 to 1. The following resolution was then adopted : "Be it Resolved, by the National Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, that the change in the Objects of the Order be submitted to the membership of the Order for their approval, said approval to be acted upon on the first meeting of the Subordinate Council in the month of August, and that the National Secretary is hereby authorized to take the necessary steps to carry into effect this resolution." The following letter from the Law Committee accompanied the above resolution : St. Louis, Mo., June 22, 1904. " Edward S. Deemer, Secretary National Council, Junior 0. U. A. M. " Dear Bro. Deemer. — " The Committee on Law is of the opinion that the resolution chang- ing the ' Objects of Order,' while submitted to a vote of the membership to comply with Judge Audenried's decision, and as required by the old Constitution prior to Minneapolis meeting, should also be submitted to a vote of the State Councils under Article XVI, of the Constitution." At the session of the National Council in 1905, which met at Nashville, Tenn., the Committee to count the vote of the Sub- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 57 ordinate Councils, reported that a total of 16,880 votes had been cast; but owing to irregularities, the legal vote was computed at 12,023. Of these, 8,554 were in favor of the change of Objects and 3,4G9 were opposed to the change. The vote by State Councils, as per resolution adopted at the last session, showed that every State Council voted in favor of the change with the exception of Ohio, which, as per action of its State Body, protested against the proposed change, claiming that the pro- cedure was not in harmony with law. The vote by State Councils stood 60 in favor and 6 against. According to the Constitution, each State Council is entitled to cast as many votes as she has Representatives in the National Body. After the changes of fifty years, beginning with five Objects, then adding another, the Order now has four, and are as follows : OBJECTS OF THE ORDER First. To maintain and promote the interests of Americans, and shield them from the depressing effects of unrestricted immigration; to assist them in obtaining employment, and to encourage them in business. Second. To provide for the creation of a fund or funds for the payment of benefits in case of sickness, disability or death of its members, their legal dependents or representatives, and to issue certificates of membership for the same. Third. To uphold the American Free Public School System; to pre- vent any interference therewith, and to encourage the reading of the Holy Bible therein. Fourth. To promote and maintain a National Orphans' Home CHAPTER V 5. THE RITUAL THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD RITUAL THE human body is made up of bones, muscles, nerves, organs, all clothed with flesh, and the whole covered with skin. Though systematically arranged, beautiful in form, it would be but a helpless, useless mass without blood, which is the life; as the inspired penman puts it, " For the life thereof is the blood thereof." The Eitual of an organization is the " blood thereof," there- fore should be the " life thereof " ; and if the organization declines and dies, the cause, very largely, is due to a lifeless Eitual, or a lifeless and indifferent exemplification of the ritualistic ceremonies. That which places Free Masonry the highest in the family of secret fraternities, is its Eitual. From the first to the highest de- gree, none tire of the work, and nightly the members sit quietly for hours listening to the exemplification of its ancient and sublime ceremonies, illustrated by symbols and veiled in allegory, and go away more deeply impressed each time they hear and see it. Other Orders with three or more degrees, requiring as many exemplifica- tions at stated times, have flourished and maintained their hold upon a community, while all over this land are scattered the wrecks of hundreds of defunct Councils of the Junior Order United Ameri- can Mechanics. Why these wrecks? Why have thousands of intelligent men, the best of citizens, " dropped out " of the Order, who at the same time maintain their membership in kindred organizations? Why have men who once crossed the threshold of our Council halls, passed out on the night of their initiation never to return thereto ? The answer is found in our Eitual. A single degree, often indif- ferently and wretchedly conferred, has driven more members from the Junior Order than all other causes combined; and to-day we are still legislating and " resolving " on the subject, as our fathers have been doing for the past forty years, and we are very little nearer the ritualistic standard than when we began agitating the question of a " change of Eitual." The views of the writer can be no more clearly presented than in a recommendation to the State Council of Pennsylvania, when State Councilor, in 1897, for a three degree Eitual, which was adopted : 58 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 59 "That the State Council, through its National Representatives, request the National Council to consider the practicability of adopting a three degree Ritual. " A one degree ritual organization cannot long ilourish as it should in a nation of such marked intelligence as ours. The idea of indoctrinating a candidate in one evening with ceremonies less than an hour long and with ritualistic services often poorly and indifferently rendered, is pre- posterous, and the lack of proper inculcation of historical and patriotic truth will prejudice intelligent secret-order men against our organization. Other Orders with three or more degree rituals grow and prosper more steadily and the work is more binding. Those who have passed through the ceremonies of these organizations know that the first degree creates in the heart of the novice a desire to unravel the second mystery; and when at last he is within the inner chamber of mysteries, he is fully imbued with the beauty and teachings of the Order, and is established in its principles. " Patriotism is a growth, not a sentiment, and if our Ritual were more thorough in its work, and its lessons more inspiring, our organiza- tion would rest on a firmer foundation and our influence would be more powerfully felt." CHANGES OF RITUAL, ANTE-NATIONAL COUNCIL But this chapter is not to be devoted to " airing " the views of the writer on the question of Ritual, but rather to give a con- nected historical review of the subject, referring to the suggested changes and subsequent revisions of the .Ritual in the highest legis- lative body of the Order. While under another head the changes proposed and adopted are referred to, still in the writer's opinion, it was thought best to arrange, under one or more chapters, a fuller detailed account, so the reader of the Order's history may follow more closely the connectional outline of the subject. It was said at one of the sessions of the National Body, when the subject of the Ritual was under consideration, " The members of the Junior Order are ritualistically mad." Whether true or not, it is a fact that the agitation on the subject, annually, has been the rule, and the Order is still " at sea " on the question and the matter is now (1907) in the hands of a Committee to report to the National Council at its biennial session to be held at Detroit in 1909. ' The first Ritual of the Order was prepared by Wra. M. Weck- erly, State Council Secretary of the 0. U. A. M., and was similar to that used by the " Senior Order/' except with such changes made necessary for the new organization, and the same was used by Washington Council, No. 1, and for a few years under the direction of the State Council of Pennsylvania. At a session of the State Council, held October 16, 1860, a 60 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER form for obligating representatives to the State Body was adopted ; but it was merely a form to which each representative attached his signature. At a subsequent quarterly session a form of procedure at funerals was adopted, requiring the American flag to be placed on the casket and the members to wear red, white and blue rosettes, covered with crape, on the left breast. An amendment, however, was added that a hymn should be sung at the grave. In the first Ritual of the Order, there was a clause relating to " Capitation Tax/' which was stricken out of the obligation at a special meeting of the State Council of Pennsylvania, held June 6, 1864. At the same session of the State Council of Pennsylvania, the Committee on Forms reported progress on formulating a Funeral Charge and Ode, suggesting that " each member of the Order to try their hand on it." The same Committee, however, in the ses- sion of 1865, submitted a Funeral Charge and Ode, and the same was adopted. The custom of blindfolding candidates at initiation while taking the obligation was made a requirement by act of the State Council of Pennsylvania at the quarterly meeting held June, 1865. NATIONAL COUNCIL LEGISLATION At the first regular meeting of the National Council, after its institution, February 10, 1870, Brother John D. Goff, on behalf of the State Council of Pennsylvania, presented a draft of De- grees for degree work, but the same was not accepted. At the same session, however, Brother Edw. S. Deemer submitted a draft of three degrees, which were adopted, and were referred to a commit- tee to revise. At the meeting of the National Body on May 20, same year, the Committee reported back a three degree Ritual, and it was adopted as the degrees of the Order. At the same session a resolu- tion was adopted offering $25.00 for the best Ritual for Subor- dinate Councils, the competitors to come from either the Senior or Junior organization. Also, the Committee on Ritual was directed to submit at the next session a draft of a National and State Council Ritual. The Committee on Ritual at the session of 1871, relative to the above request, stated that as the finances of the National Body would not justify the expense, and, further, as no form had been presented, the Committee recommended that no action be taken at present, which was agreed to. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 61 At the session of the National Body, held at Baltimore, Mary- land, in 1872, a resolution was adopted annulling the requirement, during the initiatory ceremonies, for a candidate and the officer to kneel while taking the obligation and to be obligated standing. At the same session the Committee on Ritual was instructed to make a thorough revision of the Degrees and Subordinate Council Ritual, with a view of embodying the two in one, so as to dispense with the Degree Ritual. A resolution, also, was presented and agreed to, authorizing the Committee on Ritual to prepare, or have prepared, a form for receiving the officers of the State and National Councils, and for Councils when visiting sister Councils in a body. To the same Committee was referred the request to change the grip of the Order. The session of the National Council in 1873 was held at Wil- mington, Delaware, at which time the Committee on Ritual reported on the above subjects. As to the advisability of consolidating the Degree Ritual with the Ritual of Subordinate Councils, a favorable report was submitted to the National Council by the Committee, whereupon, the National Body went into the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of the subject. When the Committee arose, it reported back to the National Council the recommendation that the First and Second Degrees, as amended, be adopted, and the Third Degree be referred back to the Committee on Ritual to make certain desired changes. At the same session, Representative Messenger, of Delaware, presented a Ritual for State Councils, which was referred to the Committee on Ritual to be reported back before the close of the session. Being unable to give the subject due consideration, for want of time, the Committee was directed to report at the next session. At an adjourned meeting of the National Body, same year, in September, no action was taken on the Third Degree, owing to the resignations of Brothers Deemer, Calver and Hayes, occasioned by a set of resolutions having been adopted censuring the National Secretary for refusing to grant a charter for a Council in Virginia to be named after Robert E. Lee. The charge, as stated elsewhere, was untrue, and a subsequent session rescinded the unwarranted resolution. At a regular session of the National Body, held in 1874, an effort was made to adopt the Third Degree in the Ritual, but the 62 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER National Council was not satisfied with the draft presented, and the subject was recommitted to the Committee on Ritual. At a special session, held February 22, 1875, the Third Degree, as submitted, was considered, and, after its exemplification by State Councilor F. M. Cody, of Pennsylvania, it was finally adopted. Two important decisions, relative to the Ritual, were made at this session, viz. : 1. That everything in the Ritual, with the exception of the printer's card, is a part of the Ritual. 2. That no Council can do away with any part of the Ritual except- ing the singing of the Odes. The National Council, at its session held at Boston, Mass., in 1875, refused to adopt the following resolution : " Resolved, That whenever or wherever a change in the Ritual is contemplated, before compelling Councils to work under it, it shall be first submitted to the Subordinate Councils for their approval or disapproval." National Councilor Harry Stites, in his report to the National Council, held at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1876, relative to the Ritual, says : " I also recommend that the condition of our Ritual be considered, as there seems to be a considerable amount of dissatisfaction resting against it at the present time." The recommendation, however, was laid on the table. On motion, a Committee of five was appointed to consider the advisability of revising the Ritual, and to report during the session. Subsequently, the Committee reported as follows : " We, your Committee to whom was referred the matter of revising the Ritual, would report that we recommend the consolidation of the three degrees into one." The recommendation, however, was not concurred in by the National Body. At the same time the Representatives of Mary- land offered the following: " Whereas, Having viewed the disadvantages we labor under from want of a State Council Ritual, therefore, be it " Resolved, That a Committee on Ritual, if one be appointed, be empowered to draw up a suitable State .Council Ritual for the proper working of State Councils, and have the same issued in proper form." This was amended by inserting Ritual for National Council. To same Committee was referred a resolution to have framed a suitable prayer for Subordinate Councils. Subsequently, in the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 63 session, the Committee reported as follows, the same being con- curred in by the National Council : " We, your Committee to whom was referred the matter of having a prayer inserted in the Ritual, would report, that we do not consider the matter advisable." But the chapter on Ritual revision was not yet ended. Still another resolution was offered by Brothers DeHaven and Stites, of Pennsjdvania, which was agreed to, as follows: " Whereas, Our present Ritual is being complained of by a large number of members of our Order, both on account of the length and also of the errors in printing, therefore, be it " Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed to revise our Ritual, and that said Committee be instructed to report at the next session." Three Rituals were presented at the session of the National Council that was held at Dayton, Ohio, in 1877. One from P. S. C. DeHaven, of Pennsylvania, one from P. S. C. Sharer, of same state, and one from the State Council of Indiana. The National Secre- tary read each Ritual in open session and all were referred to a committee to report later. Three of the Committee reported in favor of Ritual No. 3, while the other two members recommended the " Indiana Ritual." The majority report, however, was adopted. Brother Deemer then moved that Ritual No. 3 be referred to a Special Committee with instructions to insert therein the opening ceremony of the " Indiana Ritual," and the " camp scene " of the Ritual then in use, which was unanimously adopted. At the session of the National Body in 1878, the National Councilor submitted as one of his recommendations, " adopting a good and substantial Ritual." The Special Committee on Ritual, noted above, submitted the following report, which was agreed to: " We, your Committee on Ritual, would report that we have attended to the duty assigned us, and present the Ritual as directed, with the excep- tion of preparing a State Council Ritual, which we expected would be offered by some one of the National Representatives." The National Council then went into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Ritual proposed. The Committee amended the Ritual submitted, first, by inserting the opening ceremony prepared by Brother G. Howell Arthur in lieu of the form in the " Indiana Ritual," as recommended at the last session ; and second, that the reading of the Bible be made compulsory and the prayer optional. When the Committee arose and reported back to the 64 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER National Body the results of their consideration, other changes were made, the most important of which was the striking out the use of the gown and cowl, and the Order of Business. With these changes agreed to, the question recurring on the adoption of the Ritual, as amended, the ayes and nays were called, and by a majority of one only out of a vote of 33, the form was adopted, and a reso- lution that the Ritual go into effect January 1, 1879, was agreed to. Judging from the calls made for the ayes and nays during the consideration of the Ritual, and in its final adoption by a vote of 17 to 16, it is pretty evident that the new Ritual was not satis- factory to a large number of the National Council. That this dis- satisfaction was deep-seated, is apparent from the following resolution : " Resolved, That the Ritual just adopted, be published as an initia- tory, and that a Committee be appointed to draft three additional degrees and report at the next session." To this resolution were the names of 14 of the 16 members who had voted against the adoption of the new Ritual and one who had voted in the affirmative. The resolution was adopted, with the proviso that those who had signed it should compose the Committee. At the same session Brother Penrose, of Pennsylvania, pre- sented a form of obligation for National Representatives on being admitted to the National Body, which was adopted. The " American Legion," a Past Councilor's Association, which had been approved at the last session of the National Body, presented a Past Councilor's Degree Ritual for Philadelphia Com- mandery, No. 1, and it was approved. The National Council at its session at New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1879, received the report of the Committee of Fifteen on Ritual, which was as follows : " Whereas, At the last session of this body, there was a Committee appointed to draft the additional degrees, and " Whereas, Said Committee was so large that it could not act with any speed; therefore, be it " Resolved, That the said Committee be discharged and a similar Committee, consisting of five members, be appointed for the purpose." The resolution was adopted. (For two sessions of the National Council, 1880 and 1881, the " cry of the Ritual was not heard in the land," with a single UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 65 exception, of an ineffectual effort to strike from the Ritual the words "this includes the whole motto of the Senior Order.") The National Council at its session in New York City, in 1882. went into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report of the Committee on Revision of the Order, on certain suggestions pre- sented hy Past National Councilor S. H. Crum, which were as follows : " Change the Ritual, making three degrees — Subordinate, State, and National, all to be conferred by the Subordinate Councils; a fee to be paid to the State Council for all State Council Degrees conferred, and the State Council to pay the National Council a fee for all National Degrees conferred." As might be supposed, the Committee of the Whole disapproved the suggestions and the National Body concurred in their action. Two resolutions relative to the Ritual were presented: 1. "Resolved, That the Board of Officers of this National Council be instructed to advertise for a form of public installation, and that the sum of $25.00 be awarded to the author of the best form presented. The Board of Officers to act as the judges with the privilege of rejecting any and all forms." With the exception of striking out " Board of Officers " and inserting " National Council," the resolution was adopted. 2. " Resolved, That the Board of Officers advertise in the Junior American Mechanic or otherwise, and request the members of the National Council to prepare and present to them a form to be known as the National Council Degree, to contain only an opening and closing, an obligation, countersign and pass. Such form to be presented to this National Council at its session for approval. If approved, then all business of this National Council shall be done in said degree." The resolution was agreed to. As per resolution of last session, several forms for Public Installation of Officers were submitted to the National Council at its annual session in 1883, held at Philadelphia, and were referred to a Committee, which, during the session, reported in favor of one of the forms with certain changes. The Committee added : " But your Committee think that the National Council should not be too hasty in the adoption of any form of Ritual, and would suggest that the action on Ritual for Public Installation be laid over until next session." The suggestion was concurred in. 5 66 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The National Council, therefore, that met at Georgetown,D.C, in 1884, resumed the consideration of the question of Ritual, whereupon, a motion to postpone action for another session was made, for which a substitute was proposed to accept Form 2 and pay $25.00 to its author, which was agreed to. After making several changes in the draft, a motion was offered to adopt, where- upon, the ayes and nays were called, resulting in 2 yeas and 20 nays, hence the form of Public Installation was not adopted. A motion, however, was made, and it was agreed to, that Form 2, at first agreed upon, be referred back to the Committee for changes, as per amendments made. (The corrected form was submitted to the National Body in 1885, and failed of adoption by a vote of 20 nays and 3 yeas.) (The session of the National Body, held in 1886, passed without any reference to or resolutions for proposed revision of the Ritual.) The subject of Ritual was brought before the National Body in 1887, at its session held at Baltimore, Md., by the presentation of a Degree Ritual by Brother Arnold, of Ohio, in consideration of which, the following record was made: " P. S. C. Sibbs, of Pa., moved that in consideration of the fact that this Ritual provides for Degrees, which have been tried and did not give satisfaction, that the further consideration of the subject be dismissed, which was agreed to." At the same session the words " right or wrong, but still our country," as used by the Councilor in explaining the Principles of the Order to the candidate, were stricken from the Ritual. An effort, however, was made at the session of 1888 to restore the words, but failed. The National Council, at its session in 1888, held at New York City, acted upon the Declaration of Principles, submitted by Na- tional Secretary Edw. S. Deemer, which were adopted by a vote of 19 ayes to 18 nays. Subsequently in the session, on motion of National Treasurer Brother Sohl, the vote by which the same were adopted, was reconsidered, and the question being stated, the ayes and nays were called, resulting, ayes 16, nays 26, so the motion was not agreed to. CHAPTER VI THE RITUAL (Concluded) THE records of the National Council at its annual session, held at Haverhill, Mass., in 1889, give but three references to the subject of Eitual. In the " note " on page 19 of the Kitual, the first clause was stricken out, and in lieu thereof, the following charge from the Councilor was inserted : " Bro. Conductor: You will retire with the Candidate and prepare him for the lesson of Patriotism." On motion of Brother Evans, of Pennsylvania, the obligation for members of the Senior Order was stricken from the Kitual. The following resolution was adopted : " Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to prepare and present to the National Council at its next session, a series of short addresses, neither of them to occupy more than five minutes in delivery, and to be appropriate to and in commemoration of the following events, viz. : " ' February 22. Washington's Birthday.' " ' April 30. The Adoption of the Constitution of the United States and Washington's Inauguration.' " ' May 17. The Anniversary of the Founding of the Order.' " ' June 14. The Adoption of the National Emblem.' " ' July 4. The Declaration of Independence.' " Said addresses, if adopted, to be delivered by the Jr. P. C. in Sub- ordinate Councils as the first item under the head of Good of the Order, and at meetings which shall be nearest to the several dates; and with the understanding that said address can be dispensed with at any meeting by a two-third vote of the members present." The subject of Eitual was considered at the session of the National Body, at its meeting of 1890, at Chicago, 111., first, in a Memorial, largely signed by prominent Representatives, as follows: " Whereas, Our beloved Order has been and is now rapidly increas- ing in membership and brings to our ranks the experience and intelligence of the country, and " Whereas, Our present Ritual does not seem adequate to the present needs of our Order, therefore, be it " Resolved, That the National Councilor be empowered to appoint a Committee of five for the purpose of preparing a new Ritual, to be sub- mitted to the National Council at the earliest date consistent, with the best attainable results." The Memorial was adopted, and the following strong Commit- 67 68 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER tee was appointed : Brothers J. G. A. Kichter, J. H. Zimmerman and Geo. 0. Roberts, of Ohio, Jas. Cranston and H. L. Williams, of Pennsylvania. The following resolution was offered and referred to the Com- mittee on Revision of the Ritual : " Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to draft and prepare a hand-book of ceremonies, which shall contain: 1. A program of ceremonies for flag presentations. 2. A program of ceremonies for laying corner-stones. 3. A program of ceremonies for dedicating buildings. And in which hand-book may also be included the funeral ceremony." On motion, to the same Committee was referred the duty of preparing a Ritual for the opening and closing of the National and State Councils, installation of officers in public and reception of members by card. As was expected from its make-up, the Committee on the Re- vision of the Ritual, at the session of 1891, held at Cleveland, Ohio, submitted a report full of suggestions, and had adopted a form of Ritual, but the one who was to write it had failed to submit the same. The Committee had received quite a number of suggestions which were submitted to the National Council and by that body were turned over to a new Committee. The following were some of the suggestions: 1. From James S. Patton, of Monongahela, Pa., that the mili- tary scene be amplified, and a form accompanied the suggestion. 2. From Jas. Cranston, of Pittsburg, Pa., providing a charge to be delivered by the Councilor upon reinstating a brother. 3. P. S. C, F. J. Shaler, of Chicago, 111., suggesting that soft music be played during certain parts of the ceremonies. 4. From a brother in McKeesport, Pa., Superintendent of Public Schools, whose letter was mislaid and the name forgotten, came the suggestion of a three degree Ritual, in two forms, ampli- fied and condensed, councils to be allowed to use either form, but to urge the amplified or long form. (The name of the brother referred to was Perry A. Shanor, so well known in the Order, and who, subsequently, served as National Councilor.) 5. From P. S. C, H. L. Williams, of Pennsylvania, who submitted the following unique form of a three degree Ritual, representing, allegorically, the history of our country: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 69 1. " The first degree to represent the perambulations and sufferings of the Pilgrims from the commencement of their persecutions by the Church of England until their arrival at Plymouth Rock. 2. " The second degree to represent the history of those people from Plymouth Rock to the commencement of the Revolution. 3. " The third degree to represent the Revolutionary War and the scene to close with the proclaiming of Independence on July 4, 1770." The Committee stated that they had adopted the suggestions of Brother Williams and had requested him to suhmit a skeleton of such a Ritual, but he had failed to do so. The Secretary of the Committee, Brother Zimmerman, among other things, said : " Since the meeting of the Committee in Pittsburg, Pa., as Secretary, I have received numerous correspondence from members of the Order, advocating extremes in both ways. The shortest Ritual asked for is simply a short obligation and the signing of the obligation book, while the other extreme asks for a Ritual that shall contain degrees as follows: 1, 2, 3 — Initiation. 5 — To be entitled to any office in Subordinate Council. 6 — To be entitled to Assistant Recording Secretary. 8 — To be entitled to Vice-Councilor. 10 — To be entitled to Councilor. 13 — To be entitled to Junior Past Councilor. 15 — To be entitled to State Council Representative or Deputy State Councilor. 25 — To be entitled to admission to State Council. 100— To be entitled to admission to National Council. The 25th to be given by the State Council, and the 100th by the National Council. The fees of each degree to be regulated by law, except that given by the National Council. This fee to be $25.00, and the money thus obtained to be used for a banquet." Other suggestions were made, such as asking that the Ritual be made as solemn as possible, and that Sunday services be made obligatory upon Councils, at least once a month. The suggestions and material gathered b} r the Committee were referred to a new Committee. A Special Committee reported a volumiuous form of Public Installation of Officers in Subordinate Councils which, however, was recommitted to same committee. The plan of the Council room to be used in the " camp scene " was, on motion, adopted. Also an Order of Business for the Na- tional Council was submitted and approved. ■ The Declaration of Principles submitted by Brother Deemer at the New York session in 1888, being rearranged and adopted at the Chicago session in 1890, and as printed in the Proceedings, were approved at this session. 70 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The Committee on Eitual reported at the session of the Na- tional Body at its meeting in 1892, relative to the form of Public Installation submitted to them at the last session, stating that in their opinion it was of too great a length to be of any service to the Order, whereupon the whole matter was recommitted to the Committee. A form of Memorial Service, pursuant to instructions of the State Council of Pennsylvania, was submitted by her Representa- tives. The form proposed was on the line of the Memorial Service of the G. A. R., to meet in the cemetery, annually, and with befitting exercises, strew flowers upon the graves of the departed members of the Order. The same was referred to the Committee on the State of the Order, as well as the address of Brother Shanor, deliv- ered at Uniontown, Pa., at the Memorial Service held during the session of the State Council. Subsequently, the Committee re- ported in favor of adopting the address of Brother Shanor as the form, which, after necessary changes, was adopted. A new Eitual was submitted to the body by the Committee on Ritual, and after some changes were made, it was adopted as the Ritual of the Order. This is the Ritual, with few minor changes, in use to-day (1907) and was prepared by Brother Deemer. A form of prayer for Subordinate Councils was submitted and adopted. Also a resolution to have the Ritual bound in cloth, was agreed to. The discussion of the Ritual at the National session held at Detroit, Mich., in 1893, formed the greater portion of the reports of the Board of Officers and the time of the National Council. The new Ritual adopted at the last session had created some dis- satisfaction in certain sections owing to the introduction of a new feature and character, now eliminated. To such an extent had the criticism been expressed that a certain Council in Pennsylvania organized an opposition to the Ritual and caused circulars to be sent out in which was cited the objectionable character and feature, thus making the Council amenable to the law of the Order, whereby its charter was suspended. National Councilor Brother Cranston, in his report, had this to say relative to the new Ritual : " It was not a surprise to any person with a slight knowledge of human nature, that some opposition to the new Ritual has been mani- fested; but, I am happy to say, it is not general. . . . The character introduced in the new Ritual is so unimportant that it could be dispensed with if there are many who think it objectionable." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 71 National Secretary Brother Deemer had the following to say: "In some localities it (the Ritual) has been well received, and in others severely condemned. Whether the majority of the members favor it, or whether they are opposed to it, I cannot say. People are always more prone to censure than to praise, consequently the opposition has made more noise, if it is not the greater number. . . . There is con- stantly a demand for something new. As a general thing those who make the demand never introduce anything themselves, but are the first to condemn the production of others." The introduction of the objectionable character was the cause of a spirited controversy in the National Body, some claiming that it was not approved when the Eitual containing it was adopted. The National Secretary, in his report, made it clear that the " char- acter " referred to was approved, and in order to arrange the new feature and secure uniformity in exemplifying the work, a few minor changes had to be made in the printed form. The objec- tionable character was eliminated. The closing paragraph of the Declaration of Principles, adopted at a previous session, especially the clause, " In the strictest sense we are a national political organization," etc., came in for sharp criticism at this session. How the clause came to be inserted, as well as the entire paragraph, into the Declaration of Principles at the Chicago session was fully explained by the National Secretary. From Brother Deemer's statement, it seems that the Declara- tion of Principles had been published in the press of the Order, and the State Council of Pennsylvania incorporated the code as a report from the Committee on Kesolutions, and then added the paragraph referred to above. By some cause the printer got the added paragraph merged with the form adopted at Chicago, and in that form it was approved at the Cleveland session the year following. Bef erring to the matter, Brother Deemer says: " I do not think anyone has been especially to blame, neither do I think it was the work of design. It was innocently done." The National Body agreed with the recommendation of the Committee that the Declaration of Principles, as printed, be a part of the Order. The Bitual proper was placed in the hands of the Committee to connect the work because of the disarrangement made by the elimination of the objectionable character. The Committee recommended further changes, and the Bitual was recommitted to them to report at the next session. The National Council of 1894, met at Asheville, N. C. The Committee on Bitual, pursuant to instructions given at last session, 72 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER submitted changes and revisions that seemed necessary for the general improvement of the ritualistic services of the Order with- out altering the sentiments or plan of the work. The "camp scene" was revised by Captain William Awl, of Pittsburg, Pa., whom many remember as a prominent military character, and the results of his work made that part of the initiatory ceremouies much more realistic than they had formerly been. The Committee on Forms and Ceremonies, at same session, submitted their report, by presenting three exhibits, viz. : Exhibit A. Memorial Service or Council of Sorrow. Exhibit B. Flag Presentation and School Dedication. Exhibit C. Ceremony for Corner-Stone Laying of Public Schools. The Council of Sorrow was exemplified in the deaths of three members of the National Council in a very impressive manner. Following the Memorial Service, the Council of Sorrow was adopted. Exhibits B and C were referred to the Board of Officers, and if approved by them, it was understood the same were adopted. The Committee on Forms, however, were continued to prepare a service for Memorial Day. The subject of Eitual revision in one way or another came up for consideration at the meeting of the National Body at Omaha, Neb., in 1895. The National Councilor recommended that certain alterations be made in the Eitual in order that it could be more clearly understood. He referred to the various ways of clos- ing a Council in repeating the " F. 0/', showing lack of unity of procedure. The National Councilor also recommended: "That a Committee be appointed early in the session to prepare a suitable form of installation for the Chaplain and report the same before the adjournment of this body." The recommendation was adopted with the amendment so as to read, " and report at the next session." The " Business Sign " of the Order was found to be in vio- lation of an act of Congress passed in 1891, whereupon, the govern- ment authorities seized all the dies and signs in the office of the National Secretary, and the manufacture and exhibition of same was discontinued. Owing to this violation of law, the National Body struck out of the Eitual all reference to the " business sign." At the Denver session in 1896, the Committee on Eitual sub- mitted a form of Installation of National and State Council Chap- lain, but the matter was referred to the Board of Officers ; and it is UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 73 a strange coincidence, that was the last the Order heard of the subject until 1905, at the Nashville session, when the writer, ai the suggestion of the National Councilor, Brother Faison, sub- mitted a form, which was adopted. A proposition was presented for two higher degrees to be incorporated in the Eitual, but the same was disapproved. A resolution was presented to abolish the " F. 0." in the closing ceremonies of Subordinate Councils and readopt the closing form under the last preceding Eitual ; but the matter was laid over. A resolution was offered to prepare a suitable Ritual for use of State Councils and report at the next session. The matter was re- ferred to the National Secretary. A resolution to provide for a three degree Ritual was presented and, on motion, was laid over. The National Body in 1897 met at Pittsburg, Pa. On the subject of Ritual, the following resolution was submitted and adopted : " Resolved, That in the opinion of the National Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., the highest interests of the Order demand a revision of the Ritual of the Order, and in view of this we request that a Ritual Committee, of three, be appointed to report at our next meeting such a revised Ritual." Also the following was read and referred to the Committee on Ritual : " Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare a suitable up-to-date Funeral Ceremony of our Order, and present it at our next annual session." From the State Council of Wisconsin came the request: " To provide a Second Degree, which would be more instructive and elevating than the one commonly known as the ' Oriental Degree,' and take steps to prohibit Councils from using the latter in connection with and in the name of the Order." The resolution was referred to the Committee on Ritual, as were the following: 1. " Resolved, That the National Council, now in session, do grant unto the State and Subordinate Councils a permanent password for the outside door. . " Resolved, That the National Councilor select a Committee of three to present three words, from which one word shall be selected by a vote of the Councils, to be used for a permanent password at the inside door. 2. " Resolved, That our Ritual Committee be requested and instructed to prepare a business sign that is not an infringement on the United States government, and report the same back at our next session." 74 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 3. " The members of Washington Council, No. 1, of Wardner, Idaho, submitted an Ode, requesting that it be adopted as the Ode of the Order and the same was referred to the Committee on Ritual. 4. " A Form and Ceremony of State Council Visitation," adopted by the State Council of the District of Columbia, was submitted, and took the same course with the others. 5. " In> view of the fact that our Ritual contains no article against partisanship in our Public Schools, I move you that the Ritual be so amended as to teach against partisan as well as sectarian interference in our Public School System." The last named was offered by Walter Beck, of Pennsylvania, and to consider these subjects, the National Councilor announced as the Eitual Committee : National Eepresentative Reeves, of Wash- ington, P. S. C. Buschman, of Maryland, and P. S. C. Reynolds, of Illinois. The several subjects referred to the Ritual Committee at the session of 1897, were considered by that Committee, and the follow- ing resume of their deliberations was submitted to the National Council, at its meeting held at Louisville, Kentucky, in the month of June, 1898 : 1. " After the adoption of the resolution authorizing the appointment of the Committee, some resolutions were referred to the Committee whieh quite changed the conditions of the work assigned them. At once the question was raised as to increasing the number of degrees. In harmony with that idea the State Council of Pennsylvania passed resolutions asking for a three-degree Ritual, and many individuals and subordinate Councils wrote us to the same effect, and some have furnished material and, in one instance at least, a full three-degree Ritual has been prepared and sub- mitted. " Not feeling that it is within our province to decide this question, we refer it to the National Council for their action and, in case a three- degree Ritual or entire new Ritual is agreed upon, suggesting that the Committee be authorized to offer a certain amount as a premium for the best Ritual. 2. " As to Funeral Ceremony, we have received no definite suggestions of change and do not at present recommend any change. 3. " We recommend the adoption of the following as a Business Sign : A female figure holding, extended in the right hand, a pair of balances and beneath it, the words — ' Justice and Fair Dealing.' 4. " As to the matter of a Permanent Password, the Committee has no recommendation to make. » 5. " We recommend that the Freeman's Oath be omitted, except in the initiatory ceremony, so as to avoid a repetition. 6. " In regard to the resolution with reference to the use of the word ' Partisan ' in connection with the word ' Sectarian,' we recommend the use of the word suggested. 7. " In accordance with the request of the National Representatives UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 75 of Pennsylvania, we recommend that the word ' Socialism ' be omitted from the Ritual and also from the Declaration of Principles." 8. Relative to " Form of Ceremony for Receiving National Council and State Officers," the Committee, with some changes, recommended the form presented by the State Council of District of Columbia at last session. 9. A form for the installation of the Chaplain was submitted. 10. An opening and closing ceremony for State Councils was pre- sented to the Committee by National Secretary Deemer, and by them submitted to the National Body with a favorable recommendation. In consideration of the report of the Committee, the same was taken up seriatum, as follows : 1. On motion of Brother Stephen Collins, the Committee was requested to prepare a one-degree Ritual. A motion to strike out " one " and insert " three " was offered by Brother Bichter, of Ohio, whereupon, Brother Collins moved as a substitute, that the Ritual Committee be instructed to prepare and present at the next session two Rituals, one of three degrees and one of one degree, which was agreed to. 2. Recommendation relative to Funeral Ceremony was approved. 3. As to " Business Sign," the matter was referred back to the Committee. 4. Recommendation relative to Permanent Password was approved. 5-10. The recommendations of the Committee on Ritual were severally adopted. As per action of the National Body at its session held at Louis- ville, in 1898, the Committee on Ritual presented the following as their report, to the National Council which held its session at Minneapolis, Minn., in 1899: " Minneapolis, June 21, 1899. " To the Officers and Members of the National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — " The undersigned members of the Ritual Committee respectfully submit their report: " That in accordance with the instructions of the last National Coun- cil, they advertised in the various official organs of the National Council, at divers times, the announcement of their desire to have prepared a one- and three-degree Ritual by members of the Order, as well as a suggestion to have a Ritual prepared embracing both the one- and three-degree features, and that a suitable premium would be paid to the brother or brothers whose Ritual would be appoved by the National Council. That they have since received one two-degree Ritual and two three-degree Rituals, but no one-degree Ritual. That after a careful examination of the Rituals ottered, 76 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER your committee were of the opinion that none of the Rituals submitted would meet the requirements of the National Council, but that the three- degree Rituals prepared by P. S. C, Rev. M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania, and National Representative F. F. Hopkins, of Washington, contained many admirable portions, and with the assistance of these two rituals, they prepared a compilation of the best features of these two Rituals, which are embraced in the three-degree Ritual and installation ceremonies now sub- mitted by your committee for your consideration. " They further report that the Ritual prepared and submitted by S. C. Secretary W. L. Boyden, of the District of Columbia, was a well executed and complete work in every particular, but the committee cannot recommend its adoption by our National Council. " That your committee recommend the three-degree Ritual herewith accompanying this report as satisfactory, and that if the National Council desires to have a one-degree Ritual, they can use the present Ritual, or the committee will prepare an abbreviated version of the First and Second Degrees in the Ritual herewith submitted. " As the committee announced in their notices that a premium would be paid to the successful author of the Ritual adopted by the National Council, in the event of the National Council approving the accompanying Ritual, your committee would recommend that a premium of $60 should be awarded to Brother Lichliter and a premium of $40 to Brother Hopkins, the joint authors of this Ritual. They would also recommend the payment of the sum of $20 to Brother Boyden in recognition of the laborious work performed by him in preparing the Ritual submitted by him. In the event of a three- and a one-degree Ritual being adopted by this National Council, they would recommend that each subordinate Council have the option of using either. „ Chakles f . Reeves , " Wm. H. Hanna, " F. A. BUSCHMAN, " Ritual Committee." A regular session of the National Council was held on the evening of the second day, to witness the exemplification of the three-degree Ritual, as recommended by the Committee. While, to a large portion of the National Body, the Eitual, as exemplified, with some suggested changes, was satisfactory, it was evident that some of the Eepresentatives from the older states, prominently, Penns)dvania, Maryland and Delaware, were opposed to a three- degree Ritual — in fact, opposed in any respect to a revision of the present Ritual, hence, the subject was " shelved." P. N. C. Shanor moved that the three-degree Ritual be adopted. This was amended by motion of Representative Edkins, of Penn- sylvania, " that it go into effect January 1, 1900." National Rep- resentative Watkins, of Maryland, moved, as a substitute for all that was before the body, that the report be received, which was agreed to. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 77 Subsequently in the session, the following Proposal for a Statute was offered by Brother Eeeves, of Washington, which was referred to the Ritual Committee with instructions to prepare a Bill under the new law : "A PROPOSAL " FOR A STATUTE RESPECTING RITUAL " Be it enacted by the National Council Junior Order United American Mechanics. " Section 1. That this National Council adopt the Three-Degree Ritual as presented by the committee, with the proviso that it be referred back to the compilers for revision and that they prepare from the Three- Degree Ritual a One-Degree Ritual, subject to the approval of the Board of Officers and that it be left optional for Councils to use either form. " Section 2. This law shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage." The report of the Committee on Ritual was favorable for the above Statute, but again those who were not favorable to a three- degree Ritual, especially to the one presented, " side-tracked " the subject by adopting the following substitute : " That the proposed law be so amended as to continue the Com- mittee for another year, that they offer $500 for a Ritual, open to competi- tion, by members of the Order, the premium to be given for the accepted Ritual." The substitute was agreed to, and the ritual question was " laid on the shelf/' and there it still rests (1907). In the meantime, the " Conflict at the Crossing of the Centur- ies " had opened, the " smoke of battle " was on, and the Order was in the throes of rebellion. The session of the National Council for 1000 was held at Philadelphia, which had before it the one supreme object and purpose, that of self-preservation from the attacks of the " insurgents," hence the subject of the Ritual was a " side issue." The Ritual Committee, however, made their re- port, perfectly consistent with the existing state of things, and was as follows, the same being agreed to by the National Body: " Philadelphia, Pa., June 21, 1900. " To the Officers and Members of the National Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., V. S. A. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — " The undersigned, members of the special committee of Ritual, appointed by resolution adopted at last annual session of the National Council at Minneapolis, respectfully submit this as their report. " That owing to the dissensions existing in the organization during the past year, and the uncertainty of a sufficient amount of funds being 78 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER on hand with which to pay the prize of five hundred dollars offered by said resolution, your committee did not deem it advisable to pass an opinion upon the merits, or to recommend the adoption of any proposed rituals offered, and your committee further report that as there appears to be an almost unanimous sentiment throughout the organization for a new and better ritual than the one now in use, and would for that reason recommend that a special committee on Ritual be continued for another y ear - "A. D. Wilkin, " H. C. SCHAERTZER, " F. A. BUSCHMAN." Nevertheless, the question of Ritual was kept before the body by resolution and proposal for statutes as follows: 1. "Resolved, That the Committee on Ritual be, and are hereby in- structed and directed to revise and amend our Funeral Ritual so as to make it comport with the dignity and standing of this National Body." 2. Proposal for a Statute. " To change the Ritual by inserting therein, the Freeman's Oath in the closing ceremonies." 3. Proposal for a Statute. " That the Declaration of Principles be so amended as to read: ' We recognize the Bible as the foundation of both moral and civil law, and believe that it should be read in our public schools, not to teach sectarianism, but moral excellence." In the consideration -of Proposal for a Statute, No. 3, it was adopted by 153 to 0. The Committee on Ritual, to whom had been referred Nos. 1 and 2, reported the following, which, however, was laid over for one year: " To the Officers and Members of the National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M., U. 8. A. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — " Your Standing Committee on Ritual beg leave to report upon matters referred to them as follows : " First. In regard to the Proposal for a Statute, to restore the Freeman's Oath in the closing ceremonies, we recommend that the Free- man's Oath be used in the closing ceremony where it has not previously been used in the same meeting in the initiatory work. " We recommend that a special committee on Ritual be appointed for the coming year, who shall offer such premium for a Ritual that shall be acceptable to the National Council as may be determined upon by the Board of Officers and the Finance Committee. " We further recommend that the resolution in regard to the new Funeral Ceremony be referred to this committee. " F. F. Hopkins, " E. W. Sellers, "S. J. Theisen, " C. L. Voris, " J. G. A. Richter, " Committee." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 79 The National Council that met at Buffalo, N. Y., in L901, "resolved," "recommended" and still hesitated on the question of Eitual. The now laws had created a Committee on Ritual, to be appointed for the session only. Five members of the National Body composed said Committee. At the Buffalo session this Com- mittee reported as follows: "Buffalo, N. Y., June 20th, 1901. " To the Officers and Members of the National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — "Your Standing Committee on Ritual beg leave to make the follow- ing report: " Whereas, A large number of Councils now in open insubordination to the Supreme Law of the Order are continuing the work of the organiza- tion by initiating candidates, etc., in accordance with the ceremonies, words, signs and grips as exemplified in our present Ritual, and securing sur- reptitiously the passwords thereby securing admission to the body of the loyal Councils; and " Whereas, There is a general feeling among the members of our Order that our present Ritual does not comport with the dignity and standing of this the greatest of all patriotic organizations, and through Representatives to this National Council there has come to your Committee a request for a Three-Degree Ritual; " Therefore, We very respectfully recommend : " First. That in view of the fact of the existence of a large number of Councils now in open rebellion to the National Council that are bearing the name and using the Ritual and ceremonies of the Order, that this National Council authorize the preparation of a new Ritual. " Second. We recommend that this National Council authorize the preparation of a Three-Degree Ritual with a modified form of the same. " Third. And we further recommend if, by the action of this National Council a new Ritual is authorized to be prepared, that a special Com- mittee on Ritual composed of three members be appointed by the National Board of Officers to formulate said Ritual, and present the same to the next session of the National Council. " M. D. Lichliter, " R. F. Hamilton, '• J. Frank Pate, " H. H. Billany, "G. W. Payne, "Committee on Ritual." A motion to adopt the recommendation of the Committee relative to a new Ritual was made, which, however, was amended, that the same be referred to the Board of Officers with authority to appoint some one to write a Eitual suitable to them and the same tc be reported at the next session. It was, of course, a back- 80 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER handed slap at a three-degree Ritual, and as no compensation was suggested, it was the opinion of all friends of a new Ritual that the subject was " shelved " for two years at least. The session of 1902, held at Milwaukee, Wis., found the mem- bers of the National Body still " at sea " on the question of Ritual. As was expected, in view of the resolution referred to the Board of Officers at the previous session, no action was taken by the Board relative to a new Ritual. National Councilor, Brother A. L. Cray, had the following to say in his report: " I am sorry to inform you that we are still without a new Ritual ; nothing in this line will be submitted. My earnest desire was that we might have a new Ritual to submit at this session for your consideration. I have been prompted in this earnestness from the fact, that our present Ritual is in the possession and use of those formerly members of the Order, but now out, and as a further safeguard against imposition of this class of persons, there should be a change, and a better Ritual compiled that our Order may have the best." The following recommendation was appended to the report: " I would recommend that there be appointed a suitable person to prepare a new Ritual, to be presented at the next meeting of this National Council for adoption." The recommendation was referred to the Ritual Committee. The following recommendation submitted by the Board of Officers, took the same course: " That an appropriate amount be fixed by the National Council to be, by the Board of Officers, expended in securing the services of a com- petent person to prepare a new Ritual." The Committee on Ritual reported relative to the above recom- mendations, as follows : " Your Committee to Avhom was referred Recommendation 3 of the National Councilor, relative to the appointment of a committee of one to prepare a Ritual of the Order to be presented at the next session of this body, respectfully recommend the disapproval of the same, and suggest that a Com- mittee of three be appointed with full power to arrange for the prepara- tion of a three-degree Ritual, said Committee to act as a Board of Review in the compilation of said Ritual which shall be presented at the next session of the National Council for exemplification." In the consideration of the report of the Committee, the National Council disapproved the same, and approved the recom- mendation of the National Councilor, without any stipulated amount appropriated or named for the preparation of said Ritual ; and once again the subject was " laid on the shelf." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 81 The only reference made to the Ritual at the. session of tlio .National Body at San Francisco, Cal., in 1903, was by the National Councilor, Brother Bowers, in his report which was as follows : "NEW RITUAL. " At the last session of the National Council, the recommendation of the then National Councilor. Bro. Cray that " a suitable person be appointed to prepare a new Ritual, to be presented at the next session of this National Council, for adoption," was adopted. The National Council did not indicate by whom this person should be appointed, nor did it make any appropriation for compensation for the services of the appointee. In connection with this subject, I received the following letter: " The letter referred to was from Rev. Geo. W. Gallagher of Lockport, N. Y., who had been requested to write a three-degree Ritual and had written the National Secretary as to the conditions governing the preparation of the work. The communication being turned over to the National Councilor, he entered into correspond- ence with Brother Gallagher concerning the subject, asking for sug- gestions relative thereto, and the amount of compensation expected. To this communication no reply was received. • Nothing relative to a new Ritual was submitted at the session of the National Council, at its meeting at St. Louis in 1904. The Ritual Committee, however, submitted the following, which was agreed to : " We, your Commitee on Ritual, would respectfully report, that after mature consideration of the matter placed in our hands, would recommend that the National Councilor appoint a Committee of three members, who shall formulate a suitable obligation and charge, to be incorporated in our State Council Ritual, also appending thereto an order of business and rules of order to govern our State Councils in their delib- erations. When same has been framed, it shall be forwarded to our National Board of Officers for their approval, and when approved, by said Board, shall be in full force and effect. We also recommend they be printed and a copy sent each Council. ([ T „ ^ "R. F. Hamilton, " R. Atmae Smith, " C. C. Newman, " N. B. Moose, " Committee on Ritual." The following resolution was referred to the Committee on State Council Ritual: " Be it Resolved, by the National Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, that a special committee of three be appointed for 6 82 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the purpose of preparing a new Funeral Ceremony, and that said com- mittee be instructed to present their draft to the next meeting of this National Council. „ Q M HuNT; " Geo. A. Gowan, " H. L. W. Taylor, " H. E. Howse." Agreeable to the action of the National Council and to carry out the purposes of the recommendation and resolution as above stated, the National Councilor appointed as Special Committee on Ritual, Rev. M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania, L. L. Hill, of Ken- tucky, and W. J. Nesbit, of Alabama. A resolution requesting the Ritual Committee to prepare a closing prayer for Subordinate Councils was laid on the table. The National Council of 1905 met in the beautiful Southland City of Nashville, Tennessee. The Special Committee on Ritual, pursuant to the instructions of the National Council and the sug- gestions of the National Councilor, submitted their report, and the various forms of ritualistic service presented were adopted, which were designated as follows: First. Funeral Ceremony. Second. Opening Ceremonies— State Council. Third. Closing Ceremonies — State Council. Fourth. State Council Degree. Fifth. Form Installation for State Council Chaplain. Sixth. Rules of Order — State Council. A resolution asking for a three-degree Ritual was referred to the Committee on Ritual and read as follows : " Be it Resolved, by the National Council, Junior O. U. A. M., that the National Councilor be, and is hereby authorized to appoint a Committee of (3) members who shall formulate a suitable three-degree Ritual, con- sisting of long and short forms to be used by Subordinate Councils; the conferring of the long or short form to be at the option of the Subordinate Council." The National Body concurred in the recommendation of the Committee that such a Committee be appointed. The Special Com- mittee appointed consisted of A. M. DeHaven, of Pennsylvania; C. H. Wolfes, of West Virginia, and Geo. A. Davis, of Maryland. Another resolution was offered asking for a three-degree Ritual, stipulating the compensation for an acceptable Ritual to be $500. The resolution was disapproved. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 83 The Special Committee on Ritual, as referred to, submitted their report at the first Biennial Session of the National Council, which was held at Boston, Massachusetts, June 18-20, 1907. As everyone expected, the Committee had no Ritual to submit to the National Body for their consideration, owing to the fact that no compensation had been assured by the National Council at its meet- ing at Nashville, two years previous, hence the Committee were powerless and therefore unable to offer any inducements for the preparation of a suitable Ritual. The Committee, however, recom- mended the appointment of another committee, with authority to offer $500 for the best Ritual that might be presented. In consideration of the Committee's report, quite an animated discussion of the subject of a Ritual took place, the purport of which was, that no Ritual commensurate with the dignity and stand- ing of the Junior Order could be prepared for the price named ; that other organizations had given much larger amounts for suit- able ritualistic ceremonies. As the result of the discussion, the recommendation of the Committee for the appointment of a Special Committee on Ritual was adopted, with an amendment, which was accepted by the Committee, that the offer for a suitable Ritual be made $2,000. The writer has for years been an ardent advocate for a new Ritual, believing the one in use has " seen its day," having served its purpose, and that thousands of members have been lost to the organization because of inadequate and unsatisfactory ritualistic ceremonies. Such an Order as the Jr. O. U. A. M., with principles so grand and sublime, should have ritualistic ceremonies that would stir the American heart when conferred upon a candidate, and it is confidently anticipated by the friends of a new Ritual, that when the National Council convenes at Detroit, in 1909, that a Ritual will be submitted and adopted. The Committee appointed by the National Councilor is composed of the following brethren: Brothers Norman Munson, of Maryland, W. F. Grubbs, of Georgia, and O. Chacey, of Kansas. CHAPTER VII 6. THE NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION THE Fourth Object of the Junior 0. U. A. M. reads : " To pro- mote and maintain a National Orphans' home." No other Society or Association maintains a National Orphans' Home. Other Orders have their Orphans' Homes, and nobly do they provide for them, but they are local in character, many of them not even having any official supervision only so far as it is supplied by local authority. Ours is a National Orphans' Home — national in its scope and maintenance, an intregal part of the whole Order, and the entire strength of the organization from every section of the Union is thrown into this one channel. The Objects of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. are four in number— four pillars on which the superstructure rests. The first looks to the dangers that threaten us as a nation and suggests the safeguards. The second links the membership with the dearest purposes of life — the care of their families in the darker hours of human existence. The third brings men in touch with the uplifting and ennobling in- fluences of popular education, the sheet-anchor of our Eepublic. These are great and noble purposes for which the Order stands; but they are nothing more than the moon reflecting the golden rays of the greater orb — the Fourth Object, the " darling " Object of the Junior organization. Nothing touches the heart-side of humanity so tenderly as the little ones thrown upon a cold and selfish world ; and nothing reveals the Christ-life so clearly as the purpose of the Order in caring for them. The full history of the National Orphans' Home, at Tiffin, Ohio, cannot be told. It is true we can give the historic facts and details connected with the founding and achievements of the Home ; but no one can unfold the real story that is graven on the fleshy tablets of the hearts of those who have been brought in closer relation with the Institution. It is to be presumed, that among the many thousands of mem- bers of the Junior Order, there were those who had thought of an Orphans' Home, and even may have given expression of their thought to others, but no official stamp was put upon it. They were familiar with other organizations that were giving the helping UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 85 hand to the little ones of their fraternal Family, and wondered why some one hud not come to the front with the suggestion and plan of an Orphans' Home for the Junior Order. That some one did come forth and the National Orphans' Home is but the finished creation of a developed thought. To the State Council of Ohio is due the honor of bringing the subject of an Orphans' Home to the attention of the NTational Council; but it is fair to state that to a humble worker in the ranks is due the credit of suggesting the thought of a Home, and to a Subordinate Council we owe our thanks for first giving the thought and suggestion official action. As far as our investigation goes, as given by Brother Kernan, it is quite clear that to Brother Charles Lawrence, at the time a member of Freedom Council, No. 63, of Mansfield, Ohio, belongs the credit of suggesting the idea of an Orphans' Home, by offering in his Council in 1891 a resolution asking the Representatives to the State Council to bring before that body the feasibility of creating a " Widows' and Orphans' Home." This was the inceptive thought, and the matter was submitted to the State Council of Ohio, the same year, by Brother Lawrence. The resolution submitted to the State Council, known as the " Original Orphans' Home Resolution," is as follows : " Findlay, Omo, May 13, 1891. " To the Officers and Members of the State Council of Ohio, Jr. 0. U. A. M. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — •* Whereas, We believe that the education and protection of the orphan children of deceased Brothers should be one of the principal objects of our Order, and that the founding and maintenance of a college where the higher branches of education shall be taught, and the principles of American Patriotism and Virtue shall prevail, be it " Resolved, That our Representatives to the National Council be instructed to present this resolution to that body and that they use their best efforts for its adoption. tt CjrABLES Lawrence." It was left to Brother J. H. Zimmerman, of Plain City, Ohio, to take the initiatory, and so fully imbued was lie with the noble purpose, that he threw his whole soul into the movement and work and justly earned the title, " Father of the Orphans' Home." Acting upon the Lawrence resolution, the State Council of Ohio placed its approval upon record by passing a resolution instructing the Representatives to the National Council to bring the matter before that body. 86 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER In conformity with the above resolution, the Representatives to the National Council from Ohio, at the session of that body held at Cleveland, Ohio, June 18, 1891, offered the following: " Under the present condition and laws of our Order when a member unites with us we greet him with the right hand of fellowship, and pledge ourselves to be earnest friends with him during his membership, to nurse and tenderly care for him during sickness or adversities, and should he die a certain amount of money shall be paid his widow and children, should he leave any. When this is done we consider our obligation to the deceased brother to have ceased, and no attention is paid to the fact that his death may have caused a widow and orphan children, in indigent circumstances, to be thrown upon the cold charities of the world. The widow is compelled to shift for herself while the children are scattered and either allowed to grow up in ignorance or, as is sometimes the case, proselyted into and reared by that known enemy to our freedom and free institutions — the parochial school. As a result our offspring are reared and educated to tear down what we are trying to build up, to become un-American and endeavor to cause the downfall and destruction of the free government under which they were given birth. " This evil should be counteracted, and believing the Junior Order United American Mechanics is fully able to take care of itself and the orphans of its members, we would recommend the establishing of an orphans' home, where member's widows could spend the remainder of their days in comfort, and their children would be so educated as to be true American men and women when they arrive at maturity. If the home should be placed on a farm of good land it would, to a great extent, be self-supporting. The details of such arrangement we leave to the National Council, further, that if such a home should be provided, it should at all times be under the immediate control of the National Council or a Board of Managers appointed by and subservient to the National Council. " In view of the foregoing, we, the Representatives of Ohio, by direc- tion of our State Council, offer the following: "Resolved, That this National Council take some preliminary steps toward providing a home for the orphans of deceased members." On motion of Brother Elbert, of New Jersey, the proposition was referred to a Special Committee to report at the next session. The Committee consisted of Brothers Elbert, Anderson, DeLancey, Zimmerman and Stroh. The Committee, however, at the next session had no report to make owing to the absence of the Secretary, Brother Zimmerman. The Committee was continued. THE FIRST REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ORPHANS' HOME It was at the National session, held at Detroit, Mich., 1893, that the Committee got down to real business in the presentation of an exhaustive report consisting of fifty-three pages of manuscript UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 87 and thirteen drawings. The report, with all the plans and draw- ings submitted, was the work of Brother J. H. Zimmerman, Secre- tary of the Committee, whose devotion to duty should be appreciated by every Junior in the land. In relation to the object of the Home, Brother Zimmerman refers to the original purpose of creating a " Widows' and Orphans' Home"; that there would be objections in making it a refuge for widows, etc., and adds : " The one great object of the Home, to my mind, is to care for the orphans, and so rear and educate them that they will be honorable, intelli- gent American citizens." The Secretary of the Committee then refers to the location for the Home in which he offers some suggestions: " The location which I would favor would be a farm or tract of land containing, at least, 150 acres of choice, tillable land, and far more atten- tion should be paid the natural productiveness of the soil than to any other thing." Speaking of several sites that had been brought to his attention that in his judgment would be desirable locations, he continues : " I have no doubt, but that when the time comes, and we shall be ready to receive proposals, that we will be tendered a farm free in con- sideration of our locating the Home upon it. Not only this, but a bonus in cash may also accompany it as a further inducement, but I claim that any inducement or bonus that may be offered us should not cause us to forget or overlook the natural productiveness and advantages of the farm offered." In the general description of the plan for the Home, two plans were submitted, with accompanying drawings: The first, was the Main Building Plan, and the other the Cottage or Village Plan. Referring to the first plan, drawings were submitted showing, as the name of the building was called, Main Building, but one large building, five stories in height, costing, as per estimate, $40,000, and a schoolhouse and chapel as a separate building costing, approximately, $11,000. The second plan presented was the Cottage or Village Plan which, to Brother Zimmerman's mind, possessed many advantages over the first plan. It consisted of a number of cottages grouped in a circle around a park, there being a street in front of the cottages surrounding the park, and two streets leading thereto, on which the group of buildings would begin. S8 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The reason- flic latter plan was favored by Brother Zimmerman were summarized as follows : 1. It will lit our pocket-books in the beginning. 2. Its capacity can be more conveniently increased as the needs of the Order may require. 3. In case of fire it is not probable that the entire Home would be destroyed, as might be the result in the case of the main building. 4. The Home would be more beautiful and homelike and would not have the appearance of a " reformatory " or " house of refuge." 5. The village plan is modern and in keeping with the times. Following the report of Brother Zimmerman made to the Committee, the Committee submitted the following to the National Body, giving to Brother Zimmerman the proper acknowledgment for the work accomplished: "First. That the entire report be printed and circulated among the membership, in order that all may become acquainted with this laudable undertaking. " Second. That your Committee recommends the adoption of the second or Village Plan herein recommended by Bro. Zimmerman. " Third. We recommend that during the ensuing year the Committee be instructed to receive by correspondence any proposal that may be offered by any council or councils, as to what aid the Committee might expect of them in case the proposed Home should be located in their immediate vicinity; said proposal to be submitted to the National Council at its next meeting." This report was signed by four of the Committee, viz.: Geo W. Elbert, W. Pi. Stroh, J. H. Zimmerman and D. F. Anderson, Curtis DeLancy, the other member not being present at the session. The report was accepted by the National Body and the preliminary steps had been taken toward the erection of the present Home at Tiffin, Ohio. From the report of the Committee to the National Council, held at Asheville, N. C, in 1894, we learn that the year previous had been full of hard work for Brother Zimmerman, with the assistance of National Secretary Deemer. Pursuant to the action of last session, 2,500 copies of the report of the Committee had been printed, correspondence invited, and pledges asked toward the erection of the Home. The Committee reported to the Asheville session, that under the supervision of Brother Zimmerman, the work of education along the line of the Orphans' Home had gone on through the press of the Order and by correspondence, and that there was an awakening upon the subject. While the Committee did not receive the amount of pledges they had hoped for, yet they UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 89 were encouraged and asked that the Committee be continued, with instructions to push the work as rapidly as possible: and at the same time to make the matter of location the business of the next session of the National Body. The amount pledged was as follows: Pennsylvania $2,350.00 Ohio 7G8.00 New Jersey 406.50 West Virginia 25.00 Maryland 25.00 Indiana 27.50 Illinois 51.00 P. S. C. Creighton 15.00 Miscellaneous 35.00 Total $3,703.00 Circulars sent out 1,911 Answers received 312 Councils promised to aid 256 Councils unable to promise 55 Councils disapproved of the idea 1 The report of the Committee was optimistic, however, and they felt that once the location was settled, that the Order would come to the help of the Home. The report and recommendations of the Committee were received and adopted, and the Committee continued, Brother J. W. Calver having been appointed on the Committee. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOME The period between the sessions of 1894 and 1895, so far as the Orphans' Home project is concerned, was marked with mighty purposes, while with the Committee it was intensely strenuous. Hitherto the work had been largely theoretical, simply stepping- stones to grander possibilities ; but now the Committee had entered the realm of the practical, and were in position, at the session of 1895, to present to the National Body something tangible. Early in the year the Committee met at Pittsburg, Pa., where plans were inaugurated looking toward the selection of a location for the Home. Pursuant to instructions, the Secretary of the Committee advertised for proposals for the location of the Institu- tion until January 1, 1895. In order to give two of the places more time to fully present their claims, the time for receiving pro- posals was extended to February 23, 1895. In the meantime, National Councilor, Brother Richter issued a call to the entire 90 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Order asking for a donation of fifty cents per capita from the membership to aid in the construction of the Home. Thus, on two separate and distinct lines the work proceeded, viz.: Procuring a location for the Eome and means to build it. The following places, with propositions attached, were pre- sented to the Committee, viz. : 1. The Pomona Land Company at Brigantine Junction, near Atlantic City, N. J., agreed to sell 40 acres at less than $300 per acre. 2. The Brumbaugh Brothers of Pipersville, Pa., proposed selling their farm of 250 acres, near Altoona, Blair County, for $15,000. 3. Liberty, Mo., offered the following inducement, and presented the following reasons why the Home should be located near that place: $1,000 bonus. a. Because this is a geographical center. b. Because of its railroad facilities. Kansas City is only 15 miles distant. c. Educational facilities. Three colleges, one public school, and one high school. d. We have just received the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' Home for Missouri. e. The fertility of the soil. 4. Gettysburg,' Pa., through Battlefield Council, No. 717. The inducements held out was mainly the importance of the location from a historic standpoint. No bonus was offered. 5. Asheville, N. C, through Asheville Council, No. 6, proposed that beautiful spot for the Home. No other inducement was offered, excepting the natural scenic surroundings of the locality, and the healthfulness of the place. 6. Bellwood, Pa., through National Representative, C. E. Steel, was proposed, " very good site " being offered. 7. Boiling Springs, near Carlisle, Pa., through Carlisle Council, No. 574. The merits of the site proposed were fully presented by the Com- mittee, in a long letter to the Secretary of the Orphans' Home Committee. The site proposed consisted of a farm of 122 acres, situated in the famous Cumberland Valley, very fertile and well located as to getting to and from. The water supply came from the Boiling Springs, a spring of pure water the output of which was 2200 cubic feet per hour. No bonus was ofTered in the original proposal. 8. Springfield, Ohio, was presented, but not very earnestly pressed as they had already three Homes. "We are not very anxious for the Home, as it is an expense all the time. There will be visitors here all the time and they must lie cared for." 9. Colorado Springs, Colo., while not making a special proposal, wrote for information, relative to the Eome, etc., but no further action was taken by their Committee. 10. Youngstown, Ohio, was proposed by the Board of Commerce, and a farm of 100 acres and a bonus of $10,000 offered. 11. Allentown, Pa., through Allen Council, No. 753, made a formal offer to give $100 if the Home was located near their city, or $50 if located in Pennsylvania. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 91 12. Maueh chunk. Pa., through Brother W. R. Stroh, member of the Orplnins' Home Committee. Five different sites, four of them con- sisting of 35 acres each, and one of 60 acres, wore offered with a bonus of $10,000. The merits of Maueh Chunk were fully presented by the Committee, as healthful and attractive, styling the place as the ''Switzer- land of America." 13. In an elaborate report, Tiffin, Ohio, through Young America Council. No. 130, was proposed as the location of the Home and 11 loca- tions and offers were submitted. With justifiable pride the Committee presented, as prefatory, the following: " The project has taken deep hold of our membership, and the people in general of our city, and we, in this substantial manner, give evidence to our feeling. We are proud that the Home is an Ohio idea, for Obio is foremost in every sphere of endeavor." Referring to the claims of Pennsylvania to the Home in view of her great membership, nearly one-half in the Order, the Committee add: "It is true our membership is not equal to Pennsylvania's; but remember, if the Home is located in Ohio, each brother has pledged himself to give an extra dollar in addition to the fifty cent call made by our honored National Councilor, so that Ohio will be close to Pennsylvania in donations to the building fund." Speaking of the fertility of Seneca county, the character of the City of Tiffin, the fact that it is easy of access, the Committee presented the following sites and offers: 1. One hundred acres and $13,000, or 125 acres and $11,000. This proposal was changed to 155 acres and no bonus. 2. A farm of 207 acres, 175 of which was bottom land. 3. One hundred and sixty acres and $10,000. 4. One hundred and fifty acres, with gas and oil on farm. 5. One hundred and fifty acres and $5,000. 6. One hundred and fifty acres and $10,000. 7. One hundred and sixty acres and $7,000. 8. One hundred and sixty acres and $5,000. 9. One hundred and fifty acres and $5,000. 10. One hundred and fifty acres and $5,000. 11. One hundred and eighty acres and $2,500. 12. Twenty-five thousand in cash and Committee to select their own location. To consider the above locations and hear representatives for same, the Committee on Orphans' Home met at the Monongahela House, Pittsburg, Pa., February 23, 1895. All the Committee excepting Brother DeLancy, of New Hampshire, were present, and Past State Councilor Stephen Collins of Pennsylvania, Past State Councilor F. J. Shaler, of Illinois, and National Councilor J. (!. A. Richter were asked to sit with the Committee. The rules of the Committee were as follows: 1. Debate before the Committee unlimited; but a city or proposal once finished shall remain finished, and shall not again be opened, except by unanimous consent of the Committee. 92 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 2. All representatives of the same city will be admitted; but not the representatives of two <>r more cities at the same time. 3. Reporters invited to be present during the receiving of proposals. 4. Bro. Stroh to act as press committee and take care of reporters. The Secretary proceeded to read the proposals as referred to above, but no one was present to represent any of them until that of No. 7 w;is reached, Boiling- Springs, Pa., whereupon, Dr. C. E. Wogan and linn. M. A. Emerick appeared in behalf of this location. They were authorized to offer a farm free consisting of 122 acres which would cost $20,000. The committee from Youngstown represented the claims of that locality, offering a farm of 100 acres* and $10,000. Mauch Chunk Avas represented and offers, as per Proposal 12, were sub- mitted. The Committee from Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin, Ohio, then presented their propositions as given above, and Dr. H. L. Wenner, a member of Young America Council, and State Councilor of Ohio, was their spokesman, and in a most earnest and enthusiastic manner did he represent the claims of Tiffin. The Doctor from the beginning was in thorough sympathy with the proposed Home, and the Order owes much to him for the assistance rendered the first years of the Institution, when it not only needed moral, but financial support as well. The Committee decided to reject all proposals, except those of Boiling Springs, Pa., and Tiffin, Ohio, and hold them under advise- ment until the meeting of the National Council. The Committee was not able to report very much money raised, owing to the fact that there was a hesitancy about pledging any amount until the matter of location was settled. The Com- mittee having failed to decide between Boiling Springs, Pa., and Tiffin, Ohio, there sprang up a rivalry between these two places to secure the prize. Boiling Springs took the initiative by appeal- ing for outside aid, and under the approval of the Board of Officers of Pennsylvania, Carlisle Council, No. 574, sent circulars to all Councils in the state. The State Council of Ohio, in session at Mansfield, in May, met this movement by rallying the Councils of the state to the aid of Y"oung America Council, No. 136, and the following result, in pledges, was reported: Pennsylvania Councils will give for Boiling Springs. $200.00 " " Tiffin Nothing-. Ohio Councils will give for Boiling Springs $ 40.00 " Tiffin 2,810.50 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 93 A further conditional pledge which the Committee received, was from State Councilor Dr. H. L. Wenner offering, in the name of the State Board of Officers, one dollar per capita for the State of Ohio, providing the Home was located at Tiffin. This magnificent offer from the Board of Officers of Ohio, added to the offer of land, money and other considerations by Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin, Ohio, made the total sum pledged from the old Buckeye State of Fifty-five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars, with no other consideration than that the Home be located at Tiffin. Magnificent generosity! All hail to the Buckeye State to whose princely offerings others have been added from that time until the present. We have referred to the one who gave the first suggestion of a Home for orphans, and to the Council that placed upon record the first resolution looking toward the establishment of such a Home. But it is asked, Who contributed the first dollar toward the Insti- tution ? The report of the Committee on Orphans' Home answered the question, viz. : Susquehanna Council, No. 73, of Maryland, contributed one dollar December 18, 1894. The Committee on Orphans' Home submitted the following recommendations at the Omaha Session of 1895 : " 1. We recommend that a Home for Widows and Orphans of our Order, as contemplated, be established. " 2. We recommend that said Home be established at, or near the city of Tiffin, Ohio, and that the Committee be empowered to make selec- tion from the various locations offered, receive deed for the conveyance of the property in the name of the National Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics of the United States of America, and enter upon and take possession of the same in the name of the National Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics, as aforesaid, as soon as the Committee has procured the assurance that it will receive and command the sum of thirty thousand dollars, to be paid within two years. "3. That this National Council set apart the first week in April to be known as ' Orphans' Home Week,' during which week, all Subordinate Councils of the Order be requested to hold entertainments, festivals, fairs, etc., for the benefit of the Home, and that the National Councilor be instructed each year, to issue a proclamation, calling the attention of the membership throughout the United States to the proper observance of this festival week. " 4. That the appeal of Brother National Councilor, J. G. A. Richter, asking for a donation of fifty cents per capita from the entire membership of the Order, to the support of the Home be renewed by the Board of Officers of the National Council, and that the Board be instructed to 94 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER officially bring this matter before the attention of the Hoard of Officers of the various State Councils with as little delay as possible." These recommendations were signed by the Committee, viz.: (J. W. Elbert, W. R. Steoh, J. 11. Zimmerman, J. W. Calver. In the consideration of the recommendations before the Na- tional Body, the subject was discussed with animation and the ayes and nays were frequently called. In the consideration of the first recommendation, mi motion of Brother A. D. Wilkin, of Pennsyl- vania, it was carried by a vote of llfi ayes to 35 nays. The National Council then took up the second recommenda- tion, as to the location of the Home, whereupon, H. W. Buser, of Pennsylvania, moved to strike out all after " Junior Order United American Mechanics " and insert a provision that it be referred to the vote of the members of the Order for their approval or dis- approval. The point of order was raised by Brother Wilkin that the amendment was not in order, which was so decided by the National Councilor, from which decision an appeal was taken, but the National Councilor was sustained. It was quite clear that there was an element in the National Council that was opposed to the proposed location, as per recom- mendation of the Committee, and every form of parliamentary tac- tics w r as brought forward to defeat the recommendation. Buser then changed his amendment to read "Vote cast," but Brother Wilkin again raised the point of order that the amendment was not germane, which point also the National Councilor decided well taken. Buser then changed his amendment again so as to read, " Approval of the majority vote of Subordinate Councils." Finally the amendment was made to read as follows: " Provided that the Orphans' Home Committee be continued for another year, and that the action of the National Council in deciding to erect a Widow's and Orphans' Home be submitted to the Subordinate members of the Order for approval or disapproval: said vote to be taken on the first meeting night in September, 1805. and if a majority of the votes cast be in favor of such action, as shown by the returns computed by the Board of Officers, at a meeting held on September 16, the Committee shall proceed to accept the offer, and the National Secretary shall prepare the necessary papers to take the vote." The amendment being stated, the ayes and nays were called, whereupon 70 voted in favor of the amendment and 85 against, so the motion to amend was not agreed to. Upon the question being stated, "Shall the main question be put?" the ayes were 89 and UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 95 the nays 58. The question recurring on the original motion of Brother Wilkin to adopt the second recommendation, the ayes were 102 and the nays 51. Recommendations 3 and 4 were then agreed to. Thus by a substantial majority the Home was established, and the location for it, Tiffin, Ohio. In a study of the vote on the question, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia were opposed to the establishment of the Home as well as the local ion of the same. while Penns}dvania split about even. On the question of location, New Jersey split half, although on the question of establishing the Home, she voted solidly in favor. Subsequently, in the session, the Committee on Orphans' Home offered the following recommendation to be added to their original report: " That the Committee on Orphans' Home are hereby requested to take no action in regard to the establishment of a Home for Widows until directed by the National Council." The recommendation was asrreed to. CHAPTER VIII NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME (Concluded) SITE OF THE HOME THE first epoch of the Orphans' Home — its establishment — was ended, and we now enter upon its second epoch, the location of site and opening of the Home and its subsequent achievements. The report of the Committee on Orphans' Home to the Na- tional Council at its meeting, June 18, 1896, held at Denver, Colo., tells the story: " Jn pursuance of a call by the Chairman, Brother G. W. Elbert, the Committee met at Tiffin, Ohio, October 3, 1S95, for the purpose of making a selection from the various farms offered by Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin, for the permanent location of the proposed Orphans' Home. The members of the Committee present were Brothers Elbert, Calver and Zimmerman. Headquarters were established in Room 39 of the Empire House, and at 7.30 a.m. the Committee started in carriages on a tour of inspection. We were accompanied by Brothers Dr. H. L. Wenner, P. A. Bradley and F. A. Mabery, and during the forenoon visited and inspected the farms of Dr. Isaac Kagy, C. D. Lease, Frees Heirs, and H. A. Waggoner, when the party returned to the hotel for dinner. At 1.15 p.m. the party was again in the carriages, and during the afternoon visited farms known as the Neikirk & Cramer, A. Buskirk, Michael Kellar, John Baker, Leroy Michaels and the Bretz-Kellar farm, familiarly known as the ' Park Farm.' " Immediately after supper Brother Elbert called the Committee to order in executive session in Room 39, when the advantages and disad- vantages of the several farms offered were considered until 7.30 p.m., when the local committee was admitted and allowed a hearing. The local committee retired at 8 o'clock, and after further consideration, the Secre- tary was ordered to issue the following: " ' To Dr. H. L. Wenner, Chairman, Committee on Orphans' Home, Young America Council, No. 136, Junior 0. U. A. M., Tiffin, Ohio.' " ' Dear Brother. — ' " ' At a meeting of the Committee of the National Council, Junior O. U. A. M., to establish an Orphans' Home at or near the city of Tiffin, Ohio, we beg leave to hereby inform you that said committee has per- sonally visited and inspected the various farms offered, and by a unanimous vote of the members present we have chosen the Bretz-Kellar farm, just north of Riverview Park.' " ' Trusting our selection will be for the mutual benefit of your Council and the Order at large, we are ' " 'Yours fraternally,' " ( ' signed ' ) "*G. W. Elbert,' "'J. W. Calver,' 96 " ' J. H. Zimmerman '." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 97 It has long since become apparent, even to those who in the beginning were prejudiced to the location, that no better selection could have been made. The farm chosen consists of 177 acres of as fertile land as can be found anvwhere, situated on the banks of the Sandusky River and convenient to the city of Tiffin. The most important outside feature connected with this location and one that entered somewhat in the selection of same, is the Park adjoin- ing, the free use of which has been accorded the children of the Home. This magnanimous privilege granted, thus affording a playground, meant and still means thousands of dollars to the Home, as without that privilege the Trustees of the Home would have been compelled to provide a playground on their own land which would have been costly, not only in material and work, but in preoccupying valuable land. In speaking of the munificent contribution towards this noble purpose of Young America Council, ISTo. 136 in particular, and of the State of Ohio in general, the Committee submitted the following : " This magnificent location of farm is given to the Order absolutely free. It don't cost us a single penny, but it does cost Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin, Ohio, the sum of twenty-nine thousand five hundred dollars, spot cash, and the Council then deeds it over to us ' for and in consideration that we take it.' What an enormous donation this is for a single Council that is not yet five years old. " Brothers, listen a few moments until we tell you of the greatness of Tiffin and the State of Ohio in regards to the Home. In the first place, Young America Council, No. 136, gives us the Riverview Farm, at an average cost to them of nearly seventy dollars per capita, and then many make additional donations. Think a moment, seventy dollars per capita! Members outside of Ohio are only asked for fifty cents. We can summarize as follows: " Young America Council, No. 136 $29,500.00 Park privileges, material, convenience, etc., esti- mated 10,000.00 State Council of Ohio 15,500.00 Subordinate Councils of Ohio 2,816.50 Ohio's total gift to the Order $57,816.50 " (" Ohio's total gift means an average of per capita donation of three dollars and seventy-three cents, or more than seven times as much as is asked from members outside- the Buckeye State") At the same time the Committee on Orphans' Home had selected the location, the Secretary was authorized to send out to all the Councils of the Order a circular letter containing twelve 98 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER question?, among which were: How much each Council would pledge and send in money previous to March 1, 1896? How many children there were ready to be sent to the Home? Whether the Council was in favor of a parade when the Committee was ready to take possession of the Home and how many members would attend ? Outside of Ohio, 398 Councils were heard from, 232 of which pledged themselves to pay to the Committee previous to the time stated, $9,495.60. In addition 22 Councils by letter and not by regular blanks, pledged $850.85, making the total pledged outside of Ohio, of $10,276.45. In reference to the number of children of deceased brothers ready to be sent to the Home, 31 Councils gave notice that they would make application for admission of 150 children, and 17 Councils gave notice by letter, and not by blank, that they had 52 children ready to send, making a total number of children reported ready for admission to the Home of 202. In the matter of having a public demonstration at the time the Committee took formal possession of the Home, 301 Councils favored the suggestion, 80 objected and 17 failed to make choice. These were from Councils outside of Ohio, and the number pledged to take part in such a demonstration was 8,235 which, with those pledged from Ohio, made a grand total of 13,591. An important meeting of the Committee on Orphans' Home was held at Philadelphia, Pa., March 19 and 20, 1896. The deed for one of the farms was turned over to the Committee, and arrange- ments were made to have the deed of the other tract by April 15, in order that the Organization could come into entire possession. At this meeting plans for buildings and the laying out of the grounds were examined, and the Committee selected those of Charles Ernest & Co., of Tiffin, Ohio. The plans consisted of eighty-two drawings, beginning with a contour map, a bird's-eye view of the Home when completed and floor plans and perspectives of all buildings contemplated. The Committee selected three de- signs for cottages, and finally agreed to take Cottage C as the first one to construct. THE OrENING OF THE HOME It was impressed upon the Committee that there should be a representative on the ground, and that the Home should be started as soon as possible. With this end in view, the Committee elected the Secretary, Brother J. H. Zimmerman, Superintendent of the -• -r- — "' UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 99 Home for a term of five years, at a salary of $750 the first year. Rules, forty in number, for the government of the Home were adopted. In conformity with the action of the Committee, the Superin- tendent took charge of the farm and occupied the two-story frame building in the month of April, 1896, and there, on August 18, same year, was received the first orphans, four in number. Farm- ing operations were inaugurated by the Superintendent, a farmer employed and fifty acres of corn was planted and three acres in potatoes. The contract for Cottage No. 1 was given out and work thereon was started early in August. The response to the appeals for funds for the Home, netted $13,072.32, which was turned over to the National Secretary, by Secretary-Superintendent. Brother Zimmerman. In harmony with the principles of the Order, Brother J. W. Calver presented the Home with " Old Glory," and the same was unfurled from the original building, with appropriate ceremonies, May 1, 1896, Dr. Wenner and others making addresses, the cere- monies opening and closing with prayer. With the adoption of the report of the Committee on Orphans' Home by the National Body at Denver, the Order was pledged to its support and maintenance, and that which many thought was but a " dream " in the mind of Brother Zimmerman, was now a reality. Even the National Secretary, Brother Deemer, in his report to this session admits that he was pessimistic. The follow- ing quotation from his report expresses the feeling of many in the early years of the Orphans' Home project: " Very feAv of us, I ween, had any idea that the proposition would ever reach a tangible form. The reports of the Committee on Orphans' Home were made annually and very few of lis had any idea that it would ever reach the dignity of a deed for nearly thirty thousand dollars' worth of property. While many of us were looking upon the matter as a fancy, the one in whose brain the subject was conceived was deadly in earnest, and one year ago he presented to this body an offer which could not be refused, and so to-day, our Order stands pledged to the erection of an Orphans' Home in the city of Tiffin." Brother Deemer, however, alluded to the difficulties in the way of the Home and the legal questions that had to be met, owing to the fact that the courts had decided that " no assessment could be made for any purpose not clearly expressed in our laws." In harmony with the suggestion of the National Secretary, the title " Orphans' Home Committee " was stricken out and a set of 100 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER resolutions creating a " Board of Trustees " consisting of five mem- bers, and powers bestowed upon them, was adopted by the National Council. By virtue of this action, the National Councilor ap- pointed the following Board of Trustees: G. W. Elbert, of New Jersey, W. E. Stroh, of Pennsylvania, J. W. Calver, of Pennsylvania, Amos L. Cray, of Indiana, Dr. H. L. Wenner, of Ohio. Brother Stroh having resigned during the year, Brother W. D. Butterfield, of Michigan, was appointed in his place. COTTAGE NO. 1 The Board of Trustees of the Orphans' Home in July, 1896, closed the contract for the erection of Cottage No. 1, Cuthbert & Stewart, of Tiffin, Ohio, being the contractors. Work upon the building was commenced early in August and the corner-stone was laid September 2, 1896. The ceremonies attending the laying of the corner-stone were of an enthusiastic character, and were under the direction of Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin. There was present a large audience, and many of the surrounding Councils were represented. The orator of the day was a member of Freedom Council, No. 63, of Mansfield, Ohio, Hon. W. S. Kerr. It is spoken of by those who attended the ceremonies as a most impressive occasion, the memories of which linger pleasantly with all who were present. On August IS, 1896, the first children were admitted to the Home, four in number, from one family, viz. : Luella Vanarsdale. aged 12 years; Edward T. Vanarsdale, aged 9 years; Geo. T. Vanarsdale, aged 8 years, and Frank W. Vanarsdale, aged 6 years, all received from Wanamie Council, No. 549, of Wanamie, Penn- sylvania. These children occupied the post of honor during the ceremonies, sitting by the side of Superintendent Zimmerman and his wife. It was while the exercises were in progress, that a most affect- ing incident occurred. A telegram called the Superintendent to the depot to receive the second installment of children for the Home. Their names were Jennie E. Stone, aged 8 years, Hannah M. Schwindt, aged 8 years, and Bertha Schwindt, aged 10 years, all sent by Major Wm. H. Jennings Council, No. 367, Shenandoah, Pa. Just as Brother Kerr had concluded his oration, Brother Zimmerman, with the above named new arrivals, walked up the steps and took seats on the platform, each of the little girls carry- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 101 ing a doll in her arms. The band played " Home, Sweet Home/' whereupon the little ones began to weep, when out of sympathy and love for the orphans, there was not an eye in that audience of patriots that did not moisten. So rapidly did the work on the building progress, that by February 1, 1897, the little but much crowded family from the original cottage were moved in, and on February 12, appropriate dedicatory exercises were held under the auspices of Young Amer- ica Council, No. 136. At this service, the principal oration was made by Dr. L. A. Perce, State Councilor of Ohio, while short addresses were made by Brothers Eev. E. E. Swords, Rev. F. L. Sigmund, Dr. H. L. Wenner, Superintendent J. H. Zimmerman and the matron, Miss Annie C. Hoge. Into this building Brother Zimmerman took from the old building which had been the tem- porary Home, nineteen children, which number with the Superin- tendent's own family and help, made twenty-eight persons in all. The building, with furniture, cost $9,505.69, and was intended to accommodate forty children, but by the time the National Body met at Pittsburg, June, 1897, there were thirty-eight children in the Home. The report of the Trustees of the Home to the National Coun- cil held at Pittsburg, was very encouraging and showed that the membership was earnestly striving to maintain it. The Superinten- dent gave the best of satisfaction in the management of the farm, and in a detailed report, showed every item of expense and the value of everything belonging to the Home. The total receipts from all sources, since the last report, was $12,094.92. In addition to Cottage No. 1, the Trustees erected an electric light and water station, at a cost of $2,370.89. An ice house also was constructed, besides many minor improvements about the farm, putting it under better cultivation. Two years previous to the session of the National Council at Pittsburg, the National Body decided to establish a Home, and the location was fixed at Tiffin. Fifteen months previous the Commit- tee on Orphans' Home took possession of the property, and installed a Superintendent. On June 1, 1897, the Board of Trustees "took stock," and the result of the Order's investment far exceeded the most sanguine expectation. It will be gratifying to every Junior, even at this day, to know the summary. It is as follows : 102 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Cottage No. 1 $9,505.69 Furniture and clothing 1,044.71 Office inventory 305.11 Superintendent's residence 779.06 Light and water station 2.370.89 Dry goods on hand '. 30.92 Farming tools and implements 909.95 Live stock 2,039.00 Blacksmith shop and quarry 853.47 Garden tools 35.45 Total $17,874.25 Add to this the value of farm (cost value) 29,500.00 Grand total $47,374.25 On this property, valued at nearly $50,000, there was not at that time one cent of indebtedness, while the Treasurer's report showed on hand, $2,533.75. The Superintendent's report showed that the acreage sown for the year's harvest was as follows : Wheat, 201/2 acres; corn, 20 acres; rye, 5 acres; oats, 23 acres; potatoes, 3 1 /. acres; garden truck, 3 acres; timothy and clover to mow, 25 acres. The National Council in 1898 met in the city of Louisville, Kentucky. During the year the foundations of the Orphans' Home were made stronger by the adoption of the Sixth Object, viz. : '• To establish and erect an Orphans' Home for the orphans of our deceased members of the Order, and maintain the same." The Object having gone to the Subordinate Councils for their vote, the result was announced at this session. The vote stood 19,140 in favor of the Object and 16,224 against. THE NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME UPHELD BY NATIONAL COUNCILORS None were more enthusiastic for the progress of the Home than those who occupied the position of National Councilor. Two years previous, the then National Councilor, Brother P. A. Shanor, in urging the Councils to rally to the support of the Home, ex- presses himself in the following brilliant manner: " The establishment of a National Orphans' Home was the most sublime and worthy conception of the National Council. It found its birth in the unselfish and generous conviction that the Order owed a duty to the children of its deceased members; that the bonds of fraternity were not severed at death, but that they should continue to be entwined around the loved ones of those of our brothers who had been called to UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 103 the other shore, protecting, defending, comforting and caring for them at times when other resources failed. "No nobler work could enlist the efforts and engage the powers of any brotherhood. To care for the living is to honor the dead. To protect and care for his orphan is to put evergreen upon the grave of the departed brother. To raise his boy a true American is the greatest memorial that can be erected to the memory of the patriot who has been called hence. " It is, and ever should be, a labor of love. It should engage our highest powers, and enlist our most active sympathies. To scatter sun- shine along the path of our orphans will illumine our own lives. Their joy will be reflected in us, and we will reap gladness from their happiness." No less earnest was National Councilor, Brother Jos. Powell, who, during the year past urged the members of the Order to do their duty in voting for the Sixth Object, and issued a proclama- tion to all the Councils to that effect. In that proclamation, Brother Powell has the following to say : " We should not only consider it a solemn duty devolving upon each of us, but it should be held as a rare privilege to vote for the adoption of an object which shall rescue from a turbulent sea the little ones, who may be drifting, God knows whither, and place them in the lighthouse — our Orphans' Home. " The adoption of this most sacred object will lead to the moulding by our noble Order, of the minds of the future statesmen and ' great women,' who will point to the great Junior Order United American Mechanics as their benefactor, and thus, as they take their places among our country's workers, will our Order become very closely allied to the government, and thus will the Orphans' Home become the solid rock on which we stand, and thus, will it become the great centre about which will cluster our other great achievements." Could there be anything in human language more brilliant than from the " Demosthenes of the Order," Dr. J. L. Cooper, six years later, when National Councilor, in his appeal to the membership to give an evening or a day to helping the Home: " Fort Worth, Texas, April 1, 1904. " To all Members of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — " I beg to greet you again in Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism. This beautiful spring morning seems to be the " Avant-Courier," emerald- gemmed and floral-decked herald of spring's first entree, as she weaves winter's cold winding sheet about her, and places, with rapt tenderness, the first fair garlands upon her icy tomb. The sparkling sunbeams of this April morning are now caressing in love the fragrant foliage of the tangled wildwood. And thus the swaying of Nature's grand organ peal, swells through the aisle of the forest sanctuary, and the violet, the daisy and the dewdrop, smiling from her bosom, peep through earth's bright vernal veil. As we gaze in rapt admiration upon this glorious prospect — the tall trees rejoicing in their strength ; the green slopes of the valleys 104 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER which constitute the grand banquet halls of Nature; the sweet, thrilling song of the feathered tribe; the hum of the busy bee; the bursting of the bud with its sweet perfume ; the cheering rays of the glorious sunshine ; the babbling of the brook as it sends over laughing pebbles wavelets of rippling silver, all moving, as it were, like some vast panorama before us, the spontaneous utterance of the soul is, ' How beautiful is Earth, how true to Nature is her God.' " As we muse upon the munificence displayed by Him who ' Doeth all things well,' upon ourselves, our homes, our friends and our country, a spirit of love and gratitude should flow from our souls in exclamations of love and praise. And while thus we bathe in the rapturous glories of the springtime, I felt that we ought to be willing to give one day or one evening in a labor of love, toward helping our orphan children at our splendid Home in Tiffin. " I know we are living in busy times. I know that the magnitude and grandeur of man's successful undertakings, which are constantly recurring to our view, strike us with awe in contemplation. I know that each day brings something more for wonder and amazement; that each year is pregnant with new inventions, and each more wonderful that the last. I know, too, that each swelling billow of time flings out upon its frothy crest some new originality; that we stand ever in expectation, watching each successive roll; that Progress is a greedy monster, whose appetite is insatiable, always sweeping the whole, still asking for more, with curious eyes peering into the unknown future, ever demanding new creations. " Amidst the whirlpool of daily excitement, permit me to suggest and recommend: " That every Subordinate Council in the National Jurisdiction do something during the month of May, either by giving some appropriate entertainment, or by voluntary contributions at your regular meetings raise subscriptions for, and forward same to our Orphans' Home." In the report of the Board of Trustees of the Orphans' Home to the National Council at Louisville, they stated that during the year, the Superintendent, Brother J. H. Zimmerman, the " father of the Home," had resigned, and Past National Councilor, Rev. Jno. Pi. Boblits, had been elected to fill the position. Finding that more room was needed, the Trustees contracted for Cottage No. 2, and work began in its construction early in the year. The thanks of the Order are due Dr. H. L. Wenner for making it possible to erect Cottage No. 2, by personally advancing money and endors- ing notes and aiding in many ways the Institution. Luella Vanarsdale, known as No. 1, the first child to be ad- mitted to the home, died October 19, 1898. She was buried on the Home farm. The Trustees in their report to the National Council at Min- neapolis, Minn., in 1899, stated that there had been another change in the office of Superintendent, Brother Boblits having resigned UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 105 in September, 1898, and Truman W. Varian was elected in his place, November 18, same year. In the meantime the president of the Board, Brother Elbert, assumed charge of the Home. Cot- tage No. 2 was completed during the year and was filled up at once with children, there being in the Home April 30, 1899, eighty- four orphans. The maintenance of the Home, for five months under Brother Varian's administration, for food, clothing, general expenses, etc., the average number of children being seventy-eight, was $5,586.36, a per capita of $71.62, or $171.89 per annum. The inventory, including Cottage No. 1, valued at $10,000, Cottage No. 2, valued at $14,000, the farm valued at $25,000, was placed by the Trustees at $62,877.20. COTTAGE NO. 2 Cottage No. 2, known as the "boy's cottage," was completed in 1898 at a cost of about $15,000, and consists of kitchen, dining- room and fan room in basement. On first floor are the reception room, school room, boys' private bin-room and library; on second floor is the dormitory, superintendent's and family rooms, boys', matron's and teachers', toilet and bath, and store room ; on the third floor is the large boys' dormitory and the sleeping apartments for the employees of the Home. This building, like Cottage No. 1, is built of brick and fin- ished in yellow pine, and contains twenty-four rooms. Past Na- tional Councilor John W. Calver had the honor of laying the corner- stone of this structure in the presence of National Councilor Jos. Powell. We will let Brother C. H. Kernan, the present Superintendent of the Home, describe further this building, and the manner of how the Home is conducted. We quote from Brother Kernan's article published in The American, Home Edition, in 1905, the same being taken from a pamphlet giving a history of the Home, prepared by Brother Kernan : " In 1903 the Board of Trustees decided to add on to Cottage No. 2 for the purpose of increasing the dormitory space, and to furnish a large swimming pool and better sanitary conditions in wash and toilet rooms. They were the more able to carry this decision into effect by the generosity of Ohio Juniors, who made a very liberal donation to the Home during their State Session in Tiffin, Ohio. A building to conform in style with the rest of the building was added; the lower floor contains a large swimming pool 15x20 laid up in cement, wash room and toilet rooms. The first floor is used for school rooms; the second floor contains 106 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER twenty-four iron beds, and the top floor contains one hundred and five yellow pine lockers for the boys' Sunday clothes. The whole building is finished in yellow pine, and not only adds to the main building in appear- ance, but it has been built at the cost of $3,900, a very reasonable price in Tiffin, and makes it possible to conform to those sanitary rules necessary in similar institutions. "Another improvement has been made in Cottage No. 2 that has added to the beauty of the building, and has also had a far-reaching effect on the morals in the Home. " In the room where the toilet and bath rooms had been, in the front of the building is now a magnificent library, containing 1,500 volumes of choice and selected literature. This is known as the Maryland Room and Library, and it is so called, because the entire room, books and book- cases, were furnished by the Maryland Juniors. DINING-ROOM " From the library we come back into the hall and pass down to the dining-room containing twelve long tables. Children and employes eat in the same room. You will pardon us for calling attention to the table settings. One of the rules laid down emphatically to each Superin- tendent is to make the Home as much like a private home as possible. The Superintendent and matron must be father and mother, and in no place can the elements of culture be so quickly instilled objectively than in the furnishings and care of the dining-room. In so large a family the discipline must be more rigidly enforced than in a small family. The element of time enters largely into the management of a Home, and for that reason there must be methods for passing to and from the dining- room that would not be necessary in a small family, in this way freedom of action is limited; but only in this way. The greatest freedom, con- sistent with order and the good of all, is given to the children. I trust you will pardon this digression to explain one of the peculiarities of our Home that has so great an influence on the welfare of our children. " From the dining-room you pass into the kitchen through a large hallway, which you cannot see in the picture. In this hallway are doors leading into the milk room and storeroom. Thirty gallons of milk are supplied and used daily by the children, and over one hundred loaves of bread are consumed, together with the other food. You can see what we have each day by looking at a bill of fare for the past week. DORMITORY " From the dining-room we pass up stairs in the rear of the building to the boys' dormitory. In the picture you see only half of the dormi- tory, but since that was taken the partition passing through the centre has been removed and now there is one large room, forty by sixty, con- taining fifty single beds. The work in this room is done entirely by the boys, and I am sure you will agree with me that a boy is none the worse because he has been taught to sweep a fioor or make a bed. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 107 CLOTHING " The care of the clothes is always a serious question in a family the size of ours, and the greatest strictness and regularity must be insisted upon to get the best results. You notice in the sides of the room, in tlie dormitory, bins arranged so that each boy has a bin for his clothes. Each boy is taught to care for his school suit. The suits are numbered, and when he removes his school or Sunday suit it must be folded properly and put in his bin. His work is thoroughly inspected, and any negligence on his part is reported promptly. Each boy is entitled to three suits of clothes — a Sunday suit, school suit, and play suit. The underclothing will be spoken of later when we come to the bath-room. GRAMMAR DEPARTMENT " On the same floor with the dormitory is the office and private sleeping rooms. Then on the third floor, as mentioned before, are sleeping- rooms. Passing down to the first floor again, we come to the grammar department. In this picture you see the entire school assembled for their morning exercise. The children are in the act of saluting the flag. They use the following words (a color guard of four boys has brought in the American flag), the children at the proper signal, say: 'I give my head, my heart, to God and my country: one country, one language, one flag.' After the salute to the flag comes singing, reading the Scriptures, prayer, another song, and at 8.30 the school work for the day begins. I should like to pause and speak to you about these children, for, after all, they only are of importance. Here you find representatives from many states — Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, New Jersey, Maryland, and Indiana. But we must pass on to other objects not so interesting." THE CRISIS OF THE NATIONAL ORPHAN'S HOME The crisis through which the Order passed during the period that intervened between the meeting of the National Body at Min- neapolis, Minn., and the meeting in Philadelphia, Pa., in June of 1900, was a trying one for the Orphans' Home. Having assumed a debt of $18,000 prior to the meeting at Minneapolis, and owing to the rebellion in the Order immediately following the above named meeting whereby the Home was deprived of the per capita tax of the insurgent membership, the Board of Trustees were greatly embarrassed in conducting the affairs of the Insti- tution. Yet a clause in their report to the session of the National Body in 1900 should thrill every heart : " We have not been com- pelled to turn away from the Home any child entrusted to our care or refuse admittance to any who applied, for want of resources with which to provide for them." Notwithstanding the adverse conditions under which the Trus- tees had to work, progress was made and several needed improve- 108 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ments secured, such as heating plants in both cottages, boilers, pumps, and range in kitchen, amounting to about $4,000, making a net increase in valuation over previous year of $3,935, or a total valuation of $66,812.20. The loyal Councils, however, came to the rescue of their Home, and hearkened to the appeal sent out for assistance and thousands of dollars poured into the treasury. It was only needed to strike the rock of unselfish devotion in the great heart of the Order, to cause a stream of love and mercy to flow to gladden the dear little ones under the organization's care. One Council, Harry Clay, No. 7, of Philadelphia, Pa., responded nobly to the call for help in the Home's critical hour, by loaning the National Council for the Home, the sum of $3,000, without interest. Another change of superintendent was made during this period, Truman W. Varian resigning in October, 1899, and Brother George B. Nesbitt, of Welcome Council, No. 134, of Pitts- burg, Pa., being elected in his place. Mrs. Nesbitt was elected matron at the same time. Past National Councilor, Brother Jos. Powell, owing to ill health, resigned as Secretary of the Board and Brother R. D. Bowland, of Maryland, was elected to fill the vacancy. It is said, " Death loves a shining mark." This was surely true, as Brother John K. Marlin, a member of the Board from Penn- sylvania, a most ardent worker, a loyal Junior and a true-blue patriot, " ceased to work and live." Brother Nesbitt entered upon his duties as. Superintendent of the Home when it was passing through its crucial hour. Lack of funds and the constant demands for payment of bills, with a debt of $18,000 when he assumed charge, confronted the new Super- intendent, hut heroically he and his devoted wife met the situation, giving unstintedly their services and attention to the Order's wards, so that when they handed in their resignations as super- intendent and matron during the National Council year of 1901- 1902, the debt on the Home had been reduced to $4,000 and the Institution had become a permanent fixture that neither rebellion in the Order or doubts and fears could shake. THE JE. O. IJ. A. M. NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME ASSOCIATION OF ALLEGHENY (PA.) COUNTY One great need of the Home, to which attention had been called in a previous report, was a greenhouse. This appeal met with a hearty response upon the part of the Juniors of Western Pennsylvania. Early in the summer of 1898, Mr. Dunnavant, •••* ORIGINAL ORPHANS' HOME PICNIC COMMITTEE Allegheny County, Pa. GREENHOUSE ERECTED BY ALLEGHENY COUNTY (PA.) PICNIC ASSOCIATION UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 109 of the Lake Erie Railroad, suggested to the writer, who at thai time resided in Pittsburg and was Junior Past State Councilor, the idea of arranging a picnic along the line of the road he repre- sented to be under the auspices of the Junior Order. As our time was taken up with other duties we directed him to see Brothers Stephen Collins, Geo. B. Nesbitt and F. J. Shaler, assuring him of our hearty cooperation in such a project. The above named brothers gave the matter favorable consideration, whereupon a committee was constituted consisting of six persons known as the original " Orphans' Home Picnic Committee," viz. : Stephen Col- lins, George B. Nesbitt, Fred. J. Shaler, C. J. Cleland, Harry R. Peck and the writer (See Plate, which was taken on Decora- tion Day at the first picnic held, the writer being unable to attend owing to an engagement previously arranged to make a Memorial Address) . This committee arranged for the holding of the picnic at Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio, on Memorial Day of the year above named and invited the members of the Order to participate, which was a success. The writer in view of his position as Junior Past State Councilor was recognized as the Chairman of said committee. In justice to the other members of the committee (Brother Nesbitt, Past State Councilors Collins and F. J. Shaler), I must say that they did the work, assuming the major portion of the labor and responsibility; being faithfully assisted by Bros. Peck and Cleland. The proceeds of the picnic were given the Home, a portion of it through Sam. Harper Council that was furnishing the reception room of one of the cottages and the balance direct to aid in the maintenance of the Institution. Gratified with the success that attended the picnic, the Com- mittee, through Brother Nesbitt, invited a few of the leading Juniors representing eight Councils to come together and take into consid- eration the question of continuing the picnics and thereby secure a fund towards erecting the much desired greenhouse. As the result of this meeting on April 1, 1899, a call was made to the Councils of Western Pennsylvania to send representatives to a prearranged meeting, and fifty Councils responded to the call, whereupon an organization was formed with the title " The Orphans' Home Picnic Committee," with the following officers: President, George B. Nesbitt, No. 134; Vice-President, C. J. Cle- land, No. 38; Secretary, Thomas Jelly, No. 107; Treasurer, James K. Diven, No. 245. The picnic for the year was held July 22, 1899, at Cascade 110 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Park, New Castle, Pa., and notwithstanding the inclement day, it was a success. Not being able on account of the rain to carry out fully the plans of the committee, an adjourned outing was held at Kennywood Park, City of Pittsburg, on August 28, 1899, the day the Tenth Pennsylvania Eegiment returned from the Philip- pines. The result of these two events brought into the treasury the sum of $1,086.27 clear of all expenses. With this money the greenhouse was erected and $125 given for the installation of a refrigerator into the Home. The greenhouse was built at a cost of $935.00 and its dimensions are 20 by 50 feet. (See Plate.) By looking at the cut it is not difficult to distinguish that " Nestor of Juniorism/' Brother Stephen Collins, whose heart on the occasion when the picture was taken was as light and happy as the little orphans that stand immediately in front of him. By his side stands the Superintendent of the Home at that time. Brother George B. Nesbitt. In referring to this generous gift of the Western Pennsylvania Juniors, Brother Kernan says : " One of the factors that lead to the general good health of the children is the fact that we are able to give them green stuff during the winter. Several years ago the Juniors of Allegheny Co., Pa., erected this greenhouse at a cost of nearly $1,000. It not only furnishes food during the winter months, but it is the nursery for all the flowers that may be seen on the lawn during the summer months. Moreover, under the instruction of a competent gardener, several boys are learning a useful trade. I find, by referring to the monthly reports, that it has furnished, during the year, six hundred and twenty-eight dollars." Early in the year 1900 it was decided to form a permanent organization, whereupon a committee on by-laws and permanent organization was appointed which committee reported May 19, 1900, and the name for the organization adopted was " The Jr. O. TJ. A. M. National Orphans' Home Association of Allegheny County," and when the National Council met in June of same year, the permission to use the name of the Order was granted by the National Body. The picnic of 1900 was again held at Cascade Park, and $844.63 was realized. On August 3, 1901, a most successful picnic was held at Youngstown, Ohio, netting $1,026.78, $700 of which was placed in the fund towards an industrial school the Associa- tion had in view of erecting. To meet a balance owed by the Home on a piano, $65 was paid by the Association. In 1902, the picnic was held at Eock Springs Park, Chester, W. Va., and was pre- eminently a success both in attendance and financially, there being about 6,000 present and $1,477.33, net, was realized. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS HI Suffice it to say, that each year the Association held its picnic, generally largely attended, the banner year being L906, when 9.000 were in attendance and the sum of $3,159-62 was netted. The Industrial School Building was constructed and equipped and placed in operation, which will be a means of not only giving the children of the Home a trade, but will be a source of income to the Institution as forecasted by the Superintendent of the Home, Brother Kernan. The structure is of brick, two stories, with attic and basement, finished in yellow pine, and is equipped with the most improved machinery and is valued at $11,500. The total receipts of the Association from 1809 to 1906 has been $11,206.41, and the total contributions to the Home has boon $9,406.24, of which $8,405.24 was for the Industrial School. While we are speaking of special gifts to the Home, we noto that of the Gymnasium, a present from the Juniors of Cincinnati and the Daughters of America, a very appropriate gift to the In- stitution. The Juniors of Baltimore presented a library of 2,000 volumes which are kept in what is known as the Maryland Boom. to which there has been contributions from other sections. The Beception Boom was furnished by Sam Harper Council, No. 503, of Bennsylvania. The New York Juniors constructed a Laundry and are now equipping same, the entire cost being about $3,000. Other projects are under way that will add much to the utility and comforts of the Home. THE HEROISM OF THE ORDER The heavy indebtedness that rested upon the Homo, owing to the failure of insurgent Councils to pay the Home tax, prompted the National Council to do and -the Subordinate Councils to nobly and uncomplainingly respond to a heroic act, that of levying, by statute, a special tax of fifteen cents upon the membership, besides the regular Home tax of ten cents for mnintommoo. The following was the statute: "Section 1. There is hereby levied for the use ami benefit of the Orphans' Home a special Orphans' Home tax of fifteen cents per capita upon the membership of the Order for the fiscal year 1900-1001. Tho said tax to be levied and collected in the same manner as the regular annual Home tax, and in addition thereto, " Section 2. The return of said tax is hereby appropriated for the aforesaid purpose, and shall be paid out in the same manner provided in the case of the regular tax, and under the appropriation item of the general appropriation bill." 112 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER This Proposal for a Statute was negatived in the Committee of the Good of the Order, submitting, however, in lieu thereof, a recommendation that the Law Committee draft a proposal empow- ering and authorizing the proper officers to negotiate a loan in such an amount as may be necessary to meet the needs of the Home and to give such obligations and security as may be required. The National Council, however, adopted the bill as proposed by Dr. II. L. Wenner, of Ohio, instead of the Eecommendation of the Com- mittee on the Good of the Order, by a vote of 144 to 8. Previous to this action the following resolution was adopted: " That the Board of Officers of the National Council is hereby authorized to take such action as may be necessary to refund the present indebtedness of the National Orphans' Home." In conformity with the above resolution, in August of the fiscal year 1900-1901, National Councilor Brother C. F. Peeves and National Vice- Councilor Brother A. L. Cray met at Tiffin, Ohio, and negotiated in a very satisfactory manner a loan covering the indebtedness of $18,000. In the meantime the special tax was levied and collected, as per action of the National Council, and the report of the Trustees of the Home to the National Body at its meeting at Buffalo, N. Y., June, 1901, showed that $23,100 had been received, including tax for current expenses. Fourteen thousand dollars had been paid on the indebtedness, leaving $4,000 still unpaid. Including maintenance, etc., the total amount paid out by the Trustees for the year 1900-1901 was $33,381^.62. The Trustees stated that there was in contemplation the erec- tion of an Industrial School where the children could train them- selves for useful trades, and for that purpose the Allegheny County (Pa.) Orphans' Home Association had agreed to furnish $800. Subsequently, as stated, the Association constructed and equipped the School. The inventory showed a valuation of $69,902. On this there was a debt at this time of $4,000. THE HOME FREE FROM ENCUMBRANCE A very comprehensive and painstaking report was presented by the Trustees to the National Body at its meeting held in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, 1902. The report opens with the gratifying statement : " It is with a feeling of pride and satisfaction that we, the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, after nearly a year of earnest endeavors, are able to present to you in annual convention assembled, this grand institution of ours absolutely free and unencumbered." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 113 The Board gave a careful study relative to the management of the Home and recommended many changes, etc. A change in the superintendent was made during the year, and Brother Charles H. Kernan, of Orient, N. Y., State Vice-Councilor of his state, and the present most efficient Manager of the Home was elected to fill the position. The Home discipline was placed under a different system, and instead of sending the children to the public schools at Tiffin, at considerable expense, a school was established at the Home and taught by the Superintendent and his assistants. According to the Superintendent's report, twenty-five children had been admitted to the Home while twelve had retired, and one, Lydia Brown, of Larimer Council, Larimer, Pa., had died, leaving the number of children in the Home May 1, 1902, of 104. The first real reverse that befell the Home was in the destruc- tion by fire, caused by lightning, of the farm buildings with three horses and all the grain and hay on the night of June 14, 1902. While there was some insurance on the buildings and their con- tents, still not enough to fully cover the loss. Notwithstanding this reverse and disappointment, the fiscal year 1902-1903 was, in the main, a satisfactory year with the Home. The superintendency of Brother Kernan gave most general satisfaction, and under his wise and thorough discipline, the management of the Institution was carried on very successfully. A circumstance arose during the year which brought the Board face to face with a matter of sympathy or duty. National Coun- cilor, Brother Geo. B. Bowers, presented a sad case from his home town of Altoona, Pa., asking the Board to accept two little chil- dren of a Junior who had been killed, and left a widow and several children with nothing to live on. The Council of which the brother had been a member, however, was insurgent, although the majority were loyal, still the few who run the Council had turned the same over to the enemy. Brother Bowers believed that if the Board would admit the two youngest children, that it would have such an effect upon the Council that the members would soon be back in the fold. The question was very carefully and candidly considered by the Board, and while the majority would gladly have yielded to the impulse of sympathy, yet from a sense of duty, as well as law, and fearing such a grant would be a very dangerous precedent, the Board had to deny the request which all must admit was wise. As an evidence of carefulness on the part of the Superinten- dent, a summary of the receipts of farm, both cash and that used ill HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER in the Home, and the expenditures in producing same, the follow- ing report of farm and garden will be of interest for fiscal year, 1902-1903: RECEIPTS Cash from farm $792.83 Cash from garden 267.54 Farm products 2,079.90 Dairy 1,624.22 Garden products 361.00 Hennery 52.29 Total receipts $5,177.78 EXPENDITURES Salaries for farm $1,456.18 Salaries, garden 390.00 Garden expenses 142.22 Farm expenses 641.21 Total expenses $2,629.61 Cost of keeping cattle $1,344.10 Balance to credit of farm $1,203.07 The fiscal year 1904-1905, as per report of the Board of Trustees, to the Thirty-seventh Annual Session of the National Council, at its meeting at Nashville, Tennessee, in June of 1905, showed the same earnest efforts of the Board and Superintendent in the management of the Home. The Order certainly must con- gratulate itself that it has at the head of the Home one who has given the best satisfaction and has placed the Institution on a high plane, both in discipline and work achieved. When it came to the question of reelecting Brother Kernan and his estimable wife Superintendent and matron of the Home, there was not a dissent- ing vote. At the same time the Order should keep in loving re- membrance the five devoted brothers who represent the National Council in the supervision of the Orders Home for their little ones. These men are not chosen by the National Board of Officers because of some political or personal preferment, but to the con- trary, because of their fitness and qualifications for the duties of Trustees. These men have sacrificed time and money to serve the Order, and the organization should appreciate their zealous and disinterested services. The following brothers at this time con- stituted the Board : F. W. Pierson, A. H. Leslie, A. L. Cray, D. B. Mr-Donald and H. L. W. Taylor. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 115 On May 1, 1905, there were in the Home, MS children, of whom 104 were hoys and 44 girls. DISCIPLINE OF THE HOME Reference to the discipline of the Home under the present management has been made in the foregoing. The annual messages of the Board of Trustees to the National Body contain words of commendation of the manner in which Brother Kernan directs his large Junior family of boys and girls. In addition to their testi- mony must be placed the statements of those who have had the opportunity of visiting the Home and mingling with the children and observing their demeanor. We will let Brother Kernan tell us how he does it: "The parents in their own home find it imperative at times to use the rod. But the times when it is necessary to use corporal punishment are rare. There are various reasons why children are disobedient— some of these reasons the child is not responsible for. They existed before he was born. Therefore, the rod must be used with judgment. So far as it is possible, the rod is a thing of the past at the Home. The marking system prevails. A misdemeanor counts as a mark against the child— a certain number during the week deprives the child of his liberty during part of the Saturday holiday, and also cuts him off from dainties fur- nished to the children during the week. A complete record is kept of each child's deportment for the year, and monthly reports are furnished to the fraternal papers of the standings of all children whose average will place them on the honor roll. To capture this honor requires a mark of 95 per cent, in deportment and an average of 90 per cent, in studies. The principles of the Order that support this institution arc Virtue] Liberty and Patriotism, and these principles are instilled by precept and example, to the end that we give' back to the world men and women .grounded in the principles of righteousness, not as it applies to private, but to public life. "No sectarianism is allowed at the Home; when a child enters the authorities learn the faith of his parents and assume that if they had lived they would bring their children up in that faith. Every child must attend church and Sunday-school at his own church in the' city, and I cannot refrain here from thanking the people of Tiffin for their uniform love, interest and watchfulness over the spiritual welfare of our little ones." The daily program, and the bill of fare for a week, as given on the following pages, is sufficient to show that the Home at Tiffin is not a poorhouse, or an " orphanage " merely, but a " home " in the truest sense of the word. 116 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER DAILY PROGRAM 6.00 a.m. — Rising bell. 6.25 a.m. — Morning prayers. 6.30 a.m.— Breakfast. 7.00 to 8.00 a.m. — Cottage work done. 8.00 to 8.20 a.m. — Preparation for school. 8.20 a.m.— School bell. 8.20 to 8.30 a.m. — 'Morning exercise. S.30 to 11.15 a.m. — Morning session. 11.30 a.m. — Dinner. 12.00 m. to 1.00 p.m.— Play. 1.00 to 3.30 p.m. — Afternoon session. 3.30 to 5.00 p.m.— Play. 5.00 p.m. — Supper whistle. 5.00 to 5.30 P.M. — Preparation for supper. 5.30 p.m. — Supper. 5.30 to 6.30 p.m.— Play. 6.30 to 7.30 p.m.— Study hour. 7.30 to 8.30 p.m. — Reading and quiet games. 8.30 p.m. — Retiring bell. 9.00 P.M. — Lights out. DAILY PROGRAM IN KINDERGARTEN Lord's Prayer. Singing. Stick laying. Counting corn and beans, etc. Stringing straws and paper. INTERMISSION Paper folding. Paper cutting. Physical culture. Kindergarten parquetry. Sewing outlines, coloring pictures, etc. Story. RILL OF FARE APRIL 5TH TO llTlI B — Breakfast; D — Dinner; S — Supper. Sunday — B.: Oatmeal and toast, coffee, fruit. D. : Roast, gravy, potatoes, dressing. S. : Cocoa, cake, cheese. Monday — B.: Omelet, coffee, bread and butter. D. : Bean soup, pota- toes, cold slaw. S. : Hot biscuit, tea, syrup. Tuesday — B. : Oatmeal and toast, coffee, apples. D.: Wieners, pota- toes, pudding. S.: Beans, apricots, tea. Wednesday — B.: Fried potatoes, toast, coffee. D.: Potatoes, stewed meat, gravy, onions. S. : Baked potatoes, cake and tea. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 117 Thursday — 13.: Oatmeal and toast, coffee. D. : Potatoes, boiled cab bage, pie. S.: Puce, prunes, tea. Friday — B.: Fried mush, syrup, coffee. 1).: Bologna, potatoes, let- tuce. S. : Scalloped potatoes, jelly, tea. Saturday — B.: Oatmeal and toast, coffee. O.: Potatoes, vegetable soup, crackers. S. : Beans, pickles, tea. Bread and butter served every meal; milk served as often as possible. THE STANDING OF THE HOME, 1907 Since compiling the story of the National Orphans' Home, as above given, the session of the National Council for 1907 has been held at the City of Boston, Mass., to which body the Trustees of the Home have submitted their report, which, as with previous reports, is full of cheer and a subject for congratulation. The only improvements made during the two years were the completion and equipment of the Industrial School by the Alle- gheny County (Pa.) Juniors and the Laundry by the New York Juniors, reference to which has been made. The most important change made was in moving the original cottage closer to the farm buildings to take the place of the farmhouse burned in 1899. This brings the farmer and his assistants near the barn and out-buildings where the stock are housed and fed. The finances of the Home were reported in very excellent condition : Received for General Fund, two years $53,574.92 Expenditures from General Fund, two years 51,924.60 $1,650.32 Receipts and appropriations of National Council for Building Fund 7,061.63 Total on hand May 1, 1907 $8,251.80 Received for Endowment Fund $585.78 It will certainly be gratifying to the Order to note the follow- ing Inventory made May 1, 1907 : INVENTORY OF PROPERTY may, 1907 Farm of 176 acres of land at $150 $26,400.00 Cottage No. 1 and heating plant 11,800.00 Cottage No. 2 and heating plant 19,500.00 Water tower, barns, granary, poultry and hay houses . '. 5,000.00 118 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Boiler house and machinery $4,000.00 Root cella r 200.00 Furnishings for Cottages Nos. 1 and 2 5,000.00 Play house and apparatus 900.00 Chill room 400.00 Stone crusher 400.00 Six work horses 700.00 Farm house 1,200.00 Sixteen milch cows, bulls and five calves 725.00 Blacksmith shop, tools, hose house, etc 200.00 Thirty-six hens and four turkeys 18.00 Farming implements, binder, mower, etc 1,350.00 Stock in greenhouse 100.00 Books and library furnishings 575.00 Sixteen brood sows, one boar, sixteen shoats, twenty-seven pigs 285.00 Industrial school and equipment 11,500.00 Twelve tons of hay 120.00 Four tons straw 16.00 Three hundred bushels corn ] 35.00 Forty bushel oats 14.00 Seven hundred and fifty bushels wheat 729.00 Total valuation $91,267.00 The Superintendent's report shows the following: Number of children reported May 1st, 1905 148 Number of children admitted during 1905-1907 87 Total 235 Number of children released 1905-1907 38 Total number of children May 1st, 1907 197 Total number boys 137 Total number girls 60 197 It is worthy of note that notwithstanding the Trustees reported the Home in a crowded condition two years previous, that during the two years intervening there has been no serious illness among the children and no outbreak of any contagious disease in the Insti- tution. It is the proud boast of the Trustees and Superintendent, that "up to the present time no child has been refused admittance who was properly qualified to enter." The receipts of the farm, dairy, garden, etc., as well as expenses for operating the same for the years 1905-1907, were as follows: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 119 > 2 -^ '•=• ~ X c J- > r r 2 > — ~ 5" rx: a o ' 2" 5" s° o c K 'g £ 1 3 sj I 2? «1 «9 OS _M *- y — *- J. 3i -: s ! S8 kiooi:-*- :Jy!^l: •£ o oi p ai ** p cc os p "ibbbic • ***** «■— i — i — i — i — *- *****- op MO Q O imM4-?C' O » o 'i - ' S m£s i> • ******** G O l 3 M Cn o o ******* ssi'sgiiiiiiiisiiiiiiiiii ****** ^^it******* gggsas|lss's'||s^s||; ****************** Ui 03 C7» ; *» w o< -J • oi as s 5 --» M, = ft: ftftftftftftftSSSSSftftftpSSpSSf Si 8888888888888888888888 ftftftft&ftftftftftftS§©-§§ssss83^ ;oooooocoooo< g-i _. - .-. -•«. 120 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The Trustees of the Home (1907-1909) are the following well-known members of the Order whose sketches appear in another place: Brothers D. B. McDonald, of Ohio, President; A. L. Cray, of Indiana, Secretary; F. W. Pierson, of Delaware, Treasurer; A. H. Leslie, of Pennsylvania, and H. E. Howse, of Tennessee. CHAPTER IX 7. THE CONFLICT AT THE CROSSING OF THE CENTURIES FOR forty-seven years the Junior Order of United American Mechanics had made its way meeting and overcoming obstacles that were checking the growth of the young fraternity. With the opening of the last decade of the nineteenth century, the Order en- tered upon an era of wonderful prosperity, wherein the thousands swelled into the tens of thousands, until in the halls of Congress, in State legislatures and in thousands of school districts, the Jr. 0. U. A. M., as an organization, was an acknowledged power. But with this great advance of the Order there came jealousies, rivalries and contentions and a struggle for leadership, until finally it culminated in the revolt of 1899. In approaching this subject, it is with hesitancy, fearing that in presenting it in this connection, being loyal to the mandates of the National Council, the writer may be misunderstood. How- ever, in discussing this unfortunate epoch of the organization, it is not our purpose to say hard things of any one, but to give, as far as we are able and conversant with the facts, a true and unbiased account of the separation and the causes leading thereto, as well as to recount the struggles of the Order in the courts of the land and the final triumph in maintaining and upholding the greatest patriotic association to be found in any nation. THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CONFLICT In seeking for the causes that led to the insurrection, it is necessary to go back some years before the outbreak in 1899, to the session of the National Council at Asheville, North Carolina, in 1894. Factional lines, however, had been sharply drawn pre- vious to this session in some of the State Councils, especially in Pennsylvania, where the unprecedented growth of the Order had brought the membership up to 87,000; whereupon, a coterie of ambitious leaders saw in this vast host a power to secure complete control of the National Body, hence at the session of the State Council of Pennsylvania in 1893, the dominant faction inaugurated the policy to obtain and thereby hold the supremacy of the higher body, and the majority of the Representatives attended the Ashe- ville session Avith that end in view. 122 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The great success of Brother Stephen Collins, of Pennsyl- vania, when State Councilor, and the wonderful enthusiasm that swept the state like a forest fire, brought into the ranks of the Order many young men who were ambitious to pose as leaders. Being always ready to encourage worthy brothers, Brother Collins recognized them and gave them preferment in the offices and honors at his disposal. Fearing, however, the great popularity of Brother Collins and jealous of his leadership, in his absence from the state as National Organizer, many of those he had favored and recognized formed an anti- Collins " faction " and secured suprem- acy in the State Council. Having assumed the leadership of the State Council of Pennsylvania, these designing brothers thirsted for greater glory and power, therefore, as stated, went to Asheville to advocate legislation to better carry out their purposes and plans. The reflex influence of this desire for supremacy in the Na- tional Council showed itself in the Board of Officers of the National Body in the appointment of the National Legislative Committee, the National Councilor claiming the prerogative of appointing three out of the five members. Early in the year following the session of the National Council of 1893, the National Councilor did not claim that prerogative, but in a letter to the National Vice- Councilor, he named two members and asked him to name two and the Junior Past National Councilor to name one. This letter was under date of July 22, 1893. Subsequently, under date of August 15, 1893, in an official communication to the National Secretary, the National Councilor named three of the Committee, from which action the other members of the Board dissented. The difficulty, however, was adjusted as originally outlined, but it revealed the fact that some outside influence had been brought to bear upon the National Councilor to change his purpose from appointing two members of the Committee to appointing three, in order that the factional lines on the Committee might be drawn in harmony with the dominant party in Pennsylvania and other states. As stated above, the purpose of the majority of the Eepresen- tatives and Past National and State Councilors from Pennsylvania and other larger states, at Asheville, was to increase the ratio of representation in order to give those states a preponderance of representation in the National Body, hence the ratio of represen- tation was changed, giving to each state five Representatives where the membership did not exceed 5,000, and an additional Represen- tative for every additional 3,000 members, or a majority fraction UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 123 thereof. This legislation was a grave mistake on the part of the National Council, as it had the tendency to place the National Body under the control of the larger states that had plenty of funds to send large delegations, both in Representatives and Past State Councilors. It might be stated in this connection that to a large extent those who in subsequent years were loyal, were opposed to the increased ratio of representation. By this increased ratio, Pennsylvania increased her representation in the National Council from 12 to 31; and with her large number of Past National and Past State officers, her voting strength was about 40 in the National Body. Owing to the great success of Brother Collins as National Organizer and being possessed of remarkable traits of leadership, there was formed in the National Body a cabal to antagonize him, which brought to his support staunch friends from the West and South where his great work had been accomplished. Hence the two parties in the National Council at the Asheville session struggled for supremacy, both nearly equal in strength, each party scor- ing a victory, the one electing the National Vice-Councilor, and the other securing the place of the next meeting of the bod)' — Omaha, Nebraska. With a divided victory, both parties of the National Body lined up for the contest at Omaha in 1895. While the session was animated, both in discussion and dilatory tactics, the one element elected their National Vice-Councilor and selected the place of the next meeting, which was Denver, Colorado. Un- daunted by defeat, the element that favored the increased represen- tation at Asheville made the Denver session the battleground for supremacy. The session w T as the most strenuous in the history of the National Body, and inch by inch each party contended on all controversial issues and party questions. Scarcely had the session opened when the " battle of the giants " began and the lines were sharply drawn. Dilatory motions, numerous demands for roll- call and division of the question was a marked feature upon the part of the minority party, and as the session continued the bitter- ness of feeling became more intense. Referring to this session in another place in this volume, we quote in this connection, the following: " It was at this meeting of the National Council, that the famous ' all night ' session was held. The two elements of the National Body were very nearly equal in numerical strength, while in debate and parliamentary strategy, both sides possessed men of intellect, ability and leadership. 124 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The contest waged all through the night, the minority making motions to adjourn while the administration forces had one supreme object in view, to save the Orphan's Home and preserve the institution. The majority party refused to adjourn, although ten times had the motion been made and ten times it had been rejected. The purpose of the dominant party was to act on all important questions before there should be a break in the solid phalanx of the ' Old Guard,' and when that was accomplished, at 4 a.m., the majority party agreed to adjourn until 1.10 p.m. same day." The results of the session was a " drawn battle/' the adminis- tration party retaining the officers of the National Council, while the minority secured the place of the next meeting — Pittsburg, Pa. Previous to the opening of the National Council at Pitts- burg, factional feeling ran very high. The opponents of the ad- ministration who, to a large extent, subsequently, were allied with the revolt, had gloried in the victory at Denver in the selection of Pittsburg as the place of meeting of the National Body of 1897, believing, with the presence of a large number of Past National and Past State Councilors from the larger Eastern states, they would win in the selection of officers and in shaping the policy of the Order. The administration people, however, were alert and saga- cious and rallied their forces, and on the first roll-call in which party lines were drawn, the administration won by a decisive ma- jority and the remainder of the session passed without much opposition. Some show of opposition was made by the minority party at Louisville, Kentucky, at the session of 1898, but without effect, as the administration was fortified by a strong working majority. Soured and piqued by defeat the minority, through their leaders, were loud in their complaints of " bossism " upon the part of the majority, the leaders of which came in for their full share of criticism. In the " heat of battle " many bitter words were spoken and much harsh feeling was engendered in the supreme ambition to either secure or retain supremacy in the National Body. Although one of the majority and always voting and working with the administration, yet, viewed from the present standpoint in reviewing the years of factional strife prior -to the revolt in 1899, in candor the writer must frankly admit that there were faults on both sides. That the minority were more at fault in the contro- versy is plain; that they were intemperate in speech and revolu- tionary in action cannot be gainsaid. Members of the same frater- nity, having pledged themselves at the same altar to support the National Council and uphold the sublime principles of the Order, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 125 their act of rebellion was culpable, uncalled for and unreasonable. On the part of the administration there was the exuberance of re- peated victories which, it is possible, and altogether probable, made them somewhat dictatorial and led their leaders to say and do things that now they may wish had not been said or done. One has said, " To err is human " ; and being human, errors were made in those years of bitter controversies; yet with all that the minority may have felt, thought or imagined, there was no cause to give them the right to rebel against the Supreme Legislative body of the Order. It has been stated that this unhappy strife that fulminated in open revolt in 1899 was a fight for leadership. That is prob- ably true. But what would an organization be without leaders? Wherever men assemble, wherever associations of men are formed for any purpose, some one there must be to whom the many can look for guidance in shaping the policy of the society In nation, state, church and society, leaders are found and leaders there must be. It is unjust to say: " Had the leaders of both sides been put out, the rebellion in the Order never would have been." These leaders may have made mistakes; we are sure those on the part of the " insurgents " did grievously err, and some on the part of the administration no doubt were a little too radical, yet had not these leaders been in the van, others would have been, and it is alto- gether probable that if those from the " rank and file " who are loudest in their criticism of the men who, in the hour of the Order's peril, " stood by their guns," had been in their places that they would have been as much at fault as they claim the leaders of our Order were. The writer has been close to the leaders of the administration or loyal party ever since 1893, and is familiar with the years of strife that led up to the revolt in the Order. Judging them by the standard of common justice and equity, we must affirm that no truer, better men ever guided an organization than they, and to-day they are esteemed, loved and respected by the great body of Juniors for whose cause they so nobly stood. THE BEGINNING OF FACTIONALISM In all candor and fairness the writer has been prompted to make the above brief reference to the causes that led to the revolt of 1899. Since penning these words our attention has been directed to the enlarged statement made by State Council Secretary, Brother Deemer, in the proceedings of the State Council of Pennsylvania for the session of 1900, under the title of " Why I am a Loyalist." No one in the organization knows more 126 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER of the " beginnings " of the strife in the Order than Brother Deemer. He saw the rise of the organization, kept steadily with it from its inception and stood with sad. heart at the " parting of the ways " wherein friendly and brotherly associations of a life- time were sundered. He dwelt in particular with the conditions in his own state, which will be noted elsewhere, and the inconsist- encies of the insurgents; then takes up the National Council and relates some very stubborn facts, corroborating what we have averred, that the beginning of the strife, born in factionalism, had its inception in 1893. Brother Deemer prefaced his references by a statement that all who have associated with him know to be true : " In my whole career as an officer and member, I have avoided factions and insisted on my right to think and vote as pleased me. For this reason I will be found on both sides at almost every session of the National Council or the State Council of Pennsylvania." Bef erring to the National Council, Brother Deemer says : "Prior to 1893 there were no factions in the National Council. There were candidates for the several offices, but when the election was over it left no sore spots, and' all mingled together as before. At this session a prominent Past State Councilor of New Jersey said to me: ' There's Steve Collins instituting State Councils in the far west ; why in a few years he will control the National Council, because no person knows these people but he,' and so it began. In his opinion the Order had better stand still than this man gain prestige by his work as an organizer. This was the beginning of faction, and the new laws reported by the Law Committee, Shaler, Peck and McFarland, were referred to the first factional committee, Elbert, Putter and Buser." The " hue and cry " of the malcontents for years was the office of the Secretary of the National Legislative Committee and the salary of $1,200 per year attached thereto. The brother who for years had acceptably filled that position came in for intense criticism and abuse. Yet, as Brother Deemer stated, that commit- tee was the creature of the afterward insurgent element of the National Council and recommended by a committee who subse- quently became insurgents. Brother H. J. Deily was made the first Secretary and received for his duties $1,200 per year, and no rmo over said that he did not earn it, which he evidently did. Brother Collins who succeeded him, earned his money as well. Another imaginary cause that was used by the insurgents to inflame the minds of the brotherhood against the Supreme Body was the high per capita tax and the heavy expenses to carry on the National Council. Again Brother Deemer made plain the fallacy of the charges by quoting the indisputable facts from the records of the National Council. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 127 During the term of Brother C. W. Tyler, as National Coun- cilor, 1895-1896, the per capita tax was placed at the low rate of eight cents, which was entirely insufficient to meet the expenses of the year which amounted to thirty-six thousand and eight dollars and fifty-seven cents, notwithstanding the fact that the Finance Committee made up of adherents of Brother Tyler's, had only estimated the expenses for the year as twenty-five thousand, four hundred dollars. To meet the extra expense, eight thousand dol- lars was taken from the reserve of $14,401 on hand at the begin- ning of the term, leaving only $6,503.19 on hand when Brother Tyl er yielded up the office to his successor. The National Secretary then adds: " This is no reflection on N. C. Tyler, but inasmuch as the insurgents are continually holding up the fact of the per capita tax being but eight cents under his term, it is well to know the whole truth about the matter." As a result of the experience of Tyler's term, the Finance Committee at the session of the National Body in 1896, placed the estimated expenses at $32,000. In comparison with this, Brother Deemer showed that at the session of the National Council that met in Philadelphia in 1900, the Finance Committee submitted the estimated expenses for the ensuing year, at $30,000, in which was included the item of $10,000 for mileage, never before included in the estimated expenses of the Finance Committee. Brother Deemer resumes his observations : " It seems to me, therefore, that any unprejudiced mind would see that the National Council is not composed of robbers and sharks, but that they have shown a more economical administration of affairs in the National Council than the insurgents. " I have dated all the factional disturbances to the Detroit session of 1893. I claim that under the administration of N. C. Kibbe, the politics of the Order were reduced to a science. Past National and Past State Councilors were appointed on committees for their votes, and for the first time in the history of the Order, just before the sessions, inquiry was made as to who could not attend, their resignations were requested and others appointed in their stead." THE REVOLT The session of the National Council held at Minneapolis. Minnesota, June 20-23, 1899, stands forth in the history of tho Order as the most conspicuous of any held before or since. That which makes this session so prominent in the annals of the organ- ization is, that as a result of its advanced legislation, making cer- tain features thereof a pretext, there came the " parting of the 128 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ways " in the Order and the inauguration of the foulest conspiracy ever hatched in the hearts of designing men to destroy the noblest patriotic organization ever formed in the republic. According to an article in the Constitution, prior to this ses- sion, every five years there might be revision of the Constitution and Laws, and in conformity to that rule the year 1899 was the time such revision should take place. In view of this and with a desire to see the Order take higher ground, National Councilor Joseph Powell, at the previous session held at Louisville, in his report, says: " We have in the government of our Order, too much law by decision and resolution, rather than by statutes. In my opinion we should adopt a Constitution and a set of statutes, create a judiciary and relieve the executive of this function, and thus make the government of our Order more in harmony with the American system." This view of the National Councilor was favorably considered by the adoption of the following: " That the executive and judicial branches of our Order be sepa- rated, and a judiciary be created." In compliance with this action, the Committee on Law at the Minneapolis session submitted an entire revision of the National Council Constitution and National Council Laws, following the plan of the United States system of government, the Executive, Legislative and the Judicial, as we have it to-day. After full and frank discussion in the Committee of the Whole, in which many took part, the new Constitution and Laws were agreed upon, and when reported back to the National Body the same were adopted. Several radical changes, however, from the old code of laws were made, prominent among which was the change of ratio of repre- sentation in the National Council, by which change the repre- sentation of each state was cut down, as for instance, Penn- sylvania's delegation was reduced from 29 to 11. By this change each state was entitled to three Eepresentatives with one additional Eepresentative for each 10,000 members or a majority fraction thereof. In addition to this, the National Council resolved to pay the mileage and per diem to all Eepresentatives, this having pre- viously been paid by the State Councils. Another important act of legislation adopted was to provide, as far as possible, for a distinctive representative body, and that all Past State Councilors subsequent to 1901, were by that action to be denied a voice and vote in the National Body. According to the new laws, proposed amendments to the Objects and of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 129 the name of the Order need onlv be submitted to the State Councils for concurrence instead of to the Subordinate Councils, as under the former rulings. Relative to the changes in the Objects of the Order, those made at this session were largely in phraseology. The word " sectarian " in one of the objects was eliminated. In the Object that read : " To uphold the reading of the Holy Bible in the Public Schools," " uphold " was changed to " encourage." Those and some other minor changes made, reducing the number of Objects from 6 to 4, the first three being incorporated in one, did not meet the approval of the minority faction, and with the pretext that the legislation enacted was illegal, because the session of the National Council was held outside the State of Pennsylvania, they took the first steps to secede from the National Body, or rather to place themselves in insubordination to its mandates, by refusing to honor, in their several State Councils, the per capita tax levied by the Supreme Body. Notwithstanding the disgruntled members of the National Body were present and participated in the work of the session where these great changes were made, and many of them made without protest, yet ere the session had closed the " mutterings of the coming storm " were heard in the hotel corridors, and the move- ment looking toward rebellion was inaugurated in a caucus of the dissenting members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, District of Columbia and Virginia, and a subsequent meeting was arranged to be held at Trenton, New Jersey. While the change in ratio of representation was distasteful to the anti-administration people, yet that which incurred their great- est displeasure and had in it a seeming possibility of forfeiting every hope of supremacy, was the provision that the mileage and per diem should be paid the National Representatives by the National Council instead of by the State Councils, as previously was done. By the latter method only the older states with good treasuries could afford to send all of their Representatives to the National Council, while many of the weaker and far distant states could send but one or two, and often none, which gave to the older and richer states all the advantages of the National Council meet- ings; and as the larger number of the anti-administration members of the body belonged to these states, and by marshalling their Past State Councilors, many of whom were sent at the expense of the State Councils, they had hoped to again obtain the ascendancy in the National Body. But by one swoop of legislation, in the pay- ing of the expenses of all delegates, whereby the smaller and weaker 9 130 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER states could be fully represented, which states were largely admin- istration supporters, the doom of the one-time autocrats of the organization seemed sealed, hence the revolt of 1899. THE ERA OF MISREPRESENTATION Having taken preliminary steps towards rebellion, certain members of the National Body left the Minneapolis session with the determined purpose of disrupting the organization and defying the edicts and mandates of the National Council. Around these gath- ered, in their home states, a motley crowd of malcontents, loud in their villification of the National Council's deliberations and the administration leaders. By voice and pen in the councils of the various states affected, and in the columns of the press, where opportunity was granted, the grossest exaggerations and basest fabrications were disseminated until, like wild-fire, the spirit of insurrection stirred the hearts of thousands and inflamed their minds with rankest secession. Deceived and misled by these pre- varicators, with fiery speeches and vicious and misleading press articles, it is not a matter of surprise that many Councils unfurled the black flag of treason and refused to submit to the authority of the Supreme Body. As a sample of the misrepresentations pub- lished in the secular press, the following is noted, taken from the Beading (Pa.) Telegram shortly after the Minneapolis session: " A gentleman who is prominent in the Councils of the Order said that the entire trouble was a scheme, in which the Western members were endeavoring that the Supreme Council should secure possession of the $50,000 surplus funeral benefit fund which has been mainly contributed by the East. . . . The Supreme Council is desirous of getting hold of the surplus to control themselves." Every one familiar with the Funeral Benefit Association of the United States, with headquarters at Philadelphia, which, throughout the insurrection, furnished at least moral support to carry on the revolt, know that it never had any official relation with either the State Council of Pennsylvania or the National Body, and was independent of each, hence the baselessness of the statement is clearly shown. Here is another, taken from the Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) Times: " Mr says the only qualification to become a member of the Order is to believe in the Supreme Being and to have been born in this country, but that an attempt had been made to strike out the last qualification and give every citizen the privilege of joining." It is scarcely necessary to state that the effort to change the qualifications for membership so as to admit foreign-born citizens UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 131 was never made nor even contemplated. Yet this "hoax" un- published in several papers in the anthracite coal regions of Penn- sylvania. The anti-administration people were very much "put out" by the reduction in the number of the Objects of the Order from six to four, and the few changes in phraseology. To clearly slmw the utter inconsistency of this item of grievance as presented in exaggerated form by voice and pen, we insert, in parallel columns the two codes of Objects: Prior to session of 1899 they read as follows: first. — To maintain and promote the interests of Americans, and shield them from the depressing effects of foreign competition. Second. — To assist Americans in obtaining employment. Third. — To encourage Americans in business. Fourth. — To establish a sick and Funeral Fund. Fifth. — To maintain the Public School system of the United States of America, and to pre- vent sectarian interference therewith, and uphold the read- ing of the Holy Bible therein. Sixth. — To establish or erect an Orphans' Home, as a home for the orphans of deceased mem- bers, and maintain the same. As amended at the Minne- apolis session: First. — To maintain and promote the interests of Americans, and shield them from the depressing effects of unrestricted immigra- tion; to assist them in obtain- ing employment, and to encour- age them in business. Second. — To establish an insur- ance branch and a sick and funeral fund. Third,. — To uphold the American Public School System; to pre- vent interference therewith, and to encourage the reading of the Holy Bible therein. Fourth. — To promote and main- tain a National Orphans' Home. To an intelligent man the force of this grievance "dissolves itself in thin air." Why should there be three Objects where ont will cover all three much better as amended; then it reads gram- matically and euphoniously. The Beneficiary Degree was de- manded by thousands and almost . unanimously adopted. Acting under legal advice, it was placed as an Object in the code. The term " foreign competition " was eliminated from the First Object and " unrestricted immigration " inserted in lieu thereof ; yet what a " howl " was made over the change. Every one knows that the former term was misleading. It was taken from the Seniors a I the time of the founding of the Juniors and at that time suited 132 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER their case. They then were mechanics, of American birth, banded together to protect themselves from foreign-born mechanics working in the shops and who had an organization of their own to antagonize native-born workingmen. To-day, under present conditions, it does not suit the Order. In some sections of the country where the Order is not well known, the former term was generally accepted as declaring for high tariff, and in a Free Trade section it was hard to explain the term suitably. The term " unre- stricted immigration " certainly explains our true position much better. One fiery insurgent, in addressing a council, stated that the elimination of the word " sectarian " was " cowardly." It is anything else. Formerly we were pledged to prevent only sec- tarian influence. As we have it now it shows that we are opposed to any and all interference, both sectarian and political. THE RATIO OF REPRESENTATION Of all the changes made at this famous session, the one most condemned was the change in representation and the paying of mileage and per diem of all Representatives. This ratio of repre- sentation they claimed was " unfair " and " unjust " as well as " inequitable " to the larger states, as it was " taxation without representation " ; that Pennsylvania, for instance, paid nearly one- third of the expenses yet had only 11 Representatives to represent 75,000 members, while in 20 other states with less than one-third the membership of Pennsylvania, they would have 60 or more Representatives. This discrimination they claimed was " uncon- stitutional " " unwarranted " and a " high-handed arbitrary " action, and in consequence of such proceedings, they claimed the right to refuse to levy the National Council tax, which act rendered such State Councils insubordinate. Notwithstanding a great " furore " was created over this action of the Minneapolis session, yet the same " unjust " and " unfair " condition of things had existed prior to this time, still nothing was said. Scanning the records of the National Council, we find in its earlier history, that the representation of the states in the National Body were equal, yet Pennsylvania always had the bulk of the membership and met the larger portion of the expenses. We turn to the Richmond session held in 1886, and find there were six states represented, each with five Representatives, representing a membership of 15,182 ; of this number Pennsylvania had 11,534, or 76 per cent, of the total membership, with but 17 per cent, of representation; and this "unfair" and "unjust" and " inequita- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 133 ble " representation had already continued fifteen years. Coming down to the Cleveland session, held m 1891, we find Pennsylvania with 16 Representatives and a membership of 56,566, while New York, which joined in the cry of "unjust," " unfair" and '* in- equitable" after the session of 1899, had but 3 12 members, yet had five National Representatives, and the nine other states then represented, had 50 National Representatives for a total member- ship of 15,214. At the Asheville session in 1894, the basis of representation was made five from each state for the first 5,000 members, and one additional for each additional 3,000, or a major- ity fraction thereof. This gave Pennsylvania 31 Representatives, and every state entitled to a State Council, five each. The change of representation made at Minneapolis gave Penn- sylvania, with a smaller membership than she had at Asheville five years hefore, 11 Representatives, and to each of the smaller states three Representatives instead of five as formerly. A little figuring will show that in percentage, the ratio of representation of 1899 is about as it was in 1894. The change of representation made at Asheville in 1894 was a political scheme, as referred to in another place, and was never popular only so far as it served the purposes of the old-time dynasty. We have thus briefly referred to the few misrepresentations that were used to inflame the minds of the members of the Order directly following the session of 1899, to show how inconsistent the attitude of the insurgents was. Having fashioned the Constitu- tion of the Order after the Constitution of the United States, and these very same malcontents being parties to it, what arrogancy it was on their part to cry " unconstitutional/' " unjust," " unfair " and " inequitable," when every one knew that in the Upper House of the United States Congress, New York and Pennsylvania with their millions of population have no more representation than little Delaware and Rhode Island. No one hears complaints from the Knights of Pythias or the I. O. O. F. about their representation. The K. of P. has the same basis of representation as ours, yea, they go farther and stop with five Representatives, no difference how many members a state may have. A few years ago in seven of their State lodges they had 235,000 members with 32 Grand Represen- tatives; in 47 State lodges they had 232,000 members with 101 Grand Representatives. The I. O. O. F. is still worse, as Pennsyl- vania a few years ago had 106,000 members and the Territory of Wyoming had but 1,000 members, yet each state had tivo Grand Representatives. 134 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER l Mi; PARTING OF THE WAYS District of Columbia In conformity with the purposes formed by the leaders of the insurgents, that which was considered a threat became a fact, and the decree went forth that each State Council under the control of the . anti-administration people should defy the mandates of the Supreme Bod}', by refusing to levy upon the Subordinate Councils the National Council tax, until such times as by special or regular session the National Body should favorably consider the alleged grievances, which will be noted in their proper place. The first State Council to promulgate this incendiary order or decree was the District of Columbia, at its meeting, held at Wash- ington, D. C, Aiigust 14, 1899. Having refused to honor the National Council tax, therefore disobeying its mandates, National Councilor Charles Beimer, preferred charges against the State Council for insubordination, and suspended its charter, pending trial. Subsequently, the trial took place before the National Judi- ciary, the Court consisting of H. H. Eddy, Chief Supreme Judge, Harry S. Barry and W. L. S. Gilcreast, Supreme Judges. In a lengthy opinion, the Judiciary gave a resume of the pro- ceedings of the trial and their decision. The only question at issue was the "right of a State Council to decline to pay the National Council the revenue due it by the refusal to levy the per capita tax enacted by the National Council in annual meeting, or to other- wise provide for the collection or payment of said tax to the Na- tional Secretary by the proper officers of said State Council." The State Council, in its defense, submitted fifteen specific grievances growing out of the action of the National Council at the Minne- apolis session. The Court decided thirteen of the grievances mere criticisms upon the action of said session, or mere questionings of the wisdom of the judgment of said National Council by the enactment of certain laws. Consideration was given to the other two alleged grievances. The one was the forming of an endow- ment rank or insurance association, thereby making the Order an insurance company rather than a patriotic organization. The other grievance considered was " The unconstitutionality of the new and radical laws, they not having been ratified by the State Councils." In analyzing and summing up the pleadings of the defendant State Council, in justification of their act of the violation of the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 1S5 fundamental laws of the Order, the Judiciary Court announced the following opinion : "The power of taxation is a prerogative of Government. A refusal to pay taxes lawfully imposed threatens, and if sulliciently general and persistent, insures the destruction of government. " Under the Supreme Law of the Order the power to levy or provide for the tax necessary for the support of the National Council is lodged exclusively with the said National Council. To concede the right or the power of any other and necessarily subordinate body to refuse to collect and pay over the tax so levied or provided for would be destructive of the entire plan of the Order. " By a refusal to supplement the lawful act of the National Council in enacting a tax for its maintenance, the State Council failed to perform an express and ministerial duty. Were this otherwise, there would be an end to the National Government. The State Council failing to perform this duty, it must be competent for the National government, through its proper department, in this case the Judiciary, to defend and preserve itself. " The State Council of the District of Columbia should come into Court with clean hands when seeking redress for alleged grievances. This it clearly has not done. Our Order teaches obedience to law, imposes upon its members regular and lawful procedure and condemns insubordination and rebellion." By order of the Judiciary, the relations between the State Council and the National Body were resumed, with the further order that the proper officers of said State Council collect and pay over to the proper officer of the National Council by January 15, 1900, all per capita tax due said National Council ; and that in the event of the failure or refusal to pay over said per capita tax or abide by or perform the orders set forth, then the charter shall be re- voked. This decision was rendered on the twenty-third day of November, 1899, the trial having taken place on the eighteenth of the month preceding. Having failed to comply with the order of the Court, the National Councilor, on January 27, 1900, issued a decree revoking the charter of the State Council. Following the revocation of the State Council charter, the said State Council continued to act and operate as a body, where- upon the duly authorized officers of the National Council filed a bill in the Court of Chancery against the dissolved State Council, en- joining it from acting and operating as a body in and by the name of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. Testimony was taken before an Examiner in Chancery, but numerous delays of one character or another occurred, and when seemingly ready for trial before the Court, Justice Bradley before whom the case was to be heard, died, thus again delaying the issue. 136 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Without further reference to subsequent action of the Courts, at the present writing (1906) the matter in the District of Columbia is statu quo, the two sets of Councils holding their meetings as usual and going by the name of Jr. 0. IT. A. M., one set under the direction of the Supreme Body of the Order and the other and larger number acting independently, each initiating members as if nothing had ever happened. In these earlier years of the controversy, the branch of the Order's government that had more to do with the issues involved, not only in Pennsylvania, but in all the disaffected states, was the National Judiciary that had been created by the adoption of the new Constitution and By-laws at Minneapolis in 1899. The first National Judiciary appointed was composed of men of high stand- ard and fully qualified to sit in this court of last resort. The most intricate and perplexing problems were brought before this tribunal which were weighed so carefully that its decisions and opinions were affirmed in every instance by both the lower and higher courts, so far as they interpreted the fundamental laws of the organization. Eminent jurists spoke in words of highest praise of this tribunal and as Judge Audenried declared it was higher than the civil court in the adjudication of the causes pertaining to the Jr. 0. U. A. M. The National Judiciary sitting at this critical period of the Order's history was composed of the following brothers: H. H. Eddy, of Colorado, Supreme Chief Judge, W. L. S. Gilcreast, of Massachusetts, and H. S. Barry, of Maryland, Chief Judges. At the organization of the Court at its first sitting, Geo. F. Lounds- bury, of Colorado, was appointed Recorder. It might be added that A. D. Wilkin was one of the Chief Judges appointed, but subse- quently resigned in order to act as Counsel for the National Coun- cilor in the various suits pending, and Brother Gilcreast was appointed in his stead. CHAPTER X THE CONFLICT AT THE CROSSING OF THE CENTURIES (Continued) Pennsylvania WHILE New Jersey, New York, the District of Columbia, Virginia, as well as Pennsylvania, were affected by the revolt, the latter state was considered the battle-ground in the con- flict. Here the Order had its " Bull Eun " ; here also it had its " Appomattox.'' Owing, therefore, to the prominence of Penn- sylvania in the fight, in the courts of which state were decided the questions that upheld the Order throughout the United States thereby setting at naught the efforts to disrupt the organization, this chapter largely will be devoted to the Keystone State in pre- senting as concisely as possible a connected outline of the struggle from the Scranton session of the State Council to the final cul- mination of the conspiracy. SUSPENSION OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA The period from the close of the National Council at Minne- apolis to the meeting of the State Council of Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 19, 1899, at Scranton, was utilized with more than the accustomed zeal on the part of the anti-administration people, in inspiring the membership with a spirit of revolt by the publication in the press of the basest fabrications and promulgating on the floor of the Council chambers the grossest exaggerations relative to the proceedings of the Minneapolis session of the Supreme Body. With minds violently inflamed with resentment towards the admin- istration leaders of the National Body, the Representatives- of the Councils of the state assembled at Scranton ready to follow the insurgent leaders in any action they should suggest. More than 500 members answered to roll-call on the morning of the 19th of September, and the proceedings of the session were carried on in the usual way, the officers having been elected for the ensuing year. Nothing of an exciting nature occurred until the second day of the session, when, in the consideration of the Report of the Finance Committee, the storm broke forth in relentless fury. Whep it came to ratifying the National Council per capita tax of 15 cents, the anti-administration element precipitated the revolt by opposing i37 138 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the levying and paymenl of said tax, until such time as the National Body would redress the alleged wrongs perpetrated upon the Order, by rescinding all legislation enacted at Minneapolis to which they, the insurgents, objected. The procedure that culminated so seri- ously to the State Council, was as follows: A motion was made to approve the recommendation of the Finance Committee to appro- priate $11,500 for the payment of the National Council per capita tax. This was voted down by a vote of 326 to 177. Later a motion was made that the State Council Secretary be instructed to pay the National Council per capita tax when due. This was tabled. The State Councilor would not entertain a motion that the State Coun- cil would not pay the National Council tax, nor would he entertain a motion to fix the State per capita tax at any amount less than 15 cents. On the afternoon of the second day the anti-administration people carried a motion levying 9 cents for the specified purpose of paying the expenses of the State Council as per the appropriations previously made; this was followed by a motion to levy a tax of 15 cents to pay the National Council per capita tax, which, was lost; but an aye and nay vote was demanded. This was taken on Thursday morning, the third day, and resulted in its defeat by a vote of yeas 182, nays 324. This was practically the third and positive refusal to pay the National Council per capita tax, which was clearly an act of insubordination to the will of the National Body, and was rankest rebellion. In anticipation of the conspiracy aimed at the National Body, National Councilor Charles Beimer, Junior Past National Councilor Frank W. Pierson and Deputy National Councilor Bobert Ogle, as representatives of the National Council, were in attendance at the session, and when the final vote was taken, as above noted, the declaration of the suspension of the State Council, by the Na- tional Councilor, was made by Deputy National Councilor Bobert Ogle, as follows: " You are hereby notified that I have preferred charges of insubordina- tion against the State Council of Pennsylvania before the National Judi- ciary, and pending the trial of said charges, hereby declare the charter of the said State Council of Pennsylvania suspended." The writer will not, to his latest hour, forget that day. Confi- dent they were in the right, because they were upholding the man- dates of the Supreme Body, the loyal minority stood resolute and unmoved amid the " rule or ruin " majority. In the Chair sat that prince among us, the lamented George B. Bowers, gentle and UNTTED AMERICAN MECHANICS 139 generous, who, seeing the crisis, in one of the mosj impassioned appeals that a man could make, plead with the brothers to avert the blow that was sure to fall upon the Slate Body did they con- tinue to resist unto insubordination, by acting within reason. One would have supposed that such an appeal, so full of pathos and patriotism, that the most stubborn heart would have melted and the determined opposition so manifest would have been broken. But the effect upon that body of revolutionists was of an opposite character. When the State Councilor had concluded, several of the most violent of the insurgent leaders leaped to their feet, running down the aisles of the hall, flourishing their arms and shrieking Tor recognition, and with language most abusive condemned the noble and considerate State Councilor, and tauntingly and sarcas- tically dared the National Councilor, who was present, to suspend the State Council. The die, however, was cast; the power of appeal had no effect with men determined on disruption of the organiza- tion, hence there was nothing left but to suspend the State Council, and by one act 77,000 members were without a State head. As the loyal minority, the State Councilor, State Vice-Coun- cilor, State Council Secretary, with all the other officers of the body, taking with them the charter, records and all other property of the State Council, with saddened hearts, quietly passed from the hall, pandemonium ensued. An attempt was made by the insurgents to organize a rump convention, which failed, and shame-faced the astounded majority left for their homes conscious of having pulled their own house down upon themselves. Within an hour after the suspension of the State Council, scores who had allied themselves with the majority saw their mistake, but it was too late. They were told by their leaders that there was no danger of suspension, that the National Councilor would not dare take such an extreme step, and following them instead of those who were loyal, they, by their own free will brought upon themselves the culminating act. THE TRIAL OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA Pursuant to the charges made against the State Council of Pennsylvania by the National Councilor for " insubordination, re- bellion, attempting to disrupt and destroy the Order, and violation of obligations and laws of the Order," the same were determined before the National Judiciary at a meeting of the Court held No- vember 15, 1899. The Board of Officers of Pennsylvania were represented by their attorney, Alex. M. DeHaven, and made answer to the charges preferred by the National Councilor. In the answers 140 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER submitted, the respondents gave a resume of the proceedings of the Scranton session that lead up to the culminating act of insubordina- tion by the will of the majority, and the subsequent suspension of the State Council. The respondents averred that they were "not in their own proper persons guilty of any act, matter, cause or thing, whereby they, the ' Board of Officers/ are guilty of the charges." They also averred that it was not their belief " that it is the true intent and spirit of the majority of the Councils of the Order, that any act of insubordination would be ratified or approved, if properly submitted to those duly authorized to act." The fifth clause of the respondent's answer contained the fol- lowing averment, which indicates, what was the general opinion with the loyalists at the time, as to the real motive for the rebellion : " Your respondents further answer and say that from the various writings, publications and inuendoes, which were made prior to the said session of the State Council of Pennsylvania, they have been led to believe that the action formulated at said session was premeditated and deliberate and not in the spirit of brotherly love which always characterized sessions of the Order, and that the reasonableness, fairness and regularity of said per capita tax was not a cause in itself, which led a majority of the members of said session to vote as they did, but that behind this action there existed more sinister and cogent reasons prompted by feelings not germane to the icelfare and future prosperity of the Order, and that the amount of the per capita tax teas but a cloak to reach an end." The sixth clause refers to the reasonableness of the per capita tax and the willingness of the respondents to pay same, and adds : " If the amount thereof, as alleged by some, is excessive, unjust and unreasonable, that question must be raised in another form and not in the State Council of Pennsylvania, and at least not in the manner and form in which it was raised at the session held in Scranton on Sept. 19, and they further allege that the mere fact that more members voted not to pay the said per capita tax, than those who voted for it, is not an expression of the true will of the Order at large, because a majority vote is often reached upon a hypothesis, which is false from its very foundation, and that a majority interest when departing from the rules, regulations and constitution of the Order makes no binding authority upon the minority and that minority if within the precepts of the constitution and the law, is the true expression of the majority itself, and would be clearly recog- nized in the Courts of this Commonwealth, and the majority vote cast at said session is no more expression of and binding upon the Order, than if that same majority had by the same vote directed all the funds in the treasuries of the Order to be dissipated for objects unauthorized by the constitution and by-laws of the Order." As an evidence of the relentless determination of the insurgent majority not to to be reasonable in the controversy, at the Scranton session the State Councilor suggested that any alleged grievances UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 141 they had should be submitted to the next session of the National Council, and that he would entertain a motion instructing the National Eepresentatives to endeavor to secure redress therefrom; but no such motion was made. Previous to the hearing before the National Judiciary, the State Board of Officers sent a letter to the Councils of the state notifying them of the sitting of the Court and requested them to formulate any grievances they might have or urge as a justification for the action of the State Council at Scranton in refusing to pay the per capita tax, and that they might appear or be represented before the Judiciary, but no grievances were either sent or presented in person or by representative. A request was made of Mr. Pike, attorney for the insurgent body, to be present and present a list of grievances, but the chief counsel for the revolting body refused to furnish such list. The Judiciary, in rendering their decision, stated the general and axiomatic truth, that "the power of taxation was an essential prerogative of government," etc., as quoted in full in their decision rendered in the case of the District of Columbia. (See page 135. ) The suspension of the charter of the State Council having expired by the terms of the proclamation, the Court directed that on or before the 10th day of January, 1900, the amount of per capita tax due the National Council should be paid to the proper authorities, and at the same time ordered that the State Council officers pro- ceed to notify all councils of the per capita tax due for Nationnl Council expenses, and in failure thereof to pay said tax, they were to be dealt with in accordance with the law of the Order. And it was further ordered that in the event of the State Council failing or refusing to remit said tax or otherwise disobeying the decree of the Court, the State Council charter shall be revoked. It is scarcely necessary to state that the decree of the Judiciary was obeyed by the regularly constituted authorities of the State Council. DERRY COUNCIL, NO, 40, VERSUS STATE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND THE NATIONAL COUNCIL One of the fundamental principles of the organization where redress for alleged grievances is desired is to employ all means and every agency within the Order to right the wrongs before resort- ing to the courts of justice. This principle very early in the con- troversy was violated by the insurgents who, before all other means had been tried and exhausted, cited the National Council and the State Council of Pennsylvania before the courts, thereby not only placing these bodies in jeopardy, but in an embarrassing position 142 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER before the general public, causing great harm and retarding for years the growth of the Order. In conformity with the decree of the Judiciary, the State Council officers made the usual demand of the Subordinate Councils of the State that they remit the per capita tax, National, Orphans' Home and State. Alleging that the demand for the National Council tax was illegal, Derry Council, No. 40, acting by and under authority of the counsel of the insurgent element, went into the Dauphin County Court asking for a preliminary injunction re- straining the State Council and National Council from collecting said National Council per capita tax from the Councils of Penn- sylvania. The application for a preliminary injunction was made on December 20, 1899, which the Court would not grant, but fixed December 28, as the date for a hearing on the application for such injunction. By mutual agreement this hearing was postponed until January 4, 1900, at which time the hearing took place before Judge Weiss. Hon. John E. Fox and W. A. Pike appeared as coun- sel for the plaintiff, and Hon. W. U. Hensel, Alex. M. DeHaven and A. D. Wilkin appeared for the respondents. The National and State Councils were well represented at the hearing, there be- ing present, Brothers Eeimer, Bowers, Pierson, Ogle, Deemer, Barry, Collins, Painter, Lutz and Lichliter. Quite a number of the insurgent leaders were in attendance, giving " moral support " to their cause, while H. Wells Buser sat at the counsel table " coach- ing " their attorneys who seemed quite unfamiliar with the case. The counsel for the respondents were prepared to go into a final hearing, but the counsel for the plaintiff asked for more time. Entering upon the case for a preliminary injunction, counsel for the plaintiff was unable to cite to the Court any precedents in favor of such a prayer; while upon the other hand, Mr. Hensel, counsel for the respondents, cited a large number of precedents and Supreme Court decisions supporting his contention that the plain- tiff was not entitled to the relief sought. Apparently this was the view of the Court, for the preliminary injunction was refused and the 20th of January, 1900, was fixed for the final hearing. The bill in equity consisted of twenty-two specifications, some of them, however, explanatory, in which there was agreement on the part of both plaintiff and defendants. 1. The claim relative to the incorporation of Derry Council, No. 40, the respondents admitted. 2. The institution and incorporation of flip State Cnunril of Pennsyl- vania, as stated in this paragraph, was also admitted by the respondents. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 143 3. The same was also true of the third paragraph which related to the incorporation of the National Council. 4. The fourth paragraph of bill recited the provisions of Article VI, Section 2, of the Constitution of the National Council relative to the col- lection and payment of per capita tax as decided by the National Body, as found in the Constitution and National Council Laws prior to the session of 1899. The respondents admitted this part of the bill, but averred that the Order was now working under the Constitution and Laws as adopted at Minneapolis, Minnesota, June, 1899, which superseded those under which the National Body worked, and that said laws were now and were at the time of the drawing up of t he plaintiff's bill, the supreme, national, valid. and subsisting laws of the Order. 5." The provision of the article and section in the State Council Con- stitution providing how Subordinate Councils were to pay to the State Council their per capita tax and the penalty for failing to do so, as cited in this item of the bill, was admitted by the respondents, but they averred, however, that said provisions had no relevancy whatever to the obligations of the State Council, or of members of the Order to the National Council. 6. Both plaintiff and respondents agreed to this item wherein it stated that under the charter granted to the National Council by one of the courts of Philadelphia, " The business of the corporation is to be conducted in the City of Philadelphia." 7. The burden of this paragraph was that the National Council, " in violation of the express provisions of paragraph 3, of the said charter of the National Council aforesaid, did not meet in annual session in the year 1899, in the City of Philadelphia, nor was it decided by the National Council in the City of Philadelphia in the year 1899 tchat amount of per capita tax each State Council should pay to the National Council." The respondents admitted the averment as stated in this paragraph, but denied that such meeting of the National Council and the fixing of the per capita tax was in violation of the charter, because the meeting took place without the City of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania or that the levying of the per capita tax was illegal because of such place of meeting. The respondents further averred that the place of meeting of the National Council, which was a representative body made up of represen- tatives of the Order from many states of the Union, had been for years fixed by a majority vote of the National Body, in accordance with the laws governing the Organization, and by such vote and in accordance with established laws, Minneapolis, Minnesota, had been fixed as the place of meeting for 1899. " That in the proceedings to fix this place of meeting the delegates from Pennsylvania had participated and concurred in the selection of Minneapolis as the place of meeting. That at said meeting the business transacted ivas not the corporate business contemplated by the articles and conditions of its charter." The respondents denied further that all the business of the National Council was done outside of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania. They averred that the regular routine business of the Order was transacted from time to time and from month to month in the City of Philadelphia, where the main office is located, and the office had been nowhere else since the incorporation of the National Council. The respondents still further denied that the resolution deciding the per capita tax was not such a business that could be transacted outside of the State of Pennsyl- 144 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER vania; and they still further averred and declared that H. Wells Buser, one of the complainants and plaintiffs, " icas a party to and aided to secure the regulation that the annual sessions of the National Council should be held in such places as the majority of the members of the session should appoint, as provided in Article III (page 40), of the by-laws of said association in force prior to June, 1899; and in accordance with which Minneapolis was lawfully and regularly chosen as the place of meeting in June, 1899." 8. Paragraph eight recited the facts already a part of record, relative to meeting of the State Council in the city of Scranton; that the State body did reject a motion to pay the National Council per capita tax of 15 cents or to order a levy for same; and that it was not agreed upon in said State Council to fix any amount of per capita tax, and before such action could be taken the National Councilor suspended the State Council and it Avas adjourned without date and there had been no session since. The respondents admitted the statements in this item of the bill, but averred that after the failure of passing the resolution to pay the National Council tax, a motion to reconsider the vote thereon was taken and failed, " ichich action by the said State Council was final and con- clusive and determinate of the refusal of said State Council to fix or levy said per capita tax; wherefore it is denied that before any action was taken by the said State Council with regard to the raising of the per capita tax, the National Councilor suspended the charter of the State Council ; and they aver that the charter of said State Council was sus- pended by the National Councilor after the said State Council had refused, by vote, to reconsider the motion to pay said per capita tax." 9. This item of the bill referred to the vested powers of the National Council relative to granting charters, etc., and that when a State Council has been chartered it shall have full authority over the Subordinate Coun- cils within its jurisdiction. This provision under the constitution prior to the session of 1899, was admitted by the respondents, but averred that said provision had been superseded in part and supplanted by the Constitution and National Laws adopted at Minneapolis in which the following powers are vested in the National Council : " To grant charters to State Councils, and to provide by law for the issue, revocation, suspension, restoration and reissue of such charters." 10. This paragraph recited a section of the laws of the National Council as follows: "A law shall not be binding on a State or Subordinate Council under the jurisdiction of the National Council or a Subordinate Council under the jurisdiction of a State Council until such State or Subordinate Council has received an official copy of such law, signed by the proper officer and the seal of the superior body attached, or such other manner designated as official by the proper authorities." The respondents admitted that there was such a law prior to June, 1899, but averred that there is no such law nor regulation of the Order now in existence, nor was there at the time the plaintiffs formulated their bill. 11. Under this item the complainant averred that at no time had the State Council since the Minneapolis session received an official copy of the proceedings and laws of said session. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 145 This statement the respondents denied emphatically, averring that such proceedings and laws had been printed and distributed and that a copy had been exhibited at the Scranton session; that the procedure of said session was in accordance with said laws as well as nominations of National Representatives to the National Body were made as provided by the new laws in the early part of the session, and not at the end of the session as under the old laws; and moreover a motitfn had been made to lay over the consideration of the new laws until the per capita tax should be consid- ered, all of which showed, the respondents say, that there was a complete knowledge of the National Laws by the said State and Subordinate Councils. 12. This section of the bill complains " that at no time since the meeting in annual session in Minneapolis, in the year 1899, as aforesaid, has the State Council aforesaid, nor the plaintiff in any wise ratified, adopted, approved or accepted the acts and proceedings of the said National Council as the acts and proceedings of the said State Council nor the acts and proceedings of the plaintiff." This count in the bill the respondents denied, averring " that from the adoption of said Constitution and National Laws at Minneapolis, June, 1899, they became operative and binding on the State Council of Pennsylvania and on the plaintiff, and required no formal action, ratifica- tion, adoption or acceptance by either the State Council or plaintiff, and that they are binding upon them as the Supreme Law of said Order." 13. The thirteenth count in the bill was a copy of the decree of the Judiciary relative to the collection of the National Council per capita tax, and the penalty in the event of failure or refusal to so do. This count was admitted by the respondents. 14. The complaint in this count was, that the Secretary of the State Council, in conformity with the order of the Judiciary, had sent statement of per capita tax due from the Councils, in which was included the semi- annual tax for National Council purposes. This count was also admitted by the respondents. 15. This paragraph gave in full the decree of the Judiciary, com- plaining that an attempt was being made to carry out its provisions, and in the failure of the payment of said National Council tax, the charter of said State Council would be revoked. The respondents admitted the allegation. 16. This count of the bill read: "That the complainant does not object to the payment of and does intend to pay the per capita tax due the State Council, to wit, 5 cents, and the per capita tax due to the Orphans' Home, to wit, 5 cents, but avers that the National Judiciary does not have any legal existence, having been first formed and created at the annual session of the National Council held in Minneapolis, in Minnesota, on June 20th, etc., 1S99, outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and that its order therefore is illegal and not binding upon the State Council, its officers or complainant." In answer to this complaint, the respondents replied, to wit: "They are not informed, and they neither admit or deny that the complainant does not object to the payment of and it has intended to pay the per capita tax due the State Council, to wit, five cents, and the per capita tax due to the Orphans' Home, to wit, five cents; and they demand proof of the same. But they deny that the National Judiciary docs not have any legal existence, and aver that it has legal existence and was lawful Iv 146 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER formed, and that its order is legal and binding upon the State Council, its officers and complainant." 17. This count claimed that the Secretary of the State Council had no authority to " make the order or demand the per capita tax due the National Council," for the reason that the order of the Judiciary was illegal and that the State Council at Scranton had not agreed to its payment. The allegations in this item of bill was denied by the respondents, they claiming that the order of the Judiciary was legal, and that the notices sent by the State Council Secretary was done in accordance with his duty as an officer of said State Council. 18. The complainant averred that they had not in any way ratified, accepted or adopted the proceedings, laws, etc., of the Minneapolis session, nor recognized the legal existence of the National Judiciary. This was also denied by the respondents, averring that Derry Council, not having withdrawn from the Order, had ratified, accepted and adopted said laws and proceedings, and at the same time had recognized the legal existence of the National Judiciary. 19. This count averred that the complainant had been informed that one of the respondents, the State Council of Pennsylvania, through its proper officers, were negotiating a loan to pay said per capita tax, and in the event of which the complainant would be compelled to assist in the payment of same. This allegation was denied by the respondents. 20. The plaintiff in this count averred, that it feared that the penalty for refusing to pay per capita tax would be imposed upon it unjustly. In their answer, the respondents averred that they had no knowledge of the allegation as claimed in plaintiff's bill; that they are advised that same is not relevant in the present proceedings and afford no ground for equitable relief to plaintiff, and that they demand proof of same. 21. This item of plaintiff's bill, gave a copy of the minutes of Derry Council, at a meeting held, reciting the action of the National Judiciary, as herebefore cited, claiming same illegal, etc., and a copy of the resolution of said Council authorizing the proceedings for action in the Dauphin County Court to restrain the State and National Councils from carrying out the decree of said Judiciary. The same answer as in the 20th count, was given by the respondents. 22. The complainant further averred that it had no adequate remedy, therefore prayed for equitable relief as follows: 1. That the regular constituted officers of the State Council of Pennsylvania (naming them), "be restricted from levying and collecting from your complainant the said per capita tax for the National Council, to wit, 7y 3 cents." 2. That the Board of Officers, other officers, and Finance Committee of the said State Council, " be restrained from borrowing money on the credit of the State Council to pay said per capita tax to the said National Council. 3. " That the acts and proceedings of the National Council in its annual session held at Minneapolis, on June 20-22, 1899, and the code of laws adopted thereat, be declared illegal, invalid and null and void. 4. " That the order of the National Judiciary to the State Council Secretary, the State Councilor, the State Council Finance Committee and UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 147 the State Council Treasurer of the State Council of Pennsylvania, be declared illegal, invalid and null and void. 5. "That the order and decree of the National Judiciary revoking the State Council charter of Pennsylvania, on failure to pay said per capita tax by the 10th day of January, A.D., 1900, shall be declared illegal, invalid and null and void. 6. " That all of the other orders and decrees and proceedings of the National Judiciary be declared illegal, invalid and null and void. 7. "That the said National Council shall be restrained from holding its annual sessions and transacting and conducting its business outside the County of Philadelphia, contrary to the provisions of its said charter. 8. " General relief." The respondents denied that the plaintiff had no adequate relief and averred that they have proper remedy at law, and further averred that the plaintiff disclosed in the bill of complaint no subject whatever for equit- able relief, and disclaimed the necessity of intervention in a Court of Equity. DECISION OF JUDGE WEISS Notwithstanding the weakness of the argument of the plaintiff, in the bill of complaint, and the stronger demurrer filed against same, the Court sustained Derry Council in its contention that the laws enacted at Minneapolis session were illegal, and granted a permanent injunction restraining the State Council of Pennsylvania from levying and collecting the National Council per capita tax from the plaintiff or otherwise interfering with the Council, dis- ciplinary or otherwise. Without entering into a detailed quotation of the decision, it is simply necessary to state that the decision of Judge Weiss was based upon the fact, that the National Council having been incor- porated under the laws of Pennsylvania, and the place where its cor- porate business could properly be transacted, being Philadelphia, that the meeting at Minneapolis and the business there transacted ivas illegal because held outside the State of Pennsylvania, hence in the opinion of the Court, it was manifestly intended by the cor- porators of the National Body that the general meeting of the Body should be held within the boundary of the State and probably at the place (Philadelphia) designated in the certificate of corporation. On this phase of the controversy, the Judge said : " To characterize the Constitution and code of laws of the National Council by no higher title than by-laws for which they may have been intended as a substitute, it would seem to follow that changes in the governing charter by which the franchises of a corporation are operated and directed must be made by the corporation within the confines of the incorporating state. Especially oupht this view to obtain when it is con- sidered that at Minneapolis all constitutions, laws, decisions and rulings theretofore existing and made were hj the National Council annulled and 148 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER a new, though perhaps better system of ordinances or principles for the government of the Order inaugurated or created. " The view we have taken of the case renders it unnecessary to con- sider the other questions raised by the bill and answer, and it was only upon full consideration that a conclusion was reached respecting the invalidity of the proceedings and enactments of the National Council of Minneapolis. The right to levy the tax contemplated by the National Council when sitting in the proper jurisdiction is another, and, it may be a different question." In discussing the proceedings and acts of the Minneapolis session where great changes were made in the Constitution and Laws, many superseding those in former code, especially the article as to prescribing the sources of raising the revenue for the National Council, the Court claimed that it was not necessary to ascertain whether it had the power to do so, and added : " What concerns the view we take of the case is not so much the right to do what was done, as the acts which were done. We are not inter- preting the provisions of the section of the article, nor those of the chapter in question. Our conclusion is that the act related to a change in the fundamental law and was a corporate act." Hence the burden of the Court's opinion was that a corporation created by or under the laws of the state cannot meet in another state and create or recreate an organic and fundamental law by which its corporate existence is governed and perpetuated. And, therefore, it was his opinion that the enactments at Minneapolis were corporate acts strictly called. SESSION OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF 1900 While under the caption " History of the National Council," the procedure of this session will more properly find its place, still in order to keep the thread of the controversy chronologically intact, it is necessary in this connection to refer to this session, being equally important, in its bearing on the entire struggle, as the Minneapolis session. Judge Weiss having granted the injunction restraining the State Council of Pennsylvania from levying and collecting the Na- tional Council per capita tax, because in the opinion of the Court the Minneapolis session of the National Council was not legal, having been held without the State of Pennsylvania, it was made necessary to change the place of meeting of the National Body from Detroit, where it had been fixed by vote of the body at Minneapolis, to Philadelphia. In view of the situation, the National Councilor issued the following proclamation: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 149 " PROCLAMATION. " Baltimore, Md., March 28, 1900. " To the State Councils, Subordinate Councils and Members of the Junior Order United American Mechanics of the United States of North America. — Greeting : " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — " Whereas, Controversies have existed within the Order since the Minneapolis session of the National Council, questioning the right of the National Council to enforce its laws and to levy and collect a reasonable per capita tax for its maintenance and support; and, " Whereas, Deny Council, No. 40, of Hummelstown, Pa., brought suit in the Dauphin County Court of Pennsylvania to enjoin the collection of said tax from said Derry Council ; and, " Whereas, Said court ruled that the levy of said tax was illegal by reason of said session of the National Council having been held beyond the boundaries of the State of Pennsylvania, and upon that single point restrained the collection of the said tax from said Council ; and, " Whereas, An appeal from said decree has been perfected in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, pending which all the issues involved in said suit remain undetermined, leaving unimpeded the legitimate work of the organization under the laws passed at the annual session of the National Council at Minneapolis, June, 1899: " Therefore be it known, That the next place of meeting of the National Council is hereby changed from Detroit, Mich., to Philadelphia, Pa., and that said session is hereby called to convene on the nineteenth day of June, 1900. " Yours fraternally, in V., L. and P., " Charles Pieimer, [seal.] "National Councilor." Early in the year the National Councilor had been requested by certain of the dissatisfied element of the National Council to call an extra session of the National Body to consider the grievances they had to present. This the National Councilor declined to do, but assured them of his willingness to lay before the regular session of the National Body such grievances as they wished brought to the attention of its members. In connection with this offer, in a spirit of the most kindly conciliation, lie invited them to attend the National Council at Philadelphia, and in person, present their griev- ances, although none of the dissenting members of the insurgent states were entitled to admission to the body; and in his report to the body, earnestly urged that they be granted admission, if they presented themselves at the seat of the National Council. Apropos to this generous spirit of the National Councilor, the Committee on Credentials, consisting of Brothers Dr. R. At mar Smith, J. A. Tarpley and Rev. M. D. Lichliter, submitted the fol- lowing supplementary report : 150 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " Your Committee on Credentials beg leave to report that the follow- ing names of Representatives to the National Council are from the State Councils which, according to our laws, are not in good standing, but aa they claim to have grievances and wish to lay their claims before the National Council, the Supreme Head of the Order, we beg leave to report that we recommend their admission to the National Council, realizing at the same time that their admission is irregular, yet in the spirit of con- ciliation, we recommend their admission." With the exception of a few from New York, and they by the way were loyal, none of the dissenting members put in appearance, but they did send a protest against the holding of the session at all, claiming that its call was illegal and without warrant of law. Amazing inconsistency ! Having by their own action, through the Courts, declared that the holding of the National Council outside the State of Pennsylvania was illegal, and then when the National Councilor did what it was alleged came under the corporate act, call the National Council to meet within the State of Pennsylvania, and to be on the safe side, if the opinion of the Court was correct, in the City of Philadelphia, these same disturbers, with the intent to destroy what they had built up, protested against the meeting of the body. The following general protest was sent to the National Coun- cil, signed by all of the disaffected members, formerly members of the body: " Philadelphia, Pa., June 19, 1900. " To the Officers and Members of the National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M., V. 8. A. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — ■ " Whereas, This session of the National Council of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, is in our opinion, an illegal one in that the call for the same is without warrant in law; therefore, be it " Resolved, That all and every one of the States represented in the present fight against the grievances existing in and emanating from the said National Council do hereby protest against the holding of the said session in the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on June 19, 1900, or any other date subsequent thereto. " Yours fraternally, " Benj. A. Fairranks, H. F. Hummer, H. C. Dennis, Frank K. Muta, Wilson Husk, William Giffard, F. H. Haight, F. A. Long, W. B. LaRue, Alrert J. Crane, W. B. Stephens, National Representatives of New Jersey." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 151 " William H. Miers, Frank H. Lewis, Emmor Applegarth, Albert J. Smith, Robert Carson, C. T. Fisler, John Tichenor, Fergus A. Dennis, F. G. Sterling, L. L- Hansell, Joseph L. Moore, John C. Hayes, James G. Hayes, Past State Councilors of New Jersey." " William H. Meseroll, H. A. Kibbe, William P. Hayes, Past National Councilors of New Jersey." " F. E. Parker, Past State Councilor of New York." " W. V. Edkins, Albert F. Lang, Gustav Bacharach, Joseph S. Rice, Charles T. Preston, Joseph E. Menges, T. H. Baird Patterson, A. E. Pickering, Wilmer Crow, National Representatives of Pennsylvania." " H. J. Deily, William T. Kerk. Robert W. Crane, H. Wells Buser, C. N. Raymond, Past State Councilors of Pennsylvania." " Evan G. Badger, W. R. Stroh, Past National Councilors of Pennsylvania." "E. C. Garrison, A. L. Bradley, W. D. Hill, National Representatives of Virginia." " E. T. Keeton, Davis Bottom, Thomas B. Ivey, Past State Councilors of Virginia." " C. W. Tyler, Past National Councilor of Virginia." " Thomas S. Sergeon, J- E. Bromwell, C. M. Bigelow, William L. Boyden, National Representatives of District of Columbia." " J. Harry Cunningham, John D. Schofield, Jr., Frank S. Neikirk, Past State Councilors of District of Columbia." Along with the protests also came the list of grievances, and as a sample we insert one in this connection : 152 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " Philadelphia, Pa., June 19, 1900. " To the Officers and Members of the National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. SI., 0. S. A. " At a meeting of ' The Past Councilors' and Active Workers' Asso- ciation,' of the Junior Order United American Mechancs, of the eastern district of Pennsylvania, held Tuesday, June 12, 1900, the following preamble and resolution was adopted: " Whereas, The action of the National Council of the Junior Order United American Mechanics for some years past has resulted in the enact- ment, from time to time, of laws, burdens on various State and Subordinate Councils of the Order, resulting in a code of laws being adopted at a session of the National Council held at Minneapolis, Minn., June, 1899, so inequitable and so un-American that the majority of the Representa- tives to the State Council of Pennsylvania, in annual session assembled, protesting against the ratification of said laws deemed it their duty to refrain from voting a per capita tax for the uses of the said National Council, resulting by arbitrary action of the National Councilor, in the suspension of the said State Council of Pennsylvania from performing its usual functions, which action has resulted in the serious impairment. of the Order in the State of Pennsylvania; and, " Whereas, It has become apparent that if the Order is to regain the high standard and lofty position it had attained through years of unsel- fish labor for the upbuilding of American principles that radical changes must be made in the laws of the Organization; therefore, be it " Resolved, That this Association renewing its pledges of ' Love of Liberty ' and ' Regard for our Order,' and as forcibly protesting against the ' Enslavement of mankind ' by unjust rule and power, respectfully petition the National Council to redress our grievances, and to so amend •the laws as to conform to 'Equity and Justice,' to wit: " First — Bo enact, That all laws adopted at the Minneapolis session and all acts growing out of same, shall be absolutely abolished. " Second — So enact, That the laws in force prior to June, 1899, shall be so amended as to conform to the demands of present conditions, among others — So enact, That all States shall have just and equitable represen- tation in the National Council, based on actual membership and per capita taxation. " Third — So enact, That none but duly elected and accredited Repre- sentatives can at any time serve on any committee of the National Council. " Fourth — So enact, That the positions of National Secretary and State Secretary shall become entirely separate and distinct, and at no time shall these offices be filled by one and the same person at the same time. " Fifth — So enact, As to abolish the positions of National Organizer and Special Organizer. " Sixth — So enact, As to abolish salary to Secretary of National Legislative Committee. " Seventh — So enact, As to abolish all appropriations to any and all periodicals and publications. " Eighth — So enact, That at all times the per capita tax shall be as low, as is equitable, to an economical administration of the affairs of the Order. " Ninth — So enact, That the National Council shall at all times be purely a representative body and of limited powers. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 153 " Tenth — So enact, As to abolish all unnecessary committees of the National Council. " Eleventh — Favorable action on all of above seems, to this body, to be absolutely necessary if the betterment of condition of the Order is deemed, on your part, as desirable. " There are other matters of importance, which we trust will receive your consideration, to specify we would suggest that all charges pending against individual members of the Order, growing out of the existing differences should at once be withdrawn, as another instance, we would respectfully suggest that care should be used in construction of Subor- dinate Councils password, in order that same should not be misconstrued as intended to be, to say the least, suggestive. " Yours in V., L. and P., " Edward Wilson, " President." As to the business proper of this session, that appears else- where; suffice it to say, that the writer attended the session and was deeply impressed with the spirit of conciliation and concession manifested in the body. Everybody bore " olive branches," and the National Council unalterably committed itself to reconciliation and peace. Every protest that was read was given due and honest consideration and every demand was granted, excepting those that were manifestly unreasonable and impracticable, and as far as the dignity and honor of the National Council would allow, everything that could be done was accomplished. Yet, as the sequel shows, all the remedial legislation and generous extension of the " olive branch " to the offended brethren went for naught. THE SECESSION IN PENNSYLVANIA As stated above, Judge Weiss in the opinion filed with his decree, affirmed the averment of Derry Council that the Minne- apolis session of the National Body was illegal because held outside the State of Pennsylvania, but at the same time clearly intimated that the only course for the National Council to pursue was to meet in Philadelphia and ratify former legislation. This had been done. As referred to above, the National Council followed the decision of the Dauphin county court, met in Philadelphia, ratified all for- mer legislation, especially that enacted at Minneapolis, and no mat- ter what would be the final decision in the Supreme Court, to which tribunal an appeal from Judge Weiss' decision had been taken, the legality of the Philadelphia session could not be questioned. With a sense of shame and humiliation we approach one of the most disgraceful scenes witnessed during the conspiracy, exhibiting some of the lowest and most disreputable tactics possible, a fitting culmination to an unfortunate controversy, the insurgent's special 154 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER session of the State Council of Pennsylvania at Lancaster. The call for a special session of the State Council had been made by fifty councils and the summons had been borne in person to the State Councilor by P. N. Councilor Evan G. Badger, one of the leaders of the insurgent forces. The demand was honored and June 26, 1900, was the time set for the special or adjourned ses- sion. The Credential Committee was authorized to accept all cre- dentials, if properly made out, and give the Eepresentatives the password irrespective of whether the council had paid the per capita tax or not. Now comes one of the dishonorable acts on the part of the insurgents. A deputy sheriff of Dauphin county, at the suggestion of the insurgent leaders, put in appearance and met the State Council officers and proceeded to serve upon each a writ ordering them to appear at court in Dauphin county at 10 a.m. the next day to show cause why they should not be held in contempt of court. It was apparent at first glance that it was a disreputable trick to get the State Council officers away from the City of Lancaster on the day and at the very hour that had been set for the special session, in order to capture the State Body and conduct the business at their " own sweet will." By this despicable procedure the loyal State officers were placed between " two horns of a dilemma." Loyalty to the National Council demanded of them the enforcement of the Supreme law, and failure to appear at the Dauphin county court would subject them to contempt of court, and possibly, place them behind prison bars. Legal advice was sought and it was de- cided to postpone the special session in order to appear at court, and the following notice was posted upon the door of the hall where the meeting was to have taken place: " On June 25, at the instance of Derry Council, No. 40, Jr. 0. U. A. M., by its trustees, H. Wells Buser, George Spidle and William Carmany, process was issued from the court of Dauphin county, summoning the State Officers and the State Secretary to appear in their proper persons before the said court in Harrisburg, on Tuesday, June 26, 1900, at 10 a.m. " Therefore, we, the Board of Officers, find it necessary and do hereby postpone the special session of the State Council Jr. O. U. A. M., called for June 26, 1900, until September 17, 1900, at Philadelphia, at 10 a.m." The notice was signed by George B. Bowers, State Councilor; Charles S. Crall, State Vice-Councilor; M. P. Dickeson, Junior Past State Councilor, and Edw. S. Deemer, State Council Secretary. There were at least two hundred Eepresentatives in attendance from Councils that had not honored the demand of the State Coun- cils officers by payment of the National Council per capita tax UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 155 wearing badges with the word " Insurgent " printed in large letters thereon, which distinction the}' seemed proud to own. At the time set for the meeting of the State Body, a motley crowd gathered be- fore the hall where the meeting had been called, and seeing the notice on the door, James W. McCleary, of the insurgent body, read in a very loud voice said notice, declaring that their faction had nothing to do in citing the Board of Officers to appear at Harris- burg. This statement, of course, no loyalist credited. A " curb- stone " convention was organized with the selection of D. G-. Evans as its presiding officer, whereupon the insurgent body adjourned to their previously arranged place of meeting where the session was continued and concluded. Among the first enactments of the rump body was the prefer- ring of charges against the regular State Council officers for " Violating the trust of the members of this State in misrepresent- ing the State Council and committing it to long and expensive liti- gation in collusion with the National officers, in an effort to intimi- date and coerce the Subordinate Councils in Pennsylvania." Yet, as every intelligent member knows, it was the insurgents that cited the State Council before the Courts, and were and have been since, the cause of the great expense entailed upon the Councils of the Order. It is unnecessary to state that the State officers were not disturbed by this citation as they gave no attention to it. An amusing " stage play " took place directly after the organ- ization of the " rump convention " which indicated that every move made by the insurgents was " cut and dried " before the meeting, when, with a show of great importance, there was presented to the body a charier under which they were to transact business. This charter, the gullible Representatives were informed, was a certified copy of the original charter taken from the records at Harrisburg; and strange to say many of the Representatives thought they were doing business legally, when, as any one knows, for $2.50 a certi- fied copy of any charter ever issued can be procured. This was but a sample of many things done in the attempt to delude their followers. These sticklers for economy presented an amendment to the law to pay all Representatives four cents a mile and $2.00 a day, which it was decided must lay over until the next " rump conven- tion." The amendment only meant 25 cents additional per capita tax to meet an estimated cost of $18,000 annually. The following resolution almost unanimously adopted was a fitting climax to the proceedings. 156 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER . . . " Be it hereby Resolved, That the State Council of Pennsyl- vania, Jr. 0. U. A. M., severs all relation, connection and affiliation of whatsoever nature or hind now or heretofore existing by and between it and the National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. H., of the United States of America, to take effect immediately upon the passage of this resolution and that the State Council Secretary be instructed to notify the said National Council of said action." Thus the second act in the tragedy of the " Crossing of the Centuries " took place ; one more act yet to come, and then the " curtain falls/' so far as Pennsylvania is concerned, and the organ- ization that kept legislators upon the anxious seat, that brought Governors face to face with patriotic sentiment and aroused a sluggish Congress to action, was rent in twain and became a by- word in the family of secret fraternities. Having severed their connection with the National Council, as they supposed, by their resolution of secession, and acting under the laws of the State Council they claimed to govern, having elected and installed their State officers, they proceeded to " rule " and " govern " the same. Notwithstanding their action in severing all connection with the National Body, yet they did a despicable thing by sending broadcast the National Council password indis- criminately, regardless whether Councils had paid their per capita tax or not; and worse still, the password was stuck between the leaves of the proceedings of their " rump convention " and mailed as third class matter. In due time the hearing before the Dauphin county court of the State officers for contempt was held and the rule dismissed, but the costs were placed upon the State Council. In an official communication to the Subordinate Councils of the state, following the Lancaster fiasco, the loyal State officers had, in part, this to say: " Disunion and disorder has been their password and guiding star. The first act directed by them at that gathering was a resolution of seces- sion. The motion that passed, at least the entire subsequent proceedings became as of an outside, alien and independent body, and the property, objects, franchises, paraphernalia, assets, and name of the Order reverted to those who keep in line with the true intent and purposes of the charter and objects of the Order, and the powers and decrees of the courts of the State will be invoked, if necessary, to enforce those rights in the interest of the Order. " The mere will of a majority could no more change the original purposes than if that same majority had divided the funds of the Order among themselves. Majorities must ever respect the fundamental law which brings into being the Order itself; and when they depart from that, they cease to represent the Order, and be binding upon it. The same men who boast of the powers of the State Council, deny that power in the National Council, thus proving the falsity of their argument and faith." CHAPTER XI THE CONFLICT AT THE CROSSING OF THE CENTURIES (Continued) Pennsylvania ( Concluded ) IT may appear to the members of the Order without the juris- diction of Pennsylvania, that too much space is being given this subject so far as the above named state is concerned. This apparent criticism, however, dissolves when it is considered that the arena in the great struggle was Pennsylvania. Here the prelim- inary steps were taken in actual rebellion ; here first the courts were resorted to in the attempt to disrupt and destroy. Then again, more prominence is given Pennsylvania in the strife from the fact that here in the Supreme Court of the Com- monwealth was decided the life and perpetuity of the Order itself, not only for Pennsylvania, but for the entire galaxy of Common- wealths. Here was the battlefield where the insurrection reached "high-water mark," from thence to go down to ignominious defeat. THE FINAL PARTING OF THE WAYS September 17, 1900, found the State Council in special ses- sion in the City of Philadelphia. The unfinished business of the Scranton session was disposed of, officers installed and the ad' journed session came to a close in a day. The seceding body of the State Council was not present at this session, as they claimed that all the business of said session had been transacted at their " rump convention " at Lancaster. They filed their usual protests, how- ever, addressing the State officers as " assuming to act," etc., de- claring the special call as illegal and as an "usurpation of the rights, powers, privileges and franchises of the State Council of Pennsylvania," and closing with the threat that "whoever take- part therein does so at his peril." At the opening of the regular session of the State Council, the day following, at same place, the two elements of the State Council came together with a clash. No sooner had the State Councilor assumed his station and called the State Council to order, that S. D. Woods, the insurgent State Vice-Councilor, advanced to the platform and made the following demand : i57 158 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " I demand my right and privilege to perform my duty as State Vice-Councilor of the State of Pennsylvania, .Junior 0. U. A. M., and in the absence of the State Councilor to open the session of the State Council of Pennsylvania, and preside over the same." Still under the decree of the injunction of the Dauphin county court, the Supreme Court not having rendered its decision, and everything remaining statu quo, the Kepresentatives of both loyal and insurgent Councils were entitled to admission to the State Council. The State Councilor refused the demand of Woods and pro- ceeded to open the session in regular form. The insurgents being in the majority, were prepared to push their demands to the last ditch and acted accordingly. The minutes of the Scranton session were approved, but the minutes of the special meeting of the day previous were not approved ; whereupon, on motion of Jas. W. McCreary, the minutes of the Lancaster " rump session " were read and adopted, including the resolution of secession by the insurgent majority. This high-handed proceeding was the third and final act in the drama, and the parting of the ways be- came a fact by the reading of the following request by Brother Perry A. Gibson, of the loyal body : " According to the papers and records offered, filed and adopted at the State Council session, held at Odd Fellows' Temple in the City of Philadelphia on this September 18, 1900, makes it manifest that two State Councils of the Junior 0. U. A. M. do now exist in this State, and as but one legal and loyal State Council can exist, therefore all those members holding allegiance to the National Council, and to save harm to the proper rights, name and franchises of the State and National Council of the Junior 0. U. A. M., do now request all those who do not so claim to withdraw therefrom, otherwise those claiming do hereby adjourn to another place in this building for the transaction of such business as may be offered, and to finish the business of the State Council." The request made for the insurgent element to retire was re- ceived with jeers and cries of derision unworthy of men ; whereupon the State Councilor requested that the loyal body retire to another room, which was obeyed, and silently, yet confidently, knowing that they Avere in the right, the loyal minority passed out of the hall to the other room in the same building and concluded the business of the session without further interruption. Both bodies transacted their business simultaneously and each claimed to be the true State Council. As an evidence that there was a desire for reconciliation even at this juncture of the struggle upon the part of the loyalists, a committee on arbitration was UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 159 appointed to confer with a similar committee from the seceding body, the joint committee to arrange a subsequent meeting to con- sider peace proposals, or arrange an equitable adjustment of the controversy. ARBITRATION SCORNED Following in their order the various steps in the great con- troversy, the meeting of the Arbitration Committee of both bodies of Pennsylvania comes next. This joint meeting took place Sep- tember 29, 1900, and was composed of ten persons from each body. As was the case in every subsequent effort at arbitration in either State or National Council, this meeting proved a failure, if not farcical. As had been arranged, each committee had its spokesman ; upon the part of the loyalists, Alex. M. DeHaven, Esq., was selected, while the insurgent committee named James M. Crawford, Esq. These two entered into a colloquy, which, upon the part of Brother DeHaven, was eminently fair, honorable and conciliatory ; but upon the part of Crawford was entirely the opposite. In the effort to arrive at some amicable adjustment of the difficulty, Brother DeHaven assumed that neither side should waive its right as to which was the legal body, but that in the consider- ation of a compromise, the joint committee should determine which of the officers elected by both bodies shall continue as the result of such compromise, provided such adjustment could be made. To this suggestion the representatives of the insurgent faction emphati- cally disclaimed any compromise as they would demand that the officers of their body shall be the officers of the State Council, and upon this point they would insist. And further, when that point was settled, they would insist that they be given physical possession of all property belonging to the so-named loyal State Council. In short, they demanded an unconditional surrender of all offices, property and funds of the loyal State Council. Brother DeHaven suggested that they discuss some other ques- tions connected with the controversy, but Crawford would not agree, saying: " Unless you agree to recognize our body as the State Council of Pennsylvania, and agree to recognize our officers as the legally elected officers of the State Council of Pennsylvania, toe will refuse to consider any other question." Brother DeHaven then made to the other side the most fair and equitable proposal that man could make to man, that to settle the difference between the two bodies, and therefore stop litigation, they 160 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER would agree, as the representatives of the so-called loyal faction, to divide equally between the two sides the offices of the State Council. This proposition was flatly and emphatically refused, and the efforts at arbitration had come to an end. THE STATE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA SUSTAINED BY THE NATIONAL JUDICIARY The demoralization that took place in the state in consequence of two existing State Councils and two sets of State officers, can better be imagined than described. Man} 7, of the Councils, having taken a neutral position in the controversy, were in a dilemma and knew not which authority to recognize ; and, indeed, some that were loyal gave up hope of an adjustment of the difficulties and lost heart. In the meantime the insurgents, by press and tongue, hurled the vilest vituperations upon both the State and National officers, sending broadcast erroneous and grossly misleading publi- cations and circulars, and making on the floor of the Subordinate Councils the most violent and incendiary speeches. The Supreme Court of the state having reversed the lower tribunal, thereby declaring the Minneapolis session and its enact- ments, Constitution and Laws legal, which will be noted later, the officers of the State Council preferred charges before the National Judiciary against the alleged officers of the disloyal body, assuming to be doing business under the charter of the organization, and against certain other members of said disloyal body for insub- ordination, etc. A hearing was had on the charges before the Judiciary, in the City of Philadelphia, December 17, 1900. The plaintiffs, in presenting the case, simply gave a statement of facts relative to the entire trouble from the Scranton session in 1899, including the special session alleged to have been held at Lancaster in June of 1900, where the resolution of secession was passed, to the final break at the Philadelphia session in September same year, where two bodies of the State Council were put in operation. The National Judiciary discovered in the case at court two distinct questions: 1. The title to the offices of and the legality of the two contending bodies, each claiming to be the State Council of Pennsylvania. 2. The guilt or innocence of a number of the defendants as per the following Charge (No. 2) with specifications attached : UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 161 CHARGES 1. "That the said defendants, jointly and severally, have disputed and contested the authority of the National Council and its officers, con- stitution and laws, by resorting to the civil courts of the land for the redressing of alleged grievances growing out of membership in the Order, without exhausting the remedies in the tribunals of the Order, and have, by publication and. circulars inimical to the welfare and per- petuity thereof, endeavored to disrupt the Order and to bring it into ridicule and contempt. 2. " That the said defendants have, on divers occasions, commencing in the year 1899, and thence hitherto and up to the present time, in conjunction with other persons, violated their obligations to and in the Order, and have been guilty of offenses against the Order as follows: SPECIFICATIONS "(a) By neglecting and refusing to obey the Supreme Law of the Order, the constitution, and the law of the State Council ; "(b) By endeavoring to disrupt the Order by the passage of a resolution of secession at the so-called session held at Lancaster on June 26, 1900; "(c) By refusing to recognize and obey the said proclamation of Charles F. Reeves, the National Councilor, under date of October 15, 1900, a copy of which is hereunto attached and marked ' Exhibit B,' as aforesaid ; "(d) By the publication and spreading of various newspapers, peri- odicals and circulars among the members of the Order, in the attempt to bring discredit upon the Order, and to bring the National Council thereof into disrepute, a copy of one of the said circulars is hereunto attached, and marked ' Exhibit C ; ' "(e) The said Pike, Woods, Heckman, Mench and Badger by holding themselves out to be the officers of the State Council of Pennsylvania. "(f) By making certain incendiary addresses and remarks in the various gatherings and also in the Subordinate Councils of the state, particularly in the City of Scranton, on or about September 18 and 19, 1899, and the City of Lancaster, on or about June 25 and 26, 1900, and in Philadelphia, on or about September 17, 18 and 19, 1900; and at divers other places within the State of Pennsylvania. " That the said defendants, particularly the said Charles N. Ray- mond, James W. McCleary, William T. Kerr, Edward Wilson, James M. Crawford, C. A. Westerman, William Gundaker, John King, S. R. Kepner. W. A. Reese, Henry Markus, H. Wells Buser, Wilmer Crow and Harry B. Finch, have attempted the nullification of the authority of the National Council and its officers to properly manage and control the said Order, and have brought insubordination and rebellion within the same, and have incited Councils and members of the Order to commit the same and similar offenses." Relative to the status of the two contending bodies, the Court rendered its opinion and issued its decree on the 19th following the hearing, declaring the body commonly known as the " loyal organ- ization " as the legal State Council and its officers as duly elected 162 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER and installed and legally authorized to administer the laws of said body, and decreed that the officers of the insurgent body be " en- joined and forbidden from assuming or attempting to exercise the functions, discharge the duties or enjoy the prerogatives of or per- taining to the said offices." PENNSYLVANIA PURGED When the second charge was taken up there was a determined resistance upon the part of the defendants. The question of juris- diction was raised at the opening of the case, the defendants aver- ring that the State Judiciary not the National should hear the case. This objection was met by the Court in its opinions, holding that at the time the suit was ordered there was no State Judiciary; and if it had been organized, it could not have tried the question of its own status. The Court also declared that the case being one that involved violations of the Supreme Law of the Order, that it conferred upon the National Judiciary the discretion of taking original jurisdiction. The contention of the counsel for the defendants was based on a clause in the National Constitution : " The National Judiciary shall have original and appellate but not exclusive jurisdiction," etc. The Court, however, made it clear that the National Judiciary was the proper tribunal, and the trial proceeded. Charge 1. The opinion of the Court relative to this allega- tion was, that at the time the suit of Derry Council was brought, the only instance where the means within the Order were not exhausted, the law forbade a member from resorting to the civil courts to seek redress for alleged grievances; but no provision of the law existed at the time making it an offense for a body to so do, hence the charge was dismissed. Charge 2. Specification (a) being too broad in its scope and uncertain in its character, was dismissed. Specification (b) was considered a more serious question with the Court. Some of the defendants admitted signing the resolu- tion of secession; others offered no objection to the genuineness of the printed signatures, while two of the accused declined to admit the authenticity of the signatures because of the absence of the original copy. A demand was made by the plaintiffs upon the alleged Secretary of the insurgent body for the document, which was declined. There was no doubt of the guilt of ten of the de- fendants on this count since they admitted the fact; but the two who declined to admit, in the absence of the original copy, the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 163 authenticity of their signatures, there was a question for considera- tion. The Court, however, was ahle to arrive at a conclusion, which opinion not only affected this but other specifications in the bill of complaint. The opinion of the Court on this point was as follows : " We conclude, therefore, that defendants Wilson and Westerman were, by existing circumstances, put to denial of signature and proof of same. Failing to meet the issue, they must be held to have signed the instrument. We have no hesitation in declaring the proper rule in the Order's law in this and similar cases to be that the admission in evidence of a properly authenticated official or an alleged official printed document, carries with it the printed signatures thereto, and puts one who would deny the genuineness thereof, to the proof. " The reasoning and rule thus applied to the resolution of secession is likewise applicable to the printed circulars, proclamations and other documents in evidence in this case." Relative to the resolution of secession itself, the Court had this to say: " We now pass to the consideration of the meaning, character, and effect upon the defendants signing it, of the resolution itself. The signing and introduction of this resolution was an act done with an obvious pur- pose. Those defendants who signed and introduced the resolution, pre- sumptively gave heed to its every word, line and phrase; considered its purpose, weighed the result. We must believe that the signers intended to accomplish just what the resolution purported to do. Of this purpose the language of the resolution itself leaves no doubt. The act, gauged by the intention behind it, cannot be construed into obedience of supreme law; cannot be construed into anything but an intended refusal to obey, not only one of the supreme laws, but every supreme law; cannot be con- strued into anything else than an act of insubordination." The contention of the attorneys of the defendants relative to this act of rebellion, indicates not only bad taste and lack of pro- fessional dignity, but that they and their clients were heartily ashamed of the despicable procedure at Lancaster. We simply note the feAv points of their defense : It was urged by one of the counsel that the session at Lancaster was a "special session " called for special objects, and that the one relating to the resolution of seces- sion was not one of the objects in the call, hence the resolution was " illegal and nugatory." The weakness of such an argument is apparent to one not even a lawyer. Another of the counsel for defendants contended : " Nor was it an expression of hostility to the National Council. It was simply a protest against the illegal act of the National Council, etc." To characterize a resolution of rebellion as a protest was certainly a " joke " the learned gentleman was trying to " crack " at the expense of the Court. 164 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The next argument (?) in the contention of another of the counsel, even more than the others, was pitiable if not humorous. The Court was moved to say : " It remains to still another of the counsel for defendants in his argument in their behalf, to out- Herod Herod."It was this outburst of legal ability that moved even the solemn and dignified Court to turn away with a smile: " There is no law preventing a man from introducing a resolution of withdrawal from the National Council. The charge contained in paragraph (b) goes to the good faith of him or them who introduce such resolution. Any man, actuated by a desire to do that which is for the good of the Order, who introduces a resolution like that referred to, does so in good faith, and cannot be charged with an attempt to disrupt the Order. ' Disrupting ' the Order implies bad faith or sinister motives, and the burden of proof is upon complainants to show that Edward Wilson was prompted in being one of the signers to the resolution by such bad faith or sinister motives." It is not strange that the Court was constrained to depart from its usual decorum on the presentation of such a plea, and say: " It is at all times our intention to clothe with dignity, and treat with courtesy, arguments of counsel. In this case it is not easy to do so. That the question of good faith with respect to the signing and introduction of a resolution, the very essence of which is to destroy every tie that knits together the component parts of an organism, which, being joined together, constitute ' The Order,' should be raised by counsel as a matter of proper defense, cannot but create a doubt in our mind as to the good faith of him raising it." As for six of the defendants, this specification was dismissed. Specification (c) was passed by the Court with a brief opinion, holding that " unquestionably " the " proclamation of the National Councilor was founded upon and proclaimed correct views as to the true status of the contending bodies." However, the specifica- tion was dismissed, the Court basing its opinion upon the fact that there being an apparent willingness on the part of the rival body set up to adjudicate the rival claims, to adjudge them guilty would be "repugnant to the scheme of government of our Order." Specification (d) was not contested to a very great extent by the defendants, but in a lengthy and most careful opinion, the Court presented the facts and exposed the culpability of the men who, out of malice prepense, endeavored to disrupt the Order. The provision of the law relied upon by the complainants for the con- viction of the defendants, is as follows : " Any member of the Order who shall . . . publicly attack or scandalize the National Council, the National Judiciary, ... or the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 165 members of any of these bodies, shall be guilty of an offense against the Order, and upon a trial and conviction, may be reprimanded, suspended indefinitely, or be expelled from the Order." It may be interesting to the Order at this day to have a sample of the scurrillous stuff that was published by the insurgent " sheets " upon which, in part, was based the specification. Here are a few: " This activity on the part of our Councils and members is a most hopeful sign for the ' 324,' who are contending for justice and fair treat ment against the arrogant, despotic high-handed work of the National Council. " The proceedings at Minneapolis ( the National Council ) , were simply the end of a long train of abuses and usurpations, having for their object the reduction of the Eastern States under absolute despotism, and the foisting of an office holding oligarchy upon our Order. " It makes little difference whether the National Council restores or revokes its paper charter; we can live without that body and save money. . . . Let us stand resolutely opposed to the tyrannies, infamies and out- rages of the National Council." In another article occurs the following characterization of the N ational Judiciary in session, printed in glaring headlines : " A gigantic farce. A burlesque of justice. A comedy on legal proceedings. The National Council Judiciary goes through the form of hearing the case of Charles Keimer, National Councilor, vs. the State Council of Pennsylvania." In an editorial the following occurs : " And when this fact dawned upon the national administration they immediately set out to stifle and choke to death the will of the assembled representatives, and hatched up the conspiracy that ended in the farcical presentation of charges of insubordination." Another assault was made upon the National Judiciary in the following terms : " Probably our view of this method of determining disputed ques- tions, ... or alleged violation of law, is somewhat jaundiced, but if so, it is no doubt due to an exhibition given by the National Judiciary in Philadelphia when they affected to try the State Council of Pennsylvania on charges preferred by the National Council. We pray there may never be such another exhibition in our Order as occurred there, and we don't desire to be mean or sarcastic either, when we assert that for an all-'round exhibition of cant, hypocrisy, dignified jugglery and farcical results this alleged court takes the prize." A fear that we shall be charged with being prolix, compels us to desist giving a resume of the exhaustive opinion of the National Judiciary rendered upon this count of the charges. 166 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER But suffice it to say, it was given in terse and unmistakable terms denouncing the odious methods employed to scandalize the National Council and its officers. The absurdities of their claims was shown and the characterization of the " ways and means committee " was the climax of an opinion that scarcely finds a parallel in the courts of law. It was as follows: " This committee, in its personnel, were not only representatives of those in rebellion, but in a marked degree were leaders in a movement to coerce, cripple or destroy the National Council, and thus disrupt the Order. There is no defense that can be advanced in their behalf, and at the trial none was seriously attempted. Conceding the existence of grievances of the most grievous sort, the absurd, short-sighted, malicious and destructive method adopted to right them, deprived the effort of any virtue that it might otherwise have possessed, and put those making it beyond the pale of consideration." After dismissing the remainder of the specifications, the Court summed up its findings and issued its decree with penalties affixed declaring that " Defendants Wilmer Crow, Evan G. Badger, James M. Crawford, S. B. Mench, William T. Kerr, C. N. Eaymond and James W. McCleary shall be expelled from the Order. ... It is further ordered and decreed that Defendants Edward Wilson, C. A. Westerman, William Gundaker, John King, S. R. Kepner, W. A. Reese and Henry Markus shall be, by the State Councilor of Pennsylvania, or by his duly accredited deputy, reprimanded at a regular meeting of the Council of which respectively, they may be members, etc." THE MINNEAPOLIS SESSION SUSTAINED BY THE SUPREME COURT It is presumed that nothing in the whole line of procedure during the controversy in the Order came with such surprising and depressing effect upon the loyalists, and at the same time brought shouts of ecstacies from the insurrectionists, as the decision of Judge Weiss, noted elsewhere, in suit of Derry Council, No. 40 (Pa.), versus the National Council and the State Council of Pennsylvania, by which the respondents were restrained by a permanent injunc- tion from carrying out the provisions of the National Body as enacted at Minneapolis in June of 1899. Counsel for the National and State Councils having appealed from the decision of the lower court to the highest tribunal in the State of Pennsylvania, that Court of last resort, on the 8th day of October, 1900, reversed the decree of Judge Weiss, dismissing the bill in equity and placing UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 167 all costs upon the original plaintiffs — nominally Derry Council — but really the insurgents of the different states, who had to pay the bill. It was a sweeping victory for the Order and its announce- ment sent a thrill of delight and joy throughout every jurisdiction controlled by the Supreme Body. ' It being an important docu- ment, the salient features of the decision should find a place here. The injunction was awarded solely on the ground that the action of the Minneapolis session in levying the per capita tax upon the State Council was null and void because, in the judg- ment of the lower court, it was a corporate act by the body which had been incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania, hence the said body had no power to do a corporate act beyond the limits of the Commonwealth that had created it. The Supreme Court admitted the general proposition of the lower court that a corporation can have no legal existence beyond the bounds of the sovereignty that gave it life, but took exceptions to the opinion of the said lower tribunal, that the National Council was such a corporate body as should be subject to the general rule relating to place of the existence of a corporation and the limits within which all strictly corporate acts must be performed. Re- ferring to the incorporation of the National Council in the Court of Common Pleas No. 3, of Philadelphia, Pa., on April 10, 1893, under the provisions of the act of April 21, 1874, as being a cor- poration designed by the statutes as " not for profit," and the pur- poses of the Order as an incorporated society as named in the Objects (naming them) the Supreme Justice who wrote the opin- ion, says : " It exists as a great family to help and protect its members. It is of a social and not of a business character. It has no capital stock, and the making of money is not its object. Its aims and membership, as declared by its charter, are national, confined to no state or locality. A majority of its members and Councils are non-residents of Pennsyl- vania. Must such an Order, such an incorporated body, as diffusive as the limits of the nation, exist and act within the borders of the sovereignty that created it; or should it, a purely beneficial organization with its broad aims and objects and its brotherhood extending from ocean to ocean, be permitted, from time to time to act at such places beyond this com- monwealth as may be selected for the manifest convenience and welfare of its members? If the reason for the general rule requiring a corporation to perform its corporate acts within the state or sovereignty that gave it life, extend to this Order, it was properly enforced by the court below; but, if they do not apply, the rule itself should not, Cessante ratione legis cessat ipso lex. These reasons must be, as in any ultra vires act by a corporation: 168 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ' 1. The interest of the public that the corporation shall not trans- cend the powers granted. ' 2. The interests of the stockholders that the capital shall not be subjected to the risk of enterprises not contemplated by the charter and therefore not authorized by the stockholders in subscribing for the stock. ' 3. The obligation of every one entering into a contract with the corporation to take notice of the legal limits of its powers.' " The contention of Judge Weiss in the lower court that a cor- porate body must transact its corporate business within the juris- diction which created it, was given a different coloring in the decis- ion of the higher court. After citing a case the Court continued quoting from said opinion: " The reason of the rule ' does not lie in the imaginative notion that a corporation must dwell in the place of its creation and cannot migrate to another sovereignty, but rather in the hardship and fraud it might entail on shareholders to permit corporate meetings to be held outside the state. Accordingly there seems to be no reason for holding invalid acts done at corporate meetings assembled without the state if all the shareholders acquiesce in the holding of such meetings.' " Continuing upon the point at issue, the Court further stated: " In levying the tax it can not be pretended that this Order tran- scended any corporate powers granted; and the public which cannot fairly be said to have any interest in the powers possessed by this family Order, most certainly had none as to where they were exercised. It could make no manner of difference to the public whether the tax was levied in Philadelphia or Minneapolis. The public were not affected. The Order did not deal with them but only with its own members, its own private family. It had no stockholders to be subjected to risks, hardships or fraud, and it did not undertake to enter into any contract. Its rela- tions with this complaining Council (Derry) had already been estab- lished and presumably existed for years. The levying of the tax was simply providing a revenue for the continued existence of the organization of which these complainants were component parts. No reason there- fore exists for the application to the case before us of the release to cor- porate acts beyond the limits of the state creating the body and the appellant justly asks us to except them from it. Any other view would impel us to the conclusion that all religious, literary, patriotic or bene- ficial societies of a national character, scope or origin, which have been incorporated by the court, by acts of the general assembly, or since 1874, under the general corporation laws of Pennsylvania, were incapable of holding their meetings, transacting their business and adopting rules and laws at places outside the state." Here follows a long list of denominations having been incor- porated in Pennsylvania, yet hold, at their pleasure, meetings of their supreme bodies outside the state. The Court then added: " They have without question by any one, changed their places of meeting and acted in their corporate capacity from year to year without UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 169 regard to state lines or to the precise place of their incorporation. It would be a ruthless exercise of judicial power as well as a stretch of judicial authority to declare all of their acts and proceedings beyond our borders null and void, at the instance of some complaining or aggrieved member or congregation who excepts to a new mode of paying dues, because adopted outside the state. In levying the tax at Minneapolis no law of Minnesota was violated and no statute of our own commonwealth was contravened. Neither state is complaining, no power of the cor- poration was transcended and for the reasons given, Derry Council cannol complain that the National Council beyond our borders did what it certainly could have done within them, for the continuance of its existence." Following these somewhat general principles in the opinion, the Court took up the Constitution, Laws, etc., as enacted at Min- neapolis, in order, by a closer scrutiny, to ascertain whether the National Council had transcended its powers as a corporate body meeting without the jurisdiction creating it. After a careful analysis of the powers conferred upon the National Council by its Constitution and Laws, and its right and power to levy a per capita tax upon the membership of the Order to be collected through the constituted authorities of the organization — the State Council Secretaries of the several jurisdictions — the Court continues : " In the case under consideration it seems clear that a majority of Pennsylvania State Council refused to levy this tax and by their refusal became insubordinate to the supreme authority of the Order and resisted the enforcement of the Supreme Laws . . . Under the broad terms quoted from the Constitution and laws of the Order it does not appear that the National Council is powerless to enforce its decrees when the State Council revolts against its authority. The members of the Order hold a relation to the National Council and after it is given power to levy per capita tax and general authority to provide for its maintenance it cannot be said to exercise such authority only at the will of the State Councils. Neither the rate of taxation nor the aggregate amount of tax levied is determined by the State Council." THE STATE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA SUSTAINED IN THE CIVIL COURT Following the decision of the National Judiciary, the officers of the " insurgent " State Council cited the officers of the " loyal " State Council into the Courts of Philadelphia, on a Quo Warranto Proceeding, averring that said officers of the so-called loyal State Council were illegally exercising or attempting to exercise the offices, franchises, rights, duties, powers and prerogatives of the respective officers of the corporate body of the state, and asked the Court to restrain them from so doing. Answer to the allegations were made by the officers of the 170 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER loyal State Council in due time, and which were denied by the plaintiffs, to which the respondents made a rejoinder, whereupon an examiner was appointed and the case was subsequently argued, and, after embarrassing delays, Judge Audenried rendered his opin- ion denying the allegations and prayer of the relators, and declar- ing the so-called loyal State Council of Pennsylvania the legal State body, and its officers the legal representatives of the Order, duly elected and installed. The opinion was rendered May 10, 1904. It is not the purpose of the author to publish the voluminous proceedings before the court or to give the opinion of the learned Judge in his able decision, but simply to give a few excerpts there- from. It is not to be understood as being in the spirit of criticism of the counsel on either side, quoting Judge Audenried, when we state that the delay in the final adjudication of the case was largely due to the mass of irrelevant and immaterial questions raised. The Judge upon this point, said : " The pleadings in the cause are voluminous. Both sides seem to have been at pains to multiply issues of fact rather than to reach that true end of all pleadings, the affirmance by one party and the denial by the other of a single proposition. . . . We may note in passing, that many of them (requests of counsel on both sides for findings of law and fact) relate to matters, in our judgment, seem to be more interesting to the warring factions of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics than relevant to the question raised by these proceedings." After a restatement of facts of the organization, institution and incorporation of the State Council of Pennsylvania and the Na- tional Council, the purpose of their respective organizations, and the meeting of the State Council at Philadelphia of 1900 and the effort to adopt, as well as adopting the resolution of secession at the Lancaster rump special session, Judge Audenried says : " The meeting of these delegates ( at Lancaster ) was not a meeting of the State Council. The delegates attended it in their individual and not in their representative capacity. Their proceedings were not the acts of the State Council, and the minutes thereof had no place upon the record of that body. Under this perfectly correct view of the matter, the State Councilor ruled that the motion to approve and adopt those minutes was out of order, but an appeal from his decision was taken and was sustained by the delegates. " This action of the majority present at the meeting was undoubtedly unconstitutional and revolutionary. The enthusiasm shown by them on the vote sustaining the appeal, and the threats and menaces then indulged in made it quite clear that it was idle to expect an adherence to the ordi- nary principles of logic and justice. We do not say that the forms of parliamentary usage were departed from by the majority on this occa- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 171 sion, but these forms were perverted to carry out an attempt at an act suicidal and logically inconceivable, — secession from the National Council. One organic part of a body politic was to sever its relations with another." The strongest point in this masterly opinion, and one that, in its scope, is far-reaching, was the recognition of the National Judiciary as the Court of last resort in the Order; that, as a tribunal to adjudicate matters and grievances within the organiza- tion, it has greater power and possesses higher authority than the Court of Law, and it was on this principle that the Court based its opinion. Fully satisfied, from the evidence submitted, that the Judiciary Department of the Order was legally and properly con- stituted, the Court goes on to say: " The law conclusively presumes that every member of such a society as that with which we are concerned in the present case knows the obliga- tions resulting from its charter, its by-laws and its rules. They express the terms of his contract of membership. If by its rules a society, whether incorporated or unincorporated, has appointed a certain judicatory for the decision of controversies between its members in relation to its officers, or in respect to the right of membership, its judgment is to be regarded as conclusive. If courts of justice should substitute, in the place of such a tribunal, their own judgment, this would be to make a new contract for the parties different from the one they made for themselves. Where the contract of membership provides that a certain judicatory shall declare what is just in controversies between the members of the association involving society rights the courts cannot interfere. They do not sit to hear appeals from umpires, or referees so constituted. They will not inquire into what has passed in rem judicata in the regular course of pro- ceedings before the latter, provided that they have exercised their powers fairly and in good faith. This proposition is established by numerous decisions, and while most of them relate to questions of motion or expul- sion from membership, they lay the principle down very broadly, and the reasons on which it is based cover also such questions as are now before us." Acting under and by this principle, the only question at issue, in the judgment of the eminent jurist, was, whether, in the case before the National Judiciary at Philadelphia where the commonly called " loyal " body was declared the true State Council, every- thing was regularly and judicatorily established, and whether the opinion in said case was made in good faith. Reviewing the entire proceedings by which the National Judi- ciary was established as well as the case above referred to, the Court further says : " If these proceedings were regular and if the National Judiciary was lawfully established for the determination of such questions as those which have arisen between the parties to this case, it is plain that under 172 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the general principles to which we have referred above, the decision by that body must be recognized by this Court and followed in the deter- mination of the case before us." It is worthy to note, in this connection, the opinion of the Cou»t relative to the establishment of the Judiciary, a feature of the Order so bitterly criticized at the time. The Judge has this to say: " Strictly speaking, we are not concerned at present with any part of the new or amended constitution save that portion dealing with the establishment of the National Judiciary; but we may say that a careful examination of the whole instrument has convinced us that the changes made in the constitution as it stood prior to 1899, are only not unreason- able, but on the whole, very beneficial. The crude and clumsy work of lay hands has given place to a carefully conceived and xoell expressed code prepared by a skilful draughtsman." " The provisions of Article IX, by which was established a tribunal for the settlement of questions arising within the Order are especially to be commended. They amount to nothing more than a reasonable and excellent amplification of the provisions of the old constitution, by which the National Council was charged with the responsibility of settling such matters but was left no guide as to how or by what process that end was to be accomplished. The Article in question supplies that information." The Court was frank enough to express its opinion relative to the whimsicalities that, to a too great degree, characterized the membership of the Order, especially for a decade or more. The comment was made in the discussion of the Judiciary Branch of the Order: " It will be observed that this Article establishes a tribunal, defines its jurisdiction, fixes its procedure and practice, and in all respects fairly and fully meets what would seem to be the needs of an association of nearly 200,000 members scattered over the whole of the United States, and, if we may judge from the evidence before us, inclined rather to internecine strife over technicalities and the struggle for office than the carrying out of the purposes of their organization" The opinion of the Court was surprisingly brief when it is considered that besides the mass of exhibits in the shape of consti- tutions, annual reports, minutes, etc., the report of the Examiner consisted of more than 700 pages of testimony. The wheat was sifted from the chaff, however, of this voluminous mass by counsel on both sides submitting to the Court requests for findings of law and fact. The relators asked for 32 findings on questions of fact, while the defendants asked for 53. On points of law, the relators demanded 17 findings, while the defendants demanded 28. Outside of the main ruling, which directed that judgment be entered in favor of the defendants and against the relators based UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 173 on the validity and powers of the Judiciary Branch of the Order, two rulings if not three, as to questions of fact and law, are of interest. The first had reference to the power or rights and privi- leges of the " caucus." The twenty-ninth request of the relators for the finding of fact reads: " That a meeting or a caucus was held by certain members of the National Council at some time or place in the City of Minneapolis during the session of the. National Council, at which meeting or caucus the chair- man of the meeting who prepared the code of laws changed and modified the said report in many material aspects before the same was ever pre- sented to the National Council." The finding of the Court on this question was as follows: " We refuse to find as herein requested. A caucus of certain mem- bers of the National Council was held in June, 1899, prior to the Minne- apolis meeting of that body, at which the proposed amendments were discussed, and it was there agreed that at the meeting of the Council the members of the caucus loould endeavor to secure the modification of certain of the amendments to the constitution that were to be reported. " In this we see nothing irregular or improper." The statement made in this question of fact is erroneous. No such caucus was held before or during the meeting of the National Body. The twelfth request of the relators as to finding of law reads : " That the National Council was without power to change the Objects of the Order without a vote of the individual membership of the Order.'' This proposition was affirmed by the Court. In the main ruling, the Court had this to say : " It has been suggested that the attempt of the National Council without authority, to alter the ' Objects of the Order ' as expressed in the constitution, and the appropriation of the society's money to the carrying on of a life insurance business, puts that body in a ' state of insurrection against the Order ' and deprives it of its powers of govern- ment. To our mind, however, this argument is without logical bearing on the question involved in the case before us. If the National Council lacks, as we think it does lack, the power to change the ' Objects of the Order,' its attempt to do so amounts to nothing, except it be regarded as a preliminary step to its submission of the question of making such a change to a vote of the membership at large. It certainly had no effect to disband the National Council, to eliminate it from its place in the organization or to abrogate its powers of government." One of the requests of the respondents for finding of fact, referred to the adoption of the new laws at Minneapolis as in ac- cordance with the constitution and practices of the Order, "and 174 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER that the said laws are a material improvement and advantage over the old laws, etc." The ruling of the Court was : " We iind the facts to be as herein stated, except as to the change made in the ' Objects of the Order.' That change was not made in accord- ance with the constitution and practice of the Order, but was irregular and wholly void, unless it be ratified by a majority vote of the members at-large." The third point was relative to the famous resolution of seces- sion passed at Lancaster by the so-called " insurgents." In sev- eral requests bearing upon this point or findings of facts as well as of law, the respondents endeavored to impress upon the honor- able Court the fact that this act of secession was a complete sever- ance from the National Council, thereby placing those having connection with it without the Order, and at the same time it amounted to insubordination, in fact came near a conspiracy, and that their purpose and intent was the disruption of the Order. These several requests the Court refused to affirm, stating that " we do not regard the Lancaster resolution as effective to sever the connection of anybody with the Order." In another place in the ruling on this same point, raised in different form, the Court reaffirmed its opinion as to the authority of the Judiciary as the Court of last resort : " Before the relators can be read out of the Order or declared to be disqualified for office, they must be tried and convicted on charges reg- ularly preferred against them under the laws of the Order in the Order's lawfully established tribunal." Much criticism was aroused in some of the states over the ex- pense this case entailed on the National Body, the claim being ad- vanced that it was merely local in character. We are pleased to quote Brother Deemer on this point: " The report of the Board of Officers will give you the decision in the Pennsylvania Quo Warranto case. It is useless for me to occupy your time or use printer's ink in commenting upon this case. Its importance must be recognized by all. There is, however, one phase of the matter to which I wish to call attention. Members of other states have alluded to this case as a local one, and one in which the Order at large had no interest, and it has been objected that the National Council should pay the expenses of the litigation. I would ask whether there is any more reason why it should be responsible for the expenses in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and the District of Columbia than for Pennsylvania. The truth is that the causes which led to this insurrection were foreign to any grievances existing in these states. In the State of Pennsylvania UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 175 a loyalist was elected to the position of State Vice-Councilor at the same time that the State Council refused to pay the per capita tax to this body. " The truth is that these states became the battle-ground just as truly as did Massachusetts with its battle of Bunker Hill, or Virginia with its Yorktown, or Pennsylvania with its Gettysburg. " There was no local trouble in Pennsylvania, and had the officers identified themselves with the insurgents, and repudiated this National Council, there would have been no trouble in that state unless brought by this body, and it should be remembered that the case just decided in the City of Philadelphia was not a local one, but one affecting this National Council and worth more to us than all that it has cost." CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS RELATIVE TO PENNSYLVANIA We can only refer briefly to a few additional observations con- cerning Pennsylvania, as to the unfortunate controversy that stirred the state from end to end. The bitterness of the strife can scarcely be realized only by those who were in the " thick of the fight." The bonds of brotherhood were ruthlessly sundered, in many in- stances, between those who previously were fast friends, because of the contention, and intimate and fraternal associations were forever broken. Following the decree by which the Order was purged of the " ring-leaders " in the strife, there seemed to be manifested a more violent determination upon the part of the malcontents to widen the breach and disrupt as far as possible the grand old organization. The Councils to which the persons, who were ordered expelled, belonged, having refused to carry out the decree of the Judiciary and expel same, the State Councilor suspended the charters of said Councils and preferred charges against them before the State Judiciary, on July 27, 1901. Charges were also preferred against more than 100 Councils for failing to honor the demand to pay the National Council per capita tax. In due time all the above cited cases were regularly tried and, with two exceptions, those councils which refused to carry out the decree of the Judiciary to expel the members thereof found guilty of insubordination, had their charters forfeited, as well as 113 Councils for failing to meet their obligations to the National Body. The delay resulting from the long-drawn out litigation, espe- cially the case in the Philadelphia court as to the true State Coun- cil, intensified the unrest and doubt even among those who were loyal, and gave to those who were disloyal time and opportunity to still continue their campaign of villification and misrepresentation. In the meantime the insurgent element organized a new body, hav- ing no supreme head or national authority, and called themselves 176 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER '' Independent Order of Americans," which, at this writing, April, 1907, is still the same headless organization, drifting like a rudder- less ship, # purposeless and alone, without pilot or engineer. As with the National Council, so with the State Council of Pennsylvania, every effort toward arbitration and conciliation has been made by the loyalists, willing to arbitrate and adjust the salient points in dispute, even going out of the way to be more than fair, but to no purpose. The National Council, acting in harmony with the conciliatory proposals of the loyal State Councils, made, not only to the Pennsylvania insurgents, but to all others in every state where rebellion was rife, the most liberal and generous offer, only to be despised and trampled, as it were, under unhallowed feet. The proposition of the Supreme Body was, that by the payment of the National Council per capita tax and the National Orphans' Home tax, which were due at the time of the suspension of the respective State and Subordinate Councils' charters, the said Councils would he restored to membership. What more generous and equitable proposition could have been made? It gave to the disloyal element freedom from the penalties for their treasonable course as well as punishment therefor, and conferred upon them all the rights and privileges of membership in the Order they had so persistently tried to destroy. However, but a small number of Councils in the various states accepted the proposition. Let no one say that the loyalists have not been conciliatory and fair all through the controversy. To say that they have not, in the face of all that was done, is presuming upon the truth and at variance with facts. For four long years, nearly, the State Council of Pennsylvania waited outside the bar of the Civil Courts to know its destiny. Hope would rise then fall as to promise of speedy determination, yet the faith of the faithful never wavered, though the "lane was long," that vindication would come; and it did come, blessed be God, in the triumphant decision of Judge Audenried, May 10, 1904. What a thrill went through the great heart of the brotherhood not only in Pennsylvania, but throughout the union of states from the Lakes to the Gulf, and from the rough surges of the Atlantic to the calmer waters of the Pacific. Hope almost dead in many a heart sprang up bright-eyed, and with purer patriotism and a nobler purpose the loyalists pushed to the front holding out the cordial hand, answering to the throbs of a warmer heart, inviting back into the fold those who had stood aloof until the status of the contend- ing State Councils was decided. As the result of this decision, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 177 scores of neutral Councils returned, or rather acknowledged the loyal Body, and thousands of members were again enrolled upon the records of the Order. Tiring of their company, insurgent Councils returned to the fellowship of the Junior brotherhood, and more are coming as we write these cheering lines. So marked was the effect of the decision, that by December 31, 1904, record- ing to the report of the State Council Secretary, fifty-seven Councils had been reinstated, bringing to the State Body 6,714 members, making a net increase for the year of 10,227 members. SUITS Or STATE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA VS. DUQUESNE COUNCIL, NO. 110, AND JAMES G. BLAINE COUNCIL, NO. 766 The latest phase of litigation affecting Pennsylvania was decided, so far as the lower Courts are concerned, November 23, 1906, by Judge Over, in the Pittsburg Orphans' Court, and August 27, 1907, by Judge Audenried, in Common Pleas Court, No. 4, Philadelphia. The State Council of Pennsylvania brought action against Duquesne Council, No. 110, and James G. Blaine Council, No. 766, connected with the Order of Independent Americans, to secure possesion of the funds of said Councils, they being test cases. Judge Over dismissed the suit, his opinion, in part, being as follows: " The purpose of the fund was to relieve members of Duquesne Council, who were in distress by reason of sickness, or their families by reason of a member's death. The State organization has no fund of this character, nor any law providing for the distribution of the fund, and it does not appear that it could execute this purpose if the fund were paid to it. If, then, the fund be paid to the plaintiff, it holds it as trustee for unknown beneficiaries; it cannot ascertain them; the purposes of the trust could not be fulfilled, and it would hold the fund in perpetuity. On the other hand, the defendants, acting in good faith, paid out the trust fund in dispute to the persons and for the purposes for which it was contributed. Surely, in view of these facts, a Court of Equity would not enforce a forfeiture of the trust fund, and thus defeat the purposes of the trust. " The funds of said Council are a sick and funeral benefit fund, accumulated by voluntary contributions of the members thereof, and to which only members of said Council have contributed or can contribute and of which only members of their designated beneficiaries are, or can be, bene- ficiaries, and are held by trustees elected by the contributors thereof. And the fund is, under the laws of the said Order, left to the control and discretionary management and disposition of said defendant Council. " The plaintiff has not shown or named any beneficiary of the trust alleged in plaintiff's bill, or any beneficiary of the said trust fund in 178 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER hands of defendant Council, except the members of defendant Council, plaintiff has not shown any diversion of said trust fund or any threatened diversion of the same." Judge Audenried, however, in a very able decision, rendered as per date above noted, takes an entire opposite view of the con- troversy from Judge Over, and decided in favor of the plaintiff, the State Council of Pennsylvania. The text of the opinion, how- ever, is too long to quote, but a few excerpts follow to indicate the trend. The question of the property in contention, in the opinion of the Court, resolved itself into two classes: First, money, para- phernalia and other property in the hands of said Council and its authorized custodians at the time the charter of the Council was revoked, January 6, 1903. Second, money and other property received by said Council subsequent to the revocation of its charter. In answer to the first question, the Court was clear and explicit in its opinion claiming that all money and property belonged to the State Council at the time the charter was revoked. After citing at length the provisions of the Constitution and the By-laws of the Order relative to the collection of money by Councils and the pur- poses for which it is collected, etc., the eminent jurist said : " The reasonable construction of these various provisions is that the contributions received from the members by way of dues constitute a fund impressed with a trust that it shall not be used by the subordinate Council by which it has been received, except: first, to pay the per capita taxes assessed by the National Council against the Subordinate Council; second, to pay the per capita taxes assessed by the State Council against the Subordinate Council; third, to pay benefits to sick and disabled mem- bers in good standing in the Order; and fourth, to pay funeral benefits on the death of members in good standing. Any surplus may be applied \o such other purposes as the Subordinate Council may deem judicious, but after the revocation of the warrant or charter of a Subordinate Coun- cil this power ceases. A Council exists only by virtue of a warrant or charter issued in accordance with the National Laws. After the revo- cation of the warrant under which a Council was formed, so far as concerns the Order, its members and its powers, it is as if there were no such body, and, of course, those who formerly composed it may no longer act together in the quasi corporate capacity theretofore accorded to them. There can therefore, in such a case, no longer be a purpose ' deemed judicious ' by the Council. " Our conclusion upon this branch of our inquiry is that the money, paraphernalia and property of every kind in the hands of the James G. Blaine Council, No. 766, or in the hands of the officers or trustees for its purposes and under its control, at the time of the revocation of its warrant on January 6, 1903, constituted a Trust Fund for the purpose of paying the taxes assessed on said Council prior to that date by the National Council and by the State Council and for the further purpose of paying, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 179 in accordance with Sections 2 and 3 of Article 10, of the Subordinate Council Constitution, sick benefits to members of the Junior Order United American Mechanics formerly associated together under the name of the James G. Blaine Council, No. 766, and continuing to be of good standing in the Order, and funeral benefits, on the death of such members, to their representatives. " The next question arising is, why should not the money, para- phernalia and other property in the hands of James G. Blaine Council, No. 766, or its officers or trustees, remain where they were on January 6, 1903? The answer to this question is found in the proposition that, so far as concerns the Junior Order United American Mechanics, that Council no longer is in existence. The laws of the Order contemplates the existence of a Subordinate Council as a necessary condition to the continuance of its right to hold property of any kind for any purpose." The next point considered by the Court was the question whether James G. Blaine Council was no longer existent. It was contended by the defendant that the adjudication of the State Judiciary that revoked the charter of said Council was invalid and of no effect, and prayed the Court to so declare. The basis of the defendant's plea was threefold, viz. : 1. The State Judiciary was not a legally established tribunal. 2. The proceedings in the case were defective and irregular. 3. The tax that the Council refused to pay was unlawful. The first objection raised by the defendant was a thread-bare plea, claiming that the laws enacted at Minneapolis had no binding force because the National Council amended the National Constitu- tion by changing the so-called " Objects of the Order," thereby exceeding its powers, hence the tribunal known as the State Judi- ciary did not exist because the National Council exceeded its powers in the re-statement of the Objects of the Order in somewhat differ- ent words, adding thereto a new Object by the establishment of an Insurance Branch. The plaintiff, however, conceded the point that the National Council did exceed its powers and that so far as the change of the Objects were concerned it was nugatory and inopera- tive (subsequently the change of the Objects was submitted to the membership and thereby made operative). With this conces- sion the Court concurred, hitherto having so decided; but in as clear opinion as ever was rendered during the entire controversy in the Order, the Court showed the utter fallacy of the objection : " It by no means follows from these facts, however, that the attempt of the National Council to change the objects or purposes for which the Order had been established, operated to destroy the Order's frame of government and to disband its membership. In our judgment no greater effect can possibly be ascribed to this effort of the National Council than would be ascribed to a piece of unconstitutional legislation in which a 180 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER State Legislature might indulge. The enactment of an unconstitutional law amounts to nothing. It is as if no legislative action had been taken. The General Assembly might, if it pleased, pass a bill declaring that it thereby amended the Constitution, but no result would follow. The Con- stitution would remain just as it was adopted by the people. The existing laws of the Commonwealth would continue to be enforced by its executive officers. The courts of the Commonwealth would sit as required by law. The General Assembly would continue its work, and the members of that body who had voted for the bill that violated the Constitution would not be disturbed in their places until their terms ended and, perhaps, not even then. Nobody would for one moment think that the bonds of govern- ment were broken, that the. Commonwealth had collapsed, that the town- ships or counties of the state were left to wander about in space at their own volition, or that the reign of law had ended. Why a contrary rule should apply to the case of the Junior Order United American Mechanics it is impossible to conceive. The alteration of the ' Objects of the Order ' was a thing too high for the National Council to effect. It could not be accomplished except by the consent of the majority of the members of the Order. Until their acquiescence was obtained, the tampering of the National Council with that part of the fundamental compact did not change it. In other respects, however, the National Council could and did alter the Constitution. Where this was the case, their enactments were operative and effective. Where the former laws of the Order were not inconsistent with these changes, those laws continued in operation, and with them any new laws constitutionally enacted by either the National Council or the State Council. Insofar, therefore, as the State Judiciary depends for its existence on the proposition that the laws of the Order were abrogated and annulled and the Order disbanded by the attempted alteration of its ' Objects ' by the National Council, its status, rights and powers cannot be successfully questioned." The Court treated the other two objections in like manner, denying the argument presented by the counsel for the defendant, and decided that the punishment inflicted on the said Council by the State Judiciary was legally imposed, that it was a proper punishment under the existing laws of the Order, therefore James G. Blaine Council ceased to exist, so far as any rights in the Jr. 0. IT. A. M. was concerned, on January 6, 1903. The Court further declared that the money in the hands of said Council when its charter was revoked was simply a trust fund, and that the effect of the revocation of the warrant of the Council on said prop- erty was merely to substitute the State Council of Pennsylvania in its place as succeeding trustee of the fund. All property, para- phernalia, etc., at the same time reverted to the State Council. Judge Audenried, however, decided that all money and property acquired by the said Council after the revocation of its charter did not belong to the State Council of Pennsylvania, as the said Council did not exist subsequent to the revocation, and so far as UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 181 the State Council was concerned, it was a disbanded council and the plaintiff had no right to its property secured after its charter had been revoked. The jurist then concluded his opinion : " The contributors of this money had manifestly no end in view but their own private purposes when they paid it to the defendant cor- poration. The money they paid is held for them by the defendant upon whatever trust was agreed upon between it and them; and with that money the plaintiff has no concern either as beneficial owner or as suc- ceeding trustee." WILMER CROW VS. CAPITAL CITY COUNCIL Wilmer Crow, who was expelled from Capital City Council by order of the National Judiciary, resisted the decree by petition- ing the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County, Pa., for a mandamus upon the aforesaid Council to restore him to member- ship. The cause was heard before the Court without a jury, which resulted in a judgment for the plaintiff and that a peremptory writ of mandamus be issued, from which judgment the defendant Council, through its counsel, A. D. Wilkin, Esq., took an appeal to the Superior Court of the state. The case was heard before that tribunal, and in an opinion by Judge Orlady, the lower Court was reversed and the writ of mandamus lifted. After citing the causes that brought about the expulsion of the said Crow, he having violated the Supreme Laws of the Order, and failing to appear before the National Judiciary, and when found guilty not taking advantage of the provisions of the laws of the Order in asking a rehearing, the Court not only affirmed the right of the Order to exercise strict disciplinary authority over its members, but the power of the Order's Court of last resort, the National Judiciary, to decide all controversies between mem- bers of the grand or subordinate Councils. The learned jurist then adds: " The decision of such courts of last resort must be accepted and obeyed as representing what is best for the organization. In interpreting the rules and regulations prescribed by their laws, the civil courts are always inclined to sustain them, and mere informality in the proceedings for removal will not justify interference by mandamus when it is evident that there was just grounds for expulsion and that the accused has been acting in hostility to the organization." In substance the Court held that Crow had been accorded a full and fair hearing, the proceedings of the National Judiciary being regular and conducted in " good faith," and the proper find- ings and judgment had been entered therefore denying that there was any ground for a mandamus. CHAPTER XII THE CONFLICT AT THE CROSSING OF THE CENTURIES (Concluded) New Jersey Withdraws from the National Council y WENTY-TWO members of the National Council, composing 1 the delegation from New Jersey, answered to roll-call at Minneapolis June 20, 1899. With one exception, Brother W. J. Smythe, the delegation was generally a unit in their opposition to the measures adopted at the session, and the preliminary sug- gestion of revolt came from a member of the delegation. Follow- ing the adoption of the new laws, two statutes were adopted, one relative to certain amendments concerning the National Orphans' Home and the other as to loaning $5,000 to the Board of Control of the Beneficiary Degree. The records show that New Jersey " sulked in the camp " as to the first bill, but two, Rollinson and Smythe, voting aye, while the remainder of the delegation refused to vote at all. On bill No. 2, Smythe voted aye, while 10 of the balance of the delegation voted nay. Filled with bitter resentment towards the administration and wholly disliking the legislation enacted, the brothers from New Jersey left the session with the determination to rebel against the mandates of the National Council. Before leaving, however, a caucus of the malcontents was held, where plans were formulated looking towards resistance to the National Council, and a meeting was arranged to be held in the City of Trenton, New Jersey, to promulgate their treasonable designs. To such an extent were the purposes of the dissatisfied members of the National Body a settled fact, that in the corridor of the hotel, one of the New Jersey Past State Councilors confided to the writer, or rather uttered the threat, that they would put the National Council " out of business " by having Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and the District of Columbia withdraw their support from the National Body. Following the meeting held in Trenton, some time subsequent to the National session at Minneapolis, circulars, incendiary in their character, signed by Pike, of Pennsylvania; Miers, of New Jersey; Keeton, of Virginia; Boyden, of the District of Columbia, and Parker, of New York, were sent broadcast throughout the dis- 182 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 183 affected states villifying the National Council and asking the Councils to instruct their Representatives to the State Council to vote against the payment of any further National Council tax, and to refuse to recognize or accept the new laws. About the same time there came forth a nondescript " sheet," with no name of either publisher or editor printed thereon, known as the " New Jersey Junior American Mechanic — Pennsylvania Edition," which paper added much to the spread of rebellious sentiments by the publication of the basest fabrications and bitterest innuendoes. To what extent the members of New Jersey were responsible for the existence of the paper and the gross misrepresentations it con- tained, we are unable to state, but it brought woe to certain mem- bers from Pennsylvania who, because of their part in the publica- tion of articles in same, were expelled from the Order. The State Council of New Jersey met in annual session, the thirty-first, at Trenton, October 25, 1899, at which time the State Body carried out the same procedure that characterized the action of the State Council of Pennsylvania the month previous, by adopting the following recommendations as submitted by the Board of Officers: 1. " That this State Council refuse to accept or recognize in any manner the laws adopted by the National Council at Minneapolis session or any other acts of said session. 2. " That the Board of Officers be instructed to refuse to pay any per capita tax whatever to the National Council until it has rescinded its illegally adopted and objectionable laws. Furthermore, that we demand fair and full representation in the National Council according to our membership and taxation. 3. " That the Board of Officers be instructed to engage legal counsel, if in their judgment it is deemed best for the protection of our interests in the Order, and to authorize the taking of such legal proceedings as may be necessary for the protection of the State Council, each Subordinate Council and any member thereof, against any interference whatever by the National Council or its officers." Previous to the meeting of the State Council, National Coun- cilor Charles Reimer instructed the Deputy National Councilor for New Jersey, Albert Robinson, of Allentown, N. J., to refuse to install the officers of said State Council in the event of any in- subordinate act on the part of the State Council by refusal or failure to comply with the Supreme Law. The same instructions had been given the Deputies for Pennsylvania and Virginia, and were complied with; but very unexpectedly, the Deputy for New Jersey resigned his office, and, as the National Councilor puts it, " and at such a time as to lead me to believe that he did so for 184 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the purpose of preventing the National Council from being repre- sented at the session of the State Council which was held on the 25th of October." On the receipt of the resignation of the Deputy, which was on the morning of the day the State Council of New Jersey con- vened, the National Councilor appointed Past State Councilor J. T. Bitter, of Maryland, in his place; but as he could not attend until the next day, October 26, the Deputy, upon his arrival at Trenton, learned that the State Council had adjourned sine die the night before, having been in session but a single day. One section of the letter in which was contained the resignation of Kob- inson, is significant: " I regret the conditions which make this step necessary. It is one thing to urge upon the members of the State Council the policy of sub- mitting temporarily to unfair laws that deprive us of our rightful repre- sentation; it is another to be a party to inflicting penalties upon those who, feeling that ' taxation without representation is tyranny,' propose to withhold taxation until their wrongs are righted." Having committed an act of insubordination, the National Councilor preferred charges against the State Council of New Jersey, and mailed same in registered letter to William H. Miers, State Council Secretary, but that officer refused to receive the letter, whereupon the National Councilor appointed Brother Robert Ogle, Special Deputy National Councilor, and instructed him to deliver said letter, with the copy of charges, in person to the State Council Secretary, which he did. Prior to the sitting of the National Judiciary to hear the case, another session of the State Council of New Jersey was held, Octo- ber 24, 1900, in the City of Trenton, at which time the State Coun- cil added to the charge of insubordination and rebellion that of attempting to accomplish rebellion, as per the following recom- mendations submitted by the " Committee on National Council " : " First. That all relations alleged to exist between the State Council of New Jersey, Jr. 0. U. A. M., and the National Council be and the same are hereby terminated. " Second. That the laws known as the General Laws and the National Constitution, now in our books of laws, or in any way emanating from the National Council, be and the same are hereby declared null and void and stricken out; furthermore, all clauses or words in the State Council Con- stitution, State Council By-Laws, Rules of Order, Subordinate Council Constitution, Subordinate Council By-Laws, that in any way or manner refer to said General Laws, National Constitution or National Council, be and the same are hereby declared null and void and stricken out of said laws. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 185 "Third. That all clau.se> or words in the Ritual or Private Work of the Order, that in any manner or way refer to the National Council, be and the same are hereby stricken out of said Ritual or Private Work, and no longer to be used in the work of said Order. " Fourth. That the incoming Board of Otlicers be instructed to engage legal counsel, if in their judgment it be deemed best for the protection of our interests in the Order, and to authorize the taking of such legal proceedings as may be necessary for the protection of this State Council, each and every Subordinate Council, and every member thereof, against any interference whatever by the National CouncW, or its officers or agents. "Fifth. That the incoming Board of Ofiicers have full power to secure such legislation at the next session of the Legislature of New Jersey as may be necessary for the better protection of the Order in this State, if such may be required. " Sixth. That the incoming Board of Officers be and the same are hereby instructed to prepare a set of laws for the government of the Order in this State, strictly in accordance with our Charter from the Legislature of New Jersey and the Statute Laws of this State, with the assistance of their attorneys, that there may be no mistake or laws proposed or adopted that are in conflict with provisions of our Charter or Laws of New Jersey. " That they have the same printed, and a copy sent to each member of this body and two copies to each Council ; and if in their judgment it is deemed best, to call a special session to act on these. Provided, That the laws shall be sent out as above thirty days before the special or annual session. " Seventh. That the incoming Board of Officers be authorized to enter into a compact with the Boards of Officers of New York, Pennsyl- vania, Virginia and District of Columbia, for the protection and advance- ment of the Order, and such other States as are willing to join with us and States named above." STATE COUNCIL CHARTER OF NEW JERSEY REVOKED The service of an amended petition to include the action of the State Council of 1900, having been duly made upon the defen- dant, a special sitting of the National Judiciary was held at the City of Trenton, December 8, 1900, to consider the charges. Brother A. D. Wilkin appeared for the petitioners, but the de- fendant State Officers of New Jersey treated the Court with con- tempt by not making an appearance. The hearing took place based on the actions of the two sessions of the State Council, as above quoted, and the printed proceedings of same. The contention of the State Council was, that the act of in- corporation obtained by it and held by it from the State of New Jersey, conferred the power upon those in whose possession it might be, of abrogating at will the contract existing between it and the National Council, thereby cutting the tie that bound the two, absolving the members of the said State Council and all it represented. 186 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER This position of the State Council, in the opinion of the National Judiciary was considered untenable. In support of this conclusion, the Court gave a resume of the historical status of the Order, showing that from the organization of Washington Council, No. 1, of Pennsylvania, in 1853, to the institution of the National Council in 1869, each in turn, including the State Council of Penn- sylvania, was Supreme, the latter organization being composed of three State Councils, viz. : Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jer- sey, and in the organization of the National Council, the Court held that each of the State Councils surrendered to the National Body all of the powers possessed by them in whatsoever kind or description, and then received back from the Supreme Body such prerogatives and powers as it then and thereafter possessed. To show that there is no reservation of power in a State Council, but a grant of power to it by the National Council when organized, a clause in the charter granted to a State Council was cited, which is as follows : " By virtue of a charter granted by the National Council, of the United States of North America, it is the Legislative head of the Order in with power to make its own constitution and laws and those of subordinate Councils under its jurisdiction, provided they conform to the laws of the National Council." Continuing their opinion, the National Judiciary contended that " It is an universally accepted dictum of the Courts of our land, that they will not interfere in the internal affairs of associations, similar in character and purpose to our own, unless in some way civil law be offended or the rights of members, under civil or association law be violated. " If the Courts of our land hold the ground upon which we lawfully stand to be sacred from them, then there seems to be no good reason why Legislatures should be permitted to lawfully trespass upon it. If, however, it be lawful for Legislatures to do what the Courts hold to be an impropriety or an impossibility for them to do, then there remains one safeguard, which even Legislatures cannot override — the obligations of a contract— rendered inviolable, as these are by the highest organic law." Judgment having been found in favor of the petitioner, the Court ordered that the properly authorized officers of said State Council pay all per capita tax due the National Council by the 15th of January, 1901 ; and, further, that the said State Council on or before same date, shall reassemble in special session, and rescind all and every action taken by it to erect the State Council of New Jersey into a body independent of and superior to the National Council of the Order, the body which created it; and that after UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 187 rescinding such actions as referred to and making provision to pay the per capita tax, no other business shall be enacted at said special session. It was further ordered, that in the event of the State Council failing to obey the decree of said Judiciary, its charter shall be revoked. This opinion was rendered December 13, 1900. The decree, however, was not obeyed, and on January 17, 1901, the National Councilor proclaimed that the charter of said State Council was revoked. DECISION OF COURT OF CHANCERY The next move in the " checker-board " of litigation apper- taining to New Jersey, was in the Court of Chancery, in which tribunal the National Council was represented by Hon. Barton B. Hutchinson and Charles L. Corbin, Esqs. The bill was filed April 17, 1901, before Vice-Chancellor Pitney, who advised an order re- quiring the defendant State Council to show cause, on May 6, why an injunction should not be issued according to the prayer of the complainant, restraining the officers of said defendant State Council from making any payment or disposition of the monies collected in 1899, to any person or persons but the complainant. The cause, however, was removed to the United States Court, and the rule was not brought to a hearing. After some delay, the cause was remanded to the Court of Chancery, and by an order dated January 2, 1902, the cause was referred to Vice-Chancellor Pitney. The defendants made a motion that so much of the order that restrained them from paying the monies to any other than the National Council, be set aside, and on tins motion a hearing was had before the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor being otherwise engaged. However, before the decision as to setting aside the order was rendered, a full hearing was had on the entire case before the full court. Subsequently the Chancellor rendered his decision relative to the motion, which was denied. The case proper was hotly contested and Vice-Chancellor Pit- ney, on January 23, 1903, rendered the decision, which was against the National Council, Justice Dixon, however, dissenting. A brief reference to the cause and the points of the decision are given below : It was alleged by the complainant that the defendant State Council had, in 1899, levied and collected the usual National Coun- cil per capita tax, but had withheld same, therefore having in trust certain amount of money due the National Council. The defen- dant denied that it had levied a tax for that purpose. However it 188 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER admitted that it had levied a per capita tax in October, 1899, but that it had thrown off its allegiance to, and dissolved its connection with the National Council before it levied any tax on the members of the Subordinate Councils of the state. It was shown by the complainant that the defendant State Council had, in 1898, levied a per capita tax of 40 cents, 25 cents of which had been paid to the National Council, and this was admitted by the defendant. It was also shown from the proceedings of the State Council of New Jer- sey for 1899 that it had levied the same amount, as per the fol- lowing resolution: " State Council Secretary Miers moved that the per capita tax for the ensuing year be the same as last year — forty cents per member, payable semi-annually; one-half in January, 1900, and the balance in July, 1900; which was agreed to." From this the plaintiff in the case claimed that the amount being the same as levied the previous year, especially when worded " the same as last year, 40 cents per member," had the effect of embodying in it the same details that were embodied in the resolu- tion adopted in 1898 and that the monies collected in 1899 were impressed with the same trust as those levied in 1898. This was, therefore, the main question at issue, whether the monies collected as per levy in 1899, were impressed with a trust in favor of the National Council. The defendant averred that considering the whole situation, the rebellious attitude and the rebellious resolutions passed by the State Council, the assumption that the National Council expenses would be much larger so that the 40 cents levied would not have met the demand, etc., was presumption enough that the tax levied was not for the purpose and with the view of paying the usual National Council tax. In rendering the decision of the Court the Vice- Chancellor, in every point, favored the contention of the defendant. On the main point, the Court had this to say : " In considering this question it must be borne in mind that the relation between the parties is purely a voluntary one. The constitution of the National Council provides for the collection of a tax in the manner hereinbefore stated; but it is hardly necessary to remark that it has no power to enforce it. . . . Any member may withdraw at any time. The adhesive power which holds these several bodies together is the sup- posed benefit (referring to the membership in the Subordinate Councils and their relation to the State Council) first to the individual members by reason of their membership; then the Subordinate Council by reason of its connection with the State Council; and then the State Council by reason of the benefit supposed to be derived by its connection with the National UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 189 Council. The relation, indeed, between them is quasi contractual; but 1 can find no warrant anywhere in the case, nor in the law applicable thereto, for the notion that the National Council could bring an action at law against any State Council and recover damages for its refusal to collect any tax which the National Council mag impose. Whatever right of that sort exists is unenforceable by legal action; and hence the complainant was compelled to put its case upon the ground of a trust for money had and received." The Court, after stating thai a State Council in assessing and collecting the per capita tax for the expressed purpose of meeting the demands of the National Council becomes an agent or trustee for said National Body, continues: "It is not enough to warrant a recovery that the State Council has collected moneys by tax, for the simple reason that it has occasion to use money for its own purposes. And the mere fact that it has money in the treasury, from whatever source, does not create a liability, either at law or in equity, to pay it over to the National Council. It must, as I have said, be levied and collected expressly for the purpose of meeting that tax." The Court, in conclusion, claimed that the National Council had failed to make out its case establishing the fact that the money collected by the State Council was a trust; neither did it make it clear that the money collected in 1899 was intended to include and did include the National per capita tax, hence dismissed the bill. The National Council appealed the case to the Court of Errors and Appeals, which tribunal, on January 23, 1904, rendered its decision, simply affirming the decision of the Court of Chancery. THE STATE COUNCIL OF NEW YORK INSUBORDINATE The same insubordinate spirit that existed in the other states heretofore referred to, was manifested in the State of New York, but in a somewhat different manner. New York furnished a few very rabid leaders in the beginning of the strife, and they were conspicuously active as well as prominent in their endeavors to disrupt the Order ; but to-day they are inconspicuous, forgotten and "unsung." Other members, however, of both the National and State Councils, although they had for years been working and vot- ing with the anti-administration people, and at the same time were not in sympathy with the action of the Minneapolis session, were not disposed to rule and vote themselves out of the Order by any insubordinate act, but in the sessions of their State Council, follow- ing the break of 1899, stood resolutely for regularity and obedience to the mandates of the National Body, believing, with all true 190 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Juniors, that the place to settle grievances was within the Order, and that if the Minneapolis session had erred, the proper place to rectify the wrongs was in a special or regular meeting of the same body. Among those who were loyal might be named, Brothers W. C. Anderson, Charles A. Jaggar, Ira W. Jinkins, of the National Council, and Brothers 0. L. Forrester, Jas. W. Cheshire and Jas. C. Brower, of the State Body. The first act of disobedience to the mandates of the National Council was shown at the State Council meeting, held in the City of Lockport, N. Y., September 4, 1899, at which session the following resolution was unanimously adopted : " That the question of paying the per capita tax to the National Council be submitted to the members of the Order in the State, the various Councils vote upon the same at the last meeting in January, 1900, the official action to be decided by the majority vote of the members." In view of said action, National Councilor Brother Charles F. Reeves formulated charges against the State Council for wilfully failing to comply with the enactment of the National Council to levy and collect the National Council per capita tax and pay same over to the National Secretary. A special sitting of the National Judiciary was ordered for December 8, 1889, with Judges Eddy and Gilcreast sitting, Judge Barry not sitting because of being in attend- ance at the State Council as D. N. C, — A. D. Wilkins, Esq., ap- pearing for the National Councilor. The defendants not appearing, the trial proceeded without them. The National Judiciary, in its opinion, relative to the reso- lution, as above stated, had this to say of this unusual proceeding : " For this action of the State Council of New York, there was no warrant in the Laws of the Order, State or National, as these laws existed prior to the Minneapolis session, or as adopted at said session. When once the votes of the Councils of the jurisdiction had been received by the State Council Officers, such vote could be taken by them as nothing more than an expression of opinion or desire on the part of the member- ship within the jurisdiction of New York." The counsel for the National Council placed before the Judicatory tribunal the proceedings of the session of the New York State Council held at the City of Rome, September 3, 1900, in which the following recommendation was made by Brother W. C. Anderson, one of the National Representatives: " I, therefore, recommend that in consideration of the duty we owe the author of our existence under whose supervision we have passed through years of prosperity, being privileged to aid in advancing our principles into every state in the Union, and in the interest of a united organization, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 191 we affirm our allegiance to the National Council, Jr. O. U. A. M. of the United States of America, and direct our Board of Officers to pay to the National Council the amount of per capita tax due that body for the year 1899, and all other indebtedness for which the State Council is or may become liable." This recommendation seems to have been the minority report of a committee appointed on the subject, as Brother Forrester moved "that the minority report of National Representative William C. Anderson be adopted and the recommendation be con- curred in." This motion was ruled out of order on the ground that the matter having been referred to the membership, and by a large majority they had voted not to pay the per capita tax, the State Council could not override the action of the Order at large without referring the question back again to the Subordinate Councils. The point of order was raised, that the State Council was a member of the National Council, and that the vote taken did not sever the relationship of the members from the National Council, which was decided not well taken by the presiding officer. From this decision, Brother Anderson took an appeal which, on being discussed, and it being understood that a vote thereon should determine the question involved, the result was that the State Councilor's decision was sustained by a vote of 112 to 94, which vote defeated the minority report, or Brother Anderson's recom- mendation. The Court took what evidence it had, the printed proceedings, and based its opinion upon this extraordinary and unprecedented action, stating that while there was no proof that the State Council had sought to sever its relations with the National Body, or to set itself up within the jurisdiction of the state as superior to the National Council, yet it was clear that " they have wandered dan- gerously near that line." It was clear to the Court that the State Body had refused to pay the per capita tax. After reciting the procedure of the State Council in their action of referring the question to the membership whether to pay the National Council tax or not, and it appearing that the majority of the members had voted not to pay same, therefore assuming that it was impossible for tbe State Board of Officers to have paid it even had they desired, the Court concluded its opinion by saying : "As suggested above, both the conclusion of the State Board of Offi- cers and of the State Council, was invalid and without foundation, because the submission of the question to the Councils being without warrant of law the result of that submission must of necessity have been without force or effect." 192 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER By order of the Court, the State Council was suspended, pend- ing the payment of the National Council per capita tax by the 18th day of January, 1901. In the event of failure to pay same, the State Council charter was to be revoked; whereupon, on account of not obeying the order, the National Councilor on January 21, 1901, declared the charter revoked. A NEW STATE COUNCIL OF NEW YORK INSTITUTED On February 12, 190], a new State Council of New York was instituted, with Brother 0. E. Forrester as State Councilor and George W. Shaefer as State Council Secretary. On March 5, fol- lowing, Lewis F. Page, alleging that he was the secretary of a cor- poration known as the State Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics of the State of New York, asked of the Court an injunction, restraining the officers of the new State Council from using the name " Junior Order of United American Mechanics," as well as the terms " State Councilor," " State Coun- cil Secretary," etc. The question of making the injunction per- manent was argued April 1, 1901, which was denied by the Court, the order dissolving the temporary injunction which had rested upon the officers of the new State Council, being signed June 27, 1901. On the 10th day of July following, the National Councilor, Brother A. L. Cray, in virtue of the powers vested in him, de- manded from the State Council officers of the old State Council, all papers, books, funds, private work and all property of whatever nature, as well as the charter, the same to be turned over to John Bullwinkel, Esq., one of the attorneys for the National Council in the case. In this connection, it might be stated, that the methods of the insurgent leaders, Singer, Page, Parker, et al., were equally as unwarranted as those which characterized the insurgent outfit in Pennsylvania. They sent out misleading circulars to the Councils in the state, calling the new State Council a " rump association," directing that all communications from said " so-called State Council " be destroyed and all dispensations, etc., be sent to Page. Following the dissolving of the injunction, as above referred to, the State Councilor of the new State Council went into Court and began, what is known as a " cross action," to restrain the " Singer, Page and Parker Association " from using the words " Junior Order of United American Mechanics," or the initials, " Jr. O. U. A. M.", which, after many delays was granted, tern- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 193 porarily, December 4, 1901, and the two cases at issue were placed upon the court calendar. The case of the " insurgent " State Council against the " loyal " State Council of New York, to restrain or enjoin the lat- ter body or its officers from the use of the name of the Order, either in full or by initials, came up for argument in the Court of New York City before Judge Steckler, November 6, 1902, and occupied nine days. It was the longest case in the whole list of causes tried during this controversy in the various states, so far as the time taken in its argument is concerned, and was hotly contested by the counsel on both sides. The gist of the contention maintained by the plaintiff was, that the revision of the Constitution and General Laws at Minne- apolis in 1899, were inoperative; first, that the members of the Order were not properly notified of the amendments; and second, that they were not passed by a two-thirds majority ; and as the per capita tax was based on one or more of the amendments, such tax was unauthorized, hence the State Council of New York could not be required to levy or pay same. The plaintiff further claimed in its argument, that its charter had not been revoked, from the fact the judgment of revocation was entered 'prematurely , having been entered nine days after the date fixed for trial, instead of ten days from date of trial as provided by the laws of the Order. Relative to these points of contention, the Court in its decision, had this to say: " I do not think that in this action for the specific relief which is asked the plaintiff can avail itself of the objection that the amendments of the Constitution are inoperative. It does not appear that the represen- tatives of the plaintiff at the Minneapolis convention objected to the methods of proposing amendments or that they claimed that the amend- ments were not carried by a two-thirds vote. Such objections if made at the time, if tenable, have been obviated. Nor does the fact that the judg- ment of revocation was entered prematurely aid the plaintiff; for even if such premature entry was not a mere irregularity the defect would not of itself better plaintiff's standing in a court of equity." After a careful review of the whole case, the relations the State Council bears to the National Council, as based on the laws of the Order, the Court declared that the new State Council was the sole representative of the National Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics in the State of New York. The Court further declared : " That there is no proof that any person has been deceived or mislead into joining the defendant organization; that there is no proof that the plaintiff has sustained any loss by reason of the existence of the defendant. J 3 194 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " That the words Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the word and initials Junior 0. U. A. M., and the abbreviation and initials Jr. 0. U. A. M. have been used by the National Council, the State Councils in the various states dependent upon the National Council, and by Sub- ordinate Councils in the State of New York, loyal to the National Council from 1853 to the present time and they still continue to use the same. " That the plaintiff is or has been any part of the National Coun- cil since the revocation of its charter as aforesaid; that the defendant has proved that it is acting under the National Council since the revoca- tion of said charter of plaintiff, and that as between the plaintiff and defendant herein, the defendant has a prior right to the use of the title New York State Council Junior Order United American Mechanics and the word and initials Junior O. U. A. M. and the abbreviation and initials Jr. 0. U. A. M. " That under these circumstances the fact that the plaintiff is incor- porated does not entitle it to the relief prayed for in the complaint." The case of the National Council versus the insurgent State Council of New York has not been pressed and, therefore, stands statu quo. VIRGINIA LEAVES THE NATIONAL COUNCIL The procedure leading up to the culminating act of insub- ordination by the State Council of Virginia was somewhat different than that followed by the other states; but in the main, each jurisdiction was guilt} r of one supreme act of insubordination, that of refusing to lev} r , collect or pay the National Council per capita tax, as per enactment of the famous Minneapolis session. With Virginia, the tax had been collected but withheld. Eelative to the issue at controversy in Virginia, the following statement of facts is appended : At the session of the State Council of Virginia, held at Cape Charles City, October 17, 1899, the following resolution was adopted : " That we withhold further tax to the National Council, until the National Council shall legally adjust the grievances, and give us repre- sentation based upon membership and taxation." On November 15, following, the Executive Board of the State Council sent a copy of the above resolution to the Subordinate Councils of the state, accompanied by a circular in which were the following observations : " This is considered a very conservative action, and we believe does not constitute an act of insubordination; we are further of the opinion that the action of this state will do much towards the adjustment of the differ- ences existing in the National Council and the correction of the grievances complained of. . . . UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 195 " There is no reason to fear a disruption in the Order and nothing is further from the desires of your Executive Board, or any member of the State Council. . . . All that we ask is justice, pure and simple, and upon the assurance of this, your State Council will then be — as it is now and always has been — a loyal branch of the Order." In view of the situation existing, National Councilor Reimer wrote to the Executive Board of the State Council of Virginia, in which communication, among other things, he said : " Now as to withholding payment of taxes, the per capita tax, col- lected by the State Council of Virginia, from the Subordinate Councils, is, among other purposes, to enable it to maintain its standing and proper relations with the National Council. The State Council having collected this tax for the purposes named, has no legal right to withhold that portion legally belonging to the National Council, from the National Council, and the resolution adopted to do so is illegal and its adoption unlawful and in my opinion, your Board should at once arrange for the lawful disposi- tion of the National Council per capita tax, which it has already collected from the Subordinate Councils and which was payable October 15, and which was withheld without authority by your Board on that date, two days before the date of your State Council Session." To this communication of the National Councilor, there came an answer, December 20, 1899, signed by one Floyd A. Hudgins, claiming to be the State Councilor of the State Council of Virginia and Chairman of the Executive Board, which is as follows : " I beg to state that this matter of withholding tax was the action of the State Council in session assembled, and it is my opinion that we have no right to order the per capita tax paid, and if we had such a right, we would not exercise it against the majority present at our last session, which was held in the city of Cape Charles." February 1, 1900, the National Councilor filed charges against the State Council of Virginia, the purport of which were, attempted nullification of the authority of the National Council and its offi- cers in its refusal to pay over to the National Council its tax due and which had been collected, and on general principles, insub- ordination and rebellion. A hearing before the National Judiciary, however, was not pressed, as the National Councilor entertained hopes that good judgment would prevail among the Virginia brethren and that the}' would see their mistake and rectify it and maintain their allegiance with the National Body. To such an extent did this spirit of con- ciliation manifest itself on the part of the National Councilor, Brother Reimer, that on the approach of the meeting of the Na- tional Council, under date of June 5, 1900, he addressed the follow- 196 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ing communication to the State Council Secretary of Virginia, Thomas B. Ivey: " The State Council of Virginia having refused to pay the National Council per capita tax on the alleged ground that certain grievances had been imposed upon it by the National Council, permit me to say that in order to insure the proper presentation of these grievances and that they may receive the proper consideration, the State Council of Virginia should send its representatives to the Philadelphia session of the National Council to present these grievances to that body for consideration and action at that time. " Although, by its refusal to pay the National Council per capita tax, the Virginia State Council is not entitled to representation, it is my opinion that its representatives should, nevertheless, be granted admission and I will urge that the National Council grant them this privilege, and I believe that body will do so." Brother Reimer carried out his promise, and in his report, urged the National Council to admit any who might wish to present grievances, and to that end the Credential Committee in its report, recommended that the Representatives from Virginia be admitted. None, however, presented themselves; and it is a matter of record in the official proceedings of the State Council of Virginia, that the Executive Board, after having considered the National Coun- cilor's generous invitation, decided not to accept and directed their Representatives to remain away from the session. At the session of the State Council in 1900, held October 16, a resolution to pay the National Council per capita tax was tabled. In the meantime, without authority of the State Council, some members of the Order in the state asked and obtained a statutory charter of incorporation from the Legislature of the state, under the name of the " State Council of Virginia, Junior Order of the United American Mechanics of the State of Virginia," which charter was approved and adopted at a special session of the State Council held March 14, 1900, by a vote of yeas 86, nays 17, and under this charter it was sought to reorganize the State Council of Virginia in the State of Virginia, which, in fact, was accom- plished by a motion to declare the officers of the State Council elected under this charter, which motion passed unanimously, thereby setting up the State Council of Virginia as an independent organization as well as supreme within the state, at the same time adopted its own Constitution, and substantially accepted the Declaration of Principles of 1894, with the exception of the clause, " In the strictest sense we are a national political organ- ization," etc. This act brought about a dissolution of the relations existing UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 197 between Virginia and the National Council, whereupon, an amended petition was filed to the cause already in the hands of the National Judiciary for violating the laws of the National Council and the usages of the Order in adopting a Constitution incompatible with its lawful allegiance to the Supreme Body. The cause based on these charges was tried before the Judicatory tribunal of the Order, on December 6, 1900, Messrs. A. D. Wilkin and John C. Weckert, Esqs., appearing for the petitioner, but no appearance was made on behalf of the defendant. The cause at Court resolved itself into two questions at issue : First. The right of a State Council to decline to pay over to the National Council tax due the latter. Second. The question of insubordination or rebellion involved in the action of a State Council whereby it assumes to erect itself into a condition of independency or superiority, by obtaining a corporation from the state. On the first question at issue the Court declared itself as follows : " Under the supreme law of the Order, the power to levy or provide for tax necessary for the support of the National Council, is lodged exclu- sively in the National Council. To concede the right or the power of another and necessarily subordinate body to refuse to collect and pay over the tax so levied or provided for, would be destructive of the entire plan of the government of the Order." From the fact that the State Council of Virginia had collected the tax and refused to pay it over, but actually paid it bach to the Subordinate Councils, which was unlawful and a wilful action upon their part, the Court found the State Council clearly guilty of insubordination. On the second question, in the procurement of an incorporation from the Legislature of Virginia by which the State Council con- sidered itself independent and superior to the National Council, and by certain terms in the text of the state charter sought to reorganize the State Council on that basis, the Court decided the State Council guilty of not only insubordination but of acts of rebellion. The usual decree was ordered by the Court of revocation of the charter, if the per capita tax was not paid within a certain time, and a special session of the State Council called to rescind its for- mer insubordinate actions. Neither of the decrees were obeyed, whereupon the charter was revoked by the National Councilor January 12, 1901. 198 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER THE LOYAL STATE COUNCIL OF VIRGINIA ORGANIZED In the meantime, and after the trial of said State Council oE Virginia, and the forfeiture of its charter for disobedience of the decrees of the National Judiciary, a new (loyal) State Council, with 24 Councils and 3,540 members, was instituted March 2, 1901. The officers of the old State Council, claiming that their body was independent of the National Council because of its incorporation under the laws of the State of Virginia, filed a bill in Equity in the Chancery Court of the state praying the Court to decree " That the new State Council be declared illegal, and the insurgent's char- ter valid " ; and at the same time to enjoin the loyalists from contin- uing to use the name State Council of Virginia, Jr. 0. U. A. M., " or any other name of like import " ; and for carrying out the objects of said State Council, or in any way from carrying out the purposes of the organization. This issue was filed in the Court sometime in 1901. To this bill, the National Council, by its attor- neys, John C. Weckert and C. V. Meredith, Esqs., filed an answer in the nature of a " cross-bill," wherein the new State Council is alleged to be the head of the Order in the state praying the Court to so decree, and also to restrain the old State Council in the same manner as set forth in the prayer of its officers. The case went to trial in due time, but the Court decided against the National Council. The Court declined to pass upon the question as to the validity of the Minneapolis Constitution, or the effect of the revolt upon the Order, but based its decree entirely upon the ground that the statute of Virginia incorporating the old State Council of Virginia with the rights and powers therein given, was a constitutional and valid act. That the said statute made the old State Council under the new and statutory charter the supreme head of the Junior Order in Virginia. Not satisfied with the judicial construction of the trial court, the National Council took an appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia. In due time a hearing was had before that tribunal and the case argued by both sides and a decree was handed down affirm- ing the decision of the lower Court. The Supreme Court of Virginia, in deciding against the National Council, based its opinion upon the proposition that a state had the power by legislature, or otherwise, to exclude a for- eign corporation from doing business therein. That the National Council being a foreign corporation, having been created under the laws of Pennsylvania, the State of Virginia by a special act UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 199 passed, had full authority to exclude it from its jurisdiction. The case was carried to the Supreme Court of the United States by the National Council, and, after a full resume of the case before that tribunal, the Court decided against the National Body, November 9, 1906. QUO WARRANTO PROCEEDINGS AGAINST TITE FUNERAL BENEFIT DEPARTMENT AND BENEFICIARY DEGREE But brief reference can be made to the above issue before the Attorney-General of Pennsylvania and in the courts of said state. The Funeral Benefit Association of the United States, commonly known as the " Philadelphia Association," cited the officers of the National Council and Beneficiary Degree before the courts, thereby entailing great expense, in litigation, upon the National Body. The above named Association was entirely under the control of the in- surgents and had much to do in carrying on the rebellion within the Order; and even agents and circulars were sent to the loyal, but in some instances disaffected states, scattering the firebrands of disloyalty, as well as to the sessions of the National Council to sow the seed of discontent and rebellion there. However, their cul • pable purposes to again split the National Body came to an igno- minious end at the Milwaukee session in 1902; however, to be resumed at the session of the National Council held at Boston, Mass., June, 1907. The issue above referred to was a suggestion before the Attorney-General of the State of Pennsylvania for a writ of Quo Warranto to inquire into the right of the Beneficiary Degree — a Colorado corporation — to do business in Pennsylvania. The pur- pose of appearing before the Attorney-General was to secure the use of the name of the Commonwealth to start proceedings. After a full hearing the Assistant Attorney-General granted the prayer of the petitioners, as far as the Beneficiary Degree was concerned, but not the National Council, and the cause was cited to be heard in one of the Philadelphia courts. Eealizing the invalidity of the Colorado Charter, it was sur- rendered, which it was thought would end the case. However, the attorneys for the petitioners filed an amendment to the writ requir- ing the National Council to show by what right and authority it exercised the powers in carrying on an Insurance business through the Funeral Benefit Department and Beneficiary Degree, etc., which they claimed was not in harmony with the original provisions of 200 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the Order, as per charter granted by the corporate act of the State of Pennsylvania; and in the manner it was now being conducted, it was " impracticable, extremely expensive and unsafe, and that the officers thereof made false statements to the Insurance Com- missioner of the state." All these allegations were denied by the attorneys for the National Council, and after a hearing before Hon. H. L. Carson, the then Attorney-General, the amendment was disallowed. Prior to this, however, a " cross action " was filed by the National Coun- cil before the Attorney- General for a similar suggestion of Quo Warranto inquiring into the right of the " Philadelphia Associa- tion " to do business in Pennsylvania, which was granted, and the cause was assigned to the Court of Common Pleas, No. 4, Philadelphia. Answers were filed in both cases before the Court by the attor- neys for plaintiffs and defendants, and when the hearing came up the attorneys agreed to drop both cases and the litigation along this line came to an end, entailing an expense upon the Funeral Benefit Department and the Beneficiary Degree of about $3,000, all brought about by the Philadelphia Association. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS Not only the Junior Order, but every fraternal and secret beneficial association in the United States has followed with deep interest the litigation in which the Jr. O. U. A. M. has had to do since 1899. While the Junior Order has been rent by factional strife and many thousands of dollars have been spent in suits and counter-suits, much good has resulted, in that legal precedents have been established and judicial determination given of fraternal laws, which clarify the atmosphere and settle many vexed questions aris- ing in judicial jurisprudence affecting the government and opera- tions of all secret fraternal organizations. One very prominent feature has been brought out by the liti- gation, especially in Virginia and New Jersey, that is the affirma- tion of States Rights as against National control, so far as the Jr. 0. U. A. M. is concerned ; hence, for this reason, the power to enforce the authority of the National Council and to secure recog- nition of its supremacy, has been watched very closely by every organization because of the precedents to be established affecting the validity of existing laws and methods of government in all fraternal beneficial associations. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 201 THE FINAL RESULTS OF ARBITRATION Beference to "peace proposals," "arbitration committees," "olive branches," etc., have been frequently made in the brief sketch of this deplorable controversy, not only in this section, but in other portions of the work ; but one final appeal was made which culminated, as all other efforts had, in total failure. At the session of the National Council, held at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1902, there was a strong sentiment in favor of making peace with the disloyal element almost at any price. To such proposals there was no objection, only so far as not in any way to sacrifice the dignity of the National Council by surrendering the ground so hardly fought for and handing the Order over to those whose sole policy from the beginning was " rule or ruin." In harmony with the " peace proposal " sentiments, a resolu- tion was presented recommending the appointment of J. G. A. Eichter, of Ohio ; Geo. A. Gowan, of Tennessee ; Roger J. Armstrong, of Missouri; Geo. A. Davis, of Maryland, and John Kee, of West Virginia, as an Arbitration Committee to act on behalf of the National Council, in order to settle the differences that existed in the several states. The purport of the resolution read as follows : "And our said Committee is hereby authorized to meet a like Com- mittee which may be appointed from the ranks of the said ' insurgents ' and to agree with them upon terms under which the said factions, in whole or in part, shall be received back into the Order and re-vested with the rights and privileges of membership under the authority and juris- diction of this National Council. And our said Committee shall have full power to act in the premises as they may deem best for the interest of the National Council and the Order at large." (Italics ours.) The delegating of unlimited power into the hands of a single Committee did not meet with the approval of those who had been in the forefront of the battle, hence a substitute was offered by Past State Councilor W. C. Anderson, of New York, which was unanimously adopted. The substitute was as follows : " Whereas, This body has been informed that the great bulk of the former membership of our Order, who have withdrawn from the organiza- tion, the same are desirous of reuniting with this body; " Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to confer with a similar number of the former membership and report the result of their conference at the next session of the National Council." The substitute, as stated, was adopted, with the amendment that the Committee consist of Brothers J. G. A. Eichter, J. W. Calver and A. L. Cray. 202 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER In pursuance of the appointment of the above named Com- mittee, the National Board of Officers communicated to the leaders of the insurgent element the action of the National Council and requested the appointment of a like number to meet the loyal Committee, and suggested to them the naming of the place and time for such meeting as outlined in the resolution. To this com- munication came a response, a portion of which is as follows: " Action taken on Saturday last regarding the communication resulted in the appointment of a Committee for the purpose of receiving any pro- posals the National Council Jr. 0. V. A. M., U. 8. A., may have to make through its Committee. (Italics ours.) We waive all reference to the mis-statements in the communication of September 3 (Junior Past National Councilor A. L. Cray, Chairman of Arbitration Committee), except to say that the members of the Jr. O. U. A. M., called insurgents, in the said insurgent states, have never expressed directly or by implication, any anxiety to meet the National Committee or a committee thereof." This communication was signed by Fergus A. Dennis, E. T. Keeton, Lewis F. Page, Wm. A. Pike, W. L. Boyden, Committee. The spirit that breathed through this communication to the Na- tional Committee was far from conciliatory, which demonstrated itself more fully in the progress of the negotiations as noted below. The place and time of the meeting of the joint committee having been fixed at Philadelphia, January 30, 1903, the same went into session at the time stated. Since the insurgents had chosen five persons to serve on their Committee, the National Council Board of Officers added two more to the Committee of the National Council, viz., Brothers Robert Ogle, of Maryland, and H. H. Bil- lany, of Delaware, with which Committee the National Councilor requested Alex. M. DeHaven, Esq., of Pennsylvania, to act as the attorney for the National Council. The insurgent Committee ob- jected to the adding of Brothers Ogle and Billany to the Commit- tee of the National Council, also forbidding Brother DeHaven to act as attorney for the Committee. With the Committee of the National Council, as originally appointed, the conference of the joint committee was opened when it was ascertained that the in- surgent Committee had no proposals at all to make looking toward an adjudication of the differences involved. Whereupon the Na- tional Council Committee made the following proposition : " That you come back into the Order ; pay all per capita tax due, and that you obey the laws of the National Council, and discontinue all liti- gation." To this proposition came the answer : " We cannot accept this." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 203 The insurgent Committee then submitted the following propo- sitions : 1. "Will the National Council make itself a purely representative body? Will you recommend that the National Council take such action? 2. " Will the National Council give to each state the right of absolute self-control? Will you recommend that the National Council do this? 3. " State what claim, if any, the National Council will make for payment by the alleged insurgent states of per capita tax levied since 1899." To these propositions the National Council Committee replied : 1. " We are willing to report to the National Council the question you ask. 2. " We are willing to recommend that the National Council shall be composed of Representatives, Past National Councilors, and Past State Councilors who obtained that honor prior to July 1, 1901, believing a retroactive law would not stand. 3. " We are willing to recommend to the National Council that they make a liberal adjustment of the per capita tax." No definite conclusion having been reached, the conference adjourned. Subsequently the insurgent Committee asked for an- other meeting, which was agreed upon, and Pittsburg, Pa., May 2, 1903, was fixed as the place and time for the conference. On the reassembling of the joint committee, the insurgent Committee submitted the following propositions : " Taking into consideration all the differences existing between the National Council and the several State Councils and jurisdictions called insurgents having been suspended, and at this time not of nor with the National Council, it is made apparent. " First. That representation in and to the National Council be based upon the membership of each state, and that the National Council be composed of National Representatives and Past National Councilors. No Past State Councilor or Past National Representative to have a voice or vote in the National Council, and all committees to be composed of members of the National Council only. Only members of the National Council shall be eligible for office. " Second. That all claims for per capita tax or any other assessment against State Councils, Subordinate Councils, or individual members made or levied at or since the Minneapolis session, shall be waived and sur- rendered and declared void. " Third. That all existing litigation and suits in Court shall be abandoned at once. " Fourth. That all decrees made by the so-called National judiciary of the National Council against any State Council, Subordinate Council, or individual member, or any charges now pending against any State Council, Subordinate Council, or individual member, shall be abrogated and for nothing holden and declared void. " Fifth. All disputes in any state, party to this proposal, and all disputes in any jurisdiction belonging to the National Council to be settled 204 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER by the State Council of each state or jurisdiction, without the intervention or interference of the National Council. " Sixth. That a new National Council shall be organized by the repre- sentatives and Past National Councilors provided for in item No. 1 of this proposal, a new set of laws adopted and new officers elected; said National Council to have limited power only, and each State Council or jurisdiction to be a sovereign body in itself. " Seventh. The plan to bring about the above result is as follows : "1. The National Council which shall convene in San Francisco, May 20th, and to which body this proposal will come, will fix a place and time for the meeting, provided for in item No. 6; the place to be a central one and the time, between the 1st of November and the 15th of December next. "2. That the National Council shall notify the so-called insurgent states and Councils of its action in connection with this proposal by its official notice to William L. Boyden, No. 433 Third Street, N. W., Washing- ton, D. C, secretary of the Arbitration Committee of the so-called insur- gent states and Councils, within thirty (30) days after the said session of the National Council shall have convened at San Francisco. "3. At the coming annual session of the respective alleged insurgent State Councils, every Council whether known as loyalist or insurgent, shall be entitled to the usual representation in the respective states. At the said session the representatives elected to and attending said session shall reorganize the State Councils therein, and shall elect officers and National representatives. All National representatives from each and every state or jurisdiction in the Order, shall be elected by their state bodies, either at a regular annual session or at a special session called for that purpose at least twenty (20) days prior to the time fixed for the meeting of the National Council, as provided for in item No. 2 of this plan. Each state body shall be entitled to one National representative for the first One Thousand (1000) of its membership, and one for each additional Three Thousand (3000) members or majority fraction thereof. "Provided, that no alleged State Council with less than five (5) Subordinate Councils on December 31, 1902, shall be entitled to repre- sentation - "Fergus A. Dennis, " Dated May 1, 1903. " Wm. A. Pike, " Lewis F. Page, "E. T. Keeton, "Wm. L. Boyden." The National Council Committee submitted the following: " In accordance with your suggestions, we have examined your propo- sitions and we offer for your consideration the following changes or amendments to the propositions submitted to us this day: " First. In Section First, fourth line, after the words ' Past National Councilors,' add 'AND SUCH PAST STATE COUNCILORS AS SHALL HAVE OBTAINED THAT HONOR PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1901.' " Second. That all insurgent states and Councils shall pay to the National Council all per capita tax due by them up to the time of the suspension of their charters. " Third. We except State of Pennsylvania. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 205 "Fifth. In the fifth item of the fourth line, strike out all after the word 'jurisdiction,' and insert 'SUBJECT TO AN APPEAL TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL.' " Sixth. After the word ' Council ' in the fourth line, add ' TO BE THE SUPREME HEAD OF THE ORDER WITH REASONABLE JURIS- DICTION OVER STATE AND SUBORDINATE COUNCILS." Changes were suggested on representation and then the whole matter with the above amendments were submitted on the reas- sembling of the joint committee, when the insurgent Committee, through its chairman, stated that their propositions was their ulti- matum, whereupon the conference adjourned with nothing accom- plished. To any unbiased mind the propositions of the insurgent Committee were unreasonable, inequitable and unfair; while those of the National Council Committee were conciliatory, preeminently conservative and remarkably lenient. The report of the National Committee was received and accepted at the session of the National Body, held at San Francisco, Cal., whereupon the following offer of settlement to be sent the insurgent Councils, was adopted: " Whereas, A report of the Arbitration Committee which was appointed at the last session of this National Council is this day pre- sented, and action thereon is desired. " And Whereas, It is believed that the laws of the Order form a sufficient and equitable basis for an adjustment of any differences that may exist. " And Whereas, It is believed that some of the insurgent State Councils and Subordinate Councils thereof desire to be reinstated in the Order. Therefore, be it resolved by the National Council in Annual Session assembled: " 1. That the propositions submitted by the insurgent representatives or Committee thereof, as the basis of settlement of the differences of the Order, and which is alleged to be their ultimatum, are impracticable and unreasonable in the manner and form as presented, are hereby rejected and refused, as we believe that the laws now in force and the decisions thereon form a sufficient and equitable basis for an adjustment of. any and all honest differences which might exist. " 2. That a Subordinate Council of any state which is now identi- fied with the insurgent State Council of any state, may be reinstated and thereafter recognized by the loyal State Councilor (where a State Council exists), and where no State Council exists, then to this National Council (or the Board of Officers thereof), upon the payment of the per capita tax which was due and payable to the National Council at the time of forfeiture or suspension of the charter of such insurgent State or Sub- ordinate Council, by the decrees of the National or State Judiciary respect- ively, and of the good faith and form of any such application the respective loyal State Council and the Board of Officers of this National Council when applied to, shall be the sole and absolute judge." HISTORY OF LEGISLATION CHAPTER XIII i. NATIONAL LEGISLATION THIS and subsequent chapters deal with one of the most prominent features of this work. Originally the organization had nothing to do with politics or legislation; but, as the country advanced and became more widely known among the nations of the earth, new perils were manifested in the body politic, and it was self-evident that the Order, to rise to its great mission, must deal with great and vital issues confronting our marvellously increasing civilization. Hence, it was not of accidental purpose that some years ago there were embodied in the Declaration of Principles, the words which caused such a " tempest in a teapot " in the Order — " We are a national political organization" etc., as the subsequent history of the Order has clearly demonstrated that while we are not par- tisan, we are to all intents and purposes political, and it is needless for any one to deny the statement. We have entered the portals of Congress through our Committees ; we have " bearded the lion " (the Speaker) in his "den"; we have occupied the lobby and smoking rooms of not only Congress, but of State Legislatures and " button-holed " politicians, and we have entered the arena of politi- cal campaigns and worked and electioneered for those whom we sup- posed would aid us in carrying out the objects and principles of our Order, and at the same time labored to defeat those we knew were antagonistic to our sentiments. It is amusing to see the " look of terror " that sweeps across the countenance of some of our members when a speaker in the Council room "talks politics." What is there in the word " politics " that creates such consternation ? What says the lexicographer : " The branch of civics that treats of principles of civil government and the conduct of state affairs; the administration of public affairs in the interest of peace, prosperity and safety of the state; statecraft; political sci- ence; in a wide sense embracing the science of government and civil polity." Says Eev. E. Hitchcock in his Treasury of Truth : " I regard politics, also, or the principles by which nations should be governed and regulated, as only a branch of ethics ; or, rather, as a special application of the principles of morality and religion." 206 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 207 Standing upon this lofty plane of ethical economics, the Order of Junior Mechanics is and has been for years a " national political organization," and the outline of legislation compiled within these pages justifies the statement and claim. NATURALIZATION AND RESTRICTED IMMIGRATION In the convention of 1787, which framed the Constitution, and was the parent of naturalization laws in the United States, the question chiefly considered was relative to the admission of foreign- ers to citizenship. At that time only persons of European birth were contemplated. Asiatics and heathen were not within the pur- view. What we call dangerous classes did not then have an exist- ence. There were no nations of Europe " dumping " their objec- tionable characters upon our shores as now, as at that time all the lower strata of society were pressed into the army or sold to other nations, as was the case with the Hessians in the Eevolution. Yet with most favorable immigration, the statesmen in that convention were much divided in their opinion of the naturalization question. South Carolina voted solid against the admission of aliens as citi- zens. Pennsylvania was divided on the question. One of the powers conferred on Congress by this convention was " To estab- lish a uniform rule for naturalization." The first act passed under that authority was on March 16, 1790, requiring only two years residence, which enactment was not popular. An act passed in 1795 was repealed in 1798. When the Republicans came into power with Jefferson as President, the naturalization laws were amended in 1802 to meet the better sentiment that prevailed, which was five years, but no attempt was made to make them uniform. The Federalists con- tended for a longer probationary period, even some were favorable to twenty-one years, and then to be ineligible to hold office. An effort was made in 1814 at the Hartford Convention to raise the period of naturalization to nine years, but no action was taken. The probationary period of five years, up to 1880, was satisfactory, in the main; but since then Europe has been unloading her refuse, her Anarchists, Communists, etc., so that the old naturalization laws were inadequate to meet the situation and the result was that many Avere permitted to become citizens who were totally unfit to use the franchise. "What would those statesmen in Washington's day think if they saw, what is actually a fact, a million of aliens a year arriving on our shores. Washington himself questioned the advisability of 208 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER letting any more aliens come. Jefferson wished that " there was an ocean of fire between this country and Europe, so that it might be impossible for any more immigrants to come hither." While statesmen were theorizing on the question, the first act for restric- tion of immigration was passed by the State of New York, in 1824. The first law resulted from the abuse of free admission, yet in that year only 7,912 immigrants arrived in this country. Among' those that came were paupers and criminals shipped here by European governments, and the act required that the ship-masters give the name, birthplace, age and occupation of each immigrant, and a bond to secure the city against any public charges. From that time until 1862 Congress took no action on the immigration ques- tion, at which time the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed. Since then until 1903, Congress has passed eight acts of more or less im- portance, culminating in the act of 1903, which as one has said to be " up to the present time the most far-reaching measure of its kind in force in any country ; and the principles underlying it must serve as the foundation for all immigration restriction." How- ever, in 1882, the first general immigration law was passed which enlarged the list for exclusions and established a head tax. The Contract Labor Act was passed February 26, 1885, to prevent the importation of labor under the padrone or other similar systems. The next act was passed in 1891, to which we refer again in its proper connection. NATURALIZATION LAW OF 1906 With the enactment of the law of 1802, in which the general features of the law of 1795 were reenacted, no definite effort was made to enact a uniform naturalization law to govern the admis- sion of aliens until the session of Congress, the 59th, in 1906, when, through the efforts of the National Legislative Committee, represented by its Secretary, Brother Jesse Taylor, the attention of Congress was called to the needs of a uniform Naturalization Law, and a bill, a most excellent one, was presented, which had many hearings before the House Committee on Immigration and was finally reported to the House on February 26, 1906. After a bitter fight on the floor of the House of Representatives, it passed that body June 5, 1906, the Senate on June 29, and went into effect on September 29, 1906. Brother Taylor, in a letter to the Order, says: " We cannot go into full detail in a letter, but we say that had not our Order conducted a campaign for Uniform Naturalization Laws, and UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 209 kept a Representative in Washington, this bill would not have passed; we know whereof we speak, and speak the truth." It is not our purpose to recite the features of this bill. It makes it uniform throughout the states and territories, that no one can become a citizen until he has at least resided in this country -five years and can read or speak the English language, etc. He must make known his intention to become a citizen two years before his admission, and when he seeks citizenship, he must sign a paper to which he must make affidavit, and the same must be certified by competent witnesses. IMMIGRATION The earlier immigration of our country, as all know, was from the best element of the English, Celtic and Teutonic races, which became the " bone and sinew " of the New World. During the Colonial period, more than 100,000 Germans, it is said, passed through the ports and spread throughout the colonies. This immi- gration was checked during the Revolution, but revived during the Napoleonic wars, and between 1831 and 1840, the German immi- gration alone reached 152,000. So strong was the Teutonic move- ment westward, that there was a plan to buy Texas for a German colon}' - , but the enterprise failed. Following the Civil War, the tide of immigration, not only from Germany, but from Ireland, reached a high plane in numbers, and the United States welcomed the thousands that came. Mr. Lincoln, in his last Thanksgiving Proclamation said, that among many things to thank God for was the coming of the thousands of excellent men and women from other lands. In thirteen years, from 1881 to 1893 inclusive, 1,790,000 Germans came, but when crowded out by the " baser sort," in 1900, Germany furnished but 18,000 of the vast horde that came to our land. It was the " Riots of 1877 " that, to a great measure, gave an impulse to Europe's " scum and filth," its motley mass of anarchists, Nihilists, Communists and paupers, to invade the land that " flowed with milk and honey." It was soon apparent to the leaders of our Order that an era of danger had been reached by our country from unrestricted immigration, and measures were taken to counteract the peril. Since 1890, when the Junior O. U. A. M. began to be prominently recognized, more than 7,500,000 immigrants have passed through the portals of our country, two-thirds of whom were " undesirable citizens " and should not have been permitted to enter. It is an interesting comparison for the practical statesman 14 210 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER to note the immigration of 1854 and the immigration of 1903, as to nationality and numbers from each country. In 1854, there emi- grated to America from England, 48,901 ; from Scotland, 4,605 ; from Ireland, 101,606; from France, 13,317; from Germany, 215,000, and only two from Russia and 1,363 from Italy. Whereas, in 1903, 26,000 came from England, 6,117 from Scotland, 35,000 from Ireland, 5,578 from France and 40,000 from Germany, while in the same year Russia " dumped " upon our shores a mighty army of 136,093 souls, and Italy 230,622 more. In 1854, not a single Hungarian emigrated to America, while in 1903, Austria-Hun- gary " vomited " upon our fair land 206,011 human beings. Since 1821, when the first statistics were kept, until 1900, 21,265,723 souls passed through our gates. Of this vast host, Italy furnished 1,589,219, Eussia 1,242,255 and Austria-Hungary, 1,522,955. THE FIRST MOVEMENT FOR IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION IN THE ORDER The first movement in the Order in behalf of restricted immi- gration, originated in the State Council of Pennsylvania, at its session held in 1870, when the following resolution was adopted : " Whereas, There is a disposition among certain persons in this country to cheapen American labor, by the importation of Chinese to compete with the sons of toil; therefore, be it " Resolved, That the State Council of Pennsylvania, Junior O. U. A. M., do most strenuously oppose the same, and call upon all mem- bers of the Order to oppose the same by all honorable means in their power." Eleven years passed ere we hear a word on the subject of immigration emanating from the Order; and this time again from the State Council of Pennsylvania at its annual session of 1881. The foul blow that struck down President James A. Garfield, in- spired the presentation of two memorials, and if adopted, to be submitted to Congress, one on the naturalization of those foreign- born and the other praying for restricted immigration laws. The first memorial set forth the evils and injustice of the natural- ization laws that gave the right of franchise to a foreigner after five years' residence, and petitioned the legislative body of the land, the first of its kind coming from the Order, to change the statute by requiring twenty-one years' residence as a qualification for citi- zenship. The second memorial set forth the evils of unrestricted immigration and the dangers arising therefrom in the organiza- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 211 tions of foreigners in opposition to republican institutions, and asked Congress to enact laws that would better control the immi- gration problem by placing some restrictions thereon. It was also recommended in the first memorial, that not only twenty-one years' residence should qualify a foreigner for citizenship, but he should be required to read the Constitution of the United States in the English language. The Junior Order, however, at this time was not strongly pro- nounced upon the immigration question, as the subject stirred up a bitter opposition, not so much on the two important questions out- lined in the memorials, but the tinge of politics that appeared in Hie preamble referring to the unfortunate factional differences in the Republican Party which it was claimed was the indirect cause of the shooting of President Garfield. Politics in the Republican Party were at " boiling heat " at this period, and overlooking the crowning evil that was threatening our land, the brethren finally defeated the adoption of the memorials by a vote of ayes 42, nays 65. Again, in 1883, in annual session, the State Council of Penn- sylvania puts its veto on a similar memorial with the above. At this time Nihilism, Socialism and Fenianism were rampant in this country threatening the peace of society, while paupers and con- tract laborers were being imported in large numbers. A resolu- tion was offered that a committee of five be appointed to draft a memorial to Congress bringing these evils to their attention, and asking for legislation to restrain alien conspiracies and to pre- vent this country from being made the depository for the pauper and criminal classes of Europe. It seems the Order had not yet awakened to the dangers and needs of the hour or they would not have defeated such a resolution. THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE SUBJECT OF IMMIGRATION It was not until the session of 1887, that the National Body voiced its sentiments on the question of immigration. A resolu- tion was presented by H. J. Deily and Walter Orange that a com- mittee of three be appointed to draw up a memorial to Congress praying for the enactment of laws "prohibiting the landing of immigrants embodying elements detrimental to the institutions on the preservation of which the perpetuity of our government de- pends." This resolution, happily, was adopted and the National Councilor appointed as the committee, Deily, Orange and Dc Haven. In the meantime the memorial was prepared, and attached thereto 212 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER were 30,000 signatures and the same was placed in the hands of the proper officers of Congress. Along about 1890, there was organized in the city of Phila- delphia, Pa., what was known as " The American Defense Associa- tion," and about the same time an organization was formed in Pittsburg, same state, known as " The Advisory Association," both having the same object — the restriction of immigration — and both organizations were manned by members of the Order. Their work, however, was along different channels, obtaining signatures to petitions and stirring up sentiment upon the great and vital ques- tion, and calling the attention of Congress to a consideration of the needs of the hour. Congressman W. A. Stone, of Pennsylvania, himself a Junior, afterward Governor of the Commonwealth, cham- pioned the cause of the Junior Order in its first efforts to check the evils of unrestricted immigration, and nobly did he fight for our cause when the question was immensely unpopular in Con- gress. At first the statesmen who were associated with Col. Stone greeted his proposition with derision; but our champion was not deterred from his purpose, but backed by the great patriotic army of Juniors, he again and again pressed his bill, overcoming opposi- tion and prejudice until, as Chairman of the Immigration Commit- tee, he was able to bring before the House a bill that met with a fair approval and carried the day. Of this more hereafter. It may be safely stated, that since 1890 the Junior O. U. A. M., as an organization, has been in the forefront for remedial legisla- tion, in both state and nation, in harmony with its principles. While many of the efforts put forth by the Order failed in their purpose, still it is proper that a resume of what the organization tried to do should be preserved as well as what it did accomplish by the means of legislation. No other patriotic organization has had its State or National Legislative Committees to represent the body in the halls of State Legislatures and Congress in the interest of the public school, immigration and other vital issues that have arisen since 1890. THE AMERICAN" DEFENSE ASSOCIATION Eeference has been made above to the American Defense Asso- ciation of Philadelphia. This Association was organized in 1889 at a convention called, at which two-thirds of the Councils of Philadelphia were represented, and the following objects were adopted : UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 213 " 1. To cause to be introduced into the National Congress a bill restricting and regulating immigration, and to use all honorable means to secure its passage. " 2. To use every effort to secure the passage of a bill to amend the naturalization laws. " 3. To endeavor to secure the passage of a national educational bill. " 4. To endeavor to place upon the statute books a law reserving lands for American citizens, and to prevent alien non-residents from owning real estate in the United States. " 5. To advocate the passage of any and all bills before Congress which may tend to elevate and foster the American workman and general American principles. " 6. To send a committee to Washington to take charge of the interests of the Association involving all of the foregoing objects." The President of the Association was Brother Chas. Asmus, of No. 190, and the Secretary, who also represented the Associa- tion at Washington, was Past State Councilor H. J. Deily, of No. 12. The above objects were endorsed at the session of the National Council in 1890. The American Defense Association continued its work under the endorsement of the National Body, but without any financial support given it officially, until the establishment of the National Legislative Committee, to which committee was entrusted all the work of legislation. However, the Association as well as the Advisory Association of Pittsburg worked independently in the interest of immigration and similar issues, and in justice to them, these two organizations deserve much credit for sentiment aroused and work done. THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE In the meantime there was a growing sentiment arising in the National Council for a more positive stand for legislation in the interests of better immigration laws and the public school system, and that the prosecution of such measures should be under the supervision of the National Body rather than by auxiliary associa- tions in the ranks of the Order, from which there was a possible detriment to the executive power in the future. With this thought in mind, at the session of the National Council in 1891, a resolu- tion was offered suggesting the creation of a National Legislative Committee, which was referred to a special committee to report at the next session. That Committee at Atlantic City, N. J., in 1892, reported in favor of such Committee, which was adopted. This Committee, as originally created, was composed of the Na- tional Councilor, National Vice-Councilor, National Secretary, and 214 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER one member of the Board of Officers from each state and one mem- ber from each state where there was no State Council. The first three officers comprised the Cabinet Committee to whom all pros- pective legislation had to be presented for approval. In connec- tion with the National Legislative Committee, there were auxiliary with it, State Legislative Committees created by State Councils. Two Committees were established to be elected by the National Legislative Committee, viz. : Executive and Correspondence and Press Committees, the former consisting of nine members and the latter of five. The first named committee formulated methods to promulgate legislation, and at the same time all prospective legis- lation had to be considered by said Committee before being handed over to the National Legislative Committee and from them to the Cabinet for final approval. The Press Committee was entrusted with the collection of papers and distribution of literature bearing upon the various subjects coming up for legislation. The object of this Committee is summed up in its fourth section, viz. : " It shall be the duty of the National Legislative Committee to proceed at once and by every honorable means endeavor to have legislation enacted in the National Congress and several Legislatures, controlling, restricting or prohibiting immigration, and also such National and State Legislation as will protect and promote the public school system and pre- vent sectarian interference therewith, and also to use every effort to have such statutes on the subject that exist, or may be enacted, properly enforced, and also to endeavor to secure the cooperation of all other American organizations in our objects." The National Legislative Committee was as follows: James Cranston, National Councilor, H. A. Kibbe, National Vice-Councilor, E. S. Deemer, National Secretary, A. L. Cray, State Council Secretary of Indiana, J. S. Reynolds, State Council Secretary of Illinois, E. L. Price, State Councilor of Iowa, Charles Reimer, State Council Treasurer of Maryland, G. II. Thomas, Junior Past State Councilor of Michigan, J. L. Collins, State Councilor of Missouri, A. M. Moulton, State Council Secretary of New Hampshire, J. T. Thacker, Junior Past State Councilor of North Carolina, J. C. Thompson, State Councilor of Nebraska, C. W. Lisle, State Vice-Councilor of New York, J. G. A. Richter, Junior Past State Councilor of Ohio, H. A. Heisler, Junior Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania, E. G. Howard, Junior Past State Councilor of Virginia, G. E. Boyd, State Councilor of Washing-ton, E. D. Lappert, State Councilor of West Virginia, H. A. Kinney, State Councilor of Wisconsin. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 215 Pursuant to a call of the National Councilor, the Committee met at Pittsburg, Pa., January 2, 1893, ten members being present, and formulated methods of procedure provided in the Legislative Plan. The following Executive Committee was chosen : Past State Councilor H. J. Deily, of Pennsylvania, Chairman; Tast National Councilor Harry Stites and National Kepresentative P. A. Shanor, of Pennsylvania ; S. C, H. A. Kinney, of Wisconsin ; State Councilor W. N. Stevens and Junior Past State Councilor G. H. Thomas, of Michigan ; Junior Past State Councilor J. G. A. Ptichter, of Ohio; National Eepresentative A. J. Smith, of New Jersey. The Correspondence and Press Committee selected were as follows: Past State Councilor Stephen Collins, of Pennsylvania, Chair- man ; Howard Van Wyck, of Wisconsin ; E. A. Sellers, of Michigan ; Past State Councilor T. B. Ivey, of Virginia; National Represen- tative G. W. McFarland, of New Jersey. Fully comprehending the needs of the hour and in hearty sym- pathy with the newly created National Legislative Committee, the esteemed National Councilor Brother Cranston, in his report, has this to say: " Our Order lias reached such proportions that it is in a position to redeem its pledges. In its published Objects and Declaration of Prin- ciples, it announces it has certain ends to accomplish — that it exists for a purpose. In achieving its aims, there must be some systematic method pursued, some plan that will concentrate the strength of the organization upon any particular movement. Desultory, spasmodic work will not be successful, and I believe that in the legislative plan promulgated by this body, the desired elements exist. " The plan, however, must be observed in its entirety, and local movements, even though blameless in themselves, have a tendency to disintegration, to destruction of system, that makes them injurious. It should be thorougly understood that all must work together, as an army of soldiers go to battle, moving in unison under one plan and for one purpose. " Our members must realize that the day for sentiment regarding our objects is past. It is not theoretical but practical patriotism that the times demand. Speeches in the Council room will not restrict immi- gration, protect our public schools or advance American interests. The place to display our patriotism is at the polls. Political- patriotism is the kind of patriotism needed in this age. The Junior Order of United American Mechanics is a ' standing army,' whose duty is to guard Amer- ican institutions, and the ballot is its weapon. All we need, is to ' shoot straight '." 216 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The work of the National Legislative Committee was started in earnest by exerting its influence in securing the passage of the Chandler Immigration Bill, March 3, 1893. Thousands of signa- tures, estimated at 30,000, were obtained and forwarded to Senator Chandler, as well as hundreds of resolutions passed by the Sub- ordinate Councils, praying for the enactment of the proposed bill. The provisions of the act passed, in brief, are as follows : Requiring manifests and their verification; providing boards of special inquiry; and compelling steamship companies to post in offices of their agents copies of the United States immigration laws, and to call the attention of purchasers of tickets to them. One year's experience demonstrated the truthfulness of the saying, " large bodies move slowly," so far as the National Legisla- tive Committee was concerned. The National Council at its next session changed the complexion of the Committee, making the num- ber five, and the same were appointed by the National Board of Officers. After some controversy in the Board, the following were appointed the National Legislative Committee, following the ses- sion of the National Council of 1893 : H. J. Deo-y, J. S. Reynolds, Robert Carson, W. A. Gordon, P. A. Shanor. H. J. Deily subsequently resigned and Boger J. Armstrong was appointed in his place. THE STONE IMMIGKATION BILL Hon. William A. Stone, of Pennsylvania, also a member of the Order, introduced in the House of Representatives in 1893, what was known on the calendar as " H. B. Bill 5246," which received the hearty endorsement of the Order and was supported by the National Legislative Committee. It provided for Consular Inspection of immigrants, and consisted of but two sections. The first section of the bill reads as follows: " That no alien immigrant shall be admitted within the United States unless he or she shall exhibit to the United States inspectors of arriving immigrants at the place of admission a certificate signed by the United States consul or other authorized representative of the United States at the place nearest where said immigrant last resided, setting forth that the said consul or other United States representative has made an investigation concerning said immigrant and that said immigrant does not belong to the class or classes of alien immigrants excluded from admission into the United States under the provisions of the Act of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 217 Congress approved March third, 189], entitled 'An act in amendment to the various acts relative to immigration and the importation of aliens under contract or agreement to perform labor, its amendments or supple- ments,' or by any other law of the United States that now exists or may hereafter be passed. Said immigrant shall, in addition, conform to all present requirements of law. " It shall be the duty of the United States consuls and United States representatives in other countries to investigate and grant or withhold certificates, as shall be disclosed on investigation under the directions and instructions of the State Department, according to the laws of the United States aforesaid." The above bill was referred to the House Committee on Im- migration and Naturalization, of which representative Geissen- hainer, of New Jersey, was Chairman. Mr. Geissenhainer being unalterably opposed to the passage of any immigration measure satisfactory to the Order, Colonel Stone succeeded in having his bill taken from the above named Committee and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. The National Legislative Committee took active interest in the passage of the bill, and through their efforts, along with the Press Committee, much sentiment was aroused throughout the country, more than 2,000 newspapers hav- ing commented favorably upon the proposed bill, and in many cases gave the Order full credit for the work it was doing. Thousands of personal letters were written to Congressmen asking their support of the measure, while petitions and resolutions from Subordinate Councils were sent by the hundreds. Congressman Stone, who stood like a " Stone wall " against all opposition to the bill, worked ardently for the measure and, as the sequel shows, with success. Eecognizing the services of the Junior Order in the aid given him, he wrote to the Committee the following letter, dated June 8, 1894: " I beg the privilege of acknowledging the valuable services of the National Legislative Committee of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics in support of House Bill 5246, to restrict immigration. " Whether the bill ever becomes a law or not, its passage has been greatly facilitated by the action of your committee. " It was necessary to educate the public upon this subject and to bring the attention of the people to it. I am in receipt of almost daily letters from nearly every part of the United States favoring the passage of the bill, written by people whose attention has been called to the matter by the labors of your committee. " I have been spoken to by a large number of Congressmen who received letters from their constituents urging the passage of the bill, and who said that they intended to support it; all this was brought about by your committee and by the efforts of other local organizations, and individual efforts of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. . . ." 218 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Having succeeded in taking the bill from the Committee on Immigration, as stated, which Committee was under the influence of the steamship lobb} r , Congressman Stone had it referred to the Judiciary Committee, which Committee reported it out immediately and it was placed upon the calendar. Mr. Geissenhainer kept close watch on the bill for the purpose of fighting it in the House on final passage. Col. Stone, however, was on the alert and his quick wit saw how the " Eubicon could be crossed," and the New Jersey- man was beaten by strategy. It was in this wise : On the day assigned to the Judiciary Committee the bill was placed on the House calendar, and finding it far down on the list, Mr. Geissenhainer went over to the Senate to watch some exciting proceedings going on there. As soon as he had left the House, Mr. Stone had the bill called up out of place; but the New Jerseyman had left a scout to watch for any trick that might be played by the Pennsylvania champion of Immigration, and a page was dispatched immediately after Mr. Geissenhainer. Colonel Stone observed the proceeding and, to cut matters short, he said to the small number of members present that the bill was such a meritorious one and that he had so much confidence it would meet with universal commendation, that he would dispense with the speech he had intended to make and ask for immediate vote. Just as the vote was announced by the Clerk, declaring its passage, the New Jerseyman came rushing into the House to find himself outwitted by the wily Pennsylvanian. In this connection it might be stated, that when Mr. Geissen- hainer came up for reelection same year, the National Legislative Committee sent a representative into his district and worked up sentiment against him which resulted in his remaining at home. Yet some say the Order is not political. The Stone Bill, as passed by the House, was sent over to the Senate where it had " rough sailing." Senator Hill, backed by the steamship lobby, offered a substitute, known as the " Hill Anti- Anarchist Bill," in order to bury the Stone Bill, and it passed the Senate August 6, 1894. The substitute, however, subsequently was withdrawn and the original Stone Bill placed on the calendar and action thereon was postponed until the December session. In the short session of the Fifty-third Congress Senator Hill, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Immigration, refused to call up the bill, and Congress adjourned without any further action being taken thereon. In the meantime Hon. W. S. Linton prepared a bill for the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 219 restriction of immigration, which, in the estimation of the National Legislative Committee, was considered a more perfect measure than the Stone Bill, and approved it and had it introduced to Congress. The National Council of 1895, however, did not approve of this recommendation, and reendorsed the Stone Bill, and recommended its reintroduction to the Fifty-fourth Congress. Colonel Stone, in a letter to Past State Councilor F. J. Shaler, a member of the National Legislative Committee, gave his views on the matter quite freely. He expressed confidence that the House would again pass the bill, but feared the Senate and the Immigration Bureau which were hostile to the measure. He advocated taking up no other, though stronger and more drastic measure, as in his opinion the country was not yet ready for a more complete enactment, and that we had best take " half a loaf " than none at all. This senti- ment seemed to prevail, as the. people were being slowly educated to the needs of the hour and it was useless to force a stronger measure at the time. THE MCCALL-CORLISS AND LODGE BILLS ON IMMIGRATION Following the session of the National Council of 1895, Broth- ers A. D. Wilkin, Stephen Collins, F. J. Shaler, W. E. Orange and Robert Carson were appointed as the National Legislative Com- mittee, which subsequently was organized by the selection of A. D. Wilkin as Chairman and Stephen Collins as Secretary and Cor- respondence and Press Committee. The Committee at once en- tered upon a vigorous campaign in the interest of legislation, espe- cially on immigration. And while they urged the passage of the Stone Bill, as per endorsement of the National Body, their primary object to secure this result, still they did not lose sight of the fact that what the Order wanted was some enactment to restrict immi- gration irrespective of what particular bill that might be passed. When Congress convened there were introduced into the House of Bepresentatives three bills to restrict immigration, viz. : One by Congressman Stone, a reintroduction of the one that failed at the last session in the Senate, one by Mr. McCall and the other by Mr. Corliss. Notwithstanding the fact that the Chairman of the House Committee on Immigration, Mr. Bartholdt, was opposed to any legislation on the subject, all three bills were reported favorably by the Committee. The Senate had but one bill introduced into that body, that by Senator Lodge, and the same was reported favor- ably by the Senate Committee on Immigration, the Lodge Bill being the same as the McCall Bill in the House. 220 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER In opposition to the passage of any bill restricting immigra- tion, were the steamship companies and, to some extent, the German element. To overcome this opposition that had millions at its back, the National Legislative Committee sent out 50,000 blank petitions for use in securing signatures to be sent to Congress ; and it was to be a wide-spread petition, the signers not to mention the name of the Order or place thereto the seal of the Council, but to sign as citizens of the United States, irrespective of nationality, race, party or church affiliations. This popular movement inaugur- ated by the Committee resulted in tens of thousands of signatures being attached to the petitions that were sent to the members of the House and Senate. Another fact that made the passage of any measure on immi- gration very doubtful, was the attitude of Hon. Thomas B. Eeed, Speaker of the House, who, arrogating to himself the arbitrary powers of a " Czar/' refused to permit the bills being placed upon the House calendar. Seeing defeat by longer delay, the Legislative Committee sent out a special appeal for members of the Order to write personal letters to Speaker Reed urging him to allow action to be taken on the bills before the House. As a result of this appeal there was a spontaneous outburst of letter-writing on the part of the members of the Order, and Speaker Reed was literally overwhelmed with letters, thousands coming in a day, until he could stand the pressure no longer. The communications from the brothers of the Order began arriving in his mail-box on May 6, and by the 15 th, he yielded to the powerful sentiment that had been put in motion and announced that he would recognize the demand of the friends of immigration and gave them two days, May 19 and 20, for consideration of the bills before them. On the 20th, the vote was taken on the McCall Bill, which seemed to have the preference, and it passed by 195 to 26. The McCall Bill was so amended, however, as to include the Corliss Bill, and the text of the full bill is as follows: " That Section 1 of the act of March 3, 1893, an amendment of the immigration and contract labor acts, be and hereby is amended by adding to the classes of aliens thereby excluded from admission to the United States the following: All male persons between sixteen and sixty years of age who cannot both read and write the English language, or some other language. But no parent of a person now living in, or here- after admitted to this country shall be excluded because of his inability to read and write. " Section 2. That the provisions of the act of March 3, 1893, to facili- tate the enforcement of the immigration and contract labor laws, shall apply to the persons mentioned in Section 1 of this act. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 221 " Section 3. That it shall be unlawful for any alien who resides or retains his home in a foreign country to enter the United States for the purpose of engaging in any mechanical trade or manual labor within the borders thereof while residing or retaining his home in a foreign country; Provided, That the Secretary of the Treasury may permit aliens to come into and enter this country for the purpose of teaching new arts or industries, under such rules and regulations as he may provide. " Section 4. That it shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, company or corporation knowingly to employ in any mechanical trade or manual labor in the United States any alien who resides or retains his home in a foreign country ; Provided, that the provisions of this act shall not apply to the employment of sailors, deck hands, or other em- ployees of vessels of the United States, or railroad train hands, such as conductors, engineers, brakemen, firemen and baggagemen, whose duties require them to pass over the frontier to reach the termini of their roads. " Section 5. That it shall be unlawful for any alien to enter the United States except subjects of the Dominion of Canada and other American countries, except at the place where the United States maintain an immigrant inspection board. " Section 6. That any violation of the provisions of this act shall be deemed a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not exceeding five hundred dollars or imprisonment for the term of not exceeding one year, or both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. That all per- sons convicted under Section 3 of this act shall be deported to the country from whence they came. " Section 7. That this act shall take effect three months after its passage." It might be well to state that the excluded classes noted in the act of 1891 were as follows: " All idiots and insane persons, paupers or persons likely to become a public charge, those suffering from a loathsome or contagious disease, or a person convicted of a felony or other infamous crime, all dissolute women, a polygamist, or a person under contract (express or implied) to perform labor in the United States, or any person whose ticket or passage is paid for by another, except by a relative; also all Chinese laborers." The Stone Bill did not add any to these excluded classes, but only provided for examination to be made by United States con- suls at port of debarkation, instead of at the place of landing, which, had it been made a law would have materially reduced the number of immigrants. The bill that was passed in the House at this time, if properly enforced, had the intention of debarring the ignorant classes, fully 75 per cent. The McCall-Corliss Bill, or as it was termed in the Senate, " Lodge-Corliss Bill," was delayed in that body by the determined opposition of the powerful steamship lobby, but after being cham- pioned by Senators Lodge and Chandler, the bill finally passed the 222 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Senate in the closing hours of the Fifty-fourth Congress. Thia was a decisive victory for the Junior Order, as it was the culmina- tion of nearly seven years of hard work on the part of the National Legislative Committee; but the triumph was short-lived, as one single stroke of President Cleveland's veto-pen doomed the measure to ultimate defeat. While the House passed the bill over his veto, the Senate was unable to do so, and the bill was dead. Although discouraged by their defeat, but not disheartened, cast down but not dismayed, the National Legislative Committee, through its energetic Secretary, Brother Collins, again prepared for battle, and similar bills to that which had been defeated were introduced into the Senate and House at the extra session of Congress, March, 1897, in the former by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and in the latter body by Judge Lorenzo Danford. CHAPTER XIV NATIONAL LEGISLATION (Continued) THE LODGE-DANFORD IMMIGRATION BILL WITH William McKinley as President, and a good working majority in both branches of Congress, the opening of the Fifty-fifth Congress brought renewed enthusiasm to the mem- bers of the National Legislative Committee, who at once, as referred to in last chapter, took steps towards reaching the goal by secur- ing an adequate restrictive immigration law. With such a favor- able sentiment in both the House and Senate, the Committee hoped to secure the desired legislation as framed in the Lodge- Danford Bill before the expiration of the extra session of Congress that convened immediately after the inauguration of President Mc- Kinley, whose approval of any reasonable bill was assured. The greatest obstacle, however, to an immediate action upon the Dan- ford Bill was the continued hostile attitude of Speaker Reed, whose refusal to allow the bill to come up for consideration, held it in check. Added to this was the continued opposition of the steamship companies, and being aware of President McKinley's attitude towards the Lodge-Danford Bill, brought their greatest influence to bear upon the House. The Legislative Committee, on the alert for " breakers," re- quested the Councils to again petition the members of Congress, and at the same time write Speaker Reed personal letters urging immediate recognition of the bill in having it come up for action at the earliest period possible. The request of the Com- mittee was responded to in the usual enthusiastic as well as prompt manner, and thousands of letters were sent Mr. Eeed and petitions signed by nearly 100,000 poured into Congress. But Speaker Beed remained unmoved and the special session of Con- gress adjourned without even the appointment of a Committee on Immigration and Naturalization. The bill introduced at this session by Senator Lodge in the Senate and Judge Danford in the House, known as the " Lodge-Danford Bill," is as follows, with this difference that the Danford Bill contained several sections more than the Lodge Bill, but the two first and main sections were identical : 223 224 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " Establishing Additional Regulations Concerning Immigration into the United States. " Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section one of the act of March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, in amendment of the Immigration and Contract Labor Acts, be, and hereby is, amended by adding to the classes of Aliens excluded from admission into the United States the following: " All persons physically capable and over sixteen years of age who cannot read and write the English language, or some other language; but a person not so able to read and write who is over fifty years of age and is the parent or grandparent of a qualified immigrant over twenty-one years of age and capable of supporting such parent or grandparent may accompany such immigrant, or such a parent or grandparent, may be sent for and come to join the family of a child or grandchild over twenty- one years of age similarly qualified and capable, and a wife or minor child not so able to read and write may accompany or be sent for and come to join the husband or parent similarly qualified and capable. " Section 2. For the purpose of testing the ability of the immigrant to read and write, as required by the foregoing section, the inspection officers shall be furnished with copies of the Constitution of the United States, printed or numbered on uniform pasteboard slips, each containing not less than twenty nor more than twenty-five words of said Constitution, printed in the various languages of the immigrants in double small pica type. These slips shall be kept in boxes made for that purpose, and so con- structed as to conceal the slips from view, each box to contain slips of but one language, and the immigrant may designate the language in which he prefers the test shall be made. Each immigrant shall be required to draw one of said slips from the box and read, and afterwards write in full view of the immigration officers the words printed thereon. Each slip shall be returned to the box immediately after the test is finished, and the con- tents of the box shall be shaken up by an inspection officer before another drawing is made. No immigrant failing to read and write out the slip thus drawn by him shall be admitted, but he shall be returned to the country from which he came, at the expense of the steamship or railroad company which brought him, as now provided by law. The inspection officers shall keep in each box at all times a full number of said printed pasteboard slips, and in the case of each excluded immigrant shall keep a certified memorandum of the number of the slip which the said immi- grant failed to read or copy out in writing. If in any case, from any unavoidable cause, the foregoing slips are not at hand for use, the inspec- tion officers shall carefully and thoroughly test the ability of the immi- grant to read and write, using the most appropriate and available means at their command; and shall state fully in writing the reasons why the slips are lacking, and describe the substitute method adopted for testing the ability of the immigrant." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 223 THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE 1807-1898 The work of the National Legislative Committee, through its Secretary, Brother Collins, during the Fifty-fifth Congress, was the most strenuous in its history, and the opposition to the proposed legislation on immigration, especially in the House, was most power- ful and determined. With a President whose views were in har- mony with legislation along the lines suggested, and having a Chairman of the Committee on Immigration in both Senate and House, Senator Fairbanks and Judge -Danford, who were entirely in sympathy with restrictive legislation, the foreign element in the country, backed by the Eoman Catholic Church and various foreign societies within the United States, became alarmed at the great strength of the American sentiment on the subject of immigra- tion, arrayed themselves in solid phalanx against any change in the immigration law, and they had a faithful ally in the steamship lobby backed by millions of capital. At the opening of Congress in December, 1897, the National Legislative Committee, made up of the following brothers: A. D. Wilkin, Stephen Collins, Roger J. Armstrong, J. G. A. Eichter and M. D. Lichliter, met in the City of Washington and outlined the plan for the forthcoming campaign. The Committee spent a most delightful evening with Senator Fairbanks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Immigration, at which time the details of the pro- posed legislation were discussed and considered and suggestions mutually exchanged. The writer has a clear recollection of that meeting held in Senator Fairbanks' own home and the very cordial greeting extended the Committee. The Senator stated that he was " new " at the business and somewhat " green " on the subject, as this was his first experience as Chairman of the Committee to con- sider the subject of immigration, and requested the Committee to give him an outline of the purposes of the Order we represented and what we wanted, and how he should proceed in the matter. Brother Collins, who was then the best posted man on the subject, gave the Senator a detailed plan and the scope of the purpose of the bill in question, to which the distinguished Senator listened with closest attention. The Senator was then asked for an expression of his views on the immigration problem, when, to the surprise as well as pleas- ure of the Committee, he drew from the drawer of his desk a care- fully prepared address which he read. Tt was a most clear exposi- '5 226 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER tion of the question and showed that in the interim of Congress he had taken great pains to gather up all the arguments and facts available, so as to present to the Senate a strong defense of the bill he had championed. Senator Fairbanks lost no time in bringing the Lodge-Danford Bill to the attention of his Committee, from which it was early reported with a favorable recommendation. In the meantime,, at his request, the National Legislative Committee, through its Secre- tary, sent to the Councils an appeal for signatures to petitions for the passage of the bill. Within ten days after the appeal was mailed bushel basketsful of letters and petitions came pouring in upon Senator Fairbanks until it took several clerks to assort and distribute same. On January 17, 1898, the measure came up for consideration, and passed by a vote of 45 to 28. As an evidence of the appreciation for the most excellent work accomplished by the Legislative Committee and the Jr. 0. II. A. M., Senator Fairbanks addressed the following letter to the Secretary of the Committee: " Washington, D. C, May 14, 1898. "Stephen Collins, Esq., Secretary National Legislative Committee, Jr. 0. U. A. M. " Dear Sir — " I have observed with interest and appreciation the work which the Jr. Order United American Mechanics has rendered in connection with the effort to restrict immigration to the United States. This effort has been to prohibit the admission of those elements which do not become acceptable and valuable citizens, and not to interrupt the coming of those of intelligence and good character. " Permit me to say that the public work of your organization in connection with the passage through the Senate of the recent bill for the restriction of illiterate immigration has been well directed and of the utmost importance. " Very respectfully, " C. W. Fairbanks." Equally complimentary was the letter of Judge Danford, Chairman of the House Committee on Immigration, an extract of which is here given : "I desire to say to the Jr. 0. U. A. M., through you (Stephen Col- lins) that while the Immigration Bill has not yet become a law, their grand work has not been in vain. An organization that can with short notice secure and send to their representatives in Congress petitions signed by nearly 100,000 American citizens from 39 States of the Union urging legislation to protect Americans and American institutions, that organization must and will eventually accomplish its purpose." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 227 The fight, however, against the passage of the bill was con- centrated in the House, where the steamship companies and all opponents of immigration legislation brought their heaviest guns to bear upon the measure. The " Immigration Protective League " of New York City, with Bourke Cockran, as President, exerted a great influence against the bill, especially arraying the foreign newspapers in the country in opposition to its passage. Secretary Senner, of the above league, procured the active cooperation of all the Roman Catholic secret societies against the bill, and in fact all German and Polish Catholics as well as non-German Catholics. However, the petitions and number of signatures sent by the Junior Order far exceeded those sent by Roman Catholic Societies. Brother Collins, in a most painstaking manner, gave the com- parison in his report to the National Council. This table showed that 1,466 petitions from the Order came from 39 states, containing 78,771 signatures. While from 21 states there came from the various societies opposed to immigration, 374 protests containing 22,819 names. This array of the German element against the passage of the bill alarmed the Congressmen from those states where the German vote was a factor in the election, and claiming to be in sympathy with the bill reported out of Judge DanforcFs Committee, yet they were " betwixt the devil and the deep sea," as to vote for it meant that they would be retired to private life at the coming election, hence they begged the leaders to postpone consideration of the measure until the December session, which was agreed to, and it was laid over, being on the Speaker's desk and could be called up at any time. Early in the December session Judge Danford was unsuccess- ful in getting his bill up for consideration; however, on the 1 lib of same month another effort was made, but the bill failed by just two votes, the vote being ayes 101, nays 103. The excitement and vast amount of legislation incident to Ihe Spanish-American War had much to do with the defeat of the measure, as it precluded legislation along other lines. The Committee did all in their power, but the weight of sentiment seemed against them and all proposed legislation along the line of restricted immigration. Other important work, however, was accomplished by the Com- mittee which will be referred to under another head, such as advo- cating the passage of a satisfactory Flag Bill and defeating nil appropriations of public money for sectarian schools. 228 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER THE OBSTACLES THAT CONFRONTED THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Never in the history of any organization, seeking remedial legislation, did any committee representing same have such power- ful obstacles to surmount and such influences and odds to fight against as the National Legislative Committee of the Junior 0. U. A. M. Lone-handed, without money, for eight years this Committee fought bravely and well the combined forces of the steamship companies with their millions of invested capital, as well as the Eoman Catholic and other alien influences that were brought against every restrictive immigration measure that was proposed. In addition to this, very frequently the Chairman of the respective Senate and House Committees on Immigration were antagonistic to the restriction of immigration, and their hostility barred the consideration or reporting of any bill presented on the subject. And the most formidable obstacle thrown in the way of such legis- lation, far more powerful than all others, was the intense hostile attitude of the various Speakers of the House of Representatives towards any legislation along the line for further restricting im- migration. Thomas B. Eeed and David B. Henderson, both, went out of their way, even so far as to dethrone parliamentary courtesy in not recognizing the Chairman of the Committee on Immigra- tion, though he would rise daily and address the Chair. Judge Danford personally begged recognition, and the Committee of the National Council plead with the autocrat Reed that the Committee on Rules be permitted to name a day for the consideration of their bill, but again and again to be peremptorily refused. And when at last recognition was accorded the Chairman or the gentleman in charge of the Order's bill, the Speaker found occasion to resign his Chair, and pass around among the members of the House, either ordering men not to vote for the bill or speaking very sarcastically of the proposed measure, thus defeating the purposes of the friends of restricted immigration. And, as will be referred to in detail, the Committee of 1905-7 had the same difficulty to contend with in the hostile attitude of Mr. Cannon, present Speaker (1907) .of the House of Representatives. The writer, being a member of the National Legislative Com- mittee, and part of the time its Chairman, was fully conversant with the powerful influences that were brought to bear against any proposed legislation for restrictive immigration. The criti- cisms that were hurled at the Secretary of the Committee, Brother UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 229 Collins, that he was not ''earning his sail" and was " living off the Order/' etc., were unjust, unbrotherly and un-American, for no man in the Order did more to educate the brotherhood and the people at large on the subject of Immigration than Brother Collins. The years he was Secretary of the Committee and Correspondence and Press Committee, was a veritable " school " wherein the Order, members of Congress and leaders of the two great political parties were educated along the lines of proposed restrictive immigration legislation. Although not as much legislation was accomplished as was anticipated, still, like "bread cast upon the waters/ 5 the labors of those long, hard years, so full of discouragement, reappeared in the legislation of 1903, well supported by the then National Legis- lative Committee. ERA OF INACTIVITY ON SUBJECT OF IMMIGRATION The period embraced within the years of 1899-1901, in a meas- ure, are lost years, on the subject of immigration, so far as the Jr. 0. U. A. M. is concerned. The National Council as usual appointed its Legislative Committee and some effective work was accomplished by them along other lines, but the immigration prob- lem remained unsolved. Two causes will account for this inactiv- ity : First, the issues that were the outgrowth of the Spanish War, bringing to pmblic attention great questions incident thereto. The Philippine and Cuban and other great issues swallowed up all old issues, such as the immigration question, etc., their importance seemingly being paramount to all others. Hence in the Fifty-sixth Congress, while efforts to revive the Lodge Bill or the introduction of a similar bill was made by the National Legislative Committee, the attention of the statesmen was too much occupied with what they thought were weightier matters, therefore held aloof from the living issue that entered into the very woof and web of our body politic. Another and more direct cause of this era of inactivity on the part of the Order and its recognized Committee on legislation, was its own civil strife, wherein the guns were turned upon ourselves in those years of internecine hostility. While we were fighting among ourselves and the loyalists were contending for the very life of the Order in the Courts of the land, ships by the hundreds loaded to the gunwales, landed Europe's dynamos upon our shores by the hundreds of thousands, to become a danger and menace to the Republic. In the very brief report of the National Legislative Commit- 230 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER tee to the JMational Council of 1900, the statement was made thai through their efforts all proposed appropriations for sectarian pur- poses were defeated, and to the Order belonged the credit for this great victory. The report concludes as follows : " This victory of principle is of itself of very great good to our organization. We have established a standing in the National Congress which will before long result in the passage of the immigration bills we desire, and we believe this will not be long delayed." THE SHATTUC-PENROSE IMMIGRATION BILL The National Legislative Committee, consisting of Brothers Ed. V. Fitzpatrick, P. A. Shanor and L. L. Hill, without means to keep a representative at Washington, were energetic in pressing an immigration bill in 1902 and having two bills presented, one in the Senate by Senator Penrose, who was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Immigration, and one introduced in the House by Eepresentative Shattuc, who was Chairman of the House Commit- tee on Immigration. Both bills were either amendatory of that in force or additional thereto. The House bill passed that body May 27, 1902, and finally passed the Senate February 27, 1903, and became a law March 3, 1903. The Legislative Committee tried hard to have inserted in the bill an educational test clause, and the amendment did carry in the House by 88 to 9 when it passed that body, notwithstanding it was opposed by Mr. Shattuc, and in that amended form it was messaged to the Senate. Eepresentative Shat- tuc appeared before the Senate Committee and most strenuously opposed the amendment and asked the Senate to eliminate it or it might defeat the bill on final passage. The amendment was not considered feasible and was eliminated and, with few minor changes, the Senate passed the House bill as it was originally introduced. Immigration critics claimed that it was a good bill, one going so far as to say that it was " up to the present time the most far- reaching measure of its kind in force in any country; and the principles underlying it must serve as the foundation for all immigration restriction." While the new law was somewhat better than any that had been enacted previously, still it was not what the Junior Order wanted, mainly because of the elimination of the educational test. The enactment, in the opinion of good judges, was more of a police regulation of immigration than a restriction of immigration, hence not up to standard. The main provisions of the act were: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 231 First. Head tax of $2. Second. Adding to that of former act addi- tional excluded classes, viz.: (1)) Idiots; (2) insane persons; (3) epi- leptics; (4) prostitutes; (5) paupers; (G) persons likely to become public charges; (7) professional beggars; (8) persons anlicted with loathsome or contagious diseases; (9) persons who have been convicted of felony or other crime or misdemeanor involving oral turpitude, not including those convicted of purely political oiFenses; (10) polygamists; (11) anarchists; (12) those deported within a year from date of appli- cation for admission as being under offers, solicitations, promises, or agreements to perforin labor or service of some kind therein; (13) any person whose tickets or passage is paid for with the money of another, or who is assisted to come, unless it is shown that such person does not belong to one of the excluded classes ; but any person in the United States may send for a relative or friend without putting the burden of proof upon the immigrant. Third. Criminal offenses against Immigration Acts, viz: (1) Im- porting any person for immoral purposes; (2) prepaying the transporta- tion or encouraging the migration of aliens under any offer, solicitation, promise or agreement, parol, or special, expressed or implied, made pre- vious to the importation of aliens, to perform labor in the United States; (3) encouraging the migration of aliens by promises of employment through advertisements in foreign countries; (4) encouraging immigra- tion on the part of owners of vessels and transportation companies by any means other than communications giving the sailing of vessels and terms of transportation; (5) bringing in or attempting to bring in any alien not duly admitted by an immigrant inspector or not lawfully entitled to enter the United States; (6) bringing in by any person other than railroad lines of any person afflicted with a loathsome or dangerous con- tagious disease; (7) allowing an alien to land from a vessel at any other time and place than that designated by the immigrant officer; (8) refus- ing or neglecting to return rejected aliens to the port from which they came or to pay their maintenance while on land; (9) refusing or neglecting to return aliens arrested within three years after entry as. being unlaw- ful throughout the United States; (10) knowingly or wilfully giving false testimony or swearing to any false statement affecting the right of an alien to land is made perjury; (11) assisting any anarchist to enter the United States or conspiring to allow, procure or permit any such person to enter; (12) failing to deliver manifests. Fourth. Rejection of the diseased aliens. Fifth. Manifests required of vessel-masters, with answers to 19 questions. Sixth. Examination of immigrants. Seventh. Detention and return of aliens. Eighth. Bonds and guaranties. From a cursory view of the above act, it would have been a pretty fair piece of legislation had Congress allowed the educa- tional test to remain. This feature of an immigration bill had been all along the urgent plea of the Junior Order, having been framed into the bill that passed the House of Bepresentatiw's, May 20, 1896, by a vote of 195 to 26; the Senate, December 17, 1896, by a vote of 52 to 10. The conference report on same bill 232 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER passed the House February 9, 1897, by a vote of 217 to 37; the Senate, February 17, 1897, by a vote of 34 to 31. This was the bill vetoed by President Cleveland two days before retiring from the Presidential Chair, but the House passed the bill over the veto March 3, 1897, by a vote of 193 to 37. In the Fifty-fifth Congress an educational test bill was passed by the Senate January 17, 1898, by a vote of 45 to 28. The House refused to take action. HOUSE BILL, NO. 17,941, AND SENATE BILL, NO. 4,403, 1906-1907 The question of Kestrictive Immigration came before the National Council at Nashville, in 1905, by a suggestive report of the National Legislative Committee, consisting of S. M. Hunt, John J. Weitzel and Geo. E. Bowley, as well as an item in the pro- posal for a statute submitted by the Finance Committee, appro- priating for the next two years, the sum of $5,000 for the purpose of inaugurating another campaign for remedial legislation on the line of Naturalization and Immigration. Strong resolutions were adopted, enthusiastic speeches made, and the representatives re- turned to their homes with the belief that ere the National Council would assemble at Boston, in 1907, there would be upon the statute books of the nation a good act on the subject. A representative National Legislative Committee was ap- pointed, consisting of Brothers Z. P. Smith, of North Carolina, A. D. Wilkin, of Pennsylvania, and Jesse Taylor, of Ohio. The Committee organized at once by electing Z. P. Smith, Chairman, and Jesse Taylor, Secretary. They immediately began laying plans for an aggressive campaign, not only enlisting the Junior Order in the work, but all organizations that would be benefited by the passage of a proper restrictive act. When Congress opened in December, 1905, the Committee established headquarters at the Cochran Hotel and the Secretary assumed charge. House Bill, No. 15,442, requiring Uniform Naturalization, was acted upon quickly and became a law, which has been referred to in another chapter. This enactment brought about through the energy of the Committee, even if nothing else had been accom- plished, was a signal victory for the Order. A large number of Immigration Bills were presented at the opening of Congress in the House and were referred to the appro- priate committee. These were carefully considered in Committee on Naturalization and Immigration, and on April 9, 1906, Mr. Gardner, of Massachusetts, in behalf of the Committee, reported, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 233 in lieu of all the bills that had been presented, a comprehensive measure known as House Bill, No. 17,981, "An Act in Regulate the Immigration of Aliens into the United States." This bill as presented repealed the immigration hill enacted in 1903, for the purpose of presenting all immigration enactments since 1902, in a convenient form. Ten sections of the former act were reinserted in this bill without any change whatever. Two sections were omitted, as they did not relate to the subject of immi- gration. Twenty-eight sections of the old act were changed in a greater or less degree, while seven sections were entirely new. The salient features of the original bill were as follows : ( 1 ) A five-dollar head tax; (2) an educational test; (3) a financial qualification; (4) an extension of the exclusive classes; (5) pro- visions permitting foreign inspection and facilitating distribution. The first section provided an important change from the act of 1903 by incorporating the requirement of a five-dollar head tax in the place of a two-dollar head tax. Section 2, added to the excluded classes the following: Imbe- ciles, feeble-minded, consumptives, those who at any time were insane, and, under certain circumstances, persons of poor physique. Section 3, strengthened the provision regarding prostitutes. The most important section, however, that was incorporated in the original bill, and one the Junior Order has been contending for and was recommended by President Eoosevelt in his message, was Section 38, known as the " Educational Test," which, in part, was as follows: " That no alien over sixteen years of age, physically capable of reading, shall be admitted to the United States until he has proved to the satisfaction of the proper inspection officers that he can read English or some other tongue, and the Secretary of Commerce and Labor is hereby authorized and directed to prescribe from time to time such methods and rules as he may think best for the purpose of testing the ability of such immigrants to read: Provided, that an admissible alien over sixteen years of age, or person now or hereafter in the United States of like age, may bring in or send for his wife, his mother, his affianced wife, or his father who is over fifty- five years of age, if they are otherwise admissible, whether they are able to read or not." Section 39 provided for the exclusion of an adult alien who had not $25 in his possession, every female alien and every male alien under the age of 16 years who was not in possession of $15 : but it provided that if the head of the family had $50, this should be considered a sufficient sum to provide for the whole family, except grown-up sons. 234 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The demand for an educational test has had a strong advocate in President Eoosevelt, who, in his message on December 3, 1901, said: " The second object of all proper immigration laws ought to be to secure by a careful and not merely perfunctory educational test some intelligent capacity to appreciate American institutions and act sanely as American citizens." In his message on December 2, 1902, the President said : " I again call your attention to the need of the passage of a proper immigration law covering the points outlined in my message to you at the first session of the present Congress; substantially such a bill has passed the House." Senate Bill, No. 4,403, which passed the Senate May 23, 1906, and was sent to a Committee of Conferees, in addition to the part of Section 38 of House Bill, quoted above, added the manner and method by which the test shall be carried out, as follows: " That for the purpose of testing the ability of immigrants to read, the inspection officers shall be furnished with copies of the Constitution of the United States, printed on uniform pasteboard slips, each containing not less than twenty-five words of said Constitution, printed in the various languages of the immigrants in double small pica type. Each immigrant may designate the language in which he prefers the test shall be made, and shall be required to read the words printed on a slip in such language. No two immigrants listed on the same manifest shall be tested with the same slip. An immigrant failing to read as above provided shall not be admitted, but shall be returned to the country from which he came at the expense of the steamship or railroad company which brought him: Provided, that all persons, whether able to read the English language or some other language or not able to do so, who shall enter the United States except at the seaports thereof, or at such other place or places as the Secretary of Commerce and Labor may from time to time designate, shall be adjudged to have entered the country unlawfully and shall be deported as by law provided." It might be added, that the Senate, without a dissenting vote, passed the bill, with the Educational Test and all, notwithstanding Senators Nelson and Gallinger are of foreign birth. With a good bill already passed the Senate and with a fair majority in the House to enact it into a law, yet the measure was strongly opposed by Speaker Cannon who was determined that it should not become a law, especially in the form it came from the Senate. He openly and secretly opposed remedial legislation along the line of immigration and refused to allow a fair test to be made in the House on the question, or give it any chance whatever for consideration. Representative Gardner, of Massachusetts, however* UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 235 championed the bill and insisted that i( be given a day for consider- ation and a vote, and failing in this the friends of the bill circulated a call for a Eepubliean caucus to determine vrhethei the measure should or should not be taken up. The Speaker fearing the power of the caucus agreed to take the bill up under a rule, and on June 25, 1906, the House adopted the following: "Resolved, That immediately upon the adoption of this order the House shall resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for consideration of the bill (IS. 4403), ' To amend an Act entitled " An Act to regulate the immigration of aliens into the United States," approved March 3, 1903,' and in the Committee of the Whole the amendment in the nature of a substitute reported by the Com- mittee on Immigration and Naturalization shall be read through, after which Section 1 of the said amendment shall be considered for not longer than one hour, under the five-minute rule for amendments; and at the end of the consideration of Section 1, Section 38 shall in the same way be considered for not longer than two hours, with the provision that amendments pending at the end of two hours shall be voted on by the Committee; and immediately after the vote on the said specified amend- ments to Section 38, the Committee of the Whole shall rise and the Chair- man shall report the bill and substitute amendment, whereupon a vote shall be taken on the substitute and bill to the final passage, without intervening motion or repeal. General leave is given to print, to be confined to a discussion of the bill, within five legislative days from to-day." As is easily perceived, the rule was adopted to kill the bill. It enabled members to vote against the educational test and for a reduction of the head tax without a roll-call, thereby not being placed upon record so that their constituents might not know how they voted on the measure. Under this rule no amendment could be offered to either of the 43 sections of the bill except Section 1, which provided for a five-dollar head tax, and Section 38, which provided for the edu- cational test. But one hour was given to debate on Section 1, at the end of which time a motion was made to reduce the head tax to two dollars passed by a vote of 94 to 79. Debate on Section 38 was limited to two hours, at the close of which Congressman Grosvenor moved to strike out the educational test and substitute for the Section the following : " That a commission is hereby created consisting of two Senators to be appointed by the President of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two citizen members to be appointed by the President of the United States. Said commission shall make full inquiry, examina- tion and investigation into the subject of immigration. 236 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " For the purpose of said inquiry, examination and investigation, said committee is authorized to send for persons and papers, make all necessary travel and. through the chairman of the Commission or any member thereof, to administer oaths and to examine witnesses and papers respecting all matters pertaining to the subject and to employ necessary clerical and other assistance. Said Commission shall report to Congress the conclusions reached by it and make such recommendations as in its judgment may seem proper. " Such sums of money as may be necessary for the said inquiry, examination and investigation are hereby authorized to be paid out of the 'Immigration Fund' on the certificate of the chairman of said Com- mission, including the expenses of Commissioners and a reasonable com- pensation to be fixed by the President of the United States for those members of the Commission who are not members of Congress." The motion to strike out the Section and adopt the substitute, was declared lost by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, on a viva voce vote, whereupon Mr. Bennett, of New York, de- manded a count vote by standing until counted, and the result was, yeas 123, nays 136. Mr. Bennett then demanded tellers. The Speaker was outspokenly opposed to the section of the measure containing the Educational Test and was the first to pass through the tellers. Being in favor of the Grosvenor substitute he exerted his influence for its adoption, and very largely through his personal efforts on the floor of the House the substitute was adopted by a vote of 129 to 116, thus eliminating the Educational Test from the bill and reducing the head-tax to $2, the same as in the old act. Immediately following this action of the House, the Speaker appointed Howell, Bennett and Huppert as conferees on the part of the House, and when the bill, as amended, was reported to the Senate on the following day, Senators Dillingham, Lodge and McLauren were appointed conferees on the part of the Senate, and the conferees met and adjourned to meet at the beginning of the second session of the Fifty-ninth Congress, which assembled on December 3, 1906. It should be stated, in this connection, that the House adopted the Litauer amendment, which reads as follows: "Provided, further, that an immigrant who proves that he is seek- ing admission to this country solely to avoid prosecution or punishment on religious or political grounds for an offense of a political character, or persecution involving danger of imprisonment, or danger to life or limb on account of religious belief, shall not be deported because of want of means or tne probability of his being unable to earn a livelihood." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 237 When the second session of the Fifty-ninth Congress assembled on December 3, 1906, the subject was not taken up by the conferees until January 10, 1907, and again on the 21st, 23d, and 28th. On the latter date it was ascertained that two of the House conferees would neither agree to Senate Bill No. 4,403, which included the Educational Test, nor would they sign a disagreeing report, there- by preventing all legislation on Immigration at this session of Congress, hence killing the bill entirely. A conference was then held with the President by some of the friends of the bill, who was urged to use his persuasion with Speaker Cannon to withdraw his objection to the Educational Test. The President found the Speaker immovable in his opposition and two of his conferees were ready to carry out the wishes of the Speaker. However, on February 1, an agreement was reached that the Senate conferees should recede from the Educational Test and the House would recede from the Litauer amendment and strengthen the bill by some minor changes and agree to report same. Four sessions were held by the conferees to complete their report, when, on suggestion of the President, an amendment was made to Section 1 relative to keeping out of the country Coolie labor, which prevented the conferees from reporting until the 13th of February. When the subject was taken up in the Senate whether to accept the conferee's report, objection was encountered from some of the Senators relative to an amendment of Section 2, concerning contract labor. Senator Bacon occupied several hours in discussing this phase of the report, who was followed by others, until it looked as if the opposition would " talk the bill to death." Not only Avas there opposition to the contract labor amendment, but also to the so-called Japanese amendment of the President's to Section 1, which called forth debate. After a futile effort to amend the report, the same went to vote and was agreed to, Febru- ary 16, 1907. On Monday morning, February 18, the report of the conferees was taken up in the House, and after some dilatory motions and a short debate, the same was agreed to by a. vote of 193 in favor to 101 against. The measure as it was finally passed, differs somewhat from the original bill referred to in another place, owing to the amend- ments and changes made, hence it is well to give the important features of the statute as it now stands (1907) : " Increase of $2 in the head tax, making it $4, instead of $5 ; the prevention of the further importation of contract labor induced or solicited to migrate to Ibis country by offers or promises of .employment, or in 238 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER consequence of agreements, oral, written, or printed, expressed or implied, to perform labor in this country of any kind, skilled or unskilled; the exclusion of imbeciles, feeble-minded persons, epileptics, persons who are found to be and certified by the examining surgeon as being mentally or physically defective, such mental or physical defect being of a nature which may affect the ability of such alien to earn a living (which latter pro- vision will exclude 25 per cent, of all immigrants if the President will place Americans on guard at our immigration stations) ; all children under sixteen years of age unaccompanied by one or both parents, and women for prostitution or other immoral purposes ; authorizes the Presi- dent to exclude all persons for entrance into the United States who come from any insular possessions or the Canal Zone to the detriment of labor conditions ; provides for increased penalties on steamship companies for violation of immigration laws ; authorizes an annual expenditure of S50,000 for the enforcement of contract labor laws ; authorizes the appoint- ment of a commission of three Senators, three Representatives and throe citizens to investigate the subject of immigration and make public their findings and recommendations ; authorizes the President to call an inter- national conference or send commissioners to foreign nations to con- sider the subject of immigration into the United States for the purpose of regulating it by an international agreement, and enlarges the air-space to be provided for the immigrants on ship board — in some cases by 80 per cent. — and strengthens the immigration laws in every particular." CHAPTER XV NATIONAL LEGISLATION (Concluded) THE work of the National Council, through its Legislative Committee, was not confined in the endeavor to secure reme- dial legislation on the line of restricted immigration. Other great issues came before the Committee for consideration and other bills of a national character were proposed in the United States Congress in which the Order was interested and to which proposed legis- lation the Committee gave its support. Much of the legislation proposed in State Legislatures was done either by the direction of the Committee or with its approval; thus from the National Con- gress down even to school precincts of the states and cities, was felt in a greater or less degree the influence of the National Legis- lative Committee. This and the subsequent chapter will be devoted to a brief resume of the most important measures of legislation proposed, both in the National Congress (not including immigration) and State Legislatures, as well as other issues intimately associated with the work of the Order, or through its regularly constituted committees. MISCELLANEOUS NATIONAL LEGISLATION ADVOCATED Before the creation of the National Legislative Committee, the American Defense Association, referred to in another chapter, took considerable interest in National legislation, and some time along about 1890-1892, through the Secretary of the Association, a bill was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Blair, proposing National Education to meet the wants and needs of the masses of unschooled children. At that time it was estimated that there were 6,000,000 children of school ago in the United States not enrolled in the schools of the land, and for whom there was no accommodation whatever provided in existing school structures. To accommodate this vast army of illiterates would have required 120,000 schoolhouses that did not exist. The purpose of the bill was the appropriation of money to the various states on the basis of illiteracy, in order to bring the country up to the average level of intelligence so that there should be something like a homogeneous condition of education, so far 240 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER as the common branches of knowledge were concerned, in all parts of our domain. The bill did not raise any question of the right and power of the nation to educate where the state and parent alike neglected the child. It assumed that they would properly and sufficiently educate the child who was to be a citizen and a sovereign in and of both the nation and the state, subject only to the temporary inabil- ity of the local community to bear the burden which must be carried for the common good. The principle, however, involved and prac- tically asserted in the bill was that whenever, from any cause, whether it be the fault or misfortune of the parent or the state wherein he resided, the child of the Republic is deprived of the opportunity to learn to read and write the language of his country, that country, with the assent of the state and through the agencies of the commonwealth, should give temporary aid in money to secure for the child a common school education, upon the condi- tion that the state expends for the same purpose at least an equal amount. The bill, however, did not become a law. TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL UNIVERSITY As an educational measure, the National Legislative Com- mittee was in hearty sympathy with the purpose and plan of this proposed institution, the bill having been offered in the House of Representatives by Mr. Hainer in 1895. The bill provided that there should be established in the District of Columbia, an educa- tional institution under the name of the " University of America," in which instruction in all the higher branches of learning should be given and where facilities could be furnished for literary and scientific research and investigation. The bill provided that the government of the University should be vested in a Board of Regents consisting of twenty members, to be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, of which Board the President of the United States was honorary president, ex officio, with the Vice-President, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of the Smithson- ian Institution also as ex officio members. In accordance with Section 8 of the bill, " no chair for instruc- tion, sectarian in religion or partisan in politics, shall be permitted in any form, and no sectarian or partisan test shall be allowed or UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 241 required in the appointment of professors or in the selection of any officer of the University." The bill provided that each state, territory and congressional district should be entitled to an equal proportionate number of students, at least two from each congressional district, who were to be selected by competitive examination. The physical require- ments were very rigorous, none to be admitted unless physically sound, of robust constitution, good moral character and standing. Previous to the admission of a student, the provisions of the bill required a very binding oath of allegiance to the United States as follows : "I , do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and bear true allegiance to the National Government; that I will maintain and defend the sovereignty of the United States paramount to any and all allegiance, sovereignty, or fealty I may owe to my state, county, power, or country whatsoever, and that T will at all times obey the legal orders of my superior officers and the rules and regulations governing the University of America." The site for the proposed University was in " University Square," part of the land Washington in his will had devised for an American University. The bill died in the Fifty-fourth Congress ; but at the request of the National Legislative Committee, it was reintroduced in the Fifty-fifth Congress and all efforts available were concentrated on the measure. But the solons at Washington were not ready for such an enterprise. AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION Two joint resolutions proposing amendments to the Federal Constitution as follows, were supported by the National Legislative Committee with the approval of the National Council: Article XVI. Neither Congress nor any state shall pass any law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or use the property or credit of the United States or of any state, or any money raised by taxation, or authorize either to be used, for the purpose of founding, maintaining or aiding, by appropriation, payment for service, expenses, or otherwise, any church, religious denomination, or religious society, or any institution, society, or undertaking, which is wholly or in part, under sectarian or ecclesiastical control." " Article XVII. No state shall grant the right of suffrage to any person not a citizen of the United States." 16 242 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER PROTEST AGAINST CHURCH BUILDING AT WEST POINT On January 8, 1898, Mr. Odell, of New York, introduced into the House of Representatives the following bill: " That the Secretary of War, in his discretion, may authorize the erection of a building for religious worship by any denomination, sect, or religion on the West Point Military Reservation : Provided, That such building will not interfere with the uses of said reservation for military purposes. Said building shall be erected without any expense whatever to the Government of the United States, and shall be removed from the reservation, or its location changed by the denomination, sect, or religious body erecting the same whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, public or military necessity shall require it, and without compensation for such building or any other expense whatever to the Government." The mere reading of the proposed act does not strike the reader as very vicious legislation, as it gave to any and every sect the same privilege; but reading it from a retrospective standpoint, the " nigger in the woodpile " is perceived. Three years previous to this, application had been made to Mr. Lamont, the Secretary of War at that time, by certain Eoman Catholic priests for permission to erect a stone chapel at West Point, and the permission was granted and work thereon was started. Protests were filed against the erection of the building, claiming that the chapel owned by the Government at the Military Academy and in which religious ser- vices conducted by the chaplains of the IT. S. Army was sufficient for all purposes, and that no building should be erected by any sectarian body on Government property. An examination of the subject showed that the Secretary of War exceeded his authority and the permission was, therefore, countermanded. As the proposed law was purely a sectarian piece of strategy on the part of the Roman church to secure a building on the Reservation, the National Legislative Committee strenuously opposed it on the ground of a violation of the principles of the United States Constitution that demanded a separation of the Church and State, believing that pernicious results would flow from such legislation. FLAG LEGISLATION Quite a number of bills from time to time have been intro- duced into the United States Congress, having for their purpose the protection of the American Flag from mutilation and desecration. Being too radical and defective, some of these bills were not even considered in the Committee and fell by the way. In 189S, House UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 243 Bill No. 5172 was introduced, entitled "An Act to Prevent the Desecration of the American Flag." The bill made it unlawful to display on the American Flag- any words, designs or figures, with the exception that the national or state regiments or Grand Army Posts should have the right to put on the flag the name and number of such post or regiment. The bill also provided that no representation of the flag shall be attached, imprinted or repre- sented upon any goods, wares, or merchandise, or any advertise- ment of the same. No trade-mark with a representation of the flag was permitted by the provisions of the proposed measure, and no representation of the flag was allowed upon letter heads, or envelopes, as used by so many Councils as well as other patriotic societies. The National Legislative Committee did not approve of the bill in its entirety, and claimed it was not adequately and fully drawn, from the fact that there was in it no provision to prevent the actual abuse of and insult to the flag by those who maliciously tear it down and mutilate it. To remedy this defect, the Commit- tee drew up a bill of its own and the same was introduced into the House by Mr. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, under the title : " To Protect the American Flag from Insult and Desecration," and its provisions were as follows : " That it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to wilfully and maliciously take down, pollute, injure, or remove, or in any manner insult, damage, or destroy any American flag which now or hereafter may be put, erected, or placed on or in any private or public building or place, or on any private or public highway or grounds. Any violation of this act shall be punishable, on conviction, in either of the circuit or district courts of the United States or the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia or the courts of the Territories, within their respective juris- dictions by a fine of fifty dollars for each offence, or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both at the discretion of the court." The bill was considered a good one by those qualified to judge, but D. B. Henderson, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, whose opposition to purely American principles was a noted feature of his public life in the United States Congress, refused to act upon the bill and report to the House on same. LEGISLATION AGAINST SECTARIAN APPROPRIATIONS Great credit belongs to the National Legislative Committee for its work in defeating in the United States Congress the appro- priating of monies for sectarian purposes. For years Roman Catholic institutions had been feeding from the public crib without 244 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER any protest. Brother Collins at once took up the fight against such appropriation of money contrary to an expression of Con- gress previously made, and, while he had a hard battle, he even- tually won. The House in 1898 fortunately had a Chairman of the Com- mittee on Appropriations for the District of Columbia, who was vigorously opposed to granting public money for sectarian purposes, General W. W. Grout, of Vermont. In reporting his appropriation bill for the District of Columbia, December 13, 1898, he omitted from the bill three sectarian institutions that had been asking for and receiving appropriations hitherto. In defense of his position for omitting the appropriations for said institutions, General Grout claimed that the Commissioners of the District did not desire two of the three to be made, while all were omitted " for the purpose of keeping faith with a declaration which Congress had made here- tofore, that these sectarian appropriatons should be dispensed with." The bill provoked a bitter discussion, all the Eomanists and Eomanists in principle among the Congressmen contended that the usual appropriations should be made to the said Catholic insti- tutions. The bill, however, passed the House as recommended by General Grout. The bill came up in the Senate on January 7, 1899, and was so amended as to appropriate several thousands of dollars to five Eoman Catholic institutions of the District of Columbia, viz. : " Church Orphanage Association of St. John's Parish," " The St. Anne's Infant Asylum," " House of the Good Shepherd," " St. Eose Industrial School " and " St. Joseph's Asylum." The House, led by General Grout, refused to concur in these amendments and the bill went into a Committee of Conference. On that Committee from the House, besides General Grout and Mr. Dockery, was Eep- resentative Bingham, of Philadelphia, upon whom great pressure was brought by the friends of Catholicism to vote in favor of re- taining the amendment. Brother Collins was on the alert, never asleep when the enemy was around, and at once asked the Councils of Philadelphia to petition General Bingham to stand firm for the sentiment of his constituency. The Councils promptly responded to the appeal and thousands of petitions and letters poured in upon Mr. Bingham until he was astounded at the spontaneous outburst of sentiment coming from his home city, and it is just to state that General Bingham, if he had any intention of voting in con- ference in favor of the amendment, saw " the handwriting on the wall " and voted to reject same. The bill was reported from the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 245 Committee of Conference to the House with the sectarian amend- ment stricken out and it came up for final passage. The writer sat in the gallery with the Secretary of the Committee and listened to the animated debate on the bill. David B. Henderson, the champion of the Roman Catholic Church, made a very bitter speech and complimented the Junior Order of United American Mechanics for their part in defeating the sectarian amendment, by denouncing " a secret society that works in the dark/' and blamed the defeat of the amendment on them. While the enemies of the organiza- tion blamed the National Legislative Committee, and the Order back of them, the friends of non-sectarian legislation gave to the Committee and Order the unqualified credit for the great victory obtained in the face of most powerful influences and opposition. As the writer was Chairman of the Legislative Committee, it is just to say in this connection, that to Brother Stephen Collins belongs all the credit for what work was done in the name of the Committee, as he was on the field and did not leave it until the gavel of the Speaker of the House of Bepresentatives announced the ending of another Congress. HISTORY OF INDIAN SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS The same sentiment that had been awakened in opposition to appropriating money to sectarian institutions was also felt in the Indian Appropriations, which for years had gone to a very large extent into the coffers of Borne. The National Legislative Commit- tee also attacked this pernicious system and exposed the nefarious methods of the Catholic Church in securing public money for sec- tarian purposes, and the result was, Congress also awakened to the despicable business and forthwith changed the whole procedure of Indian Appropriations. For this work, members of Congress gave unstinted praise to the National Legislative Committee and the Order it represented. A little history of this " sectarian steal " will emphasize the good accomplished by our Committee on National Legislation. It is not the purpose of the writer to denounce the Roman Catholic Church as a system of religious belief, for the Constitution of the United States gives to every man the right to worship God accord- ing to the dictates of his own conscience; but to challenge the actions of the Roman Catholic political machine al Washington masquerading under the pretense of a church. The question of the education and Christianizathm of the American Indian, or what was left of the race, presented itself to 246 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the American statesmen along about 1877, in which year Congress appropriated $20,000 for their education. The appropriation was increased from year to year until in 1886 the amount appropriated was $600,000, and in 1889 it reached the enormous sum of $1,300,- 000, and four years later $2,300,000 was appropriated by Congress. This vast sum of money was too much of a temptation to the Roman Catholic Church which at once sought to lay hands upon it and keep it under sectarian control. To this end, the Roman Catholic political machine established in the City of Washington a " Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions," as an organization to influence legislation and manipulate this great sum of money and turn it from the treasury into the coffers of Rome for Indian Sectarian Schools. The establishment of this " Bureau " was a well-thought out scheme, thoroughly organized and equipped with officers and clerks. During the term of President Cleveland, first term, from 1885 to 1889, the Roman church secured the appoint- ment of the Superintendent of Education, as well as the chief clerk, who had all the management of the details of Indian education in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, both of whom were the tools of this Roman Catholic Political Bureau. This same " machine " secured the appointment of as many Indian agents as possible who were devotees of the Roman church. They secured Catholic teachers for these schools who, faithful to their early instruction, introduced into these government schools the Roman Catholic catechism and made that the basis of their instruc- tion to the untutored savage of the plains, making the schools as completely parochial schools as though they had been paid out of the church funds of the parent church for the propagation of Romanism. Then, like the fable of the Arab, the camel and the tent, having got the head inside, the same political machine pushed the whole body into the public crib, horns, cloven feet and all, and established their own schools among the Indians and secured appro- priations from Congress for their maintenance. In 1886 they secured $118,000 for this purpose, the next year $194,000, then $221,000, and when General Thomas J. Morgan, that gallant patriot who opposed the principle of taking public money for sectarian purposes, took hold of the Indian Affairs as Commissioner, the appropriation to Catholic schools alone amounted to $347,000. Unsatisfied with that, when General Morgan was appointed, the Roman Bureau asked for $400,000 and intimated that they would ask more largely as the years rolled on. In brief, from 1886 to 1893, the Roman Catholic Church obtained from the public treas- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 247 ury, two million three hundred and sixty-six dollars for the support of their own Indian institutions. It should be stated in this connection, however, that Protestant denominations, with the exception of the Baptists, for the most part were receiving at the same time money from the government for the same purpose, amounting in seven years to $3,767,000. But to the credit of these Protestant denominations, when the sentiment was awakened in opposition to such sectarian use of the public money, every one of them refused any further appro- priation; but not so the Roman Catholic Church. When General Morgan protested against such use of the government money, the Roman Catholics began to upbraid him and took every means to thwart his plans in adopting and carrying out a new policy concern- ing the Indian schools. They even went so far as to lay the matter before President Harrison and asked him to remove the Indian Commissioner who would defy the behests of the Roman hierachy. After the Committee of Catholic prelates had made their statement, the President made the following brave reply: "Gentlemen, the reasons you state for the withdrawal of the Indian Commissioner are chiefly the reasons that prompted me to send in his name." Defeated in that line of attack, they pursued another course by attempting to destroy General Morgan's reputation, charging him with falsehood, tried to blacken his military record, and demanded, through the press of the country, his dismissal. They followed him to Congress to prevent his confirmation, he having acted for some time in the interim of Congress, and buttoned-holed members of the Senate, but they were again doomed to ignominious defeat. Following up the brave stand made by General Morgan, the National Legislative Committee took up the fight and pressed the battle to the very gates ; and as stated above, they won a decisive victory and forever put an end to sectarian appropriations of public money to the Indian schools. The Committee, in their argument, kept before the members of the Congress the one great, all-powerful principle written upon the pages of history, that the union of Church and State was hurtful alike to both; that the Republic had, in its infancy, entered upon a career of experiment in advance of human governments ; that the state without a king, the Church without a bishop by authority of the state, was one of the great characteristics of our civilization and one of the marks of the American Republic. And to the credit of the American statesmen, they heeded the appeal of our Committee and set a bar to further encroachments by the Roman Catholic political machine. CHAPTER XVI 2. STATE LEGISLATION THE Jr. 0. U. A. M., as an organization, in several of the states, has been active in its support of helpful legislation in harmony with the Objects and Principles of the Order. Indirectly, the National Council has had a part, at least, in the proposed legis- lation in the several commonwealths, as all measures drafted or suggested for such legislation had to be approved by the National Legislative Committee, which Committee was always available and ready to assist State Committees when requested. In brief we will refer to certain measures proposed for State Legislation, giving fuller details to those acts that were national in their influence and of which legislation the Order is justly proud. WISCONSIN Bennett Compulsory Educational Law While antedating the active cooperation of the Order in legis- lation and prior to the creation of the National Legislative Com- mittee, the " Bennett Law," enacted in 1889, in the State of Wis- consin, and termed a compulsory educational act, had the " moral support " at least, of the organization, and was among the first measures of its kind to be adopted. The main provisions of the bill were as follows : " Section 1. Every parent or other person having under his control a child between the ages of seven and fourteen years shall annually cause such child to attend some public or private day school in the city, town or district in which he resides for a period not less than twelve weeks in each year, which number of weeks shall be fixed prior to the first day of September in each year by the board of education, etc. . . . provided that such boards shall not fix such compulsory period at more than twenty-four weeks. " Section 5. No school shall be regarded as a school, under this act, unless there shall be taught therein, as a part of the elementary edu- cation of children, reading, writing, arithmetic and United States history, in the English language." The principle as incorporated in the provisions of the Bennett law was right. It contained the germ of truth to which the majority of American people subscribe. Education was made one of the corner-stones of the Eepublic by its founders and time only UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 249 has shown the wisdom of their actions. The law indicated no prejudice against any foreign language or opposition to it being taught, but simply asked and demanded thai a part of the educa- tion in the schools be in the English language. The enactment of this legislation aroused bitter antagonism in the state, especially among the German population, both Protestant and Catholic, and it became the issue in the election of said state, in which election the law was rescinded. The campaign which resulted in the defeat of the Bennett Law was one of vituperation and misrepresentation, in which the press of the entire country, especially that under the influence of the German and Catholic churches, took a prominent part. One paper called the enactment of the law as " coercion through the brutal power of the state exercised by the time-serving and ignorant politician and enforced by the clubs of a political constabulary." The real objection to the law was the requirement that the elementary branches should be taught in the English language. The German Catholic and Lutheran churches in Wisconsin are very strong and each support a large number of parochial schools. At that time the German language was almost exclusively taught in those schools, and, as a consequence, thousands of young men and women were growing up who did not know a single word of English. To such an extent was this exclusion of the English language carried that, as Governor Hoard, of that state said, court business in several of the counties could proceed only with the aid of an interpreter. The purpose of the Bennett Law was to correct this, not by proscribing German but by demanding enough teaching of English to enable every one to understand the language of the country in which he resided. It also was an erroneous statement, used as a campaign " fake,*' that the Bennett Law was a blow at the parochial school. It said nothing against parochial or private schools whatever, and only provided that at least for twelve weeks the English language shall be taught, and if this requirement was met by such schools, well and good, if not, then for three months at least the children must attend the public schools where the facility for such education could be secured. The law did not prevent said parochial or private schools from teaching what they pleased; they could teach Persian or Chinese if they chose, but for twelve weeks they must see that their children have instruction in the English language, and then for the rest of the year they could send them to whatever school they 250 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER wished and teach them anything they wanted. Hence the incon- sistency of the opposition to the Bennett Law. The racial question predominated largely in the campaign, and there was aroused an intense race hatred. This feeling was greatly accelerated by the German press. Note the following from the Germania, the organ of the German Lutheran Church of Milwaukee: " But the victory in the election of April, is also a most wonder- ful victory of Germandom over narrow-hearted nativism. And . that Germandom went into this fight tolerably well united may be partly ascribed to the attacks made for several months past by the English (Democrat) press of our city (Milwaukee) against it. These attacks brought into line the large majority of Germans, rank and file." It was truly unfortunate that national prejudices were appealed to, that a distinctive German element was fostered and that Ameri- can laws were resisted on the ground of nationalism. Such an atti- tude by the Germans of Wisconsin was contrary to the spirit of republicanism, as well as a direct antagonism with the essence of the Constitution and of all the liberal institutions founded thereon. In short, it was an insidious, left-handed attack upon our system of public schools. On the day of the election that resulted in the defeat of said law, it is stated that the German clergy, both Protestant and Catholic, joined their forces. Catholic priests were busy the whole day getting their members to the polls. Some precincts, wholly Catholic, voted their entire strength against the bill. The Capu- chin Monks, 250 in number, marched in a body to the polls led by their father confessor. It was the first battle in defense of the English language and of compulsory education and aroused a strong sentiment in the Order all over the country, which resulted in the Order taking higher ground on the public school question that eventually brought about such excellent legislation, especially in Pennsylvania. Illinois and Iowa had compulsory educational laws framed after the Bennett Law, with the exception, that in Illinois, the term was at least sixteen iveeJcs for English teaching, and that geography be included. The same animosity was stirred in both states by the same German element as manifested in Wisconsin. COLORADO The Junior Order in Colorado along about 1895 to 1897 was quite active in its efforts to secure legislation in harmony with the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 251 teachings of the organization, and presented several drafts of bills to the National Legislative Committee for their approval. Some of the measures proposed, if 1 am not at fault in recollection, were enacted into law: but be that true or not, the point we desire to bring out is the intention that the members of the Order had in bringing before the General Assemblies such proposed legislation with which this patriotic society was in sympathy. As in the National Congress, many of these efforts put forth by State Legis- lative Committees failed, yet they were the means of bringing to the attention of the people at large the fact of what the organization was here for and the kind of work it was doing. The following bills, given only by title in this connection, were presented to the Legislature of Colorado: 1. " An Act to Prescribe an Educational Qualification for Voters." The main provision of this bill was an additional qualification to that already prescribed by law, that the voter " shall be able to write his name and read, in the English language, any section of the Constitution of the United States, or of the State of Colorado." 2. " To provide that School Trustees and Boards of Education in every school district of this state shall furnish free text-books and all necessary supplies to all scholars attending the public schools." 3. " An Act providing for purchase and display of United States Hags in connection with the public schools." 4. " An Act to prescribe qualifications of electors in elections for school directors held in any city in the state of over one hundred thou- sand inhabitants, or any city in this state operating under special charter, and to provide penalties for violation thereof." 0. " An Act to prevent employment of any person not a citizen of the Unted States by any state, county, municipal officer or school director, state, county, or municipal body, board, city council or committee thereof, etc." NEW JERSEY Not to be behind Pennsylvania in the line of patriotic legisla- tion, New Jersey, through the State Council Legislative Commit- tee, in 1894, did more in a practical way in a few months time than was ever accomplished in any state in the same length of time. The National Councilor in his report to the National Council of that year refers to this legislation, and gave much of the credit to the energetic labors of Brother Charles L. Walters, a member of the General Assembly from Monmouth county. The three bills presented and which became laws, were as follows : 1. To provide for the total proceeds of Riparian sales, grants and leases to go into the school fund which at the time amounted to $4,000,000. 252 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER A former legislature had diverted a portion of the proceeds into other channels. 2. A free text-book bill. 3. To make it compulsory on school boards to provide flags and staffs for the public schools. In 1897, the following bill was introduced into the New Jersey Legislature, the same having been approved by the National Legis- lative Committee and the National Board of Officers: " That no person or persons shall hereafter be licensed to sell strong or spirituous liquors, wine, ale, or beer in any building for which a license does not exist at the time of the passage of this act which shall be on the same street or avenue and within two hundred feet of a building occujded exclusively as a church, charitable institution, or a public school- house. " The measurements shall be taken between the nearest points of the buildings used for such church, charitable institution, or public school- house, and the place for which an application for a license has been made."' An act was passed in the New Jersey Legislature in 1894, " To Encourage and Promote Patriotism/' which was amended by a bill, offered in the Legislature in 1898, at the request of the State Council Legislative Committee, approved by the National Legislative Committee, and was as follows : " In all the public schools of the State of New Jersey the last school day preceding the following holidays, viz : Decoration or Memorial Day. Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving Day, shall be devoted to the develop- ment and promotion of a higher spirit of patriotism by the observing of proper and appropriate exercises; also, that on the Friday preceding Washington's Birthday similar exercises shall be held celebrating Wash- ington's and Lincoln's Birthday. - ' There was also introduced in the same Legislature a bill for " An Act to Begulate the employment of Labor in State Municipal Corporations, or otherwise engaged in Public Works." OHIO The State Council Legislative Committee of Ohio, composed of Geo. Donaldson, Dr. S. 0. Giffin and John H. Arnold, was active in pushing to successful consummation in the Ohio Legis- lature, legislation in harmony with the principles of our Order. In the face of much opposition from the enemies of the Order and of American institutions, the following enactments were se- cured, given here only by title: 1. "To Prevent the display of foreign flags on Public Buildings." Not a vote was cast against this measure in either the Senate or House. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 25S 2. "To Provide for the Inspection of all Private Hospitals, Reforma- tory Homes, Homes of Detention, Private Asylums, and all Correctional or Reformatory Institutions in the State of Ohio." This bill passed in the Senate by 21 to 5 and in the House by a vote of 62 to 7. 3. " To Provide for the Placing of the Flag upon all Schoolhouses." The Senate vote on this bill stood 19 in favor and none against; in the House the vote stood ayes 83, nays 3. In 1902, a bill was introduced into the Legislature known as " The Ohio Penitentiary Chaplain Bill," providing, along with other employees, "a Roman Catholic Chaplain approved by tin- Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus at a salary of $50 per month." The Legislative Committee protested and the proposed act was defeated. KENTUCKY In 1903, Bev. Thomas Hackett, a Roman Catholic priest, filed an injunction against the school trustees of the Brookville graded school district asking that they and the teachers of said school be restrained from the use of the English translation of the Bible known as " King James " or " Authorized Edition," and from opening the school with prayers and songs alleged to be denomi- national, therefore sectarian and in violation of the Constitution. The case was fought by the Junior Order and was heard before Judge James F. Harbeson, who, on December 3, 1903, rendered his decision dismissing the petition, and in said opinion said that the Bible was the foundation of all Christian Government, and that it was not sectarian. The case was carried to the Court of Appeals by the Catholic priest, which tribunal handed down its opinion, affirming the lower Court, as per the following review of the case: "The question presented on appeals were: First, does the offering of prayer upon opening of a public school make it a sectarian school within the meaning of Section 189 of the Constitution, and, second, is the Bible above-mentioned a sectarian book within the meaning of Section 4368. Kentucky Statutes? The children of tlie appellant were members of the Roman Catholic Church. " The Court says that the Brookville school is in no sense a sectarian or denominational school; that Section 180 of the Constitution was aimed, not to regulate the curriculum of the common schools of the state, but to prevent the appropriation of public money to aid schools maintained by any church or sect of religionists ; that the evidence here shows that in the Brookville school worship of God is not compulsory, and children of appellant were not required to attend during the exercises complained of, nor to participate in them. "The Court, in part, says: 'The Constitutional Convention in fram- ing tin' organic law for all the people of the state musl be presumed to 254 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER have used ordinary words, not according to the peculiar views of the few, but as generally used. The word " sectarian," from the connection which it is used, cannot be given the construction contended for by appellant, which seems to be that any form of prayer not authorized by a particular church is sectarian.' "The Court says that neither the ' King James ' edition, nor any edition of the Bible, is sectarian. That the adoption of any particular edition by one or more denominations as authentic, or by them asserted to be inspired, cannot make it a sectarian book." DELAWARE During the year of 1894, the Board of Officers of Delaware prepared and had introduced in the Legislature of the state the following bill, given here by title, which became a law : " An Act Providng for the purchasing and display of United States flags in connection with the public school buildings of the State." In 1895 a Compulsory Education measure was endorsed and introduced into the Legislature. By endorsement of the State Council, the Legislative Commit- tee presented to the Constitution Committee of the State of Dela- ware the following petition to be brought before the Constitutional Convention to convene the same year: " First. That in forming our new Constitution, it shall expressly declare and prohibit any moneys of this state or any of its counties being appropriated for sectarian purposes. " Second. That all public schools shall be opened by the reading of a portion from the Bible daily. " Third. That it shall be the imposed duty of all schools in this state, to see that the American flag, the Stars and Stripes, floats over every school." INDIANA In 1897 a bill for Compulsory Education was introduced into the Indiana Legislature through the efforts of the Order, which provided that all children between the ages of 8 and 15 shall attend the public schools for seven months of the year. In 1903 two bills were introduced through the efforts of the State Council Legislative Committee, viz. : 1. Placing the American flag upon Public School Buildings. 2. A Free Text-book Measure. Both bills were unfavorably reported by the Committee of the Legislature. In 1905, a Free Text-book Bill was again introduced by request of the Order, but, as with former bills, it died in the Committee. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 255 MARYLAND In the year 1896, the State Council Legislative Committee of Maryland were active in pressing certain legislation before tho State Legislature, the principal proposed measures being as follows : 1. To make it compulsory on the part of the School Commissioners of any school in the state to float from every schoolhouse the American ilag on public holidays and every day when school is in session ;it the expense of the state. 2. To require the study of Civil Government in our Public Schools. 3. That all children attending Public Schools be supplied with Text- books free. 4. To require that School Commissioners be elected by popular vote, and to adopt such necessary legislation as will protect the Public Schools and teachers from political or sectarian influences. 5. To permit the display only of the American flag upon the Public Buildings. All the above proposed measures failed of passage, with the exception of Nos. 3 and 4. During the State Council fiscal year of 1896-1897 the Legis- lative Committee gave attention to the schools where the flag was in a dilapidated condition and required that same be replaced with new ones; they also looked after those schools where the teachers failed to read the Bible in the schools. As an evidence of sincerity on the part of the Legislative Committee and the insincerity on the part of a few of the members of the legislative body who were members of the Order, the follow- ing incident occurred during the sitting of the Legislature of 1906: A bill was introduced asking for an appropriation of $50,000 to be taken from the " Burnt District Funds " for the purpose of erecting a new building for St. Mary's Industrial School. The pro- posed legislation, purely sectarian, was opposed by the Order, through the Legislative Committee, but it passed by a bare consti- tutional majority, and became a law. Five members of the Order voted for the bill, thereby making it possible for the above named sum to go into the hands of the Eoman Catholic Church. CHAPTER XVII 3. SPECIAL NOTE ON PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATION THE " Keystone " state, the birthplace of the Order, along prac- tical lines of work, especially in legislation, deserves more than a passing notice, as it was in this state that legislation was enacted, which exerted an influence far beyond its boundary lines — prac- tically affecting the entire Union as well as the Order in every state, because great principles were involved in connection with the public school system of the Commonwealth. In 1894 the attention of the Order was called to the fact that in various parts of the state the Eoman Catholic Church was inter- jecting religious teaching into the public schools peculiar to their belief, and that " nuns " in the garb of the church were employed as teachers therein. How long this sectarian interference would have continued without protest is hard to tell; but a circumstance occurred that aroused the Jr. 0. U. A. M. and precipitated imme- diate action that resulted in great and final good to the public schools of the state and settled, as far as the Commonwealth was concerned, a great question concerning Eome's attitude towards our system of education. THE RIVERSIDE SCHOOL CASE Early in the year of 1894, the school directors of the Thirty- fourth ward, Pittsburg, Pa., entered into an arrangement with the priest of the Roman Catholic Church of same ward (who also was head of the parochial school) to transfer all of the children of the local parochial school into the public school building, which seemed to have some vacant rooms ; at the same time there were transferred five nuns of the Roman Catholic Church as teachers. These nuns were to remain until the close of the month when it was the under- standing that the local board of directors was to petition the Central Board of Education for more teachers to meet the increased number of scholars, when, if the request was granted, the " nuns " were to be employed at the expense of the school fund. The local Council of the Order, Welcome Council, No. 134, with such wide-awake patriots as Brothers C. F, Heselbarth, Geo. B. Nesbitt and Arthur 256 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 257 M. Fording at its head, would not stand for such high-handed pro- ceedings upon the part of the local school board, some of whom were Protestants, and called the attention of the then State Councilor, W. T. Kerr, who at once sought legal advice and went into the courts and asked that the nuns be enjoined from teaching while attired in the garb peculiar to their religious order, or while other- wise engaged in religious work. The request for an injunction aroused a bitter protest upon the part of the press that was in sym- pathy with Eoman Catholicism. Before a temporary injunction could be secured, the fight was carried before the Central Board of Education and the subject was so warmly agitated that that body fully endorsed the views of the Order in not permitting the nuns to teach, clothed in the garb of their church. Finding an aroused sentiment in the community against such a procedure, the priest gathered his flock together and with the nuns and all removed back to the parochial school building and continued in their old way. This was the beginning of a crusade against sectarianism in the public schools of the state and the State Councilor proceeded to "beard the lion" in his den in other sections of the Commonwealth and began, proceedings that ulti- mately defeated the machinations of Borne so far as the schools were concerned. THE GALLITZIN SCHOOL CASE The Gallitzin School Case was somewhat similar to the Kiver- side Case. The Board of School Directors of the town of Gallitzin, Cambria county, employed itinerant nuns from the Eoman Catholic Church, not residents of the town, as public school teachers, these " sisters " wearing at the same time the garb peculiar to the order of St. Joseph. They were charged with teaching the Roman Catho- lic catechism during and after school hours and instructing the children, Catholic as well as Protestant, to call them " sister " and the local priest, who was a constant visitor at the school, to be addressed as "father."- The members of the local Council of the Junior Order protested against having their children brought boldly under such sectarian teaching, and through State Councilor Kerr a temporary injunction was obtained which was followed by a five- day hearing in the county court to make the injunction permanent. As this case was such a prominent one and had in it a great prin- ciple involved, affecting the Order at large, some space will be given it that the members of the Order of the present day may have some idea of the vast import in the issue at stake. 17 258 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The case at issue was heard before Judge Barker in the Cam- bria county court, beginning on May 3, 1894, the solicitors for plaintiffs being T. H. Baird Patterson, A. D. Wilkin and H. W. Storey, a preliminary injunction having been obtained on April 28. The Bill of Complaint consisted of 13 counts alleging that the appellees, the School Board of Gallitzin Borough, had employed six " sisters " of the Order of St. Joseph, connected with the Boman Catholic Church, to teach in the public schools of the said borough, and that they had been employed and payment made for services by their " church names " instead of their worldly names (in the case of the latter four were unknown) ; "that said teachers are all sectarian or religious sisters of the Order of the Sisterhood of St. Joseph, of said Church, and have taken vows whereby they have renounced the world and have given up worldly names and worldly interests, etc." It was averred that said teachers while in the perform a rice of their duties in the schoolroom wore the garb peculiar to their Order in the Roman Catholic Church, " which was an emblem, mark or insignia of the said Order and Church, consisting of such black dresses, white caps, white coronets, crucifixes, rosaries and waist cords, with tassels, as are peculiar with said religious Order." It was also averred that the said teacher's had announced cer- tain rules to the children requiring them to address said teachers as " sister " and call them by their religious names, and that by similar rules the local priest was encouraged to visit the school and hear recitations, look at the work of the pupils, individually, which said priest was to be addressed by the children as " father," the school rising on his entrance or retiring from the schoolroom, and when retiring to thank him for his visit, requesting him to come again. It was further averred in Bill of Complaint that the said teachers taught the catechism of the Roman Catholic Church before, during and after school hours, thereby unlawfully using the public school building for religious purposes. It was still further averred that owing to a distinctive rule of the Order of Sisterhood of St. Joseph, that said sisters were dis- qualified from teaching males over 14 years of age, hence the male children of said age and over were placed under a male teacher and by so doing the boys were improperly graded and classified. And by rules of same sisterhood certain branches of itudy, such as hygiene and physiology, could not be taught by said sisters, being disqualified by religious obligations, hence the children of said school were deprived of the advantages of said studies as required by the laws of the state. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 259 In view of those averments, the plaintiffs declared that the employment of sectarian teachers was illegal, it being a transfor- mation of the public schools into sectarian schools, and the main- tenance and support of private sectarian schools out of the public school funds, which they claimed was in derogation of the rights of children, parents and taxpayers of the district, and in violation of the rights of conscience, and that the wearing of the garb and insignia peculiar to their religious creed had, in itself, irrespective of catechetical instruction, a tendency to teach sectarianism. The case was stubbornly contested by the appellees, five days being required for the hearing. Many witnesses were examined, quite a number of them being pupils of the school, and, as is natural in a case of this kind, there were evasions and much hear-say evi- dence. But it was sufficiently proven, in fact there was no denial, that the six teachers were " sisters " of the Sisterhood of St. Joseph and wore the garb peculiar to their Order. It was also proven that there was lack of grading or classification in the schools and that the children were asked to address their teachers as "sister." " it being more polite." The catechism was studied by some during school hours, but the recitations therein occurred before and after school hours and only Catholic children were asked to remain. While it was not shown that the "sisters" used any persuasion over Protestant children, still the testimony brought out the fact that they w r ere very considerate of them and less strict in discipline over them, in order to get their good graces and insiduously win their love and affection and thus, Rome-like, draw them toward the Catholic Church. It was also shown that the salary received by the nuns was turned over to the Eoman Catholic Church in accordance with the vows of poverty taken by them, which reads as follows : " The vow of poverty disqualifies them from having a right to any- thing, and, consequently, they cannot under any pretext whatever, give away or receive anything, without the permission of the Mother Superior. . . . To banish all ideas of property the Sisters of St. Joseph should not make use of the word mine when speaking of the things they use. Thus, instead of saying my dress, my room, my book, they should always say our book, our room, and our dress, and so of the rest." THE DECISION OF THE COURT AGAINST THE JR. O. U. A. M. Supplemented by an exhaustive opinion, Judge Barker decided in favor of the School Directors and the six nuns, therefore denying a perpetual injunction restraining the " sisters " from teach- ing in the aforenamed schools. 260 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER After reviewing the case and carefully weighing the evidence, Judge Barker issued the following decree: "And now, August 20, 1894, this case having been previously heard and fully considered, it is ordered and decreed as follows: That the pre- liminary injunction heretofore granted be dissolved in so far as the same restrain the school district of Gallitzin borough, the School Directors of said district and their successors from employing the other defendants (the nuns) named in the bill, as teachers of said public schools under the certificates issued by the County Superintendent in their religious names, and permitting them to remain as such wearing the garb of the Order of the Sisterhood of St. Joseph, and in so far as it restrains the said teachers from acting in the capacity of teachers while wearing the garb of said Order. " And it is also dissolved in so far as it restrains the said teachers from permitting the pupils to address them by the title of ' sister ' or a visiting priest as ' father.' "And the said preliminary injunction is made perpetual in so far as it restrains the defendants from permitting the use of the catechisms of the Roman Catholic Church as books of instruction in said public school building at any time, whether during school hours or otherwise, and from using the said catechisms for said purposes therein, and from giving or permitting any religious sectarian instructions therein at any time, and from using or permitting the use of the public school property for any other than free common school education." The opinion of Judge Barker being quite lengthy, will not be noted here, only so far as to show the main ground on which the Judge based his reasons for denying the request for the injunction. In the absence of statutory enactments bearing especially on this point, the principal question was, Whether the School Directors violated the purpose of the Constitution in employing the nuns, and whether the " sisters " in the garb peculiar to their Order was in violation of the same constitutional enactment. The language of the Constitution bearing upon this question, which was pre- sented to the Court by the attorneys for the plaintiffs as the main point of their contention, reads as follows : "No money raised for the support of the public schools of the Com- monwealth shall be appropriated to or used for the support of any sectarian school." The question at issue, therefore, was one of judicial construc- tion of that language; whether or not it warranted the restraining order prayed for. Judge Barker, however, saw no violation of this principle of the Constitution in the employment of the nuns, bas- ing his opinion on the fact that it was not sufficiently proven that any religious instruction was given during school hours nor was there anything to show that there had been any religious exercises conducted during same time. On this and the main point he says : UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 26 1 "We conclude as to this branch of the case, that in the absence of proof that religious sectarian instruction was imparted by them (the nuns) during school hours, or religious sectarian exercises engaged in, we cannot restrain by injunction members of the Order of Sisters of St. Joseph from teaching in the public school in the garb of their Order, aor the School Directors from employing or permitting them to act in that capacity." However, one point the Junior Order gained, and that was that the nuns were enjoined from using the school building either before or after school hours or at any time in imparting Catholic religious instruction to children of Catholic parents with or without the request of said parents, this being in the opinion of the Court as using school property for sectarian purposes. The prosecution of this case up to this point cost the Order $2,039. OG, the Councils having contributed, as per appeal of the State Board of Officers, $2,251.33. The case was at once appealed to the Supreme Court of the state, and ably argued, but the major- ity of that body affirmed the decision of the lower court, Justice Dean writing the opinion, the main portions of which are given below. Excerpts from Justice Williams, who dissented, which, in our opinion, appears more consistent with the real issue, are also given. DECISION OF SUPREME COURT — CASE OF NUNS TEACHING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS As stated above, Justice Dean wrote the majority opinion on the appeal from the decision of Judge Barker in the above famous case that had such a far-reaching effect upon the Order and the public school system in the entire Union. Quoting the opinion of the lower court as above cited, the higher court adds the following : "This legal conclusion (Judge Barker's) is reached after a very able and impartial opinion in which the facts are reviewed, and the law on the case fully cited. The opinion is so convincing, that it seems to us, it must compel the assent of an unprejudiced mind, whether of layman or lawyer. In thus expressing our full accord with the learned President Judge of the court below, we intimate no opinion as to the wisdom or unwisdom of the action of the School Board in selecting Catholic teachers, members of an exclusively religious Order. In this matter was involved, solely, the exercise of discretion by the Board in the performance of an official duty, for which they alone are responsible; this discretion when it does not transgress the law, is not reviewable by this or any other court. When a teacher of good moral character applies for a school, and presents a certificate of qualification as to scholarship and aptness to teach, that is an end of official inquiry into the action of the Board in appointment, because the law makes no further inquisition up to this point." 262 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER In the assignment of errors of the lower court before the higher tribunal, the attorneys for the Order made the following strong claim which the higher court misconstrued and therefore lost track of the real issue. " The Court erred in finding that the employment of the Sisters of St. Joseph as teachers in the public schools and their acting as such, while wearing the distinctive sectarian garb, crucifixes and rosaries of their Order and sect, could not be enjoined." Erroneously assuming that any effort had been made to exclude these teachers on account of their religion, and that the Junior Order claimed that their religious belief disqualified them as teach- ers, the learned judge of the higher tribunal, in reference to the above assignment of error, says : " Unquestionably these women were Catholics, strict adherents of that faith, believing fully in its distinctive creed and doctrines, but this does not disqualify them. Our Constitution negatives any assertion of incapacity or ineligibility to office because of religious belief. Article 1 of the Bill of Rights declares, 'All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. . . . No human authority can in any case whatever control or interfere with the rights of conscience.' " If by law, any man or woman can be excluded from public office or employment because he or she is a Catholic, that is a palpable violation of the spirit of the Constitution; for there can be, in a democracy, no higher penalty imposed upon one holding to particular religious belief, than perpetual exclusion from the station because of it. Men may disqualify themselves by crime, but the state no longer disqualifies because of religious belief. We cannot now, even if we wanted to, in view of our law, both fundamental and statutory, go back a century or two to a darker age, and establish a religious test as a qualification for office. In this case the school board committed no unlawful act in selecting these Catholic women as teachers, because, by moral character and certified attainments, they were qualified, and their religion did not disqualify. The board may have found that because of their previous training and discipline they were specially qualified as teachers, just as Protestant school boards sometimes think the graduates of particular schools or colleges make the best teachers; but there is no proof that they were appointed because they were Catholics, in preference to others as well or better qualified, but not members of that church." The main question in this whole controversy, from which the courts seem to get away, and a question upon which a clear con- struction of law was asked, in its relation to the Constitution, was the question of the garb worn by these sisters while engaged in their public school work. That this peculiar apparel or insignia worn by these nuns was sectarian teaching, was the contention of the Order, but both lower and higher courts placed a different con- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 263 structi on upon the fact, with the exception of Justice Williams. The Court continues : " But it is further argued that if the appointment of these Cat hoi it- teachers was lawful, they ought to be enjoined from appearing in the school room in the habit of their Order. It may be conceded that the dress and crucifix impart at once knowledge to the pupil of their religious belief and society membership of the wearer. But is this, in any reasonable sense of the word sectarian teaching, which the law prohibits? The religious belief of many teachers all over the Commonwealth is indicated by their apparel. Quakers or Friends, Amish, Dunkards and other sects wear gar- ments which at once disclose their membership in a religious sect. . . . The dress is but the announcement of the fact that the wearer holds a particular religious belief. " Are the courts to decide that the cut of a man's coat, or the color of a woman's gown, is sectarian teaching, because they indicate sectarian belief? If so then they can be called to go further. The religion of the teacher being known, a pure and unselfish life, exhibiting itself in tender- ness to the young, and helpfulness for the suffering, necessarily tends to promote the religion of the man or woman who lives it. . . . There- fore, irreproachable conduct, to that degree, is sectarian teaching. But shall the education of the children of the Commonwealth be entrusted only to those men and women who are destitute of any religious belief?" Referring to the times past when it was frequently the case that ministers were selected for school teachers, and that they wore a distinctive clerical garb in the presence of Catholic children ; that when the office of County Superintendent was first created in 1854, in many counties preachers were selected for that office, and at the time of the writing of the opinion, the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the state was a Protestant preacher, the Court concludes : " In the 60 years of existence of our school system, this is the first time this Court has been asked to decide, as a matter of law, that it is sectarian teaching for a devout woman to appear in a schoolroom in a neat dress peculiar to a religious organization of a Church. We decline to do so; the law does not so say." THE MINORITY OPINION OF JUDGE WILLIAMS Basing our judgment, not from prejudice, but from a higher standard of what we conceive the meaning of the Constitution to be, we unhesitatingly accept the opinion of Judge Williams in plac- ing a clearer construction on the law than that of the majority of the Court. After assenting to the proposition that teachers should be selected for their fitness rather than their church affiliations, the learned jurist says: 264 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " The Constitution and laws of this state provide for open, free schools for all children of the proper age, that shall be secular in character, schools in which the conscience of the sectarian bias of both parents and children, shall be respected or at best not interfered with. Their purpose is to provide an elementary education that shall help fit the rising gen- eration for actual business and duties and privileges of citizenship. Is the public school in the borough of Gallitzin so conducted? " It is a school with eight apartments and has a separate teacher for each. The eight teachers are members of the same church or sect. This is unusual, but not unlawful. Six of the teachers are nuns of the Sisterhood of St. Joseph. They have renounced the world, their own domestic relations, and their family names. They have also renounced their property, their right to their own earnings, and the direction of their own lives, and bound themselves by stern vows to the work of their ecclesiastical superiors. They have ceased to be civilians and secular persons. They have become ecclesiastical persons, known by religious names, and devoted to religious work. " Among the methods by which their separation from the world is emphasized and their renunciation of self and subjection to the church is proclaimed, is the adoption of a distinctly religious dress. This is strik- ingly unlike the dress of their sex, whether Catholic or Protestant. Its use at all times and in all places is obligatory. They are forbidden to modify it. Wherever they go this garb proclaims their church, their Order and their separation from the secular world as plainly as a herald could do, if they were constantly attended by such a person. " The question presented on this state of facts is whether a school that is filled with religious or ecclesiastical persons as teachers, who come to the discharge of their daily duties wearing their ecclesiastical robes and hung about with the rosaries and other devises peculiar to their church and Order, is not necessarily dominated by sectarian influences and obnoxious to the spirit of the constitutional provisions and the school laws. " This is not a question about taste or fashion in dress, nor about color or cut of a teacher's clothing. If it were only this I would favor largest liberty. It is deeper and broader than this. It is a question over the true intent and spirit of our common school system as decided in the provisions referred to. If this is a proper administration of the school laws in Gallitzin, it would be equally so in every other school district of the state; and if every common school was presided over by ecclesiastics, in their distinctive ecclesiastical robes, supplying pupils with copies of their church catechism on application, and teaching it before and after school hours to all who choose to reman for that purpose, it seems to me very plain that the common schools tuould cease to be such and would become to all practical purposes parochial schools of the church whose ecclesiastics presided over them. Clergymen sometimes wear on the streets a coat or hat that affords some evidence of their profession, but they do not appear in churchly robes, when about their daily work, or in any garb that points out the church to which they belong or the creed to which they adhere. " But these six teachers in Gallitzin do just that. They wear and must wear, at all times, a prescribed, unchangeable ecclesiastical dress, which was plainly intended to proclaim their non-secular and religious UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 265 character, their particular church and Order, and their separation from the world. They came into the schools not as common teachers or civilians, but as representatives of a particular Order in a particular church, whose lives have been dedicated to religious work under the direction of that church. Now, the point of the objection is not that their religion disquali- fies them. It does not. It is not that holding an ecclesiastical position or office disqualifies— for it does not. It is the introduction into the schools as teachers of persons who are by their striking and distinctive ecclesiastical robes necessarily and constantly asserting their membership in a particular church and religious Order within that church, and the subjection of their lives to the direction and control of its offices. . . . " The common schools cannot be used to exalt any given church or sect or to belittle or override it; but they should be, like our political institutions, free from ecclesiastical control and from sectarian tendencies. Is the public school at Gallitzin such an one? The Protestant children of that borough do not think so. Their parents do not think so, as appears most plainly in this litigation. The Directors evidently do not think so, for they repulsed the mothers, who came to them to beg that their children might be put in a department not presided over by one of these ecclesias- tical persons. The learned judge of the court below did not think so, foi he enjoined against the teaching of the catechism and all other sectarian instruction, but he left the ecclesiastics in charge. . . . They direct the studies and the deportment of the children under their charge as ecclesiastical persons. They cannot or will not attend teachers' institutes. They have no touch with those engaged in the same pursuits about them; they do not attend public examinations; but examined in the seclu- sion of the ' Mother House ' of their Order, after being selected by the ' Sister Superior,' in compliance xoith the written request of the directors, they come to their work as a religious duty, and their wages pass, under the operations of their vows, into the treasury of the Order. " If a school so conducted is not dominated by sectarian influences, and under sectarian control, it is not easy to see how it could be." We have quoted largely from Justice Williams' opinion, and have italicised those portions that seem to be clearly consistent with the construction the Order placed upon the law. However, the State Board of Officers, through the State Legislative Com- mittee, with the approval of the National Legislative Committee, drew up a bill, known as " The Smith Eeligious Garb Bill " and had it presented at the next session of the Legislature. THE SMITH RELIGIOUS GARB BILL "AN ACT " To prevent the wearing in the public schools of this Commonwealth by any of the teachers thereof of any dress, insignia, marks or emblems indicating the fact that such teacher is an adherent or member of any religious order, sect or denomination, and imposing a fine upon the board of directors of any public school permitting the same. 266 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " Whereas, It is important that all appearances of sectarianism should be avoided in the administration of the public schools of this Commonwealth, " Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That no teacher in any public school of this Commonwealth shall wear in said school or whilst in the performance of his or her duty as such teacher any dress, mark, emblem or insignia indicating the fact that such teacher is a member or adherent of any religious order, sect or denomination. " Section 2. That in case of violation of the provisions of the first section of this act by any teacher employed in any of the public schools of this Commonwealth, notice of which having been previously given to the school board, employing such teacher, that it shall be the duty of such school board to permanently suspend such teacher for employment in such school, for the term of one year, and in case of a second offense by the same teacher, it shall be the duty of said school board to permanently disqualify such teacher from teaching in said school, and any public school director failing to comply with the provisions of this act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable upon conviction of the first offense by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, and in case of a second conviction of the violation of the provisions of this act, the offending school director shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, and shall be deprived of his or her office as a public school director. A person thus twice convicted shall not be eligible to appoint- ment or election as a director of any public school in this state within a period of five years from the date of his or her second conviction." The above bill was drafted by direction of the Junior Order and introduced into the House of Eepresentatives of Pennsylvania early in the session of 1895, by Hon. Eobert Smith, and after taking its course, there being several hearings before the Committee, where the bill was antagonized by its opponents ; and while some of the Eepresentatives were somewhat " shaky " on the subject, being placed between two fires, Catholic and anti-Catholic, being polit- ically opposed to the bill, the Junior Order made it clear to the hesitating Representatives that their constituency would call them to account for failure to perforin their duty, so when the bill came up for final vote, it carried by a sweeping majority, the vote being 151 to 26. It also passed the Senate by a good majority. The opponents of the measure followed the bill into the Execu- tive Department and used every persuasion to have Governor Hast- ings veto same. There was some fear that he could not withstand the pressure and the members of the Order awaited his decision with great interest. A public hearing, however, was arranged before his Excellency on June 2, 1895, at which time representatives of the Order and those in opposition presented the merits and demerits of the bill. At this hearing the Governor's official family were present, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 26? some of whom it was known were not favorable to the proposed law. Among those present, friendly to the bill, was our genial, big- hearted friend and fellow-patriot, Brother Dr. W. H. Painter, of Harrisburg, Pa. Unfortunately, the legal representatives of the Order repre- senting the Board of Officers, who were present to speak in favor of the bill, failed to make a very favorable impression upon Governor Hastings and his cabinet, hence after the labored, and in a sense sarcastic speech of the legal gentleman on the opposition, the fate of the measure hung in a balance. At this juncture the Governor called upon Dr. Painter for anything he might want to add in defense of the bill. Brother Painter has always been an enthusiastic Junior, red-hot in defense of the fundamental principles of the Order and every time when an emergency comes he stands flat- footed and four-square on every question, even to the sacrifice of his business and practice. The Doctor did not take any urging, but " on the spur of the moment " he took up the great question at issue and, as has been remarked by those who were present, made the speech of the occasion. The writer some time after had occasion to call upon Governor Hastings, and in the course of the conversa- tion, the Governor brought up the question of the " Garb Bill " which he had signed, and remarked that nothing in his administra- tion had given him more satisfaction, upon which he would look with more pride, than his part in making the bill a law. He further stated that Dr. Painter's address in favor of the measure, more than anything else brought to him the conviction that the bill was meri- torious and should become an enactment on the statute books of the Commonwealth. In view of what the Governor expressed, we requested Brother Painter to write out as much as he could recall of that address, of which a synopsis might be given in this con- nection. He very kindly consented and we have, below, a portion of the speech delivered on the occasion. He was interrupted by those present, but the Doctor was ready to meet every question raised : DR. PAINTER'S ADDRESS "Most Excellent Governor and Gentlemen: When I came 1 had no idea of making any remarks on this subject, but was asked to accompany these gentlemen of the Order and show by my presence my attitude towards this issue before you; nor have I any authority to speak for the organiza- tion these gentlemen represent. But what I will say will be said as a humble citizen of this grand old State, a man of a family, with a wife and two little girls, and as a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. 268 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " General Reeder, .Secretary of the Commonwealth : Your organiza- tion upholds the reading of the Bible in the public schools, does it not? " Dr. Painter : Yes sir. " General Reeder : Don't you think that teaches sectarianism ? "Dr. Painter: No, sir. I am surprised that a man, holding the position you now do, should ask of me, a humble citizen, a question of this kind. It is the comments upon the Bible which teaches sectarianism. " General Reeder : There are some people who do not believe in the New Testament, for instance, the Jews who send their children to the public school. Now do you think it wise, just and proper for a teacher to read continuously from the New Testament when there are Jewish children in the schools? "Dr. Painter: I do not think it would be wise, just and proper to do so, but to read occasionally from the New Testament. "General Reeder: On the other hand there are portions of the Bible which are not fit to be read in the hearing of children. Do you think it would be wise and proper for a teacher to read these passages in open school ? "Dr. Painter: No sir, 1 do not; but I would like to ask General Reeder a question. " General Reeder : All right. "Dr. Painter: How long would a teacher in your district teach school if he or she would read those passages you allude to in open school. Would you not consider them unfit to teach, and would you not have them removed? On the other hand, do you have those passages obliterated from your family Bible lying on the center table in your parlor? You have read those passages, and I have read them and the Governor has read them. Are we any the worse for reading them? " General Reeder : I don't know. "Assistant State Librarian, Mr. O'Reiley: Doctor, does not your Order believe and is it not your own personal opinion, that there are no patriotic Catholics? " Dr. Painter : No sir. A thought of that kind never entered my mind. There have been patriotic Catholics, and those who may doubt the statement should look up the record of the " Irish Brigade " at Gettys- burg; and there are patriotic Catholics to-day who have expressed to me the desire to see this Garb Bill become a law. But my dear sir, where it tests the patriotism of Catholics is where a custom like this confronts us, where apparently there is a conflict between Church and State when they will show that they are either good Catholics and good patriots or poor Catholics and poor patriots." At this point Dr. Painter protested against being further inter- rupted until he was through with his argument, and the Governor told him to proceed. " I need only to call your attention, in a casual way, as to why this bill was framed and is now before you. Early in the year 1894, in the Thirty-fourth ward of Pittsburg, a parochial school was moved into one of the public buildings in a body and nuns were elected as teachers in said school, which was brought to the attention of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, whereupon legal proceedings were insti- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 269 tuted to restrain the Directors from so using the building and paying for sectarian purposes the sisters of the Catholic Church dressed in their garb peculiar to their distinctive Order. The local priest, however, would not stand a court proceeding, therefore removed his children back to the parochial school building. The attention of the State Councilor was then called to the situation at Gallitzin where the nuns, in their garb peculiar to the Order of Sisterhood of St. Joseph, were teachers in the public schools and the Catholic priest was a frequent visitor. When the priest came into the schoolroom the children were told to rise and say ' Good morning, father,' and on retiring to say ' Good day, father ; come again,' while the nuns asked that they be addressed as ' sister.' The officers of our Order proceeded in a legal way in the county court for a perpetual injunction restraining the nuns in their garb from teaching in the schools ; but owing to the absence of adequate legislation, the lower court refused the injunc- tion, whereupon the case was appealed to the Supreme Court, but the majority of that tribunal affirmed the court below. Following the sug- gestions of our legal advisors, a bill of a general character bearing on the subject was framed and was passed by the Legislature, which bill is now before you. " The Jr. 0. U. A. M. is an organization composed of those who have been born in America, and are banded together for the promotion of the cause of Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism. Mr. Seiffert, in his argument against this bill, has termed the Jr. O. U. A. M. and like patriotic organi- zations, ' brayers of patriotism ' so far as the majority of them at this day are concerned. I admit, in a sense, that we are ' brayers of patriotism,' a. 1 ? we have had no opportunity to show our zeal for our country in a practical way, since the majority of us were too young during the time of the Civil War to go to the front and no opportunity has since presented itself. But in defense of our Order, I would remark that when the Rebel- lion broke out there were but a few Councils in existence, but true to their pledge, almost to a man the members enlisted and virtually broke up the Councils, many of them suspending meetings until after the war when those who returned opened up business at the old stand. To-day we stand second in the state in numbers of any fraternal organization, the I. 0. O. F. standing first. Mr. Seiffert has said that if the country needed their services, the Junior Mechanics, being ' w r eighed in a balance ' would be ' found wanting.' I want to say right here and now, that you will never write ' mene, mene, tekel, uphaksin,' ' weighed in the balance and found wanting.' I have never had any military experience, but I believe that I might be able to face the cannon's mouth without fear should my country be in danger. " But in addition to our 'braying,' Mr. Governor, we are workers. Notwithstanding the ' braying ' of the gentleman from Lancaster during the session of the Legislature against this bill, it passed both branches with a phenomenal majority, and he is here to-day before you. And what will his 'braying' amount to? Just as much, 1 predict, as that animal amounts to that is noted for its braying: and as for you, Mr. Seiffert, I promise you at the next election the opportunity to stay at home by the largest majority any man in Lancaster county ever had against him. Mr. Seiffert says that he represents a constituency of 50,000 voters, which is an over-estimate, and well he knows it. I represent a constituency of 500,000 voters. The phenomenal majority you received, Mr. Governor, a 270 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER majority never reached by any Governor that preceded you and greater, possibly, than any shall receive in the future, unless the millennium comes, when all will be of one mind, was due to your patriotic declara- tions in York and Allegheny counties, when you raised a miniature school- house with a flag on top of it in one hand and the open Bible in the other, and raising them above your head, you exclaimed: 'Fellow-citizens of York County, fellow-citizens of Allegheny County, this is where I stand on the school question.' The result was the 250,000 majority you received. The Jr. O. U. A. M. and similar patriotic societies as well as all broad- minded men voted for you. And should this measure not become a law, these thousands of voters will rise up in unity and protest against tliis wrong that is being perpetrated upon a free people, and then employ all fair means to prevent sectarianism entering our public schools. " I claim, Mr. Governor, that a Catholic, Jew or Gentile, Methodist, Presbyterian or Lutheran, should have equal privileges. All are equal under our Constitution which is broad enough for us all, therefore I claim that a Protestant living in a strong Catholic community like Gallitzin, should have all the rights and privileges that a Catholic enjoys and the same should hold good in that community as in this state where a Methodist school-teacher insisted on holding revival services and having his pupils tell their experiences, which was restrained by legal proceedings insti- tuted by this Order. We claim that the situation at Gallitzin was equally wrong. " Now, Mr. Governor, and honorable gentlemen, if this Garb Bill becomes a law the nuns will not be allowed to teach school in their garb, but the Mennonites, Dunkards, Amish and Quakers will go on as before, notwithstanding Mr. Seiffert claims that this bill will restrain these people from teaching in the public school. There is a difference between a garb and a custom. You can recognize Mrs. Brown, Mennonite, from Mrs. Smith, Mennonite, as far as you can see them, but you can not recognize Sister Agnes from Sister Maria. There is just as much difference between a custom and a garb as there is in your way of wearing a necktie from other men — that is your style and this is mine. " As an organization, the Jr. O. U. A. M. is founded upon the Consti- tution that guarantees to every man the right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and wherever this principle is vio- lated against whatever sect or denomination, this patriotic Order will defend such sect or denomination and assist them in the exercise of their unalienable rights and privileges. " In conclusion, Mr. Governor, in behalf of this bill, I would say that it is general in character and was framed by one of the most learned constitutional lawyers in the country. It has been scrutinized by members of the House and Senate, and is now before you for your signature and I feel confident that you will exercise that wisdom which has characterized your administration in the past, ever looking to the greatest good to the greatest number so long as it is right." The anxiety arising from the threatened veto of the bill by Governor Hastings, led Past National Eepresentative 0. S. Weiss, the Nestor of Wilkes-Barre, a wide-awake Junior and a true-bin c patriot, to seek the aid of Colonel Ashcr Miner, of same city, Gen- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 271 cral Inspector of "Rifle Practice in the National Guard. Colonel Miner very readily agreed to exert his influence with the Governor and telegraphed the Executive to hold the bill until he could have a conference with him. The Colonel had the conference with the Governor, going to Harrisburg especially for the purpose, and the same day or day after the bill was signed. While no one knows how much Colonel Miner, not a Junior, had to do with the final decision of Governor Hastings, the Order very much appreciated the kindness of the Colonel for his willingness to assist in bringing about the desired statute. After a full consideration of the measure, Governor Hastings attached his signature to the bill June 27, 1895, whereupon that which had been so persistently fought for by the Order, became a law and ever since has been looked upon with a sense of patriotic pride by the fraternity. farr's compulsory education bill This important legislative enactment by the Pennsylvania Legislature at its session of 1895 and approved by the Governor, May 16, 1895, had for its title: " To provide for the attendance of children in the schools of this Commonwealth and making an enumeration of children for that purpose, also providing compensation for the assessors making the enumeration and providing penalties for violation of this act." The requirements of the act made it mandatory upon parents and others having children under their charge between the ages of 6 and 13 years to send them to school in which the common English branches were taught at least 16 weeks of the year, unless excused by satisfactory evidence that the child was mentally or physically incapacitated. The provision did not include children whose residence from the school was over two miles. For neglect to abide by the provisions of the bill, the penalty affixed was a fine of $2 for first offense and $5 for every subsequent offense. The third section of the bill, if found necessary, provided for " attendance officers " sometimes called " truant officers " whose duty was to see that the law was not violated and to apprehend truants and place them in their respective schools. The fourth section required the assessors in the spring registration to make a list of all the children between the ages of 6 and 13 years, giving their names, age and residence, etc. Similar bills had passed the legislature in 1891 and 1893, but in quite lengthy opinions, Governor Pattison refused to affix his 272 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER signature to same. Governor Hastings at the time of the signing of this bill had this to add : " By giving my approval to this measure, there will appear upon our statute books for the first time in the history of this Commonwealth a compulsory educational law. The General Assembly in the sessions of 1891 and 1893 passed a compulsory educational act somewhat similar to the present measure, each of which met with the Executive disapproval. There appears to be throughout the Commonwealth a general desire for such a law. I have not received a single protest from any citizen against this bill that I recall. The unanimity by which it was passed by the Legislature as well as the large number of requests made upon me to sign it, clearly indicates the general desire on the part of the people for a compulsory educational law. Under these conditions, I am convinced that I should not obtrude any individual judgment which I may have on the question of public policy. This measure provides for compulsory education in perhaps the least objectionable form to those who oppose it on principle, and offends as little against the personal rights of the citizen as possible. I, therefore, approve the bill, but, if by experience the expec- tations of the people are not realized, future legislation doubtless will meet their demands." The possibility of future legislation as referred to by the Governor was soon realized, as at the next session Eepresentative Thomas J. Ford, himself a Junior, offered amendments to the exist- ing act providing more stringent regulations. The amendments increased the age from 13 to 16 years and made certain exemptions, subjecting principals and teachers to certain penalties, conferring on the directors controlling power to designate schools for those who fail to attend school, to establish special schools for truants, etc. The writer at the time was the State Councilor of Pennsyl- vania, and had opportunity to come in touch with the members of the Legislature as well as Governor Hastings. Under date of June 25, 1897, we wrote the Governor in behalf of the bill, and under date of July 12, a reply was sent from the Executive office stating that on that day the Governor had approved the measure. It was still found that the original act with its amendments did not solve the problems. Under the direction of the State Legis- lative Committee of which Brother Cyrus S. Weiss was Chairman, a new bill, more comprehensive in its character, was passed, the same act repealing the law of 1895 and the amendments of 1897. This bill was signed by Governor Stone July 11, 1901. During that great session of 1895 when the Junior Order was so much in evidence at the State Capital in the interest of legis- lation, having its Legislative Committee on the ground all the time, besides the passage of the Garb Bill and Compulsory Educational Bill, two other bills were passed. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 273 1. The Nickell Anti-alien Bill. This bill provided that none but citizens of the United States should be employed in any capacity in the erection, enlargement or improvement of any public building or public work within the state. 2. The Flag Bill. This act provided that no flag but the Stars and Stripes should be allowed to wave from any public building of the state and that no red flag representing anarchy should be carried in public processions. A bill was introduced in same Legislature by request of the Order requiring School Directors to purchase and have placed over all public school buildings in the state the American Flag to be made from American bunting, manufactured from American wool, grown by American workmen together with a flag staff made from American lumber, but the peculiar construction of the wording doomed it to defeat. A bill requiring taxation of aliens also was defeated. OTHER PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATION At the session of the Legislature of 1897 several measures were introduced at the instance of the State Legislative Committee, some of which became laws. Among these were the following : 1. An Act to Protect the American Flag from Insult and Degradation. This act applied to private and public buildings and highways and passed with but little opposition, and the same became a law. 2. An Act to Provide and to Display the United States Flag in Con- nection with the Public School Buildings. As first drawn, the bill made the same mandatory, but at the suggestion of the Committee of the Legislature, the word " may " was substituted for " shall," believing that a patriotic people would live up to its provisions. 3. To Extend the Minimum School Term to Seven Months. This meritorious legislation was, however, defeated by 92 ayes to 78 nays, there being less than a constitutional majority, 103. 4. An effort was made to reduce the School appropriation from $5,500,000 to $5,000,000, but as State Councilor, we called the attention to the danger of the " cut " and through an energetic Legislative Com- mittee, having Brother A. H. Leslie as its Chairman, the purpose was defeated. 5. As referred to before, amendments to the Compulsory Educa- tional Act of 1895 were made, making that measure more stringent and increasing the age of the child from 13 to 16 years, with other changes or additions to render the Act more effective. 6. An Act relative to the Indebtedness of School Districts. This became a law. 18 274 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 7. Other acts as follows along the line of Education were supported by the Committee and became laws: (1) Aid to Free Libraries. (2) Free Kindergartens. (3) Abolishing independent School Districts. (4) Pro- tection of Schoolhouses, etc. (5) Providing for School and Building Tax. (6) Free Public Libraries. (7) Relating to Special School Tax. (8) Pupils to be allowed the use of School Books during Vacation. (9) Author- ization of 12,000 additional School Laws and Decisions. (10) Transpor- tation of Children to the School at the Expense of the District. (11) Authorizing the Employment of teachers in the Public Schools to teach Stenography and Typewriting. (12) To Decrease the number of School Directors in Wards and Boroughs. (13) Requiring Tax Collectors to make Monthly Returns of Tax. Besides the above acts that became laws in which the* Order was more or less active in having passed, two other meritorious acts were placed on the statute books of the state by the direct influence of this powerful organization that seemed to get what they asked for from the hands of the Legislature, of which body more than 50 were members of the Order. The first of these two bills was: THE FOCHT BILL The title of this bill was as follows : " Providing for the return of Paupers and indigent Insane persons not having a legal settlement within this Commonwealth to any state or country to which they belong." By a concurrent resolution, passed at the session of the Legis- lature in 1895, a Committee was appointed to investigate the public institutions of the state with a view of ascertaining the number of aliens quartered upon the Commonwealth. The report of this Committee was intensely startling and stirred the entire state, and at once the State Legislative Committee of the Order came in defense of the proposed legislation. In a report covering 700 closely type- written pages the story was told. In the summary, the Committee of the Legislature declared that there were fully 20,000 such aliens thrown upon the state, costing the Commonwealth over one million five hundred thousand dollars, per annum. This bill was passed by both branches of the Legislature with- out a dissenting vote, and became a law by the signature of Gover- nor Hastings June 22, 1897. THE ALIEN TAX BILL The title of this act was as follows : " Regulating the employment of foreign-born unnaturalized male persons over 21 years of age and providing a tax on the employers of such persons and prescribing a penalty for violation of the provisions of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 275 said act, and directing the manner of collecting the same and providing that the amount of such tax may be deducted from the wages of persons affected by the provisions thereof." This bill was introduced by Hon. G. W. Campbell, an enthu- siastic Junior, and passed by a large majority and became a law, but was, subsequently, declared unconstitutional by the Courts. Being the chief executive of the Order of the state in that memorable year when so much legislation along the lines of the or- ganization was obtained, as above referred to, not a single bill (with one exception) " fathered " by the Junior Order being defeated either in the Legislative body or by the veto of the Governor, the writer has a sense of self-congratulation over the results occurring under his administration. But it must not be supposed that in any sense we take to ourselves the credit for these signal victories achieved for the glory of the Order ; not by any means. The Order was specially fortunate in having a Legislative Committee, by our appointment, of such high character and wide influence. It con- sisted of Brothers A. H. Leslie, now P. S. C, and one of the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, P. S. C. Frank Cody, P. S. C. S. C. Weadley, W. S. Doebler and George Eow. It was this able Committee, without the spending of hundreds of dollars for "sundries" and keeping "open house," that characterized the work of the Committee of two years previous, that secured to the state and the Order legislation that has been a credit and a blessing to the Commonwealth. STILL MORE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATION The Legislative Committee of the State Council in the session of the Legislature of 1899, supported the following bills, all in the interest of one of the cherished Objects of the Order, that of popu- lar education, and every one passed both branches of the General Assembly and were approved by Governor Stone: • 1. To Extend the Minimum School Term to Seven Months. 2. To empower the Boards of School Directors of townships to exer- cise the powers of Boards of Health, to make rules and regulations to Prevent the spread of Contagious Diseases, etc. 3. To Amend an act for the Regulation of the Common Schools as to Distributing the School Appropriations to the Common Schools. 4. To Provide for the payment of School Directors for attending the Biennial Convention for the Election of County Superintendent, etc. 5. To Provide for the Appointment of a Free Library Commission. The Order in the state was represented at the session of the General Assembly that convened January 1, 1901, by an exceedingly 276 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER strong and enthusiastic Legislative Committee, viz., Past National Representative Cyrus S. Weiss, P. S. C. Dr. M. P. Dickeson and Hon. Perry A. Gibson, formerly State Senator. This Committee was early on the ground with several measures to be introduced into the Legislature, and to aid any other measures that were in harmony with the Objects and Principles of the Order. The Committee was assisted by an auxiliary committee, composed of Hon. George J. Hartman, of Wm. A. Byars Council, Hon. Chas. F. Heselbarth, of Welcome Council, members of the General Assembly, and A. D. Wilkin, Esq., Dr. W. H. Painter and Eev. M. D. Lichliter, the last three brothers having their homes at the time in the Capital City. Two very dangerous bills were introduced into the Legislature calculated to injure all secret societies which, with representatives of other secret Orders, was fought " to the Queen's taste " in the Committee in several hearings in which contest the State Legisla- tive Committee of the Junior Order had a prominent part and handled the opposition " without gloves." The following were the titles of the obnoxious bills which were " scotched " and finally killed in the Committee: The Henderson Bill to Investigate Secret Societies, and the bill to Eegulate Secret Societies. The following bills, given only by title, were supported by the Legislative Committee of the Order and all passed the Legislature and were approved by Governor Stone: 1. A Compulsory Educational Law providing for the attendance of children in the public schools. This act took the place of the former act which was imperfect and provided a better method of carrying out the law, providing a forfeiture of the State Appropriation if the provisions of said bill were not carried out. 2. Relating to the Study and Practice of Physical Culture in the Public Schools. 3. To Amend an Act relative to the Establishment of Kindergartens. 4. Making an appropriation for the Public Schools of the State. 5. To amend an Act to Provide a more just and equitable method of Educational Qualifications of School Teachers, to entitle them to a Cer- tificate and providing that no certificate be granted any one who is in the habit of habitually using, as a beverage, intoxicating liquors or who habitually takes Opium. 6. For the Co-operation of School Districts and Cities of the Third Class in the Establishment of Libraries. 7. Authorizing the Condemnation of Real Estate for the use of State Normal Schools. 8. An Act for the Establishment of Free Libraries in the Public Schools, in Cities of the First and Second Class. 9. The Establishment of Free Libraries in the School Districts with exception of Cities of First and Second Class. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 277 10. Relating to Night Schools for the Manual Training of Children above the age of Twelve Years. 11. To Provide for the Centralization of Township Schools and to Provide High Schools. 12. An Act to Acquire Ground for a Public Park at Valley Forge. An effort was made to repeal the Minimum School Term Act of 1899. The Legislative Committee was quite active in defeating the purposes of those opposed to the Act and after a stiff fight, the bill to repeal was killed by a motion to indefinitely postpone action thereon. The Committee protested against the granting of appropria- tions for Sectarian Institutions, all of them Hospitals, but with partial success, the Governor cutting the amount appropriated in seven instances. Brother Cyrus S.Weiss again was Chairman of the State Legis- lative Committee during the Legislature of 1903, with whom was associated Brothers Geo. B. Nesbitt and Wm. C. Graham. Some very efficient legislation was secured largely through the influence of the Legislative Committee. They protested against the appropriation of money to two Eoman Catholic Institutions for boys, in which none but Catholics were permitted to enter, and their protests were heeded. The following, backed by the Com- mittee, passed the Assembly and became laws: 1. An Act Regulating the Salary of School Teachers making the Minimum Salary $35.00. 2. Making an Appropriation of $74,000 to the Commissioners of Valley Forge Park. 3. Making it a Misdemeanor to Unlawfully Use or Wear any Insignia or Button of any Association, Society, or Trade's Union. The most important measure enacted into law was the increase of salary for school teachers, making the minimum $35.00 a month. The opposition to the bill upon the part of the Senate where it was antagonized by the farmer or Granger element of the state gave the Legislative Committee considerable anxiety, but by per- sistent appeal on the part of the members of the Committee, aided by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. N. C. Schaeffer, the meritorious measure finally became a law. While the Chairman of the Committee, Brother Weiss, had charge of the campaign from his home, Brother Nesbitt, the Secretary, was frequently on the ground at Harrisburg keeping in close touch wtih the bill, and in its critical hour did much in bringing about a favorable con- 278 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER sideration of the measure. As a mark of appreciation of the splendid work accomplished by the Committee in the interest of the public schools, unsolicited, Dr. Schaeffer sent to the Secretary the following communication: " Harrisbubg, Pa., April 9, 1903. " Mr. George B. Nesbitt, Sec'y State Legislative Committee Jr. 0. U. A. M. " Dear Friend. — " It gives me pleasure to bear testimony to the important service rendered by your Committee on Legislation to the cause of education during the session of the legislature now drawing to a close. By your efficient help bills have passed the House and Senate, regulating the mini- mum salary of teachers, furnishing instruction to teachers at Summer Assemblies, etc. Moreover, I realize your important services in preventing harmful legislation. Please convey to the members of your organization my thanks for their efficient help in securing legislation which will mark a new era in our public schools. " With best wishes, I am " Very truly yours, " Nathan C. Schaeffer, " State Superintendent of Public Instruction." Still again in the session of the Legislature of 1905, the " Sage of Wyoming," Brother Weiss, was in charge of the Legislative Com- mittee and once again marshalled his forces in behalf of Public School interests. His associates on the Committee were Brothers F. A. Kopp and Prof. A. M. Van Tine, the latter being Secretary of the Committee who gave much attention to the various measures introduced in the Legislature. The following bills were supported by the Legislative Com- mittee and became laws : 1. Permitting children living in Districts where there is no high school, to attend in another district nearest their home. 2. A supplement to an act to sell and convey any school property that has become dilapidated or useless for school purposes, and to provide for the distribution of the funds accruing from such sale. 3. To provide a system of humane education, to include kind treat- ment of birds and animals, in our public schools. 4. Amendment to an Act relative to the payment of Assessors. 5. To amend the Act for Compulsory Education, section 1, providing that certificate of age and ability to read and write the English language intelligently be issued by the Superintendent of schools, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace or any other person duly authorized to administer oaths, in cities and boroughs, and by the Secretary of the School Board in rural districts. 6. An Act for the purpose of governing the construction of public buildings that the health, sight, and comfort of all pupils may be properly protected. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 279 7. To provide for the control, administration and support of the common schools in school districts of the first class. 8. An Act regulating Child Labor which was intended to strengthen the Compulsory Educational Law. 9. To provide regulations for certain kinds of labor and safety appliances for employees, etc. 10. For the erection of a Home or a school for indigent orphans to be called the Thaddeus Stevens Industrial and Reform School, in which certain branches shall be taught. Two measures had been suggested by the State Council at the instance of Prof. Van Tine, and the Legislative Committee was instructed to have them introduced in the Legislature, and bills were drafted to that end. One of the bills was to make 18 years the minimum age for a teacher in the public schools of the state. Before the bill was introduced, as the result of a conference held, the minimum age was put at 17. Brother Chas. F. Heselbarth introduced the bill, had it reported favorably from the Committee and it passed the House without a dissenting vote, but was killed in the Senate Committee on Education. The other measure proposed was the marking of historical points by some suitable tablet or stone, but it was found that there was a disposition to ignore the measure until options could be secured on such sites, hence nothing more was done to bring the matter to the attention of the Legislature. The State Council was represented at the legislative session of the General Assembly of 1907 by an equally able Legislative Com- mittee, viz. : Past State Councilor B. Frank Myers, National Rep- resentative John H. Eby and H. G. T. Miller. More than a score of bills along the line of the principles of the Order were cham- pioned by the Committee and were placed upon the statute books of the state, the most important of which were the following : 1. To establish schools for adults, including foreigners. 2. Making the minimum salary for school teachers $40.00 per month. 3. To establish free libraries in the several school districts. 4. To provide for an equitable distribution of the school appro- priation. 5. Important amendments to the compulsory education act. 6. The acquisition of additional ground for Valley Forge Park. Great as these acts were, and others that want of space will not permit, still the great achievement of the Legislative Com- mittee towards which they bent every effort, was the bill raising the appropriation for the public schools of the state for two years from eleven million to fifteen million dollars, — $4,000,000 increase for popular education. I. HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL CHAPTER XVIII i. SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL PRIOR to the Revolution, the American colonies, while they were dependencies of the British crown, were independent of each other, there being no alliance or confederacy among them. The Legislature of one could not make laws for another, nor confer privileges to be enjoyed by another. When the Revolution broke out in the colonies, in order to make resistance to the claims of Great Britain more formidable as well as successful, harmony and unity of action and operations under some supreme head was abso- lutely necessary. Acting upon this conviction, the Continental Congress was called, which, during the progress of the war, was de facto the Supreme Head or National Government. But it was obvious to reflecting minds that the union thus formed was but of a temporary nature and could be dissolved at any time by any one of the states; whereupon, Articles of Con- federation were agreed upon in 1777. This Confederation, when adopted in 1781, was seen to contain many defects, and it was clear to American statesmen that the Congress of the states was not a supreme body; not even having power to levy and collect taxes, that duty belonging to the separate states. The result of this defect soon penetrated the Confederacy and nearly brought ruin to the fruits of a long and bloody war. That the union of states would dissolve of its own accord, through jealousies, if this condition of government would be continued, was apparent to the statesmen of that day, hence steps were taken to prevent their dissolution. A call was sent out, through Congress, to the thirteen states for a Constitutional Convention, whereupon delegates were elected by the several states, and the Convention convened in 1787. The greatest men of the American states sat in that Convention, and after weeks of discussion, the American Constitution was framed and sent to the several states for adoption, and when nine states had ratified it, the first Constitutional Government the world ever saw was launched. This Constitution became the supreme law of the Republic and Congress the supreme legislative body. 280 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 281 The first Council of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was instituted, as else- where stated, in 1853, and according to a provision in its charter, Washington Council, No. 1, of Pennsylvania, was the Supreme Head of the Order until 1860, when by the union of other Councils, the State Council of Pennsylvania was formed. The State Council of Pennsylvania, for years, was the Supreme Head of the Order, until State Councils were organized in New Jersey and Delaware, when, de facto, there was no supreme head — no bond of union — each state legislating after its own fashion. As in the Colonial government, it was clearly apparent to the leaders of the Order that there could be no unity or harmony between the different State Councils, hence delegates were sent by the three State Councils, above named, and in Philadelphia, September 30, 1869, was created the National Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics of the United States of North America, which became and has continued down the years, and was declared by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to be the Supreme Head of the Order, having the right to grant charters for State Councils, levy per capita tax, make laws and legislate for the entire Order throughout the jurisdiction of the United States. INSTITUTION OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL The following delegates met in Philadelphia, Sept. 30, 1869 : Pennsylvania: Edward S. Deemeb, John W. Calveb, John D. Goff, Jas. P. P. Bkown and G. W. R. Carteret. New Jersey: Jos. H. Shinn, Ogden Laning, John H. Gress and C. Westcott. Delaware: Wm. H. Killiam, John P. Edwards, William Crossley, F. Ball and J. Scanlon. The Convention was called to order by Wm. H. Killiam, of Delaware, whereupon, Jos. H. Shinn, of New Jersey, was selected to act as Secretary. The first order of business was the appointment of a Committee on Constitution, with Brother John W. Calver as Chairman, which Committee, after a short consultation, reported in favor of the Constitution of the 0. U. A. M., with such amend- ments so as to adapt it to the new organization, which was adopted. The following officers were elected : National Councilor — John W. Calver, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — John H. Gress, of New Jersey, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. P. Edwards, of Delaware, National Marshal — John D. Goff, of Pennsylvania, National Protector — Jas. P. P. Brown, of Pennsylvania. National Doorkeeper — C. Westcott, of New Jersey. 282 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Brothers Calver and Deemer were elected by acclamation, a high tribute paid to two of the most active and conspicuous members of the fraternity. The first bill, and the only one in this preliminary meeting, referred to the Finance Committee, was for rent of hall, viz.: One dollar. Surely those were the days of small things — financially. A special session of the National Council was held November 23, same year, eight members being present. Those who have been following the history of the Order from its inception, in the previous chapters, will recall our allusions to the indifference of the Senior Order toward the Junior Order, that it was individual members of the older Order that brought the new organization into existence and fostered and cherished it, and not the Order as a whole. This has been questioned by members of the 0. TJ. A. M., it being claimed that their organization was the " mother " of the new born child. While it is true, as referred to in another place, that at the earnest appeal of the State Council, Jr. 0. TJ. A. M., in 1862, the Senior Order did recognize the Junior organization as teaching the same principles as their own and should be encouraged, still there never was any official supervision exer- cised over the Juniors by the Seniors, as is evident from the fol- lowing motion offered at this special session of the National Body, quoted from the records: " Bro. Laning, of New Jersey, moved that a Committee of three be appointed to lay before the National Council, Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics, our claims to their support and assistance, with a view to placing our entire Order under their supervision." This proves, if it proves anything, that the Junior Order was not under the direct official supervision of the Senior Order, neither did it have the support it should have had, when it was the original purpose of the Junior Order to prepare the " youth of America " for membership in the 0. U. A. M. " when they arrive at the proper age." The Fourth Object of the Order, as adopted at the institu- tion of Washington Council reads as follows: " To prepare the youth of America to become members of the O. U. A. M., and other American Orders, when they arrive at proper age." The " proper age ,} referred to in the Object was 21 years, at which time a person was eligible to join the Senior Order. The motion alluded to above, however, was, after a long discussion, defeated and indicates that the leaders of our Order at that time were men of an independent stamp of mind who were not in favor of " wearing the collar " or begging support from the Senior Order. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 283 WILMINGTON, DEL., 1870 The first regular session of the National Council was held at Wilmington, Del., February 10, 1870, with but eight members present. A draft of a three degree Ritual was presented by the National Secretary, Brother Deemer, which was unanimously adopted, after rejecting a draft presented by request of the State Council of Pennsylvania. All the officers elected at the institution of the National Council, with the exception of National Doorkeeper, were reelected by acclamation, whereupon, the body adjourned to meet in special session on the third Friday of May. Pursuant to the adjournment resolution, the National Body met in Philadelphia, May 20, with National Councilor John W. Calver in the Chair. Fifteen members were in attendance. The name of Brother Chas. H. Kurtz, so favorably known to the mem- bers of the National Council as one of the Committee on Finance, had a place on the roll from Pennsylvania. It reflects credit upon the membership of the National Council, that from the first regular meeting the Supreme Kuler of the Universe was recognized in having the sessions opened with prayer, Brother John D. Goff, at this meeting, having performed the de- votional exercises. The first item of business transacted at the special session was the adoption of the three-degree Eitual, as revised, as the degrees of the Order. Following the adoption of the Degree Ritual, a resolution was offered, first of a long line of resolutions bearing on the same subject, that a new Ritual for Subordinate Councils be prepared, offering, as a prize, $25 to any member, either Senior or Junior, for the best Ritual submitted. CAMDEN, n. J., 1871 Camden, N. J., entertained the National Body in annual ses- sion, February 9, 1871. Brother Calver, National Councilor, pre- sided, and eighteen .members were present. During the year the State Council of Maryland had been instituted and was represented at this meeting. Brother J. Adam Sohl, for so many years the esteemed and faithful National Treasurer, was present as one of the Representatives of Maryland. Councils had been organized also in West Virginia and New York; in fact, the year previous, some good work had been accomplished in the latter state. 284 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER In accordance with a provision of the National Council Con- stitution, tne National Councilor and National Secretary were re- quired to submit a report of their work during the year, which, when presented, was referred to a Committee who subsequently re- ported back to the body their approval or disapproval of the sug- gestions, recommendations and work of the above named officers. The custom of referring these reports to a Committee was in vogue for many years. It was also the custom for some years for the National Council to install its officers in the midst of the session instead of at the close, as it is now done, and the new officers assumed their places and positions for the remainder of the meet- ing. The custom of calling the roll at the afternoon, and evening sessions, if held, as well as the morning, was the rule for many years. During the year the National Vice-Councilor, John H. Gress, had been expelled from the Order. In conformity with the author- ity reposed in him, the National Councilor appointed in his place Ogden Laning, of New Jersey. The State Council of Pennsylvania, through its Eepresenta- tives, submitted a resolution asking that the General Laws, under the head of Eligibility to Membership, be so amended as to strike out the words " sixteen years of age or over.'"' Against this resolu- tion a protest from Conestoga Council, No. 22, of same state, was read, claiming that it would create discord between the Junior and Senior Orders. To this protest an answer was filed by the Representatives of Pennsylvania, denying the allegations made in the " protest." Among the statements made in the " answer," the following shows the feelings then existing in the Junior Order : " We cheerfully bear witness to the many Councils which have been organized in our State (Penna.) by Councils or members of the Senior Order, but we also assert, without fear of contradiction, that they do not receive that fostering care to which they are entitled, and that many have been started by the Senior Order, and then left to shift for themselves. We do not believe that if the National Council should heed the petition of the State Council of Pennsylvania, that it would create a wider breach than now exists." In the consideration of the petition, a motion to limit the age of applicants to 25 years was not agreed to; also one to postpone action on the question for 10 years was lost by a tie vote. The question recurring on the original resolution, by a vote of 9 nays to 7 yeas, the amendment to the General Laws was not agreed to. A motion to amend the General Laws on Eligibility to Membership, by striking out the word " white " so that other races might apply UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 285 for membership in the Order, met a like defeat, there being but three in favor and 14 against. The National Secretary submitted a new Eitual, which, after some changes made in the Committee of the Whole, was adopted. As per resolution of last session, offering $25 for best Ritual, Brother Deemer was made the recipient of that amount. The badge of the Order, consisting of the square and compass, arm and hammer, encircled by a shield, was agreed upon. Of the principal officers elected, the following was the result: National Councilor — Ogden Laning, of New Jersey, National Vice-Councilor — John T. Cowl, of West Virginia, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Nathan Penrose, of Pennsylvania. BALTIMORE, MD., 1872 The Third Annual Session of the National Council was held at Baltimore, Maryland, February 8, 1873, Brother Ogden Laning, National Councilor, presiding. Twenty members were present, rep- resenting Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia, a State Council in the latter state having been instituted during the year. Connecticut, with one Council, came under the jurisdiction of the National Council since the last session. The National Secretary reported 124 Councils and 8,317 members. But little business was transacted at this session. A motion to annul the requirement in the ritualistic ceremonies whereby the candidate should kneel while taking the obligation, was passed. The time of the meeting of the National Council was changed from February to June, to go into effect after the year 1872. Several resolutions with reference to a revision of the Eitual and the draft- ing of certain features to be added thereto were passed and referred to the Committee on Eitual. The following officers were elected: National Councilor — John T. Cowl, of West Virginia, National Vice-Councilor — Jos. Smiley, of Maryland, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennslvania, National Treasurer — Nathan Penrose, of Pennsylvania, National Marshal — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Protector — Jno. H. Vanhorn, of New Jersey, National Doorkeeper — John W. Morris, of West Virginia. 286 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER WILMINGTON, DEL., 1873 For the second time the National Council met at Wilmington, Del., in its Fourth Annual Session, June 12, 1873, this being the month fixed at the last session for the meeting of the body. The right of the Board of Officers of a State Council, in the interim, to appoint a Bepresentative to the National Council to fill a vacancy, was denied by the National Councilor, from which an appeal was taken, and by a vote of 10 to 7 the decision of the National Councilor was not sustained. By resolution, it was de- clared to be the sense of the National Council that vacancies can be filled by the State Board of Officers, which rule has been followed ever since. The report of the National Secretary indicated a lack of in- terest in certain sections of the jurisdiction. West Virginia, of which the National Councilor, Jno. T. Cowl, who was not in attend- ance, was a member, had not reported to the National Secretary nor sent any communication whatever. Only three State Councils, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland had submitted their re- ports, although it is just to state that the law did not require the reports until the meeting of the National Body, hence it is to be presumed that other State Councils submitted their reports at the session. During the year the State Council of Ohio had been in- stituted, and a Council had been organized in each of three new states, viz. : Virginia, Michigan and Kentucky'. A charter for the State Council of New York was also granted. Eitual legislation occupied a large portion of the time of the session. As per instructions of the last session, the Committee on Eitual reported in favor of a Consolidated Eitual of the Subor- dinate and Degree Councils' Eituals, in consideration of which, the National Council went into the Committee of the Whole. After making certain amendments, the Committee reported back to the body the first two degrees, as amended, and referred the Third Degree back to the Committee on Eitual for further changes. No further reference to this Degree is found in the proceedings of the session. A Eitual for State Councils was submitted by Bepresenta- tive Messenger, of Delaware, but no action was taken thereon. Two additional clauses to be incorporated as Objects of the Order were presented by Chas. E. Voorhees, which, under the law, were laid over. They were as follows: 1. To maintain the reading of the Bible in the public schools. 2. To oppose a union of Church and State, and the appropriation of money for sectarian purposes. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 28? The spirit of unrest relative to the relations existing between the Senior and Junior Orders manifested itself in the presentation of two resolutions, which, under the law, were laid over, viz. : 1. To strike out " twenty-one '" and insert " twenty -five." 2. To strike out the Fifth Object entirely. The National Councilor, John T. Cowl, not being present, his office was declared vacant in consequence of the State Council of West Virginia not reporting to the National Council; whereupon an election was had, when Brother Jos. Smiley, of Maryland, was elected National Councilor and Brother Thos. C. Appleby, of Dela- ware, was elected National Vice-Councilor, and both officers served in their respective positions the remainder of the session. For the ensuing year, the following officers were elected and installed : National Councilor — Thos. C. Appleby, of Delaware, National Vice-Councilor — Chas. E. Voorhees, of Pennsylvania, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Nathan Penrose, of Pennsylvania, National Marshal — Chas. Balevre, of New Jersey, National Protector — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Doorkeeper — J. J. Williams, of Pennsylvania. An adjourned session of the National Council was held in Philadelphia, September 23, same year. At this session a very bit- ter and unwarranted attack was made on National Secretary Deemer by National Vice-Councilor Chas. E. Voorhees, in a draft of six- resolutions drawn up and presented to the National Body. The Preamble stated that Brother Deemer had received an application from Virginia for a charter for a council to be named Lee Council, No. 2, and that he had, as National Secretary, refused the appli- cation. Then followed the resolutions declaring the action of the National Secretary as " illegal and unauthorized, impolitic and inexpedient, and prompted only by the narrowest of political prejudice." The spirit that prompted the resolutions was certainly far from fraternal ; in fact, it was base. Pending the discussion of the resolutions, Brother Deemer denounced the statements as set forth in the Preamble as false in every respect, denying that he had received an application for a charter for a Council to be called Lee Council, hence could not have refused it. He stated further that a request for a blank application had been granted, and that in sending it he had given his personal opinion that no charter 288 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER would be granted to a Council to be called after Gen. Robert E. Lee, and that this opinion was concurred in by the National Councilor. The ayes and nays were called upon the adoption of the reso- lutions of censure, which resulted in 11 voting to censure the National Secretary and 7 voting in the negative. It is proper, in this connection, to state that the resolutions of censure were re- scinded at the next session of the National Body, to which reference will be made. NEW YORK, 1874 The National Council convened in New York City, June 11, 1874, it being the Fifth Annual Session. National Councilor Thos. C. Appleby occupied the Chair. Six states were represented and twenty-one members were in attendance. New York and Massa- chusetts were among the states represented, State Councils having been organized during the year. The session was a short one, last- ing but one day, and but little business of any importance was transacted. By resolution, the National Council agreed to pay the mileage of the officers in attendance at the annual sessions at the rate of three cents per mile. The State Council of Pennsylvania, through its Eepresentatives, presented a resolution disapproving the action of the National Council at its last session in censuring Brother Deemer, and asked that the same be rescinded, which, by a vote of 14 to 6 was agreed to. This was followed by a motion to expunge from the records the resolution of censure which was also agreed to. The resolution carried over from last session to strike out the Fifth Object was considered. A motion to indefinitely postpone was carried. The resolution to incorporate the two additional Objects, as stated in proceedings of previous session, was then considered, and met a similar fate. The National Council was not ready to adopt the Third Degree for the Eitual and it was recom- mitted to the Committee on Ritual. The officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows : National Councilor — Chas. E. Voorhees, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — H. S. Corwin, of New York, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Nathan Penrose, of Pennsylvania, National Marshal — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Protector — W. P. Hayes, of New Jersey, National Doorkeeper — Chas. T. Daily, of Massachusetts. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 289 A special session of the National Body was held in Philadelphia, February 22, 1875, to consider the subject of a new Ritual and to elect a National Councilor. National Councilor Chas. E. Vorhees had been removed as a Representative by action of the State Council of his state, Pennsylvania, for violating the instructions of the State Body in refusing to vote to rescind the resolutions, of which he was the author, whereby Brother Deemer was censured by the National Body. Failing to attend to his duties as National Coun- cilor, his office was declared vacant, and, on motion, National Vice- Councilor H. S. Corwin was elected National Councilor and Harry Stites, of Pennsylvania, was elected National Vice-Councilor. Brother Corwin not being present, Brother Stites presided in his stead. The new Ritual, as presented by the Committee on Ritual, was exemplified by Brother Frank Cody, State Councilor of Penn- sylvania, and after some changes, was adopted. The old question of striking out the Fifth Object was again introduced and, under the rule, was laid over. BOSTON, MASS., 1875 The Centennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill very naturally led the National Council to hold its annual session of 1875 in the City of Boston, Mass. The session opened in due form with National Councilor H. S. Corwin in the Chair on the morning of the 17th of June, the anniversary of the battle, and then adjourned until the next day in order that the members of the National Body could attend the centennial exercises. Under the inspiration of the occasion, and in the presence of such, hallowed associations of a century, the National Council could not have met at a more appropriate place to transact its business, having as its purpose, as an organization, the perpetuation of the principles for which Samuel Adams and James Otis plead in Faneuil Hall, and the " Minute Men " of New England fought for on Bunker Hill. The session, however, was poorly attended, there being but twelve members present at the first roll-call. Four states were represented, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Massa- chusetts. While the financial depression had paralyzed the country, yet from the reports of the National Officers, the Order had held its own. The conduct of National Councilor Chas. E. Voorhees, al- though elected unanimously, was reprehensible. From the begin- 19 290 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ning of his administration he gave no attention to his official duties, and thus the Order was handicapped largely during the year. An application for a State Council came from the State of Indiana and the same was forwarded to Voorhees. He paid no attention to it and the result was the disbanding of the Councils of that state in disgust, with one exception. The facts of that unfortunate episode beginning with the censuring of the National Secretar}' have been related above. We will let Brother Deemer close the incident : " The course pursued by the writer and advocate of the resolutions of September, 1873, is condemnatory upon his honor, zeal and fidelity. As this National Council has purged itself of his influence, and his State Council has repudiated him as an unworthy Representative, we leave him." In accordance with the new laws, the officers of the National Council, known as National Marshal, National Protector, and National Doorkeeper, were changed to the titles they bear to-day, viz. : National Conductor, National Warden, and National Sentinel. Preliminary plans were made at this session to fittingly cele- brate the Centennial of Independence at Philadelphia the following year and a Committee was appointed to have the matter in charge. An invitation was received from the 0. TJ. A. M. to participate with their Order in a parade in honor of the Centennial, to be held July 8, 1876, and the same was accepted. A communication from the Washington Monument Association, appealing for funds to complete the Washington Monument at Washington, D. C, met with favorable consideration by the National Body, and a Com- was appointed to draft an appeal and send to the Councils asking aid for the noble purpose. The election of officers resulted as follows : National Councilor — Harry Stites, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — Wm. P. Hayes, of New Jersey, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Nathan Penrose, of Pennsylvania, National Conductor — Eug. Alderdice, of Maryland, National Warden — G. P. Hadley, of Massachusetts, National Sentinel — S. W. Kirkbride, of New York. CHAPTER XIX SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (Continued) PHILADELPHIA, JULY, 1876 PHILADELPHIA, in 1876, was the Mecca for patriots. Not only did the millions visit the Exposition, but the sacred landmarks as well. Along with the great hosts of Freedom's sons, came the little band of Juniors to hold their annual session, begin- ning July 6, the date having been changed in order that the Repre- sentatives might share in the parade of the Order on July 8. Brother Stites presided over the session, which was attended by a large representation. One, who ever since has been a prominent factor in the National Body, was present for the first time, as a Eepresentative from Maryland — Brother Robert Ogle — a manly man and a true brother. Among those present were two honored Past State Councilors of Pennsylvania, Brothers DeHaven and Frank Cody. National Councilor Harry Stites, not only celebrated the Cen- tennial in a patriotic way by presiding over the National Council, but he also celebrated the Anniversary of Independence by taking unto himself a wife, and an appropriate resolution of congratulation was adopted in honor of his marriage. (By way of coincidence, the writer also celebrated the Centennial in the same manner, spending his honeymoon in the Centennial City, having witnessed the monster parade on July 4.) The reports for the past year showed that the Order had been very much retarded by the " hard times " and many members were unable to keep themselves in good standing in their respective Councils. The Order had been resuscitated in Indiana and a State Council had been organized. The agitation on Ritual was a marked feature of the session, as well as a change of name and the elimination of the Fifth Object. The National Councilor recommended a revision of the Ritual, while a resolution was offered asking that a Committee be appointed to take into consideration the advisability of a revision and report back to the body. Subsequently the Committee sub- mitted its report, recommending the consolidation of the three degrees into one. The recommendation was not agreed to. The Representatives from Maryland presented a resolution asking that the Committee on Ritual be empowered to draft a suitable State 291 292 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Council Eitual ; also to embody in the Eitual a suitable prayer for Subordinate Councils. Subsequently, the Committee reported rela- tive to the last request, that in their opinion, it was not desirable. The chapter on Eitual was not yet ended. Bros. DeHaven and Stites, of Pennsylvania, offered the following, which was agreed to : " Whereas, Our present Ritual is being complained of by a large number of members of our Order, both on account of its length and also of the errors in printing; therefore be it " Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed to revise our Ritual, and that said Committee be instructed to report at our next session." A resolution to strike out of the name of the Order the word " Junior " and. insert " something more appropriate," was tabled. The same fate met another resolution, that the word. " Junior " be stricken out and the word " Independent " be inserted. The National Councilor, in his report, recommended that the Fifth Object be stricken out, which the Committee to whom the report had been referred, reported in favor of the recommendation ; but not being in proper form, it was recommitted, whereupon, the Committee, in accordance with the law, recommended that the Sec- retary transmit to each member of the National Body a copy of the proposed change, which was agreed to. The Committee on Centennial Parade made its report. Brother G. Howell Arthur, so well known for a decade as the popular Eeading Clerk in the National Council, as well as the painstaking Secretary of the Finance Committee, was the Grand Marshal to lead the Junior division, while National Councilor Harry Stites marshaled the National Council as a body. The parade was a success, 3,000 men being in line, although it was the hottest day of one of the hottest seasons on record. The election of officers resulted as follows : National Councilor — Wm. P. Hayes, of New Jersey, National Vice-Councilor — Geo. W. Ilgenfritz, of Indiana, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Thos. H. H. Messenger, of Delaware, National Conductor — W. A. Martin, of Ohio, National Warden — W. Eug. Alderdice, of Maryland, National Sentinel — S. W. Kirkbride, of New Jersey. The election of the Treasurer caused some friction in the National Body, he having been elected by 14 votes to 13 for the former Treasurer, Brother Penrose. A protest was filed by P. S. C. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 293 Sibbs, of Pennsylvania, against the installation of the Treasurer- elect, from the fact that 27 voters were cast while it was claimed that only 25 persons were eligible to vote. A new election was de- clared, whereupon, Messenger received 21 votes and Penrose 14, making a total of 34. However, not having qualified himself for the office in not furnishing security, as required by law, Messenger did not assume the duties of his office. DAYTON, OHIO, 1877 Dayton, Ohio, was the place, and July 2 and 3, 1877, the time of the meeting of the Eight Annual Session of the National Coun- cil, with 22 members in attendance. The National Councilor reported the disbanding of the State Council of New York; he also referred to the suspension of the Junior American Mechanic, the official organ of the Order. Three Eituals were presented and read, viz. : One from P. S. C. DeHaven of Pennsylvania, one from P. S. C. Sharer, of same state, and one from and by instructions of the State Council of Indiana, all of which were referred to a Committee of five. Subsequently, during the session, a majority of the Committee, reported in favor of one of the Eituals, marked " No. 3," while the minority favored the " Indiana Eitual.'' The difficulty, however, was settled by a compromise motion referring to a Special Committee Eitual " No. 3," with the recommendation that the opening ceremony as found in the " Indiana Eitual " and the " camp scene " of the present Eitual be inserted. Thus ended the chapter on Eitual for the session. The question, now almost annually raised, to strike out the Fifth Object, was defeated by a vote of 11 to 10, the National Councilor-elect having been excused from voting. The National Council adjourned, after electing and installing the following officers: National Councilor — Geo. W. Ilgenfritz, of Indiana, National Vice-Councilor — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Wm. P. Hayes, of New Jersey, National Conductor — Wm. T. Whitworth, of Delaware, National Warden — Jas. E. Bowen, of Maryland, National Sentinel — H. Wells Buser, of Pennsylvania. 294 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER BALTIMORE, MD., 1878 The Ninth Annual Session of the National Council convened at Baltimore, Md., June 18, 1878, with more than thirty members present. National Councilor Ilgenfritz reported the reorganization of New York State Council, and submitted several " bones of con- tention " by way of recommendations, among which were the strik- ing out of the Fifth Object, adopting a "good and substantial Kitual," and the appointment of a Committee, out of courtesy, to meet with a Committee of the Senior Order relative to the consoli- dation of the two Orders, although, personally he was opposed to consolidation. For the second time in its brief history, the National Council had trouble with its presiding officer. The National Secretary, in his report, presented certain communications from the State Coun- cil Secretary of Indiana, Philip Weiner, relative to the conduct of National Councilor Geo. W. Ilgenfritz, a member of the State Coun- cil of Indiana, charging him with the embezzlement of the funds of the Order, interfering with the administration of the State Council of his state and thereby breaking up the Order in that jurisdiction. The same communications stated that Ilgenfritz had been expelled from the State Council of Indiana. The National Secretary, at the time he received the above communications, it being in the month of February, referred the same to National Vice-Councilor Brother Sohl, who decided to await further developments as to the manner of the expulsion of the National Councilor, whether it was by the action of the Board of Officers of Indiana, or the State Council. Subsequent inquiry convinced the National Secretary that the expulsion was illegal and no further action was taken. A letter from the State Council Secretary, pro tern, of Indiana, dated June 12, stated that at a special meeting of the State Council the National Councilor had been suspended for one year, and to remain suspended until he had refunded certain moneys it was alleged he had taken. The same communication stated that the State Council Secretary, Philip Weiner, had also been suspended, the time being six months, for " over-stepping his authority as State Council Secretary." How- ever, it developed, on inquiry, that the notice of the suspension of the above named officers was premature, as it was but the report of the Committee in the cases, action upon which was deferred one week, in accordance with law. In the meantime, however, the Committee having in their UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 295 hands the report of the National Secretary, submitted to the Na- tional Body their opinion that the charges against the National Councilor were sufficient to warrant the State Council of Indiana to suspend him. While the question was under consideration, the following telegram from the State Vice-Councilor of Indiana was read: " Sentence passed upon G. W. Ilgenfritz and P. Weiner to-night." At this juncture in the proceedings, National Vice-Councilor Sohl, who was the presiding officer, ruled the point of order well taken, which had been raised, that as the National Councilor was suspended and there being no appeal, no further consideration of the question was necessary as G. W. Ilgenfritz was no longer a member of the National Body. An appeal was taken from the decision of the Chair, but subsequently was withdrawn. A resolution was presented which read as follows: " Resolved, That no member of the 0. U. A. M. be allowed to visit any Council of the Jr. O. U. A. M., unless they are members of the Junior Order." It might be well to state to the modern Junior, that from the organization of the Junior Order, and for many years after, the members of the Senior Order were admitted to the Councils of the Junior Order, at first without being obligated, but subsequently they were required to take an obligation. Many found fault with this " open door policy/' and quite frequently in the State Council of Pennsylvania there had been expressions of disapproval. In the consideration of the above resolution, much discussion took place and, in the final action, the ayes were 14 and the nays 20, thereby defeating the resolution. In view of the discontent existing, the State Council of Penn- sylvania, 0. U. A. M., at its session in 1877, drew up a set of reso- lutions and the same were presented to the National Body of the Senior Order asking that a Committee be appointed to confer with a similar Committee of the Junior Order looking toward a union of the two Orders. The preamble read as follows: " Whereas, It is in contemplation at the next session of the National Council of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., to so alter their laws by striking out the restrictive rule, thus separating the two Orders so far apart that they will be two distinct Orders, and " Whereas, It is of the utmost importance that the two Orders be united, that they can work together more effectually in promoting the 296 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER welfare of Americans, and in accomplishing the great ends for which the Orders were instituted, so that we can present to the world one of the grandest Orders that has ever existed." The National Council of the Senior Order having concurred in the request of the State Council of Pennsylvania, the same was submitted to the National Body. In consideration of the communi- cation, by a vote of 19 to 14, a Committee was appointed to meet a similar Committee of the Senior Order. The Committee con- sisted of P.N. C. J. W. Calver, P. N. C. Hayes and National Vice- Councilor Sohl. A Past Councilor's Association, known as the " American Legion," having been organized in Philadelphia, the obect of which was to create greater interest in the Order, was approved by the National Body. Subsequently, a Past Councilor's Degree was adopted by the National Council for the use of the " Legion," operating under the name of " Commandery." The Special Committee on Bitual, appointed at last session, to incorporate certain features into the new Eitual, submitted their report, whereupon, the National Council went into the Committee of the Whole for its consideration, with P. S. O, H. L. Williams, of Pennsylvania, in the Chair. The Committee amended the Eitual presented by inserting the opening ceremony prepared by Brother G. Howell Arthur instead of the one in the " Indiana Eitual," as recommended at the last session, and also further amended it by making the reading of the Bible compulsory in the Subordinate Councils and the prayer optional. Eeporting back to the National Body the Eitual, as amended, that body further amended it by striking out the gown and cowl that were required to be worn and the Order of Business, whereupon, by a vote of 17 to 16 the new Eitual was adopted. The Eitual, however, was not satisfactory to a large number of the National Council, which was apparent from the small major- ity by which it was finally adopted. During its consideration, there was a strong opposition, and the ayes and nays were frequently called upon the various features. In view of this dissatisfaction, 14 of the 16 who voted in the negative and one who voted aye, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, presented the following resolution : "Resolved, That the Ritual just adopted be published as an initia- tory, and that a Committee be appointed to draft three additional degrees and report at the next session." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 297 The resolution was adopted and, on motion, the signers were constituted that Committee. Signs for the new Eitual were adopted as well as an obligation for representatives and Past State Councilors to be admitted to the National Council. A resolution to strike out the Fifth Object of the Order was introduced and laid over. The officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow National Councilor — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Vice-Councilor — H. W. Lewis, of Ohio, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Wm. P. Hayes, of New Jersey, National Conductor — Standford McKeeby, of New York, National Warden — J. M. Baker, of Indiana, National Sentinel — Geo. P. Monck, of Delaware. "This being the quarter-centennial year of the Order, it may be interesting to the brotherhood to know the standing of the organi- zation at that time. The depression that followed the great finan- cial crash of 1873 wrought materially against the progress of the Order, many Councils having succumbed to the pressure. The statistical report of the National Secretary showed the following : NO. OF NO. OF COUNCILS MEMBERS Pennsylvania 80 5,335 New Jersey 24 1,380 Maryland 6 305 Massachusetts 4 117 Ohio 3 202 Delaware 3 95 Indiana 3 The total number of Councils was 123 and the membership 7,-184, being a decrease of 23 Councils and 1,971 members. NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J., 1879 New Brunswick, N. J., entertained the Tenth Annual Session of the National Body, June 17 and 18, 1879, 31 members being present. From the reports of the officers we learn that the retro- grade movement of the Order had been checked and a small increase was shown. The Order in Virginia, during the year, had been reorganized, and into one new state, Vermont, the principles of the Order had been planted. The amount of moneys coming into the National Treasury was quite small at that time as compared with the present. The report showed that only $451.60 had been re- 298 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ceived from all sources, of which, $324 was for per capita tax. The National Secretary's salary was but $75 a year. When we consider the many years of faithful service Brother Deemer gave to the Order for such a compensation, surely no one to-day (1906) should begrudge him the sum paid at the present time. The subject of the unification and consolidation of the Senior and Junior Orders was a marked feature of this session. The Committee of the two Orders agreed upon a plan of union which is here inserted as a whole: " We the undersigned members of the joint Committee, appointed by the National Councils of the O. U. A. M. and the Junior Order of the O. U. A. M., do most respectfully and fraternally agree to the following proposition for the purpose of effecting a closer and firmer union between the two Orders, viz: Abolish the National Council of both Orders, and also the State Councils of both Orders in those States where the two Orders exist. Form a National Council and State Council from the two Orders, giving the Past Councilors of the Junior Order and the ex-Coun- cilors of the O. U. A. M. equal privileges in the formation of the said National and State Councils. Recognize the present Past Councilors, Past State and Past National Councilors of the Junior Order, to be on equal standing and entitled to the same rights and privileges of the ex- Councilors, ex-State and ex-National Councilors of the O. U. A. M. After the National and State Councils are formed in accordance with the above, the Order to be known as the Order of United American Mechanics and to consist of two branches, the members of the Senior branch to have the right to visit Councils of the Junior branch under obligation of secrecy, and in like manner the members of the Junior branch to have the right to visit Councils of the Senior branch. " The Senior branch of the Order to initiate members at the age of 21 years and over, and the Junior branch members not over 21 years of age. " The Junior and Senior branches then to be allowed representation in the State Councils, and each to have the same privilege as regards representation in the National Council." In the consideration of the above report, the National Coun- cil, by a vote of 16 to 14, refused to agree to a resolution to disagree with the action of the Committee and that they be discharged from further consideration of the subject. A motion to accept the report and that the Committee be continued was carried by a vote of 15 to 10. The resolution laid over from last session to strike out the Fifth Object was brought before the National Body. A motion to lay the matter over until the next session was defeated by a vote of 13 to 16. A motion to adopt the resolution was then entertained and the subject discussed, whereupon, on an aye and nay vote, 16 to 15, the Object that so long had been a " bone of contention," UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 299 was stricken out and the first real break with the Senior Order had culminated, so far as the act of the National Council was concerned. National Secretary Brother Deemer then offered the following : Whereas, This National Council has voted to strike out the Fifth Object of our Order, and " Whereas, Art. II, Sec. 2, of the Constitution of this body, requires that said action must be submitted to a vote of the members of our Order, therefore, be it " Resolved, That said question be submitted to the members of the Order for vote thereon, at the first meeting of each Council in the month of October next, and the result thereon be forwarded to the National Sec- retary under seal prior to November 1." In recognition of the services of the National Secretary, Brother Deemer, who from the beginning had served the Order in an official capacity, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : " Whereas, Edw. S. Deemer has, for a period of ten years, faithfully served this body as Secretary, and " Whereas, He has in so many instances rendered invaluable services to the Order at large by trying to plant its banner and principles wherever his time and influence could avail; therefore, be it " Resolved, That in view of these services this body confers upon him the honors of Past National Councilor." The Special Committee on Bitual consisting of 15 members, appointed at the the last session, reported that the number of the Committee being too large to act with any speed, asked that they be discharged and a similar Committee of five members be ap- pointed, which was agreed to and said Committee was appointed by the National Councilor. In the election of officers, Brother H. W. Lewis, of Ohio, though not present, was elected National Councilor, Brother A. D. DeHaven, of Pennsylvania, was elected National Vice-Councilor, and Bros. Deemer and Hayes were reelected National Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Following the election, a letter from Brother Lewis was received resigning as National Vice-Councilor, whereupon, the National Vice-Councilor-elect, Brother DeHaven, was elected to that position in place of Brother Lewis and installed. Brother DeHaven then declined the office of National Vice-Councilor for the ensuing year to which he had been elected the day previous, and another election was held to fill the vacancies of both National Councilor and National Vice-Councilor for the ensuing year, the result of which Brother DeHaven was unanimously elected National 300 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Councilor while Brother S. H. Crum, of New Jersey, was placed in the Chair of National Vice-Councilor. The other officers were as follows : National Conductor — George H. Greenman, of Massachusetts, National Warden — Jno. J. Tuers, of New York, National Sentinel — R. T. Franck, of Maryland. RICHMOND, VA., 1880 Richmond, Virginia, again had the honor of entertaining the National Council at its Eleventh Annual gathering, June 15, 16 and 17, 1880. Twenty-one members were present representing a total membership of 7,394, as per report of the National Secretary. The most important business of the session was the counting of the vote of Subordinate Councils upon the striking out of the Fifth Object of the Order. The result of the count showed that the Order at large refused to concur in the action of the National Body of a year ago, therefore defeating the proposition, delaying it for two years. The vote by states was as follows : FOR AGAINST Pennsylvania 144 975 New Jersey 239 108 Maryland 97 11 New York 103 23 Delaware 36 — Ohio 76 29 Massachusetts 42 1 Vermont 24 — resulting in 1,061 in favor of striking out the Object and 1,147 against the proposition, a majority of 8G. Immediately after the announcement of the result of the vote, the old question of striking out the Object was renewed by P. S. C. Adams, of New Jersey, in the following resolution : " Resolved, That we strike out the ' Fifth Object ' of our Order. " In the First Object of our Order strike out ' American Youth ' and substitute ' Americans." A draft of an additional Object was submitted, to be known as the Sixth Object, and read as follows : " To maintain the Public School System of the United States of America, to prevent sectarian interference therewith, and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 301 Under the law, the above resolutions were laid over until tho next session for consideration. A motion to strike out of the Ritual the words " this includes the whole motto of the Senior Order," was lost. The Committee on Conference relative to the consolidation of the two Orders, continued from the last session, reported that no further meetings of the joint Committee had been held, neither had they heard from the Committee of the Senior Order, therefore asked to be discharged, which request was granted. The question of Life Insurance to be under the supervision of the Order had been considered at the last session, whereupon a Committee was appointed to formulate a code of laws, and report as to the advisability of incorporating the new feature in the organization. The Committee approved the plan and submitted a code of laws which were, with some changes, adopted, and, as per amended motion, were submitted to the Subordinate Councils for a vote thereon. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : National Councilor — S. H. Crum, of New Jersey, National Vice-Councilor — Robert Ogle, of Maryland, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Wm. P. Hayes, of New Jersey, National Conductor — Geo. H. Bartlett, of Massachusetts, National Warden — W. H. Meseroll, of New Jersey, National Sentinel — N. H. Kemp, of Maryland. HAVERHILL, MASS., 1881 The Twelfth Annual Session of the National Council con- vened at Haverhill, Mass., June 20, 1881, and continued in session three days, with 29 members in attendance. The reports of the officers, as found in the proceedings, did not indicate any general advance in the Order, while in some sections, as Delaware and Indiana, the Order had died out, with the exception of one Council in the former state. However, a small increase was made in nearly every state, aggregating 328 members over the membership of one year previous. One new state came under the banner of the Order — Tennessee, with one Council. The report of the Committee to count the vote of the Subor- dinate Councils relative to the Insurance Plan, as adopted at the 302 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER last session, showed that the proposition was defeated by a small majority on the face of the returns. The Committee, however, were impressed that presumptive fraud, as well as gross irregulari- ties, showed themselves on the face of the returns, and after casting out the irregular votes, claimed that the Plan had a majority of 36 in favor of its adoption. But it was the opinion of the Com- mittee that another vote should be taken, which was agreed to. A resolution to strike out the name of the Order and substi- tute " Independent Order of Americans," was referred to the Com- mittee on Eevision of the Order," a new Committee adopted by the National Council, as per recommendation of the National Councilor. The question as to striking out the Fifth Object of the Order, laid over from last session, was brought up for consideration. A motion to refer same to the Committee on the Eevision of the Order was not agreed to. A motion to strike out was then made, and on an aye and nay vote, the National Body for the second time declared itself in favor of striking out the Object, there being 22 in favor and 9 not in favor. The matter was again referred back to the Subordinate Councils for ratification or rejection. The proposition offered at the last session to amend the First Object by striking out " American Youth " and insert "Americans," was also agreed to. Favorable action was also taken on the pro- posed Sixth Object : " To maintain the Public School System of the United States of America, to prevent sectarian interference therewith, and uphold the read- ing of the Holy Bible therein," with the exception of all after the words " therewith," and the insertion of the word " and " after the word " America," which amendments were agreed to. Both proposed changes were also referred to the Subordinate Councils for their vote in September. It is apparent that by striking out the words " and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein " from the original resolution, that the Juniors of 1881 were not as enthusiastic in having the Bible read in the public schools as were the Native Americans in 1844, who adopted as one object in their code of principles the following : " We maintain that the Bible, without comment, is not sectarian ; that it is the fountain-head of morality and all good government, and should be used in the public schools as a reading-book." The following were elected to serve in their respective positions for the year to come : UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 303 National Councilor — Robert Ogle, of Maryland, National Vice-Councilor — Geo. H. Greenman, of Massachusetts, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Wm. P. Hayes, of New Jersey, National Conductor — Jas. Stewart, of New York, National Warden — N. H. Kemp, of Maryland, National Sentinel — Geo. W. Elbert, of New Jersey. The generous hospitality accorded the National Council by Enterprise Council, No. 1, of Haverhill, will linger with pleasant memories as long as there lives a member who attended the session. One afternoon a carriage-ride was given the members of the Na- tional Body to the birthplace of Whittier, and other objects of interest. A day's excursion on the Merrimac and the ocean was a part of the program, with a banquet at Eagle Island as a fitting close to the entertainment extended by the brethren of Haverhill. One who has for years been a factor in New England Juniorism — Bro. A. L. Chase — was a member of the Eeception Committee. NEW YORK, 1882 It required three days — June 20-22, 1882 — for the National Council to transact its business at the Thirteenth Annual Session, held in New York City. Forty members were in attendance, the largest number of any previous session. From the officer's report it was shown that the American Legion was prospering, there being 14 Commanderies already or- ganized and doing a good work. Our esteemed Brother Ogle, Na- tional Councilor, submitted to the National Body an exceptionally well prepared report. His pathetic reference to the death of President Garfield was very befitting, and certainly must have struck a responsive chord in every heart. Since the National Coun- cil at St. Louis in 1901 decided to meet biennially, it is fair to state that Brother Ogle, at this session, 22 years before, recom- mended biennial sessions, which recommendation, however, was not adopted. The report of the National Secretary showed a continued increase in membership, there being 9,500 members. At the last session National Councilor S. H. Crum submitted a recommendation asking for a Committee to be appointed, " To prepare a plan for a revision of the Order, and that they report to the National Councilor sixty days before the next session, and he have a general outline of the plan printed, and a copy forwarded to each mem- ber of this Council at least thirty days before the session." 304 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The recommendation having been approved and a Committee appointed in conformity therewith, all subjects relating to changes in the Order, either of name, Objects, Eitual and laws, were re- ferred to said Committee, as well as suggestions of changes desired from anyone in the jurisdiction. National Secretary Deemer, as Chairman of Committee on Revision of the Order, submitted his report on the subjects referred to the Committee, and at the same time gave his reasons for his approval or disapproval of any proposed change in the economy of the Order. Relative to striking out the name of the Order and inserting " Independent Order of Americans," laid over from last session, Brother Deemer disapproved the proposed change, giving his reason therefor, which can be found under chapter, " Name — Signifi- cance^ — Proposed Changes." The National Council, in the Com- mittee of the Whole, agreed to not change the name, which action was concurred in by the National Body. P. N. C. Crum submitted to the Committee the following pro- posed changes and additional features : 1. Change the name to American Legion. 2. Change the Ritual, making three degrees — Subordinate, State, and National — all to be conferred by the Subordinate Councils; a fee to be paid to the State Council for all State and National degrees conferred, and the State Council to pay a fee to the National Council for all National degrees conferred. 3. Make the age of admission 18 to 45. 4. Adopt an insurance plan as one of the Objects of the Order. In the Committee of the Whole, all the above suggestions were disapproved and the National Body concurred. The Committee to count the vote of the Subordinate Councils on the various questions referred to them made their report as below : 1. To amend the First Object, by striking out " American Youth " and insert " Americans," the vote was 1,745 in favor of the change and 958 against, making a majority in favor of the amendment of 787. 2. The Sixth Object. " To maintain the Public School System of the United States of America, and to prevent sectarian interference therewith." The vote in favor of this proposition was 2,180 ; against, 480, making a majority in favor of 1,700. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 305 3. To strike out the Fifth Object. " To prepare the youth of America to become members of tbe 0. U. A.M. when they arrive at the proper age." The vote in favor of striking out was 1,036; against, 1,068, making a majority in favor of striking out the Object of 568. Thus, after years of unrest and agitation, the Jr. 0. U. A. M. be- came, in a true sense, an independent organization, and from (his time the Order, no longer handicapped by the Fifth Object, took on new life and within a few years became a power in the land. 4. The Insurance feature, however, met with defeat by a vote of 1,264 to 1,468, or a majority of 204 against the plan proposed. The defeat of this proposition brought into existence the Funeral Benefit Association, with headquarters at Philadelphia, an organ- ization independent of the National Council or any State Council, or rather, a voluntary association of Subordinate Councils, and was organized July 1, 1882, with G. Howell Arthur as President and Edw. S. Deemer as Secretary. Ten cents per member was col- lected from Councils having membership in the Association and $250 w r as paid on the death of a member. Two resolutions bearing on the Kitual were presented and agreed to. One had reference to the preparation of a form for public installation, and offered $25 for the best form. The other resolution was for the preparation of a National Council Degree. The election of officers resulted as follows : National Councilor — Geo. H. Greenman, of Massachusetts, National Vice-Councilor — Evan G. Badger, of Pennsylvania, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — Wm. P. Hayes, of New Jersey, National Conductor — Harry Krausz, of Maryland, National Warden — J. M. F. Perkins, of Massachusetts, National Sentinel — Geo. Coles, of New York. CHAPTER XX SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (Continued) PHILADELPHIA, 1883 THE Fourteenth Annual Session of the National Council was held in the City of Philadelphia, June 19-21, 1883. Be- tween 30 and 40 members were present, representing six states, viz.: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Massa- chusetts and Ohio, and, including Councils under the jurisdiction of the National Council, about 140 Councils and 11,686 members. Several forms for the Public Installation of Officers were submitted and referred to the Committee on Ritual. Subsequently, the Committee reported in favor of one form, with certain changes and additions, but suggested that the National Council should not be too hasty in the adoption of any Ritual for Public Installation, and recommended that action thereon be laid over until next session, which recommendation was agreed to. The National Councilor, Brother Geo. H. Greenman, sug- gested in his report the propriety of " engaging a competent per- son " to extend the Order in localities where the organization does not exist. This was the initiatory recommendation looking toward the appointment of a National Organizer, but the National Body did not approve the recommendation. Representative Elbert, of New Jersey, offered the following amendment which, under the rule, was laid over : " Amend Objects of the Order by adding the following to the Fifth Object: ' And uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein/ " The reader of this history will recall that at the last session of the National Body, the Fifth Object was stricken out and the new Sixth Object adopted at same session became the Fifth Object. But little business of general importance was transacted at this session. Two or three items might be noted: 1. The obligation of Senior members was stricken from the Ritual. 2. An amendment that the words " American Mechanics and Workingmen " be stricken from the charter and the word " Ameri- cans " be substituted. 306 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 307 In the election of officers, the following were named : National Councilor — Evan G. Badger, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — W. H. Meseroll, of New .Jersey, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — (.'has. D. Kidd, Jr., of Ohio, National Warden — Jos. P. Wills, of Massachusetts, National Sentinel — Jno. E. Armstrong, of Pennsylvania. Beginning with this session, and for more than 20 years, as Treasurer of the National Body, Brother J. Adam Sohl was to give the National Council his valuable and conscientious services. For many years already he had been a conspicuous factor in the highest legislative body of the Order, having been honored at one session as its presiding officer. The first State Councilor of Pennsylvania in 1860, in fact the first State Councilor of the Order, Brother Jno. E. Fanshawe, was present and addressed the National Council. Brother Fanshawe, as noted in another chapter, was Councilor of Washington Council, No. 1, when the additional Councils were formed that made up the State Council of Pennsylvania. GEORGETOWN", D. C, 1884 For the fifteenth time the National Body met in annual session, and. the place of its meeting was Georgetown, within the District of Columbia, June 19 and 20, 1884, with less than 30 mem- bers present. The report of the National Secretary showed 142 Councils and 12,190 members. The first item of business, after the report of the officers, was the consideration of the amendment to the Fifth Object, " and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein." The amendment was approved and the question of ratification was placed before the Subordinate Councils. The question of a form for the Public Installation of Officers was considered, whereupon, a motion was made to postpone further action for one year. A substitute, however, was offered that the National Council accept Form No. 2 and pay the author $25, and the same was agreed to. After corrections and alterations were made, a motion to adopt, as amended, was defeated by a vote of 2 ayes and 23 nays. A motion to reconsider, however, was carried by an aye and nay vote of 17 to 10, and Form No. ? was referred back to the author for corrections. 308 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Again the change of name was brought before the National Body in the following resolution which, however, was not adopted, there being but 4 in favor of a change and 22 against : " Believing that the time lias come when our Order no longer con- sists of mechanics entirely, but of citizens of all occupations and classes and further, that our present name is a serious obstacle to our further progress, we would offer the following: "Resolved, That the name of the Order be changed; the same to be submitted to a vote of the entire Order on the last meeting night in September, 1884." The session closed with the installation of the following officers : National Councilor — W. H. Meseroll, of New Jersey, National Vice-Councilor — Harry Krausz, of Maryland, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — D. B. Conaway, of Pennsylvania, National Warden — Geo. W. Elbert, of New Jersey, National Sentinel — Geo. W. Hofseas, of New Jersey. HARRISBURG, PA., 1885 The National Council met in Sixteenth Annual Session, June 16, 1885, in the City of Harrisburg, Pa., his Excellency, Eobert E. Pattison, Governor of the Commonwealth, in an eloquent address, welcomed the National Body to the State of Pennsylvania. The report of the Secretary showed continued increase in Councils and members, there being at the ending of the calendar year, December 31, 1884, 156 Councils and 13,567 members. The Councils were reported as worth $155,109.66. They paid out for benefits the previous year, $26,521. No report from Massa- chusetts was received, the State Council having disbanded owing to one of the Councils withdrawing from the Order, as the result of a hasty action on the unofficial returns of the vote relative to the amendment of the Fifth Object, in incorporating the reading of the Holy Bible in the public schools. The Committee to count the vote on the amendment to the Fifth Object reported that 1,694 had been cast in favor of the amendment and 783 against, thereby adopting the amendment by a majority of 901. The Fifth Object, as amended, was made to read as follows : '•' To uphold the Public School System in the United States of America, and prevent sectarian interference therewith, and uphold the raiding of the Holy Bible therein." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 309 The old and hackneyed theme of change of name was again introduced, first, by a communication from the State Council of Ohio, expressive of its wishes, and second, from the members of the State Council of New Jersey, asking for an amendment by which " American Legion " could be substituted for the present name. The National Body again expressed its sentiments against any change in defeating the proposition by a vote of ayes 9, nays 16. The following was submitted by the members of the National Council from Pennsylvania: " By instruction from the State Council of Pennsylvania, we offer the following: Strike out from Sec. 1, Art. XI, General Laws, the word ' White.' " Again the National Council recorded its vote against the proposition by a vote of 8 ayes to 17 nays. The form of Public Installation, which had been referred back to its author for cor- rections, was considered, but failed of adoption by a vote of 3 ayes to 22 nays. Officers for the ensuing year were elected and installed as follows : National Councilor — Harry Krausz, of Maryland, National Vice-Councilor — Harry C. Hinchman, of Pennsylvania, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — Geo. W. Hofseas, of New Jersey, National Warden — Jas. T. Disney, of Maryland, National Sentinel — Win. R. Stroh, of Pennsylvania. RICHMOND, VA., 1886 On June 15, 1886, the National Body met in the historic City of Richmond, Va., it being the Seventeenth Annual Session. Thirty members were in attendance, representing the following states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Ohio and Virginia, the latter having had a State Council instituted since the last session. The Governor of the State, General Fitzhugh Lee, whose courage and loyalty in the Spanish-American War is readily recalled by every Junior and patriot, extended to the mem- bers of the National Council, on the part of the State of Virginia, a most hearty welcome. Subsequently, by arrangement, the Na- tional Council, as a body, called upon the Governor at his mansion and were most royally received. Up to this time the " Proceedings " of the National Counci 1 had been published in serial form in the Junior American Mechanic 310 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the so-called official organ of the Order. In conformity with the recommendation of the National Councilor, the Proceedings were ordered to be printed in pamphlet form, and 500 copies were issued. The report of the National Secretary showed that the receipts of the year were $-106.95 ; that the State Council of Delaware had ceased to exist ; that there were but six State Councils in the Union and but one Council under the jurisdiction of the National Coun- cil, viz.: Massachusetts, Enterprise, No. 1; that there were 171 Councils in the Order comprising a membership of 15,299, being a gain of 1,932 over the previous year. Brother Deemer, with much care, presented the plan of The Junior Mechanic Funeral Benefit Association, then about four years old, and The American Bene- ficial Association, the latter plan having been submitted by Wm. H. Miers, the aim of which was to pay a sick brother one dollar a day during the continuation of his sickness. Both plans were endorsed by the National Body. The election of officers was practically unanimous, there being but one contest, that of National Vice-Councilor. The new code of laws adopted created an additional office of Sentinel, making two, Inside and Outside Sentinels. The officers for the ensuing year were as follows : National Councilor — Harry C. Hinchinan, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — Geo. W. Elbert, of New Jersey, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sold, of Maryland, National Conductor — W. J. Morristy, of New York, National Warden — Chas. M. Angle, of Virginia, National Inside Sentinel — W. E. Newell, of Ohio, National Outside Sentinel — John R. Marlin, of Pennsylvania. Other items of business acted upon were the following : A resolution emanating from the State Council of New Jersey, to strike out the name of the Order, met its usual fate — death. A form of prayer for the opening of Council meetings was submitted by Geo. W. Elbert, quite lengthy, which was adopted, providing, however, that the use of same be optional. A revised code of laws was adopted. BALTIMORE, MD., 1887 From thirty to forty members of the National Council met in annual session in the City of Baltimore, Maryland, June 21 and 22, 1887. A marked feature of this meeting was the address of welcome extended to the members of the National Body by Brother UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 311 F. A. Buschuian, then State Councilor of Maryland. The address, which found a place in the Proceedings, most certainly deserves a place in the archives of the fraternity; and if space in this volume was not so limited, the author would gladly publish it in full, or portions therefrom. Beautiful in rhetoric, unique in its refer- ences to each state, and so apt in quotations, the address stands as a gem in oratory. It is with pleasure, that at this writing (Sep- tember, 1907,) Brother Buschman is still with us, as earnest and active a patriot as ever, and has honored the National Council with his presence at many of its sessions. The year previous, according to the reports of the National officers, had been one of great advance, so far as an increase in membership was concerned, there being a gain of nearly 5,000, making a total membership of nearly 20,000. The year, however, did not show any additional State Councils organized, while but two Councils were under the jurisdiction of the National Body, Massa- chusetts, with No. 1, at Haverhill, and one at Omaha, Nebraska, instituted during the year. In suggesting plans by which the Order might be extended, National Secretary Edw. S. Deemer, spoke of the advisability of sending an organizer into the field, if one capable could be found. He also referred to the plan adopted by the State Council of Pennsylvania, that of giving a premium of $20 to the organizer of a Council, and the plan had added 40 Coun- cils to the Order in the state, and he recommended that the National Body offer a premium of $25 for every council instituted, and when three councils in a state (where there was no State Council), were organized, let there be a State Council created. The Committee to whom was referred the report of the National Secre- tary, approved the recommendation relative to granting premiums, but disapproved the institution of a State Council with but three Councils. Tiie report of the Committee was concurred in by the National Bodf. A Special Committee from the National Council, O. U.A.M., the object of which was to seek closer relationship between the two Orders, presented the following resolution : " Resolved, That the committee in tendering the most fraternal greeting of the National Council, O. U. A.M., to the National Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., in their Session assembled, in Baltimore, Md., present also assurances of the most fraternal feelings on the part of the National Council ; that they deplore the alienation of relations now existing between the two Orders, and earnestly hope that measures may be adopted by which this unfortunate state of things may at the earliest possible future be removed." 312 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The report of the Committee was received, and at their request, a similar Committee was appointed to confer with the Committee of the Senior Order, consisting of Brothers John W. Calver, J. Adam Sohl and Eobert Carson. A resolution offered by the representatives of New York and Ohio, that the name " Jr. 0. U. A. M." be stricken out and insert " United Sons of America," was laid over. A new Eitual was presented, but as it provided Degrees, the National Council, by motion, dispensed with any further consid- eration of the question. A motion, however, to strike out of the Eitual the words " right or wrong, but still our country," was adopted. The custom of presenting the retiring National Councilor with a gold emblem was, by resolution, adopted at this session. The movement that was to place the Jr. 0. U. A. M. in the forefront of the battle for restricted immigration, had its birth in this session. As per resolution offered, a committee, con- sisting of H. J. Deily and A. D. DeHaven, of Pennsylvania, and Walter E. Orange, of Virginia, were appointed to draw up a Memor- ial to Congress praying for the enactment of stricter laws and their enforcement relative to immigration. Frcm this time, in a greater or less degree, the Order was committed to this feature of its work. As the result of the election, the following officers were in- stalled for the ensuing year: National Councilor — Geo. W. Elbert, of New Jersey, National Vice-Councilor — Walter E. Orange, of Virginia, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deerner, of Pennsylvania (Five years). National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — G. W. Adams, of New York, National Warden — W. H. Klusman, of Ohio, National Inside Sentinel — Geo. L. Hoffman, of Pennsylvania, National Outside Sentinel — John R. Marl in, of Pennsylvania. In conformity with the action of the National Body at this session, amending the section of the Constitution relating to the elective officers of the National Council, the office of National Secretary was made for a term of five years. NEW TOEK, N. T., 1888 The Twentieth Annual Session of the National Council was held in New Y^ork City, June 19 and 20, 1888. The attendance was the largest of any previous session, and the reports of the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 313 officers showed a marked increase in interest throughout the Order as well as in new iields occupied. The National Councilor in his report stated: " To-day our Order is planted from Plymouth Rock to the Golden Gate of the Pacific." During the year the State Council of Massachusetts resumed business and was represented at the session. The Order secured a foothold in several states and Councils were organized in North Carolina, New Hampshire, Texas, Indiana, West Virginia, Cali- fornia, Illinois and Delaware, although in some of the above named states. Councils formerly existed but were permitted to die, Dela- ware and Indiana having had State Councils. State Councilor Geo. W. Elbert had visited several states during the year, instilling new life into the older Councils and instituting new Councils, among which were Wills Point Council, No. 1, Texas, and Man- zanita Council, No. 1, at Petaluma, California. Brother Elbert spoke in the highest terms of the character of the membership of these two Councils. The National Secretary reported 19 Councils as being under the jurisdiction of the National Council, a gain of 17 since the last session, " an event without precedent in our Order." Brother Deemer spoke of the wonderful increase made in Pennsylvania, stating that there were 250 Councils and 30,000 members alone in that state. While much credit for the advance in the Order belongs to Brother Elbert, however, it is due to state that the times were prosperous, with a strong American sentiment abroad, which had much to do with the progress made. While the tabulated statement, made up December 31, 1887, did not indicate the great increase made in Pennsylvania, yet it was the opinion of the Na- tional Secretary, that at the time of the meeting of the National Body there were nearly 37,000 members in the entire Order. A large advance was shown in the per capita tax, for many years termed " Percentage," there being $1,847.78 paid into the treasury, of which amount, Pennsylvania furnished $1,469.52. - The Committee to confer with a similar Committee of the O. TJ. A. M. reported that there was a meeting of the joint commit- tee, and " after careful deliberation and interchange of opinions, lasting several hours, we concluded, whilst consoli elation was not possible, we thought, a more fraternal relation between the two Orders would be desirable." By virtue of an appointment of the National Council, O. TJ. A. M., Dr. Piper presented the fraternal greetings of the Senior Order to the National Body. 314 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The National Secretary submitted a " Declaration of Prin- ciples/' declaring the Jr. 0. U. A. M. " a patriotic, secret, bene- ficial association, with love of country for its chief cornerstone " ; that it was not a labor organization nor political, neither was it sectarian, but accorded to every man the liberty to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. The " Declaration," however, was adopted by a bare majority, the vote being ayes 19, nays 18. It was agreed by the National Body, that in addition to the questions asked of a candidate in the ante-room by tbe Jr. P. C, the following be included : " Do you promise to maintain the Public School System of the United States of America, and prevent sectarian interference therewith, and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein." The question of change of name, laid over from last session, substituting " United Sons of America " for " Jr. 0. U. A. M.", was defeated after a motion to insert " Order of United Americans " instead. The " change of name " seems to have been " in the air," as immediately following the failure of the above proposition, another resolution was offered and laid over for a year under the rule, that the National Constitution be so changed as to strike out the words " Junior Order of United American Mechanics " and in- sert " Independent Order of United Americans." The officers elected were as follows: National Councilor — Walter E. Orange, of Virginia, National Vice-Councilor — Wm. H. Stroh, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — Geo. W. Hofseas, of New Jersey, National Warden — M. Zeb. Percival, of Virginia, National Inside Sentinel — Jno. S. Carson, of New Hampshire, National Outside Sentinel — H. H. Bair, of Pennsylvania. HAVERHILL, MASS., 1889 The National Council, for the second time, convened at Haver - bill, Massachusetts, June 18, 1S89, with 46 members in attendance. Entering upon the third decade of its history, the National Body was on the threshold of an era of marvelous growth as well as of great achievements. The names of many brothers are found in the Proceedings of this session, who, for two epochs or decades had been in the forefront of the Order, and many of them to con- tinue as factors in the future history of the organization. Among UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 315 those might be named: Brothers Calver, Deemer, Arthur and Sibbs, a quartette from Pennsjdvania who were present at the Twenty- first Annual Session, the first two being at the First Session, who, with Brother Arthur, were present at the Thirty-seventh Annual Session at Nashville, Tenn., in 1905. The roll-call showed that others were present at this session who either had been or were active in the work of the Order and were to become conspicuous figures, and are still with us, faithful and enthusiastic as ever, although eighteen years have passed, viz. : Chase, of Massachusetts ; Buschman, of Maryland; Bichter, of Ohio; Shaler, of Illinois, but now of Pennsylvania ; McCully, W. C. Evans, P. S. C. H. L. Williams and Dr. W. H. Painter, of Pennsylvania. It must have given Brother Deemer great satisfaction to sub- mit his annual report. The year previous had shown great advance all along the line, especially in Pennsylvania. Beferring to his tabulated report, closing, however, December 31, the year preced- ing, the National Secretary says: " This is a grand showing. Every state but one ( New York ) shows a gratifying increase in members and finances. . . . We have increased over 12,000 members, over 100 Councils, and expended about $90,000 for benefits and relief." Much of the success in the newer states was attributed to the premium of $25 paid for all new Councils organized. The amount of premiums paid to organizers in New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and Virginia, alone was $1,400. Beferring to the marvelous growth in his own state, Pennsylvania, Brother Deemer adds : " The membership there on the 31st of December was 33,709, being about 2,000 stronger than the entire Order was one year ago. At our last session she reported 198 Councils, to-day she has chartered 339, of which over 330 are in good standing, and meeting as required by law. The organization in this state has become a power, and I believe a power for good. With 40,000 membership at the present time, she commands the attention of the state." The question of " change of name " came up before this meet- ing of the National Body with a strong reinforcement — that of the Bepresentatives of Pennsylvania, by instructions of their State Council. Brother Deemer refers to the sentiment favoring a change of name that had so grown that the Order was permeated with it. He spoke of his own state having always opposed a change, but at this session the question would be submitted and supported by her delegates. In conformity with 'these instructions the following was read, signed by ten members of the Pennsylvania delegation : 316 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " In pursuance of instructions from the State Council of Pennsyl- vania, we offer the following resolution: That the question of changing the name of the Order be submitted to the entire membership of .the Order, to be decide by a vote taken in every Council in the United States; the name to be chosen from a list prepared in the National Council and submitted to each Subordinate Council." The resolution was adopted and a Committee was appointed to submit a list of names in conformity therewith. Subsequently, the Committee, consisting of Brothers A. L. Solomon, Robert Car- son and F. A. Buschman, submitted the following as their report: "Your Committee on change of name refer the following for action: Jr. O. U. A. M. Native American Patriots. P. 0. Native Americans. Order Loyal Americans. Independent Order United Americans. The Order of the United States. The Order of the American Republic. American Legion. " While we submit this large number of names, the Committee are unanimous for the last named, ' American Legion,' and would recommend that this name be laid before the organization for a vote." After refusing to adopt the amendment laid over to substitute " Independent Order of United Americans " for the present name, and also refusing to submit the list as prepared by the Committee", to the Order at large, the National Body, by a vote of 35 to 6, adopted the recommendation of the Committee, submitting to the Subordinate Councils the name of " American Legion " for their vote. P. S. C. Williams, of Massachusetts, presented a resolution requesting a committee to prepare five-minutes addresses upon the subjects named below in commemoration of the events appertaining thereto : " February 22 — Washington's Birthday. " April 30 — The adoption of the Constitution of the United States, and Washington's Inauguration. " May 17— The Anniversary of the Founding of the Order. " June 14 — The Adoption of our National Emblem. " July 4 — The Declaration of Independence." The purpose of these addresses, if adopted, was for the Junior Past Councilor in Subordinate Councils to deliver them under the " Good of the Order " at meetings which shall be held nearest the several dates named. The resolution was adopted. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 317 The officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: National Councilor — Wm. R. Stroh, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — Geo. H. Bartlett, of Massachusetts, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — Jno. P. Branin, of Ohio, National Warden — John V. Gillaspy, of Pennsylvania, National Inside Sentinel — Phil. A. Shaffer, of West Virginia, National Outside Sentinel — Jno. W. Kull, of New Jersey. CHICAGO, ILL., 1890 For the first time in its history, the National Council met in the Greater West — the metropolis of that vast empire — Chicago, Illinois, June 17-19, 1890. The session was crowded with business and enthusiasm ran high. The remarkable advancement made by the Order was intensely gratifying and the brethren composing the National Body, " seeing eye to eye," were earnest in their efforts to make the work of the organization still more effective. During the year charters had been granted for the institution of State Councils in Washington, New Hampshire, Alabama and Illinois. In the latter state, under the direction of Brother F. J. Shaler, great advance had been made, from 32 members to over 500. The banner of the Order had been unfurled in some new states since the last session, viz. : Missouri, Wisconsin and Florida. Brother Deemer, National Secretary, reported an increase in Councils of 198 and of members 14,271. He then adds: "Is not this a grand showing? Bear in mind that it is nearly six months old, and also that very material progress has been made since that time. Pennsylvania has credit for but 394 Councils, while to-day she has nearly 470. Ohio is credited with but 59 Councils, while she has over 100. Our total membership is over 60,000. Since last July, 135 Councils have been organized in Pennsylvania, and it is possible before the session of the State Council (September) that it may reach 150." The tabulated vote on substituting " American Legion " for " Junior Order United American Mechanics," as reported by the Committee appointed to count the vote of the Subordinate Coun- cils, showed that the proposition was overwhelmingly defeated, the vote standing 1,625 in favor of a change of name and 11,732 against. The votes by states is given elsewhere. This decisive sentiment against change of name, however, did not prevent an- other resolution being offered, this time the proposition was to substitute " Order of United Americans." The resolution was adopted, and again the Order at large was asked to vote once more on the subject, in October. 318 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The thread-bare subject of a new Eitual was again introduced by way of a resolution, signed by 14 members, asking the National Councilor to appoint a committee of five to prepare a Eitual and to be submitted to the National Body " at the earliest date con- sistent, with best attainable results." The Committee selected was Bros. Eichter, Zimmerman, Eoberts, of Ohio, Cranston and Wil- liams, of Pennsylvania. At the same time a committee was ap- pointed to formulate a Eitual for the opening and closing of Na- tional and State Councils, installation of officers in public, and for the reception of members by card. The session was attended by nearly 50 members, and was replete with interest. The preparations for and advertisement of the coming of the National Council entailed an expense of more than $500, which amount was paid by the National Body. Roll- call revealed the names of several brothers well known in the annals of the Order, among whom were Harry E. Peck, I. V. Eobbins, James Cranston, Harry A. Kiel, of Pennsylvania, J. H. Zimmer- man, " father of the Orphans' Home," and L. N. Van Horn, of Ohio, and Eoger J. Armstrong, of Missouri. An effort to strike out the word " white " in a section of the law, in order that other races than the white race could be admitted to membership, was defeated by a vote 8 to 35. An important amendment to the National Constitution was adopted as follows : "That the Finance Committee be appointed from the city in which the National Secretary resides, and with their report give an estimate of expenses and receipts for the ensuing year, and with the per capita tax for the ensuing year." The result of the election of officers was as follows: National Councilor — Geo. H. Bartlett, of Massachusetts, National Vice-Councilor — Jno. P. Boblits, of Maryland, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — Wm. H. Painter, of Pennsylvania, National Warden — Geo. W. Hofseas, of New Jersey, National Inside Sentinel — A. H. Barber, of Wisconsin, National Outside Sentinel — J. D. Pearce, of Alabama. CHAPTER XXI SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (Continued) CLEVELAND, OHIO, 1891 THE rapid progress of the Order made the Twenty-third Annual Session of the National Council at Cleveland, Ohio, June 16-18, 1891, a very busy one. Fifty members were in attendance, representing eleven State Councils, and two representing states still under the jurisdiction of the National Body, one of the latter being our genial, big-hearted brother from the Southland, Dr. J. L. Cooper, of Texas. The roll-call brought to notice for the first time the names of two brothers well known to many who have attended the National sessions these latter years — W. L. James, of Maryland, and W. S. Schenck, of the State of Washington. The Order was planted in some new states, viz. : Maine, Iowa and Michigan. The reports of Deputy National Councilors showed great advancement in some sections. Ohio had gained 50 Councils during the year. Illinois, under the efficient direction of Deputy National Councilor F. J. Shaler, increased from 10 Councils and 500 members to 28 Councils and 2,000 members, an increase of 300 per cent. Pennsylvania on December 31, 1890, had 532 Councils and about 57,000 members. The six months since the report was tabulated, witnessed a still more phenomenal advance in the old " Keystone State/' which will be noted in the proper place. That old wheel-horse of Pennsylvania Juniorism, " General " Stephen Collins, was in the saddle and through his efforts and the enthusi- asm he aroused, a wave of patriotism swept the state, until it reached nearly every county and hamlet, and between 200 and 300 Councils were instituted and thousands of members were enrolled under the banner of our Order during his term as State Councilor (1890-91). In the writer's home city (Pittsburg) the Order was a power, men of prominence in city and state, ministers, physicians, lawyers and men in charge of the educational institutions sought admission to the Councils of the organization ; indeed the same was true in every part of the state. It was the writer's privilege under Brother Collins' direction to address public meetings attended by from 600 to 1,000 people, all intent on hearing discussed the Objects and Principles of the Order. 319 820 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The tabulated statement of the National Secretary, ending December 31, 1890, gave the following showing by states: NO. OF COUNCILS MEMBERS Pennsylvania 532 50,566 Ohio 135 8,576 New Jersey 84 • 7,330 Virginia 34 2,738 Maryland 20 2,104 • West Virginia 26 1,188 Illinois 24 1,183 Massachusetts 16 1,020 New Hampshire 7 429 New York 8 342 Washington 7 304 Including with the above tabulation of membership, the mem- bers of Councils still under the supervision of the National Coun- cil, the entire membership was 82,605, with 919 Councils in good standing, or a gain over the preceding year of more than 300 Coun- cils and over 26,000 members. It is interesting to note that the gain in ten years was 111+ Councils and in members 15,01+8. It is interesting also to note the comparison in finances for 1880 and 1890: 1880 1890 Received by Subordinate Councils. $42,642.93 $520,869.61 Amount paid for Benefits 9,708.31 186,069.95 In Treasuries of Sub. Councils... 77,142.36 559,887.34 The total receipts of the National Council for the year was $9,3-13.82, of which $8,000.98 was for per capita tax. The National Secretary suggested that the " American De- fense Association," an organization working in the interest of re- stricted immigration, be endorsed by the National Council, which recommendation was approved. He referred to the Preamble of the Order in which there had been no change since the institution of AVashington Council in 1853, and suggested that the Declaration of Principles adopted at Chicago the year previous be made the Preamble, in which recommendation the National Body concurred. Eelative to a change in the Charter, the following was recommended by Brother Deemer: " I would take out the train of cars at the top, and insert a school- house with the flag flying from its peak, and upon the tiling at the bottom, I would put an altar, upon which is to lie the Bible, American Flag and the Constitution of the United States." The National Council approved the suggestion. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 321 The subject of " Ritual " had its usual place in the business of the session ; but it is more fully presented in the chapter on Ritual. In conformity with the resolution offered at a former session, a form for Public Installation of Officers was submitted, but not being satisfactory, it was recommitted to the Committee. The Commit- tee on Ritual did not submit a new Ritual, but presented several suggestions that had been made to them by members of the Order. It was resolved, however, that there should be attached to the book of Ritual a plan of the Council room to be used in the " camp scene." On the subject of " change of name," referred to the Subor- dinate Councils for their vote, the Committee appointed to tabu- late the vote reported that the proposition to change the name to "Order United Americans" was defeated by a vote of 11,586 to 7,446. Undaunted by this failure, a large number of the members of the body again presented a resolution asking for a change of name, substituting the name that had been defeated, and it was adopted by 37 ayes to 13 nays. Three important subjects were considered at this session, each in its own way to exert a powerful influence throughout the nation and to become potent factors in the progress of the Order. The first of these mighty forces to be put in motion was the adoption of a recommendation to send an Organizer into the field, and levying of a special tax of six cents per capita to defray the expenses of 6ame. Another matter that in the years to follow was to bring the Order in closer touch with the several states, as well as the Union at large, was the presentation of the form and duties of the Na- tional Legislative Committee. The subject, however, was submitted to a Special Committee. A third subject, of all the three the most important, came before the National Body in the form of a brief resolution, pre- ceded, however, by a lengthy preamble, and read as follows: " Resolved, That this National Council take some pre- liminary steps towards providing a home for the orphans of deceased members." This resolution was presented by the Representatives of Ohio, by direction of their State Council. The brother who drew up the resolution, and who bears the cognomen, "father of the Or- phans' Home," was J. H. Zimmerman, of Plain City, Ohio, through whose persistent watering of the seed-truth just sown in patriotic S22 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER soil, the Order was to see the great banyan-tree of protection for our orphans spread until, under the broad sheltering wings of our National Orphans' Home, at Tiffin, Ohio, our dear wards have found a " home " indeed as well as help and protection. This was a glorious day for our Order. In the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio, on June 18, 1891, was inaugurated a movement that will be immortal in its influence and power; and as the slightest motion in the ocean will not cease until from shore to shore the vast volume of water is stirred, so here was started a heart-throb that is destined to roll on down the centuries that will not stop until the last wave shall dash its silvery spray upon the banks of the Celestial. After the installation of the following officers, the National Council adjourned : National Councilor — Jno. R. Boblits, of Maryland, National Vice-Councilor — James Cranston, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — H. H. Bair, of Pennsylvania, National Warden— John D. Hall, of West Virginia, National Inside Sentinel — Dr. J. L. Cooper, of Texas, National Outside Sentinel — G. W. McFarland, of New Jersey. ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., 1892 After a year of wonderful advancement, and the many ques- tions arising as to the dissemination of the principles of the Order, made the Twenty-fourth Session of the National Council at At- lantic City, N. J., June 21-24, 1892, the most important session held since the institution of the National Body. Kev. J. E. Bob- lits, as National Councilor, and James Cranston, as National Vice- Councilor, occupied their respective Chairs with credit to the fraternity. More than 60 members responded to roll-call, representing fifteen State Councils. One, who in the years to come was des- tined to be a most conspicuous figure in the organization, and whose work already as an organizer had been of such a character as to indicate that he was a leader of men, for the first time answered to his name. It is scarcely necessary to state his name in this con- nection, as he is known from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf — Brother Stephen Collins. In the subsequent history of the Order, Brother Collins' life runs as a UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 328 thread woven in the woof of the organization; and while no one ir the Order has heen criticized more than he, yet all must admit that no one has worked harder and sacrificed more for the advancement of the Order than Brother Collins. To-day, as Secretary-Manager of the Beneficiary Degree and Funeral Benefit Department, he is directing these important features of the organization with closest economy and on the strictest business basis. The writer has some very pleasant recollections of this session. The Supreme Commandery of the Uniform Eank, as a body, was in attendance to take part in the parade, having gone in special train via Washington, D. C, from Pittsburg, Pa. It was our pleasure as well as honor to represent the Supreme Commandery in present- ing to the National Council a set of resolutions, beautifully en- grossed and framed, in recognition of the courtesy of the National Council's action at a previous session in recognizing and endorsing the Uniform Eank. The writer recalls how deeplv he was im- pressed with the appearance and personnel of the National Body, as well as the well-chosen response of Brother F. A. Buschman in receiving, in behalf of the National Council, the resolutions. We also recall the great parade, in honor of the National Body, and the long, hot tramp and the many who "fell by the way " and returned to their hotel by the street cars. Two new committees were designated at this session, viz. : Distribution Committee and Committee on the State of the Order. The duties required of the first was to distribute all recommen- dations, resolutions, suggestions, etc., to the proper committees for their consideration ; while the duties of the second were to re- port on all subjects having special reference to the " Good of the Order." Four State Councils were organized during the year, viz. : Indiana (reorganized) by Brother Eobert Ogle; Michigan and Iowa, by Brother Stephen Collins ; and North Carolina, by Special Deputy Ivey. Two new states came under the jurisdiction of the National Council, Kentucky and Oklahoma. While the report of Councils and membership, under date of December 31, 1891, showed 1,260 Councils and 107,991 members, still the increase had gone on so rapidly, that at the time of the session of the National Body there were over 1,500 Councils and about 110,000 members. The total receipts of the National Coun- cil were $16,308.23, while the disbursements were only $14,052.51, leaving a balance of $6,328.12. 324 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Several important matters were brought before the body and adopted, among which were the following : 1. " Resolved, That the National Councilor, National Vice-Councilor and Junior Past National Councilor, compose the National Board of Officers." Previous to this the Board of Officers consisted of the first two of the above officers and the National Secretary. 2. All officers and members of Standing and Special Com- mittees to be allowed their expenses, traveling and hotel, for such time as the National Council is in session. 3. That the reports of the Board of Officers, the National Sec- retary, National Treasurer and Finance Committee, be printed prior to the meeting of the National Council and distributed at the opening of the first session of the body. 4. The adoption of the report of the Special Committee recom- mending a National Legislative Committee, outlining its duties, etc. This Committee subsequently became a power in the organ- ization in shaping legislation, especially upon the subject of Immi- gration. 5. The creation of a new Committee, known as the " Trans- portation Committee." The National Council refused to adopt the following sugges- tions and recommendations: 1. To strike out in Article on Eligibility to Membership, the word " white." 2. To accede to the request of the Councils of the District of Columbia to rescind a previous action of the body in placing them under the jurisdiction of the State Council of Virginia and grant them a charter for a State Council. 3. To endorse the Daughters of America. Suggestions were made relative to three subjects, that in subse- quent years, were to be favorably considered : 1. The payment of the expenses of the "Representatives to the National Council by the National Body. 2. That no Past National and Past State Councilor shall have a voice in the National Council or their respective State Councils, providing that the enactment should not be retroactive m any way. 3. Representation of each State Council of 5,000 members or less to be five Representatives and to serve five years. The report of Brother Stephen Collins, as National Organizer for a part of the year, indicated most efficient work in Michigan UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 325 and Iowa. In the former state, after three months' work, nine Councils were organized and a State Council instituted. In Iowa, after six weeks' effort, seven Councils were planted and a State Council created. The following officers were elected : National Councilor — James Cranston, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — H. A. Kibbe, of New Jersey, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deeemer, of Pennsylvania (Five years). National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — F. Schaefer, of New York, National Warden — H. P. Fuller, of Massachusetts, National Inside Sentinel — F. J. Stockwell, of Iowa, National Outside Sentinel — S. C. Anderson, of Washington. DETROIT, MICHIGAN, 1893 The Twenty-fifth Annual Session of the National Council was held in the City of Detroit, Mich., June 20-23, 1893, there being 21 states represented by 90 members. The reports showed an increase of 273 Councils and of members 23,789. The total, ending the fiscal year, December 31, 1892, was, in Councils, 1,533; in mem- bers, 131,280. THE NATIONAL ORGANIZER Much credit is due Brother Stephen Collins, National Organ- izer, for the unprecedented advance of the Order during the year. From his report to the National Body, only a few facts can be inserted in this connection, showing the strenuous life he led in his widespread labors in the Far West. Entering the State of Nebraska, at Omaha, Brother Collins began at once to lay the foundations of the Order in that city. It was July 2, 1892, when he entered Nebraska ; by August 1, he had six Councils organized, and on August 5, he instituted the State Council of Nebraska. Doing some preliminary work in Iowa and Missouri, the National Organizer proceeded to Wisconsin, strength- ening the Councils in that jurisdiction, then returning to Missouri he instituted the State Council of that state on November 25, 1892. During the next two months Brother Collins visited Kansas and Colorado, organizing councils, and subsequently instituted State Councils in each state. Crossing the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific slope, he spent some time in the States of Washington, Ore- gon and California, instituting new Councils and encouraging old ones, everywhere sowing the seed-truths of the Order. 326 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER In short, Brother Collins during the year instituted five State Councils and thirty-eight Subordinate Councils in eight different states, besides doing much general work. For fifteen months he had been in the field, as organizer, he organized 110 Councils and brought into the Organization thereby 5,000 members. The highest compliments were paid Brother Collins and his work by the National Councilor and National Secretary, and when, at the close of the session, the National Councilor announced his reappointment as National Organizer, it was received with applause and congratulatory addresses. REPORTS OF THE NATIONAL OFFICERS While the reports of National Councilor Cranston and National Secretary Deemer were voluminous, nevertheless, they were com- prehensive and intensely interesting. Both of these officers took high ground on certain questions, and placed themselves in the fore- front along all lines of practical patriotism. The adoption of the Declaration of Principles at a previous session, the new Ritual, as well as the work of the National Legislative Committee, had aroused in many quarters a storm of criticism, the claim being ad- vanced that the Junior Order was a political organization as well as sectarian. The closing paragraph of the Declaration of Prin- ciples, which read, " In the strictest sense we are a national politi- cal organization," etc., and a clause in the Ritual that seemed to sympathize with this declaration, as well as the introduction of a character in the initiatory ceremony, gave rise to the protest, claim- ing that these were inconsistent with the Objects and Principles of the Order, and asked that the objectionable features be eliminated. Reference to this controversy, however, has been given fully under the chapter of Ritual. "With this controversy in view, Brother Cranston, in his report as National Councilor, upheld the methods that were being adopted in carrying out the purposes and aims of the Order. Among the many excellent things suggested in his report, the following indi- cates the high ground on which he stood upon the controversial issues : " Our members must realize that the day for sentiment regarding our objects is past. It is not theoretical but practical patriotism that the times demand. Speeches in the Council-room will not restrict immi- gration, protect our public schools or advance American interests. The place to display our patriotism is at the polls. Political patriotism is UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 327 the kind of patriotism needed in this age. The Junior Order United American Mechanics is a 'standing army' whose duty is to guard Amer- ican institutions, and the ballot is its weapon. All we need is to ' shoot straight.' " (Subsequently in the session, the objectionable character re- ferred to in the initiation was eliminated, but the so-called political clause in both the Declaration of Principles and the Obligation, were retained and all protests relative thereto were disapproved.) Under the caption, " Memorial at Washington's Birthplace," the National Councilor said : " During January of the year, my attention was directed by Rev. Brother M. D. Lichliter, a patriotic minister of McKeesport, Pa., to the fact that the site of the birthplace of Washington was unmarked, and it was sviggested that the Order take steps to erect a monumental stone." Following the above suggestion, the National Councilor entered into correspondence with Governor Kinney, of Virginia, Robert J. Washington, grand-son of Col. Wm. Augustine Washington, and others, and learned that an appropriation to erect a memorial had been made by Congress ten years before, but the amount was not sufficient to complete the project. The whole matter was placed by the National Councilor in the hands of Brother J. K. Emge, editor of The American, who carried on the correspondence and finally got Congressmen Jones, of Virginia, Hon. Wm. A. Stone and Hon. John Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, interested, who succeeded in having a bill passed unanimously, February 22, 1893, providing for additional appropriation. It might be well to state that the credit for the passage of the bill was given the Order by Congress. As a sentinel, true and faithful, with an eye on the perils con- fronting the Republic, Brother Cranston, in his Thanksgiving Proclamation threw out the red-signal light of danger by calling attention to the speech of Judge Dunne, delivered at the Catholic Columbian celebration at Philadelphia, and suggested that the minister selected or invited to preach to the members of the Order, be made acquainted with the sentiments of Catholicism's mouth- piece. The portion of the speech especially at variance with the Principles of the Order were these: " The great boast of this country is independence and impartial justice, but the goddess of justice should hide her face in shame when she considers the manner in which the Catholics are treated here. The public schools are, to be sure, the mainspring of the country's welfare, but why should they be upheld in such a partial manner? What right has 328 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the government to set up a pernicious system of education and force 13,000,000 of its people into it, when their conscience rebel against it? It is a shame that such should be the case. " The government should help support the parochial schools, as we help support the public schools. ... In Baltimore, Md., the public schools are corrupting the childhood of the city, and have been exposed by a recent writer, who will do the same for other cities. A rottenness of administration exists which must be changed or the schools will not last." THE NEW LAWS The consideration of a new code of laws and amendments, presented by the Law Committee, occupied several sessions of the Committee of the Whole, and the discussions relative to their adoption were animating. After several attempts to arrange a revised code of laws, but without success, the Committee asked to be relieved and that the further consideration of the laws be deferred until the next session. By a vote of 46 to 35, the request of the Committee of the Whole was granted. REPORT OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE The report of this newly created Committee indicated much activity along the lines for which it was created, in seeking legis- lation upon the important questions involving the perpetuation of the fundamental principles of our common country. Following the plan approved by the Cabinet of the Legislative Committee, the Sub-Committee endorsed the Chandler Immigration Bill in the National Congress, and the Councils of the entire Order poured thousands of petitions into Congress praying for the enactment of a restrictive immigration measure. Under the direction of the Legislative Committee, a call for a " Patriotic Congress " was sent to the various patriotic organizations of the country to consider questions of vital importance to the Eepublic. The proposed Con- vention was set for October 10, 1893. 9 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME Under the caption " National Orphans' Home," will be found fuller presentation of the Institution, hence, in order to preserve a chronological connection, only a brief reference to the annual reports of the Committee will follow here. As this was the first report of the Committee, since its appointment, two years previous, it is copied in full, and is as follows: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 329 "Detroit. Mich., June 20th, 1893. " To the N. C, N. V. C, Officers and Members of the National Council, Jr. O.V.A. M. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — " Your Committee appointed to consider and report upon the con- struction of a Home for Widows and Orphans of deceased members, beg leave to make the report as follows: " The work of the Committee has been most thoroughly and intelli- gently performed by Bro. J. II. Zimmerman, of Plain City, Ohio, who is a member of the Committee, and he has presented to your Committee, in meeting assembled, a complete and elaborate report, consisting of fifty pages of manuscript and thirteen drawings. " Upon considering the report offered to the Committee by Bro. Zimmerman, we have, by unanimous consent, endorsed the same, and would recommend as follows: " First. That the entire report be printed and circulated among the membership, in order that all may become acquainted with this laud- able undertaking. " Second. That your Committee recommends the adoption by this National Council of the second or village plan recommended by Bro. Zimmerman. " Third. We recommend that during the ensuing year the the Com- mittee be instructed to receive by correspondence any proposal inat may be offered by any Council or Councils, as to what aid the Committee might expect of them in case the proposed Home should be located in their immediate vicinity; said proposal to be submitted to the National Council at its next meeting. " Respectfully submitted in V. L. & P., " Geo. W. Elbert, " W. R. Stroh, " J. H. Zimmerman, " D. F. Anderson." The report was adopted. Other items of business were transacted at this session as follows : 1. A form for the Public Installation of Officers was adopted. 2. By a vote of 31 nays to 21 yeas the National Body refused to concur with the report of the Committee to endorse the Daughters of America. The following proposed amendments of the Objects of the Order were presented and laid over under the rules : 1. To strike out from the First Object the words " and shield them from the depressing effects of foreign competition." 2. To create a new Object to be known as the Sixth Object, as follows: " To oppose the union of Church and State, and the appropriation of public moneys for sectarian purposes." 330 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Among the Eepresentatives in attendance at this session, and who were, subsequently, to be conspicuous in the work and history of the National Body, were Brothers P. A. Shanor, afterwards Na- tional Councilor; A. D. Wilkin, for years a member of either the Law Committee or National Legislative Committee; Z. T. Woben- smith, subsequently State Councilor of Pennsylvania, and J. K. Emge, editor of The American, all of Pennsylvania. The roll-call also revealed the presence for the first time of our genial warm- hearted patriot, P. N. O, A. L. Cray, of Indiana, at that time a Eepresentative of his State Council. The National Council closed with the following officers elected and installed: National Councilor — H. A. Kibbe, of New Jersey, National Vice-Councilor — J. G. A. Richter, of Ohio, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — A. L. Solomon, of Pennsylvania, National Warden — H. W. Cole, of Michigan, National Inside Sentinel — Dr. J. L. Cooper, of Texas, National Outside Sentinel — A. L. Chase, of Massachusetts. ASHEVILLE, N.C., 1894 The Twent}'-sixth Annual Session of the National Body con- vened at Asheville, North Carolina, June 19, 1894, and lasted four days. About 90 members were in attendance, among whom were some who have, since that time, aided largely in shaping the present policy of the Order and are well known within the circle of the National Council, viz. : Brothers Joseph Powell, of Colorado, subse- quently National Councilor; F. W. Pierson, of Delaware, also to serve in after years as the presiding officer of the body; W. Staples, of Connecticut; E. B. Dillingham, of Georgia; A. G. Bainbridge, of Minnesota; G. A. Davis, of Maryland, and F. C. Borden, of Missouri. The reports of the Board of Officers and National Secretary, showed some increase, but not to the extent as the previous two years, owing to the depression that was affecting the business and labor interests of the entire country. In the face of this, however, the Order had been planted in seven new states, and through the efficient labors of the National Organizer — Brother Stephen Col- lins — five State Councils had been instituted, viz. : California, Ore- gon, Texas, Kentucky and Georgia, making in all 27 State Councils, representing 1,763 Councils and a membership of 142,459, exclus- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 331 ive of Councils under the immediate jurisdiction of the National Council, being a gain of 137 Councils and 6,994 members. Penn- sylvania had reached its "high water-mark"" with nearly 1,000 Councils and 87,000 members. THE COMING CONFLICT The mutterings of the coming storm that was to burst forth from the black cloud of internal dissension at the " Crossing of the Centuries/' was heard at this session. The first outbreak of factional strife was in the Board of Officers over the appointment of the National Legislative Committee, National Councilor H. A. Kibbe, claiming the prerogative of choosing three of the five mem- bers. The controversy, however, was settled in his choosing two, the National Vice-Councilor selecting two, and the Junior Past National Councilor choosing one member. REPRESENTATION The purpose of a few leaders of the then dominant faction in some of the older states, principally Pennsylvania, to gain complete control of the political machinery of the National Council, led to the enactment of an amendment to the Article relative to ratio of membership in the National Body. This ratio gave to each state five representatives where the membership did not exceed 5,000, and an additional Eepresentative for every additional 3,000 mem- bers or a majority fraction thereof. This was a grave mistake on the part of the National Council, as it had the tendency to place the National Body in the control of the larger states, which had plenty of money to send a large delegation as well as being largely represented by Past State Councilors. From a sense of justice, it is well to state, that the increased ratio of representation was opposed, to a large extent, by those who, in the years of strife, composed the loyal element of the organ- ization. The marvelous achievements of Brother Stephen Collins as National Organizer, and being possessed of natural traits of leader- ship, aroused a spirit of jealousy on the part of some members of the National Body, whereupon, there was formed a cabal in the body to antagonize him which brought to his support staunch friends, especially in the Western states and a few of the Southern states, where his great work had been accomplished. Hence, the two parties in the National Council at this session struggled for 332 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER supremacy and the lines were sharply drawn, each party scoring a victory, the one electing the National Vice-Councilor, and the other securing the place for the next meeting — Omaha, Nebraska. THE NATIONAL ORGANIZER The creation of the position of National Organizer had never met with universal approval, and the opinions as to the success of the one who had served in that capacity, were somewhat at vari- ance, while the criticisms were quite frequent, the latter, however, arising from personal reasons rather than from facts. National Secretary Brother Deemer, in his report, gave a resume of the whole subject. Commenting on the question of Na- tional Organizer, he said: " I was never much of an enthusiast upon the question of a National Organizer, but I must confess that the work accomplished has far ex- ceeded my expectations." Referring to his report to the session of the National Body in 1887, in which he speaks of the measures that should be adopted whereby the Order could be advanced, which at that time had 19,816 members, Brother Deemer quotes : " ' There are some of our members who believe that this object can be attained best by the selection of an organizer, which will involve great expense to this body; far greater than any return that we could reasonably hope for. An organizer to go out in our interests must be possessed of extraordinary capacities. He must be possessed of a certain amount of assurance which would preserve him from discouragements, which would be a protection from the slurs of those among whom he would be thrown, that it was a matter of dollars and cents to him; and if after working with all zeal and accomplished little, to return home, knowing that among our own membership ihere would be those who would charge that he had a fine thing of it; that he had spent $2,000, and there was nothing comparatively to show for it. " ' Now,' adds the National Secretary, ' while I am neither a prophet or the son of one, I do not think I could have foretold the future any better if I had been endowed with prophetic powers.' " Previous to this, however, in 1883 the suggestive thought had been advanced by National Councilor Geo. H. Greenman of the practicability of engaging a " competent person " to go into locali- ties where the Order did not exist. Those who at that time of our history (1894) were prom- inently associated with the Order, can recall the unjust and pre- eminently unfair criticism hurled at the National Organizer, com- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 333 ing especially from those who in after years were the arch-leaders in the "insurrection," and to-day are no longer members of the Order. Brother Deemer then gave a resume of the work and cost of the organizers. Since the creation of the position of National Organizer, in 1891, a total amount of $18,969.02 had been raised by special tax levied, while the total disbursements were $13,485.92, leaving a balance on hand of $5,483.10 in the Organizer's Fund. Brother Robert Ogle was the first National Organizer, holding the office five months, in which time he organized three Councils and reorganized the State Council of Indiana, for which he received in salary and expenses the sum of $1,288.33. From February, 1892, to June 1, 1894, Brother Stephen Col- lins filled the position of National Organizer, with results as follows : " Nine Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Michigan. " Six Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Iowa. " Five Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Nebraska. " Eight Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Missouri. " Four Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Wisconsin. " Nine Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Kansas. " Seven Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Colorado. " Eight Subordinate Councils and the State Council of California. " Four Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Texas. " One Subordinate Council and the State Council of Georgia. " Seven Subordinate Councils and the State Council of Oregon. " Four Subordinate Councils of Minnesota. " Two Subordinate Councils of Arizona. " Two Subordinate Councils of Tennessee. " One Subordinate Council of Washington. The results of Brother Collins' work for two years and about three months was Seventy-seven Subordinate Councils and Eleven State Councils, for which he received in salary and expenses the sum of $8,026.21. The National Secretary's reports show that on December 31, 1894, the above states reported and paid tax on 5,626 members and on December 31, 1895, reported and paid tax on 11,348 members. The reports of the Finance Committee show that the National Council had received from these states in cash up to December 31, 1905. For Charter fees $1,730.00 For per capita tax 1,521.(5 I Total revenue $3,251.64 For supplies 1,155.05 334 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The report of the National Organizer to this body, embodied a resume of the field over which he had travelled during the year — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee and Georgia — and the work accomplished. Yet with all that and in face of the work done, the Finance Committee sub- mitted the following recommendation : " We recommend that the organizing tax be discontinued and the present balance in the organizing fund be merged with the general fund." Evan G. Badger and Harry Heisler, then members of the Committee on Finance, are no longer members of the organization. RITUAL The Committee on Eitual presented its report, having been assigned the duty of rearranging and improving the general con- tents of the Eitual without altering the sentiments or plan of the work. A new " camp scene " was presented, or rather the old one revised by Captain Wm. M. Awl, of Pittsburg, Pa., and the same was exemplified and adopted. Other ritualistic ceremonies and forms were submitted, acted upon and adopted. NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME The Committee on National Orphans' Home submitted its report. The previous year had been utilized in the dissemination of information, distributing the report of the Committee of the preceding year and mailing circulars to Councils requesting pledges of support in the establishment of the Home. In response to the appeal, 312 Councils out of 1,911 pledged $3,703.55, while 256 Councils acknowledged receiving the circular but made no pledge, and one Council disapproved the idea. The Committee recommended that the question of location should be settled at the next session. A new Object was submitted for consideration, but no action was taken thereon. It was as follows : " We believe that each brother should own his own home, and will encourage and assist all in rightfully procuring the same." The following amendment to Section 1, Law 1, General Laws relative to Eligibility to Membership, was offered, and agreed to by a vote of 33 to 28 : "Provided that no person who is engaged in active wholesaling or retailing alcoholic or spiritous liquors as a beverage shall be received to membership." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 335 The old question of eligibility to membership of any one with other racial blood in him outside of " white," came up for discus- sion in the way of a question, " whether a person with any African blood in him was ineligible to membership." On motion of Brother Collins, it was decided that an applicant with any African blood in him was ineligible to membership. The Councils in the District of Columbia had been under the jurisdiction of the State Council of Virginia, but the sentiment among the Councils of the District favored separation, whereupon they petitioned the National Body to repeal the laws whereby the District of Columbia was made geographically a part of Virginia and that a State Council charter be granted them. The request was honored. After a spirited contest for the officers of the National Council, the following were elected: National Councilor — J. G. A. Richter, of Ohio, National Vice-Councilor — C. W. Tyler, of Virginia, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — G. W. Nutz, of Delaware, National Warden — Fiery Toms, of Indiana, National Inside Sentinel — G. H. Burnham, of North Carolina, National Outside Sentinel — H. W. Cole, of Michigan, National Chaplain — Rev. J. R. Boblits, of Maryland. For the first time in the history of the National Body, a Na- tional Chaplain was elected, the office having been created at this session. CHAPTER XXII SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (Continued) OMAHA, NEB., 1895 THE City of Omaha, Nebraska, entertained the National Body, June 18-21, 1895. The increased representation, as per adoption at last session, made the attendance at the session the largest in the history of the National Council there being 157 present at first roll-call, 42 of whom were from Pennsylvania, 32 Representatives and 10 Past National and Past' State Councilors. Among those present who are favorably known and have been prominent in the deliberations of the National Council, were Broth- ers H. C. Schaertzer, the present National Councilor (1907) ; " Judge " H. S. Barry, Dr. H. L. Wenner and Prof. C. F. Peeves, afterwards National Councilor. The session was a lively one, judging from the numerous calls for the previous question, as well as for the ayes and nays — eleven times were the latter demanded. The reports of the Officers showed a gratifying increase in the Order, notwithstanding the stringency of the times. State Coun- cils had been instituted in the District of Columbia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Minnesota, making 30 State Councils in all. During the year Councils were organized in Maine, Idaho, Missis- sippi, Montana and Wyoming, making 10 states under the jurisdic- tion of the National Council. The statistical report, ending Decem- ber 31, 1894, showed 1,980 Councils and a membership of 153,269, a gain of 201 Councils and 9,365 members. This report did not include Iowa and Texas. The greatest gain was in Maryland, the increase being 33 Councils and 4,100 members. Owing to the unfortunate conditions in New York, represen- tation to the National Body was denied on account of the State Council failing to remit the per capita tax, and thereby was fined. In a long statement made to the National Council, the officers of the State Council explained their inability to meet their obliga- tions because of an empty treasury. They laid part of the blame for this condition of affairs to the National Council itself for sending organizers into the state whose work was so superficial as to leave the State Council a loser in the end. 336 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 337 A decision by the National Councilor on a very important mat- ter was approved by the National Body, declaring that an applicant with one-eighth Indian blood was ineligible to membership, and any one having blood in him of any other race than the white race could not be admitted. This question, however, had been settled at the last session, but it was not heeded, hence the decision. A recommendation of the National Councilor that a committee be appointed to prepare a suitable form of installation for the National Chaplain and report before the close of the session, was amended so as to read " report at the next session." The Business Sign in Eitual was stricken out owing to the fact that it was in violation of an act of Congress passed at the session of 1891, the government authorities having, during the year, seized the dies and all signs in the office of the National Secretary. The subject of an appropriation for periodicals produced a vigorous debate, while calls for the previous question and the ayes and nays were the order of the day. Buser and Raymond, of Pennsylvania, former members of the Order, were the most con- spicuous in retarding the business of the body by dilatory tactics. REPORT OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE The report of the Legislative Committee was an exhaustive one, and indicated that vigorous efforts had been put forth, not only in the National Congress, but in many of the states to enact laws in harmony with the principles of the Order. The Stone Immigra- tion Bill, requiring consular inspection of immigrants, was en- dorsed by the Committee at Washington, and the " Smith Religious Garb Bill " in Penns3dvania, as well as bills in various states for Compulsory Education, providing that the flag be displayed from public school buildings, and to prevent the defacing of the flag, were endorsed and encouraged by the Committee. A full synopsis of the legislative enactments, however, is found in another chapter under its appropriate head. The Committee consisted of F. J. Shaler, Robert Carson, W. E. Orange, R. J. Armstrong and H. J. Deily. REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZER Walter E. Orange, National Organizer for about nine months of the year, submitted his report. Notwithstanding the disadvan- tages under which he worked, his labors were fairly successful, resulting in the organization of 27 Councils and the institution of 4 State Councils, viz. : Tennessee, South Carolina, Connecticut and Ehode Island. 338 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ORPHANS' HOME The preeminent feature of the session was the report of the Committee on Orphans' Home, and the action of the National Body thereon. The year had been a strenuous one for the Committee, their work having been conducted along two different lines, both separate and distinct, viz. : Procuring a location for the Home and the money to build it. The plan outlined by the Committee early in the year was to invite proposals from various sections for the location of the Home and the inducements offered, the contest to close January 1, 1895. On account of two places not having had sufficient time to present their claims, the period was extended to February 23, 1895, at which time a meeting was held at Pittsburg, Pa., to consider the proposals and give all parties an opportunity to appear in person and represent their respective localities. Thir- teen places were presented, some of them by several proposals, as follows : Brigantine J auction, N. J.; Pipersville, Pa.; Liberty, Mo.; Gettysburg, Pa. ; Boiling Springs, Pa. ; Asheville, N. C. ; Bellwood, Pa. ; Springfield, Ohio ; Colorado Springs, Colo. ; Youngstown, Ohio ; Allentown, Pa. ; Mauch Chunk, Pa., and Tiffin, Ohio. A complete account of the meeting has been given elsewhere, but suffice it say in this connection, that the Committee rejected all proposals, except those of Boiling Springs, Pa., and Tiffin, Ohio, which places were visited by members of the Committee prior to the meeting of the National Council. Subsequently, however, the Committee agreed to submit to the National Body four recom- mendations, two of which are here given : "1. We recommend that a home for Widows and Orphans of our Order as contemplated, be established. "2. We recommend that said Home be established at or near Tiffin, Ohio, and that the Committee be empowered to make selection from the various locations offered, receive deed for the conveyance of the property in the name of the National Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics of the United States of America, and enter upon and take possession of the same in the name of the National Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics, as aforesaid, as soon as the Committee has procured assurance that it will receive and can command the sum of thirty thousand dollars, to be paid to it within two years." The discussion upon these two recommendations was animated and the passage or adoption of same was hotly contested. There was a fairly strong sentiment against the establishment of a Home at all, and upon the vote being taken on Eecommendation No. 1, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 889 the ayes were 116, nays 35. Representatives from 24 states voted in favor of the proposition to establish an Orphans' Home, and representatives from six states voted against the proposition, four of the latter divided their vote, and only two, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, were a unit in their opposition. In the consideration of Recommendation No. 2, an effort was made to amend same by having the proposition as to location sub- mitted to a vote of the membership. The vote to amend was ayes 70, nays 85. On the main question being put, the vote stood ayes, 102; nays, 51. Subsequently, before the close of the ses- sion, the Committee on Orphans' Home submitted the following as a part of their report, and the same was agreed to : " That the Committee on Orphans' Home are hereby requested to take no action in regard to the establishment of a Home for Widows until directed by the National Council." Other matters of more than general interest came before the National Body, among which were the following: 1. The Representatives from Virginia submitted a resolution that the portrait of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens be eliminated from the charter. It is scarcely necessary to record that the proposition was not agreed to by the National Body. 2. A Council in the District of Columbia wanted " to know if this Council can speak of a sectarian body that are opposed, and are working against the Fifth Object of our Order and call them by name of Roman Catholic, when speaking under ' Good of the Order/ " " In Article XIII of the Constitution it reads that ' subjects of a sectarian or partisan character shall not be introduced into any meeting of this Council.' "We are convinced that the said article conflicts with the Fifth Object of our Order, and think that w r e should speak upon the subject of the Roman Catholic Church interfering with the public school system. and other affairs detrimental to this Order and the welfare of this country." Past State Councilor H. S. Barry, of Maryland, moved to answer "yes." Upon a division being called, the vote stood 27 for and 54 against. National Secretary Deemer then moved to answer : " That the members of our Order have the right to speak of the enemies of the public schools whenever, and wherever, or in whatever form they may appear." This motion was agreed to. 340 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 3. A resolution that a committee be appointed to formulate plans for the consolidation of the Jr. 0. TJ. A. M., 0. TJ. A. M., and the P. 0. S. of A., was, on motion, laid on the table. 4. A resolution to amend the First Object was laid over under the rules. The proposed amendment is given in italics : " To maintain and promote the interests of Americans, and shield them from the depressing effects of foreign competition; but nothing in this declaration should be construed as sanctioning the political ostracism of any man of foreign birth who is loyal to the principles of our Order, and competent to discharge the duties of the office to which he aspires." The National Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : National Councilor — C. W. Tyler, of Virginia, National Vice-Councilor — P. A. Shanor, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — Dr. J. L. Cooper, of Texas, National Warden — W. A. Howard, of Nebraska, National Inside Sentinel — J. L. Ingram, of Missouri, National Outside Sentinel — J. W. Pittinger, of Indiana, National Chaplain — Rev. J. R. Boblits, of Maryland. At the time of the regular election of officers, Dr. H. E. Little- field, of Oregon, was elected National Chaplain over Eev. J. R Boblits by a vote of 81 to 66. Subsequently, Dr. Littlefield de- clined the office, whereupon, Brother Boblits was elected. The elec- tion was sharply contested, party lines having been closely drawn. Brother Shanor was elected National Vice-Councilor by a vote of 89 to 66 for his competitor, Brother Z. T. Wobensmith. The pur- pose of one party was to make the place of meeting in the East in order to secure the attendance of as many Past State Councilors as possible from the older and larger states, and at the same time to reduce the number of Bepresentatives from the Western states, owing to the lack of means to send them to the National Council, from which section the opposite party were the strongest in the National Body. The result, however, of the election for place of meeting, was with the West, Denver having received 82 votes to Providence, Rhode Island, 68. DENVER, COLO., 3896 In the beautiful Western City of Denver, Colo., in June of 1896, was held the Twenty-eighth Annual Session of the National Council, N. C, C. W. Tyler, presiding, assisted by N. V. C, P. A. Shanor. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 341 This session is noted as the most strenuous in I la- history <>i the National Body, and the two elements composing it fought inch by inch on all disputed issues and party questions. There had been friction in the Board of Officers during the year and a bitter controversy between the National Councilor and Finance Com- mittee. So intensified was the existing feeling and so marked the line of difference between the opposing forces, that scarcely had the session opened when the "battle of the giants" began, and by dilatory motions, demands for roll-call and division of the ques- tion, on the part of the minority party, the session was prolonged and the bitterness of feeling became much more intense. The roll-call showed that 168 members were in attendance. The report of the National Councilor was quite lengthy, going into details by sections and states, and gave as the actual increase for the year, in Councils, 306 ; in membership, 15,699. This numeri- cal statement was based on the strength of the reports of the Deputy National Councilors up to the time the advanced reports went into the hands of the printer. The National Secretary, however, clos- ing the report at the end of the fiscal year, December 31, 1895, made the increase in Councils, 142, and in membership, 13,141. The total number of Councils, according to the National Secretary's report, was 2,131; membership, 166,833. The total amount of receipts oif Subordinate Councils was $1,277,643.33^ and the amount paid for sick benefits was $467,138.10. HISTORY OF THE ORDER The question of the " History of the Order " was considered at this session. During the year a publisher had arranged with Brother Deemer to edit a history of the organization, which was to be combined with " Landmarks of America " and published in one volume. A copy of the "History" was presented to the National Body with the request for its endorsement and adoption as the Official History of the Jr. 0. TJ. A. M., for ten years, sub- mitting the agreement to pay a royalty of ten cents per book sold, to the National Council. The whole matter, however, was referred to the National Board of Officers to make the best possible terms with the publisher. REPORT OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE The report of this important committee was a feature of the session, a brief reference of which, however, can only be given in this connection. The Committee consisted of A. D. Wilkin,. 342 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Chairman; Stephen Collins, Secretary; Robert Carson, W. E. Orange and F. J. Shaler. The " Stone Immigration Bill," which passed the House of Representatives the previous session of Congress, had failed of passage in the Senate and the same bill was presented by Con- gressman Stone, which had the support of the Order. Early in the year the Committee entered into a vigorous campaign and blank petitions were sent to all the Councils with the request that signa- tures be obtained and forwarded to Congress. These petitions were not only signed by members of the Order, but by every one irre- spective of race, nationality, party or church affiliation. " It is the people's cause/' was the key-note of the Committee. The name of the Order or the seal of the Council was not, under any circum- stances, allowed on the petition. " They should appear as coming from citizens of the United States," was the declaration of the Committee. THE RITUAL The Ritual Committee submitted a form for the installation of National and State Council Chaplain. The report was accepted and the subject matter referred to the Board of Officers, but, strange to say, the form for the installation of the Chaplain was not adopted, and for years that blank in our installation service has been a subject of criticism. However, at the session of the Na- tional Council at Nashville, Tenn., in 1905, a form was adopted. A proposition was submitted to the National Body suggesting two higher degrees in the Order, but it was disapproved. . Resolutions bearing on the Ritual were read and laid over: 1. To abolish the F. 0. in the closing ceremony for Subordin- ate Councils. 2. To provide a State Council Ritual. 3. To provide for a three-degree Ritual. OBJECTS OF THE ORDER Amendments of the National Council Constitution relative to the Objects of the Order were presented, read and laid over, as follows : 1. "To establish or erect an Orphans' Home as a home for the orphans of the deceased members of the Order, and maintain the same," to be known as the Sixth Object. 2. To combine the Second and Third Objects as follows : " To UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 343 assist Americans in obtaining employment and to encourage them in business." 3. To make the Fourth Object the Third. 4. To add to the Fourth Object: " To establish a home for the orphans of deceased members." NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME The submission of the proposed object relative to the Orphans' Home was in conformity with the suggestion of the National Secre- tary, Brother Deemer. In his report to the National Body, speak- ing of the newly established Orphans' Home, he alluded to the dilli- culties in the way and the legal questions that had to be met, owing to the fact that the courts had decided that " no assessment could be made for any purpose not clearly expressed in our laws." Brother Deemer then adds: " As neither the care of the orphans nor the erection of an Orphans' Home is defined in our objects, nor in our laws, it is evident that the Home must be run entirely upon the voluntary system, or we must take the necessary steps to bring the institution within the scope of our work. An amendment to our charter will not meet the issue. It seems to me that it is necessary to create a new object, which must take the course laid down in our laws, after which the charter would have to be amended." That which to some had been but a dream, upon which many looked with skepticism, now was a veritable fact — the location and establishment of the Orphans' Home; hence the report of the Committee on Orphans' Home at this session was most interesting and far-reaching in its consequences. The full account of this " high-water mark " of Juniorism has already been given, there- fore, but a word here to keep up the connection with the subject. The Committee consisted of Past National Councilors J. W. Calver, G. W. Elbert, W. R. Stroh and Past State Councilor H. J. Deily.and J. H. Zimmerman. On October 3, 1895, this Committee met at Tiffin, Ohio, and selected the Bretz-Kellar farm, whereupon, an address was sent out to the Councils notifying them of the fact. One paragraph of that address should never be forgotten, as it refers to a most princely gift, without which it is scarcely possible to believe that an Orphans' Home would have been established. The paragraph is as follows : " This magnificent location of farm is given to the Order absolutely free. It don't cost us a single penny, but it does cost Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin, Ohio, the sum of Twenty-nine thousand, five hundred dollars, spot cash, and the Council then deeds it over to us ' for, 344 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER and in consideration that we take it.' What an enormous donation this for a single Council, and a Council that is not yet five years old." The Committee had already selected Brother J. H. Zimmerman as " Superintendent and Overseer of the Home " for a term of live years at a salary of $750 for the first year. The frame building on the farm was fitted up as the temporary Home and the call went out for orphans. In the meantime the contract for Cottage No. 1 was let, and work thereon was begun. The report, as submitted by the Committee, was unanimously adopted, whereupon, on motion of Brother A. D. Wilkin, of Penn- sylvania, the term " Orphans' Home Committee " was discontinued and a " Board of Trustees," consisting of five members, was created to be known as " The Board of Trustees of the Orphans' Home of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics." REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZER Brother Joseph Powell, subsequently National Councilor, was the National Organizer. Of all his predecessors, his was the hard- est lot of them all. While he did some good work in Montana, Ne- vada, Wyoming and Idaho, as new territory, comparatively, still the greater portion of his time was given to reconstruction work in states where the Order had previously been established, mainly Wisconsin and Iowa. Discord had entered the Order in these sections of the country while in the Northwest the anti-American opposition was retarding the progress of the organization. While Brother Powell did not organize as many Councils as he had hoped, owing to many unfortunate conditions that con- fronted him, still no one can say to the contrary, but that his term was full of hard, and in a large sense, discouraging work, for in performing the same, he traveled in miles equal to once around the globe. THE " NIGHT SESSION " It was at this meeting of the National Council that the famous " all night session " was held. The two elements of the National Body were very nearly equal in numerical strength, while in debate and parliamentary strategy, both sides possessed men of intellect, ability and leadership. The contest waged all through the night, the minority making motions to adjourn while the administra- tion forces had one supreme object, to save the Orphans' Home and preserve the institution. The majority party refused to adjourn, although ten times had the motion been made and ten UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 845 times it had been rejected. The purpose of the dominant party was to act upon all important questions before there should be a break in the solid phalanx of the " Old Guard," and when that was accomplished, at 4 a.m., the majority party agreed to adjourn until 1.10 p.m. same day. It was in the early morning hours of this strenuous session that the following officers were installed : National Councilor — P. A. Shanor, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — Joseph Powell, of Colorado, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — W. S. Schenck, of Washington, National Warden — D. C. Gallahan, of Kansas, National Inside Sentinel — H. G. Smith, of Kentucky, National Outside Sentinel — E. R. Dillingham, of Georgia, National C haplain — Rev. H. A. Slaughter, of Missouri. From the present standpoint, the action of the majority in persistently holding their people during the long hours of that night, not even permitting them to go out for food, may be criti- cized. To what purpose this taxing of the physical as well as men- tal powers, it may be asked? Was it a desire for supremacy upou the part of the leaders? In a sense it may have been; but an analysis of the work done demonstrates that the purposes of the leaders of the majority were higher than mere supremacy; that they were actuated by loftier ideals, the ultimate good of the organ- ization. In justice to the majority, the " stayers," it can be said that had it not been for their persistency, the pride and boast of our Order, the Orphans' Home, might have passed as a mere dream, for it was in this all night session that the " sinews of war " were voted that made the Home a fact. The minority party had strongly opposed the Home, its establishment as well as location, and that which they could not prevent at the last session they en- deavored to embarrass and cripple at this session. Hence, they resorted to all parliamentary tactics they were capable of suggest- ing in order to defeat the plans for the maintenance of the Home already established. If by delaying of action on this important question they could catch the majority without their full force on the ground, or hold the session in order that some might weary and leave, was the hope of the minority in fighting for adjourn men I during this session until the morning, when, by "wire pulling/' they might gain a few members who could be found of a vacillat- ing character, and thus defeat the grandest proposition ever pre- sented to the National Body. In view of what was accomplished, the friends of our dear Home owe a vote of thanks to those tireless 346 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER leaders who " held the fort " at Denver into the " wee small hours of the morning," for it was in those hours that the National Orphans' Home was placed upon a solid foundation. PITTSBURG, PA., 1897 The Twenty-ninth Annual Session of the National Body at Pittsburg, Pa., June 15-18, 1897, was a remarkable meeting; doubtless never in the history of the body was it so royally enter- tained. The writer of these records, at the time, resided in Pitts- burg, and was the State Councilor of the state, and in virtue of that position, was Chairman of the General Committee on Enter- tainment to receive and entertain the members of the National Council. The writer recalls the hard work that was entailed, not so much of physical energy, but the mental strain that came to him in the administration of the office of Chairman, in keeping preju- dices and party feelings subdued and preserving harmony among his own people. The entertainment of various kinds prepared for the members of the National Body was sumptuous and on a large scale ; but the climax of the whole affair was the monster parade that took place in honor of the National Council — fully 10,000 Juniors being in line. It was not only a revelation to the members of the National Body, but an inspiration to witness such an army of marching patriots in a single city. Yet it is just to state, that other cities where the National Council had and has met, to the extent of their ability, gave as royal a welcome and reception to the body as Pitts- burg, the latter place having the natural advantage of preponder- ance of membership and means over any other city in the land, outside of Philadelphia. National Councilor Perry A. Shanor presided over the National Body with a master-hand. Tall, intellectual, of commanding ap- pearance, gentle, manly and courteous in spirit, Brother Shanor exhibited fine administrative ability, and by the fairness of his rulings and the dignity that he brought to the Chair of the National Councilor, he commanded the respect even of those who, politically, were opposed to him. He was ably assisted by National Vice- Councilor Joseph Powell. The roll-call showed that more than 200 members were in attendance, representing 36 states and territories. Some " mighty men of valor" attended this session, and, although, as I write (1906), nine years have rolled away, these "giants" of the Order UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 347 are still in the van of the advancing hosts of patriots. I am constrained to name a few: Shanor, Powell, Deemer, Calver, Schenck, Dillingham, Cannon, Billany, Appleby, Pierson, Hamil- ton of Indian Territory, Cray, Reimer, Ogle, Buschman, Woods of Massachusetts, Gilcreast, Bainbridge, Armstrong, Knapp, Zimmer- man "father of the Orphans' Home," Dr. Wenner, Richter, Mc- Donald, Wobensmith, Wilkin, Collins, Weiss, Kurtz, Arthur, Cody, Shaler, Cranston, Jackson of Rhode Island, Cooper of Texas, Reeves, Sellers, Houghton, Borden, Davis, Barry, arid many others. REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS The reports of the officers of the body were replete with inter- esting facts, but space will permit of only a few. The National Councilor touched on several important questions, by way of sug- gestion. He urged legislation on the regulation of the political phase of the Order, recognizing the Order as unquestionably a political organization, yet warning the members thereof from being drawn into partisan participation, as an Order, that would be inconsistent with the objects of the organization and forbidden by its laws. National Vice-Councilor Powell suggested a revision of the Ritual " from a literary point of view or otherwise." As a sug- gestive thought, which became a fact in 1899, Brother Powell adds : " That our organic laws be so revised as to make them conform more harmoniously with our system of government, and such recognition be sought of our government as will make the Junior Order the equal, at least, of any secret organization." The report of the National Secretary was very gratifying, notwithstanding the unrest that was pervading the land, growing out of the issues of a strenuous campaign for President. In the face of these disturbing issues, Brother Deemer was able to report an increase of two State Councils, viz. : Alabama and Indian Terri- tory, 106 Subordinate Councils and 10,889 members, there being in all, 2,237 Councils in the entire jurisdiction and 177,732 members. The royalties accruing from the sale of emblems, charts and the History of the Order was quite an item in the income of the body, amounting to $2,500, $1,600 and $200 respectively. The royalty from the History showed that 2,000 copies had been sold. The report of the Finance Committee gave quite a resum6 of the controversy between the National Councilor and the Com- 348 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER mittee, on bills, etc. Whether the controversy was more of a per- sonal matter on the part of the Committee than from purely busi- ness reasons, is hard to determine from the reading of the records ; but whatever was at the root of the controversy, it was unfortunate, and in some respects, unseemly. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Previous to the opening of the National session, factional feeling ran very high and promised a warm competition for the offices of the body. The opponents of the administration, who, very largely, subsequently, became the " insurgents," had gloried in the victory at Denver, in naming Pittsburg as the place for the session of 1897, believing, with the presence of a large number of Past State Councilors from the larger Eastern states, they would win in the selection of the officers and in shaping the policy of the Order. The administration party, however, were alert and saga- cious and rallied their forces, and on the first roll-call, in which party lines were drawn, the administration won; hence in the elec- tion of officers, there was no opposition and all were declared elected, the reading clerk casting the vote of the body. The following were elected : National Councilor — Joseph Powell, of Colorado, National Vice-Councilor — Frank W. Pierson, of Delaware, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — A. A. Eskey, of West Virginia, National Warden — A. L. Cray, of Indiana, National Inside Sentinel — Geo. W. Hobson, of Pennsylvania, National Outside Sentinel — D. B. Bowley, of California, National Chaplain — Rev. H. A. Slaughter, of Missouri. RESOLUTIONS 1. A resolution to organize the colored race into a separate body, to which was attached a census enumeration of the native white and colored male population of the country for 1890, by states and territories, over 21 years of age, the total being native whites, 10,951,496; colored, 1,170,455, was offered, but was laid on the table : " Resolved, That the incoming Board of Officers are directed to apoint a Special Committee of five, who shall consider the advisability of the Order organizing, under its auspices, a separate Patriotic Order, with objects and principles similar to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and that this committee submit its report at the next session." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 349 2. Resolutions bearing on the Ritual *"ere presented. ( 1 ) For a committee to revise the Ritual. (2) The preparation of an "up-to-date" Funeral Ceremony. (3) The preparation of a Busi- ness Sign that would not be an infringement on the statute of the National government, and (4) The preparation of a 'second degree which would be more instructive and elevating than the one commonly known as the ' Oriental Degree.' " 3. A resolution to prepare a " National black-list " and all members either suspended or expelled be placed thereon, was indefinitely postponed. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME A detailed report of the Home was made by the Trustees. Seventeen pages of the Official Proceedings were filled with the cash receipts and cash donations of the Subordinate Councils and six pages with the special donations of clothing, provisions and miscellaneous supplies, while sixteen pages were given to the itemized expense account of the institution. During the year, Cottage No. 1 was constructed at a cost, including furniture, of $9,505.69. With impressive ceremonies and under the auspices of Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin, Ohio, the corner-stone was laid September 2, 1S96. The dedication of the building was conducted by the same Council, February 12, 1897, the principal address being given by Dr. L. A. Perce, State Councilor of Ohio. The first children, four in number, from Wanamie Council, No. 549, of Wanamie, Pa., were received into the Home August 18, 1896. To those were added 34 others, making 38 received during the year. It is pleasant to note, that at the end of the year, by the management of a very efficient Board of Trustees and the inde- fatigible Superintendent, Brother J. H. Zimmerman, the inven- tory of the value of everything pertaining to the Home, exclusive of the land, showed $17,874.25. A very impressive feature of the session, and it was one of the happiest moments of Brother Calver's life, was his introduction to the National Body of three of the children from the Home, who entertained the National Council with songs and recitations. The face of our esteemed Senior Past National Councilor was all aglow with joy, when, amid the most hearty applause, he retired from the Council room with his wards, realizing that by their presence. 350 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the bonds of love for the Home were made stronger in the hearts of the members of the National Body. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LAW A large number of changes in the General Laws and Consti- tution of the National Council were recommended by the Commit- tee on Law and much of the time of the body was taken in their consideration. The more important changes and amendments were as follows : 1. To add to the Fourth Object the words " Orphans' Fund," which was adopted subject to the approval of the Subordinate Councils. 2. Amending General Law 1, by a new section as follows: "Any member of this Order who shall, after August 1, 1897, engage or continue in the manufacture or wholesale or retail sale of alcohol, spirituous or malt liquors, to be used as a beverage, shall be tried on charges preferred in the Subordinate Council to which he belongs, and if found guilty, shall be expelled." 3. Amendments to reduce and to equalize representation in the National Council were introduced but the same were indefinitely postponed. 4. To amend Section 1, Art. IV, National Constitution, by striking out " and uphold the reading the Holy Bible therein," action on which, however, was indefinitely postponed. 5. That the Board of Trustees of the Orphans' Home shall be con- sidered and was declared a regular constituted Committee, entitled to be paid their expenses as other committees of the National Council. REPORT OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE This Committee, consisting of Brothers A. D. Wilkin, Stephen Collins, Rev. W. G. Cassard, James Cranston and Robert Carson, was actively engaged, through its Secretary, Brother Collins, to " line up " Congress in the interest of legislation in harmony with the objects and principles of the Order. The Committee agreed to confine their efforts to have reintroduced certain bills which had died in the last Congress, and endeavor to secure their passage and press the Immigration Bill passed by the House in May, 1896, to a successful issue in the Senate. In the face of stupendous oppo- sition on the part of the steamship companies, aided by certain mem- bers of the House and Senate, the bill passed the higher body. It was the culmination of a vast amount of labor on the part of the Committee and the Order, covering several years, and the fraternity was filled with joy at their great victory ; when lo ! their joy was short-lived, owing to the swing of President Cleve- land's "veto axe". The House however, passed the bill over the President's veto, but it failed of passage in the Senate. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 351 Other bills pressed by the Committee were: 1. "No State shall grant the right of suffrage to any person not :i citizen of the United States." 2. " Prohibiting any appropriations by the United States for sec- tarian purposes." 3. " To establish a National University." 4. " To prevent the desecration of the National Flag." The Committee also recommended to the several State Council Legislative Committees, certain bills, and asked that they be intro- duced into their respective State Legislatures. Some of these bills were the following: 1. "To provide for the purchase and display of American flags In connection with the Public School buildings of the state." 2. That text-books be furnished free by the state to the public schools. 3. To compel parents to send their children, from eight to thirteen years, to the public schools, commonly known as the "Compulsory Educa- tion Act." The following resolution, signed by 54 members of the Na- tional Body, was presented and approved : " Whereas, Military training produces subordination, discipline, healthful and graceful bearing, as well as proper feelings of relative depen- dence on our fellow-men and of Patriotism for our Country and Flag; " Resolved, That we urge all practical steps to be taken as soon as possible, to introduce into our Public School System the United States Army tactics and drill, thus providing, with small expense, an army reserve of millions of men sufficientlv prepared for any call of our Countrv and Flag." LOUISVILLE, KEN., 1898 Louisville, Kentucky, entertained the National Council at its Thirtieth Annual Session, June 21-24, 1898, National Councilor Joseph Powell presiding. There were in attendance 206 members representing 36 State Councils. The stirring events incident to the destruction of the Maine, in Havana Harbor, the declaration of war against Spain and the capture of Manila by Commodore Dewey, were fresh in the minds of the " boys " who met in this beautiful Southland city, and their patriotism was intensified. Brother Joseph Powell, the Na- tional Councilor, referring to these events, adds: " With such conditions prevailing let this, the Sovereign body of the greatest patriotic organization on the American Continent, rise equal to the occasion. Let us demonstrate to the world that our claims to pre-emi- nence are not mere nothings; but in stern reality. Let us remember the appropriate fitness of those of this body who have been summoned to the 352 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ranks beyond, and those others who have responded to the call of the Chieftain of our Nation." RECOMMENDATIONS Among the recommendations of the National Councilor were the following: 1. That the executive and judicial branches of the Order be separated, and that a judiciary be created. 2. That practical steps be taken to stop the controversy being waged as regards a Ladies' Auxiliary. 3. That the emblem be so changed that there may not be such a striking resemblance to that of Masonry. 4. That the Memorial service be rendered at this session. 5. That Brother Chas. P. Haupt, of Washington Council, No. 1, of Pennsylvania, the only one of the original members of the Order now a member, be given the honors of Past National Councilor. LADIES' AUXILIARY The question of a Ladies' Auxiliary was discussed with much animation on the floor of the National Council. As referred to by the National Councilor, the subject had been one of bitter and acrimonious controversy through the press of the Order between the friends of the Daughters of Liberty and the Daughters of America ; and to such an extent had the " battle been waged " that its influence had a deleterious effect on the organizing work in new territory. The National Councilor suggested that the only hope of stopping the controversy was to organize or create a " Ladies' Degree," to be under the control of the National Council. Upon the floor of the National Council and in the lobby of the hotel headquarters, the friends of both organizations, referred to above, were equally anxious that their favored organization should be recognized as the auxiliary to the Junior Order. Various motions were offered, discussed and lost. A substitute was offered, that a draft of a Constitution and By-laws and a Ritual be prepared for an auxiliary organization, and any one of the two ladies' organizations that would adopt said Constitution, etc., may be recognized. This substitute, however, failed of passage. In the final test as to whether the National Council would endorse the Daughters of America as the auxiliary, the vote stood, yeas, 90; nays, 99. There are many, doubtless, who may not be aware of the fact, that the splendid system of government adopted at the Minneapolis session, under which the Order is now working, was suggested, officially, at least, by our esteemed Brother Past National Coun- cilor Joseph Powell at this session. Under the head of " The UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 353 Law " in his report, following his opinion with a recommendation as given above, he says: " We have in the government of our Order, too much law by decision and resolution rather than by statute. In my mind we should adopt a Constitution and set of statutes, create a judiciary and relieve the execu- tive of its functions, and thus make the government of our Order more in harmony with the American System. Another great Order has done this, and what they can do, we oan do also." ELECTION OF OFFICERS The election of officers and the heated discussion that followed relative to the National Chaplain, occupied most of the time on the second day of the session. There was but one contest in the election of officers, that ol National Vice-Councilor. The result of the election was as follows : National Councilor — F. W. Pierson, of Delaware, National Vice-Councilor — Charles Reimer, of Maryland (by 149 votes to 57 for Fred E. Parker, of New York), National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — H. G. Smith, of Kentucky, National Warden — A. D. Wilkin, of Pennsylvania, National Inside Sentinel — W. C. Pulcifer, of Michigan, National Outside Sentinel — William Noble, of Indian Territory, National Chaplain — George W. Hobson, of Pennsylvania. Immediately after the election, the following resolution was offered by Eobert Carson, of New Jersey, which precipitated a somewhat acrimonious debate: " Resolved, That it be the sense of this National Council that here- after no member, not a clergyman, shall be eligible to the office of Chaplain of the National Council." A motion to lay the whole matter on the table having been lost, P. N. C. Shanor raised the point of order, that the resolution imposed a qualification for eligibility not warranted by law, which the National Councilor declared well taken. An appeal having been taken from the decision of the presiding officer, the yeas and nays were called, whereupon, the decision of the National Coun- cilor was sustained by 133 yeas to 57 nays. The statistical report submitted by the National Secretary showed that there were nearly 2,300 Councils and 181,000 members, a gain of 31 Councils and 2,2(58 members since the last session. THE SIXTH OBJECT The Sixth Object of the Order, now the Fourth, adopted at the last session, had been scut to the Subordinate Councils for their 23 354 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER approval or rejection. The Committee to count the vote reported as follows: VOTE ON SIXTH OBJECT ALLOWED FOB AGAINST Alabama .' 62 1 Arkansas 12 California 334 19 Colorado 665 1 Connecticut '. 120 13 Delaware 258 77 District of Columbia 338 3 Florida 34 Georgia 80 Idaho 15 Illinois 103 6 Indiana 311 Indian Territory 52 43 Iowa 57 Kansas 68 Kentucky 319 1 Louisiana 8 Maine 45 49 Maryland 3,256 937 Massachusetts 147 52 Michigan 69 4 Minnesota 160 Missouri 318 79 Montana 17 Nebraska 40 Nevada 21 2 New Hampshire 12 35 New Jersey 526 4,948 New Mexico 27 New York 275 1,117 North Carolina 205 123 Ohio 3,714 79 Oregon 32 Pennsylvania 4,908 7,825 Rhode Island 91 13 South Carolina 132 57 South Dakota 9 Tennessee 55 Texas 59 Vermont 43 57 Virginia 827 523 Washington 90 West Virginia 1,178 157 Wisconsin 16 3 Wyoming 32 Majority, 2,916. 19,140 16,224 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 855 REJECTED FOR AGAINS Massachusetts 13 Nebraska 75 New Jersey . . 317 New Hampshire !> 14 New York 20 14 Ohio 105 Pennsylvania 107 234 Texas 8 6 Vermont . . 26 Virginia 15 36 West Virginia 27 23 339 670 The above vote presents some peculiar features. The Western and Southern states, with a comparative unanimity, voted in favor of the new Object, all having given a majority, while Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey gave a large majority against the Object. Ohio, very naturally, gave a large majority in favor of its adoption. The large number of votes rejected by the commit- tee was for various reasons : No date, wrong date, no seal, no vote, but reported unanimously for or against, no seal and not reporting on proper blank. REPORT OF NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE This important committee, composed of A. D. Wilkin, Chair- man: Stephen Collins, Secretary; R. J. Armstrong, J. G. A. Rich- ter and M. D. Lichliter, was active, especially through its Secre- tary, in the interest of legislation bearing on the questions relating to the Order. Several matters occupied the attention of the Com- mittee: 1. To Prevent the Desecration of the American Flag. The bill before Congress was not satisfactory to the Committee, but a draft of a bill prepared by them was attached to their report, for which the endorsement of the National Body was asked. 2. The Committee protested against the passage of a bill per- mitting any religious sect to build houses of worship on Reserva- tions and at the military Academy at West Point. 3. The Committee endorsed a bill to amend the Naturalization Laws in the interest of Americans and American citizenship. 4. The most important work of the Committee was the quick passage, through Senator Fairbanks, of the " Lodge Bill " restrict- ing immigration. The writer recalls the courteous hearing accorded 356 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the Committee by Senator Fairbanks, Chairman of the Senate Com- mittee on Immigration, at his own home at the opening of Con- gress. The Senator requested the Secretary of the Committee to outline the views of the Order he represented, at the same time remarking, incidentally that he was " new " and " green " in the business. For a half an hour the merits of the question were pre- sented by Brother Collins, whereupon, the Senator drew from his desk a thoroughly prepared speech on the subject and read the same to the Committee showing that he had already qualified him- self for his new position. At his request the Secretary of the Committee mailed thousands of circulars and petitions to the Coun- cils, and so quick was the response of the Order, that in ten days petitions by the thousands came into the hands of Senator Fair- banks, a bushel basketful at a time, and in a very short time, to the surprise of every one, the bill passed the Senate by a large majority. The bill, however, met violent opposition in the House through the German element and steamship companies, whereupon, action thereon was deferred until the adjourned session in December. The whole subject is more fully treated in another place. To the Secretary of the Committee is due the success achieved in placing the question of immigration where it stood at the time of the National session. REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME Marked advancement in the affairs of the Home had been made. Cottage No. 2 was nearing completion to meet the demands for the admission of children. The Councils of the Order were very generous in their gifts towards the maintenance of the Home, the expenses of which for the year were $12,000. The inventory of live stock, furniture, etc., amounted to $7,647.14. From the opening of the Home until the present, according to the report of the Trus- tees, eighty children had been admitted to the care of the institu- tion, leaving, after deducting those who had been removed or taken away, sixty-six. THE RITUAL The Committee on Ritual submitted an extended report, recommending several changes in the Eitual which are given more fully in another place. The same Committee submitted a form for the opening and closing of the State Council and an Order of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 357 Business, both prepared by Brother Deerner, and they were adopted. A form for the Installation of Chaplain was adopted, but so far as the writer knows, the same was never incorporated in the Form for the Installation of Officers. The contention for a three-degree Ritual was still in the foreground, the State Council of Pennsylvania, as per recommen- dation of its State Councilor, M. D. Lichliter, having requested the National Body to have such degrees formulated. In the consid- eration of the subject, it was referred back to the Kitual Committee with instructions to have such Ritual prepared, or two Rituals, one of three degrees and one of one degree. A resolution expressing thanks to Hon. W. A. Stone, a mem- ber of Congress for championing the cause of immigration and pledging him moral support in his canvass for the Governorship of Pennsylvania, was adopted. The report of the publisher of the History of the Order showed that from June 1, 1897, to April 30, 1898, 1,812 copies of the History had been sold, leaving to the National Council $181.20 in royalty. As expressive of the patriotic emotions that stirred the hearts of the members of the National Body, the following was read and unanimously adopted: " Whereas, Our country has in the cause of humanity declared war against Spain, and the call has gone forth for volunteers to gather to the support of the flag. Therefore, be it " Resolved, That we heartily endorse the action of the President of the United States and its representatives in Congress assembled in thus resolving to drive from the Western Hemisphere the tyrant Spain. " Resolved, That we hereby pledge our loyal support to ' Our Country ' in this hour of need. " Resolved further, That we heartily endorse the appeal of our National Councilor, Joseph Powell, in his circular letter to the members of the Order under date of April 23, 1898. " G. Howell Arthur, " Jas. A. Miller, " Stephen Collins, " A. A. Jackson, " John R. Marlin, " Geo. W. Hobson, " A. D. Wilkin, " J. Russell Smith, " Cyrus S. Weiss, " M. D. Lichliter, " Sam'l S. Sibbs, " R. A. Maoill, " W. F. Knapp, '• Chas. H. Kurtz." CHAPTER XXIII SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (Continued) MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 1899 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., was the gathering point for the Thirty-first Annual Session of the National Council, June 20-23, 1S99, with National Councilor F. W. Pierson in the Chair, there being present at roll-call 185 members. In the annals of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., the Minneapolis session of the National Body, doubtless, stands forth as the most con- spicuous of any previously held or since, as from the results of the legislation enacted, there came the " parting of the ways " in the Order and the insurrection that very nearly destroyed the organ- ization ; at least crippled it for years. Here the Junior Order had reached its " high water-mark," only to be hurled back, temporarily, by internal strife that for awhile threatened the " old ship " as she tossed upon the " breakers " ; but with a hull constructed of the planks, Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism, and with good pilots at the helm and " battle scarred seaman " on deck, the craft gallantly rode the wild waves and passed through the storm, and to-day, with " Old Glory " streaming from her masthead, she sails in royal splen- dor upon a quiet sea. All honor to the leaders who stood by her in the tempest until she weathered the gale and rode forth in all her glory and power. The Credential Committee reported 37 states and territories entitled to representation in the National Body; but owing to lack of funds in some of the states, their Kepresentatives could not attend, hence only 29 states were represented at the session, While about 500 entitled to the privileges of the floor and a voice in the National Council, either as Kepresentatives or Past National and Past State Councilors, were reported eligible to admission, still only 185 of that number were in attendance. REPORTS OE OFFICERS The reports of the officers showed some advancement. The State Council of Arkansas had been instituted by the National Organizer, Brother Borden, who, during the year travelled 24,000 miles in prosecuting his work. National Councilor Pierson, with 358 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 359 pardonable pride, spoke of the great progress made in his little state of Delaware where seven new Councils had been organized and 500 members initiated. The National Secretary reported a loss from last statement of 125 Councils, there being 2,104 in all. The gain in membership was 2,677, there being a total in the Order of 183,508, making- next the highest number ever reported in the National Body. As a matter of record for the close of the century, the following tabu- lation by states and territories is given: Alabama 275 Montana 117 Arkansas 26 Nebraska 97 California 1,545 Nevada 96 Colorado 1,331 New Hampshire 1,054 Connecticut 891 New Jersey 29,307 Delaware 2,701 New Mexico 44 Dist. of Columbia... 1,671 New York 7,934 Florida 28 North Carolina 2,725 Georgia 572 Ohio 13,977 Idaho 55 Oregon 99 Illinois 701 Pennsylvania 76,967 Indiana 1,023 Rhode Island 398 Indian Territory .... 618 South Carolina 548 Iowa 147 South Dakota 30 Kansas 205 Tennessee 824 Kentucky 1,332 Texas 420 Louisiana 56 Vermont 813 Maine 471 Virginia 7,666 Massachusetts 1,231 Washington 272 Maryland 18,718 West Virginia 6,228 Michigan 291 Wisconsin 185 Minnesota 303 Wyoming 75 Missouri 1,400 The report also showed that the Councils of the entire juris- diction were worth nearly two million of dollars. An appendix gave the names of those of the Order who had gone to the front in the Spanish- American war; while the number reported was large, still it is quite clear that the report was incomplete, since no response came to the notice of the National Secretary from a great many Councils. THE NEW LAWS The most important legislation enacted at this session, and the most far reaching, and at the time thought to be most radical, was the adoption of a new Constitution and a code of laws for the organization. In his report to the National Body at Louisville, as noted in former chapter, National Councilor Brother Powell said : 360 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " We have in the government of our Order, too much law by decision and resolution, rather than by statutes. In my opinion we should adopt a Constitution and a set of statutes, create a judiciary and relieve the executive of this function, and thus make the government of our Order more in harmony with the American System." In harmony with this suggestion, the following recommen- dation of the National Councilor was adopted by the National Council : " That the executive and judicial branches of our Order be separated, and that a judiciary be created." In conformity with the above suggestion, the Law Committee, consisting of Bros. H. H. Eddy, J. A. Flint and F. W. Houghton, submitted an entire revision of the National Council Constitution and National Council Laws, following the plan of the United States system of government, the Executive, the Legislative and the Judi- cial, as we have it in the Order to-day (See page 414). In the consideration of the report of the Committee, the National Council went into the Committee of the Whole, and after sitting twice, arose and reported back to the National Body the results of their deliberations, whereupon, the revised Constitution and Laws were adopted. While the deliberations in the Committee of the Whole are not a part of record, yet it might be stated that the new laws were not agreed upon without a sharp contest. The element in the National Council not in harmony with the adminis- tration party, fought the laws bitterly, but their efforts proved un- availing, and after the most careful consideration of the revised code, section by section, in which the legal mind of Brother Smith W. Bennett, of Ohio, had full play in clearing up some of the intricate problems connected with the new laws and Constitution, they were accepted by a large vote of the Committee. History records some remarkable incidents of legal outbursts of jurists before courts ol justice, yet it is scarcely possible that these displays of quick wit and repartee could surpass those flashes of legal brilliancy that characterized Brother Bennett's replies to his opponents in the discussion of the revised code. THE BENEFICIARY DEGREE The Committee on Endowment Bank, appointed in conformity with a resolution adopted at Louisville in 1898, to investigate a suitable plan of insurance in connection with the Order, submitted their report and presented the following recommendations : UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 361 "1. We recommend that the National Council establish an insurance branch in connection with our Order, which shall be known and desig- nated as the Beneficiary Degree. " 2. We recommend that the Beneficiary Degree be managed and controlled by the National Council, through duly elected officers to be known as the ' Board of Control '." In conformity with the recommendation of the Committee, a code of laws governing the Degree were submitted, which, after being considered in the Committee of the Whole, were adopted with- out amendment, by the National Body. The Committee was a very efficient one, viz.: Dr. J. L. Cooper, A. G. Bainbridge and Dr. K. Atmar Smith. NATIONAL LEGISLATION The Committee on Legislation consisted of the following: Rev. M. D. Lichliter, Chairman, H. H. Billany, Stephen Collins, Secretary, Koger J. Armstrong, James Cranston. Owing to the excitement growing out of the Spanish-American war and the opposition of many of the leaders of Congress to the consideration of the immigration question, nothing was done. Two efforts were made to bring the issue before the House of Representatives, but failed, the last vote, however, showed but two of a majority against it, the vote being ayes, 101 ; nays, 103. A bill was submitted by the Committee, entitled " To Protect the American Flag from Insult and Desecration." The bill, how- ever, was pigeon-holed by the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, D. B. Henderson, always an opponent of the Order and true Americanism. The Committee, however, in the name of the Order, were successful in defeating the amendments to appropriate moneys for sectarian purposes in the District of Columbia. RITUAL The Committee on Ritual reported at length on the subject referred to them. The sentiment of the National Body being in favor of a three-degree Ritual, with a modified form of the same, to be used optionally, the Committee submitted a composite three- degree Ritual, prepared by P. S. C, M. D. Lichliter,of Pennsylvania, and Representative F. F. Hopkins, of Washington, with the under- standing that if the National Council adopted the one submitted. and desired a modified, or one-degree Ritual, the Committee would prepare an abbreviated version of the First and Second Degrees to be used in connection with the Third or Patriotic Degree. 362 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The Ritual presented was exemplified by the Committee, and the report of same was received. Subsequently a proposal for a statute was offered by Brother C. F. Reeves, of Washington, Chair- man of Ritual Committee, that the three-degree Ritual, as pre- sented, be adopted, with the proviso, that it be referred back to the Committee for revision, as well as the preparation of a modified form of same. The Committee on Ritual reported favorably on the statute, and a motion to adopt was made, which was substituted by a motion to so amend as to continue the Committee for another year and that they offer $500 for a Ritual, open to competition by members of the Order. The substitute was adopted and thus was shelved the much-mooted question. ladies' degree The question of a Woman's Auxiliary had been a disturbing factor in the National Council. Friends of both the Daughters of America and Daughters of Liberty had for a few years past been knocking at the door of the National Council asking for recognition of their favorite Order. At the session in Louisville, the lobbies of the hotels were used to " button-hole " members of the National Council, while at the same time much bitter feeling was created. The sentiment of the National Council was that of neutrality on the question, as there were friends of both organiza- tions in the body, and it was thought inadvisable to recognize the one to the exclusion of the other. Hence it was thought advisable to take the " middle ground " and adopt a Ladies' Degree to be under the supervision of the National Body. Pursuant to the action of the Louisville session, the Committee appointed by the National Councilor, submitted to this session of the body a code of laws to govern such auxiliary. In the consideration of same, a motion to postpone indefinitely was defeated by a vote of 42 ayes to 45 nays. On motion, however, of Brother Smith W. Bennett, the report of the Committee was laid on the table. Subsequently, the following was presented, and was adopted by ayes, 89, nays, 68, and the same was referred to the State Councils for approval : " We hereby propose the following, to be known as Article 15, of the National Council Constitution: " The National Council may by law provide for a Woman's Auxiliary." The Trustees of the Orphans' Home in their report stated that Cottage No. 2 had been completed and other improvements made. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 363 During the year another change in the Superintendency was made, Brother J. R. Boblits resigning and Truman W. Varian being elected in his place. The second death in the Home occurred dur- ing the year, that of Luella Vanarsdale, known as No. 1, she being the first one to be admitted to the institution. Her death occurred on October 19, 1898. The number of children in the Home April 30, 1899, was 84, being an increase of 18 during the year. The inventory of the Home showed a valuation of $62,877.20. Following the adoption of the revised Constitution, the first amendment to same was presented, having in view the change of name to " United Americans." As required by the new laws, the ayes and nays were called, there being 118 votes in favor of the proposed change and 21 against. The question was then referred to the several State Councils for approval or rejection. After a busy and strenuous session, during which time the " mutterings of the coming storm " were heard from the malcon- tents, the National Council came to a close with the following offi- cers for the ensuing year: National Councilor — Charles fteimer, of Maryland, National Vice-Councilor — Charles F. Reeves, of Washington, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — J. A. Shields, of Nebraska, National Warden — James A. Miller, of Pennsylvania, National Inside Sentinel — H. J. Shannen, of Georgia, National Outside Sentinel — E. W. Sellers, of Wisconsin, National Chaplain — Rev. C. A. G. Thomas, of North Carolina. We shall in this connection refrain from making any com- ments on the proceedings and ultimate results of the actions of this session, as we have more fully referred to the session as furnish- ing some of the alleged causes for the " split " in the organization. Suffice it to say, that in the controversy the most bitter animosity was engendered, and it is possible that the dominant party carried out their measures with too strong a hand, having a large majority of the body with them. Party spirit ran high, the blood coursed rapidly in the veins, and although sincere in their deliberations, it is pretty generally conceded now as time has cooled the ardor and quenched the fire of party strife, that if both sides were to pass through the same struggle to-day there would be a different result. How different the spirit now between the Blue and Gray more than two^score years after Appomattox, than it was then when brother against brother, each feeling that ho was in the right, fought eacli other to the death on the bloody battle-field. To-day the memories 364 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER of the past are swallowed up in the patriotism of the present. The " hloody angle " on Gettysburg's gory field where the noble and brave Armisted reached the " high water-mark " of the Con- federacy and fell, surrounded by hundreds of as brave men as ever carried a musket or wielded a sword, there at that same spot, 43 years after, the remnants of Pickett's undaunted legions and those of Pennsylvania's heroes who met them with sword and bayonet, held a reunion, at which time the widow of the brave Pickett, like a white dove of peace, was the most conspicuous guest of the " Boys in Blue " ; and there in the quiet of a September day the sword of Armisted that fell as a trophy to a Northerner, was relinquished and returned to the " Boys in Gray " who sur- vived that terrible day, as the followers of their devoted chieftain. Is it too much to anticipate that the bloodless chasm made at the Minneapolis session may yet be bridged by the planks of Vir- tue, Liberty and Patriotism, and some " glad day " the foemen, who, in 1899, crossed lances in party strife, may meet at the same city representing an army of 300,000 patriots, in a blessed reunion, speaking not of the past, only of its victories, and joining hand and heart in one solid phalanx for the battle of Armegeddon that is to be fought and won. PHILADELPHIA, PA., 1900 The Thirty-second Annual Session of the National Council, pursuant to the call of the National Councilor, was held in the City of Philadelphia, June 19-21, 1900, with National Councilor Charles Reimer in the Chair, assisted by N. V. C, C. P. Reeves. With the exception of the last session at Minneapolis, when the legislation enacted was to have a mightier influence than that of any previous session of the National Body, the session held at Philadelphia will go down in history as the most important in the annals of the Order. The organization was in the throes of rebellion, and was fighting for its very life against the most unreas- onable conspiracy ever concocted in any fraternal association; hence this National session stands out as conspicuously important, for here the National Council was enabled to ratify all that was done at Minneapolis, and to forever establish the body as the Supreme Head of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics of the United States of North America. As the subject has been more fully treated in another chapter, only a brief reference can be made in this connection to those UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 365 stirring scenes in this critical hour of the Order, when the hearts of loyal men trembled for their beloved organization. The question having been raised by the " insurgents " that the Minneapolis session of the National Council was illegal, claim- ing that the charter did not permit the National Body to meet be- yond the boundaries of the State of Pennsylvania; and this position having been affirmed by the Dauphin County Court of Pennsylvania thereby jeopardizing all legislation of the Minneapolis session, in fact that of every session previous to 1899, held outside the state, the National Councilor issued a proclamation changing the meeting of the body from Detroit, Michigan to Philadelphia, Pa. In the meantime the attorneys for the National Council had ap- pealed from the opinion of the lower court to the Supreme Court of the state, thereby leaving all issues undetermined as well as unimpeded as promulgated at Minneapolis. Following the report of the Credential Committee, the first action of the National Council was the enactment of a statute, by a vote of 183 ayes and no nays, as follows: "A RESOLUTION " Title — Ratifying, Approving, and Confirming, all and every, the Proceedings, Acts, Resolutions, Elections, Laws, Decisions, Decrees, the Incorporation of the National Council, and Amendments thereto at any time heretofore made and done by this National Council. "Be it Resolved by the National Council, Junior Order United Amer- ican Mechanics, That, " Whereas, the Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County of Dauphin, on or about the tenth day of March, 1900, entered a decree in certain proceedings held therein at the suit of Derry Council vs. the State and National Councils, Junior Order United American Mechanics, declaring illegal and invalid, null and void, all acts and proceedings, ordinances and laws, had and enacted, at Minneapolis, by the National Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics of the United States of North America; and " Whereas, The sole ground for the decision and decree thus made was by reason of the adoption thereof at a session held beyond the State of Pennsylvania, and for no other reason; and " Whereas, Nearly all the sessions of the National Council have been held without objection or protest on the part of any one at places beyond the State of Pennsylvania : and " Whereas, It is the desire to remove any and all doubts of the legality of the actions of the National Council, and in an endeavor to comply with the mandates and decrees of said Court, and to remove any doubt as to the constitutionality of such laws, ordinances and acts, that the National Council in convention assembled at Philadelphia hereby adopts, ratifies, approves and publishes, all and every, of the proceed- 366 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ings, acts, election of officers, resolutions, laws, decisions, and decrees, at any time heretofore made or done by this National Council whenever and wherever assembled, whether in the State of Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia, or at any other time or place, whether in general and special session, with the same force and effect as though the same were herein particularly, especially and at length set forth, including its incorporation by the Court of Common Pleas No. 3, of Philadelphia, on the tenth day of April, 1893, and the amendments thereto to the end and intent as though the same had been truly passed, made and adopted, at a session of the National Council held in the City of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania." We have deemed it best to present to the thousands of readers of this volume this valuable paper, which is worthy to be preserved in the archives of the Order. It is quite apparent that in the struggle for the life of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., that the organization was fortunate in having legal talent, both in and out the Order, of the highest character, and although the cost to maintain the legal battle for years was large, yet it was a necessity to employ the very best legal ability. Pending the consideration of the resolution, it was withdrawn and offered as a statute as noted above, and then reoffered as a resolution and passed unanimously, thus making the action doubly secure. Protests emanating from the " insurgents " of New Jersey, New York, District of Columbia, Virginia and Pennsylvania were presented to the National Body claiming that the call for the session at Philadelphia was illegal and contrary to law, and at the same time reciting their wrongs at the hands of the National Council. The following paper signed by the Representatives, Past National and State Councilors, representing the insurgent element of the states noted above, was read and referred to the Law Committee: " To the Officers and Members of tihe National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M., U. S. A. " Greeting. — "Whereas, This session of the National Council of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, is in our opinion, an illegal one in that the call for the same is without warrant in law; therefore, be it " Resolved, That all and every one of the States represented in the fight against the grievances existing in and emanating from the said National Council do hereby protest against the holding of said session in the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania on June 19, 1900, or any other day subsequent thereto." The Executive Committee of the said insurgent states, in two lengthy preambles and sets of resolutions, presented their grievances, stating, if redress was secureo 1 and a proper adjustment UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 367 of the grievances named was made, that they were willing to resume relations with the National Body. The following were the griev- ances they wished adjusted to their way of thinking: "First. By abolishing all laws adopted at the session held at Minneapolis, Minn., in June, 1899, and all other acts growing out of the adoption of said laws. " Second. By amending the laws that were in force prior to June, 1899, so as to give the five states and all other states just representation, according to membership and taxation. " Third. By discontinuing the appropriations to the so-called peri- odicals of the Order. " Fourth. By amending the laws so as to abolish the position of National Organizer; to discontinue the position of Special Organizers, except in case of absolute necessity, and then only those known to possess unquestioned ability and experience. "Fifth. By discontinuing a Secretary of the National Legislative Committee with a salary attached, and place the duty of said Secretary, upon the National Secretary, without additional pay. "Sixth. To appoint none but duly accredited National Representa- tives, upon any and all committees of the National Council. "Seventh. To reduce the per capita tax commensurate with intel- ligent and economical administration of the affairs of the Order. " Eighth. That the National Council shall be purely a representative body, and of absolute limited powers." The session was one of action more than of words. The absence of acrimonious controversy upon the floor of the National Council was owing to the fact that only the administration party, the " loyalists/' were represented, the malcontents having, by their own act placed themselves on the outside. The principal work of the session was the proposal of statutes and action on the same, amending certain sections of the National Constitution and Laws, as adopted at Minneapolis, where defects were discovered. In jus- tiee to the leaders of the administration party and as expressive of the spirit of conciliation shown, many of the amendments adopted were along the line of points suggested by the "insur- gents " in their list of grievances, as will be shown. Every effort to conciliate the offending members was made, and so far as it comported with the dignity and honor of the National Body, the " olive branch " was extended, but to no purpose, as the sequel shows. One of the grievances advanced by the seceding element against the dominant party was the fact of extravagance and the absence of the spirit of economy. In the spirit of conciliation, and as meaures of redress, the National Council enacted several statutes along the line of "economy," trusting the erring brethren would 368 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER return when they observed the good intentions of the loyalists, but it had no effect upon them. As an " olive branch," the leaders of the dominant party suggested and enacted legislation that affected some of their closest friends, and yet the offending party did not return. Much that had been done at Minneapolis that was advanced as the cause of the insurrection, was undone at Philadelphia, yet harmony came not. The following statutes were enacted along the line of economy and harmony : 1. Changing the ratio of representation of the National Coun- cil from three Eepresentatives from each State Council, with an additional Representative for every ten thousand members or a majority fraction thereof, to that of the present ratio of represen- tation, which is one Representative from each State Council where the membership is less than five hundred, etc., etc. 2. Reducing the National Legislative Committee from five to three members. 3. Eliminating entirely the Committee on Transportation. NATIONAL COUNCILOR'S REPORT The report of the National Councilor, Brother Charles Reimer, was an exhaustive resume of the issues confronting the organization ; while at the same time it was permeated with a kind and brotherly spirit towards those who had seceded, which indeed was a marked feature throughout his entire administration as an executive officer. During the year the National Councilor had received various communications from the aggrieved element asking him to call a special session of the National Council for the purpose of con- sidering the controversies existing, but he declined to act upon their request; at the same time, however, he very cordially agreed to lay before the Supreme Body any and all grievances they would submit, and requested them to send their Representatives to the session at Philadelphia to present their complaints. In comment- ing on the " olive branch " he had extended, Brother Reimer says : " Although they are not entitled to admission by the non-payment of the National Council per capita tax, it is my opinion they should, nevertheless, be granted admission, and I most respectfully urge that the National Council extend them the privilege." Knowing the spirit of conciliation that permeated that session, and the desire of the leaders for harmony in the ranks, it is just to state that had the Representatives of the offending and aggrieved element been sent to this session, though not legally entitled to UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 369 admission, that the wishes of Brother Reimer would have been granted without a dissenting vote, and they could have had the floor to present their complaints. It might be proper in this con- nection to state that charges of insubordination had been preferred against the State Councils in insurrection and their charters sus- pended, pending a hearing before the National Judiciary. Hence, the hearty invitation of the National Councilor to the Representa- tives of those states to be present and to present their protest on the floor of the National Council, showed the broadest magnanimity on the part of Brother Reimer. As was to be expected, the statistical report showed heavy losses both in Councils and members, there being 1,664 Councils loyal to the National Body, and 143,077 members, making a loss in Councils of 500 and in membership of 43,645. The net gain, however, in the loyal states of members was 2,836. The storm that gathered about the Junior Order at this time, affected none so greatly as the two patriarchs of the organization, Brothers J. W. Calver and Edw. S. Deemer, who, from the infancy of the organization had been intimately associated with it, not only in their own State Council of Pennsylvania, but in the National Body, their membership in the latter body dating from its institu- tion. Referring to the issues of the present controversy, Brother Deemer had but little to say, but what he did say indicated a deep feeling gushing forth from a loyal heart, grieved by the situation. Concluding his report, he says : " I ask your serious and careful consideration of this condition of affairs. An active membership, and official position of over 40 years in this organization, I cannot but look upon it with fear and trembling. Shall the work of 40 years go for naught, or shall we not rather extend the olive branch and ascertain whether a spirit of compromise and con- ciliation will not be better, than to widen the breach until disunion is an accomplished fact." CHANGE OF NAME The amendment adopted at Minneapolis proposing change of name to " United Americans " having been sent to the various State Councils, had been recalled by the National Councilor and action thereon deferred until the meeting of the next session of the Na- tional Body. The reason for the recall of the proposed amend- ment grew out of the fact that the National Councilor's attention had been called to the existence of an organization known as " Order of United Americans," instituted February 19, 1895, and incor- porated in 1896, the officers of which organization had announced 24 370 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER their purpose of resisting the proposed amendment to change the name from Jr. 0. TJ. A. M. to the one suggested. However eight State Councils had already acted upon the proposition prior to the recall of the amendment. Two of the State Councils, Indiana and Missouri, had favored the change, while six, District of Columbia, Ilinois, Maine, New York, Oregon and West Virginia, voted against the proposed amendment. NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME The Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, notwithstanding the dissensions in the Order, reported that the work of the Home, though somewhat crippled from lack of funds, was progressing, and that not a child had been turned away from the institution nor was any one refused admission thereto, notwithstanding children of rebellious Councils were in the Home, which Councils, with brazen audacity, had refused to pay their tax to help support the little ones of their own deceased members. Such children, with perfect consistency, could have been returned to the care of their home Councils, but a magnanimous Board of Trustees never gave thought to such an alternative, even when embarrassed financially. Some necessary improvements had been made during the year and a greenhouse, the gift of the Allegheny County (Pa.) Picnic Association, had been completed. The old farmhouse, a log build- ing, had been destroyed by fire as well as the washhouse standing nearby. The Home was to experience another change in Superinten- dency, T. W. Varian resigning and Brother Geo. B. Nesbitt, of Pittsburg, Pa., having been elected in his place. The Home met with a great loss in the death of one of its Trustees, John E. Marlin, of Pennsylvania, whose passing away was regretted, not only by his own State Council, but by the National Body. The re- port of Dr. Wenner, the Home physician, showed that there had been but few cases of illness and not a single death. The inventory of the institution showed a valuation of $65,770. The following crops were harvested from 57 acres: Wheat, 500 bushels; corn, 840 bushels ; oats, 470 bushels ; potatoes, 330 bushels, and hay, 60 tons. Among the minor items of business considered in the National Council, the following may be named : 1. The vote of State Councils to adopt a Woman's Auxiliary, as per amendment at the Minneapolis session, resulted in 14 voting in favor and 8 against. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 371 2. During the year an agreement was entered into between the Board of Officers and the American Publishing Company of Pittsburg, Pa., by which The American was to be published under the direction of the National Council, which contract was con- curred in by the National Body, by a vote of 89 to 30. 3. A resolution was offered and referred to the Committee on Ritual, with instructions to revise the Funeral Ceremony so as to make it comport with the dignity and standing of the National Body. 4. A proposal for a statute was submitted to change the Ritual by inserting the Freeman's Oath, which was referred to the Com- mittee on Ritual. A favorable report having been returned, the National Body, by motion, laid the matter over one year. The; same action was taken on the resolution as above referred to. 5. The following proposal for a statute was adopted by a vote of 153 to none against: "That the Declaration of Principles be amended so as to read : ' We recognize the Bible as the fountain of both moral and civil law, and believe that it should be read in our public schools, not to teach sectarianism, but moral excel- lence.' " 6. The Special Committee on Ritual appointed at the last session submitted their report, stating that owing to the strife in the Order, and not having funds to offer the prize of $500 as allotted by previous session, for the best Ritual, deemed it inadvisable to ask for the preparation of a new Ritual, but recommended that a Special Committee be appointed for another year, expressing their opinion that a new Ritual was needed. The report was accepted, but the National Council disagreed with the recommendation of the Committee as to the appointment of a Special Committee, another evidence of the spirit of economy that prevailed in the National Body. 7. As another evidence of curtailing expenses, a statute was adopted by a vote of 98 to 60, to provide biennial sessions of the National Council. Relative to the question of biennial sessions of 1he National Council, it might be stated in this connection, that the amendment had been offered by Brothers Stephen Collins, of Penn- sylvania, and W. J. Davis, of Maryland, and in the vote subse- quently taken by State Councils 8 states, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minn., Mass., Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee voted in favor of the amendment while 17 states voted against it, with 8 states not voting. At the St. Louis session Brother Collins 372 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER offered a similar amendment which was incorporated in the report of the Committee on Law. This was adopted by ayes, 102, nays, 11. The proposed amendment was then submitted to the State Councils and was concurred in, only four voting against it, viz., Indiana, Ohio, Vermont and Washington. By the adoption of the amend- ment there is being saved to the Order fully $7,000 every alternate year, or 4 cents per capita. The report of mileage and per diem was as follows : Number of officers entitled to mileage and per diem. 10 Number members of committees 28 Number Representatives 120 Amount mileage and per diem due officers $455.30 Amount mileage and per diem due committees .... 1,227.75 Amount mileage and per diem due Representatives. . 7,244.07 Total $8,926.12 The election of officers was the most peaceful and unanimous known in the history of the National Body, there not being a single contest. The officers were as follows: National Councilor — Charles F. Reeves, of Washington, i National Vice-Councilor — A. L. Cray, of Indiana, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — Geo. A. Gowan, of Tennessee, National Warden — C. O. Bohrer, of District of Columbia, National Inside Sentinel — John H. Noyes, of New Hampshire, National Outside Sentinel — A. A. Jackson, of Rhode Island, National Chaplain — Rev. C. A. G. Thomas, of North Carolina. BUFFALO, N. T., 1901 The Pan-American Exposition was the inducement, from a financial standpoint, for the National Council to select Buffalo, N. Y., as the meeting place for the Thirty-third Session of the body, which was held June 18 and 19, 1901. One hundred and forty-three members were in attendance at roll-call. One " insur- gent," a P. N. Representative of Pennsylvania, had the audacity to remain in the hall when all not entitled to remain had been requested to retire. His retirement was then requested by the National Councilor. Other " insurgents " hovered about the hall for the purpose of alienating those in the National Body who had any sympathy with the movement that had divided the Order. The greater portion of the session was taken up in the consider- ation of the unfortunate conditions existing, arising from the dis- sensions in the organization. Much of the reports of the officers was along that line presenting the various phases of the controversy, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 373 while the report of the National Judiciary showed that the erring State Councils had been judicially dealt with. The reversal of the lower court by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, declaring that the laws enacted at Minneapolis were valid, and that the National Council was Supreme, thrilled the entire organization, and proved decisively that the National Council was the Supreme Head of the Order in the United States of North America. The State Council charters of New York and Virginia had been revoked during the year, but new State Councils were at once organized in the same jurisdictions. Among the recommendations of National Councilor, Brother C. F. Reeves, were the following: " 1. I would recommend that the incoming Board of Officers be instructed to submit a plan for the editing and publishing of a journal in the interest of the Order by the National Council. " 2. I would recommend that the compensation of the Secretary of the National Legislative Committee be made $G00 and expenses, and com- pensation for any other services be determined by the National Board of officers. " 3. I would recommend that the term of the National Councilor be made at least two years, with a view to so arranging that he shall give all his time to supervising the work of the Order. " 4. If the National Board of Officers is to have any responsibility in the Orphans' Home affairs, I would recommend that hereafter the Board consist of the National Board of Officers, and two additional mem- bers elected by the National Council for a term of two years each. Or otherwise, that the Orphans' Home Board be elected by the National Council instead of being appointed by the National Board of Officers, as at present. Recommendation No. 1 was approved. Recommendation No. 2 was made $900 by the action of the Committee on Finance, which was adopted by the body. Recommendation No. 3 was dis- approved. Recommendation No. 4 was referred to the Law Com- mittee. The exhibit of the National Secretary showed a still greater decrease in Councils and members from the report of the year previous. The reasons for this downward trend are well known to the organization. Rebellion had rent the Order and entire State Councils had been placed without the pale of the organization, while in Pennsylvania a large number of Subordinate Councils had had their charters revoked. Among the loyal Councils there was in some sections a " stand still " owing to the unrest in the fraternity, and even within the National Body there was arising strife, and two parties were again seeking the ascendancy. As the closing of the century, 1899, was next the " high 428 Arkansas 252 1,189 Colorado 935 919 374 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER water-mark " of the Order, numerically, the opening of the new century witnessed the " low water-mark " of the organization, as the result of the dissension, but with an upward rising of the tide. The following is the exhibit by states : Minnesota 150 Missouri 932 Montana 40 New Hampshire 908 North Carolina 4,511 Delaware 3,361 Ohio 15,935 Dist. of Columbia ... 337 Oregon 40 Georgia 1,406 Pennsylvania 34,072 Idaho 90 Rhode Island 497 Indiana 1,369 South Carolina 773 Indian Territory .... 219 Tennessee 1,922 Kansas 145 Texas 200 Kentucky 2,531 Vermont 674 Louisiana 49 Virginia 2,659 Maine 1,096 Washington 169 Maryland 18,759 West Virginia 6,009 Massachusetts 985 Wisconsin Ill Michigan 114 The recapitulation and comparison with the report of previous year showed that there were 1,272 Councils, a loss of 388; member- ship, 103,783, a loss of 36,974. The aggregate loss was 45,188, but this number was reduced by the aggregate gains of the year amounting to 8,214, Ohio leading with 1,347 and Tennessee fol- lowing close with 1,163. The most stupendous loss over the report of 1899, was in value of Subordinate Councils amounting to about $1,000,000. The Trustees of the Orphans' Home reported disbursements of $33,000, while an inventory of the value of the Home showed $69,902. Fourteen children had been retired or graduated, 14 admitted, leaving 92 in the institution. woman's auxiliary The contention as to a Woman's Auxiliary was still unsettled, notwithstanding a majority of the State Councils had approved of the creation of such a body. The subject was brought before the National Council for consideration by the following resolution : "Be it Resolved by the National Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, that the Daughters of America be and is hereby adopted as the official auxiliary of this Order." The Committee on the Good of the Order returned the resolu- tion with a negative recommendation " owing to the fact that cer- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 375 tain high officers of the above Association (Daughters of America) are not members in good standing in the Jr. 0. U. A. M." This was followed by another resolution, which was as follows: " Be it Resolved by the National Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., that the Daughters of America is hereby recognized as the auxiliary of this body, and further that all male members of the Daughters of America shall be members in good standing in the Jr. O. U. A. M." Past State Councilor Dr. Wenner, of Ohio, moved to approve and that it become effective when the Daughters of America purge themselves of all members disloyal to this body. The resolution, however, was laid on the table " until they do so purge themselves." This action was followed still further by a resolution, which was agreed to, " that as a further condition of acceptance " that the said Daughters of America should first amend their laws so as to conform to the General Laws of the Junior Order and yield con- trol and give obedience to the National Council. RITUAL The subject of Kitual came up in the form of a recommenda- tion, that a three-degree Eitual, with a modified form of same, be prepared, and that a Special Committee be appointed to formulate such Eitual. The recommendation was approved, with the amend- ment, that the matter be referred to the Board of Officers with the authority to select a competent person to write a Eitual acceptable to them. A motion subsequently made to reconsider the above action, however, failed. The session was largely taken up with the consideration of a code of laws for the Funeral Benefit Department, adopted at the session and the regulation of the Beneficiary Degree, and placing these two important features of the Order on a more solid basis. Brother Stephen Collins was appointed Secretary-Manager of both Departments. The mileage and per diem amounted to $6,211.55. The business of the session closed with the installation of the following officers : National Councilor — A. L. Cray, of Indiana, National Vice-Councilor — George B. Bowers, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — D. B. McDonald, of Ohio, National Warden — W. H. Kelley, of Arkansas, National Inside Sentinel — A. B. Horney, of North Carolina, National Outside Sentinel — W. H. Wood, of Maine, National Chaplain — Rev. M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania. CHAPTER XXIV SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (Continued) MILWAUKEE, WIS., 1902 HE Thirty-fourth Annual Session of the National Council, held in Milwaukee, Wis., June 17-19, 1902, was presided over by National Councilor A. L. Cray, there being 131 members present. The session was somewhat animated, and at times much bitter- ness was manifested owing to the spirit of antagonism that, unfor- tunately, had invaded the National Body to destroy its peace and harmony. The contest for officers was spirited, the forces being nearly equal. The " feeling " against the administration party was augmented by the " insurgents " sent to the seat of the Na- tional Council to scatter the fire-brands of dissension more widely throughout the Order, in the hope of dividing the loyal body and ultimately to place the reins of power in the hands of the seceding body. The purposes of the insurgent leaders, however, were de- feated and the administration party maintained its position in the conflict still raging in the organization. The " rank and file " of the organization, far removed from £he " smoke of battle," at this time were somewhat bitter in their denunciation of some of the leaders of the loyal wing of the organ- ization for so tenaciously maintaining the honor and dignity of the Supreme Head of the Order by not permitting a wholesale return of the disgruntled element without due contrition upon their part. Only those who were in the midst of the fray can realize what efforts, even within the National Body, were made to get the control of the organization, in order that the sympathizers within, abetted by the paid " agents " of the insurgents who were " hanging around " on the outside, might formulate concessions to the seceding element, that, judging from the sentiments expressed, would have been far from honorable, and would have undone all that had been achieved up to that time. Beaten by the courts and defeated on every hand, still the insurgent party were none the less determined to get control of the National Body, and had sent their " agents " to the dissatisfied states, stilZ loyal, to stir up opposition to the administration, and having made some headway, they followed up 376 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 377 their work at the National session, as above referred to, even lying on the steps of the stairway of the hall where the meeting was being held awaiting the result of the ballot in the election of the officers of the National Body. When the result was in favor of the administration, these "agents" skulked away like whipped wolves and never thereafter did they trouble the National Council with their presence until at the Boston session of 1907 when they were in evidence. Instead then of condemning the leaders of the organ- ization, they should be commended for " standing by their guns " when the Order was fighting for its existence. None were more desirous to receive back the disloyal element of the organization than they and the "olive branch" had been extended, but the leaders could not accede to the return of the insurgents as a body on their own terms, for those terms and conditions, as stipulated in their protests presented at the Philadelphia session, meant a drawn sword and an entire change of the policy of the organ- ization and the elimination of those who had stood for loyalty and the right. To-day as harmony prevails in the ranks of the loyalists, some of those even in the National Body who, during the earlier years of the controversy, opposed the policy of the administration now " see eye to eye " and some have admitted that they miscon- strued the purposes of those who were in the vanguard of the struggle. Leaders may make mistakes in the "heat of battle" when the blood is hot, and passion is stirred, yet it is just to state that the men who were conspicuously active in reshaping the organ- ization when rebellion within was rife, are now recognized in their true light and have the confidence of the brotherhood. The National Councilor, Brother Cray, in his report referred naturally to the existing conditions of the Order at this time. Dur- ing the year the insurgents had made an effort to obtain the names and addresses of the Secretaries of the Subordinate Councils for the purpose of still further widening the breach, if possible, throughout the jurisdiction by the distribution of false statements relative to the trouble in the organization. The National Coun- cilor, wide-awake to the plans of the insurgents, promptly notified the State Council Secretaries to refuse the request. Referring to the spirit that was being manifested in the loyal ranks, Brother Cray has this to say: " I am aware that most of the members of this National Council have heard of the results in the States of New York and New Jersey. The courts' findings have been favorable to us in both cases, and, notwith- 378 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER standing the further fact, that in every single instance the cause of the loyalists have been upheld by the courts so far, there are members of our Order, and some who hold membership in this National Body, that seem to be willing to retrace or retard our progress along this line and make further concessions to those disloyal, when they must know that new suits or suit have been filed against us during the present year. Candidly does this look as though the extending of the ' Olive Branch,' as suggested by some, would ever bring the Order together again? Have we not tried it, and is not the result a matter fresh in the memory of all? " While I very much deplore the expenditure of our Order's finances for legal services, yet what else can we do? I invite those who can, to present a stable cure for the whole evil and affliction, and let us as brethren assist in the restoration of our Order in each and every state to a health- ful and loyal condition." The National Councilor submitted but four recommendations, one of which was as follows : " Third. I would recommend that there be appointed a suitable person to prepare a new Ritual, to be presented at the next session of the National Council for adoption." The recommendation, however, was referred to the Eitual Com- mittee, as was also a recommendation of the Board of Officers along same line, suggesting an appropriation sufficient to secure some competent person to prepare such Eitual. Subsequently, the Eitual Committee reported on the recommendations, disapproving the selection of one person to formulate Eitual, as per recommendation of the National Councilor, but in lieu thereof, suggested that a Special Committee of three be appointed with full power to pre- pare a three-degree Eitual or arrange for its preparation. In the consideration of the Committee's suggestion, it was disapproved by the National Body and the recommendation of the National Councilor was adopted. The Statistical report of the National Secretary was full of hope and encouragement. Since the last report there was a gain in Councils of 42 and in members 6,311, there being 1,314 Councils and 110,097 members. The value of Subordinate Councils in- creased $171,321.48. The report of the Orphans' Home was satisfactory, establishing the fact that the Trustees were business men, they having conducted the business affairs of the Home conscientiously and economically. Every dollar of debt had been paid and every penny of the expense of the institution had been met. Brother Charles H. Kernan had been selected Superintendent which, as subsequent events show, proved a very wise selection. Under his management the children of the Home were taught in the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 379 institution instead of sending them to the public schools located some distance away. Several minor innovations were inaugurated that were of advantage to the Home, among which were the system of accounting for all the products of the farm and the uniforming of the children. During the year the foundation of the Industrial School, to be furnished by the Allegheny (Pa.) County Orphans 3 Home Association, was laid. The Superintendent's report showed that 25 children had been admitted to the Home, 12 retired and there was one death, leaving in the institution 104. The total inventory of valuation was placed at $70,216. BENEFICIARY DEGREE AND FUNERAL BENEFIT DEPARTMENT Under the efficient management of Brother Stephen Collins, Secretary-Manager, these two features of the Order made advance- ment, especially the Funeral Benefit Department, which had been in operation but eight months at the time the report was made. During the year 100 certificates had been written in the Beneficiary Degree, representing $119,500 in risks, making a total to date of 502 certificates that had been written representing $604,000; and deducting the lapses, there remained 415 certificates representing $512,000. The report of the eight months of the Funeral Benefit De- partment surpassed by far the most sanguine expectations of its projectors. During that period 312 Councils had been enrolled, representing 32 states, making a membership in the Department of 21,152. Deaths occurring in the eight months numbered 41, upon which claims were paid amounting to $10,250, leaving a balance on hand as follows: Expense fund, $2,101.80; Special fund, $2,897.66, or a total of $4,999.46, which represented the cash assets of the Department. PEACE PROPOSALS There existed in the National Council a strong sentiment in favor of making peace with the insurgent element, even at a sacrifice of the dignity of the National Body and the surrendering of the ground upon which the Order had been fighting its battle for loyalty. In conformity with these " peace sentiments," the following was offered: " Be it Resolved, by the National Council Junior Order of United American Mechanics that, " Whereas, the Junior O. U. A. M. in divers States of the Union is to-day, and has for a long time been involved in dissentions within their 380 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ranks, culminating in numbers of law suits and other litigation vastly expensive to this National Council and damaging to the good name and status of the Order; " And Whereas, over 100,000 members of the Order are now outside the jurisdiction of this National Council, and are paying nothing towards the support of this body and receiving no recognition from the said National Council ; " In view of these facts, the National Council Junior O. U. A. M. hereby appoints J. G. A. Richter of Ohio, Geo. A. Gowan, of Tennessee, Roger Armstrong of Missouri, Geo. A. Davis of Maryland, and John Kee of West Virginia a Committee on Arbitration to act on behalf of this National Council in an effort to settle the differences now existing between the so-called ' Insurgents ' in the said several States. And our said Com- mittee is hereby authorized to meet a like Committee which may be appointed from the ranks of the said ' Insurgents ' and to agree with them upon terms under which the said factions, in whole or in part, shall be received back into the Order and re-vested with the rights and privileges of membership under the authority and jurisdiction of this National Coun- cil. And our said Committee shall have full power to act in the premises as they may deem best for the interest of this National Council and the Order at large. „ E H GoDFREY> " Chas. F. Reeves." In the consideration of the resolution, in which there was considerable discussion, the following substitute was submitted by P. S. C, W. C. Anderson, of New York: " Whereas, This body has been informed that the great bulk of the former membership of our Order, who have withdrawn from the organi- zation, the same are desirous of reuniting with us in a body; " Resolved, That a Committee of three be appointed to confer with a similar number of the former membership and report the result of their conference at the next annual session of the National Council." In the consideration of the substitute, it was unanimously adopted, with an amendment, that the Committee consist of Brothers J. G. A. Richter, J. W. Calver and A. L. Cray. ORGANIZING WORK Immediately after the close of the last session of the National Council, Brother Stephen Collins was appointed Manager of Or- ganizers, and with his usual zeal, he entered upon the plan of his campaign, saving weak Councils, holding the Order intact in states where rebellion was rampant and, where feasible, offsetting the unavoidable losses caused by the insurrection by forming new Coun- cils. A systematic campaign had been carried out and some good was accomplished, as evidenced by the substantial gains made. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 381 A NATIONAL COUNCIL JOURNAL For years there had been a desire with a portion oP the mem- bers of the National Body to have an " Official Organ," instead of distributing certain portions of the appropriation for periodicals to the various papers published as private enterprises. Eecommen- dations of National Councilors again and again had kept this thought before the body, and the time seemed ripe to act upon the suggestion. In conformity therewith the following statute, with proposal attached, was submitted : "A PROPOSAL FOR A STATUTE " Title. — Authorising the acceptance of the proposition of the Ameri- can Publishing Co. and providing for the publication by the National Council, of a Journal of the Order. "Be it enacted by the National Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, that the proposition of the American Publishing Company, to turn over to the National Council the publication known as The American upon the terms therein stated, be accepted, and that the publication be placed under the charge of the National Council Secretary. " That the National Council Secretary be authorized to employ such assistance to assist him in the publication of the periodical as may be necessary. " That to the end of carrying out this acceptance of the proposition the National Board of Officers is authorized to enter into an agreement as set forth in said proposition. " To the N. C, N. V. C, Officers and Members of the National Council, Junior 0. U. A. M. " Brethren. — " Realizing the importance of having a Journal of the Order, which may inform the membership of what is transpiring in the organization, as well as the absolute necessity of combatting the misleading statements being published by the insurgents, which tend to create dissensions, if not to endanger the life of the National Council, and " Realizing that the question of appropriations to periodicals annually causes great dissatisfaction, we submit to you the following proposition: " We will turn over to the National Council free of charge, the newspaper known as The American, together with the subscription list, and advertising list, on conditions that the subscriptions shall be completed, and the advertising contracts be completed, and that we be allowed four columns of space out of the forty columns, for advertising purposes, for advertising the supplies of the ' American Publishing Company ' and at the direction of the National Council sever all connection with the editing and publishing of the periodical, so long as it is edited and published by tlie National Council, but should the National Council discontinue the publica- tion of the periodical, then it shall revert to the 'American Publishing ( '•>■' " Fraternally yours, " The American Publishing Co., " Stephen Collins, Sec. 382 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " Your Committee on the Good of the Order, to whom was referred the recommendation of the National Councilor that the National Council publish a Journal of the Order, beg to submit the following report: " That we have received a proposition from ' The American Publish- ing Co.,' which we submit with the annexed Proposal for a Statute. " W. F. Young, " Geo. A. Davis, " G. C. Mosek, " Frank M. Jones, " J. A. Tabplet, " Committee on the Good of the Order." The question of adoption of the statute and the acceptance of the proposal of The American Publishing Company, created a sharp discussion, but on an aye and nay vote the proposition of The American Publishing Company was accepted, and after amend- ing statute by inserting National Board of Officers for National Secretary, it was adopted by 70 ayes to 42 nays. Quite a number of proposals for statutes were offered, but the greater number were either disapproved by the Committee on the Good of the Order or defeated upon the floor of the National Council. One very peculiar proposal was offered by Brother Van Horn, of Ohio : " Be it enacted, by the National Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, that Section 1, Chapter I, Division V, be amended by adding, that all foreign-born male children coming to the United States with their parents at the age of two years, may be admitted to membership after arriving at the age of twenty-one years." It goes without saying, that the proposal was returned by the Committee with an unfavorable recommendation. A proposal for a statute to amend the section of the National Constitution relative to representation in the National Council to the effect that the various Boards and Standing Committees shall be elected by the National Council instead of being appointed by the Board of Officers, went the same way as the preceding. The following was approved : " Be it Resolved, by the National Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, that the National Councilor be requested to select the Thanksgiving Day selected by the President of the United States, as a day of thanksgiving of the Order. „ Jqhn w> ^^ " M. D. LlCHLITEE." The report of the Committee on Mileage and Per Diem was $5,964.55. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 383 After a very strenuous session in which much Legislation was enacted that placed the Order on a firmer basis, the National Body adjourned under brighter skies than for three preceding sessions. The election of officers was warmly contested, even that of the National Secretary, who, with but two or three exceptions, had been previously reelected without opposition, had a contestant, Brother John A. Bliss, of Ohio, the vote standing, Deemer, 77; Bliss, 53. Dr. J. L. Cooper was elected National Vice-Councilor by a major- ity of three votes over Brother S. D. Hodgdon, of Missouri. The result of the election was as follows: National Councilor — George B. Bowers, of Pennsylvania, National Vice-Councilor — Dr. J. L. Cooper, of Texas, National Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — E. R. Dillingham, of Georgia, National Warden — C. L. Place, of Rhode Island, National Inside Sentinel — J. M. Douglass, of Wisconsin, National Outside Sentinel — A. E. White, of Vermont, National Chaplain — Rev. M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., 1903 Some years previous an invitation to meet in annual session in the " Golden State," had been extended to the National Council by Manzanita Council, No. 1, of California, located at Petaluma, and other invitations had subsequently been extended from the Pacific Coast, but at no time had it been thought feasible to accept, until the session held at Milwaukee in 1902, the National Body, by a vote of 74 to 56, decided to hold their next meeting in San Francisco, California. CHANGE OF DATE OF MEETING The question of obtaining railroad rates made it necessary for 'the National Board of Officers to change the date of the National Council meeting from June to May or August in order to secure the advantage of low rates through other organizations that were holding their meetings, either in San Francisco or Los Angeles, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the latter city in the month of May and the Grand Army of the Republic in the for- mer city in the month of August. In view of a possible change of date, the National Body at Milwaukee adopted the following statute, on motion of Brother John A. Bliss, of Ohio : 384 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " A PROPOSAL FOR A STATUTE "Title. — To authorize Board of Officer* of tin \alional (Council to change the time of the next meeting of the National Council. " Be it enacted, by the National Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, that the National Council Board of Officers be, and they are hereby, authorized to change the time of the next meeting of the National Council in case it should be necessary or advisable so to do in order to take advantage of reductions that may be offered by the railroads, providing that in changing said time of meeting due notice of the same shall be made to the members of the National Council at least thirty days prior to the time thus fixed; provided, that the time thus fixed shall be within thirty days of the regular time of meeting." The question whether the Board of Officers had authority to change the date of the meeting of the National Council was dis- puted in some sections; and if they had that authority, it was claimed they could change the place of the meeting as well as the date. In meeting this statement and defending their right to change the date of the meeting, the National Board of Officers cited Article VII., Section 12, of the National Council Constitution which reads: " The regular meeting of the National Council shall be held on the third Tuesday in June of each and every year, at such place as shall be determined upon by the preceding regular meeting, unless in an emer- gency the same be changed as provided by law." "Section 17, Article VIII of the Constitution reads: 'In an emer- gency the Board of Officers may, upon causing due notice thereof to be given to the several State Council Secretaries, and Recording Secretaries of Councils under the jurisdiction of the National Council, change the time and place of holding the regular meeting of the National Council." The question presented itself, " What is an ' emergency ' ? " National Secretary Brother Deemer placed the following construc- tion upon the word : " An emergency is surely something that was not known and could not be seen at the time the body voted for the place of meeting, such as an epidemic in the town or a railroad strike of such proportions as to prevent us from reaching the place. It could not be the right of the Board of Officers to call the session in August, after the National Council had conferred the power upon the Board to change the time of meeting, provided it was not more than thirty days prior to, or succeeding the regular time in June. This permitted no discretion upon the Board of Officers. Fortunately for us, the Presbyterian General Assembly had arranged to meet in Los Angeles the latter part of May, and this enabled the Board of Officers to comply with the provision of the National Council, and give us the advantage of the cheapest rates ever made for a trip to San Francisco." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 385 No doubt, prompted by the fact that the exegencies of the case compelled the National Board of Officers to change the date of the meeting of the National Council, the Representatives of the State of Ohio took advantage of the situation to send to the National Board of Officers and the members of the National Body on March 31, 1903, a communication reciting the probable cost of the meeting to be held at San Francisco, requesting each member to sign the following letter and send same to the National Secretary, provided he coincided with the views of the said National Eepresentativcs : " To the Board of Officers, National Council, Jr. 0. U. A. M. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — " In view of the large expense which will be incurred by holding the session of the National Council at San Francisco, and the depleted condition of the treasury, the undersigned most respectfully requests that you change the place of meeting to some point where the expense will not exceed $6,000." National Councilor Geo. B. Bowers, on receipt of the communi- cation from the Eepresentativcs of Ohio, addressed the follow- ing opinion upon and construction of the Supreme Law of the Order, and sent it to the other members of the Board : " In my opinion the Board of Officers do not have the power to change the place of meeting, for the reason that the National Council at its last session in Milwaukee, were in possession of all the facts as stated in the circular hereto attached, dated, March 30, 1903. They knew the dis- tance to San Francisco, and the rate of mileage and per diem that would be paid. They were informed as to the number of members composing the National Council. They also knew what the current expenses would be, and that provision would have to be made for the maintenance of the National Orphans' Home. With this knowledge, and with a full day to deliberate the same after the places of meeting had been nominated, by a decided majority, the body elected to go to San Francisco this year. Whether that decision meets with my approval or not is not material. The fact remains that the National Council, by ballot, determined on meet- ing at San Francisco, and I know of no emergency contemplated by law, that would warrant the Board of Officers in changing the place. 1 have carefully considered the reading of the Supreme Law, as to what constitutes an emergency which would warrant the Board in changing the place of meeting, and I am irresistibly drawn to the conclusion that an emergency as contemplated by the law is not something that was seen, known and fully considered by the session, when it fixed the place of meeting, but is something that arises after the adjournment of the session, which the body could not foresee or know, and hence, was not considered by the body, when it passed judgment upon and determined upon the next place of meeting. If the body was prevented, by injunction from going to San Francisco or an epidemic of some contagious disease were to break out in San Francisco or something else of this character were to occur, I believe there would 25 386 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER be such an emergency as would warrant the Board in attempting to undo the action of the National Council in session, but I believe that the Board of Officers, who are creatures of the body, should not set up their judgment against the judgment of the body and attempt to undo and reverse the action of the body, which had created them. " It may have been unwise for the National Council to have selected San Francisco, but it was done with a full knowledge of the conditions and the expense attending the session at that point; there is no power as I read the law, in the Board of Officers to review this decision, and if a mistake has been made by the N. C, it and not the Board of Officers, should be responsible for that mistake. " I must therefore decline to attempt to change the place of meeting, as requested in the letter of the National Representatives from Ohio hereto attached, and if you concur with me in this judgment, the action of the Board is subject to appeal and review by the National Judiciary, who may decide that our interpretation of the law is wrong but without such a decision, I do not feel like attempting to reverse the decision of the National Council. Of course, I realize that the other members of the Board have power to reverse me in this matter. " In addition to the foregoing, I might say that comparatively few, i. e., less than one-third of the officers and members of the National Council have expressed any desire for a change. " I am also advised that in all probability before a majority of the members could be heard from and the letter sent around among the Board, it would be too late to send out the notice for the session, as required by law. " I would be glad to have your action on the foregoing, and your concurrence or disapproval of my position." The very clear construction of the term " emergency," as given above, and the construction of the vested rights conferred upon the Board of Officers by the laws of the Order, were concurred in by National Vice-Councilor Brother Cooper and Junior Past National Councilor Brother Cray. In the consideration of the change of time of the meeting, the inclination of the Board of Officers was to set the time in August; but on referring to the statute adopted at Milwaukee, which read : " Provided that the time thus fixed shall be within thirty days of the regular time of meeting," there was no alterna- tive but to meet in May, which change was officially made. We have given much space to the subject of " Change of Time of Meeting of the National Council," with the endeavor to satisf j all criticism that might arise even at this date why the place oj meeting was not changed as well as the time of meeting. We are in position to know, that had it been within the vested rights of the National Board of Officers to change the place of meeting in line with the spirit of the communication from the Representatives of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 387 Ohio, that the change would have been made, and the decision would have been concurred in by a large number of the leaders of the National Body. It is not within the province of these annals to speak of the delightful trip across the great plains and over the mighty moun- tain ranges of our country; suffice it to say, that after a week's ride, stopping at Denver, Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and Salt Lake City, the special train bearing a major- ity of the members of the National Body reached the " Golden Gate," May 19, and the Thirty-fifth Annual Session of the National Council convened on the 20th, with National Councilor George B. Bowers in the Chair, who presided over the body with gentleness of spirit and urbanity of manner, characteristics of his administra- tion, both as State Councilor of Pensylvania and National Councilor. Eoll-call showed that 118 members of the body were present; it also revealed the fact that many familiar faces were missing at this session, prominently among those were J. Adam Sohl, Na- tional Treasurer, prevented from being present on account of per- sonal illness, Brothers Eobert Ogle and Smith W. Bennett, kept away by business matters, and National Vice-Councilor Dr. J. L. Cooper, whose genial sm'iles and " glad hand " always made every one feel at home in his presence, was also detained through personal affliction. That he was bitterly disappointed as well as the members of the National Body, is clear by the following telegram : " Fort Worth, Texas, May 19, 1903. " Edw. S. Deemer, Sec'y, Lick Hotel, care National Council, San Fran- cisco, Cal. " Am in hospital with erysipelas following operation on middle ear. Impossible to travel. My heart is broken that I cannot be with you. May every ballot you take stand for a greater Junior Order. " J. L. Cooper, M. D." REPORTS OF TTTE OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL In the various reports of the National Council Officers, a resume of the most important features of the Order for the year was given, much of which finds a place in other portions of this volume. A very brief reference here is given: 1. The case in New York wherein the insurgent State Council was plaintiff and the loyal State Council et al., were defendants, was decided in favor of the defendants. 388 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 2. The case of the two contending State Councils in Pennsyl- vania had been argued before the Common Pleas Court of Phila- delphia, and very voluminous testimony had been submitted, but no decision had been handed down. 3. The Jr. F. B. Association of Philadelphia, controlled by insurgent leaders, cited before the Attorney-General of Pennsyl- vania the officers of the Beneficiary Degree and Funeral Benefit Department. The Attorney- General refused the writ, and by the surrendering of the Colorado Charter, under which the Beneficiary Degree was incorporated, the entire proceedings virtually ended. 4. The National Councilor asked for a writ of Quo Warranto before the Attorney- General of Pennsylvania to inquire into the right of the Jr. A. M. F. B. Association to do business in Pennsyl- vania. The case had not as yet been decided by the courts of Philadelphia. 5. In reference to the recommendation of the then National Councilor, Brother Cray adopted at the last session, that a " suit- able person be appointed to prepare a new Bitual," the National Councilor stated that the National Body did not indicate who was to appoint such " suitable person," nor did it make any appropria- tion for compensation for the services of such a person. 6. The demand for the extending of the " olive branch " had been made so frequently that at the last session the members of the National Body yielded to the conservative or the so-called " peace " element of the National Council, and without any solicitation on the part of the insurgents, appointed an arbitration Committee of three to meet a similar Committee of the disloyal party, with the object of effecting a settlement of differences. The insurgents appointed a Committee of five to meet said loyal committee, and in the letter to the National Board of Officers fixing the time and place of such meeting the following was a part: " Action taken on Saturday last regarding the communication resulted in the appointment of a committee for the purpose of receiving any pro- posals the National Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., may have to make through its Committee. We waive all reference to the misstatements in the communi- cation of September 3 (Junior Past National Councilor, A. L. Cray, Chair- man of Arbitration Committee), except to say that the members of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., called insurgents, in the said insurgent states, have never expressed directly nor by implication, any anxiety to meet the National Committee or a committee thereof." This communication was signed by Fergus A. Dennis, E. T. Keeton, Lewis F. Page, Wm. A. Pike, W. L. Boyden, Committee. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 389 As the subject is treated more fully in another chapter, under the head " The Conflict at the Crossing of the Centuries," comment here is not necessary. 7. Certain periodicals, purporting to be published in the inter- est of the Order, published during the year very abusive articles assailing the National Council and its officers. To such an extent did they pursue their villification of the leaders and work of the Order, that the National Councilor was under the necessity of noti- fying them to refrain from further libelous insertions. 8. As per action of the National Body at its last session, the final adjustment of The American was consummated and R. Baur & Son, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., were given the contract to print the paper and T. Walter Gelwicks, of Philadelphia, was selected to be editor at a salary of $400 a year. On a basis of 2,800 copies, the publishers agreed to furnish The American to the subscribers at $61 per issue, including postage. 9. The statistical report showed the number of Councils to have been 1,382, and the membership 116,106, a gain of 68 Councils and 6,009 members. THE NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME • The first real reverse met by the Home occurred on June 11, 1902, when the three buildings used for housing the stock and stor- ing the grain of the farm were burned, having been struck by lightning, entailing a considerable loss. A battle between duty and sympathy and the establishment of a precedent came up before the Trustees. Application for admis- sion to the Home of two children of a deceased member of a disloyal Council was made through National Councilor Brother Bowers. Two members of the Board of Trustees, acting from a sense of sympathy, consented to admit them, but the majority of the Board felt that it would be in violation of the laws of the Order to grant the application, and at the same time be setting up a dangerous precedent. The Trustees found it necessary to refuse the appli- cation of a child of a criminal sentenced to prison for murder in the second degree, as the law only provided admission for minor chil- dren of deceased members. Twenty-five children were admitted to the Home during the year, one died and 15 released, making a total in the institution, April 1, 1903, of 111. The Trustees were Wm. C. Anderson, Presi- dent; E. D. Bowland, Secretary; Frank W. Pierson, Treasurer; Joseph Powell and D. B. McDonald. 390 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER FUNERAL BENEFIT DEPARTMENT This most excellent feature of the organization was becoming more and more popular, and under the management of Brother Stephen Collins, Secretary-Manager, made great advancement dur- ing the year, notwithstanding the vicious attack made upon it by the officials of the Jr. A. M. F. B. Association of Philadelphia, which dragged the Department as well as the Beneficiary Degree into the courts, causing the expenditure of much money to preserve its life. Referring to the above named Association, Brother Collins " hit the nail on the head " when he says : " This is the organization, which, through its officers, are more responsible than any other agency for the entire trouble in the organiza- tion. Without their official and moral support the insurrection in the East would not have existed longer than its incipiency. The officers of the Philadelphia Association, including all the Directors, are leaders in the insurrection in the National Council and the Order itself. This cannot be disputed, as the records show it to be a fact." As shown in another place, the hearing before the Attorney- General in the proceedings instituted by the Association of Phila- delphia, resulted favorably to the National Council and the Funeral Benefit Department. A recapitulation of the receipts and expenditures of the De- partment showed that over $60,000 had been received and $56,- 205.48 expended, of which $50,250 was for 201 deaths, leaving a balance on hand, including previous balance, of $9,746.23. During the year 28,722 members were enrolled, 5,422 dropped from the rolls, leaving a membership April 30, 1903, of 44,452, a net gain of 23,300. Never in the history of the Jr. A. M. F. B. Association was such a record shown. THE BENEFICIARY DEGREE Under the management of Brother Collins, this branch of the Order showed some advancement, though in less degree than the Funeral Benefit Department. A net gain of 64 members was re- ported, and the surplus in the treasury was $5,389.95, about double that reported at last session. The number of certificates in force was 479, representing an insurance of $673,500. The incubus that held in check the progress of the Beneficiary Degree was the Colorado charter by which it was controlled, mak- ing its transactions questionable, owing to the bitter litigation waged against it. In the hearing before the Attorney- General of Penn- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 391 sylvania it was intimated by that official that while there could be no objection found with the operations of the Beneficiary Degree under the charter of the National Council, which was undoubtedly doing a legal business, that he (the Attorney-General) believed the Colorado charter to be, at least, objectionable. Acting upon this intimation and under the advice of the attorneys of the Order, the Colorado charter was cancelled. REPORT OF THE ARBITRATION COMMITTEE Incidentally, reference has already been made to this, and even in this connection it can but be briefly noted, as a full resume has been given under its proper head. In view of the fact that the insurgents had appointed five on their Committee, the National Board of Officers added to the loyal Committee Brothers Bobert Ogle, of Maryland, and H. H. Billany, of Delaware, to make an equal number. Since a majority of the insurgent Committee were members of the legal profession, the National Councilor asked Brother Alex. M. DeHaven to. represent the National Council as its attorney. The first joint meeting was arranged for Philadelphia, Janu- ary 30, 1903, at which time the insurgent Committee objected to the presence of Brothers Ogle and Billany, claiming that they were not legally members of the loyal Committee, and at the same time objected to Brother DeHaven and the stenographer. At the sug- gestion of Brother DeHaven, the original Committee, Brothers Cray, Eichter and Calver, acted as the representatives of the Na- tional Council, and they submitted the first proposition, which was as follows: " That you come back into the Order; pay all per capita tax due, and that you obey the laws of the National Council, and discontinue all liti- gation." To this reasonable proposition came the reply : "We cannot accept this." The insurgent Committee then presented propositions, which were nothing more than recommendations, to be presented at the next session of the National Council, which the loyal Committee agreed to do with slight modifications. This joint meeting, how- ever, was fruitless of results. Another meeting of the Committe was held at Pittsburg, Pa.. May 1, same year. At this meeting the insurgent Committee submitted a series of propositions, which, with sonic amendments, 392 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER were accepted by the loyal Committee, whereupon, a recess was taken. On the reassembling of the Joint Committee the insurgent Committee refused to accept the amendments suggested or de- manded by the loyal Committee, and declared, through its Chair- man, that the original propositions was their " ultimatum'' where- upon, the meeting or conference adjourned and no progress towards a settlement was made. During the controversy in the Order the insurgents contended in their litigation that one reason why the laws adopted at Minne- apolis were illegal was because they were not introduced in one ses- sion and voted on at the next as provided by Art. XXV of the old National Council Constitution which stated that the general laws should not be altered or amended oftener than five years unless by a two-thirds vote, etc. It was also provided that all proposed amendments should be submitted at one session, referred to the Committee on Law, which Committee made its report to the next session relative thereto. This was the procedure followed by the National Council. On motion of Brother Collins at Louisville, in 1898, the general laws and the National Council Constitution, etc., were referred to the incoming Committee on Law for general revis- ion. (Proceedings, Louisville session, page 113.) THE JUNIOR AMERICAN MECHANICS' FUNERAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION "Reference to this Association has been made in these pages, and what was known to every member of the National Body, said Association was the main factor in the insurrection, and gave at least moral support to the movement that had for its purpose the wrecking of the Junior Order. At the session of the National Council in 1884 a resolution was adopted recommending the Fu- neral Benefit Association to the membership, and although it was not in any way amenable to the National Council, yet it recognized in this resolution an endorsement. Fearing that the officers of the Association would endeavor to convey to the membership the idea that by this endorsement said Association was still in connection with the Order, a resolution was adopted at this session rescinding the former recommendation or endorsement, declaring that the Funeral Benefit Department of the Jr. 0. IT. A. M., created at Buf- falo, in 1901, was the only Association that was controlled by and amenable to the National Council. It is surpassingly strange that in the face of this well-known fact of the said Association being the citadel from which the battle UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS S9S against the National Council was being waged, while at the same time its officers and Directors were no longer members of the Order, that when the resolution to rescind the former action was consid- ered, and at the same time avowing that the Funeral Benefit De- partment was a part of the National Council, that on its final pas- sage, the ayes and nays were called and fifty-five members of the National Council voted against the resolution. The resolution however, was adopted by a vote of sixty-six. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Previous to taking the ballot for the officers for the ensuing year, the statement was made, that owing to the fact that the law required the National Councilor to hold office a full year, and that the same rule applied also to the National Vice-Councilor before he could be promoted to the Chair of the National Councilor, that the officers-elect could not be installed until the expiration of their terms. The following officers were then elected: National Councilor — Dr. J. L. Cooper, of Texas, National Vice-Councilor — W. E. Faison, of North Carolina, National Treasurer — J. Adam Sohl, of Maryland, National Conductor — Martin M. Woods, of Massachusetts, National Warden — Arthur E. Baisley, of Michigan, National Inside Sentinel — H. E. Schaertzer, of California, National Outside Sentinel — 0. B. Hopkins, of Virginia, National Chaplain — Rev. M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania, Board of Control, Beneficiary Degree — E. R. Dillingham, of Georgia. The Committee on Credentials and Mileage and Per Diem reported the total mileage and per diem to be $14,882.58. The courtesies extended to the members of the National Body and the goodly number of ladies who accompanied the brothers was in harmony with the " glad hand " that is extended to visitors from the East by the citizens of the " Golden State." When not in session the members of the National Body and their ladies were shown the " sights " and in every way they were treated royally by the brethren of the Order. The excursion to San Jose, the carriage ride among the fruit orchards, and the banquet served by the local Council will remain as most delightful memories. The sixty-mile trolley ride under the auspices of the local Councils in Los Angeles, and the many little side-trips made in Southern Cali- fornia, will linger in our recollections to our latest day. CHAPTER XXV SESSIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL (Concluded) ST. LOUIS, MO., 1904 ALL eyes turned toward the " White City " in 1904, where was to be celebrated the centenary of the Louisiana Purchase, by a World's Fair. Very appropriately, therefore, the National Coun- cil decided to hold its Thirty-sixth Annual Session in the City of St. Louis, Mo., in the month of June, 1904. The session was pre- sided over by Dr. J. L. Cooper, National Councilor, and 129 mem- bers were in attendance. The hotel agreed upon for headquarters as well as place of meeting having failed to meet the conditions required, and at the same time not being at all desirable, the " Inside Inn " was selected as headquarters and the session opened in the assembly room of same. President Francis, of the Exposition, and Mayor Wells, of the City of St. Louis in befitting words extended the courtesies of the Exposition and City to the National Body, to which Dr. E. Atmar Smith, of South Carolina, responded on behalf of the National Council. Subsequently, the National Council fixed the Fraternity Building as the place of meeting and the session was continued and closed at that place. THE REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCILOR For beauty of rhetoric, sublimity of diction, in which the past was presented, by way of comparison, with the glorious present, nothing in the history of the National Body ever excelled the In- troduction as given by Dr. Cooper as prefatory to his report. Would that space was not too limited that the entire " Preliminary " might be inserted in full, not so much for the beautiful language in which couched, but for the historic parallelisms presented, show- ing a wide knowledge and deep research into the annals of the ages. Suffice it, however, to note a few extracts as a sample of the Doctor's vein of thought: " A well-balanced exposition of the industries of the world must elicit the admiration and attract the attention of civilized people every- where. Through its influence how grand are the opportunities to promote fraternity among all nations, whose representations and whose displays will here meet in the friendly competition of a Christian civilization. 394 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 395 The opportunity is here presented our people to show to all the world our patriotism, our love for our Hag and our cherished institutions. And when we contemplate the displays of other nations, we may recall the fact that most of their governments have come down through the long vista of ages past, that their histories' page is seared with the barnacles of hoary centuries, while our country is yet in its infancy, and the howl of the coyote, the tread of the bison and the whoop of the savage has hardly died away, yet we look with profound satisfaction on the thinga that we have for the world to see. . . . " The principles of the great Order that we represent here to-day declare fealty to those of our American institutions out of which springs our present form of patriotic citizenship, and gives to the individual citizen that cherished personal liberty never known before. " For two centuries now American liberty has shed its rosy halo around the golden portals of patriotism, and stands to-day as a beacon light to all the nations of the earth. " How mighty has been the influence of these principles for which our great army of Juniors have been battling for half a century. Under our teachings of patriotism, love of country, public education, reading the Bible in the public schools, separation of Church and State, we have influenced with emphasis all the nations about us. " Under its teachings and by the force of its examples, the Italians have expelled their petty and arbitrary princelings, and united under a parliamentary government; the gloomy despotism of Spain has been dis- pelled by the representatives of the people and a free press; the great German race have demonstrated their power for empire and their ability to govern themselves; Norway and Sweden have thrown off the yoke of absolute monarchism and their people now have a voice in good govern- mental affairs; the sea-girt isle of Britain has been robed in patriotic light and is making her great pulsations beat to the march of a new era; and even France, from the dark December of her destiny, has come forth robed in the grand vestments of a Republican form of government, and the hope of life like a bird of Paradise rises from the ruins of her old Bastile. "Yea! the influence of our blessed free and republican form of government, our institutions, ' of the people, by the people and for the people,' wings its way to-day, not only over the breathing devotions of our own Christian people, but with its unblanched eye fixed in a steady gaze upon the resplendant sun of other climes, basking in its beatific blaze, its radiant influence reflects the blessings of coming years and glistens, we believe, with the splendors of a glorious destiny. " And thus under the influence of that liberty, exemplified by the American eagle, swathed in the loving folds of the ' Star Spangled Banner' the churlishness of Romanism everywhere and the darkness of night of a new Freedom is already gilding the hilltops of heretofore benighted nations, and filling the breasts of their people with a new era of hope." It was the National Councilor's sad duty, owing to the incapac- ity of National Treasurer Brother Sohl to serve, to appoint an Acting National Treasurer; and a very worthy brother was chosen 396 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER to relieve Brother Sohl, P. N. C. Brother Charles Eeimer. From 1871 Brother Sohl had been an active member of the National body, serving as National Protector, National Marshal, and Na- tional Councilor, and from 1883 had served in the responsible posi- tion of National Treasurer. REPORT OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARY Brother Cooper, upon assuming the duties of National Coun- cilor, sounded the " slogan " for 15,000 members, and it must have been gratifying to himself as well as to the National Secretary, to report at the end of the calendar year, December 31, 1903, a total of 1,506 Councils, making a gain of 124, and a membership of 130,977, being a gain of 14,871. If it had been possible to tabulate the gain from January 1, to June 1, 1904, the increase would have been much greater; and deducting the number uniting with the Order from Januar}' 1, to June 30, 1903, belonging to the adminis- tration of National Councilor Brother Bowers, there would still have been left enough to far exceed the 15,000. A very gratifying feature of the statistical report was shown, that 28 states reported an increase in membership of 15,056, while but nine states reported a loss of only 185 members, making, as above stated, a net gain of 14,871. REPORT OF FUNERAL BENEFIT DEPARTMENT AND BENEFICIARY DEGREE The Secretary-Manager, Brother Collins, of the Funeral Bene- fit Department and Beneficiary Degree, again favored the National Body with a very gratifying report. Next to the Orphans Home, these two features of the Order lie nearest the human heart. Dur- ing the interim of the meeting of the National Council, hundreds of homes are brightened and hundreds of hearts are cheered by the coming of the little check that has much to do in scattering sunshine where the shadows have fallen. According to the report, 382 death benefits were paid, amount- ing to $95,500. During the same period the membership increased from 44,452 to 64,983, a net gain of 20,531, while the surplus in- creased from $9,746.23 to $10,521.19. While the increase in sur- plus was not very great, still it would have been larger had not the Association at Philadelphia forced the Department into the courts to defend its life at a cost for legal expenses of $1,711.45. It is interesting to note that of the 382 who died during the year, con- sumption claimed the largest number, 83, killed by accidents, etc., UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 397 coming next with 57, and pneumonia being third in line, having taken away 46. As to ages at death, one died at sixteen years of age and one at sixty-seven. With the exceptions of 60, 61, 62, 63, and 66, every year from 16 to 67 showed that one or more had died, making the average at death 35.5 years. Equally gratifying was the report of the Beneficiary Degree, there being an increase in membership in good standing of 55 per cent., and of surplus funds of 60 per cent. Three hundred and thirty-two certificates were written during the year for $425,500, making the number of certificates at the end of the year's business, after deducting all losses, of 745, with an insurance value of $936,- 500. As an evidence of the rigid examination of the Chief Ex- aminer, Dr. Cooper, only two died during the year. THE NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME The number of children admitted to the Home, according to the report of the Board of Trustees, ending May 1, 1904, was 26. None having died during the year and but 8 being released, the number in the institution at above date was 129, of whom 95 were boys and 34 were girls. The total expenditures for the fiscal year was $19,555.19. The inventory of property was placed at $80,770. During the year an annex was built to Cottage No. 2 at a cost of $3,112. But few resolutions and statutes of importance were passed and adopted. The most important was the adoption of a resolution by a vote of 122 ayes to 1 nay to amend the Objects of the Order, the same being referred to the State Councils for their concurrence. The Second Object was the only one to be affected and was amended as it reads to-day. The Object formerly read : "To establish an Insurance Branch and a Sick and Funeral Fund." The following statute was adopted, adding a new chapter to the National Laws : CHAPTER XXV The last Sunday of May in each year be, and the same is, hereby set apart and designated as Junior O. U. A. M. Memorial Day, for the purpose of conducting appropriate ceremonies commemorative of our deceased brothers. A very interesting event took place during the session of the National Body, and one in which our Senior Past National Coun- cilor, Brother John W. Calver, took special delight, was the intro- 398 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER dnction to the National Council of Brother Samuel Steventon, one of the first graduates of the Orphans' Home. Brother Steventon made an appropriate reply to the welcome extended. As an evidence of the good feeling that prevailed in the Na- tional Body, but one objection was made to the report of the Finance Committee in the appropriations for the ensuing year, and that was in increasing the item for Publications from $2,000 to $4,000. With this single exception the record states : " Approved without objection." The same fact was also evidenced in the election of officers, there not being a single competition. In view of this, P. S. C. Dr. Wenner, of Ohio, moved " that in consideration of the fact that there was no opposition to the several nominees, that each candi- date be credited by the election officers with the full number of votes cast," which was agreed to. In conformity with the motion adopted the election board gave the following result, each credited with 129 votes: National Councilor — W. E. Faison, of North Carolina, National Vice-Councilor — W. L. S. Gilcreast, of Massachusetts, National Treasurer — Charles Reimer, of Maryland, National Conductor — Fred W. Houghton, of Michigan, National Warden — C. O. Bohrer, of District of Columbia, National Inside Sentinel — James C. Brower, of New York, National Outside Sentinel — S. H. Miller, of Kansas, National Chaplain — Rev. M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania, Board of Control — W. L. Humphrey, of Alabama. The Committee on Mileage and Per Diem reported a total of $5,785.25. JUNIOR PAST NATIONAL COUNCILOR GEORGE B. BOWERS One shadow hung over the National Council, under which the members of the body deliberated with saddened hearts ; Junior Past National Councilor George B. Bowers " was not, for God had taken him." The beautiful sentiments of National Councilor Dr. Cooper, with reference to his associate on the Board, is worthy of place in this history : " But, my brothers, no word of mine can add to the splendid record of this brave and loyal brother. As gentle as a prattling babe, as kind as a mother's love, as true as the Scriptures, as tender as the petals of a fresh bride's rose, as brave as a lion, he was a golden-hearted gen- tleman. . . . " Brilliant in intellect, lovely in spirit and rich in the affectionate regard for the good of all, he has said good night, and has gone to sleep. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 399 In the presence of such a life, ' the harpings of infidelity are hushed, atheism receives a fatal wound, agnosticism is dumb, and stoicism flees away.' The world is purer that he has brightened it; manhood is higher that he has advanced it; Christianity is clearer that he has illumined it." The Committee to whom was referred the duty of preparing suitable resolutions upon the death of Brother Bowers, submitted the following eulogy, written by the Chairman, Brother Smith W. Bennett : RESOLUTIONS ON DEATH OF JR. P. N. C. GEO. B. BOWERS " While affection abides in the human breast, and the love of man for man and his welfare seeks beyond his temporal happiness an eternal condition of joy, so long Avill hope and faith plant in the hearts of man- kind the tenderest sentiments of love for the departed, and span the bed of death with the bow of promise. " Expressive of such hope and faith, and speaking but faintly the great love and affection we bore our departed brother, Jr. Past National Councilor, George B Bowers, we bear these testimonials of his worth, his gentleness and his Christian character. " He was a man, conscious that life should be no parade ground, but silently and secretly doing the good when opportunity offered and where the right might displace the wrong. " He was gentle, with ' the gentleness of a nature that was calm in deliberation and unruffled in its judgment. He separated passion from deliberation and exercised with charity the decrees of his judgment and the promptings of his best thought. "He was a Christian; not ostentatious, but charitable in word and deed. He administered to the fatherless, ' and kept himself unspotted from the world.' His work as a member and officer of this Order was characterized by devotion to its principles, faith in the supremacy of its ideals and of the right, and in the ultimate triumph of the cause of our fraternity. " We regret most keenly our loss and the loss of those who were bound to him by family ties; but not as those without hope. " He has gone out into the sea, trusting the pilot who knows the way that he may find an eternal haven for his soul. "Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family of the departed brother, and also be printed in the report of the proceed- ings of the National Council. "And further Resolved, that the charter of the National Council be draped in his memory for a period of thirty days. " Smith W. Bennett, " M. D. Lichliter, " Frank W. Pierson, " Commit tee." On motion of Representative James Foust, of Pennsylvania, the resolution was adopted by a rising vote, the members remaining 400 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER standing a moment, with bowed heads and subdued hearts, while the National Chaplain, in softened accents, recited the Lord's Prayer. It was a very befitting closing to the career of a noble brother. NASHVILLE, TENN., 1905 The Thirty-seventh Annual Session of the National Council convened in the beautiful Southland City of Nashville, Tennessee, June 20, 1905, and continued for three days. National Councilor W. E. Faison, in an unassuming, but with a courteous and gentle- manly spirit, presided over the body, there being present at roll- call 110 members. The reception accorded the National Council by the brothers of Nashville was most cordial, characteristic of Southern courtesy. Brothers Gowan and Howse, for years conspicuous factors in the deliberations of the National Body, were everywhere present to welcome their fellow-members to their home city. What was un- common in the history of the National Council, a Junior Mayor, Mayor Williams, extended the hospitalities of the city to the body in an address that was full of patriotism, proving beyond doubt that he had imbibed the principles of ,the organization around the camp-fires of the Order. More frequently has the National Body been welcomed in a mere perfunctory way by the Chief Magis- trates of cities who either knew nothing of the Order itself, or, in heart, were antagonistic to its objects and principles. The opening ceremonies were enlivene'd by the presence of the Orphans' Home Band, which stirred the emotions of every Junior, while their pres- ence in the city aroused much enthusiasm. The response to the address of welcome was made by Brother " Zip " P. Smith, editor of The American, which was eloquent and patriotic. An era of good feeling prevailed throughout the entire session ; in fact it was a veritable " Methodist lovefeast," minus the " bread and water," and all rancor and bitterness of feeling that, unfortunately, had been present within the National Body, even since the separation of 1899, melted like snow before the morning sun. REPORTS OF THE NATIONAL OFFICERS While not couched in the rhetoric of his predecessor, the re- port of the National Councilor, Brother W. E. Faison, gave a resume of a year's hard and faithful work which showed advance along all lines. Kealizing the needs of the Order, Brother Faison resigned his position in his home city and at a loss, financially, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 401 gave his entire time to the duties of his office, in the meantime assist- ing the editor of The American in making the " Official Organ -1 of the Order the success it attained during the year. Brother Smith, in his report, referring to the very helpful assistance of the National Councilor, says: " Bro. W. E. Faison, our National Councilor, has personally super- vised the work, and without his assistance I must have failed many times. He has been patient with my mistakes, and has ever been ready to aid with wise counsel and good advice. I beg to make public this acknowl- edgement of my indebtedness to him." The statistical report was very gratifying. As a result of the work of Brother John E. Bridgcrs, the State Council of Florida was instituted, February 15, 1905, by the National Councilor, assisted by Jr. P. N. C. Dr. Cooper and Brother Collins, there being in the state 11 Councils and 275 members. Following this good work Brother Bridgers organized 8 Councils in Mississippi, with 300 members, and a State Council would have been instituted but for some misunderstanding arising in reference to obtaining a license from the Insurance Department of the State. The total number of Councils, as per report of December 31, 1901, was l,618,a gain of 112 ; number of members, 146,658, being a gain of 15,681. The gain in 22 states was 16,812 members, while the loss in 15 states was 1,131. The financial increase was still more striking. Receipts of Subordinate Councils amounted to $1,316,707.35, a gain of $148,750.78. Paid for Benefits and Re- lief, $516,340.68, a gain of $88,503.55. In the treasuries of the Subordinate Councils, $1,603,635.13, being a gain of $292,795.38. The receipts of the National Council from all sources were $74,274.91. CHANGE OF THE OBJECTS OF THE ORDER In compliance with the decision of Judge Audenried, the reso- lution adopted at the last session to amend the Constitution and the Objects of the Order, was submitted to the membership of the Subordinate Councils. At the same time the Committee on Law submitted the opinion that the resolution proposing the change should also be submitted to the State Councils, as per Article XVI of the Constitution. In conformity with the above legal opinions, the amendment was submitted to the State Councils as well as the Subordinate Councils since the last session with the following results : State Councils: In favor, 60; against, 6. Subordinate Councils: For, 8,554; against, 3,469. 26 402 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The Committee to whom was intrusted the counting of the vote, reported a total vote in Subordinate Councils of 16,880 ; however, 4,857 were thrown out on account of irregularities. Of those thrown out, 3,065 were in favor of the change of Objects and 1,792 against. Six State Councils failed to vote at all, while Ohio was the only state to vote against the proposed change. It should be understood that any proposition to amend the Constitution and when referred to the State Councils, that " a majority of the State Councils voting for or against said proposed amendment or amend- ments slioll he counted the same number of votes as the State Coun- cil has National Boprcsentaiives in the National Council for or against the same." RITUAL Tn conformity with the action of the National Council at St. Louis, a Special Committee was appointed by the National Coun- cilor to prepare a Funeral Ceremony and a State Council Ritual. The Committee was composed of the following brothers: M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania, W. J. Nesbit, of Alabama, L. L. Hill, of Kentucky. The Committee submitted a new Funeral Ceremony, which was approved. The following forms relative to a State Council Ritual, etc., were also submitted by same Committee, and the same were adopted: Form A. Opening Ceremonies — State Council. Form B. Closing Ceremonies — State Council. Form C. State Council Degree. Form D. Installation of S. C. Chaplain. Form E. Rules of Order — State Councils. The Committee on Ritual submitted to the National Body the following resolution which was concurred in: " Be it Resolved by the National Council, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, that the National Councilor be, and is hereby authorized to appoint a Committee of three (3) members who shall formulate a suitable Three (3) Degree Ritual, consisting of long and short form, to be used by Subordinate Councils; the conferring of the long or short form to be at option of the Subordinate Councils." A subsequent resolution was presented asking for a committee of three to prepare or have prepared a Ritual of three degrees, with the addition that the committee be empowered to offer $500 for such Ritual as the National Council would approve. The Committee on Ritual, however, disapproved same, which action was concurred UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 403 in by the National body. As per first resolution, the National Councilor named the following as the Special Committee: A. M. DeHaven, of Pennsylvania, C. H. Wolfes, of West Virginia, Geo. A. Davis, of Maryland. FUNERAL BENEFIT DEPARTMENT AND BENEFICIARY DEGREE The Funeral Benefit Department had another prosperous year. The membership increased from 64,970 to 86,384. Five hundred and two death claims had been paid during the year aggregating $136,500, while the surplus fund increased from $10,521.19 to $25,101.50. The last session having added a new feature to the Depart- ment, Class "B," which pays a death benefit of $500, the result of nine months' operation showed 14,094 members; many of these, however, having been transferred from Class " A." So great was the increase of the Department, that the report showed a decrease of expenses in its management, the entire expenses of conducting the bureau amounting to 4.6 per cent., a reduction of 1.8 per cent, from last report. Referring to the causes of death, consumption again had the lead, with 102, by accidents, etc., 60, and pneumonia, 55. Typhoid fever claimed 40, while diseases of the heart and kidneys claimed 34 and 23 respectively. The business of the Bene- ficiary Degree had so advanced that all liabilities had been met, leaving a balance on hand of $13,735.43. NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME A paragraph in the report of the Trustees of the Orphans' Home is well worth noting: " A year of history, bringing with it many events that have increased our faith in the wisdom and foresight of our noble Order, in establishing a home for the children of our deceased brothers. A year of history that demonstrates more clearly and forcibly the sacredness of our obligation in maintaining this institution, and keeping it to that high standard of efficiency, where it will be capable of ministering to our wards the largest growth of physical, intellectual and spiritual life on the most modern and economic basis." During the year additional room had been added to Cottage No. 2 to meet the increasing demands for admission to the Home, there being in the institution, December 1, 1904, 142 children. It is gratifying to note the very careful business management that prevailed in the Home, as well as in the work and cultivation of the farm. During the year the receipts from all sources on the farm, including garden, stock, etc., were $6,778,62, while the total 404 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER expenses of same were $2,688.4-1 ; leaving a balance to the credit of the farm of $4,090.91. The total cost of maintenance of the Home, exclusive of salaries, amounted to $10,559.09; salaries, $6,061.92, a grand total of $22,621.01. IMMIGRATION High ground was taken by the National Body on Immigration. A resolution was offered recommending the appropriating of $600 to aid the National Legislative Committee in its efforts at Wash- ington to secure desirable legislation. The members from Ohio came to the National Council " loaded " on the subject, and being backed by their State Council, offered an amendment to strike out of the resolution $600 and insert $5,000. In the discussion of the question, Brother Jesse Taylor, of Ohio, stirred the National Body with a " red hot " address, after which the amendment was almost unanimously adopted. Subsequently, the National Board of Offi- cers appointed Brothers Z. P. Smith, Jesse Taylor and A. D. Wilkin as National Legislative Committee. After adopting a few statutes relative to the Funeral Benefit Department and Beneficiary Degree, and making such changes in the laws of the organizaton to meet the conditions affected by the change of the meeting of the National Council from Annual to Biennial, which action had been concurred in by the Subordinate Councils, the National Council closed a most harmonious session by the installation of the following officers for the ensuing two years : Mational Councilor — W. L. S. Gilcreast, of Massachusetts, National Vice-Councilor — H. C. Schaertzer, of California, National Treasurer — Charles Reimer, of Baltimore, National Conductor — James W. Cheshire, of New York, National Warden. — Hilary E. Howse, of Tennessee, National Inside Sentinel — E. L. S. Bouton, of Virginia, National Outside Sentinel — W. H. Rollins, of Texas, National Chaplain — Rev. M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania, Board of Control Beneficiary Degree — Roger J. Armstrong, of Mis- souri, and E. R. Dillingham, of Georgia. BOSTON, MASS., 1907 For the first time in the history of the Order the National Council convened in Biennial Session, at Boston, Mass., June 18-20, 1907, the change of same having been made by the National Body in 1904 and was concurred in by the majority of the State Councils and membership. The local committee at Boston arranged for the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 403 meeting in Tremont Temple amid most historic surroundings, and with grace and dignity, National Councilor W. L. S. Gilcreast presided over the Supreme Body. Twenty-one years before, in 1875, the National Council held its session in this historic city where the Cradle of Liberty still stands and where first was sounded the slogan — Liberty — Independence — by such men as Sam. Adams, Jos. Warren and James Otis. At that time but four states were represented in the National Council with 12 representatives present, while the entire Order numbered less than 10,000. At the session of 1907, 32 states were represented with an attendance of 175, there being nearly 1,900 Councils and about 185,000 members, not- withstanding the revolt of 1899. But two brothers who were pres- ent at the session in 1875 were present at the session of 1907, viz. : Past National Councilor John W. Calver and National Secretary Edward S. Deemer. No preliminary exercises marked the opening of the National Council, but from singing, as the brothers never sang so lustily, " Nearer my God to Thee," to the close when as a farewell they sang with equal pathos, " God be with you till we meet again," the business was transacted and a new administration was inducted into office. What promised to be a " warm " session owing to strong factional feeling that unfortunately had been developed in the campaign for officers, happily was not realized, and with kindly feelings and best of wishes the brethren left for their homes to keep up the work in harmony with the doctrines of the Order. The reports of the National Officers were very cheering, espe- cially that of the National Secretary, the last he was ever to make to the National Body, was exceedingly gratifying. His records on December 31, 1906, showed 1,945 Councils and 177,553 members; however, from latest reports, it was stated that there were, approxi- mately, 185,000. Financial^, the Order never was in as prosperous condition, as the following figures show: Receipts from Subordinate Councils, two years. $3,190,967.34 Paid for Benefits, two years 1,217,762.81 Amount in Treasuries of Subordinate Councils. 1,998,053.37 Being an increase in the latter for two years, of $238,855.10 Amount received by the National Council, two years $136,202.73 Amount paid out by the National Council, two years * 126,922.41 Balance on hand $20,929.96 406 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER THE NATIONAL ORPHANS' HOME With 200 children crowded into the two cottages and the demand for more to be admitted, but no place to put them was one of the problems the Board of Trustees and the Superintendent had been trying to solve. It was the proud boast of President Mc- Donald when he stated in his report that cramped and crowded as were the quarters at the Home, not a child had been refused admission who was properly qualified to enter. Yet it was clear to the Board and the authorities of the Home that the limit had been reached, and unless the National Council formulated some plan of relief, further admission to the institution would of necessity have to be denied. With this situation confronting them the Trustees, accompanied by the faithful, Christian gentleman who superintends the Home — Brother Kernan — came to the National Council with certain propositions having in view the erection of Cottage No. 3, also other needed improvements. It goes without saying that the National Body entered heartily into the project and gave the Board such authority as required. The report of the finances was as follows : Receipts for two years $53,574.92 Amount received on Building Fund (part of this laid aside from the National Council Fund) . 7,061.63 Received for Endowment Fund 585.78 Disbursements for two years for maintenance... 51,924.60 National Councilor Gilcreast, in his report, had this to say about the Home : " I have taken the pains during my term of office to visit our Home for the purpose of seeing at first hand what we are doing there. I am more and more convinced that we have a great institution at Tiffin. Ohio, and what is better, and indeed indispensable, we have found just the right man to superintend it. In Brother Kernan we have the execu- tive head, the Christian gentleman and the capable leader all combined, and I desire herein to express my appreciation of his services. " As I walked around the well-kept grounds, as I went through the Industrial School where our boys can learn to be skilled mechanics and our girls be taught the art of needlework, as I looked in upon the chil- dren at the mid-day meal, with their happy, smiling faces, I felt proud to belong to an Order that has for its fourth object, ' To promote and maintain a National Orphans' Home.' There is an absolute necessity for another dormitory for the boys, a new water tank, new heating apparatus and an assembly room are among the other needs. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 407 " It will be the duty of this body at this session to provide for some of these necessities so that the Home may be prepared to do properly the work for which it was intended. The report of the Trusties will give details, into which I cannot enter here." FUNERAL BENEFIT DEPARTMENT AND BENEFICIARY DEGREE With the exception of the National Orphans' Home, no grander feature could have been introduced into the Order than the Funeral Benefit Department and Beneficiary Degree that have so much to do to relieve burdened hearts and meet the requirements of the Scriptural injunction to look after our own families, for he who does not so do is spoken of as " worse than an infidel." The report made at this session by the Secretary-Manager, Stephen Collins, showed a most remarkable as well as a gratifying condition in both branches; nothing like it having ever been seen in the previous history of the Department and Degree or in any similar organization carrying out the same features. It is not words, however, that tell the story, but facts, and facts we give below : FUNERAL BENEFIT DEPARTMENT Receipts from Class "A " for two years $276,565.57 Receipts from Class " B " for two years 220,503.45 To this should be added: Fees both classes for two years $9,822.45 Roll Books . . . : 778.50 Fines 459.90 Interest 4,061.50 Refund and Miscellaneous 528.60 Making a grand total including amount on hand May 1, 1905 $537,821.47 Disbursements : Death claims, two years, Class " A," 959 $239,984.25 Death claims, two years, Class " B," 385 192,500.00 Total $432,484.25 For salaries, rents, office expenses, fitting up office, postage, refunds, etc $19,157.66 Balance on hand: Funeral Fund Class " A " $25,201.22 Funeral Fund Class " B " 19,455.68 Reserve Fund 41,522.66 Total $86,179.56 408 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Invested as follows : Current Deposits in banks at 2 per cent $11,554.24 Time Deposits in banks at 4 per cent 17,525.24 First Mortgage in Real Estate, at 6 per cent. . 57,100.00 Being an increase in Surplus Funds for two years $61,078.06 Per cent of increase 243.3 Per cent expense of total receipts . . 3.5 Membership, May 1, 1907: Class "A" 82,009 Class "B" 40,565 Total 122,574 Increase in two years of 36,581 The following summary of membership with the gains per year is noteworthy : MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING April 30th, 1902 21,152 April 30th, 1903 44,452 Gain 23,300.. Per cent.. 110. April 30th, 1904 64,976 " 20,524.. " . 46.2 April 30th, 1905 86,384 " 21,408.. " . 32.9 April 30th, 1907 ... .122,574 " 36,190.. " . 42. THE CAUSES OF DEATH WERE AS FOLLOWS : Consumption, in various forms 296 Killed by accident, wrecks, etc 195 Pneumonia 118 Diseases of the heart 123 Diseases of the kidneys 93 Typhoid fever 124 Diseases of the brain 37 Suicide 19 Meningitis 17 Cancer 24 Appendicitis 20 Peritonitis 23 Apoplexy 36 Dropsy 11 Diabetes 14 All other causes 196 Total 1,346 As noted in former reports, the great " White Plague " of America, Consumption, led the. list in mortality, closely followed by its twin brother, Pneumonia. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 409 BENEFICIARY DEGREE Receipts for two years $47,645.39 Balance on hand May first, 1905 13,735.43 Total $61,380.82 Disbursements : Death claims $13,522,75 Extension of Degree 11,718.01 Officers' Expenses, employees, printing, post- age, etc 9,492.28 Total $34,733.04 Balance on hand $26,647.78 Net gain in Surplus Funds during two years. $12,912.35 Per cent, of increase in Surplus Fund 94.00 Number of Certificates in force Mav 1, 1905 \ . . 885 . . $1,135,000.00 Number written during two years 2129. . 2,207,500.00 Total 3014.. $3,342,500.00 In force April 30, 1907, deducting losses 2663. . $2,951,500.00 Net gain in two years 1778. . 1,816,500.00 Per cent, of net gain 200 . Average age of members admitted dur- ing two years 31.48 Average certificate issued during two years.. $1,036.87 Average age of all members 35.06 Average certificate in force $1,108.33 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF BENEFICIARY DEGREE. April 30, 1900 April 30, 1901 April 30, 1902 April 30, 1903 April 30, 1904 April 30, 1905 April 30, 1906 April 30, 1907 Disbursements. Expense. Mortuary. $3,427.09 5,265.45 3, 9S 1.60 2,627.38 2,853.21 3,090.11 3,669.49 5,822.79 8175.00 875.00 1,704.75 1,653.21 1,197.40 6,218.50 7,279.00 Balance on Haud. 875.36 649.99 2,698.73 5,389.95 8,908.83 13,735.43 17,233.22 26,647.78 Liabilities. 83,937.11 3,532.61 2.:,s;.ss 2,179.85 2,179.85 Certificates in Force. 309 127 415 479 745 885 1615 2663 8363,000 560,500 512,000 587,500 936,500 1,135,000 2,951,500 410 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The following tabulated statement of the distribution of the membership of the Degree and the amount of protection, as well as a comparative statement, is equally noteworthy: NUMBER OF MEMBERS AND AMOUNT OF PROTECTION. States. Pennsylvania North Carolina Maryland Georgia Alabama South Carolina Ohio Tennessee Kentucky Virginia California Texas Colorado New York Missouri Kansas District of Columbia . . Delaware Indian Territory Washington ..." Indiana Minnesota Florida Montana Massachusetts Maine Vermont , Mississippi Illinois Michigan Connecticut Arkansas West Virginia Idaho Wisconsin April 30, 1905. Members. Amount. 85 44 113 124 17 67 45 55 13 51 46 26 7 15 2 1 14 8 8 7 8 15 4 2 4 2 $123,000 114,000 45,500 139,500 155,000 21,000 83,000 56,500 64,500 14,500 78,000 56,500 43,000 9,000 19 000 3,000 500 17,000 8,000 9,500 6,000 8,500 24,000 10,000 3,000 4,500 3,000 2,500 1,500 2,000 5,000 1,000 1,000 3,000 April 30, 1907. Gain or Loss. Members. Amount. Members. Amount 480 439 328 267 166 161 150 142 123 92 71 43 30 23 18 17 15 14 13 11 10 9 7 6 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 $556,000 464,500 248,500 319,000 195,500 172,500 172,000 168,500 138,000 87,000 101,500 51 .000 51,000 24,500 25,000 24,000 19,000 18,500 17,500 14,500 9,000 12.500 12,000 12,500 6,000 4,500 6,000 5,000 2,500 2,500 2,000 2,000 1,000 $1,135,000 2,663 3,000 $2,951,500 Loss Net Gain. 391 354 284 154 42 144 83 97 68 79 20 3 4 16 3 15 14 '5 3 3 1 8 2 2 1,791 1,778 $433,000 350,500 203,000 179,500 40,500 151,500 89,000 1L2.000 73,500 72,500 26.500 5,500* 8,000 15,500 6,000 21,000 18,500 1,500 9,500 5,000 3,000 4,000 12,000* 2,500 3,000 3,000 5,000 1,000 3,666* ' i',666* $1,838,000 21,500 $1,816,500 Unless influenced by prejudice or other motives, no member of the Order can read the above brief report of these two Depart- ments of the organization and not feel gratified with the advance made and the sound basis upon which they are carried on. The writer has for years been a close observer of the work carried on in the office of the Seeretar} r -Manager and he can state, speaking conservatively, that everything is conducted in a methodical and business-like manner, while the slogan is, work and a full day. We might state in this connection, that the subject of Funeral Benefits and protection for the families of the members of the Order was early considered by the National Council. At the ses- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 411 sion of 1879 the question was brought to the attention of the Na- tional Council, whereupon a Conrmittee was appointed to take the matter into consideration and report at the next session. That Committee at the session of 1880 reported in favor of incorporating a Funeral Benefit feature in the organization and submitted a code of laws governing same. The recommendation of the Committee was adopted as well as the code of laws and the subject was referred to the Subordinate Councils. The Committee to count the vote of the Councils reported at the session of the National Council in 1881, that on the face of the returns the proposed feature had been defeated by a small majority, but in their opinion, fraud had been practiced and that the proposition had really a majority of 36. Owing to the questionable procedure on the part of a few Councils, the proposition was again referred to the Subordinate Councils and the report of the Committee at the session of 1882 showed that it had been defeated by a majority of 204. The defeat of this proposition brought into existence the Junior American Mechanics' Funeral Benefit Association, an organization independent of the National Council or any State Council, a voluntary association of Councils, and was organized July 1, 1882, with G. Howell Arthur as President and Edw. S. Deemer as Secretary. Other Associations similar in plan were formed, prominently that of the Western Fu- neral Benefit Association, located at St. Louis, Mo. Some of the State Councils formed associations of their own, but with the excep- tion of the two above named, nearly all have been discontinued. The subject of individual insurance came before the National Council officers during the year 1897-1898, by a proposition being submitted to the National Councilor by the Mechanics' Department of the National Life Association of Hartford, Conn. This Asso- ciation importuned National Councilor Powell to give his endorse- ment to the proposition in order that insurance could be furnished the members of the Junior Order. This he refused to do, believing it not proper to turn the members over to an outside institution with an official endorsement, at the same time expressing himself that the National Council should be master of its own affairs. This thought was carried out in 1899 by the adoption of Article 12 of the National Council Constitution, which reads: " The National Council may by law, provide for the insurance of the members of the Order." However, at the Louisville session of the National Council, in 1898, a Committee was appointed, as per resolution, to investigate a suitable plan of endowment rank in the Order. The Committee 412 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER composed of Dr. J. L. Cooper, A. G. Bainbridge and E. Atmar Smith, took the subject under consideration, and submitted their report to the National Council at Minneapolis, Minn., as follows : " First. We recommend that the National Council establish an insurance branch in connection with the Order, which shall be known and designated as the " Beneficiary Degree." Second. We would recommend that the Beneficiary Degree be man- aged and controlled by the National Council, through duly elected officers to be known and designated as the " Board of Control." Third. We would recommend the following laws creating, defining and governing the Beneficiary Degree and the Board of Control. Then followed the code of laws for the government of said Bene- ficiary Degree. After being considered in the Committee of the Whole, the matter was referred back to the National Body without amendment and adopted. Subsequently in the session, a loan was granted the Degree of $5,000 to enable it to begin business. The Degree, however, was bitterly opposed by a certain element in the National Council, they claiming that its adoption, being an insur- ance feature, was in violation of the fundamental principles of the Order, hence the Degree had a " rocky " road to travel, and with the revolt in the organization when the whole fabric of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was at stake, the insurance feature was not looked upon with favor. However, when certain amendments were made in the Degree and the Colorado Charter under which it was incor- porated was surrendered and the Degree being incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, the confidence of the Order was secured and under wise management the Degree has reached the high plane that we find it at the Boston session, shown above. Owing to the part the officers of the Philadelphia Funeral Benefit Association took in the revolt, every one of them insurgents and in every possible way abetting the insurrectionists, the National Council took action on forming a Funeral Department of its own, a feature that had been too long neglected. At the session of the National Body in 1900, a resolution was passed authorizing the Law Committee to report at the next session a Constitution and By-laws governing the proposed Funeral Benefit Department. At the session of 1901 the Committee on Law submitted a Constitu- tion and code of By-laws which were adopted and this most excellent feature was made a part of the Order and came under the supervis- ion of the Supreme Body. It is needless to state that the adoption of this Department was a wise measure and that no Funeral Benefit Association is on a sounder basis and better managed. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 413 THE NATIONAL JUDICIARY In the previous pages of this volume some references have been made to this feature of the organization known as the Judi- ciary Department of the Order, the Court of last resort in the Order, which was adopted in 1899 when the entire governmental structure of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was changed. Their part in the earlier years of the revolt in the Order has been noted as well as many of their decisions have been given. However, it is clearly ■ observant on the part of those who have attended the National Council that the reports of the National Judiciary are never dis- cussed or even acted upon only to place same on record, their ac- tions being final, being the Last Court of Appeal in the fraternity. " What is written is written " is the superscription over the portals of the tribunal, and to such an extent is the Order loyal to this part of the body politic that without murmur their decrees are accepted. Following the history of this branch of the Order's government, it is a matter of note that the men who have served as the Justices of the Judicial Court have been above the average of mental acumen, and though not always selected from the legal fraternity, they have possessed judicial cast of mind that has enabled them clearly and unbiased to elucidate the matters brought before them, so that Solomon-like, they have generally rendered wise and just opinions and issued decrees in harmony with the spirit and intent of the Order. The decisions of the National Judiciary are generally on appeals from the State Judiciary or on appeals from Councils and members coming under the immediate jurisdiction of the National Council. Among the opinions filed with the National Council at Boston was one relative to the prerogatives of the National Board of officers. In this case the opinion was written by Chief Justice Hood upon the appeal of the State Council of Ohio in the form of a com- plaint against the National Council Officers, alleging that the National Board of Officers created the office of Chief Counsel to the National Council which the plaintiff claimed was unconstitutional. The opinion of the National Judiciary, in substance, was that the National Council was a corporation, and under its provisions when the National Council is not in session, its government is vested in the Board of Officers. They furthermore held it as the opinion 414 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER of the Court that the term Chief Counsel was not the creation of a new office which the plaintiff alleged was done in violation of the National Constitution, but that it was rather an employment, and, as with all corporations of the land, that they have a right to employ Counsel, so the Board of Officers had the same right under the corporate provisions of the National Council to employ Counsel to have chief supervision over the litigation in the Order. THE NATIONAL LAW COMMITTEE Reference has been made in but few instances in this volume to the National Law Committee, a very important branch of the government of the National Body, not that the work of the Com- mittee was unimportant, but from the fact that its reports had to do with matters that were local or otherwise not of so general a character that could find a place in the synopsis of the proceed- ings. However a fuller presentation of one of the reports of this Committee should be recorded, already alluded to on page 359, relative to the most remarkable document ever submitted to the National Council wherein the entire governmental structure of the Order was changed at Minneapolis in 1899. As is well known provisions in the old laws were made where- by a revision of the laws could take place every five years and at the Louisville session of the National Body " Brother P. S. O, Collins moved to refer the General Laws, Constitution of the National Council and Subordinate Councils under the jurisdic- tion of the National Council to the incoming Law Committee for general revision, which was agreed to." As the National Body had approved National Councilor Powell's recommendation " that the executive and judicial branches of the Order be separated and that a judiciary be created," it was of great importance to have on the Law Committee competent men and it was fortunate for the Order that a strong Committee was appointed, consisting of H. H. Eddy, of Colorado, Edw. Canning, of Iowa and J. A. Flint, of Kansas. Upon the Chairman of this Committee, Brother Eddy, devolved the great task and the National Constitution and General Laws submitted by that Committee was substantially the work of his hands. The report to the National Council at Minneapolis, however, was signed by but two of the Committee, Brothers Eddy and Flint, Brother Canning having withdrawn, and in whose place following the preparation of the report, Brother Houghton was appointed. The report of the Committee was as follows: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 415 ' To the Officers and Members of the National Council, " Jr. 0. U. A. M., to Meet in Minneapolis, Minn., June 20, 1899. " In accordance with a resolution adopted by the National Council at its annual session in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1898, we, the undersigned, the Law Committee of the National Council, beg leave to submit a revision of the National Constitution and Laws of the Order. Excepting that pursuant to the order of the National Council, approving the recommenda- tion of National Councilor Powell, a Judicial Department is provided for, we suggest no radical change in the Organic Law of the Order other than such changes as may be incidental to the plan of revision. " Believing it to be the part of wisdom, and especially in view of the proposed creation of a Judicial Department, we have sought to clearly define the functions of the several departments of government and to weed out of the Constitution all legislation and out of the Laws all statement of Organic principle. "We have labored under difficulties such as nre inherent in the Constitution of a National Law Committee, but submit herewith the result, under the circumstances, of our best effort. " Without pride of opinion as to any suggestion or recommendation, we seek in the final result to be attained the combined wisdom of the National Council assembled. " Respectfully, "H. H. Eddy, "J. A. Flint, " Law Committee." Relative to these laws as submitted, National Secretary Deemer had this to say: " OUR NEW LAWS. " Under our laws provision is made for a thorough revision of our laws every five years, and this is the time to do it. Each and every member has received a copy, and no matter what may be the personal opinions of the members, credit should be given to the committee that they have performed their duty faithfully and well. " The propriety of this organization having its laws fashioned after those of our country cannot be disputed, while their adoption would give us a set of laws superior to those of any organization in the country. I bespeak your careful consideration of them." THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE The report of this Committee, drawn up by its Secretary, Brother Jesse Taylor, was exhaustive, giving a resume of the work- done and the obstacles to surmount in obtaining what legislation they did along the line of restriction of immigration. The report gave an epitome of the subject itself and the relation of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. to this important feature connected with the organ- ization. Never did a Committee enter a campaign with more 416 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER determination to secure remedial legislation; and never did the Order and other organizations enter so heartily into the project; and never was the time so ripe for the enactment of wholesome immigration laws; and never were the signs so portentious; with a President favorable, backed by a sentiment found in the platform of the dominant party; a splendid sentiment in the Senate, and a good working majority in the House, the Order at large was ex- ceedingly jubilant, believing that when the National Council of 1907 would meet in session there would be a law on the statute- books of the Nation, such as the Order had been working to obtain for years, including an educational test. But all these healthful sentiments and splendid chances of final accomplishment of the Order's purposes, were overthrown by the arbitrary stand of one man — the Honorable Joseph Cannon — Speaker of the House of Representatives. The story of what was done in the way of legislation and the story of the " power behind the throne " that held in check and defeated, in a measure, the work of the Jr. 0. IT. A. M., has been told in the proper section. Suffice it to say that the campaign was waged by circulars and personal contact of the Committee with men and associations; and though expensive and the work of the Secre- tary being strenuous, the results were not commensurate with the work and money expended, owing to the reasons and causes recited in another place. While the Committee failed in securing the immigration law desired, they did secure a Uniform Naturalization Law, which will be far-reaching in its effects, and will have an important bearing upon the politics of our country. The Com- mittee was composed of Brother Z. P. Smith, Chairman ; Jesse Taylor, Sect., and A. D. Wilkin, Esq. The session was noted for little legislation affecting the policy of the organization. The splendid government under which the Order is working, seems perfectly satisfactory; and each State Council and Subordinate Council have adjusted themselves to its provisions. Two features of the session are noteworthy: 1. The presence of so many of what was known as the " Old Guard " who, in the time of the Order's peril, stood valiantly in the van. Past National Councilors Robert Ogle, of Maryland, and P. A. Shanor, of Pennsylvania, were everywhere present, keeping in touch with the business and work of the National Council. 2. Another feature noticeable was the introduction upon the floor of the National Council of a new set of men, some of them UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 417 of marked ability, who took prominent part in the proceedings. Of those who were frequently heard, and heard with pleasure, were Eev. R. D. Harding, Jr. Past State Councilor of Kentucky, and National Representative; Rev. James Miller, Jr. Past State Coun- cilor of Ohio, and also a Representative, and Judge Dumont of Kentucky — a fighter, every inch of him. Brother Dumont dis- played controversial powers of a high character, and though on some questions we did not agree with him, yet we are glad to say that when the session was closed, he had the respect and esteem of the brethren, who admire a man who has opinions of his own and is not afraid to express them. The National Council, by its own action, placed its official stamp upon the History of the Order prepared by the writer, by passing a resolution of endorsement, and that it be made the official History of the Order for ten years if in the opinion of the Board of Officers the manuscript was acceptable. The Board of Officers subsequently carried out the purpose of the National Council, accepted the proposals of the publisher and the Order has now the results of these actions in its possession. Something out of the ordinary took place at his session that never occurred during the previous history of the National Council, and it is safe to say that never again will take place, surrounded with the same peculiar features : We refer to the voluntary retire- ment of National Secretary Edward S. Deemer, after thirty-eight years' consecutive service in that important office, the first and only National Secretary since the institution of the National Council; and taking into consideration his filling the office of State Secretary of Pennsylvania from 1860 to 1869, the date of the institution of the National Council, made him practically the National Secretary for about forty-eight years. Forecasting the event, as the National Council had two years previous received his statement, the body decided to tender him a token of esteem, which consisted of a gold watch and charm studded with precious stones ; also an appropriate remembrance was provided for Mrs. Deemer, who, through so many years had encouraged her husband in his patriotic work. It nat- urally fell to the lot of Past National Representative Alex. M. DeHaven, Esq., of Philadelphia, to represent the National Body, as well as the Order, in presenting to his close and dear friend the tokens of affection ; and well and magnificently he did it. And the applause that followed never before was heard in Session of the National Council. Lack of space will only allow excerpts from the address. After a few prefatory remarks Brother DeHaven said : 27 418 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " Our Secretary possesses a unique position, the like of which our Order may never again enjoy. For forty-eight long, unbroken years he has maintained the same position, and in his retirement from it at the close of this day he will leave behind him a matchless record for the emulation of those who follow in that great office. More than two millions of dollars have passed through his custody and control, and it is one of the bright jewels in his crown of service that not so much as a single penny remains unaccounted for, and his books will close with a balance sheet without an erasure or a single flaw. . . . " When the history of our Order shall become a recorded fact, no more prominent name will emblazon its pages than that of our matchless Secretary. No matter upon what seas our Order has sailed, whether the winds blew hard and the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled, Deemer was ever the same. Sunshine and storm made no change, and the fiercest gales found him standing like a Gibraltar in the pathway of the great ocean of right. . . . " The position of Secretary of so great an Order as this is not an easy one. The mere forms of book-keeping, extensive correspondence or accuracy of detail is but a portion of the work required of him. He must be the strong arm in any administration of which he forms a part. What would Washington have been without the guiding intellect of ' the uncrowned king of American liberty,' Alexander Hamilton? What would the immortal Lincoln have achieved had the sound wisdom, learning and discretion of William H. Seward been absent from his side? What would the lamented Garfield have been had not the political wisdom of James G. Blaine stood out in bold relief to mark the epoch of that administra- tion? Where would have stood William McKinley had not the safe, guiding hand of John Hay been ever ready to help? What all these great Secretaries have been to the personages I have referred to, Deemer has been to the administrations of our Order. . . . " Around us to-day are seated representatives from nearly every State in our Union, and most of the States claim some great historical spot to which we make pilgrimage and to which our people ever pay homage. Primarily, of course, comes the Keystone State, and Pennsyl- vania points with pardonable pride towards its Independence Hall, Valley Forge, and kindred places, while you from the Old Dominion have your heart-strings throb when Mt. Vernon comes into view; and you of Tennessee find The Hermitage of Old Hickory one of the great beacon lights of your fair State; and you from the far-off Western coast — California — where the sun sinks each day and kisses the furthermost shore of our country ' good-night,' have with you all the memories of the Presidio and the Golden Gate; and you from the Lone Star State of Texas swell up with natural pride when the achievements of the Alamo are remembered; and you from this old Bay State challenge our admiration and respect when yonder Bunker Hill, with all its wealth of historic memory, transports our gaze. And, so I say that were not the law of our Order such that no Council shall be permitted to choose a name after any living being, I am satisfied that every State, even in addition to those I have hastily referred to, would in friendly rivalry engage for the first honor to bear the name of ' Deemer Council ' and I am satisfied that when the Great Summons shall come, though he is now reach- ing the patriarch's age of three-score and ten, and when he ' shall draw the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 419 draperies of his couch about him and lie down to pleasant dreams." all the states will hasten to name a ' Deomer Council,' but I trust in Hie sight of the Creator of all things of wisdom, that such an event as his 'taking off' is yet in the far, far distant future, and that he, though his head be tinged with the evening of life and the eye still bright like the promise of morning may still be numbered among us: ' Each for the joy of working and each in his separate star, Shall draw the thing as he sees it, for the God of things as they are.' "The watch, chain and charm now studded with the most precious stones are but the tokens of this session to our National Secretary, and while 200 members sit here for action, I am sure your expression is but re-echoing those of 190,000 devoted followers. If all the funds in our treasury were to have been voted toward the purchase of these tokens, and the greatest rivalry had existed for that honor, it could not be more appreciated than is the sentiment that now goes out to him from every heart in every home of every member of this great Order. While the book of his official life is now closed and bound down with the clasp of purest love and studded with the richest jewels of affection, his life and record are indelibly inscribed in the memories of those who have followed him in the great fight of spreading the cardinal principles of our fraternity, and the memory of them is his noblest monument." The National Council was in an appreciative humor at this session. Brother Bert Adams, of Tennessee, on behalf of the repre- sentatives, in a pleasing speech presented Past State Councilor Brother A. H. Andrews, Chairman of the Entertainment Commit- tee, who was in fact the whole committee, and his wife with a hand- some cut-glass service, which was a beautiful act. But the " bouquets " were not yet exhausted. Again the irrepressible Adams gained the floor and in a humorous speech, presented Judge Dumont with a toy. The great heart of the Judge was quick to see and appreciate the humor of it, and in response Brother Dumont made one of the most remarkable off-hand speeches that has been the privilege of the writer to listen to, which sparkled with gems of wisdom and wit of a high standard. While the present rate seemed safe, yet from experience of other insurance agencies of like import, it was considered a wise policy to make certain important changes in the Beneficiary Degree of the Order. After a long and thorough presentation of the changes proposed, the National Council unanimously adopted the schedule of rates as proposed by Manager Collins, who had given the subject careful study. The report of the Ritual Committee brought no new Ritual as all anticipated, since the National Council at Nashville had given the Committee no authority to even promise compensation for the 420 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER preparation of a long-felt ritualistic service. The National Coun- cil took a wonderful leap — never known to be so generous in its history so far as a Eitual is concerned — and authorized a new com- mittee to be appointed, and that the sum of $2,000 be offered for a new Eitual. The National Council closed with the installation of the fol- lowing officers : National Councilor — Henry C. Schaertzer, of California, National Vice-Councilor — H. L. W. Taylor, of Tennessee, National Secretary — Martin M. Woods, of Massachusetts, National Treasurer — Charles Reimer, of Maryland, National Conductor — Wilbur F. Cannon, of Colorado, National Warden — James E. Winterton, of Missouri, National Inside Sentinel — E. H. Heaton, of Virginia, National Outside Sentinel — W. E. Giddings, of Vermont, National Chaplain — Rev. M. D. Lichliter, of Pennsylvania, Board of Control — Walter L. Humphrey, of Alabama. Much has been said about expenses and high per capita tax in the National Body. The Finance Committee at Minneapolis recommended 15 cents per capita tax based on a membership of 183,508, which would have brought into the treasury $27,000. At the session of 1900 the Finance Committee reported receipts from per capita tax of $10,337, as against $26,776 the previous year. This loss was owing to the defection in the ranks; hence it was necessary to levy a per capita tax for general purposes of 30 cents, and at same time to avoid excessive taxation to meet the expenses of litigation, a loan was negotiated for $12,000, the Funeral Bene- fit Department and Beneficiary Degree purchasing certificates to the amount of $7,000. The wisdom of this policy is seen from the fact that at Boston in 1907 the National Council had over $20,000 in the treasury which admitted a reduction of the per capita tax to eighteen cents. IV. HISTORY OF STATE COUNCILS CHAPTER XXVI i. SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS IN outlining the plan of this History, it was our purpose to give a section to State Councils, under which head to present a brief synopsis of each so far as space would permit without making the volume too bulky. In this synopsis, we have aimed to give the time of the introduction of the Order into each state and the cir- cumstances surrounding the same, as well as a full record of the institution of the State Council, giving a list of its first officers, etc. Then in following out this idea, we have given the time and place of each succeeding session of the State Body, naming the four principal officers elected and incorporating a brief resume of the standing of the Order in the state, recounting the struggles or suc- cesses of same, and all such other facts or special items of business, resolutions, statutes, etc., that may be of general interest to the organization at large. To enable us to carry out this purpose, we sent a communica- tion to all State Council Secretaries, requesting the loan of the Proceedings of the State Council in order to obtain the data for such history. The majority of the State Council Secretaries heart- ily endorsed this feature of the work and very willingly aided the compiler, either by expressing or mailing the records desired. Others whose State Councils did not print the Proceedings, and the Journals being bulky, very kindly prepared a synopsis of the State Council records, which, while not as full and complete as each would have been had we had the opportunity of " culling " therefrom, showed how eager some of the Secretaries were in assisting us in carrying forward this part of the work. From these records and facts obtained from other sources, we have endeavored to carry out our original intention by giving a brief resume of each State Council. While the synopsis of the various State Councils is not, by any means, full in any case, we have aimed to give the " gist " of each without enlarging too greatly the scope of the publication. It is with regret, however, that we have not been able to obtain the data from all State Councils, notwithstanding the communica- tion, above referred to, was sent to each State Council Secretary. 421 422 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ALABAMA We learn from Deemer's History, that as early as 1889 the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was introduced into the State of Alabama by Past State Councilor Orange in the institution of Avondale Council, No. 1 ; but owing to being isolated the Council was but short-lived. No further attempt was made until 1894, when, on February 22, Washington Council, No. 1, was instituted by Past State Councilor Thos. B. Ivey, of Virginia. This Council stood alone until October, 1895, when Richmond Council, No. 2, was instituted by State Organizer Frank Rea, which was followed in April, 1896, by Winona, No. 3, instituted by L. S. McMillan, Deputy National Councilor, who also instituted Luverne, No. 4, with 23 applicants, April 7, same year. By direction of the National Board of Officers, National Or- ganizer F. C. Borden was sent into the state in 1897, who organized and instituted the following Councils : Mobile, No. 5, with 21 appli- cants, May 10; Birmingham, No. 4, presumably taking the number of Luverne which must have become defunct, with 20 applicants June 4 ; Monte Sano, No. 6, with 30 applicants, June 8 ; and R. E. Lee, No. 7, with 20 applicants, June 9, 1897. On June 10, 1897, Brother Borden met the delegates from the various Councils at Huntsville and proceeded to institute the State Council of Ala- bama in regular form. Without State Council data, gleaming our information from the meagre account given in the National Council Proceedings, we learn that R. M. Fletcher, Jr., was the first State Councilor and G. T. Miller the first State Council Secretary. Judging from Brother Borden's report to the National Council, he must have met with considerable discouragement in his efforts to plant Junior- ism in the state. At two places where he, with others, had secured a sufficient charter list and the time had been arranged for the institution of the Councils, influences had been brought to bear upon the applicants by members of other organizations, through jealousy and selfishness, to such an extent that the larger portion of applicants remained away, and the Councils could not be instituted. The first National Representatives elected were: G. T. Miller, J. W. Tyler, J. C. Stoner, H. F. Roberts and William Mitchell. With the exception of J. W. Tyler, a full delegation attended the National Council at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1898. Counting the institution of the State Council the first session, the Second Annual Session was held on the second Thursdav of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 423 June, 1898, at which session J. W. Tyler was elected State Coun- cilor and J. C. Stoner State Vice-Councilor. The standing of the Order for the year ending December 31, 1897, was as follows: Number of Councils 6 Number of Members 251 It is worthy of note, that Past State Councilor R. M. Fletcher enlisted at the call of the President to enter the American Army in the Spanish-American War, and served with distinction as Regi- mental Surgeon. R. L. Hay, National Representative, also went to the front as Captain. The session of 1899 was held at Huntsville, in the month of June, and was presided over by State Councilor Tyler. The elec- tion of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — J. C. Stoner, State Vice-Councilor— J. F. Woodliff, State Council Secretary — G. T. Miller. Walter L. Humphrey was elected National Representative, who is very favorably known to many in the National Council. The Order grew, but very slowly, gaining from 20 to 50 in membership the first few years. The report of the National Secre- tary ending December 31, 1898, gave to the state 10 Councils and 323 members. On June 14, 1900, the Fourth Annual Session convened at Gadsden, with State Councilor J. C. Stoner in the Chair. J. F. Woodliff was elected State Councilor; A. H. Lewis, State Vice- Councilor; Walter L. Humphrey, State Council Secretary, and Win. Mitchell State Council Treasurer. In 1901, April 9, the State Body met at Madison, State Coun- cilor Woodliff presiding. The officers chosen for the ensuing year were the following: State Councilor — A. H. Lewis, State Vice-Councilor — L. D. Browne, State Council Secretary — W. L. Humphrey, State Council Treasurer — Wm. Mitchell. The gain for the year in membership was 105, making a total of 428. The Sixth Annual Session of the State Council convened at the City of Mobile, April 8, 1902, State Councilor Lewis presiding. 424 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER L. D. Browne was elected State Councilor and W. J. Nesbit State Vice-Councilor, Brothers Humphrey and Mitchell reelected Secre- tary and Treasurer of the body. On the 21st of May, 1903, Birmingham entertained the State Council with State Councilor Browne presiding. The number of Councils were increased from 11 to 17, while the membership advanced from 690 to 982. W. J. Nesbit was pro- moted to the Chair of State Councilor and F. F. Conway was selected for State Vice- Councilor. In 1904, the home town of the State Councilor, W. J. Nesbit, entertained the State Body, April 22 and 23. Brother Conway was elected State Councilor and S. Y. Locke State Vice-Councilor. There was no change in either the State Council Secretary or Treasurer. W. J. Nesbit and W. L. Humphrey were chosen to rep- resent the State Council in the National Body, the session of 1904 being held at St. Louis, at which time Brother Humphrey was elected a member of the Board of Control Beneficiary Degree, and subsequently, by appointment of the National Councilor, Brother Nesbit was named one of a Special Committee to formulate a State Council Eitual. The report submitted at this session by the Secretary must have been gratifying, there being 22 Councils, a gain of 5, and 1,411 members, a gain of 429. Huntsville opened its doors to the Ninth Annual Session of the State Council in 1905, F. F. Conway, State Councilor, in the Chair. While there was a gain of one Council, there was on the other hand a loss of 60 in membership. The standing of the Order in the state was as follows: Number of Councils 23 Number of Members 1351 Receipts of Subordinate Councils $10,257.23 Paid for Relief 2,740.25 Worth of Councils 3,666.03 The following officers were elected: State Councilor — S. Y. Locke, State Vice-Councilor — W. F. McCartney, State Council Secretary — W. L. Humphrey, State Council Treasurer — Wm. Mitchell. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 425 The State Council of Alabama, though less than a decade in existence, gives fair promise of forging to the front and keeping pace with sister states of the Southland. Those who have been and are still in the van of the patriotic hosts, are not so numerous as in the older states, yet where they lack in numbers they make up in the intensity of their purpose to build up the Order in their dear old state. With brothers like F. F. Conway, W. L. Humphrey, W. J. Nesbit, L. S. McMillan, J. C. Stoner, and those holding the elective offices (1905), Locke, McCartney and Mitchell, the Na- tional Council may expect within the next decade to hear of great things being done in Alabama. ARKANSAS National Organizer F. C. Borden introduced the Order into the State of Arkansas, by the institution of Fort Smith Council, No. 1, at Fort Smith, December 21, 1896. This was followed by the institution of Little Rock, No. 2, at Little Eock, January 8, 1897, with 21 applicants and Hot Springs Council, No. 3, at Hot Springs, March 19, 1897, with 27 charter members, both being instituted by National Organizer Borden. Finding much opposi- tion to the Order, the people thinking the organization but a " political scheme/' Brother Borden withdrew from the state and gave his attention to other fields of labor. Special Organizer R. F. Hamilton, of Indian Territory, was sent into the state early in the year 1898, and on March 28, he instituted Huntington, No. 4, at Huntington, with 27 applicants, which was followed by Jenny Lind, No. 5, with 42 charter members on April 21, and Bonanza, No. 6, on April 27, with 24 applicants, both instituted by Brother Hamilton. Returning to the state early in 1899, Brother Hamilton instituted the State Council of Arkansas on February 19, 1899, and installed the following officers : Jr. Past State Councilor — J. L. Harris, State Councilor — J. A. Finney, State Vice-Councilor — A. F. Booth, State Council Secretary — A. J. Burk. W. A. Kelly, C. P. Ordway, I. S. Ray, W. S. Hill and J. H. Binforf were named for National Representatives. Those who have sat in the State Councilor's Chair since the institution of the State Council up to 1905-1906 are as follows: J. L. Harris, Prof. J. B. Williamson, M. B. Legate, J. C. Williamson, W. R. Booth, R. C. Maxwell and Plymouth Forbes. 426 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Among the active spirits in Arkansas Juniorism might be named: J. C. Williamson, J. B. Williamson, A. J. Burk, W. A. Kelly, W. F. Forbes, Plymouth Forbes, J. A. Finney, J. L. Harris, and R. C. Maxwell. Without the aid of State Council records, the above brief facts are all we have been able to gather. The Order in Arkansas, how- ever, has not made much advance, and at no time since the institu- tion of the State Council has the membership reached 400. Ac- cording to the report ending December 31, 1904, the following is the standing of the Order in the state : Number of Councils 10 Number of Members 273 Received by Subordinate Councils $2102.42 Paid for Relief 1001.12 CALIFORNIA The " Golden " or " Sunset State " heard the tramp, tramp, tramp of the Junior " boys " years ago and cordially welcomed the young American Order early in the 80's, by members of the Order from the East who had migrated to the land of sunshine and flowers. The first mention of the state in the records of the Order is in 1884, when, in his report to the Natonal Councl, the National Councilor stated that he had appointed Brother E. C. Douglass, D. N. C. of California. In the meantime members from the East in San Francisco and Los Angeles were seeking information and sowing the seed-truths of patriotism, and thus were preparing the way for the harvest. It was not until 1888, however, that, in the language of N. C. Geo. W. Elbert, it could be said, " To-day our Order is planted from Plymouth Rock to the Golden Shores of the Pacific," etc., as on May 1, 1888, a charter had been granted Manzanita Council, No. 1, located at Petaluma, California, with 24 applicants. Brother W. H. Van Marter, of Goodwill Council, N. J., organized the Council, and on May 10 National Councilor Elbert had the honor of instituting the same and giving it a New Jersey blessing. In speaking of the Council, he says : " The members of this Council are among the most active and earnest Juniors it has been my pleasure to meet." The members of the new Council, scarcely a month old, felt somewhat important, in fact they had the right to be, as they were the pioneers of the Pacific Coast, as in the largeness of their hearts UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 427 they sent an invitation to have the National Council hold its next annual session in their city. Manzanita Council stood alone until 1890, when California Council, No. 2, was instituted in San Fran- cisco, which was followed by Pixley Council, No. 3, at Pixley. However, in 1891, California's first Councils failed to report and became defunct. Several efforts were made, first by Brother Col- lins, then by the California brethren, to reorganize the Councils, but after "much valuable time was spent" the task was given up. THE STATE COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA On February 9th, 1893 Brother Stephen Collins instituted Pacific Council No. 1 at San Luis Obispo with 21 applicants. Brother Collins was due to attend the State Council session of Washington, February 22, and only had time to look over the ground in San Francisco. Eeturning January 20, 1894 he took up the work and by the 29th of the month had instituted Abraham Lincoln Council, No. 2 at San Francisco; February 5, Wash- ington Council No. 3 at Santa Barbara; February 9, John C. Fremont Council No. 4 -at San Bernardino ; February 19, Union Council No. 5 at Los Angeles. He then celebrated Washington's birthday by instituting the State Council of California, Febru- ary 22, 1894, at which the following officers were elected: Junior Past State Councilor — C. C. Cook, State Councilor — L. S. Butler, State Vice-Councilor — H. C. Schaertzer, State Council Secretary — Isaac S. Smith,, State Council Treasurer — Chas. T. Powers, State Council Conductor — Chas. H. Thomas, State Council Warden — L. B. Manes, State Council Sentinels — Chas. W. Sonneman, and Geo. E. Terry. After the institution of the State Council, Bro. Collins organ- ized Starr King Council, No. 6, at San Francisco, March 9; Red- lands, No. 7, March 12, and Magnolia, No. 8, at Riverside, March 15. At the semi-annual meeting in August, 18 Councils were re- ported and 529 members. In the meantime Brother Collins had been " dropped " by the National Board of Officers as National Or- ganizer, following the Asheville session, whereas, in a set of reso- lutions, the State Body deplored the action of said Board of Officers and expressed their confidence and esteem for him who had wrought such a great work for California. The Second Annual Session was held at Redlands, February 22 and 23, 1895, L. S. Butler presiding, who was assisted by our 428 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER present (1907) National Councilor, Brother Schaertzer, who, from the beginning, was a most active spirit in California Juniorism. Oakland, March 3, 1896, entertained the State Body, Brother Schaertzer in the Chair. The year previous had been one of great prosperity. Twelve Councils had been organized and under Brother Schaertzer's administration for the year, the membership reached 2,243, a gain of 1,234. Having guided the affairs of the state with such a master-hand, the State Council reelected him for another year. When the State Body met at Sacramento in 1897, it had reached " high water-mark," a small gain having been reported. Again the State Council selected Brother Schaertzer to preside over the Order in the state, a compliment but seldom showed any member in any jurisdiction. At the close of the session a very pleasing incident took place in which Brother D. B. Bowley had the floor: " Brother State Councilor : " For two consecutive terms you have fiHed, with honor to yourself and our beloved Order, the highest office within our gift — that of our chief. It was largely due to your individual efforts that the Jr. O. U. A. M. was introduced and established throughout California. We recognize that it has been a sacrifice on your part, as the time consumed in attending to the important duties of your office should have been devoted to your profession. I have been requested by the members of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. and the D. of L. from every portion of our dear State to present to you at this time this beautiful gold watch as a slight token of their regard for their State Councilor, and because your earnest efforts have been appreciated. " As the hands of this watch glide on, indicating the different periods of time, may all go well with you and our worthy Order. May your future and the future of the Jr. O. U. A. M. be peaceful and bright, with no more clouds than may glisten in the sunshine, no more rain than may form a rainbow, and may you meet all of your fraternal brethren and sisters in that Grand Council beyond the River." When the State Council met at Los Angeles, at its Fifth Session in 1898, a loss in membership was reported, owing to hard times and the impression that had gone abroad that the Order was an A. P. A. Association. The fear of being " boycotted " by the Roman Catholic Church deterred many from allying themselves with the Order, and drove others out of it. For instance, one member under the influence of intoxicants, in a saloon, shouted at the top of his voice that the Junior Order would drive every Catholic out of town. As a sequel, the Council in the place disbanded. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 429 San Jose received the State Council at its Sixth Annual Ses- sion, 1899, presided over by Brother M. PI. Bellinger, State Coun- cilor. The Order in the state had entered the era of discourage- ment, loss of membership and lack of finances represented the true condition of affairs. One feature of this session, not often seen in State bodies, was the taking of an informal ballot for the various offices, those lowest in number generally declining, whereupon a ballot was had for election. Brother Herman Paine, the present energetic State Council Secretary, was elected to that position, to which he has been reelected each year since. Brother Terry had served in that office for some years, but declined reelection. With $32 on hand, the State Council be^an another vear The Seventh Annual Session was held at San Francisco, March 20 and 21, 1900, with Brother H. G. Squires at the helm. The State Councilor gave a clear resume of the difficulties that ob- structed the progress of the Order in the state, principally that of the misconstruction placed upon the teachings of the organization. Upon this point, he says: " This being the case, ours must be a campaign of education; we must enlighten every intelligent citizen of our fair state as to what our principles are and to what extent we are endeavoring to carry them out." These principles he characterized as " God's highest and noblest ideals of American manhood and citizenship." The death of Past State Councilor L. S. Butler, the first State Councilor of California, was announced as occurring September 9, 1899. In 1901, the meeting of the State Council was held at Oak- land, 19th and 20th of March, Brother J. F. Burns in the Chair. The progress of the Order in the state was somewhat impeded from the fact that the laws adopted at the last session did not conform to the requirements of the Supreme Laws of the Order as enacted at the Minneapolis session of the National Body. Through the ear- nest efforts of the State Council Secretary, Brother Paine, the laws were made to conform to the National requirements, with the under- standing that the same would be ratified at the next session of the State Body. This defect in the laws grew out of a misconstruction of the real and true import of the laws adopted by the National Council, hence was accidental, not intentional. 430 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER It required but one day to transact the business at the session of 1902, that was held at Oakland, S. C., Brother Geo. H. Derrick- presiding. Jr. P. N. C, Brother Beeves, of State of Washington, was present and addressed the State Body and installed the officers. About 25 members were in attendance, two new Councils were re- ported and an increase of 43 members. San Jose again opened its doors to the State Body in 1903, and a two-day session was held, S. C. Brother J. L. Starr in the Chair. Organizing work during the year had progressed very well under the successful efforts of Brother A. L. Wells, who instituted five new Councils and resuscitated several old ones, and rendered valuable service. The report of the National Kepresentatives was- a divided one, my good friends Brothers Woods and Burns failing to " see eye to eye " as to the status of affairs as they existed in the National Body, hence each submitted his personal report. Happily the causes that engendered divided feelings at that time in several of the states are of the past, and after the "lovefeast" at Nashville, in 1905, I am sure my dear Brothers Woods and Burns could have sub- mitted a joint report, both being true and loyal to what they thought was right. The Eleventh Annual Session was held at Los Angeles in 1904, with Hon. Eli Wright presiding. Those who were fortunate enough to enjoy the hospitality of the California Juniors at the National Council session of 1903 will not forget the splendid treatment received from the " boys " during their stay in the " Golden State." The courteous and brotherly reception given the Supreme Body, its members and their wives, will not be eliminated from the memories of those who crossed the Great Mountains to participate in the business and pleasures of the occasion. To give this royal entertainment, the Committee of Arrangements at this session of their State Council reported that the sum of nearly $1,100 had been expended. This did not include the entertainment given by the brothers of San Jose, the carriage ride among the fruit orchards of that famous and beautiful valley and the great banquet at its close; neither did it include the great trolley ride given by the 'Los Angeles trolley system, through the courtesy of Brother Burns. A charter was granted at this session for a Council to be named Gen. John A. Sutter Council. No. 25. Of all names dear to Cali- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 481 fornia, that of "Sutter" should be the dearest of nil, as it was in his mill-race that the -first gold ore was found thai enthused the world. That which impressed the writer most while reading the records of this session were the pages set aside In Memoriam of those of the State Body who had " passed into the Great Beyond." The page especially that attracted our attention and touched our heart, was the one set apart In Memoriam of the lamented P. N. C. Brother Geo. B. Bowers, a most beautiful tribute to one whoso life was beautiful as it was good. Pennsylvania appreciates this mag- nanimous tribute of respect to her most beloved brother. The lines concluding the Memorial we quote : " Lives of all great men remind us We should make our lives sublime; And in parting, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time." Fresno had the honor of entertaining the State Council at its Thirteenth Annual Session, March 20 and 21, 1905, with S. C. Brother D. G. Mitchell in the Chair; 39 answered to their names at roll-call. Special efforts had been made by the Board of Officers during the year to stir up interest throughout the jurisdiction, and in a measure, were succesfnl. The subject of Kestricted Immigration had been brought very prominently before the members of the Order, with the request that each write a personal letter to his Eepresentative in Congress asking his support of the proposed meas- ure in Congress that was being backed by the National Legislative Committee. As a result of this appeal 288 replies from Senators and Congressmen were received by the 104 members who were inter- ested enough to write. The number of letters sent to members ask- ing for personal letters to be written was 1,197. We leave the interesting story of the " Golden State " with this the Thirteenth Annual Session of the State Council. Its story has been similar to that of nearly every state in which our Order has gone — sometimes up then sometimes down, but heroically the little band of patriots stood by the "old ship." Conspicuous in the annals of the Order in California, both in State and the Na- tional Council many brothers could be named At the head of the list stands National Vice-Councilor (elected National Councilor 432 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER in 1907) H. C. Schaertzer. Associated with him we would men- tion Herman Paine. S. C. Secretary; Past State Councilors J. L. Starr, J. F. Burns, D. G. Mitchell, Dr. Geo. H. Derrick, H. G. Squiers, Wm. E. Bouton, C. C. Cook, and State Councilor Fred C. Pattison. Others, though they never " sat upon the throne," were equally prominent and were full of " good works," some of them having had the honor of representing the State Council in the Supreme Body. I might mention D. B. Bowley, S. Jos. Theison, E. M. Wilson, F. A. Tibbetts, D. E. Woods, C. F. Quirey, State Council Treasurer C. M. Prater, F. H. Hall, J. W. Rodgers and State Vice-Councilor L. C. Shannon (1906). With an outlook never brighter, with earnest determined men at the helm, the year following the session of March, 1906, prom- ised great things. But the year had scarcely begun when the entire land, yea, the world was startled by the announcement of the appal- ling calamity that befell the beautiful City of San Francisco and many adjacent places. As a result, the Order in the City of San Francisco was paralyzed, Council halls either going down in the earthquake or up in flames, the members driven and burned out of their homes and the wheels of the organization for the time being were stopped. Scarcely had the embers cease to burn when the great heart of the Order burst with unselfish philanthropy, and from every Council in the land went out a quick response to the cry of their California brethren. The Junior Order was among the first to revive from the shock, and at once quarters were secured and the work of the Order was resumed. The work of the Committee in the reorganizing of the ruined Councils and the expending of the relief fund of more than $7,000 was a stupendous task and great credit is due the brothers for their labor of love. To Brothers State Council Secretary Herman Paine and State Vice-Councilor L. C. Shannon fell the greater part of the work in reviving the Councils and distributing the relief fund, and honorably and conscientiously did they perform their brotherly and fraternal duty. The report of the State Council Secretary for the year ending February 28, 1906, shows the following: JN umber of Councils 13 Number of Members 1347 Paid for Benefits and Relief $3,711.00 Amount in Treasury of Subordinate Councils 3,849.20 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 433 (The session of 1907 was held in March, and notwithstanding the great havoc occasioned by the calamity that befell San Fran- cisco and other places, burning of halls where the Councils met and paralyzing the Order, so deep-seated is the Order in the Golden State that the State Council Secretary was able to report a net gain in membership of 133, and a membership of 1470.) COLORADO The " Silver State " found its " Moses " in National Organizer Stephen Collins, who, fresh from the victories of his own State of Pennsylvania, where the very air was permeated with Juniorism, entered the State of Colorado early in January of 1893 and soon had kindled a fire of patriotism that was in a few years to sweep over the entire state, and gathered about him as noble and en- thusiastic a body of leaders as could be found anywhere. In a very short time Brother Collins had three Councils organized and instituted same, as follows: Washington Council, No. 1, January 25, 1893 ; John C. Fremont, No. 2, January 30, and Silver State, No. 3, January 31, 1893. Doing some work elsewhere, the National Organizer returned to the state and instituted Plymouth, No. 4, May 23 ; Amethyst, No. 5, May 27 ; El Moro, No. 6, May 29, and Winona No. 7, May 30, 1893. On May 31, 1893, in due form, he instituted the State Council of Colorado, at Denver, and installed over it the following officers: Jr. Past State Councilor — J. C. Shearing, State Councilor — C. A. Creighton, State Vice-Councilor — G. A. Reese, State Council Secretary — H. L. Sparks, State Council Treasurer — Edwin Little, National Representatives — C. H. Peters, J. O. Fisher, C. E. Keepers, J. R. Hogehoom and H. L. Sparks. For several years the State Council met semi-annually, the first meeting being held at Pueblo, November 23, same year. The State Body since its institution sustained a great loss in the death of State Council Secretary H. L. Sparks. At this session, C. H. Peters was elected to fill the unexpired term. The second annual meeting was also held at Pueblo, May 8, 1894, presided over by State Councilor Creighton. One who was to take a prominent part in shaping the policy of Juniorism, not only in Colorado, but throughout the entire National jurisdiction, was present at this session as a representative of Winona Council, No. 7, Brother Joseph Powell. He at once became conspicuous in 28 434 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the session, submitting many resolutions in harmony with the teach- ings of the Order. The officers elected were as follows : State Councilor — Geo. A. Reese, State Vice-Councilor — Joseph Powell, State Council Secretary — Chas. H. Peters, State Council Treasurer — Thomas Atkinson. When the semi-annual meeting convened at Denver, on Novem- ber 13, same year, the Order was in a thriving condition. State Vice-Councilor Brother Powell had been appointed Special Or- ganizer, whose work resulted in much good. After several heroic attempts Councils were instituted at Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek, H. H. Eddy and A. Eex Molette rendering excellent assist- ance. State Councilor Reese presided at the annual session of the State Body held at Colorado Springs, May 14, 1895. The year closing had witnessed a great advance along all lines of work, the gain in membership being 400 per cent. Brother Powell, as Special Organizer, was given special credit for this increase by the State Councilor who paid him a high compliment. Brother Powell was one of Colorado's most intelligent, energetic and tireless workers, and the success that came to the Order in those early years was due very largely to his enthusiasm. National Councilor Richter spoke of him as " that tireless worker," while Deputy National Councilor Shearing referred to him as having the " true push of a loyal Westerner." The membership reported was given at 1,123. Brother Wilbur Cannon, as Chairman of the State Legislative Committee, reported that efforts at legislation had been made in the Legislature, but all their bills had been turned down. In the election of officers, the following were named: State Councilor — Joseph Powell, State Vice-Councilor — H. N. Green, State Council Secretary — Chas. H. Peters, State Council Treasurer — Thos. Atkinson. The Tidal Wave was endorsed as the official organ for the State Council. The Silver West was a competitive publication for official recognition. Canon City, on May 12 and 13, 1896, entertained the State Council, with State Councilor Powell in the Chair, it being the Fourth Annual Session. The year just closing had witnessed an unprecedented advance, notwithstanding the environments that are UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 435 to be found in all the Western states. Under Brother Powell's matchless administration the Order in the state had been brought to the approximate number of 2,500 members, the official reporl for year ending December 31, 1895, showing 23 Councils and 2,077 members, and on March 31, 1896, the number reported was 2,206. It is due, however, to state that part of this success belonged to Brother Powell's associates on the Board of Officers and his Deputies, as a portion of the year was spent by the State Councilor in other states as National Organizer. The financial standing of the state was given as follows : Received by Subordinate Councils $12,364.23 Paid for Relief 832.25 Worth of Councils 5,000.00 By invitation of the Colorado brethren, the National Council of 1896 convened in Denver, and from the reports of those who were present, the " boys " gave the members of the body a rousing reception and spared no pains and money to show them the wonders of that romantic region. The National Council recognized the sterling qualities of Brother Powell at this session by electing him National Vice- Councilor, and at Pittsburg, Pa., in 1897, he was exalted to the Chair of National Councilor, in which position he presided to the satisfaction of all at Louisville, in 1898. From 1896 to 1905-6, the following have presided over the State Council of Colorado : Thos. C. Harbison, H. H. Eddy, A. Rex Molette, R. A. Grossman, W. W. Bulette, Wilbur F. Cannon, Geo. B. Larimer, W. A. Pollard, J. A. Riehl and W. F. Chamberlain. Colorado Juniorism was born under auspicious circumstances. Strong men were at the helm whose enthusiasm inspired confidence throughout the entire jurisdiction and the membership passed quickly beyond the 2,000 mark. But troublesome times came — some of the leaders removed from the state, others though as en- thusiastic encountered obstacles, Councils lost interest in the organ- ization, while opposition upon the part of the enemies of free institutions took on new life and gradually the Order declined until the report for year ending March 31, 1906, gives the follow- ing standing of the Order in the state: Number of Councils 8 Number of Members 644 Receipts of Subordinate Councils $6,562.64 Paid for Relief 1,446.90 Worth of Councils 3,140.49 436 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The following officers were elected at the annual session held in May, 1906 : State Councilor — Don A. Swett, State Vice-Councilor — O. E. Rickerson, Jr., State Council Secretary — W. A. Pollard, State Council Treasurer — J. R. Madden. Including the above officers, those who left an impress upon Colorado Juniorism, the following might be named : Past National Councilor Jos. Powell, Past Chief Judge National Judiciary H. H. Eddy, who framed the present Constitution and Laws of trie Order ; Hon. Wilbur F. Cannon, Thos. C. Harbison, E. A. Crossman, C. A. Creighton, A. Bex Molette, W. \V. Bulette, J. C. Shearing, G. A. Eeese, Geo. B. Larimer, all Past State Councilors; together with Brothers Lounsbury, Booth and Judge Adams. It is to be hoped that a brighter day is coming for the " Silver State." Of the above list of Colorado Juniors, Senior Past State Councilor J. C. Shearing is no more, having departed this life sometime in 1895 or 1896, having united with Smoky City Council, No. 119, of Penn- sylvania, and removing to Colorado, he became a charter member of Plymouth Council, No. 4, and was its Eecording Secretary at the time of his death. As stated before, at the institution of the State Council of Colorado he was selected Junior Past State Coun- cilor. He was an earnest Junior, having served as Deputy National Councilor of his state and was holding that position at the time of his death. CONNECTICUT From Deemer's History we learn that as early as 1871, the Order was introduced into the " Nutmeg State " by the institution of Liberty Council, No. 1, followed by Franklin Council, No. 2, in October, 1872, and Manhattan, No. 3, May 5, 1874. Liberty Council, No. 1, having become defunct, on February 7, 1889, Star Council was instituted and given that number. However, at the opening of the year 1893, the Councils in the state were extinct. Whereupon, Special Organizer J. E. Eollison, of New Jersey, was directed to enter the state and in February of same year instituted Jas. G. Blaine Council, No. 1. This was followed by Chamberlain, No. 2, June, 1893, instituted by J. C. Sherwood; Liberty Bell, No. 3, June 16, 1894, by Special Organizer Geo. W. McFarland; Buckingham, No. 4, at Hartford, by Deputy National Councilor E. D. Fitch, October 4, 1894, and Winona, No. 5, at Waterbury, by National Organizer Orange, May 10, 1895. These were followed UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 437 by the institution of the State Council of Connecticut, June 11, 1895, by National Organizer Orange, at New Haven. The officers of the State Council were selected as follows : Jr. Past State Councilor — J. C. Sherwood, State Councilor — G. L. Wheeler, State Vice-Councilor — R. D. Fitch, State Council Secretary — F. H. Baldwin. Those chosen as National Eepresentatives at the institution of the State Body were : W. G. Kimberly, Dr. J. H. Gardiner, C. E. Crane and W. 0. Staples. Brother Staples was the only one of the delegation who attended the National session at Omaha. As per report for the year ending December 31, 1895, the standing of the State Council was as follows: Number of Councils 10 Number of Members 667 Received by Subordinate Councils $3,054.31 Paid for Relief 132.00 Worth of Councils 503.97 At the session of the State Council, held September, 1895, R. D. Fitch was elected State Councilor and W. G. Kimberly State Vice-Councilor. In 1896, W. G. Kimberly was elected State Councilor and J. A. Schroeder State Vice-Councilor. E. W. Bell was elected State Council Secretary. The year previous had witnessed a nice increase in members and a big advance in the finances of the Order. At the 1897 session J. A. Schroeder was elected State Coun- cilor and F. G. Hawley State Vice- Councilor. From 1898 to 1905, the following brothers filled the position of State Councilor : F. G. Hawley, Jos. E. James, F. H. King, A. S. Prentice, Chas. F. Mer- rill, E. E. Eno, C. B. Fargo and F. F. Freeman. The standing of the State Council for year ending December 31, 1904, was as follows: Number of Councils 12 Number of Members 1126 Received bv Subordinate Councils $16,184.32 Paid for Relief 232.65 Worth of Councils 8,670.52 While the Order is not numerically very strong in the state, yet it has moved forward at moderate pace and remains nearly the same one year with the other The Order is on a safe basis and is 438 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER composed of conservative members, numbering among the best of citizens in the Commonwealth. Quite a number of the brothers of Connecticut who have been honored by the State Council, are still active, more or less, in the promulgation of the Order. Of these we might name the follow- ing: Past State Councilors F. G. Hawley, J. C. Sherwood, R. D. Fitch, J. A. Schroeder, J. K. James, E. E. Eno, C. B. Fargo and F. F. Freeman; Past National Kepresentatives, not named above, S. H. Smith, B. F. White, W. L. Carpenter, W. E. Allen and E. L. Goulden, the latter being State Council Treasurer, and State Coun- cil Secretary H. N. Marvin. A conspicuous pillar of the Order in Connecticut, one known far and wide throughout the Union, was W. 0. Staples, for years National Representative, but more prominently known as the Na- tional Secretary of the Daughters of Liberty. But he has been removed from the earthly Council to the Supreme Council " beyond the river." DELAWARE To the 0. U. A. M. the credit belongs of introducing the Jr. 0. U. A. M. into the State of Delaware, the " Diamond State," the second state in the Order, sometime in August of 1864, by the organization of Diamond Council, No. 1. John S Cosgrove and Frank McCale attended the State Council of Pennsylvania as Rep- resentatives, under whose jurisdiction Delaware was for the time being, October 18, 1864, while at the quarterly session held January 17, 1865, four Representatives were in attendance. At the regular session of the State Council of Pennsylvania, held April 17, 1865, Wm. H. Killiam, of Delaware, was elected State Council Warden. Brother Killiam was quite prominent in the earlier years of the Order in his state and served the organization with credit, having been one of Delaware's Representatives in 1869 to organize the National Council, at which preliminary meeting he was the Chairman. Hope Council, No. 2, was instituted in July of 1866, during which month the State Council of Pennsylvania convened in Wil- mington, Delaware. Rescue Council, No. 3, was instituted in Oc- tober of 1867, and Wilmington Council, No. 4, in January, 1868, and on the 18th of April following, the State Council of Delaware was launched into existence. The State Council, however, was not instituted without consid- erable opposition on the part of a portion of the Order in the State UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 439 of Delaware. At the quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania State Council in January, 1868, application for a State Council was filed by Kepresentatives of three of the Councils of the state, against which a protest was filed by Kescue Council of same state. The matter being referred to a committee by the State Council for con- sideration, that committee subsequently in the session reported as follows : 1. " Each Council is to appoint a committee in order to promote harmony in the Councils of the State, in order that the rive Councils of the State shall make application for a charter. 2. " The principal objection to a State Council is the want of suili- cient means to properly carry out the same." Other provisions were submitted by the committee — that if they thought they could carry on a State Council, to make a second application which should be granted, provided that " said State Council of Delaware shall be under the jurisdiction of the State Council of Pennsylvania, which shall be the National Council of the Order until another State Council is formed; and that they be entitled to four Kepresentatives." The report of the Committee stirred up an animated discus- sion, amendments to grant a charter at once and one that it be granted April 1 were both lost. A motion to accept the report and discharge the Committee was also defeated. Finally the Committee was discharged and the matter was referred to the Judiciary Com- mittee to grant a charter if they saw fit. At the quarterly session of the State Council of Pennsylvania, held at Wilmington, Delaware, April 8, 1868, the Judiciary Com- mittee made its report, stating that all differences among the Coun- cils of Delaware had been adjusted, there having been submitted an unanimous request from the Councils of the state for a charter for a State Council sometime in February preceding, but in the opinion of the Committee, consisting of Nathan Penrose and Geo. W. Bottom, it was claimed that they had not the prerogative to grant charters to State Councils, thereby conferring on individuals powers coextensive with those of the State Council itself. Hence the Judiciary Committee very wisely referred the matter to the State Council without recommendation or suggestion, but simply stated the facts of the harmonious action on the part of the Coun- cils of Delaware. Action upon the application being favorable, a charter was granted and made out, and at the same session, the State Council of Delaware was duly constituted, thus bringing into exist- ence the first-born of the family of State Councils. 440 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Hoping to obtain some data relative to the institution of the first State Council of Delaware, we communicated with Past Na- tional Councilor T. C. Appleby, who had united with Wilmington Council, No. 4, in January, 1868, but he was unable to give the uames of the officers elected or any other facts connected therewith. However, Brother Appleby recalled the brethren who, at that time, were prominent in the organization, viz. : J. P. Edwards, W. H. Killiam, T. H. H. Messenger, E. F. Lummis, J. Scanlon, Arthur Outten, Levi Speakman, John Killiam, Wm. Hanna, J. Clayton, Win. J. Maxwell, Samuel Barker, Wm. Crossley and Frank Ball. All of these brethren, with the exception of Samuel Barker, were charter, members of the State Council. The State Council of Delaware, in connection with Pennsyl- vania and New Jersey, elected five Representatives for the purpose of organizing a National Council, viz., Wm. H. Killiam, John P. Edwards, William Crossley, F. Ball and J. Scanlon. As before stated, William H. Killiam called the convention to order and presided over the preliminary exercises. John P. Edwards was elected the first National Treasurer. None of the charter members from Delaware, forming the National Council, however, if living, are in good standing in the Order. At the session of the National Council in 1873, Brother T. C. Appleby, of Delaware, was elected National Vice-Councilor, there being a vacancy in the office of National Councilor, and served in that position the remainder of the session. He was then selected National Councilor for the ensuing year and served with credit. To-day (1907) Brother Appleby is esteemed and loved by the Order in his state in like manner as her sister state, Pennsylvania, esteems and loves Senior Past National Councilor Brother John W. Calver. These two brothers were conspicuous factors in shaping the policy of the National Council and the Order itself in those earlier years. It is with regret that we are unable to follow up the history of the State Council from the date of its institution, as the records of those years are lost. The only data we have are taken from the records of the National Council, in which the name of the state and representatives therefrom are found and whatever statistics are given. In 1877 the State of Delaware reported three Councils and 104 members, with amount paid for relief of but $8 and total valuation of its Councils being $800. The names of Vernon, Patton *md Watson are found on record as National Representatives. Of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 441 Past State Councilors, we note the following : Richard Monck, W m. T. Whitworth, Wm. H. Hanna, Thos. H. H. Messenger, S. M. Wood and Geo. S. McKee. Those of the above who are still on the list from the State of Delaware (190?) are Past National Councilor Thos. C. Appleby and Past State Councilor Wm. H. Hanna. The State of Delaware failed to report at the session of the National Council of 1SS1. National Secretary Deemer, in refer- ring to the fact, says: "In the latter (Delaware) the Order has dwindled down to one Council and, like Pandora's Box, nothing but Hope remains." As far as the National Council records show, the name of Delaware does not appear, excepting occasionally the name of Past State Councilor Whitworth, who did not lose his honors on the disbanding of the State Council, there still remaining one Council " holding the fort" as late as 1885, when, in the report of the vote on amendment to the laws as submitted by the National Body, 40 votes were recorded. At the session of 1886, however, a com- munication from Past State Councilor Whitworth announced the fact that the Order had ceased to live in the State of Delaware, the last Council having disbanded. The spirit of Juniorism, however, had not died in the plucky little state, as on May 15, 1888, a charter was granted Eureka Council, No. 1, located at Wilmington, with 23 applicants. This was followed by the institution of Middletown Council, No. 2, September 11, 1890; Milford Council, No. 3; Harrington, No. 4; Diamond, No. 5 ; May Dell, No. 6, and Welcome, No. 7, in 1892 and 1893, and on the 21st of February, 1893, the State Council was reorganized and resumed business " at the old stand." THE REORGANIZED STATE COUNCIL, 1893 Pursuant to call, the Representatives of the various Subor- dinate Councils of the state met in the City of Wilmington, as above stated, February 21, 1893, to reorganize the State Council of Delaware, at which preliminary meeting, Deputy State Councilor S. C. Vandegrift presided. The following Representatives were in attendance: F. W. Pierson, E. A. Van Trump, Jr., S. C. Vande- grift, G. M. Fisher, F. W. Dowell, S. E. Weir, W. J. Downey, Geo. W. Nutz, Joseph A. Suydam, Harry C. Johnson, Walter C. Stack, E. S. Jones, F. S. Kesler, A. C. Calhoun, W. 0. Lynch, W. J. Moreland, Samuel Reed and Frank McClure. National Secretary Edw. S. Deemer and Brother Marlin, of Penns}dvania, were present and took part in the proceedings. The 442 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER first order of business consisted in the election of officers, which resulted as follows: Junior Past State Councilor — A. C. Calhoun, State Councilor — F. W. Pierson, State Vice-Councilor — E. S. Jones, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey, State Council Conductor — W. O. Lynch, State Council Warden — J. A. Suydam, State Council Sentinels — Geo. M. Fisher and Samuel Reed. The laws governing the State Body were adopted as printed. The rules of the State Council of Maryland were made the rules of order for the State Council, and 40 cents was fixed as the per capita tax. 1894 The First Annual Session of the State Council of Delaware was held at Milford, February 20, 1894, State Councilor F. W. Pierson presiding. Twenty-two Past Councilors were present and were invested with the State Council Degree. Starting out with seven Councils State Councilor Pierson reported that they had reached 19, with the twentieth one to be instituted on the following Tuesday. State Vice-Councilor E. S. Jones proved to have been a valuable aid in the work of the year, having visited most of the Councils and traveled 1,100 miles in the performance of his duties. The membership reported was 883, classified as follows: Past National Councilors 1 Past State Councilors 2 Past Councilors 47 Junior members 834 The officers elected for the ensuing year were: State Councilor — E. S. Jones. State Vice-Councilor — I. T. Parker, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. 1895 Dover was the place, February 19, 1895, the time of the con- vening of the Second Annual Session of the State Council, with State Councilor Jones in the Chair. Twenty-one Councils were represented at the first roll-call. A large number of Past Coun- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 443 cilors were admitted and the State Council Degree was conferred upon them. The State Councilor stated that he had visited all the councils of the state, with the exception of three, was present at the institu- tion of all the new Councils, five in number, and had traveled, in the performance of his work, 1,412 miles. One of the recommen- dations of State Councilor Jones was an earnest appeal that " our State shall not fail in its portion for establishing a home for the orphanage of our Order." The Board of Officers formulated a bill providing for the pur- chase of the American flag and its display from the schoolhouses, which was passed by the State Legislature. The State Council Secretary reported in good standing 23 Councils and 1,754 members, making nearly 100 per cent, gain for the year, 1,060 having been initiated, indicating that the " boys " had " a mind to work." The following officers were elected : State Councilor — I. T. Parker, State Vice-Councilor — F. R. Householder, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. The office of Chaplain was created at this session. An act bearing on Compulsory Education was endorsed by the State Body and was followed by instructions to have same presented at the next session of the State Legislature. 1896 The Third Annual Session was held at Middletown, February 18, 1896, I. T. Parker, as State Councilor, presiding. There was a large attendance and the meeting was an enthusiastic one. It was again reported by the State Councilor, that as the incum- bent in that office he had visited every Council in the state, having traveled 2,000 miles in order to do it. What an inspiration such official supervision must have been to the Order. One new Council was instituted. The State Council Secretary reported 24 Councils and 1,850 members, of which 144 were Past Councilors. Received by Subordinate Councils $14,312.41 Paid for Relief 5,248.72 Worth of Councils 9,170.20 Receipts of State Council. $1,148.20 Expenses of State Council 885.03 444 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Officers for ensuing year were chosen as follows: State Councilor- — F. R. Householder, State Vice-Councilor — F. Morgan Jones, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. The Stars and Stripes was made the official organ of the Order in the state. 1897 February 16, 1897, the State Council of Delaware convened in annual session, with State Councilor Householder presiding. Twenty-six Councils were represented at roll-call at the opening of the session. A feature of Delaware Juniorism, seldom found in State Coun- cils, was the reporting to the State Council and incorporating in the proceedings the list of Past Councilors in the state, who, with the Representatives, had the State Council Degree conferred upon them. In the report of the Committee on Credentials at this ses- sion, 62 Past Councilors were named, as entitled to admission and 37 Representatives. Three new Councils had been instituted, making 27 in all, while the membership increased from 1,850 to 2,081. The finances also proportionately advanced. The Legislative Committee submitted for approval a petition to be laid before the Constitutional Convention which was endorsed by the State Council. The petition asked, — 1. " That in framing the new Constitution it shall expressly declare and prohibit any moneys being appropriated for sectarian purposes. 2. " That all public schools shall be opened by the reading of the Holy Bible daily. 3. " That it shall be the imposed duty of all schools in the State to see that the American flag, the Stars and Stripes, floats over every school." The following were declared the officers for the ensuing year : State Councilor — Frank M. Jones, State Vice-Councilor — J. S. Clark, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. An effort to change the Constitution providing that each Coun- cil elect but one Representative instead of three, as then in vogue, and that the mileage and per diem of all representatives be paid, met with defeat. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 445 1898 The Fifth Annual Session was held at Clayton, February 15, 1808, with State Councilor Frank M. Jones presiding, and 72 mem- bers answered to their names at roll-call. During the year the State Councilor visited every Council in the state once, and some oftener, and traveled 3,210 miles in doing it. The membership had grown to 2,234 and the finances were in a healthy condition. Without question, no fuller and more complete reports were made to any State Council by its National Representatives than those from Delaware. At this session their report of the meeting of the National Council held at Pittsburg, in 1897, was exception- ally interesting, every item of interest having been noted. The state had a large delegation present at the National session, viz. : National Representatives H. H. Billany, F. M. Jones, M. N. Wil- liams, H. C. Johnson and Melville Thompson, Past National Coun- cilor T. C. Appleby, Past State Councilors Messenger, Pierson, E. S. Jones and Parker. It was at this session that their leader and brother, F. W. Pierson, was selected as National Vice- Councilor, an honor Delaware very much appreciated. One of the number who had gone to the National session to help elect their favorite, Melville Thompson, a few days following the session, suddenly passed away to the Supreme Council on High. The session closed with the following officers at the helm : State Councilor — J. S. Clark, State Vice-Councilor — J. N. Anderson, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. 1899 Wilmington opened its gates to the State Council, which met in annual session, February 21, 1899, State Councilor J. S. Clark in the Chair. The system of voting for the officers and place of meeting was changed, the nominations being made at the morning session of first day and the Secretary was instructed to have the list of nominees printed on ballot, the voter to cross out those names for which he did not vote. Seven new Councils were chartered since the previous session, and in visiting his Councils, the State Councilor traveled 3,852 446 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER miles and visited at least once each Council in the state. Accord- ing to the Keport of the State Councilor, he gave permission during the year for Gustav Bacharach, of Pennsylvania, formerly a mem- ber of the Order, to distribute a circular among the Councils of Delaware to secure funds to procure a flag and pole to be erected at the Jewish Farm School, located at Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Why Brother Clark gave such permission, the institution being distinctly sectarian, it is difficult to conceive, unless he was deceived relative to the character of the institution. The State Council Secretary reported a membership of 2,701, being a gain of 400. Brother Clark gave an admirable administra- tion and the Order made great advances along all lines. The subject of a State Council Funeral Benefit Association was elaborated very fully by the Committee having the proposition in charge. The Committee, after careful consideration, deemed it inadvisable at that time to further agitate the question, claiming it would not show a " proper fraternal spirit to withdraw from the Funeral Benefit Association, located at Philadelphia." The Election Board reported the following, the results of the ballot : State Councilor — J. N. Anderson, State Vice-Councilor — C. W. King, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. 1900 In Seventh Annual Session, the State Council convened at Lewes, February 20, 1900, State Councilor Anderson presiding. The opening exercises were of a very interesting character, the Mayor of the city, Hon. J. T. Thompson, Dr. Wm. P. Orr, Presi- dent of the Board of Education, and Mr. Charles H. Maull, President of the Board of Trade, extended the courteous hospitali- ties of their home city to the distinguished visitors. Speeches in response were made by National Councilor Charles Keimer, in behalf of the Order, and General I. T. Parker and Dr. L. S. Con- well in behalf of the State Council. There was a large attendance, many Past Councilors being pres- ent, one of the features of Delaware Juniorism, as before referred to; and another feature, a very befitting one, was to record the names in the records of the State Council of all the members of the Order who had, during the year, passed into the " Great Beyond." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 447 The State Councilor traveled 3,240 miles in order to officially visit his Councils and encourage the brotherhood. Among the dis- pensations granted we notice many peculiarly worded, not found in any other State Council, " to initiate strangers for the sum," etc. The term, however, is perfectly applicable. In the very excellent report of the State Councilor, we came across a question asked of him somewhat out of the ordinary: Whether the Trustees had the right to hold keys to the Recording Secretary's desk and the wardrobe? The State Councilor decided in the negative, declaring that the Recording Secretary and War- den should, respectively, hold the keys. The recommendation of the State Councilor to instruct the National Representatives to advocate in the National Council the adoption of a three-degree Ritual, was concurred in by the State Body. On adopting a Ladies' Auxiliary, the referendum sent down by the National Council, the vote stood yeas 21, nays 44. The result of the ballot for officers was as follows : State Councilor — C. VV. King, State Vice-Councilor — G. H. Dick, State Council Secretary — W. J. Morel and, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. 1901 The State Council of Delaware met in annual session, the Eighth in number, at Laurel, February 20, 1901, State Councilor King in the Chair. More than 100 answered to roll-call. One new Council was chartered during the year, but one disbanded, leaving the number the same as previous year, 36. An increase in member- ship of 285 was reported. The question of establishing a State Funeral Benefit Associa- tion was brought to a final consummation at this session. A pro- posal for a statute to create such an association was submitted, but the statute was declared unconstitutional by the State Councilor, on a point of order being raised. The Association, however, was established without a statute. The proposed amendments to the National Council Constitu- tion and Laws were adopted, as per recommendations, by very nearly an unanimous vote, with the exception of Biennial Sessions of that body, which was defeated by a vote 86 to 2. A proposal for a statute to amend the State Council Consti- tution that all Past Councilors be entitled to a seat in the meetings of the State Council and a voice upon the floor, but not to be per- 448 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER mitted to vote on any question coming before the body, was referred to the Law Committee, and acting upon their report, it was defeated by a vote 27 yeas to 53 nays. The officers selected to look after the affairs of the Order were : State Councilor — Geo. H. Dick, State Vice-Councilor — J. W. Robertson, State Council Secretary — W. J. Morel and, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. 1902 State Councilor Geo. H. Dick presided over the Ninth Annual Session of the State Council, held at Delaware City, February 18, 1902. During the year permission was granted by the Board of Officers for a petition to be sent to the Councils of the state asking for a contribution to be given the Committee, in the name of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., having charge of the erection of Cooch's Memorial Monument, at Cooch's Bridge, Delaware, in commemoration of the fact of the first unfurling of the American flag in battle during the combat between the British and Americans, September 3, 1777. The sum of $75 was contributed, more than any other organization in the state. The monument was unveiled September 3, 1901. As stated by the State officers, while the number of Councils remained the same, the membership increased nearly 200. The running expenses of the State Council was $2,623.02, of which $1,218.84 was for National Council per capita tax, on a 60-cent basis, and $100 for State Secretary's salary. The recommendation to change the time of the meeting of the State Council from the third Tuesday in February to the third Tuesday in May, was defeated. A motion to hold all meetings of the State Body in Wilmington and the State Council to pay the expenses of the Representatives, was laid on the table indefinitely. A reso- lution to confer the honors of Past State Councilor on Brothers W. J. Moreland and W. J. Downey, Secretary and Treasurer of the State Council, was referred to the National Council for action. The Election Board announced the following as the result of the election of officers: . State Councilor — J. W. Robertson, State Vice-Councilor — J. A. Ellegood, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 449 1903 For the tenth time the State Council met in annual session, holding its meeting at Wilmington, February 17, 1903, with State Councilor J. W. Robertson in the Chair. Gratifying reports of the advance of the Order were submitted, showing a gain in members of nearly 500, there being in all 4,038. Four new Councils were chartered during the year. There was quite a mortality among the Subordinate members since the last session, 30 having passed away. Twenty-nine death claims were paid by the "Death Benefit Association" of Delaware. Another effort to change the time of the meeting of the State Council was defeated. A subject, out of the usual order, came up at this session — that of a resolution favoring the submission to the voters of the state the question of a Local Option Law. On an aye and nay vote the resolution stood yeas 68, na}^s 42. A resolution favoring the con- solidation of small school districts in the state, was also adopted. In the election of officers, the following was the result: State Councilor — J. A. Ellegood, State Vice-Councilor — A. M. Thomas, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. 1904 The Eleventh Annual Session was held at Dover, February 16, 1904, with State Councilor Ellegood presiding. The year witnessed one new Council launched into existence and a gain in membership of 300. The prize of a flag offered as an inducement to the Council making the greatest gain in percentage was won by Stars and Stripes Council, No. 26, it having made a gain of 110 per cent. As per resolution passed at last session, a committee had been appointed to procure a present for the then retiring State Councilor, Brother J. W. Robertson. The committee carried out the wishes of the body and at this session presented Brother Robertson with a casket of silver, and a duplicate of same was also procured for the retiring State Councilor, Brother Ellegood, and presented him, and the recommendation of the committee that the custom be continued with each retiring State Councilor, was adopted. State Councilor — A. M. Thomas, State Vice-Councilor— M. N. Willetts, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. 29 450 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 1905 State Councilor Thomas presided over the Twelfth Annual Session of the State Council, held at Wilmington, February 21, 1905. A review of the five years' work of the " Death Benefit Associa- tion " of Delaware, showed that the same had been conducted satis- factory. In that period the Councils of the state had paid into the Association $28,122.73, and death claims of $250 each had been paid amounting to $24,500. The expenses during this time amounted to $1,599.43. The average monthly cost of the Associa- tion to the Councils was $27.76, or 4-5 of a cent per member per month. Officers elected for the ensuing year were : State Councilor— M. N. Willetts, State Vice-Councilor — Joseph M. Lank, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Downey. 1906 We close the story of " Little Delaware," small for its size, geographically, but not small by any means in its standing in the Order and work along the line of the organization, with the Thir- teenth Annual Session of its State Council, held at Laurel, Febru- ary 20, 1906, with State Councilor Willets in the Chair. The attendance was large and the interest, as usual, was great, while the business was transacted in the same methodical manner. The reports of the State officers were very cheering, showing, not only a healthy condition of the Order, but an advance along all lines. One new Council had been added, making 42 in all. The State Councilor said, what no other State Councilor, doubtless, could say, that he had visited every one of the Jj.2 Councils in the state during the year and found them all doing well and growing. Much of the credit for this splendid condition of the Order in Delaware is due the fact that it was made a requirement of the State Councilor to visit each Council at least once during his term of office; and with but few exceptions this rule was carried out by the State Councilors of the state. The standing of the Order was submitted by the Secretary of the State Council, and is as follows: Number of Councils 42 Number of Members 4448 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 451 RANK OF MEMBERSHIP Past National Councilors 2 Past State Councilors 12 Past Councilors 707 Junior Members 3729 Receipts of Subordinate Councils $36,090.33 Paid for Relief $10,280.72 Paid for Burying the Dead 5,659.97 Current Expenses 19,287.66 $35,234.35 Worth of Councils $48,139.06 Receipts of State Council $3,647.58 Expenditures 3,178.21 Amount per capita tax National Council $1,916.20 Per capita tax per member, sixty-four cents. Pursuant to the power granted State Councils by authority of the National Council, the honors of Past State Councilor were conferred upon State Council Secretary W. J. Moreland and State Council Treasurer W. J. Downey. These two honored and trusty brethren, from the institution of the State Council of Delaware, and for 13 years, served in their respective positions. It is needless to state that Brothers Moreland and Downey gave most excellent and satisfactory services, since from year to year they were unani- mously reelected, a self-evident fact of the confidence and esteem in which they were held by the brethren. In the election of officers, 120 votes were cast, resulting as follows : State Councilor — J. M. Lank, State Vice-Councilor — B. F. Simmons, State Council Secretary — W. J. Moreland, State Treasurer — W. J. Downey, State Council Conductor — C. B. McCallum, State Council Warden — W. B. Johnson, State Council Sentinels — M. F. Callaway and Charles B. Nobb, State Council Chaplain — Thomas M. Hudson. We have read with much interest the printed proceedings of the State Council of Delaware, and can commend same for neatness and several unique features not often found in the proceedings of other State Councils. The Past Councilors of each Council are given in compendious form, a very commendable feature. The Memorial pages given to those in the Subordinate Councils who have died each year is found in the proceedings of but few other State Councils, so far as we have seen. 452 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Delaware Juniorism is composed of a splendid class of men, active, enthusiastic and faithful. Her leaders are intelligent, honorable and true. Standing at the head of the organization — the Nestor of Delaware — one who was a potent factor in the first State Council, is Past National Councilor T. C. Appleby, loved and esteemed by all. Then follows another of Delaware's favorite sons, Past National Councilor F. W. Pierson, equally respected by his brethren. Her Past State Councilors are exceptionally strong men, and have had a prominent part in shaping the policy of the Order in the state and pushing forward the cause of patriotism through- out the Commonwealth : E. S. Jones, Frank M. Jones, Wm. H. Hanna, F. R. Householder, I. T. Parker, J. S. Clark, J. N. Ander- son, Chas. W. King, Geo. H. Dick, Jas. W. Robertson, J. A. Elle- good, A. M. Thomas, M. N. "Willits, and State Council Secretary W. J. Moreland and State Council Treasurer W. J. Downey, being Past State Councilors by honors conferred. Of the above list of State Councilors, but one, Brother Wm. H. Hanna, belongs to " antiquity," he having served as State Councilor in the earlier period of the first State Council, and with Brother Appleby, are the " landmarks " of primitive Juniorism. Others besides Past National and Past State Councilors have left imprints upon Delaware Juniorism. Among those who might be mentioned are H. H. Billany and Dr. L. S. Conwell, well known in the annals of the National Council. The " wheel horses " now in harness (1906) are making their record, — Brothers State Coun- cilor J. M. Lank and State Vice-Councilor B. F. Simmons are forging ahead, keeping abreast of the onward wave and will soon take their place with the honored men who have preceded them. CHAPTER XXVII PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EARLY in the history of the organization, the banner of Junior- ism was raised within the District of Columbia, the Capital of the Nation, in the institution of Columbia Council, No. 1, March, 1875, by B. T. Miller. This Council stood alone until 1884, when Golden Rule Council, No. 2, was instituted. Geographically, the Councils of the District were placed under the supervision of the State Council of Virginia by the National Council, June 15, 1885, and continued under this jurisdiction until the National Council, at its session of 1894, granted a charter for the State Council of the District of Columbia, which was instituted August 13, of same year. The following officers were elected : Jr. Past State Councilor — H. F. Steel, State Councilor— W. W. Hall, Jr., State Vice-Councilor — Henry F. Adams, State Council Secretary — W. L. Boyden. II. F. Adams, J. W. Milstead, M. P. Imlay, E. A. Reid and J. H. Cunningham were named as Representatives to the National Council, the latter of whom was in attendance at Omaha, Nebraska, June, 1895. From 1895 to 1898, the following State Councilors presided over the State Council of the District of Columbia: W. W. Hall, Thomas P. Moore and John D. Schofield. The standing of the State Council for year ending December 31, 1898, was as follows: Number of Councils 21 Number of Members 1,671 Received by Subordinate Councils $17,157.51 Paid for Relief 7,447.22 Worth of Councils 6,332.71 The report as above given indicates that the Order made splen- did progress during its few years of independence ; but the " parting of the ways " in 1899, brought disaster to the Order, and the Dis- trict of Columbia was the first to refuse the mandates of the Na- tional Council, passing a resolution citing alleged grievances at 453 454 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the hands of the National Body, and refusing to pay the National Council per canita tax ; winch attitude of defiance brought the State Council to the bar of the National Judiciary on charges of insub- ordination preferred by the National Councilor, and after due trial, the charter of the State Body was suspended and finally revoked. Three Councils, however, remained true to the National Coun- cil, Nos. 10, 16 and 46, which, according to the statistical report for vear ending December 31, 1901, aggregated a membership of 337. Sometime in 1903, a new State Council was instituted, there being five loyal Councils in the District, and the following officers were selected to direct the same: Jr. Past State Councilor— C. W. Magill, State Councilor — Alex. J. Yowell, State Vice-Councilor — C. 0. Bohrer, State Council Secretary — John E. Smallwood, State Council Treasurer — T. M. Bowling. Past State Councilors loyal to the National Body were H. F. Steel and A. W. Shrink. Brother C. 0. Bohrer was elected National Representative and was in attendance at the session in May, 1903, at San Francisco. The unhappy strife within the District where two-thirds of the original Councils still continued insurgent, and being so compacted, found the new organization handicapped from the start by environ- ments difficult to surmount, hence the progress of the Order in the District has been very slow. The report for the year ending December 31, 1903, showed the following: Number of Councils 5 Number of Members 611 Received by Subordinate Councils $6,106.11 Paid for Relief 5,054.97 Worth of Councils 1,523.89 FLORIDA On the 23d day of November, 1889, the Order was planted in the State of Florida, by the institution of Orange Council, No. 1, at Bartow. For years, according to Deemer's History, the Council did well, but losing by death a very prominent member, the Council soon declined and finally died. Another effort was made in 1894, when, on January 4, Special Organizer Thos. B. Ivey instituted San UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 455 Marco Council, No. 1, which was followed by Washington Council, No. 2, on the 16th of May, same year. Council No. 1, however, only continued to live, reporting each year to the National Secretary about the same number of members, until 1899, when it, too. succumbed. No effort was made to resuscitate the Order until 190-1, when National Councilor W. E. Faison appointed John E. Bridgers Special Organizer for Florida, who commenced work sometime in the fall of the same year and instituted a number of Councils; whereupon on February 16, 1905, assisted by Junior Past Na- tional Councilor Dr. Cooper and Stephen Collins, Brother Faison instituted the State Council of Florida at Tallahassee, with 11 Councils and 275 members. The National Councilor spoke very highly of the very efficient work of Special Organizer Bridgers and the success he attained in Florida. The officers of the new State Council were elected as follows : Jr. Past State Councilor — Dr. A. L. Green, State Councilor — Dr. W. F. Marian, State Vice-Councilor — Joe H. Gray, State Council Secretary — A. D. Zachary, State Council Treasurer — Curtis E. Roberts. The following Councils were instituted by Special Organizer Bridgers, as above referred to : Old South Council, No. 1, at Tallahassee, instituted December 30, 1904. Gen. Allison Council, No. 2, at Quincy, January 2, 1905. Sopchoppy Council, No. 3, at Sopchoppy, January 6, 1905. Jefferson Council, No. 4, at Monticello. January 16, 1905. Madison Council, No. 5, at Madison, January 24, 1905. Greenville Council, No. 6, at Greenville, January 27, 1905. Lake City Council, No. 7, at Lake City, January 31, 1905. Hamilton Council, No. 8, at Jasper, February 20, 1905. White Springs Council, No. 9, at White Springs, February 21, 1905. Bay City Council, No. 10, at Apalachicola, March 10, 1905. Gulf City Council, No. 11, at Carrabelle, March 17, 1905. GEORGIA Special Deputy National Councilor Thos. B. Ivey introduced the Jr. O. U. A. M. into the State of Georgia by the institution of Enterprise Council, No. 1, in April of 1893. This was followed by Resolution Council, No. 2, in August of same year; Augusta, No. 3, in month of April, 1894, and South Atlanta Council, No. 1, in May same year, all instituted by Thos. B. Ivey. In 1891 Stephen ±56 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Collins, as National Organizer, found his way into the state, and on June 4, he instituted Gate City, No. 5, and on the day following, June 5, 1894, he instituted the State Council of Georgia. The State Council was placed in charge of the following officers : Jr. Past State Councilor — E. R. Dillingham, State Councilor — W. F. Speas, State Vice-Councilor — W. R. Rawson, State Councilor Secretary — Dr. A. P. Ebbert. E. E. Dillingham, W. R. Eawson, W. F. Speas, Dr. A. P. Ebbert and H. J. Shannen were selected to represent the State Council in the National Council. The standing of the State Body at the close of same year, 1894, was: Number of Councils 6 Number of Members 186 Regretting our inability to obtain data sufficient to give a resume of the history of the State Council, we insert merely such facts obtained from other and very limited sources. Those who presided over the State Council subsequent to the institution of same are the following: W. R. Rawson, P. C. Smith, Dr. A. P. Ebbert, H. J. Shannen, C. C. LeBey, C. D. Comstock, A. Monroe, W. F. Grubbs, W. Lee Simmons, W. R, Holman, A. G. Martin and W. H. Moxley. The officers having supervision of the Order in the state, 1904-1905 were the following: Jr. Past State Councilor — W. R. Holman, State Councilor — A. G. Martin, State Vice-Councilor — W. H. Moxley, State Council Secretary — E. R. Dillingham, State Council Treasurer — 0. H. Puckett. The standing of the State Council for year ending December 1, 1 904, was as follows : Number of Councils 25 Number of Members 2,382 Received by Subordinate Councils $22,489.34 Paid for Relief 2,740.20 Worth of Councils 3,666.03 Georgia has produced some good men in Juniorism, some of them being quite prominent in the National Body. E. R. Dilling- ham everyone knows, who has attended the National Council for the last ten years, now (1907) serving as a member of the Board UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 457 of Control, Beneficiary Degree, who has for years been the State Council "Scribe" and the leader in his state. II. Y. Garrett is also favorably known in the National Body, as an earnest and faith- ful member. H. J. Shannen stands well with his brethren, and also faithfully represented his State Council in the higher body. One whose standing in his own State Council was so marked, that for two terms he was asked to preside over the body, and whose entire being was surcharged with patriotism, intelligent and en- thusiastic, has been transferred to the Supreme Council above since the Nashville session of the National Council. We refer to the late Past State Councilor A. G. Martin, whose presence at the Nashville session was an inspiration to all. Others whom Georgia has hon- ored and who have given good service to the Order might be named, viz. : Past State Councilor W. E. Holman, C. D. Comstock, J. R. Stofer, C. C. LeBey and W. F. Grubbs; Past National Represen- tatives 0. H. Starnes, R. W. Wood and G. W. Payne. The future of Georgia Juniorism is bright. It is the writer's expectation to see the state beyond the 10,000 mark within the next decade. Since writing the above the proceedings of the session of 1906 have been placed in our hands, it being the Thirteenth Annual Meet- ing, held at Augusta, September 11 and 12, with State Councilor Moxley in the Chair, there being about 100 members in attendance. The standing of the Order showed 41 Councils and a membership of 4,088, a gain for the year of nine Councils and 1,039 members. A very pleasing incident occurred during the session. The National Board of Officers having offered a prize of a flag for the largest increase in membership and a banner for the largest percen- tage of increase, the winners of both prizes came to Griffin Council, No. 4, of Georgia, their increase being 83 and their percentage of increase being 48. To Junior Past National Councilor W. E. Faison was given the honor of presenting the Council with the prizes which he did in well chosen words. In closing his speech, Brother Faison said : " You have done nobly, and your reward is sure : for it consists not alone in this flag and this banner as intrinsic tokens, but in all that they must mean to you and to yours in the years that are to come. This beautiful emblem, the flag of our country, will fade with the years — this banner, likewise, will decay — its golden inscription will tarnish — and the day will come when it must remain only as a memory. But the inspiration which is yours to-day because of having won these fair emblems will never perish. 458 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " When the youngest member on your rolls to-day shall have reached his three-score-and-ten — aye, when not a single one whose heart to-day swells with joy and pride as his Council receives these prizes, shall remain among men — even when the youngest and the strongest among you shall have passed beyond the struggles and pursuits of this life, and entered into the enjoyment of the prize of the high calling of God, then shall the inspiration which these emblems awake in your hearts to-day but begin to find their glorious fruition in the labors of those who are to come after you. " Not for their intrinsic worth or value did you strive, but for the honor which would be yours. Even as the victor of old received a laurel wreath, so to you this flag and this banner are but the tangible tokens of the honor which is yours to-day. They are yours to love and cherish while you live, and to bequeath as a rich heritage to those who shall take your places around our sacred altar. May they be to you a never failing argument for nobler deeds, for higher thoughts, for grander achievements, and when the last vestige of their beauty and grace shall have faded before the inexorable march of time, may those things which they symbolize, and which mean so much to our beloved Order, be so indelibly impressed upon the hearts and minds of those who are to come after you, that the day may never dawn when Griffin Council, No. 4, shall forget this proud hour." After a pleasant and harmonious session, the State Council closed with the installation of the following list of officers : State Councilor — M. H. Abbott, State Vice-Councilor— Geo. F. Otto, State Council Treasurer — 0. H. Puckett, State Council Warden — M. J. James. ILLINOIS To Past State Councilor Leroy Van Horn, of Ohio, belongs the credit of introducing the Order into the " Prairie State/' having removed to the City of Chicago soon after his connection with the Order in his native state. A charter having been granted Chicago Council, No. 1, May 21, 1888, with 12 applicants, Brother Van- Horn instituted the same. This was followed by a charter being granted Reliance Council, No. 2, at Alton, with 16 applicants, on June 20, 1888, and one for Geo. Washington, No. 3, on April 18, 1889, located in the City of Chicago. Past State Councilor F. J. Shaler, formerly a member of Iron City Council, No. 171, Pennsylvania, having removed to Chicago, entered heartily into the work of promulgating the Objects and Principles of the Order in his new field of operations and repre- sented the Councils of the state at the session of the National Coun- cil held at Harrisburg, Pa., June, 1889. At the earnest solicitation UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 459 of Brother Shaler, the National Council agreed to meet in Chicago, in 1890. In the meantime, Chicago Council, No. 1, must have dis- banded, as a charter was granted to Franklin Council, No. 1, of Chicago, and same was instituted in 1889, with 33 applicants, Brother Shaler being the instituting officer. On October 10, 1889, the National Councilor notified Chicago Council that unless the Council resumed its meetings the charter would be taken from them, which undoubtedly was done, as it was in November (12th) following that Franklin Council was instituted. This was followed by Lincoln Council, No. 4, and on November 26, 1889, by the application of four Councils a charter was granted for the State Council of Illinois, December 6, 1889, which was duly instituted by Deputy National Councilor F. J. Shaler, December 10, 1889, he being the Jr. Past State Councilor of the new organization and Jos. S. Beynolds was elected State Councilor. Brother Shaler rendered the Order great service in the state, being the leading spirit in the organization. During his term as Deputy National Councilor, the Order increased from one Council to 10, and the membership from 32 to 500. The session of the National Council held in Chicago, in 1890, gave great impetus to the Order and brought it prominently before the public. In fact the National Council was an advertisement for the Order, and quite elaborate preparations were made to enter- tain the body; and to such an extent had the little band gone in advertising the Order, that to help them out, $500 was donated by the National Council towards defraying the expenses. Never in the history of any state had there been such promise of success as in the State of Illinois; but internal strife soon ap- peared and nearly wrecked the organization, having at one time nearly 2,000 members. At a session of the State Body held in Chicago, February 22, 1892, a resolution annulling the proceedings of a session held at Galesburg six months previous, was adopted. This action caused a split in the body, a portion of whom left the hall and repaired to another place and there elected their own officers, thereby creating two State Councils, each claiming recog- nition from the higher body. The controversy being brought to the attention of National Councilor Boblits, that officer issued a proclamation making it mandatory to recognize as, the true State Council, the body that remained in the hall on the said 22d of February, 1892; in other words, the officers that were installed by Deputy National Councilor Shaler were recognized, and all Councils were commanded to pay 460 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER per capita tax to State Council Secretary Jos. S. Reynolds, which action of the National Councilor was approved by the National Council at its next session. Deputy National Councilor F. J. Shaler, in his report to the National Council, gives a resume of the status of the State Council at this unfortunate period, which was accepted by the National body as a true and correct statement. It was claimed that tbe semi- annual session of the State Council held at Galesburg placed at the head of the organization incompetent men whose indifference to their duties had brought about the disbanding of several Coun- cils ; and it was also alleged that one third of the Eepresentatives at the session were not qualified. When the annual session convened Fehruasy 22, 1892, Past State Councilor Jos. S. Bej'nolds moved that the officers illegally elected at Galesburg vacate the chairs. This precipitated a bitter discussion, and when brought to a vote, 25 voted in the affirmative and 11 in the negative. Brother Shaler, as Senior Past State Councilor, took the Chair and called for order, begging the Eepre- sentatives to remain; however, the insurgents left the room and, as before stated, repaired to another hall and continued the business of the session under the direction of the old officers, or rather those who had illegally been elected at Galesburg. Those who remained organized and elected their officers, claiming to be the true State Council. The officers elected were the following: State Councilor — Representative Goldstein, State Vice-Councilor — Representative Coen, State Council Secretary — Jos. S. Reynolds. The officers for the ensuing year were as follows: Jr. Past State Councilor — H. J. Goldstein, State Councilor — S. J. Coen, State Vice-Councilor — R. R. Hearn, State Council Secretary — Jos. S. Reynolds, State Council Treasurer — Representative Rowan. and they were installed by Brother Shaler. The officers of the other body were installed by Leroy VanHorn, of Ohio. As a result of this dissension, 10 Councils disbanded and scores of members dropped out of the Order. While the Order did regain some of its lost ground, still the effect of the split finally brought a retrograde movement and the Order had a struggle to exist. Having received no data from the State Secretary, we are unable to give further facts concerning UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 461 the State Council, hence will conclude this sketch by inserting the standing of the Order in the state for the year ending December 31, 1904: Number of Councils 5 Number of Members 252 Received by Subordinate Councils $1,530.35 Paid for Relief 254.26 Worth of Councils 788.44 The officers elected in July, 1904, were as follows: State Councilor — A. E. Bassett, State Vice-Councilor — W. H. Geer, State Council Secretary — E. J. Christoe. State Council Treasurer — Thos. Rowan. INDIANA Under the administration of National Councilor Ogden Lan- ing, 1871-1872, the Order found its way into the State of In- diana through H. C. Young, in the institution of Shawnee Council, No. 1, at New Albany. This was followed by Liberty Council, No. 2, and on October 29, 1873, a charter was granted Washington Council, No. 3, at Terre Haute, and a charter was filled out by the National Secretary for a State Council in 1874 and forwarded to National Councilor Voorhees, but that officer gave no heed to it and when the members of Indiana met for organization at New Albany, July 4, 1874, they had no official authority for a State Council, hence adjourned until the 6th following, and not having received or heard from the charter, they adjourned without date thoroughly disgusted, which act of criminal negligence on the part of Voorhees cost the Order for that time the State Council of Indiana, as two of the Councils soon after disbanded. On June 25, 1875, a charter was granted and the State Council was regularly instituted. At the session of the National Council in 1876, the State Council was represented by Geo. W. Ugenfritz, who, at same session, was elected National Vice-Councilor over J. Adam Sohl, by a vote of 13 to 10. At the session of the National Body the year following, Ugenfritz was elected National Councilor, and at the same session the State Council of Indiana, through its Eepresentatives, submitted a Bitual, which, in the discussions that followed, was termed the " Indiana Hitual." During the same year Ugenfritz established a journal in Hie interest of Indiana Juniorism called " The Junior American Mechanic," but it was short-lived. 462 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER During the year Ilgenfritz was National Councilor, friction en- tered the State Council of Indiana and spread throughout the state, the claim being made that the National Councilor was inter- meddling with the functions of the State officers and violating his trust in other ways. The State Council Secretary, Philip Weiner, brought the matter to the attention of the other members of the National Board of Officers, in which he exceeded his authority by making statements at variance with the facts, and the whole case was referred to the National Council by National Vice-Councilor J. Adam Sohl and the National Secretary, at which session, 1878, the question was considered in committee and submitted to the body, and during the discussion relative thereto, a telegram from the State officers was received that the National Councilor had been suspended by his State Council, as well as State Council Secretary Weiner. In view of the suspension of Ilgenfritz, the presiding officer of the National Council declared the office of National Coun- cilor vacant. At the session of 1878, however, Indiana was again honored by a National Council office, Representative Baker being elected National Council Warden. Sometime in 1879, the State Council of Indiana disbanded, owing to internal strife, and the Order, officially, had no existence in the state until December 4, 1887, when Harmony Council re- sumed meetings, and on January 31, 1888, a charter was granted to Marion Council, No. 3, with 51 applicants. In August, 1891, Past National Councilor Eobert Ogle, of Maryland, was appointed National Organizer, and he at once proceeded to Indiana and or- ganized and instituted Jonesboro Council, No. 4, September 16, and Anderson Council, No. 5, the same month, which were followed by Prairie, No. 6 ; Grand, No. 7 ; Alexandria, No. 8 ; America, No. 9, and on December 4, 1891, Brother Ogle instituted the State Council, in the City of Marion, whereupon the following officers to the principal positions were elected : Jr. Past State Councilor — Geo. P. Wright, State Councilor — C. W. Parke, State Vice-Councilor — Henry Wagner, State Council Secretary — A. L. Cray, State Council Treasurer — Fiery Toms. The First Annual Session was held at Muncie, December 28, 1892, with the officers elected at the institution of the State Coun- cil in their several positions. Twenty-six members were in attend- ance. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 463 Eleven Councils had been instituted during the year and the approximate membership was placed at 838. A motion to meet in semi-annual session in August of following year was passed. Also a motion was adopted to pay the expenses of the officers and Stand- ing Committees while in attendance at the State Council sessions. Henry Wagner was elected State Councilor and J. H. Michael State Vice-Councilor. Subsequently in the session, in view of the fact that the position of Jr. Past State Councilor was vacant, the above named officers were promoted to Jr. P. S. C. and State Coun- cilor, respectively, and D. H. McAbee was elected State Vice- Councilor. The printed proceedings of the First Semi-annual meeting states that the session was held at Anderson, August 16, 1893, pre- sided over by State Councilor J. H. Michael. The meeting had a fitting prelude in the shape of a public welcome extended to the State Council, one of the features of which was an address on the principles of the Order by Mrs. Lyman, of New York. The after- noon of same day was given to a public mass meeting in which a number of addresses were made that aroused intense enthusiasm. The roll-call revealed that 43 members were in attendance. The reports showed that four new Councils had been instituted since December 28, 1892, making 20 Councils in all, representing a total membership of 1,209, or a gain of 462. Bros. A. L. Cray, Toms and Amos DuBois, National Representatives, made a very clear report of the transactions of the National Council session held at Detroit. The officers of the present session were: Junior Past State Councilor — Henry Wagner, State Councilor — J. H. Michael, State Vice-Councilor — D. H. McAbee, State Council Secretary — A. L. Cray, State Council Treasurer — Fiery Toms. The state body declared at this session against semi-annual sessions and the date of the annual meetings was fixed for the fourth Wednesday of August. In view of this change the present session was made the annual session and the body proceeded to the election of officers, which resulted as follows : State Councilor — D. H. McAbee, State Vice-Councilor — J. W. Pittinger. The terms of State Council Secretary and State Council Treasurer had not expired. 464 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER A resolution was adopted authorizing the Law Committee to draft a law prohibiting Eoman Catholics from becoming members of the Order. In his report to the National Council of 1894, National Secre- tary Peemer had this to say concerning Indiana : " The State Council of Indiana is a fixture. All my business with the officers is promptly attended to. The State Council Secretary, Brother A. L. Cray, is as attentive as a veteran. No work of his is ever returned for correction, and the records as a state is clean all through." The Fourth Annual Session convened at Ft. Wayne, Septem- ber 17-18, 1895, presided over by State Councilor J. W. Pittinger. The report of the Secretary, Brother Cra}', showed a healthy con- dition of the Order; while the increase was not very great, the money spent for relief equaled $1.50 per member. Six Councils were instituted during the year, two disbanded, leaving 26 in good standing with a membership of 1,687, a gain of 275. The total worth of Councils was $11,079.45. The honors of Past State Councilor were conferred upon State Council Secretary A. L. Cray and Assistant Secretary Amos DuBois. The session was well attended, 56 being present. In the election of officers, the following were selected: State Councilor — W. J. Cowan, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. C. Laine, State Council Treasurer — N. 0. Rook. The session of 1896 was held at Portland, August 18-19, with State Councilor W. J. Cowan in the Chair, the year being but 11 months as per change in time of meeting at the previous session. Many councils were reported "in bad standing," the bane of the Junior Order in every jurisdiction, there being but an increase of three Councils and 14 members. The State Body and the National Council D. of A., which was in session at the same time and place, were entertained by the local Councils of both Orders, at which meeting some person violated one of the fundamental principles of the organization by introduc- ing " politics and sectarianism." In adopting a set of resolutions of thanks to the entertaining Councils, there was added : " Being a non-sectarian, non-political, patriotic association, we deeply regret that anything of a political character was brought into the exercises of the evening. We as an organization, allow nothing of such a character to enter our Council Chambers. . . . We do affirm, as the State UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 465 Council of Indiana, not to allow anything of a political or sectarian nature to enter the Council Chambers of the State Council of Indiana." The per capita tax was placed at 40 cents and the salary of the State Council Secretary was "cut" to meet the reduced income of the State Council and the increased expenses of the National Council which had been raised from 8 cents to 12. A very animated, and in some respects acrimonious discussion, took place on the adoption of the recommendation to incorporate the State Council. Stirred by the enthusiasm of Brother Wm. Overly, the members became enthused with his spirit and, " Metho- dist fashion," the hat was passed around for a free-will offering to meet the expenses of incorporation and sufficient was raised. The "giving" like "good eating" created "good feeling" and the " ginger " of discussion was soon forgotten. The Orphans' Home project was most heartily endorsed, as it was ever afterwards enthusiastically supported by the State Council, one of her loyal sons, Brother A. L. Cray, having been appointed one of the Board of Trustees of the institution, and at present (1907) is Secretary of the Board. The session was honored with the presence of three members of the National Council, D. of A., Minerva V. F. Miller, of Port- land, Ind., Mary Boram, of Maryland, and Mattie Tarpley. of Tennessee, a recess having been declared in order to admit them to the hall, whereupon they each in turn conveyed the greetings of the National Body of their organizations. As a suitable return for the cordial greetings extended, the State Council, as a body, follow- ing the Flag, marched to the hall of the National Council of the Daughters of America and spent, a very pleasant hour in the ex- change of friendly words, State Councilor Cowan presenting the greetings of the State Council. All together they sang "The Little Red Schoolhouse," and when the State Council retired the Daughters sang " God Be with You Till We Meet Again." The session closed enthusiastically with the installation of the following officers: State Councilor — Geo. C. Laine, State Vice-Councilor — S. M. Holtzman, State Council Treasurer — C. L Wood. Hartford City entertained the State Council, beginning Sep- tember 1, 1897, With Geo. C. Laine, State Councilor, presiding. S. M. Holtzman having forfeited his membership in the Order, the office of State Vice-Councilor was declared vacant, whereupon an 30 466 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER election was held and Brother A. L. Cray was elected. Brother Cray then tendered his resignation as State Council Secretary and Geo. M. Louck was elected to the position. The State Council, D. of A., was in session at the same time and place and joint entertainment was furnished both bodies by the local Councils and the usual greetings were exchanged. The statistical report showed a loss of 4 Councils but a gain of 23 members, making 38 of the former and 1,724 of the latter. A protest against the confirmation of T. V. Powderly, as Commissioner of Immigration, was passed. A resolution favoring the introduction into the schools of Indiana of the United States Government system of military tactics was tabled, owing to the danger, in the opinion of the members of the body, to " overcrowd- ing " or rather crowding the regular studies that were taught in the schools. The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — A. L. Cray, State Vice-Councilor — 0. P. Martin, State Council Secretary — C. E. Lockhart, State Council Treasurer — C. L. Wood. Jonesboro, the home of the State Councilor, Brother Cray, entertained the State Council in its Seventh Annual Session, August 30-31, 1898. There was a large attendance and the session was enthusiastic and harmonious. While eight new Councils had been instituted, yet a decrease in membership was reported, the total membership aggregating 1,290. It is just to state that this heavy loss casts no reflections upon the State officers who were deeply earnest, but the decline was the natural results of many ill-begotten Councils, weak in their " bornin," hence died prematurely. The officers of the Election Board declared the following to have been elected : State Councilor — O. P. Martin, State Vice-Councilor — G. M. Louck, State Council Treasurer — E. M. Schwartz. The Eighth Annual Session convened at Muncie, August 29, 1899, with State Councilor 0. P. Martin at the helm. The Order was again on the upward trend, there being four Councils insti- tuted and a gain in membership of 168, the membership reaching UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 467 1,4(58. The value of the Subordinate Councils was Sported at $15,318.69. During the year the State Council Secretary having resigned, Brother Cray was again placed " in the harness " to be " scribe " of the State Council. The two amendments referred to the State Councils by the National Council, Woman's Auxiliary and Change of Name, were adopted, the former by a vote of 57 to naught. As the result of the election, the following were named the officers for the ensuing year : State Councilor — G. M. Louck, State Vice-Councilor — Chas. W. Reed, State Council Secretary — A. L. Cray, State Council Treasurer — E. M. Schwartz. Terre Haute received the State Council at its annual meeting in 1900, August 28-29, Geo. M. Louck presiding. Notwithstanding the great bereavement that befell the State Councilor in the death of his wife which handicapped him in his work, the year was remarkably successful, there being a gain of 343 in membership. As a striking coincidence, the State Council Secretary, Brother Cray, also laid away the wife of his bosom, in a measure, breaking in on his work. The officers for ensuing year were selected as follows: State Councilor — Chas. W. Reed, State Vice-Councilor — John D. Allegar, State Council Secretary — Chas. A. Jay, State Council Treasurer — E. P. Mitchell. The State Council met in Tenth Annual Session at Marion, August 28, 1901, Chas. W. Eeed in the Chair. Death again entered the homes of two of the officers of the State Council, viz.: The State Councilor having lost his wife and the State Vice-Councilor his daughter. Appropriate resolutions of condolence were adopted. For State Councilor, John D. Allegar was promoted ; for State Vice-Councilor, Elias Baldwin was elected. The Treasurer was reelected. The Eleventh and Twelfth Annual Sessions were held at Up- land, August 26-27, 1902, and at Lawrenceburg, August 26-27, 1903. State Councilor John D. Allegar presided at the former and Elias Baldwin at the latter. 468 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The membership for 1903 was 1,661, a gain of 235 over the previous year. Seven Councils were organized under Brother Bald- win's administration and the reports were very gratifying, as well as suggestive, especially that of the State Council Secretary and State Vice-Councilor McKinley. The State Legislative Committee reported some active work along the line of legislation. Several bills had been introduced into the Indiana Legislature at the suggestion of the Committee, among which were the following: 1. To place the Flag upon the Public School^ Buildings. 2. A Free Text-book Bill. Both bills, however, were reported unfavorably from the Com- mittee of the Legislature that had them in charge. At the session of 1903, the officers elected were as follows: State Councilor — Clark McKinley, State Vice-Councilor — W. A. Church, State Council Secretary — Chas. A. Jay, State Council Treasurer — W. B. Miller. In the year 1904, Newcastle entertained the State Body, with Clark McKinley in the Chair. The State Council was favored with the presence of Brother Kernan, Superintendent of the National Orphans' Home, who, with the Drum Corps of the Home, added much interest to the occasion. The report of the State Councilor showed that his had been a strenuous year in the prosecution of the work of the Order throughout the state, and much credit belongs to him for the energy and enthusiasm displayed. During the year the State Council Secretary, Brother Jay, removed from the juris- diction, and again Brother Cray, " the all-around man," was placed " in the harness," who took charge of the affairs of the office. Brother W. A. Church, State Vice-Councilor, in a very elab- orate review, spoke of the causes that retarded the progress of the Order in the State of Indiana. He discussed the problem under three heads: 1. " The failure, financially and numerically, of Councils from the age of one to three years. 2. " The apparent apathy on the part of the State Council officers towards the Subordinate Councils. 3. " Misinterpretation of the laws by members and officers of the Subordinate Councils." In his comments on the above propositions, Brother Church knew what he was " talking about." He had made a careful study UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 469 of the problems that confronted the organization in his state at this time, which in fact were common to every state in the Union. The Home Band was an enthusiastic feature of the State ses- sion, and escorted the State Body of the D. of A., then in session, to the hall of the Junior State Council where the usual interchange of greetings were passed. During this reception, four of the small- est boys of the Band held the Stars and Stripes by the four corners, while the assembled members of both bodies bestowed a " silver shower " in the interest of the Home, amounting to $174.40. As the result of the election, the following officers were installed : State Councilor — W. A. Church, State Vice-Councilor — H. F. Connelly, State Council Secretary — Harry Van Brunt. Muncie, October 24-25, 1905, received the State Body, with State Councilor W. A. Church presiding. The death of P. S. C. Geo. M. Louck was announced and an appropriate Memoriam was adopted in respect for his memory. The State Legislative Committee reported that an effort had been made to secure legislation for a Free Text-Book Bill, but the same died in the Committee. Many Councils were reported as not meeting, whereupon charges were filed against same, and their charters were revoked. Officers elected were: State Councilor — H. F. Connelly, State Vice-Councilor — W. M. Thompson, State Council Treasurer — Whit B. Miller. We close the record of the State Council of Indiana with the Fifteenth Annual Session, held at Noblesville, October 23-24, 190G, with H. T. Connelly, State Councilor in the Chair. During the year, Brother James Needier was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Brother Van Brunt. A resume for the year is given by Brother Needier as to the standing of the Order in the state, and is as follows: Number of Councils 26 Number of Members 1,701 Amount Paid for Relief $4,817.29 Worth of Subordinate Councils 26,650.16 Per Capita Tax National Council 959.10 470 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows: State Councilor — W. M. Thompson, State Vice-Councilor — John W. Ketner, State Council Secretary — James Needier, State Council Treasurer — Whit B. Miller, State Council Conductor — H. F. Meyrose, State Council Warden— W. M. Street, State Council Sentinels — Ray Montague and John Horn, State Council Chaplain — J. D. Freidline. Indiana Juniorism has had its vicissitudes, its " ups and downs/' but resolutely she has " stood by the stuff." A perusal of the Proceedings of the State Council indicates precision in the manner of conducting its business. Much responsibility for the work of the various Councils rested upon the Deputy State Coun- cilors who, owing to the inability of the State Councilor because of lack of funds in the treasury to visit the Councils, were expected to take the State Councilor's place. Each D. S. C. made his report to the State Council, and in compensation for these services, his mileage and per diem was paid to the State sessions, a very creditable act toward a body of men but little recognized. The close affinity between the Junior Order and the Daughters of America was a marked feature of Indiana, both State Councils generally meeting at the same time and in the same place, each exchanging with the other friendly greetings. If we would name the Indiana Juniors who stand conspicuous in either State or National Council, the following are worthy of note: At the head of the list, loved by every Junior in the state and esteemed in the National Council, stands Past National Coun- cilor A. L. Cray; then follows Past State Councilors McAbee, Pit- tinger, Martin, Church, Laine, Allegar, Baldwin, McKinley, Reed and Connelly; Past National Representatives Young, Fitzpatrick and Leapley, Brothers E. E. Freidline and J. D. Freidline, Van Brunt, and State Councilor W. M. Thompson, State Vice-Councilor John Ketner, State Council Secretary and Treasurer James Needier and Whit. B. Miller. KANSAS By the institution of Western Star Council, No. 1, at Welling- ton, November, 1888, the Order secured a foothold in the State of Kansas. J. F. Nixon was appointed Deputy National Councilor over the Order in the state the same year, but was removed in 1889, and J. E. Smith, of Nebraska, was appointed in his place. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 471 As there was no report of the above named Council at the session of the National Council in 1891, it is presumed that h had "gone out of business." National Organizer Stephen Collins, however, entered the state in December of 1892, and the following is the result of his visit: Wyandotte Council, No. 1, December 16, with 25 applicants, at Kansas City ; Lincoln, No. 2, at Topeka, January 16, 1893 ; Leavenworth, No. 3, January 18, 1893, with 25 applicants; Pride of the West, No. 4, at Lawrence, January 20, with 28 charter mem- bers; Winona, No. 5, January 24, at McCracken, with 21 appli- cants; Oakley, No. 6, at Oakley, February 2, with 23 applicants; Fr. Scott, No. 7, June 6 ; Kansas, No. 8, June 7, all in 1893. On June 8, 1893, Brother Collins instituted the State Council at Topeka, and on the day following continued his good work by instituting Union Council, No. 9, at Atchison. The order, how- ever, lost ground the first year, as per report for year ending Decem- ber 31, 1893, which showed but 131 members, the list of suspensions reaching 140. The second year was more hopeful, the membership as per report of May 15, 1895, being 500. No truer men had any state than Kansas, but from the incep- tion of the Order they had a struggle and a fight to maintain an existence, and when the old century came to a close, there were only 7 Councils and 200 members. When the report for year ending December 31, 1904, was sent in, the following is the story: Number of Councils 3 Number of Members 122 Received by Subordinate Councils $762.57 Paid for Relief 296.95 Worth of Councils 193.00 The list of officers for 1906-1907 were the following: State Councilor — A. A. Doughty, State Vice-Councilor — F. E. Anderson, State Council Secretary — O. Chacey, State Council Treasurer — J. L. Boyer. KENTUCKY In November, 1872, a Council was organized and instituted in Louisville, but by whom we have not learned, but it was of short duration and passed out of existence. John D. Hall, of West Vir- ginia, Deputy National Councilor, went into the state in 1891 and organized Guiding Star Council, No. 1, which he instituted October 472 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 20, the same being followed by Vancebnrg Council, No. 2, instituted on August 6, 1892, and Washington, No. 3, in same month. On February 20, 1893, Lincoln Council, No. 4, was instituted, which was followed by Eescue Council, No. 5 ; Winona, No. 6 ; Bainbridge, No. 7 ; Henry Clay, No. 8 ; Twin City, No. 9, and Eising Sun, No. 10, all of the same year. On March 28, the State Council of Ken- tucky was instituted in due form, of which E. C. Mercer was elected State Councilor and I. McFerguson State Vice-Councilor. The first National Eepresentatives were: M. V. Eorick, I. McFerguson, W. C. Eoby, Oliver Bercan and Geo. Donaldson. The members of the State Council were enthusiastic and for a year or two there was splendid advance made, the standing of the State Council for year ending December 31, 1894, being as follows: Number of Councils 20 Number of Members 486 Internal dissensions, however, crept into the Order, so that on May 9, 1896, the National Council Secretary stated that no report had been received from the State Council Secretary, in consequence of which failure to report, the State Council was subjected to a fine, its indebtedness being $66.51 ; this however was paid June 1, but not the fine, and the following report was submitted : Number of Councils 14 Number of Members 998 the disturbing element having been driven out of the Order. Those quite prominent in 1897, and all National Eepresenta- tives, were: C. A. Jeancon, J. P. Fleming, J. W. Steger, H. G. Smith and Byron Hill. The officers for the ensuing jear, 1900-1901, were as follows: Jr. Past State Councilor— H. G. Smith, State Councilor— Geo. E. Heinsobn, State Vice-Councilor — L. L. Hill, State Council Secretary— M. C. Bane, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Steger. In 1901 the gain in membership was 519, there being at the time 33 Councils and 3,050 members in the state. As an evidence of progress, the gain reported at the session of 1902 was 931, while that of 1903 was 1,468. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 473 The report of the State Council for year ending December 31, 1904, was as follows: Number of Councils 82 Number of Members 6,866 Received by Subordinate Councils $52,135.23 Paid for Relief 15,578.68 Worth of Councils 22,385.67 This gratifying report placed Kentucky fourth in order of gain of membership, the increase being 1,417. The brethren of Ken- tucky are to be congratulated on the Order's remarkable growth in their state and much can be expected in the future. The above brief resume has been gathered from limited sources, copies of the Proceedings not having been furnished as requested. However, through the kindness of Rev. E. D. Harding, Junior Past State Councilor, a copy of the Proceedings of the session of the State Council of 1906 was placed in our hands. From this docu- ment we learned that the session had been held at Frankfort, Ken- tuck} 7 , September 11-13, presided over by Brother Harding, State Councilor, there being not less than 150 members in attendance. The administration of State Councilor Harding was the ban- ner year for the " Blue Grass State " both in increase of Councils and membership, 22 new Councils having been instituted, 19 of which the State Councilor organized and instituted, while the gain in members reached 3,240 and the finances of the State Council netted $1,400 over all expenses. This was a magnificent record and was the result of a year's hard and sacrificing work upon the part of one of the most active and patriotic State Councilors the State Council ever had to direct the Order. With his cheering presence and words of instruction in the Councils and from the pulpit and platform our brother went everywhere preaching the gospel of Juniorism, until a mighty wave of old-time patriotism rolled over the state as never before had been seen. Nearly a hundred councils had been visited during his term, with the promise, which he will carry out, to visit the remainder of the Councils of the state during his closing year as a member of the Board of Officers. The State Council Secretary presented a report somewhat unique, in which were submitted comparisons given, so far as we 474 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER have seen, by no other State Secretary. For instance, the fol- lowing : Number of Councils 121 Average number of Members per Council 85.64 Average number per Council in U. S 90.64 Brother Bane then showed that the gain per Council during the year was 1.9, making the average in Kentucky but 5 less than the average in the United States. He also reported the membership to have reached 10,353. With 50 county-seats without a Council, according to the report of the State Councilor, and hundreds of towns without an organization, the prospects for a great State organization are bright. Financially the Subordinate Councils showed the following: Receipts $75,632.41 Paid for Benefits and Relief 20,967.04 Worth of Councils 56,089.38 making a gain of $16,933.07. It is worthy of note that much of the enthusiasm and interest aroused throughout the state is due to the publication known as the "Kentucky Junior;' edited and published by Bev. Brother Harding, a lively journal much appreciated by the Juniors of the state. Kentucky, not to be outdone by Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland, and as an evidence of her loyalty to our cherished institution at Tiffin, has entered into the very commendable scheme of erecting on the grounds of the Orphans' Home a building to be known as " The Kentucky Memorial Hospital " as a monument to the generosity of the members of the organization in Kentucky, said building to be used as a hospital or ward of detention for the sick and disabled children of the National Orphans' Home. The plan is under full head-way with more than $1,000 on hand and a statute was adopted at the late session establishing the same. Within a few years there will stand upon the grounds of the Orphans' Home this magnificent Memorial of Southern generosity and love. CHAPTER XXVIII PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued) MAINE NATIONAL Councilor Geo. H. Bartlett, of Massachusetts, was instrumental in planting the Order in the " Pine Tree State " sometime in November of 1890, by the institution of Kennebec Council, No. 1, at Richmond. However, the Council was short- lived and no further attempt was made until September 13, 1894, when Past National Councilor W. E. Orange, National Organizer, instituted Winona Council, No. 1, and on the 28th of same month gave Geo. H. Adams Council, No. 2, official life. In 1895, Fred W. Alexander, of Rhode Island, was appointed Special Organizer and on the 21st of November of that year he instituted Enterprise Council, No. 3, following it up with American Eagle Council, No. 4, on the 25th of same month; Champerdowne, No. 5, Decem- ber 16; Lincoln, No. 6, on the 20th, and Kearsarge, No. 7, on the. 21st of December, 1895. Continuing his work into the New Year, he instituted Pine Tree Council, No. 8, on January 13, 1896; Washington, No. 9, on February 5; Harmony, No. 10, and White Rose, No. 11, on March 7; Eastern Star, No. 12, on March 9, and Garfield, No. 13, on the twelfth of the same month, 1896. With Representatives from the above named Councils, Special Organizer Alexander, in regular and due form, instituted the State Council of Maine, March 12, 1896. Pursuant to the call of the Special Organizer, the preliminary meeting was held on the above date at South Berwick, and after being called to order by Brother Alexander, Lionel H. Williams was chosen temporary Secretary. The following Past Councilors were present: Elmer Toby, Lionel Williams, A. E. Quint, F. H. Fike, John C. Stewart, G. C. H. Smiley, Ira C. Keen, Geo. W. Mitchell, W. A. Nute and E. Bail. Councilors present were: W. W. Ranshaw, E. H. Goodwin, W. H. Cordes, F. A. Spencer, Herbert Smith, W. H. Littlefield and H. E. Bryant, nine of the Councils being represented. Fathered by as noble a body of men as could be found anywhere, and under most auspicious surroundings, the State Council of Maine started out to teach and disseminate throughout the state the doctrines and prin- ciples of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. 475 476 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER A committee was appointed to nominate a Board of Officers, which committee reported as follows, and the same were elected collectively by the Secretary casting the vote for the body : Junior Past State Councilor — H. P. Dalton, State Councilor — John C. Stewart, State Vice-Councilor — Elmer Toby, State Council Secretary — Lionel H. Williams, State Council Treasurer — A. E. Quint, State Council Conductor — Geo. W. Mitchell, State Council Warden — Ira C. Keen, State Council Sentinels — F. H. Fike and G. C. M. Smiley, National Representatives — A. E. Quint, A. E. Bail, H. A. Guptill, L. H. Williams. After the appointment of the necessary Committee on Consti- tution and By-laws, the State Council adjourned, leaving the routine business to be taken care of by the Board of Officers, who were authorized to approve and promulgate the laws as submitted by the Committee. The Second Annual Session of the State Council was called to order by State Councilor John C. Stewart, September 2, 1896, the meeting being held at North Berwick. The fee of Subordinate Council charters was fixed at $25; the per capita tax was placed at 25 cents. The receipts of the Sub- ordinate Councils since the institution in March amounted to $132.24, some of the Councils not reporting, and there had been no advance during that period. The salary of the State Council Secretary was placed at $50 and all officers and representatives to be paid their actual expenses. The election of officers resulted as follows : State Councilor — John C. Stewart (reelected), State Vice-Councilor — H. V. Noyes, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer — Fred. B. Averill. In Third Annual Session, the State Council convened at Port- land, September 1, 1897, State Vice- Councilor Noyes presiding. Only seven of the original 13 Councils were in good standing, but five new ones had been chartered during the year, making 12 in all. The membership August 31, 1897, was reported at 604. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 477 The result of the election of officers was as follows, 13 votes being cast : State Councilor — Dr. H. V. Noyes, State Vice-Councilor — W. A. Spofford, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer — J. H. Farmington. The Fourth Annual Session of the State Council was held at Springvale, September 7, 1898, Past State Councilor John C. Stewart in the Chair. Seven Councils only sent, their report, show- ing a reduced membership of 410. Officers selected for the ensuing year were: State Councilor — W. A. Spofford, State Vice-Councilor — F. H. Dexter, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer — Geo. R. Bowley. Phillips entertained the State Council September 6, 1899, with State Councilor Spofford presiding. The brethren were highly gratified over the remarkable ad- vance the Order had made during the year under the leadership of Brother Spofford, 17 Councils having been chartered while sev- eral Councils had been reorganized, and all along the line a wave of patriotism swept over the state. In his report, the State Councilor referred in most glowing terms to the National Orphans' Home and its great work, and in speaking of the Spanish-American War, he named one Junior from Maine, Frank E. Russell, of Phillips, who was a participant. The State Council Secretary gave the standing of the Order as follows : Number of Councils 26 Number of Members 1075 The vote on the Woman's Auxiliary, referred to the State Councils by the National Council, was in the negative, the entire vote, 24, being recorded nay. The State Council Secretary's salary was raised to $100. The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — Frank H. Dexter, State Vice-Councilor — Charles E. Berry, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer — Geo. R. Bowley. 478 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER For the sixth time the State Council met in annual session, this time at Livermore Falls, September 5, 1900, State Councilor Dex- ter at the helm. The year was marked with another advance and continued prosperity in the Order in its forward march of con- quest. The State Body was represented for the first time in the National Council by State Councilor Dexter, Geo. K. Bowley and State Council Secretary Smith. The report of Secretary Smith was full of cheer and it must have inspired the brothers with loftier purposes and higher aims. Seventeen new Councils had been instituted and the membership correspondingly increased. The report on mileage was $100.50. In the election of officers the following were chosen : State Councilor — Charles E. Berry, State Vice-Councilor — William H. Wood, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer — Everett D. Wenthworth. The Seventh Annual Session was held at Brunswick, Septem- ber 4, 1901, presided over by State Councilor Berry. Five new Councils had been chartered, all having been organized by Deputy State Councilor Geo. L. Lakin. The officers elected were: State Councilor— W. H. Wood, State Vice-Councilor — Isaac Linscott, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer — F. S. Schofield. Dixfield, September 10, 1902, had the honor of entertaining the State body at its Eighth Annual Session, State Councilor Wood in the Chair. The year showed a slight decline, both in Councils and members, there being reported of the former 25, and of the latter 1,069. The State Vice-Councilor was removed from his office, his Council having expelled him for some cause. The session was brief and the business merely routine, closing with the following officers elected: State Councilor — W. J. Crockett, State Vice-Councilor— Dr. F. E. Wheet, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer— F. S. Schofield. In Ninth Annual Session, the State Council convened at Waterville, September 9, 1903, S. C. Crockett in the Chair. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 479 The Order again moved forward, three new Councils having been organized, making 26 Councils in the state with a membership of 1,109. Those chosen to direct the affairs of the Order were: State Councilor— Dr. F. E. Wheet, State Vice-Councilor — ,Geo. W. Dockham, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer — William M. Woodcock. The State Council of Maine rounded out its first decade at its meeting held at Kingfield, September 14, 1904, with Dr. Wheet presiding. National Councilor Gilcreast honored the session with his presence and added much to the interest of the occasion. The vote on the amendments to the National Constitution, in- cluding the revised Objects of the Order and biennial sessions of the National Council, was ayes 25, nays none. The Election Board declared the following to have been elected to the several offices for the ensuing year : State Councilor — Geo. W. Dockham, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. R. Bowley, State Council Secretary — Herbert Smith, State Council Treasurer — W 7 illiam M. Woodcock. The Eleventh Annual Session was held at Ellsworth, Septem- ber 6, 1905, with State Councilor Dockham presiding. National Councilor Gilcreast again was present to encourage the brethren in their work, and was accompanied by Deputy National Councilor Andrews, of Massachusetts. Among the questions asked of the State Councilor in his official capacity was, " Can we carry a flag with us to church on Sunday? " The State Councilor answered, " Yes. There is no law, either State or National, or of any other fraternal organization, that prohibits the carrying of the American flag (Old Glory) under any and all circumstances in this country that I know of. If there is it ought to be repealed." The State Council Secretary gave a resume of the standing of the Order, which is herewith appended : Number of Councils 27 Number of Members 1222 Worth of Councils $7,000.00 Receipts of State Council $770.24 Expenses of State Council 777.96 480 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The vote on the National Council Amendments was in favor of same, there being yeas 31, nays none. The report of Committee on Mileage showed $184.18 due the officers and representatives for , their expenses in attending the session. The writer is indebted to Brother Herbert Smith, State Coun- cil Secretary, for courtesies shown in the loan of the proceedings of the State Council. Although the contents of the printed pro- ceedings are somewhat limited when compared with State Councils of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and other of the larger states, yet for neatness in form and preparation, none can excel those of Maine. The brethren spent but little time at their annual sessions, transacting their business methodically, having but few questions that aroused discussion, and with kindliest feelings toward each other, they met and parted. While the Order never reached great numbers, yet for a state situated as Maine, the results are gratifying. With a good ground- work already laid, the future of the Order in the "Pine Tree State" is encouraging. The State of Maine has had good men at the helm since its organization into a State Council. Past State Councilor Stewart was one of the earlier workers, a man of power and respect. Past State Councilors Geo. E. Bowley, W. A. Spofford, F. H. Dexter, Charles E. Berry, W. H. Wood, Dr. F. E. Wheet, Geo. W. Dock- ham and W. J. Crockett are still on the " firing line." But the longest in actual service, ten years up to this date (1905) as the State Council Secretary, Brother Herbert Smith might be classed as the " Nestor of Maine." Eespected and esteemed, he has been unanimously reelected to his present position at each successive session. The Election Board submitted the following returns as the officers for the ensuing year : State Councilor — George R. Bowley, Sanford, State Vice-Councilor— E. E. Bragdon, East Sullivan, State Secretary — Herbert Smith, Springvale, State Treasurer — Wm. M. Woodcock, East Wilton, State Chaplain— H. H. Schofield, Weld, State Conductor— George W. Grover, Phillips, State Warden — W. F. Fogg, Harrison, State Inside Sentinel — H. E. Harnden, Phillips, State Outside Sentinel— E. E. Love, North Shapleigh. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 481 MARYLAND " Maryland, my Maryland," famous in story and song, from whose historic fortress, Fort McHenry, floated the proud old flag that inspired the Muse of Key and gave to America the grandest ode to the grandest banner the world ever knew, the " Star Spangled Banner," early in the seventies imbibed the sentiments and principles of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., being the fourth state to establish a State Council. We are very much indebted to Brother Chas. S. Davis, State Council Secretary of Maryland, for the loan of printed matter, not only from 1885, when the first printed proceedings were published, but for an abstract from the written records of the State Body prepared by the late Brother J. Adam Sohl, from the time the State Council was instituted until the year above stated. To the Senior 0. IT. A. M. belongs the credit of the organ- ization of the first Councils of the Junior 0. TJ. A. M., Baltimore Council, No. 1, being the first one instituted in the City of Balti- more, January 31, 1870, by National Councilor John W. Calver, assisted by National Secretary Edw. S. Deemer, with 31 applicants. The institution of Maryland Council, No. 2, followed February 15, conducted by Deputy National Councilor John W. Holden. On the same evening, Washington Council, No. 3, at Chesapeake City, was instituted by Deputy National Councilor Frank M. Mowery, of No. 3, Pennsylvania, with 14 applicants, who also instituted United Council, No. 4, on February 22, at Baltimore; whereupon, steps were taken to establish a State Council, a preliminary meeting having been held March 4, 1870, at which time a request for a charter for a State Council was made and the same was granted March 29 following, and on April 8, 1870, the State Council of Maryland was duly instituted with the following officers elected : State Councilor — Joseph Smiley, State Vice-Councilor — John N. Marquette, State Council Secretary — J. Adam Sohl, State Council Treasurer — Geo. W. Mifflin, State Council Conductor — William H. Hudson, State Council Warden — , State Council Sentinels — Wm. A. Abercombie and Lewis H. Voght. Representatives to the National Council, J. Adam Sohl, Joseph Smiley, Wm. H. Hudson, Geo. W. Mifflin and Lewis Voght. J. Adam Sohl and Joseph Smiley for years were conspicuous in the affairs of the National Body, Brother Sohl having an almost con- tinued history therewith until 1904, when, on account of physical 3i 482 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER disabilities, he was compelled to relinquish his office as National Treasurer. He was elected National Marshal at the session of 1871, reelected in 1872, elected National Protector in 1873, again elected National Marshal in 1874. In 1877 he was placed in the Chair of National Vice-Councilor, promoted to National Councilor in 1878, and elected National Treasurer in 1883, which office he held consecu- tively until 1904. Joseph Smiley was elected National Vice- Conncilor in 1872 and National Councilor in 1873, thus conferring high honors on two of Maryland's noblest Juniors. The State Council of Maryland met in semi-annual session for years, the first half yearly meeting being held July 16, 1870, at which time the percentage, as it was then termed, from four of her five Councils, amounted to only nine dollars and twenty-two cents. At the Thirty-seventh Annual Session, held in 1906, Maryland's per capita tax amounted to thirteen thousand, seven hundred and ninety-nine dollars and seven cents, and a total income for State Council purposes from all sources of $14,453.60. The First Annual Session of the State Council was held on January 21, 1871, at which session John N. Marquette was elected State Councilor and Geo. W. Mifflin State Vice-Councilor. Broth- ers Sohl and Voght were reelected Secretary and Treasurer, respec- tively. The Secretary was allowed $15 a year for his services; but very frequently there Avas nothing in the treasury to pay him, hence much of his service in the earlier years of the State Council was given for nothing ; in fact, Brother Sohl often went down into his own pocket for the " sinews of war." In order to get the machinery moving properly, several special meetings were held during the year. At the Second Annual Session, Geo. W. Mifflin was elevated to the position of State Councilor, and the State Secretary and Treasurer reelected. The receipts of the year were $100.74, while the disbursements were $100.15, leaving a balance of fifty-nine cents. During the year, State Councilor Mifflin resigned, where- upon, State Council Treasurer Lewis H. Voght was elected to fill the position at the semi-annual meeting held July 22, 1872. But two of the elective officers were present at the opening of the annual session held January 27, 1873. A resolution was adopted requesting the State Council, O. U. A. M., to enact a law UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 483 admitting members of the Junior Order when they " arrive at the proper age " for less sum than new members. For State Councilor, James C. Bowen was elected; for State Vice-Councilor, W. E. Alderdice; State Council Secretary, J. Adam Sohl, and for State Council Treasurer, Win. H. Hudson. Four meetings of the State Body were held during the year. The Fifth Annual Session was held January 26, 1874, with State Councilor James C. Bowen in the Chair. Brother Robert Ogle, so well and favorably known throughout the entire Order, was a Representative from Baltimore Council, No. 1. The State Councilor reported an increase of 4 Councils and 377 members. An adjourned session was held on the following day, in the evening, at which time the officers were elected and installed as follows: State Councilor — W. E. Alderdice, State Vice-Councilor — John J. Snyder, State Council Secretary — J. Adam Sohl, State Council Treasurer — Wm. H. Hudson. An increase from $15 to $25 was allowed the State Council Secretary. State Councilor W. E. Alderdice presided at the Sixth Annual Session, January 25, 1875. The officers elected for the ensuing year were : J. J. Snyder, for State Councilor ; Geo. A. Burrier, for State Vice-Councilor, while the Secretary and Treasurer were re- elected to their respective positions. The increase in membership was 227, there being a total of 11 Councils and 772 members. Up to this date all the meetings of the State Council, annual, semi-annual and quarterly, had been held in the City of Baltimore; however, the first quarterlv meeting for 1875 was held at Elicott City, April 26. At one of the meet- ings of the year, it was decided that postal cards could not be used in communicating with the Councils. The first unpleasant feature of the year was the preferring of charges against State Councilor Snyder, whose seat was declared vacant, and State Vice-Councilor Burrier was elected to fill out the unexpired term, while Geo. A. Simmons was elected State Vice-Councilor. At the annual session of the State Body in 1876, held January 24, the receipts of the Subordinate Councils from all sources was reported at $8,841.75, while the disbursements amounted to 484 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER $8,898.04. The Order at that time was passing through its first troubles and struggles. The depression of business had much to do with this condition of things, as it was common in all the states. A committee on the " Progress of the Order " submitted their re- port, in which was declared that not a Council could be considered in a prosperous condition. G. A. Simmons was declared elected State Councilor and J. T. Bitter State Vice-Councilor. At an adjourned session held on January 26, a motion was adopted instructing the National Eepresentatives to advocate in the National Council the placing of a suitable prayer in the Ritual; also, a resolution was adopted instructing the Representatives to use their influence in having the Fifth Object stricken out of the Order. At the session of 1877, J. T. Ritter was elected State Coun- cilor; J. B. Diffey, State Vice-Councilor; Brothers Sohl and Hud- son reelected to their respective positions. But $3.09 was left in the treasury at the close of the session. A special session was held May 28, 1877, in order to act upon a bill of charges preferred against Past State Councilor W. E. Alderdice for conduct unbecoming a member of the Order. At a subsequent session the majority of the Committee declared him to be guilty, which report was adopted. At the semi-annual session held in July, there were but 7 Councils in the state and 381 members. The Eighth i^nnual Session was held at Baltimore, as usual, January 28, 1878, with State Councilor Ritter presiding. The continued depressing business situation, thereby affecting labor, was having its effect upon the Order in Maryland, as elsewhere, six Councils only reporting and the membership was reduced to 310 members. Four Councils during the year had been forced to suspend operations and surrendered their charters, one of which to-day (1906) is strong and healthy, its charter having been re- stored, and is the banner Council of Ma^land — Wells and Mc- Comas Council — which has 952 members, as per report of 1905. The total worth of Councils then was $814.49; to-day (1906), 28 vears after, the assets of Maryland's Councils are $237,324.10. We should never despise the day of small things. The officers elected to serve for the ensuing year were as follows : State Councilor — E. S. Gage, State Vice-Councilor — R. T. Frank, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 485 with Brothers Sohl and Hudson reelected State Council Secretary and State Council Treasurer. After all expenses had been paid, there remained in the treas- ury $7.67. A very commendable feature had been adopted pre- viously, the establishing of a Library, the Committee reporting at this session 361 books. A special session was called for June 5, and the semi-annual session was held July 22, 1878, at which session the seat of State Councilor Gage was declared vacant and State Vice-Councilor Frank elected to fill the unexpired term, while J. W. Granger was elected State Vice-Councilor. For the ninth time the State Council met in annual session in the City of Baltimore, January 27, 1879, with State Councilor Frank in the Chair. In conformity to law, more than one Repre- sentative could be elected from each Council, sometimes a Council having four Representatives present. The year 1878 brought the Order quite prominently before the public, it being the quarto-centennial of the birth of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., through a large public meeting held in the City of Baltimore. The interest in the Order was further increased by the session of the National Council being held in Baltimore in June of same year. J. W. Granger was elected State Councilor, C. H. Fisher State Vice-Councilor, J. Adam Sohl State Council Secretary and C. II . Crawford State Council Treasurer. The Tenth Annual Session was held January 26, 1880, with State Councilor Granger presiding. In the selection of officers, C. H. Fisher was elected State Councilor, J. P. Rumpf State Vice- Councilor, J. Adam Sohl State Council Secretary and W. A. Har- vey State Council Treasurer. J. P. Rumpf was promoted State Councilor at the session of 1881, who at this writing (1906), is still one of Maryland's most active workers. The Order during the year took part in the Sesqui-Centennial of Maryland, turning out 200 men of a member- ship of 370, in the parade on the occasion. The Twelfth Annual Session convened in 1882, with State Councilor Rumpf presiding. There was an upward turn in the affairs of the Order in Maryland during the year, the membership 486 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER being reported at 105. K. W. Watkins was elected State Councilor and C. H. Garrett State Vice-Councilor. Brothers Sohl and Har- vey were reelected to their respective positions. The name of Brother G. A. Davis, at present (1906) the State Councilor, first appears on the list as a Representative. R. W. Watkins presided at the session of the State Body in 1883, at which time C. H. Garrett was elected State Councilor and W. H. McCawley State Vice-Councilor. The law was amended to establish an Executive Board, consist- ing of the State Councilor, State Vice-Councilor, Jr. Past State Councilor, the State Council Secretary, the State Council Treas- urer and two members elected by the State Council. A committee on the Extension of the Order was also created. State Councilor Garrett presided at the session of 1884. Brother F. A. Buschman's name appears on the list of Represen- tatives at this session. He is still, at this writing (1906), an active spirit in the affairs of the Order, always faithful and earnest. W. H. McCawley was selected State Councilor and W. F. Streeks State Vice-Councilor. The present State Council Secre- tary (1906), C. S. Davis, appears as a Representative at the semi-annual meeting. The Sixteenth Annual Session was held at Baltimore (never held anywhere else), that is, the annual meeting of January 26, 18S5, and was adjourned from evening to evening, closing on the evening of the third day. State Councilor McCawley presided, there being 42 members present. With this session the printed proceedings begin, from which we cull the brief facts that follow. At this time the Order in Maryland consisted of but 6 Coun- cils, with a total membership of 429. These were the days of slow growth, even in Pennsylvania there was but small advance annually. The people had not yet awakened to the fact of the importance of fostering and maintaining an American organization. Notwithstanding these were days of " small things/' the Maryland brethren conducted the business of the State Council with as much carefulness and fidelity as if they legislated for tens of thousands. The sessions, being held in Baltimore, were usually held in the evenings, adjourning from evening to evening until the business UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 48? of the session was concluded. After adopting a code of laws, the State Council adjourned with the following officers: State Councilor — W. F. Streeks, State Vice-Councilor — Chas. H. Crawford, State Council Secretary — J. Adam Sohl, State Council Treasurer — W. A. Harvey. State Councilor Streeks presided at the session of 1886. No new Councils had been organized, and all that belonged to the Order in the state were located within the limits of Baltimore City. Chas. H. Crawford was elected State Councilor and F. A. Buschman State Vice-Councilor. Maryland, again, was honored with a National Councilor — Harry Krausz, who was present at the session. State Council Secretary Phil. Meisel, Jr., of Virginia, was also a visitor. The annual session of 1887, convened on January 21, State Councilor Crawford presiding. The Order during the year passed beyond the city limits, a Council with 31 applicants having been instituted, while the membership reached 657. As was the case everywhere, the public knew but little of the Order, even the ministers were ignorant of its purpose. Maryland had the same difficulty with the clergy as other states when they were called upon to preach the annual Thanksgiving sermon; too often delivering a discourse on labor, thinking, from the Order's name, that it was a labor organization. The writer was led into the same error, judging from the name, and on one occasion preached a sermon, by request of General Putman Council, No. 125, of Pennsylvania, taking for his subject " The Dignity of Labor." On being taken to task by one of the members for not preaching on the Principles of the Order, of which the members had failed to post us, we asked, " What are you anyway ? " " Join our Council and see," was the reply ; and we did " ride the goat/'' which was in 1886, and learned the true purpose of the organ- ization. Maryland, as we started out to say, passed a resolution at this session to have a letter prepared to hand to the minister which be- gan as follows: " Deae Sib. — " We would call your attention to the name of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, so that you will preach to us what we are, and not what impression our name would make. We are no labor organiza- 488 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER tion; by the term Mechanics, we do not mean the daily laborer, or even he who works with united hand and brain, but one who in any honest manner contributes to his support or the welfare of humanity." Then followed the motto and Objects of the Order. An Intelligence Committee was appointed for the purpose of carrying out better the intent of the Second Object of the Order. For State Councilor, F. A. Buschman was elected, and Geo. D. Magruder was selected State Vice-Councilor. Sohl and Harvey re- elected. A special session, as well as the semi-annual session, was held during the year. January 23-25, 1888, found the State Council in session, with State Councilor Buschman presiding. , Baltimore, in the month of June, 1887, had entertained the National Council in a very cordial manner, $356 having been expended in entertaining the body. Hagerstown furnished a new Council since the last annual meeting. Brother Buschman "set the pace" for visitations, he having offi- cially visited each Council twice during his administration. He also instituted the Council at Hagerstown, its charter list being 74, and by the time of the meeting of the State Council, it had grown to 125. Brother Buschman spoke of the membership of the new Council " whose physical, mental and moral qualities are second to none in this state." Multiply Council was also insti- tuted, making two Councils for the year. The membership made a gratifying increase, reaching nearly 900. There was the " sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees," so far as the Order was concerned, and the future of " My Maryland " was beginning to loom up brightly. Pennsylvanians, viz. : Brothers Deemer, D. N. C. E. L. Mc- Cully, W. H. Varnick and S. S. Sibbs were present at the session. In the election of officers, the following were selected: State Councilor — Geo. D. Magruder, State Vice-Councilor — G. W. Warrenberger. Brothers Sohl and Harvey were reelected. The Twentieth Annual Session was held January 29, 1889, State Councilor Magruder presiding. A special session, however, had been held August 10, 1888, to consider the proposed plan of a " Savings and Building Association," to be under the supervision of the Order and for the members of the organization. The proposition was adopted and a charter asked for. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 489 Four new Councils were reported at the annual session, mak- ing 13 in all, with a total membership of 1,381, being a gain of 490. Financially, the Councils were advancing as well as numeri- cally, the receipts from all sources amounting to $8,228.79 ; paid for relief, $1,933.22 ; worth of Councils, $5,849.69 ; receipts of State Council, $715.63. It must have been gratifying to the leaders of the Order to witness such a marked advance along all lines. For 20 years the little band of brothers had laid well and secure the foundation principles of the Order upon which was to be built the great State Council of Maryland within the next decade and a half. The result of the election of officers was as follows : . State Councilor — Geo. W. Warrenberger, State Vice-Councilor — E. F. Boblits, State Council Secretary — J. Adam Sohl (reelected), State Council Treasurer — W. A. Harvey (reelected). As a very befitting and pleasant recognition of the 20 years' service of State Council Secretary Sohl, he was made the recipient of a gold watch. The Order in Maryland began its third decade of history under auspicious skies at the Twenty-first Annual Session held, as per change of time previously made, April 28, 1890, State Councilor Warrenberger presiding, there being about 50 members in attend- ance. Five new Councils had been instituted and the gain in membership was 248. The announcement of the tellers of the vote for officers showed that E. F. Boblits had been elected State Coun- cilor, H. J. Smith State Vice-Councilor and Charles Reimer State Council Treasurer. A perusal of the proceedings of the session indicates that the brethren were not all of one mind by any means upon the various questions before the body, there being many roll-calls and appeals from the Chair, etc. Rev. J. R. Boblits was announced as a candidate for National Vice-Councilor, and a resolution endorsing him for that position was adopted. The semi-annual sessions of the State Body having been dis- continued, the regular annual meeting convened at Hagerstown, April 21 and 22, 1891, State Vice-Councilor H. J. Smith presiding in the absence of State Councilor Boblits. The Board of Officers 490 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER reported five new Councils and an increased interest throughout the state, there being 23 Councils and 2,107 members. The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — H. J. Smith, State Vice-Councilor — Wm. H. Schilling. Brothers Sohl and Reinier were unanimously reelected Secretary and Treasurer of the body. The Maryland brethren had many appeals to settle, some of them having to be sent to the National Council for adjustment. There were " giants " in those days on parliamentary law and usages. Eighteen hundred and ninety-two, April 19-20, again found the State Council in the City of Baltimore in annual session, State Councilor H. J. Smith in the Chair. The representation was large, about 60 answering roll-call at the first session. A remarkable uplift had come to the Order during the year, 28 new Councils having been instituted. The State Councilor spoke in highest terms of Jas. A. Mullen, who had organized 6 new Councils and instituted 12, and of N. S. Munson who, in Washing- ton Count}' alone, had organized 11 of the new Councils. One year previous the state had 23 Councils and 2,104 members; at this session the Order had made a leap to 51 Councils and 4,000 members, 100 per cent, increase. This marvelous advance was attributable to two things: (1) A State Organizer; (2) The awakening of the public mind, through flag raisings and public demonstrations, to the principles and purposes of the Order. The announcement was made that Past National Councilor Krausz had departed this life April 7, 1892. No contest appearing, the State Council Secretary cast the vote of the State Council, resulting in the election of "Wm. H. Schilling for State Councilor and James T. Disney for State Vice- Councilor. Under the law, the Secretary and Treasurer held over. The " Queen City " of Maryland, Cumberland, had the honor to entertain the State Body in 1893, April 19-20, with State Coun- cilor Schilling presiding. The attendance was large and the ses- sion enthusiastic. Directly after the reception of the report of the Credential Committee, the following resolution was adopted: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 491 " Whereas, Past State Councilor Stephen Collins, National Organizer, has been doing grand work in planting our banner among the 'Rockies'; therefore, be it " Resolved, That we send our greetings to Brother Collins, and assure him of our appreciation of the good work he is doing in extending the 0rder - " J. Adam Sohl, " Wm. H. Schilling, " Robert Ogle." State Councilor Schilling, in chaste and beautiful terms, re- ferred to the standing and prominence of the organization, the character of its membership, and especially referred to the demon- stration on September 12, 1892, " Old Defenders' Day," the first of a series of demonstrations that the Maryland Juniors have participated in, until it is known as "Juniors' Day," and is one of the great days of Maryland, not only for the Order, but for the people who have made it a holiday, and tens of thousands annually celebrate the Battle of North Point along with the Juniors. The State Councilor, in alluding to this event, says : " This affair had a tendency to inculcate in the minds and hearts of the youth and of our citizens and children, the principles of true Ameri- canism on which our Order is founded. Never before has the name of the Jr. O. U. A. M. been heralded forth throughout the old State of Maryland as it was and has been since last ' Old Defenders Day.' Since this won- derful demonstration, our smallest school child is being taught the lessons of our standard, the American flag." Besides the Deputy State Councilor, there had been created by the Maryland State Council a new office, District Deputy State Councilor, which was a " move in the right direction." One object of the new office was to relieve the State Councilor of making official visitations, that duty being placed upon the District Deputy State Councilors. The very best men were appointed to this posi- tion, and from this fact came the great progress that Maryland for years was to enjoy. We have noted in the earlier history of the state the small income, etc., received by the Subordinate Councils. By way of contrast, at this session with the Order advancing by great strides, the following financial statement was made: Received by Subordinate Councils from all sources. .$39,605.79 Paid for Relief and Benefits 10.0S9.26 Worth of Councils 26,370.99 Thirteen new Councils were instituted since the last session and a gain of 1,946 in membership was made, bringing the total mem- bership to 5,675. 492 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER J. T. Disney was elected State Councilor and Harry S. Barry State Vice-Councilor. As noted elsewhere,, the governing body of the Order in the state was placed in the hands of the Executive Board, consisting of the Jr. Past State Councilor, State Councilor, State Vice-Coun- cilor, State Council Secretary and Treasurer, and two members of the State Council elected by ballot. All items of business were brought before this Board and their actions were subjected to the approval or disapproval of the State Council. Questions of law, applications for charters and the order to pay bills came before the Board. The reports of the Board from year to year were voluminous, covering fifteen to twenty pages of the Proceedings in submitting a resume of the work and business of the year. Elkton, on April 17 and 18, 1894, entertained the State Coun- cil, in Twenty-fifth Annual Session, presided over by State Coun- cilor James T. Disney. There was a large attendance and every one was " on the mountain-top " of ecstacies over the continued prosperity of the Order all over the state. National Secretary Deemer was present to rejoice with the brethren over their success — the greatest of any year in the quarto-centennial of the Order's his- tory in Maryland — there being nearly 100 Councils bearing aloft the banner of Juniorism, and, as per report of December 31, 1893, there were 7,755 members. In the election officers, the following were selected: State Councilor — H. S. Barry, State Vice-Councilor — N. S. Munson, State Council Secretary — Robert Ogle, State Council Treasurer— Charles Reinier (reelected). The report of Special Deputy State Councilor J. A. Mullen was elaborate, and contained a complete resume of a busy and suc- cessful year in the way of organizing new Councils and strength- ening old ones. There comes in the lives of men who have been conspicuous, the " passing," which is full of sadness, not only to themselves but those whom they have faithfully served. Such a " passing " came at this time to one of Maryland's most faithful and enthusiastic Juniors — Brother J. Adam Sohl — for 24 years the State Council Secretary of Maryland. A sudden and unexpected attack of nervous trouble compelled Brother Sohl to relinquish all mental and physical labor. State Councilor Disney had this to say: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 493 " I know of no one who has been so dear to our hearts as Bro. Sohl. His name for almost a quarter of a century has been a welcomed visitor to every household in the Jr. O. U. A. M. Bro. Sohl entered upon his career as State Council Secretary 24 years ago. The Order at that time was small in numbers, consisting of several Councils with a membership of 400, and with no money in the treasury to pay the salary of the State Council Secretary, and with all these obstacles surrounding our brother, he, as a good and faithful American, came to the Order's rescue and assisted in maintaining its dignity, financially and otherwise. And after many years of activity, untiring services and struggling; having passed through many seas of anxiety and trouble, at times almost on the verge of shipwreck, he as a true patriot, clung to the mast until the Order has crossed the sea of despair and landed safely on the shore of prosperity; and now after years of anxiety and worry of mind for the advance of the Order, and his efforts having been rewarded with success, he has been forced to lay down the armor of activity as ill health prevents him from enjoying the fruits of his labors." The Twenty-sixth Annual Session was held at Manchester, April 16 and 17, 1895, with State Councilor Barry in the Chair, and more than 150 members in attendance. A gavel made from wood of the ship " Constitution " was presented to the State Coun- cil. The State Councilor was able to report a more prosperous year than the preceding one, great even as that was, and greatest in the history of the State Council. State Council Secretary Ogle had, in his first report, the pleas- ure of submitting a statement of the unprecedented advancement made by the Order during the year. By way of comparison with the earlier years, the following status is given: Number of Councils 136 Number of Members 11,811 Received by Subordinate Councils $82,826.15 Paid for Benefits and Relief 27.335.28 Worth of Councils 55,709.59 There were 34 new Councils instituted during the year and a gain in membership of 5,056. N. S. Munson was elected State Councilor and H. T. Brown State Vice-Councilor. The " American Guards," a new organiza- tion, military in character, was endorsed. Frederick, on April 14 and 15, 1896, entertained the State Body, N. S. Munson, State Councilor, presiding, with 170 members present. Again, the State Councilor, like several of the preceding ones, 494 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER could say, " it was the most prosperous year of the Order since its inception." State Council Secretary Eobert Ogle and State Coun- cil Treasurer Charles Reimer both resigned during the year and their places were filled by action of Executive Board by Chas. S. Davis and W. L. James. Suitable resolutions were adopted and ordered engrossed in honor of the retiring officers. The number of Councils increased from 136 to 171, and the membership from 11,811 to 14,904. The Daughters of America, as an organization, was endorsed as an auxiliary to the Jr. 0. U. A. M. in Maryland. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: State Councilor — H. T. Brown, State Vice-Councilor — R. D. Bowland, State Council Secretary — C. S. Davis, State Council Treasurer — W. L. James. The session of 1897 was held at Frostburg, April 20-22, with State Councilor H. T. Brown in the Chair. " Junior Day," Twelfth of September, was now a reality, and a report of its cele- bration was submitted. Advance along all lines had been made, but not to such an extent as the year previous, but 14 new Councils had been instituted and the membership increased 2,023. Two hundred and seventeen votes were cast for officers, resulting in the election of E. D. Bowland for State Councilor and W. W. Baker, Jr., State Vice-Councilor. The Legislative Committee were active in trying to secure legislation in harmony with the teachings of the organization. Three sets of instructions to the National Representatives were adopted : 1. To vote for some place east of Pittsburg, for the next ses- sion of the National Council. 2. To vote against any amendment for the National Council to pay mileage and per diem. 3. To vote and work for a member from Maryland for Na- tional Vice- Councilor. Subsequently Brother Charles Reimer was announced as Maryland's choice. A Labor Bureau had been organized to better carry out the Second Object. The Twenty-ninth Annual Session was held at Salisbury, April 19-21, 1898, State Councilor Bowland presiding. One among the first items of business was the adoption of a resolution UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 495 urging upon the Legislative Committee to try and have the Legis- lature appropriate an additional $500,000 to the Public Schools. Strong resolutions pledging to President McKinley the support of the Order in Maryland in defense of the national honor in the con- troversy with Spain, were passed. The Order in the state during the year had been perturbed by some cowardly person or persons writing anonymous letters maligning some of the best known members of the Order in the state, even the National Councilor was in receipt of some of these scurrillous communications. Those who had been associated with the organization from earlier years came in for a part of the malicious and unjustifiable attacks made. Sixteen new Councils stands to the credit of Brother Bow- land, and the membership reported was 17,809. Celebration of " Junior Day " was of an unusually interesting character. The greatest difficulty was the securing of a place in which to hold the demonstration when the usual street parade was concluded. The Committee finally secured the grounds of Fort McHenry, where, amidst its hallowed associations, a new life seemed to have been instilled into the Order. Two hundred and forty votes were cast in the election of officers, resulting in the election of W. H. Baker, Jr., State Coun- cilor, and Dr. J. T. Waltmeyer, State Vice-Councilor. A petition asking recognition for a military organization known as " Junior Kifles," was presented and same was granted, by amending the title of name, making it to read, " Uniformed Eank, No. 2." In Thirtieth Annual Session, the State Council convened in the City of Baltimore, April 18-20, 1899, with State Councilor Baker presiding. But seven new Councils were reported while the membership increased from 17,809 to 18,622. The usual routine of business was transacted in the usual careful and methodical way, as at previous sessions, and harmony and good will prevailed. Two hundred and thirty- three votes were cast for officers, resulting as follows: State Councilor — Dr. J. T. Waltmeyei, State Vice-Councilor — David Heller, State Council Secretary — C. S. Davis (reelected), State Council Treasurer — W. L. James (reelected). A statement was made in the form of a resolution, that the cadets at the Navy Academy, located at Annapolis, with the excep- 496 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER tion of those who were Roman Catholics, who were permitted to go without the grounds to attend Divine worship, were compelled to attend services at the chapel within the grounds where the tenets of one church were presented. The resolution was addressed to the President and the Secretary of the Navy, protesting against such discrimination, and requested that the same privilege allowed those of Roman Catholic faith be given those of other sectarian prefer- ences. The resolution was adopted. A resolution to secure funds to purchase a suitable testimonial for Admiral W. S. Schley, for his gallantry in the great naval engagement off Santiago, was adopted and $100 was contributed by the State Council and $34 was given by individual members. The State Council met, at the " Crossing of the Centuries," April 17-19, 1900, at Cambridge, with Dr. J. T. Waltmeyer pre- siding. The standing of Subordinate Councils of Maryland, at this session, was as follows: Number of Councils 198 Number of Members 20,919 Received from all sources $177,396.10 Paid for relief 79,091.37 Total worth of Councils 133,996.65 Amount received by the State Council $10,301.01 The Maryland brethren were sound on the Sunday question, judging from the resolution adopted expressing great satisfaction over the defeat of a bill in the Legislature that had a tendency to create a Continental Sunday, unqualifiedly pledging the State Council in favor of laws maintaining the Sabbath as a day of worship and rest. The officers elected were as follows: State Councilor — David Heller, State Vice-Councilor — L. C. Webster. Oakland entertained the State Council in its Thirty-second Annual Session, held April 16 and 17, 1901, State Councilor David Heller presiding. Referring to the fact that God had stayed the hand of evil influences that might have ruined and wrecked the Order, the State Councilor in his report adds: " We, who are loyal, knew we were right, and the high court of Pennsylvania decided that we were right, therefore, let us meet in this UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 497 the Thirty-second Annual Session with thanks to our Heavenly Father, and let our acts be for the good of the Order and our State Council." Officers for ensuing year were elected as follows : State Councilor — L. C. Webster, State Vice-Councilor — H. B. Geddes, State Council Secretary — C. S. Davis (reelected), State Council Treasurer — W. L. James (reelected). The State Council met at the Capital of the state, Annapolis, April 15 and 16, 1902, with State Councilor L. C. Webster in the Chair. The special per capita tax of 15 cents that had been levied by the National Council for the benefit of the Orphans' Home, and the same having been promulgated by statute in Maryland, six of her Councils refused to obey the mandates of the National Body. The State Councilor informed the erring Councils that if the mandates of the National Council were not obeyed, charges would be preferred before the State Judiciary. The controversy ended by five of the Councils rescinding their order to not pay the tax and paid the same. One, however, refused and its charter was revoked. The Committee on the Schley Testimonial submitted their report. One thousand three hundred and twenty-seven dollars and ninety-three cents had been raised and the same, exclusive of ex- penses, was used in obtaining a medal which was presented to the gallant sea captain at his home in Washington, which was highly appreciated by the hero of Santiago. The following officers were elected : State Councilor — H. B. Geddes, State Vice-Councilor — T. A. Burch, State Council Treasurer — W. L. James (reelected). The Thirty-fourth Annual Session was held in the City of Baltimore, April 21 and 22, 1903, with State Councilor H. B. Geddes in the Chair. Four new Councils had been instituted while the membership numbered 18,870. A new feature was submitted by the State Council Secretary, that of incorporating in his report the status of membership by Councils and counties, giving the gain or loss of each during the year over the year previous. The purpose of this comparison was to stimulate the Councils to greater activity. 32 498 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER In accordance with the changes in the laws, what was pre- viously known as the Executive Board, was displaced by the term " Board of Officers " being inserted, consisting of the State Coun- cilor, State Vice-Councilor and Junior Past State Councilor. The officers chosen to direct the affairs of the Order were : State Councilor — T. A. Burch, State Vice-Councilor— G. W. Webb, State Council Treasurer — W. L. James (reelected). The sessions of 1904 and 1905 were held in Baltimore and Hagerstown, with State Councilors Burch and Webb presiding at the respective sessions. The usual -routine business was transacted, the reports submitted, while peace and harmony reigned among the brethren. The " Junior's Day " celebration on September 12, called " Old Defender's Day," in 1903, was reported as a great demon- stration, upwards of 31,000 participating. At the latter session, the deaths of Past State Councilors James T. Eitter and James C. Bowen were announced. Brother Bitter was one of Maryland's most active workers and the Order sustained a great loss in his death. State Councilor Webb gave a very good account of his " stewardship " by a year of most active work, giving much of his time to official visitations among the Councils. Hitherto, this feature of the State Councilor's work had been placed in the hands of District D. S. C. and D. S. C. ; but at the previous session, an appropriation had been made in order that the State Councilor might give his personal attention to the Councils, which action resulted in great good. State Vice-Councilor Smith made the shortest report to be found on record : " Mr. Geo. W. Webb, State Councilor. " Dear Sir and Bro. — " I have done everything that I was asked or saw to do. " J. H. Smith, "8. V. O." As an evidence of the powerful influence of the Jr. O. U. A. M. in the City of Baltimore, the State Councilor sent a communica- tion to the Board of School Commissioners requesting them to defer the opening of the public schools until September 13, the day UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 499 following the Junior Day Demonstration. State Councilor Webb, in his communication, made the following declaration : " We affirm our devotion to the Public School System and the com- pulsory education thereunder. " We recognize the Bible as the foundation of both moral and civil law, and believe it should be read in our public schools, not to teach sectarianism, but moral excellence. "We would place a flag upon and a Bible within every schoolhouse of our land, that all might learn these to be a beacon light in every storm threatening our destruction," etc. These utterances, part of our Declaration of Principles, were bold words to say in a city where Romanism is so strong as in Baltimore, but Brother Webb wasn't afraid to say them. It might be added that the request was granted by the School Commissioners. The election of officers resulted as follows, session of 1905 : State Councilor — J. H. Smith, State Vice-Councilor — G. A. Davis. The Thirty-seventh Annual Session of the State Council con- vened at Westminster, April 17 and 18, 1906, with State Councilor James H. Smith presiding, with nearly 200 members present, the vote for election of officers being 185. The increase in membership for the year was reported at 802. Eight new Councils were added to the list and all reports showed the Order in Maryland to be in a healthy condition and strongly entrenched. In befitting words the State Councilor referred to the death of the Patriarch of Maryland Juniorism, J. Adam Sohl, saying in part: "Words are weak things when the heart is filled, and we often find them inadequate. So it is with me now, as I try to speak to you of our departed brother. His death has removed from our ranks a landmark of which we were proud; and a brother whom we loved. He was an enthu- siastic worker, conservative and possessed of most excellent judgment. We held in great respect and esteem, J. Adam Sohl, the Junior, and we loved J. Adam Sohl, the man." The State Legislative Committee protested against the passage of a bill in the Maryland Legislature, appropriating $50,000 from the " Burnt District Funds " towards a Catholic institution, St. Mary's Industrial School. The protest, however, was unavailing, the bill passing by the constitutional majority, which would not have been had not five cowardly Junior American Mechanic* voted for the bill. 500 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " Old Defenders' Day " was celebrated with a greater demon- stration than ever, there being estimated as being on the ground 60,000 persons. The honors of Past State Councilor were conferred on State Council Secretary C. S. Davis and State Council Treasurer W. L. James, they having served in their positions ten consecutive years. The standing of the Order as given by the State Council Secre- tary was as follows: Number of Councils 187 Number of Members 21,686 Receipts of Subordinate Councils $220,382.64 Paid for Relief 94,269.28 Wortb of Councils 237,324.10 Receipts of State Council, all sources 14,453.64 After addresses by " Zip " P. Smith, editor of The American, Stephen Collins, Secretary-Manager Funeral Benefit Department ; Jr. Past State Councilor E. C. Lafean, of Pennsylvania, and Deputy National Councilor Geo. W. Arold, of same state, the following officers were installed : State Councilor — G. A. Davis, State Vice-Councilor — T. A. Wastler, State Council Secretary — C. S. Davis, Assistant Secretary — H. D. Moessenger, State Council Treasurer — W. L. James, State Council Conductor — W. W. Wittig, State Council Warden — C. S. Porter, State Council Chaplain — H. L. Mennerick, State Council Sentinels — E. R. Phelps and W. T. Malin. With the exception of Pennsylvania, Maryland has shown the longest continuous and successive history of any state in the Union, so far as the Jr. O. U. A. M. is concerned. For thirty-seven years (1906) the banner of Juniorism has been unfurled, never once has it been taken down. In its earlier history, as the preceding resume shows, the Order had to struggle for its existence, making little or no progress, sometimes up, other times down, its influences for years not reaching beyond the confines of the City of Baltimore. Brothers like Sohl, Ogle, Burner, Rumpf, Buschman, and others, remained loyal to the organization and its principles and to their fidelity and patience the Order in- Maryland is indebted for its eery life. From a business standpoint, the Maryland brethren were care- ful and thorough as the proceedings plainly show. The Executive Board, until the " Board of Officers " took its place, had the super- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 501 vision of the affairs of the Order in the interim between the ses- sions of the State Body, the minutes of which Board were the most complete of any State Council we have found in our reading. Everything connected with the Order, the answering of questions, hearing of complaints, etc., came before the Executive Board. To call the roll of the brothers who have aided in shaping the policy of the Order in Maryland would be a difficult task, as it might be possible to omit from the list those who may have been as active as the ones named. But we cannot refrain from men- tioning a few, who, to the writer in his persual of the records, seem to have been prominent in the annals of the organization. The " passing " of the beloved Sohl leaves the " Patriarch " of Maryland Juniorism (1906) Past National Councilor Robert Ogle. Equally as well beloved by Ins brethren is Past National Councilor Charles Reimer. Still living and at one time very active, Maryland has another Past National Councilor, Brother J. E. Boblits. Then comes her array of Past State Councilors: Buschman, Barry, Rumpf, Disney, Bowland, Baker, Webster, Webb, Geddes, the Smiths, J. H. and H. J. ; James, present State Council Treasurer; C. S. Davis, present State Council Secretary; Heller, Brown, Boblits, E. F., Munson, Warrenberger, Magruder, Crawford, Garrett, Watkins, Waltmeyer, Fisher, Burrier and McCawley. The present State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor (1906) G. A. Davis and T. A. Wastler, National Representatives Stover, Mason and McClure, are filling their places creditably. Past National Representatives Dusang, Harvey, W. J. Davis, C. A. Rumpf have had a permanent place in the work of the Order. Dr. D. F. Pen- nington, G. W. Ritter, W. N. McFaul, J. A. Bateman, F. C. Hasse, J. H. Baker, Charles W. France, W. S. Howe, C. L. Carmine served well the positions assigned them. Well done, Maryland. Passing her 20,000 mark, there seems no indication of decline, but everything points to a grander future. Her officers are men of determination and intelligence, having deep at heart the welfare of the Order. Some who years since served faithfully in the positions to which they were assigned, are still in the van of the marching hosts encouraging and helping the younger soldiers in the great Junior Army. All hail, historic old Maryland* May grander days be thine. CHAPTER XXIX PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued) MASSACHUSETTS THE Order in the " Bay State " has had an eventful' history; especially in its earlier annals. In the face of lassitude and the lack of increase, for years not a Council being added to the original number, for pluck, faith and determined stick-to-it-ive- ness on the part of the leaders, there is not a parallel in the history of the Order in any state in the Union. Enterprise Council, No. 1, Haverhill, was instituted Decem- ber 32, 1871, by Isaac H. Scates, of Enterprise Council, No. 6, N. J.; Independence Council, No. 2, was instituted May 2, 1872; Hand in Hand Council, No. 3, March 10, 1873 ; Advance Council, No. 4, March 27, 1874; and David L. Wilbur Council, No. 5, April 28, 1874; whereupon the State Council of Massachusetts was insti- tuted at Charlestown, on the evening of May 8, 1874, by Deputy National Councilor C. T. Dailey, of No. 4. Those present at the institution were Morse and Jackman, of No. 1 ; Spinney, Hadley and White, of No. 2 ; Dimond, Cunningham, Adams and White,, of No. 3 ; Dailey, Evans and Bobbins, of No. 4. The following officers were elected and installed : State Councilor — C. W. Morse, State Vice-Councilor — I. G. Robbins, State Council Secretary — F. H. White, State Council Treasurer Hadley, State Council Conductor — C. H. Dimond, State Council Warden Gray, State Inside Sentinel — F. Cunningham, State Outside Sentinel Brown. The proceedings of the first session as well as those of several subsequent sessions were written in a large day book, in which the earlier records had been transcribed by Brother Geo. H. Greenman, when he became State Council Secretary, and continued to write the proceedings, until by action of the State Body, they were printed in pamphlet form. At a special meeting of the State Council, June 4, following the institution of the Council, Brothers Morse, Eobbins, White, Dimond and Dailey were elected Eepresentatives to the National 502 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 503 Council; Dailey, however, being the only one who attended the National session, and was elected National Doorkeeper. The State Council agreed to meet semi-annually. A meeting of the State Council was called to convene at Bos- ton, February 17, 1875, which was, on motion, made the annual meeting. L. G. Bobbins was elected State Councilor, F. H. White State Vice-Councilor and Ceo. H. Greenman State Council Secre- tary. The Order, however, made slow progress, even one of the Councils had already disbanded. The total proceeds of the State Council from its institution up to this session was $16.64. The short term semi-annual meeting was held July 28, same year, nine members being present. An elaborate report was submitted by State Councilor Bobbins, in which he entered into a detailed plan and purpose of the work of the Order, suggesting certain changes in the Objects, etc. F. H. White was elected State Councilor, Geo. H. Green- man State Vice-Councilor and James F. Hunt State Council Secretary. The semi-annual session was held at Haverhill, in May, 1876. For a new body, a great amount of business was transacted at its first meetings, indicating that the brothers who represented the Order at the State Council were men of culture and executive ability. Again, in November of same year, the annual session was held in Boston, State Councilor White in the Chair. The election of officers resulted as follows : State Councilor — Geo. H. Greenman, State Vice-Councilor — James F. Hunt, State Council Secretary — L. G. Robbins. But three Councils composed the State Council of Massachu- setts at this time, not a new one having been organized. The semi-annual meeting was held in Boston in May of 1877. One new council was reported, making four. There were reported 96 members all told. Quite an animated discussion took place growing out of a communication from Council, No. 2, in which it was alleged that the State Council Secretary had treated them discourteously. The State Council Secretary was sustained by the State Body and Council No. 2 was required to retract the lan- guage in which part of its communication was couched. 504 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The Annual Session was held in same city, November, same year. Brothers J. F. Hunt and C. J. Cambridge were elected State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor, respectively, and Geo. F. Dovle was elected State Council Secretarv. Haverhill entertained the semi-annual meeting on May 17, 1878, and the Annual Session was held in Boston, November of same year, with about a dozen members in attendance. C. J. Cambridge was promoted to position of State Councilor while Geo. H. Stevens was elected Stale Vice-Councilor and F. H. White State Council Secretary. The year 1879 had both its sessions at Boston, but the condi- tion of the Order in the state had not improved, in fact there was scarcely any life whatever in the four Councils of the organization. Twelve out of 24 members of the State Body were in attendance at both sessions, representing an entire membership in the Subor- dinate Councils of 55. One of the Councils, however, had given up the struggle, and the State Councilor in commenting upon it referred to it as " dead timber " and " as chaff is swept away by the wind of time, so we should not regret its going." In the election of officers at the annual meeting, the following were named: State Councilor — H. A. Thompson, State Vice-Councilor — J. W. Foster, State Council Secretary — Geo. H. Greenman. For six years the State Body had been in existence, and at this time in Councils and numerically was no stronger than when instituted. It is just to state, however, that the failure of the Order during this period cannot in any sense be laid to the officers and leaders of the organization, for no better men ever presided over a body than they, most of them being above the average in intelligence. The causes of this " stand-still " in the Order were twofold : 1. The introduction into the state of the 0. U. A. M. about 1870, with similar Objects and Principles, had forestalled the Juniors and held it in check. With the Senior Order came an element that, in the public eye, created an unfavorable impression and prejudiced the people against it or any similar organization. 2. The con- servative Puritan sentiment that prevailed throughout New Eng- land, and especially in Masachusetts, made it impossible for any UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 505 secret organization, especially if it was new, to make great progress among a people naturally not impulsive, but who weighed any proposition thoroughly before accepting it. But when a New Eng- lander does accept a proposition no one is more enthusiastic, patriotic and devoted than he. -Again the semi-annual and annual sessions were held at Haverhill and Boston, in May and November, 1880. Both ses- sions were poorly attended, but an increase of the membership to 112 was an encouraging feature. The State Councilor, Brother Thompson, in presenting his report gave a very clear exposition of the teachings and purposes of the Order and urged greater dili- gence in the promotion of same. J. W. Foster was elected State Councilor, W. H. Preble State Vice-Councilor and Brothers Greenman and Hartwell, State Coun- cil Secretary and State Council Treasurer. Eighteen hundred and eighty-one was a noted year for Massa- chusetts' Juniorism in more ways than one: 1. Several new coun- cils had been instituted and the Order was on an upward trend. 2. The National Council held its Annual Session at Haverhill, in June, at which time the bonds that held the Senior and Junior Orders together were forever severed. 3. At same session of the National body, Brother Geo. H. Greenman, State Council Secre- tary of Massachusetts, was elected National Vice-Councilor. The annual session was held at Boston, November 9, same year, at which time the total membership had reached 171 and the worth of the Subordinate Councils was $1,167.97. The officers elected were : State Councilor — W. H. Preble, State Vice-Councilor — Harry F. Williams, State Council Secretary — Geo. H. Greenman, State Council Treasurer — Brother Hartwell. During the year of 1882, Haverhill and Brockton had the meet- ings of the State Body. Encouraging reports were submitted by the State officers, there being 5 Councils and 237 members on the rolls at the time of the annual meeting. An attempt was made to change the laws so as to eliminate the requirement of semi-annual meetings of the State Council, but the proposition was defeated. H. F. Williams was placed in the Chair of State Councilor and M. F. Perkins was elected State Vice-Councilor. Brother 506 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Greenman was reelected Secretary and Geo. H. Bartlett Treasurer of the State Body. South Abington received the State Body in semi-annual session in 1883, and was presided over by State Councilor Williams- A gain of 37 in membership was reported, making 275 in all. The State Councilor submitted a very practical report, full of excellent suggestions. The semi-annual session of 1884 was held May 14, at Athol, the membership having advanced to 290. The annual session convened at Haverhill, November 12, same year, with 12 members present. The officers elected were as follows : State Councilor — W. H. Preble, State Vice Councilor — C. F. Dow. Brothers Greenman and Clark were elected State Council Sec- retary and State Council Treasurer respectively. With much interest the writer has followed the history of the Order in Massachusetts, recounting the brave struggle made to " hold the fort " and the remarkable determination of the leaders to make the organization a success notwithstanding the slowness of its advancement. It is with regret that at this place there comes a break in the annals of the Order in the old " Bay State," or rather of the State Council, owing to its disbanding, its charter having been forfeited. It seems that the adoption of the clause in the Fifth Object by the National Council and its concurrence by the membership of the Order, " and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible therein/' caused great dissatisfaction among some of the brethren of Massachusetts, to such an extent that all of the Councils, with the exception of Enterprise, No. 1, disbanded, thereby wrecking the State Council. Enterprise Council, No. 1, however, kept the fires burning upon her New England altar, reporting regularly, having on March 31, 1886, 117 members with value of Council, $1,118.73. During 1887 Enterprise Council went into the special organiz- ing business " on her own hook/' and as a result, Merrimac Coun- cil, No. 9, was instituted in September, Amesbury, No. 10, and In- dian Hill Council in October, and in February, 1888, Nantucket Council, No. 6, was organized, and on February 23, same year, the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 507 State Council was reorganized by National Councilor Geo. W. El- bert, assisted by National Secretary Edw. S. Deemer, and W. H. Varnick, of Philadelphia, editor of The Junior American Me- chanic. In speaking of the reorganization, Brother Elbert says : " Undaunted by past adversity, the members of the State Council are determined to make our Order a decided success; with such a body of brothers as they have, there can be no fear of the future." The reorganization took place at a special meeting, as per above date, at Haverhill, State Vice-Councilor Dow, to which posi- tion he had been elected before the State Council disbanded, pre- sided, and the business went along as if no break had occurred; and the new State Council, fashioned by such master-hands as Elbert, Deemer and Varnick, arose, phcenix-like, stronger and bet- ter than ever before in its history. The " veterans " of the Order in Massachusetts were all present at the " resurrection " to rejoice over the reorganization, prominent among whom were: Brother A. L. Chase, P. N. C. Geo. H. Greenman, and still State Council Secretary, P. N. C. Geo. H. Bartlett, H. F. Williams, M. F. Per- kins, Brothers Noyes, Stetson and Austin. The election of officers resulted as follows : State Councilor — C. F. Dow, State Vice-Councilor — A. S. Hardy, State Council Secretary — Geo. H. Greenman, State Council Treasurer — H. Austin. The semi-annual meeting was held May 9, 1888, at same place, Haverhill. In the meantime the State Councilor had appointed a large number of Deputy State Councilors to assist in disseminat- ing the doctrines of the Order and enthusiasm ran high. Brother Greenman in his report refers to the joy and pleasure that stirred his soul at the advance made, stating that one year before they had in the state one council and 112 members, now could boast of six Councils and nearly 400 members. The State Council Secretary spoke of the undying enthusiasm of Enterprise Council, No. 1, that had kept the " camp-fire " burning and from it had gone out the spirit of life which spread throughout the state, even beyond the boundaries into the adjoining sister state of New Hampshire. The consideration of a revised code of laws took up much of the time of this session and some important changes were made, most conspicuous of which was the elimination of the semi-annual meetings of the State Council. 508 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The Twelfth Annual Session of the State Council was held, pursuant to the provisions of the new laws, September 18, 1888, at Brockton, Chas. F. Dow, State Councilor in the Chair. From this session the Proceedings were printed instead of kept in a large minute book as formerly. Fifteen members were present and the business proceeded in the usual methodical way. Since the reorgan- ization of the State Council, three new councils had been instituted, making eight in all composing the body, representing 520 members with the finances equally encouraging. In the election of officers for the ensuing year, the following was the result: State Councilor — A. G. Harding, State Vice-Councilor — W. S. Benson, State Council Secretary — Geo. H. Greenman, State Council Treasurer — C. W. Rowell. The Thirteenth Annual Session convened at Newburyport, September 17, 1889, State Councilor Albert G. Harding presiding. A new Council had been instituted at Haverhill with 61 charter members, named Fraternal, No. 15. Success Council, No. 16, at Byfield, was also instituted, so was Industry, No. 17, at Worcester. As indicative of the spirit of progress that was being made and as an evidence that the " boys " " had a mind to work," the State Councilor had granted an unusual number of dispensations for public gatherings, parades, picnics, etc., thus bringing the Order before the public eye and attracting attention to its Objects and Principles. To the Order of Massachusetts the credit belongs of the insti- tution of three Councils in the State of New Hampshire, and the promulgation of the principles of the Order in the State of Maine. Quite a number of flags had been presented to the public schools of the state, and a State parade had passed off very successfully. In June the National Council again met at Haverhill, at which session Massachusetts was again honored in the election of Geo. H. Bartlett as National Vice-Councilor. The membership for the year leaped to 745 while the finances were in a splendid condition, $5,257.85 having been received by Subordinate Councils. The amount paid for relief was $1,180.83 and the total worth of Councils was reported as $5,777.61. State Vice- Councilor Benson, declining to be a candidate for State Councilor, Geo. E. Hodge was elected and E. D. Trask, State Vice- Councilor. The Secretary and Treasurer were reelected. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 509 Amesbury, September 16, 1890, opened its doors to tbe Four- teenth Annual meeting of the State Council, State Councilor Geo. E. Hodge occupying the Chair. Forty members were in attendance, the greatest number in the history of the State Council. Eight new Councils had been instituted, some of them taking old numbers, making 23 the highest in the list. The spirit of patriotism was burning and spreading, there being many flag- raisings, lectures, etc., in various parts of the state. It must have been inspiring to the " veterans " of the State Body to hear from the Secretary the report that the Order in the state had nine hundred and eighty-six members. For State Councilor, R. D. Trask was elected, and for State Vice- Councilor, Homer Brooks. The Secretary and Treasurer of the body were reelected. Eighteen hundred and ninety-one found the State Council in annual session at Boston September 15, with State Councilor R. D. Trask presiding. Thirty-six members answered to their names at roll-call. One new Council with 96 applicants was reported ; also a total membership in the state of 1,074, a gain of 85. The usual stereo- typed reports were submitted and the regular business transacted. Officers for ensuing year : State Councilor — Homer Brooks, State Vice-Councilor— C. W. Rowell, State Council Secretary — Geo. H. Greenman, State Council Treasurer — C. G. Lane. The City of Boston again, in 1892, September 20, had the annual session, with Homer Brooks, State Councilor, at the helm. Two widely known brothers for the first time, as Representatives, attended the session, viz. : Brothers W. L. S. Gilcreast, National Councilor in 1905-1907, and Martin M. Woods, the present Na- tional Secretary. At the close of this session, Past National Coun- cilor and State Council Secretary Geo. H. Greenman, from the beginning the foremost figure in Massachusetts Juniorism, a hard and enthusiastic worker, stepped down from the official duties of the Order to be one " among the ranks," his business matters ren- dering it necessary to decline reelection to the position he had so long filled with such efficiency. An appropriate resolution of thanks for his services was presented and adopted. 510 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — C. W. Rowell, State Vice-Councilor — A. I. Johnson, State Council Secretary — C. G. Lane, State Council Treasurer — W. L. S. Gilcreast. The Seventeenth Annual Session was held in the City of Worcester, September 19, 1893, with C. W. Eowell presiding. On motion, a telegram of greeting was sent to the State Council of Pennsylvania, then in session at Johnstown, and the " poet laureate," Brother G. E. Noyes, prepared and sent the following : " The Bay State to the Keystone, On this fine September day, Sends greetings with the proud hope, That our Free Schools are here to stay. " Like our lofty hills so noble Towering high above the plain, So may this Institution As steadfastly remain." Two new Councils were reported. Total receipts of Subor- dinate Councils, $6,781.32; total worth of Councils, $12,856.33; amount paid for relief, $2,509.79. The announcement of the death of P. S. C. Dr. Homer Brooks was made to the State Council by the State Councilor, and an appropriate Memoriam was subsequently in the session adopted. In the National Council Proceedings a Memoriam page was in- serted also, stating that he was initiated in Enterprise Council, No. 1, March 28, 1884, elected State Councilor, September 25, 1891, and died April 3, 1893. For State Councilor, A. I. Johnson was elected; State Vice- Councilor, A. L. Chase; Secretary and Treasurer, Bros. Lane and Gilcreast. West Newbury entertained the Eighteenth Annual Session, September 18, 1894, with A. I. Johnson in the Chair. James Durgin, an honorary member of Indian Hill Council, No. 11, aged 85 years, was, on motion, admitted to the State Council chamber, a most beautiful act in respect for the oldest member at that time in the Order. The reports of the year were less reassuring, losses being reported in membership. The organizing work had not been successful, hence the decline. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 511 Brother A. L. Chase was elected State Councilor, W. L. S. Gilcreast State Vice-Councilor, Martin M. Woods State Council Secretary and A. L. Wales State Council Treasurer. The " Town " of Boston again entertained the State Council at its meeting, September 17, 1895, Brother A. L. Chase, State Councilor, in the Chair. Another increase of membership was re- ported, there being 1,256, a gain of 212. Three new Councils were organized, one of them at Haverhill, making three for that enter- prising " American city.'"' Death again invaded the ranks of the old workers, this time it was Horace Hoskins, Past National Representative. A resolution was passed instructing the Representatives to the National Council to adopt all honorable methods to have the word "Junior" stricken from the name. It was also agreed to pay to each National Representative $40 to attend the session at Denver. The principal officers elected were: State Councilor — W. L. S. Gilcreast, State Vice-Councilor — H. P. Dalton, State Council Secretary — Martin M. Woods, State Council Treasurer — James R. Graves. In Twentieth Annual Session, the State Council met in the City of Boston, September 15, 1896, with State Councilor W. L. S. Gilcreast in the Chair. Forty-nine members were in attendance. The report of the State Councilor showed a better condition of the Order ever known in its history, and with pardonable pride, Brother Gilcreast stated that in members, Massachusetts was twelfth in number and thirteenth in amount paid the National Council, but in average membership per Council she stood fifth, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Colorado being ahead. Three new Councils were reported and a total membership of 1,464, a gain of 304. Total receipts of Subordinate Councils was $9,228.54, and the total worth of Councils was given as $14,649.96. The State Councilor expressed his great indebtedness to the State Council Secretary, Brother Woods, for his untiring energy in the interest of the Order. The Law Committee disapproved an amendment to the laws of one of the Councils that " no Roman Catholic or Protestant with a Roman Catholic wife shall be eligible to membership in this 512 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Council ; and any member becoming a Eoman Catholic or who marries a Roman Catholic wife shall forfeit his membership in this Council." It was agreed to pay each Past State Councilor and National Representative $30 each to attend the National Council at Pitts- burg in 1897. Owing to the State Vice-Councilor removing to New Hamp- shire, Brother Gilcreast was reelected State Councilor. A. L. Wales was elected State Vice- Councilor and Brothers Woods and Graves, for Secretary and Treasurer, were reelected. Brother Woods was also elected National Representative. Haverhill again entertained the State Body in 1897, with Brother Gilcreast in the Chair. Two new Councils were reported and a gain in membership of nine, there being 1,467 in the state. For the third term, Brother Gilcreast was selected to preside over and direct the Order in the state. It is a coincidence, that both the present (1906) National Councilor and National Vice- Councilor, Brothers Gilcreast and Schaertzer, had the distinction of serving their State Councils three successive terms as State Councilor. Certainly such unanimous action reflects great honor upon these two distinguished brothers. James R. Graves, State Council Treasurer, was elected State Vice-Councilor and Frank A. Gordon was elected in his stead. It goes without saying, that Brother Martin M. Woods was unani- mously reelected State Council Secretary. At the Twenty-second Annual Session, held at Groveland, September 20, 1898, Brother Gilcreast, for the third time presided over the State Body. The report on the vote relative to the establishment of the Sixth Object, the National Orphans' Home, showed 147 for and 52 against. Officers elected as follows : State Councilor — James R. Graves, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. H. Russell, State Council Secretary — Martin M. Woods (of course). State Council Treasurer — A. S. Haynes. Brother Haynes, who is favorably known by many in various parts of the Union, was elected National Representative. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 513 Worcester entertained the State Body in 1S99, James K. Graves presiding. In accordance with the laws of the State Council, each Council was entitled to four representatives, and usually from three to five alternates were elected. As a result of this large representation, the State Council meetings were usually well attended. There were at this time 49 representatives entitled to a vote in the State Body and about 40 alternates. There were 2 Past National Councilors and 11 Past State Councilors, and with the Standing Committees and regular elective officers, the State Council had an aggregate representation of 75. About 50 were in attendance at this session. The vote on the adoption of a Ladies' Auxiliary stood 33 in favor and 9 against. The officers declared elected were: State Councilor — Geo. H. Russell, State Vice-Counselor — Parker H. Nason, State Council Secretary — Martin M. Woods, State Council Treasurer — A. S. Haynes. Walter Lee Smith Gilcreast, once in his life, was defeated for office at this session, for Outside Sentinel, by a majority of five votes. It is not to be presumed that Brother Gilcreast felt very bad over his defeat. The installation of officers was conducted by State Council Secretary Woods, assisted by D.N.C., A. A. Jackson, of Ehode Island. The Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Annual Sessions were held at Middleboro and Boston in 1900 and 1901, State Councilor Russell presiding at the former session and P. H. Nason at the latter, at which session A. S. Haynes was elected State Councilor and A. H. Andrews State Vice- Councilor, the latter having served one year as State Council Treasurer. In his place A. W. Morrill was elected. Brother Woods was unanimously retained as the official " scribe " of the State Body. Brother A. S. Haynes presided over the Twenty-sixth Annual Session, which met at Boston, in 1902, at which time A. H. An- drews was promoted to the place of State Councilor and R. W. Bailey was elected State Vice-Councilor. The session of 1903 was also held in Boston, State Councilor Andrews in the Chair. At this session National Councilor Brother Geo. B. Bowers was accorded a regular New England welcome. 33 514 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The reports of the officers were depressing, a heavy loss of members being stated, leaving a membership of 891. The per capita tax was placed at 80 cents. Brother A. H. Andrews was reelected State Councilor, J. Kiley Rogers State Vice-Councilor, Brother Woods reelected Secretary and N. 0. Cobb Treasurer of the State Council. The officers were installed by Brother Geo. R. Bowley, of Maine. The session of 1904 was held at Boston, as well as the session of 1905. A. H. Andrews presided at the former session and State Councilor J. Riley Rogers occupied the Chair at the 1905 meeting. For State Councilor, J. C. Austin was elected at the latter ses- sion, and Frank M. Pillsbury State Vice-Councilor. We close the record of Massachusetts with the session of 1906, held at Boston, September 18, State Councilor Austin in the Chair. Fifty members were in attendance. As per the report of the State Council Secretary, the standing of the Order in Massachusetts is as follows : Number of Councils 11 Number of Members 924 Receipts from all sources $6,781.50 Paid for Benefits and Relief 1,951.64 Total worth of Councils 14,825.52 The following officers were elected : State Councilor — F. M. Pillsbury, State Vice-Councilor— F. W. Mitchell, State Council Secretary — Martin M. Woods, State Council Treasurer — N. O. Cobb. Massachusetts, while not strong in membership, represents a high standard of American manhood. Those who have been direct- ing the Order in the state are of a pronounced tyj^e of New England citizenship, the blood of a noble ancestry pulsating in their veins. Many " old-timers," who in the early days " stood by the stuff " when but four Councils and less than 100 members represented the Order in the state, still remain. Past National Councilors Geo. H. Greenman and Geo. H. Bartlett, the former a long time the Secretary of the State Council, still live to bless the Order with their presence. Massachusetts Juniorism owes much to these broth- ers for their energv and sacrifice in gaining a foothold in the " Bay State." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 515 Other leaders deserve notice; for work achieved and victories won: At the head stands' National Councilor (1905-1907) W. L. S. Gilcreast, Past State Councilors A. L. Chase, A. S. Haynes, A. II. Andrews, A. I. Johnson, IT. F. Williams, J. Riley Rogers, Jas. R. Graves, H. A. Thompson, A. G. Harding, R. D. Trask, Geo. H. Rus- sell, C. P. Dow, J. C. Austin, P. EL Nason and C. W. Rowell who still " dwell in the tents of Jacob.'' The Noyes and Chases have been conspicuous factors among the " Bay State " Juniors. Past Na- tional Representatives Wales, Eastman, Hopkinson, Longfellow, Fuller, Webster and Geo. E. Noyes have had the confidence of their brethren. Last but not least, are to be named the present (1906) active officials of the State Council, State Councilor Pillsbury, State Vice-Councilor F. W. Mitchell, State Council Treasurer Cobb and the "scribe" of the State Council for many years, Martin M. Woods, elected (1907) National Secretary. May the state that gave us the Adamses, Jas. Otis and General Joseph Warren; the soil that drank up the first blood of patriots and where the " Minute Men " fired the shot that was " heard the world around," ever keep in mind their wonderful past and rise, as an Order, to grander heights sublime. MICHIGAN As far back as 1872, the Order was introduced into the " Bad- ger State" by Brother Wallace, of Enterprise Council, No. 1, of Massachusetts, in the institution of Jackson Council, No. 1. How- ever, being far remote from any other Junior influences, the Coun- cil was short-lived. The next attempt to establish the Order in the state was in 1891, when Washington Council, No. 1, was instituted in the City of Detroit, which stood alone until March 3, 1892, when Wolver- ine Council, No. 2, was instituted by Theo. Mickles. About the same time National Organizer Stephen Collins entered the state and in two or three weeks the following was the result of his work : Detroit Council, No. 3, March 11; Lincoln, No. 1, March 12; Gar- field, No. 5, March 16 ; these were followed by the institution of the State Council of Michigan, March 29, 1892. Following the institution of the State Body, Brother Collins remained in the state for a short period encouraging and instruct- ing the new Councils, and at the same time continuing the organ- ization of additional Councils, viz.: U. S. Grant, No. 6; Valley City, No. 7, April 5; John A. Logan, No. 8, April 11, 1892; Saginaw, No. 9. April 25 and Benton Harbor, No. 10, April 28. 516 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Thus, after about two months' operation, the National Organizer, having found but 36 members, withdrew from the state April 29, 1892, leaving 10 Councils and 307 members in the enjoy ment of " Home Rule." The first State Councilor was W. N. Stevens, and Geo. H. Thorn was chosen Jr. Past State Councilor. The first National Representatives were: Theo. Mickles, W. H. Cole, W. D. Butter- field, E. E. Schoonmaker and W. N. Stevens. W. H. Cole was the only one of the delegation to attend the National Council at its session in Atlantic City, New Jersey, June, 1892. The first year of the Order was remarkably prosperous, there being 25 Councils on the list and 1,172 members. But a certain element subsequently found its way into the Order that bred unrest and discord, and very seriously handicapped the organization for years, from the effects of which it has never recovered. So effective were the environments about the Order, very nearly throt- tling its life, that in 1896, the State Council Secretary failed to submit a report to the National Council, hence the State Council was placed under a fine. The report for 1900 showed 8 Councils and 225 members, while that of 1905 showed but 2 Councils and 71 members. W. Scott Hobbs was elected State Councilor arid A. E. Baisley State Vice-Councilor, with Fred W. Houghton as State Council Secre- tary and Charles A. Belitz State Council Treasurer. MISSISSIPPI On December 17, 1894, Winona Council, No. 1, at Meridian, was organized and instituted in the State of Mississippi by National Organizer Orange ; but being too far from the " base of official operations," it soon drooped and died. National Councilor W. E. Faison directed Special Organizer Bridgers to take up the work in Mississippi and reaching the state April 27, 1905, in a short time he had organized and insti- tuted nine Councils, Nos. 1 to 9. With the exception of No. 9, the above Councils asked for a State Council Charter, which was granted, but its institution was delayed owing to some misunderstanding arising relative to a license from the State Insurance Department. However, the State Council subsequently was instituted in the same year, 1905, and UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 517 according to the record in the State Council Proceedings, the fol- lowing were elected as officers of the "baby" State Council: Jr. Past State Councilor — J. L. Buckley, State Councilor — J. M. Consly, State Vice-Councilor — W. S. Davis, Jr., State Council Secretary — Geo. I. Cole. State Council Treasurer — A. C. Hunter. State Councilor J. E. Watts attended the National Council at Boston in June of 1907, at which time the state had but 173 members, and was so thoroughly impressed with the proceedings that he returned home with the determination to make a record, and under his masterful leadership in nine months time he was able to report to the State Council in April of 1908, 40 Councils and more than 2,000 members, made up of the best men in the state. As we finish this record information comes to us that there is a wonderful wave of Junior sentiment sweeping the state and it is confidently believed by those familiar with the facts that Mississippi will be able to report to the National Council of 1909, 100 Councils and 5,000 members. MISSOURI St. Louis Council, No. 1, was instituted in the City of St. Louis, Mo., December 3, 1888. This mother Council stood alone until August 6, 1892, when National Organizer Stephen Collins instituted Lincoln Council, No. 2, at St. Joe, which was followed by Liberty, No. 3, and Gen. McPherson, No. 4, both instituted on September 16; Trenton, No. 5; Benj. Franklin, No. 6, and Jas. A. Garfield, No. 7, in October, all in 1892 — the five last named being instituted by the St. Louis brethren headed by Dr. J. B. Glancies and E. J. Armstrong. National Organizer Stephen Collins having reached the state, he instituted M. T. Kirtley, No. 8 ; Kansas City, No. 9 ; Washing- ton, No. 10, all in 1892; on November 25, 1892, he instituted the State Council of Missouri under very auspicious surroundings ; on Nov. 30, No. 11, and Dec. 2, No. 12, both in St. Louis; Dec. 3, No. 13, at Hannibal; Dec. 6, No. 14, at Holden; Dec. 12, No. 15, at Kansas City and Dec. 15, No. 17, at Knobnorton. Unfortunately, we have failed up to date (1907) to receive any State Council data, hence our recourse to the only data we have before us — the National Council Proceedings. In their order prior to 189G, the following State Councilors are found on the list- J. L. Collins, J. L. Smith, P. J. Armstrong and F. C. Borden. Of National Bepresentatives, the following are named : J. L. Ingram, 518 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER R. L. Lindsey, Rev. H. A. Slaughter, H. H. Hinde and F. C. Bor- der. Among the Past National Representatives prior to 1896 are R. J. Armstrong, J. L. Smith and J. H. Rice. Rev. H. A. Slaughter having been elected at the institution of the State Coun- cil, also F. C. Borden and R. L. Lindsey, the same were reelected prior to 1896. The State Councilor elected at the session of the State Council in 1896 was Rev. H. A. Slaughter. From the National Council reports, it is learned that the Order made splendid progress the first few years of its history, mak- ing gains in both Councils and members. From the report of the State Council for year ending December 31, 1893, the number of Councils was given as 51, and members, 1,443. However, the year ending December 31, 1894, while it showed 70 Councils, a gain of 19, there was a "slump" in membership of 466. Financially the standing was as follows : Received by Subordinate Councils $10,965.75 Paid for Relief 2,116.60 Worth of Councils 8,444.38 According to the report of the Deputy National Councilor dated May 1, 1895, there were 31 defunct Councils out of 85. The fact of this loss cannot be- attributed to the State Council officers at that time, as no more active and earnest brothers filled the Chairs in any state than Brothers Borden and Slaughter, both men being intelligent exponents of the Order; but the decline was the result of natural causes at that time almost universal in all the states, however, the earnest, patriotic work of the above named brethren had its reward by reversing the temporary decline, while the report of December 31, 1895, showed only 51 Councils in good standing, it did show a big gain in membership, there being 2,160. John C. Deisel, Deputy National Councilor, in his report dated May 11, 1896, had a very cheering account to give of the progress of the Order in the state, and at the same time spoke in complimentary terms of both Rev. H. A. Slaughter and Hon. H. H. Hinde, State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor, whose untiring devotion over- came the many obstacles they had to contend with. The close of the century again found the Order in Missouri on the decline, the report being as follows : Number of Councils 27 Number of Members 1,400 Received by Subordinate Councils $12,174.71 Paid for Relief 4,758.02 Worth of Councils 4,446.32 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 519 As per report of December 31, 1904, we have the following statistics : Number of Councils 15 Number of Members 770 Received by Subordinate Councils $5,776.21 Paid for Relief 1,055.00 Worth of Councils 5,029.09 The Board of Officers for term of 1904-1U05 were the fol- lowing : Jr. Past State Councilor — Sam D. Hodgdon, State Councilor — James E. Winterton, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. 11. Bobring, State Council Secretary — Jos. A. Gutweiler, State Council Treasurer — R. J. Armstrong. The officers of the State Council elected at the annual meeting in 1906 were as follows: State Councilor — F. H. Hoch, State Vice-Councilor — C. F. Schmitt, State Council Secretary — James E. Winterton, State Council Treasurer — R. J. Armstrong. J. A. Gutweiler, who had been State Council Secretary for some years, was a member of the Board of Officers, being Junior Past State Councilor. Missouri started well under the banner of the Order and her leaders and members were earnest and enthusiastic. But sundry causes brought about a decline and gradually the Order retrograded, many Councils " going out of business," while hundreds of mem- bers dropped out of the organization. Missouri had some strong men in her ranks, many of whom have passed out of activity, if not entirely out of the Order. F. C. Borden was one of her most efficient leaders, intelligent and de- voted, whose influence not only had an impress upon his owti state, but as a National and Special Organizer he established Juniorism in other states and proved himself a " workman that needeth not be ashamed." Kev. H. A. Slaughter, in the era of his activity, by lec- tures and speeches, accomplished much good in promulgating the Objects and Principles of the Order. For years he and Brother Borden were active spirits in the National Body, Brother Slaughter having served as National Chaplain. Sam D. Hodgdon has been closely identified with Missouri Juniorism, a hard worker, being 520 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER both a Past State Councilor and Past National Representative. His work in connection with the Fraternity Building at the Louisi- ana Purchase Exposition entitles him to the respect of his brethren for the gratuitious task in which he was engaged. W. F. Knapp, as Past State Councilor, is well known in his own jurisdiction, and as Past National Representative he is very favorably known by Ms brethren in the National Council. Past State Councilor L. C. Hehl and E. E. Boling have given their services and have been closely connected with the Order in Missouri. Past State Coun- cilors J. E. Winterton, F. H. Hoch and J. A. Gutweiler have rendered valuable service to the Order, Brother Winterton having represented the State Council at the National session held at Boston in 1907, at which time he was elected National Warden without opposition and has been honored with the position of State Council Secretary of his own State Council. But the " Nestor of Missouri Juniorism," by way of mention, is left for the last — Roger J. Armstrong, for many years the State Council Treasurer, and, far as the records show, the Senior Past State Councilor of that jurisdiction. As a charter member of the State Council, he has been a devoted and honored member thereof ever since. Either as a Representative or a member of a Commit- tee, Brother Armstrong has been connected with the National Council ever since the institution of the State Council of Missouri. He is at present (1907) a member of the Board of Control Bene- ficiary Degree. The writer had the pleasure to be connected with the same Committee as he, and we always found him the same earnest, faithful but unassuming brother that he has always been. NEW HAMPSHIKE The Order was introduced into the Granite State by Deputy National Councilor Geo. H. Bartlett, of Massachusetts, in 1887, by the institution of Granite Council, No. 1, Which was followed by Buckingham, No. 2, in May, 1888, Winona, No. 3, and Good Will, No. 4. In the month of June, same year, Gonic, No. 5, New- ton, No. 6, Milton, No. 7, were instituted, while in December, Passaconaway, No. 8, was added to the list. These were followed by the institution of the State Council of New Hampshire, April 3, 1890. Without State Council data, failing to receive any acknowl- edgment to our communication, we are unable to give a resume of the subsequent history of the body or the Order in the state. According to the report of the National Secretary, for } r ear ending UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 521 December 31, 1895, there were 6 Councils and 255 members, with a total worth of Councils of $1,432.56. The report for year ending December 31, 1004, showed the following standing: Number of Councils 25 Number of Members 942 Received by Subordinate Councils $4,975.37 Paid for Relief 2,115.75 Worth of Councils 3,083.75 The list of officers 1904-1905 were: State Councilor — R. S. Parker, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. B. Shaw, State Council Secretary — John H. Noyes, State Council Treasurer — A. S. Sanborn. Past State Councilors in good standing, as per report of 1905, were: John S. Corson, E. S. Pressy, H. L. Tabor, E. A. Weare, G. A. Gilmore, and C. C. Clark; Past National Eepresentatives, other than Past State Councilors, John H. Noyes, W. B. Hutchins and J. H. Hadley. CHAPTER XXX PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued) NEW YOEK NATIONAL Councilor John W. Calver, assisted by National Secretary E. S. Deemer, introduced the Order into the State of New York, July 21, 1870, by the institution of Independence Council, No. 1, in New York City. This Council stood alone until October, 1S71, when Relief, No. 2, was instituted, which was fol- lowed by Charter Oak, No. 3, in December of same year; Excelsior, No. 4, in November of 1872; Fame, No. 5, December of same year. In January of 1873, Liberty, No. 6, Hope Junior, No. 7, Pocohon- tas, No. 8, Delaware, No. 9, and Morning Star, No. 10, were insti- tuted. In the month of March, same year, Martha Washington, No. 11, was organized; also in April, Southern Tier, No. 12; Walkill, No. 13, in May, Acme, No. 14, in June; also Young Amer- ica, No. 15. Pursuant to a call, representatives of the above named Coun- cils met in convention and organized the State Council of New York, and the same was instituted on June 18, 1873. The body, however, was disbanded in 1877, and was reorganized on May 21, 1878. The first time the State Council was represented in the Na- tional Council was in 1873, by State Councilor E. T. Brown, who at the same time was State Council Secretary of the 0. U. A. M., to whose energy the success of the Junior Order in those years is due. He was elected State Councilor at the institution of the State Council of New York and served creditably. At the session of the National Council of 1874, the standing of the State Council was as follows: Nineteen Councils and 776 members, with total receipts by Subordinate Councils of $1,446.97. At this session, H. S. Coiwin, of New York, was elected National Vice-Councilor, and at a special session held in 1875, when National Councilor Voorhees' seat was declared vacant, Brother Corwin was elected to fill the unexpired term. At the National session of 1876, New York was reported in arrears for tax, hence there was no report of the standing of the State Council given ; however, in 1877, the National Secretary gave the report of the State of New York as having but 3 Councils and 522 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 52S 110 members and the State Council disbanded. On May 21, 1878, the State Body was reorganized and took on new life, and from that until the charter was revoked by the National Councilor in 1900, the State Council did business " at the old stand." We are without State Council data of those earlier years, in fact have not been in possession of any of the Proceedings of the reorganized State Council, with the exception of that of 1899, hence the information at hand is from general knowledge obtained from other sources. In common with other states, New York had its struggles and slow growth until the " revival " of 1889. The National Councilor, in his report of 1896, referred to the great progress the Order had made in New York, the state having at that time S'O Councils and 4,700 members, being a gain of 31 Councils and 2,000 members for the fiscal year. Most excellent work was achieved by Special Organizer W. A. Ray who was appointed No- vember 5, 1895, through whose energy Councils were planted in every city he entered, notwithstanding the opposition he encoun- tered from the O. IT. A. M. Brother G. E. Potter, of Connecticut, rendered valuable service in the organization of 10 Councils. Death, however, removed him from his cherished work. Through the courtesy of Brother H. W. Way, then Acting State Council Secretary of New York, we obtained a copy of the Proceedings of 1899 session, the last record of the old State Coun- cil whose charter was subsequently revoked by order of the National Judiciary for insubordination in refusing to obey the mandates of the National Council by paying the National per capita tax or accepting its code of laws revised at Minneapolis. The session of 1S99 was held at Lockport, September -1 and 5, with State Councilor W. C. Anderson in the Chair. The session was taken up with the consideration of the various reports which were elaborate in detail, the text of which filled 16-1 pages of the Proceedings out of a total of 238 pages. In referring to the de- pression that seemed to rest upon the Order in the state, State Councilor Anderson had this to say : " Some of the causes of this condition are familiar to all. Increased taxation on the part of the National Council in order to put in effect an object (Orphans' Home) which the members of this State had voted solidly against, no doubt had its effect, but that object having been car- ried and the Order made responsible for its perpetuation I feel that every brother in New York State will respond to the call by showing his true American spirit in bowing to the will of the majority and giving his hearty support to the National Orphans' Home of the Jr. O. U. A. M." 524 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Brother Anderson proved his loyalty to the National Council when the " parting of ways " subsequently came and threw himself in the way of the plunge into an unwarranted rebellion the State Council finally made during the session, but his pleas for submis- sion to the mandates of the National Council were unavailing. The standing of the State Council at this session was as follows: Number of Councils 105 Number of Members 8,484 Received by Subordinate Councils $69,863.58 Paid for Relief 24,589.03 Worth of Councils 50,958.34 The first effort to resist the mandates of the National Council was in the refusal of the State Body to have the laws of the State Council revised to be in harmony with the laws enacted at Minne- apolis. In the presentation of the Eeport of the Eepresentatives to the National Council, there was not agreement, two of the Repre- sentatives, Brothers W. C. Anderson and Wm. S. McClure, present- ing individual reports, because of the strictures the original report had made on the National Council; which, however, were subse- quently stricken out and in the revised report the names of all the Representatives appear. The " straw that broke the camel's back " was in refusing to honor the levy of the National Council tax as directed by enact- ment of the National Body. Since the meeting of the National Council in June, an incendiary and rebellious circular signed by the famous quintette — Pike, Miers, Parker, Keeton and Boyden — had been sent to the Councils of New York State urging them to author- ize their representatives to the State Council to vote to refuse to pay any further National Council tax, and to refuse to recognize the new laws "illegally adopted," etc. In line with said circular Andrew Jackson Council, No. 64, of New York City, submitted a set of resolutions approving the plan and purpose of said insurgent committee as set forth in said libelous, false and scurrillous docu- ment, and asked the State Council to pledge its support of same. The resolutions, however, were declared out of order by State Coun- cilor Anderson, from which decision an appeal was taken and on a count vote, 41 voted to sustain the State Councilor and 53 not to sustain him, hence the resolutions were adopted in principle as an expression of the sentiments of the majority of the State Coun- cil of New York-. Representative Singer then offered a substitute that the question of paying the per capita tax to the National Coun- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 525 cil be submitted to the members of the Order in the state and the final action to be decided by the majority of members voting. The substitute for a referendum vote, an unheard-of thing, was carried, thereby defying the mandates of the National Council, as the Councils decided by their votes not to pay the tax. Following said action of the State Council, National Coun- cilor Beeves brought charges against the State Body for wilfully failing to comply with the enactment of the National Council to levy and collect said National Council tax and pay same over to the proper authorities. The National Judiciary cited the State Council officers to a hearing, December 8, 1899, but they failed to put in an appearance and the case went on without them. The full account of the trial and the opinion and decree of the National Judiciary is given in another place; suffice it to say, however, that the Court referred to the referendum of the question of paying the National Council per capita tax to the Subordinate Councils as unwarranted, and that it did not excuse them from paying same as the vote of the members was only an expression of mere opinion. When the State Council met in annual session at Kome, on September 3, 1900, everything was statu quo, and another effort was made by the loyal members of the State Body to save the State Council from leaping into the maelstrom of fraternal revolution. The entire subject was placed in the hands of a Committee, a major- ity of which, however, reported back to the body insisting on carry- ing out the plans and purposes already adopted not to pay the per capita tax. Past State Councilor Anderson submitted a minority report, which was as follows : " I therefore, recommend that in the consideration of the duty we owe the author of our existence under whose supervision we have passed through years of prosperity, being privileged to aid in advancing our principles in every state in the Union, and in the interest of a united organization, we affirm our allegiance to the National Council, Jr. O. U. A. M. of the United States of America, and direct our officers to pay to the National Council the amount of per capita tax due that body for the year 1899, and all other indebtedness for which the State Council is or may be liable." The minority report was ruled out of order, whereupon a point of order was raised by the loyalists that the vote of the Subordinate Councils did not sever the relationship of the members from the National Council, which was decided not well taken by the presid- ing officer. From this decision an appeal was taken by Brother Anderson, and it was agreed that the vote on the appeal should determine the entire question involved, which resulted in sustain- 526 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ing the State Councilor by a vote of 112 to 94. These facts also were brought before the Judicial tribunal and after mature de- liberation, the National Judiciary suspended the charter, making a decree that if the requirements of the National Council were not met by the 18th of January, 1901, the charter should be revoked, . which was done January 21, 1901, therefore bringing to an igno- minious end the State Council of New York after 2S' years of exist- ence. THE LOTAT. STATE COUNCIL OF NEW YORK But New York was not long without a State Council. The loyalists were not to be thrust out of the Order in this summary manner, but active spirits as W. C. Anderson, 0. L. Forrester, C. A. Jagger, G. W. Schaefer, Charles Kernan, J. W. Cheshire, E. A. Hawley and others formed the " Loyal Council's Association," through which Association an application for a charter for a State Council was made and the same Avas granted, and on the 12th of February, 1901, the convention met at Brooklyn for the pur- pose of instituting the Loyal State Council in due form. Past State Councilor 0. L. Forrester, Chairman of the Loyal Council's Association, presided in the preliminary exercises in which the business of said Association was closed up and then dis- solved; whereupon the meeting was turned over to the Deputy National Councilor, W. C. Anderson, who proceeded with a tem- porary organization and opened the session in the usual way. The Credential Committee reported 54 delegates present, representing 28 Councils, who were obligated and admitted to the convention. The convention then went into the election of officers, which resulted as follows: Jr. Past State Councilor — C. W. Lisle, State Councilor — 0. L. Forrester, State Vice-Councilor — Charles Kernan, State Council Secretary — G. W. Schaefer, State Council Treasurer — H. Hulse, State Council Conductor — W. K. Haviland, State Council Warden — Benj. Knapp, State Council Sentinels — F. A. Perry and C. S. Knapp, State Council Chaplain — J. W. Cheshire. J. C. Brower, E. L. Bouton and James Bullard were elected Na- tional Representatives. After the above named officers were in- stalled, the Deputy National Councilor declared the State Council of New York duly constituted, and turned the new organization over to its presiding officer, State Councilor 0. L. Forrester, and UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 527 again New York came under " Home Rule.'' National Secretary Edw. S. Dcemer was an interested visitor, whose presence added much enthusiasm to the occasion. Having received copies of the Proceedings of the State Council from Brother H. W. Way, State Council Secretary, a synopsis of the same will follow. The State Council immediately got down to business, acting upon amendments to the National Council laws, as well as adopting a code of laws for the governing of the State Council. As the old State Council officers were seeking injunctions to restrain the new State Council, the title given to the new State Body was " The New York State Council Junior Order United American Mechan- ics." So far as the litigation in the Order in New York is con- cerned, the reader is cited to the chapter in the appropriate section of this volume. The Thirtieth Annual Session of the New York State Council convened at Newburgh, February 12, 1902, presided over by State Councilor 0. L. Forrester. Owing to the rebellion existing in the Order and the unrest arising therefrom, the position of State Coun- cilor was not that which anyone would covet, but in Brother For- rester the Order had a man at the helm who was eminently fitted for the ordeal, being fearless, yet at the same time was conservative, fair and just in the administration of the affairs of the organization. During the year the State Councilor had the unpleasant duty of revoking the charters of a number of Councils for insubordin- ation, as well as to suspend several of hitherto prominent members of the Order for contempt of the State Judiciary. Many intricate and perplexing questions arose, growing out of the disturbed state of affairs, but all were met in an intelligent manner and every act was approved by the State Council. Fifty votes were cast in the election of officers, resulting as follows : State Councilor — O. L. Forrester (unanimously reelected), State Vice-Councilor— W. N. Rudd, State Council Secretary — James C. Brower, State Council Treasurer — F. R. Oliver. The City of Syracuse entertained the Thirty-first Annual Ses- sion of the New York State Council, February 12 and 13, 1903, State Councilor Forrester in the Chair. The year had been a strenuous one on the part of the Board of Officers, especially for the State Councilor, who found the entire 528 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER phalanx of the rebellious element opposing his administration, at- tempting to poison the minds of the loyalists and create discord in the ranks of the loyal State Body. But the Order in the state had a good general at the head who held aloft the banner of Juniorism around which the fraternity rallied and the black flag of treason was lowered in defeat. The year in every way was crowned with great achievements, and at its close the Order never was on a firmer basis, the personnel of its membership never of so high a standard and its future never brighter. That which brought re- joicing to the members of the " Empire State," was the great victory obtained in the Courts of the state in which the suit of the insur- gent State Body against the loyal State Council was dismissed and the loyal Body sustained. It was a mark of highest esteem on the part of the State Coun- cil, that for the third time in succession it placed in the Chair of State Councilor, the true and tried leader, Brother 0. L. Forres- ter. His administration had been so satisfactory and his fearless- ness so marked, that the Order was not ready to " swap horses while crossing the stream." Through a very earnest invitation, the State Council met at the Village of Greenport, February 12, 1904, with State Councilor Forrester in the Chair. The year preceding showed a more remarkable advance than any previous year, the gain in Councils and membership being a source of great gratification to the members of the State Body, there being an increase of 14 Councils and 1,514 members, making a total of 63 Councils and 6,613 members. During Brother Forres- ter's administration of three years, there was a gain of 35 Councils and 3,921 members. Several resolutions were adopted, among which were the fol- lowing : 1. The establishment of an Employment Bureau. 2. Requesting every member of the Order in the State to wear an emblem of the Order. 3. Protesting against the reorganization of the Educational Depart- ment of the State of New York which it was thought would be inimical to the Public School System of the State. A resolution to enter into a contract with the Western Junior Publishing Company for one copy of the paper to be sent to each Council in the state, was defeated by a vote of 40 to 24. During the past year the State Council had a contract with the Publishing UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 529 Company, but the tenor of the paper was not satisfactory to the loyal brothers of New York and the contract was cancelled. In the consideration of a new code of laws, the following features were adopted: 1. Changing the time of the meeting of the State Council from February to first Monday in September of each year. 2. Rearrangement of Permanent Committees: a. Committee on Law to be composed of the Jr. Past State Councilor, State Council Warden and State Council Conductor. 6. Committee on Finance and Good of the Order to consist of the State Council Trustees. c. Committee on Credentials to be composed of the State Council Treasurer and two Senior National Representatives. d. Committee on Legislation to consist of the State Councilor, State Vice-Councilor and State Council Chaplain. e k Committee on Mileage and Per Diem to be composed of the State Council Secretary, and State Council Sentinels. In the election of officers, the following was the result: State Councilor — Wm. H. Moore, State Vice-Councilor — W. A. Sanders, State Council Secretary — James C. Brower, State Council Treasurer — G. H. Plass. The State Council convened at Port Jervis, September 5, 1905, with State Councilor Moore in the Chair. Several distinguished visitors were present whose presence and words added much to the interest and enthusiasm of the occasion, viz. : Brothers Z. P. Smith, editor of The American; Jesse Taylor, State Councilor of Ohio, and Stephen Collins, Secretary-Manager of the Funeral Benefit Department. The report of the State Council Secretary showed that there were, on June 30, 68 Councils and 7,713 members, being a net gain of 6 Councils and 1,138 members. The Employment Bureau having been approved by the Board of Officers, it submitted its first report. During the year, or rather the 17 months of its existence, there were filed 110 applications, of which number 33 received positions, 17 applications were with- drawn, 13 failed to respond to positions offered, 6 refused positions offered and 36 positions could not be filled for lack of suitable or competent applicants. The expenses entailed by the Bureau was $164. The report of the Committee of this commendable undertaking was unanimously received and the thanks of the State Council was tendered them by a rising vote. A statute was adopted endorsing the " Orphans' Home Com- mittee of the Empire State,"' which Committee had assumed the 34 530 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER undertaking of raising $3,000 toward the Orphans' Home to be used in the construction of a Laundry for the Institution. A Silver Shower was taken and $31.34 was collected. A strong resolution relative to the Immigration problem was adopted and sent to Presi- dent Roosevelt and to each of the Senators and Congressmen of the State of Few York. The Election Board made the following returns, and the same with the minor officers, were installed by Deputy National Coun- cilor E. A. Magill, of Pennsylvania : State Councilor— W. N. Rudd, State Vice-Councilor — Frank J. Kellogg, State Council Treasurer — G. H. Plass. In Thirty-fourth Annual Session, the New York State Council convened at Auburn, September 3, 1906, with State Councilor Rudd presiding. The State Councilor submitted a most excellent report, in the preface of which there was one paragraph that is well worth preserving: " Respect your Order, your Council and yourself. Be honest and fair with your Council as you would expect your Council to be honest with you. Think of it with loyalty, speak of it with praise, and act always as a trustworthy custodian of its good name. Be a booster, not a knocker; a pusher, not a kicker; a motor, not a clog, then will your Council not only increase its membership, but become a standard for others to follow in the community in which you live." The standing of the State Council under date of June 30, 1906. as given by the State Council Secretary, showed the following: Number of Councils 76 Number of Members 8,803 being a gain of 8 Councils and 1,090 members. Received by Subordinate Councils $75,905.70 Paid for Relief 23,430.16 Worth of Councils 52,621.99 Receipts of State Council $6,635.89 Disbursements 6,327.21 It is interesting to note that while rebellion in New York left but 38 loyal Councils and, as reported one year after the institution of the loyal State Council, 3,674 members, that the loyal wing had so advanced by 1906, with 29 less Councils, as to outnumber the State Council of 1899 in membership, and at the same time to UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 531 exceed the latter year in finances, with but one exception. 1'. way of comparison, the standing of 1899 is quoted: Number of Councils 105 Number of Members 8,484 Received by Subordinate Councils $69,863.58 Paid for Relief 24,589.03 Worth of Councils 50,958.34 The report of the Committee on securing funds for the con- struction of the laundry at the National Orphans' Home made the gratifying statement that $2,000 had been raised toward the worthy enterprise. A resolution was adopted protesting to the State Council of the Daughters of Liberty in their reported intention of changing or amending the laws of their Order relative to eligibility for member- ship, so as to admit anyone who is an American to membership. As the result of a long and animated discussion relative to the trouble within the Order as brought about by the rebellion of 1899, the following was adopted : " That in the event the former members of this Order make any overtures toward coming back, the State Board of Officers be empowered to appoint a Conference Committee." The Election Board reported the following as the result of the ballot for officers for the ensuing year : State Councilor — Frank J. Kellogg, State Vice-Councilor — James W. Cheshire, State Council Secretary — James C. Brower, State Council Treasurer — Julian H. Williams, State Council Conductor — Walter Steers, State Council Warden — Charles E. Becker, State Council Sentinels — R. C. Meredith and Geo. C. Davis, State Council Chaplain — Peter R. Brown, State Council Trustee— Harr^ W. Way, National Council Representatives — H. G. Kleist, Geo. H. Plass, Geo. B. Arnot and Lester Woolsey. The State Council refused to adopt a resolution to send four of the Past State Councilors, qualified for admission, to the National Council at its next session in Boston. The State Council closed with the installation of the above named officers by Deputy National Councilor P. A. Magill, of Pennsylvania. 532 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Maligned, misrepresented and harassed by the insurgent ele- ment in the state, generaled by one L. F. Page, the most violent conspirator of them all, with a vexatious delay in having the liti- gation before the Courts determined, it is gratifying to know the success the Order has attained since the institution of the loyal State Council in February of 1901. During that period the organ- ization was fortunate in having a body of leaders who know no fear, and valiantly and loyally fought the battle for the National Council. With such a general as Forrester, the Order in the state was exceptionally fortunate. His fearlessness, enthusiasm and faith won where a weak man might have failed. By his side stood a band of noble and sturdy men: Past State Councilors An- derson, Jinkins, Lisle, Jagger, Rudd and Moore; Past National Eepresentatives James W. Cheshire, Chas. W. Adams, Fred P. Oliver and James C. Brower. But these do not comprise the full quota of patriots in those trying years who stood by the guns and upheld the objects and principles so dear to every true American. A few can only be mentioned : Harry W. Way, W. K. Haviland, Walter Steers, Geo. H. Plass, W. K. Andrews, Charles Semken, Lester Woolsey, Geo. B. Arnot, H. G. Kleist, John G. Storm, Julian H. Williams, E. C. Cook, E. V. Baldwin, B. F. Rogers and the present State Councilor Frank J. Kellogg. NORTH CAROLINA The Junior Order was introduced into the Old North State by Geo. M. Eawson, of Virginia, in the organization and institu- tion of Carolina Council, No. 1, located at the City of Ealeigh, a charter having been granted for same, September S, 18S7, with 21 applicants. On same date a charter was granted Tar Heel Council. No. 2, located at Durbam, which was instituted by National Vice- Councilor Orange. On October 13, 1887, a charter was granted Liberty Council, No. 3, located at Salem. These three Councils stood alone until November, 1890, when Robert E. Lee Council, No. 4, was instituted, which was followed, July 6, 1891, by the institution of Winston Council, No. 5, with 29 applicants. August 24, 1891, Asheville Council, No. 6, was instituted by Thos. B. Ivey, of Virginia, with 41 of a charter list. Brother Ivey also instituted Hendersonville Council, No. 7, May 3, 1892, having been organized by F. M. Johnson, and on May 23 folloAving, 1892, Thomas B. Ivey instituted the State Council of North Carolina. Brother Ivey, at the Cleveland session of the National Coun- cil, in 1891, referred to North Carolina, stating that Councils No. 1 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 533 and No. 2 had gone defunct,, but he had got No. 1 to work again, while No. 3 kept the fires of Juniorism burning. Referring to the State of North Carolina, Brother Ivey said: " The people of North Carolina do not grasp at anything spas- modically, but once they have taken hold, they generally remain to the end." The sequel proves Brother Ivey's diagnosis to be true. At that time there were about 150 members in the state. With this digression, we return to the institution of the State Council, as referred to above. The institution took place at Win- ston, and was composed of representatives of seven Councils, repre- senting a membership of 300. Brother Geo. H. Burnham was the first State Councilor. Brother Ivey, in his reference to the institution of the State Council, spoke of Bros. Hampton, of Winston ; Thacker, of Greens- boro ; Stewart, of Asheville, and Johnson, of Hendersonville, as the most active spirits in the Order at that time. Five Representatives to the National Council were elected: F. L. Jacobs, W. C. Warner, T. C. Kuhler, Geo. H. Burham and J. T. Thacker, but none were present at the session that met at Atlantic City. The Fifth Annual Session of the State Council was held at Charlotte, February 21, 1896, State Councilor J. A. Clifton in the Chair. The proceedings of this session of the State Council were published in pamphlet form, quite small, however, as compared with the published proceedings of the session of 1906. Past National Councilor Brother Faison's name appears on the roll of representa- tives from Raleigh Council, No. 1. The names of Brothers Preston, Thacker and Horney were also among those present who, either pre- vious to this session or since have been conspicuous factors in the history of North Carolina Juniorism. Portraits of Past State Councilors Joyce, W T ootton and Thacker, and that of State Coun- cilor Clifton adorned the little booklet. Thirty members were present. The Order increased in the state from eight Councils and 409 members to 15 Councils and 619 members since the session held in 1895. A resolution to eliminate the word " Mechanics " from the name of the Order was adopted and the National Representative's were instructed to introduce the same in the National Body. 584 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Of the principal officers, the following were elected : State Councilor — J. A. Clifton (reelected), State Vice-Councilor— W. T. Wootton, State Council Secretary — P. S. Preston, State Council Treasurer — C. S. Hampton. Greenboro entertained the State Council at its Sixth Annual Session, February 23, 1897. State Councilor Clifton being absent, State Vice-Councilor Wootton presided. Eev. C. A. G. Thomas, subsequently elected National Representative and for two sessions occupied the position of National Chaplain, tendered the State Council the hospitalities of the city, and of Greenboro Council, No. 13. He was elected State Council Chaplain for the session. About 30 members were in attendance. An increase of members was reported, there being 943, a gain of 324. Eeceipts from all sources of the Subordinate Councils amounted to $7,983.30, with a total worth of Council, $3,752.28. Four new Councils had been instituted during the year. In the election of officers the following won : State Councilor— W. T. Wootton, State Vice-Councilor — W. E. Faison, State Council Secretary — P. S. Preston, State Council Treasurer — C. S. Hampton. Brothers Wootton and Faison were at the helm at the session of the State Council that convened at Salisbury, February 22, 1898. There had been a wonderful uplift of the Order during the year under the enthusiastic administration of the State officers, and the various reports were indeed very gratifying. To Special Organizer L. L. Albright much of the credit was due for the great advance made and the State Councilor paid him a befitting tribute. Twenty- three new Councils were organized by him out of the 27 instituted, making 40 Councils in all belonging to the state, representing a total membership of 1,854, or a gain of 911 over previous year. From a business point of view, the State Council made a suc- cess in its organizing work, indicating that the officers of the State Body were careful business-like men. The total cost to the State Council for the 23 Councils Brother Albright organized was $322, while the Charter fees coming back to the State Council treasury amounted to $345, or a net gain of one dollar per Council organized by Brother Albright. Five Representatives attended the National session at Pitts- burg, the writer's home city, the leader of whom was Hon. Brother UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 535 Reynolds. A full report of their actions u;is submitted at this session. On party questions, they voted with the minority. At this time the National Council was in the throes of contro- versy over the question of recognizing either of the Women's Organ- izations as Auxiliary. North Carolina took the generally accepted course, by passing a resolution instructing its National Represen- tatives to vote for equal recognition of both organizations. A reso- lution to not vote for a three-degree Ritual was adopted. In the election of officers, the following was the result : State Councilor — W. E. Faison, State Vice-Councilor — A. B. Horney, State Council Secretary — P. S. Preston, State Council Treasurer — C. S. Hampton. The session was a very interesting one and each member re- turned home with high hopes for a glorious future. North Caro- lina had a noble body of men manning the ship at this time. Asheville, February 22, 1899, entertained the State Body at its regular session, with our good Brother W. E. Faison in the Chair. The session was well attended and the year had witnessed a continual growth in the Order. From the mountains to the sea the organization had stretched bringing new sections under the Junior banner through the energetic campaign of the year just closing. Twenty new T Councils had been instituted, making the present number 58, and a gain of 871 members was reported, mak- ing a membership of 2,725. From all sources the receipts of the Subordinate Councils was $18,202.62 ; paid out for relief, $1,493.86. In speaking of the State Councilor's report, the Committee had this to say : " The State Councilor has given a splendid adminis- tration and deserves the gratitude of the Order." Brother L. L. Albright had been continued in the organizing work, having 12 Councils to his credit. Five years before there were in the state 6 Councils and 300 members. The standing of the Order at this time reflected great credit to the leaders and officers of the State Council. Some cf the Councils in Virginia were passing resolutions in- structing the proper representatives to urge an amendment to the Constitution of the Order to permit foreigners, after ten years' residence and five years' citizenship, to become members of the Junior Order. North Carolina, loyal to the sound principles of Eligibility, said No, by a vote of 50 to 1. 536 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER As the result of the election of officers, A. B. Horney was selected for State Councilor, B. S. Nissen for State Vice-Councilor, P. S. Preston reelected Secretary and J. T. Thacker was elected Treasurer of the State Body. Owing to business interests, Brother Preston resigned in July as State Council Secretary, and Brother Sam F. Vance was authorized by the Board of Officers to fill the unexpired term. The Ninth Annual Session was held at Durham, February 20, 1900, State Councilor A. B. Horney in the Chair. The reports of the officers showed marked advance all along the line. One year before there were 58 Councils, at this session 79 were reported. While 26 Councils had been organized, a few of the older ones had disbanded or consolidated. So far this was the "banner year" in gain of membership, the increase being 1,200, making a total mem- bership in the state of 3,925. The newly appointed State Council Secretary submitted a most excellent report, although it covered but part of the year. The Finance Committee complimented the Secretary in the following language : " We are glad to say Bro. Vance's books have been kept in a neat and business-like manner, and think the State Council fortunate in having such an able and efficient Secretary." In harmony with the principles of the Order, the State Coun- cil appropriated $50 to the purchasing and putting up of a flag over the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Morganton. A Bible was presented at the same time. In the selection of officers, the following were elected : State Councilor — B. S. Nissen, State Vice-Councilor— C. B. Webb, State Council Secretary — Sam F. Vance (reelected), State Council Treasurer — J. T. Thacker (reelected). In 1901, the State Council met at Winston-Salem, February 19, with State Vice- Councilor Webb in the Chair. The State Coun- cilor, Brother Nissen, owing to ill health, was forced to absent him- self from the session, and in fact much of the duties of the Execu- tive rested upon the other members of the Board owing to his serious affliction, hence the advance of the Order that had been so marked in other years was not so great during the year past; yet as evidence of how his associates kept the work moving, a gain in UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 537 membership was reported of 580 and 18 Councils were instituted, although there was but a net increase of one Council because of the disbanding of older and weaker ones. According to the report of the State Council Secretary, there were 80 Councils and 1.1:- 1 members. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : State Councilor — C. B. Webb, State Vice-Councilor — J. B. More, State Council Secretary — Sam F. Vance (reelected), State Council Treasurer — J. T. Thacker (reelected). Three ministers were nominated for State Council Chaplain, but Rev. W. H. Roach defeated the present incumbent, Rev. E. I'. Sawyer. The representation of the State Council was changed, being based on the ratio of number of members. For a membership from 7 to 25, one representative; for a membership of 25 to 75, two representatives; for a membership above 75, three representatives. Wilmington received the State Body at its Eleventh Annual Session, February 19, 1902, C. B. Webb presiding. A small in- crease was reported in members but a loss of two in Councils. However, the finances were never better, showing a healthy condi- tion of the Order. The record states that a recess of 15 minutes was declared to allow " Mr. C. L. Cadwallader, Secretary of the National Funeral Benefit Association," to explain the status of his Funeral Benefit Association. The pains-taking and careful State Council Secre- tary, Brother Vance, inadvertently styled Cadwallader the " Secre- tary of the National Funeral Association," which, of course, was an error, as Brother Stephen Collins at that time was the Secretary- Manager of the only National Funeral Benefit Association that had any relation with the Junior 0. IT. A. M. The question of State Orphanage had been agitating the North Carolina Juniors to some extent and there was a fair sentiment throughout the state in favor of such a project. A committee had previously been appointed to consider the feasibility of the proposi- tion, and at this session they reported in favor of establishing such an institution, whereupon, a motion was offered. " That it is the sense of the State Council to establish an Orphanage." The subject was fully discussed, pro and con, after which a vote was taken, resulting in its defeat. 538 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Very appropriate resolutions were drafted relating to the assassination of President McKinley, in which the President was alluded to in most eulogistic terms, and by an unanimous vote the same were adopted. The honors of Past State Councilor were con- ferred upon State Council Secretary Brother Vance in accordance with the regulations of the Order. When it came to the election of officers, the following were selected : State Councilor — C. E. Bennett, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. E. Hood, State Council Secretary — Sam F. Vance (reelected), State Council Treasurer — J. T. Thacker (reelected). A feature of the State Council sessions were the " banquets " with which the local Councils entertained their visitors, but on this occasion they were treated to a pleasurable ride on the bay, and on their return a " bountiful spread " awaited them, laid out by Jeff. Davis Council, No. 63. (The " fighting Parson " would have en- joyed the same.) The State Council, in Twelfth Annual Session, met at High Point, February 17, 1903, and was presided over by State Councilor C. E. Bennett, assisted by State Vice-Councilor, the Hon. Geo. E. Hood. The reception tendered the visitors by High Point was pre- eminently cordial. There was music and addresses galore. At 3 p.m., the Mayor, Hon. J. J. Cox, extended the hospitalities, to which responses were made by Hon. Geo. E. Hood and Rev. W. H. Roach, whereupon a recess was declared until S p.m., when the pre- liminary program was continued, Rev. W. H. Roach acting as toast- master. Brother W. P. Ragan, of Trophy Council, extended an- other address of welcome, to which Rev. E. F. Sawyer responded. To these public gatherings and not hurried preliminaries, North Carolina Juniorism owes much of its success and popularity. The State Council Secretary reported 18 new Councils insti- tuted during the year, 4 reinstated, and in good standing 88. In membership, there was a gain of 531, making a total in the state of 5,23-1. The receipts of the Subordinate Councils amounted to $39,450.34 ; paid for relief and funeral benefits, $8,389.46 for the former, and $23,000 for the latter. A resolution endorsing P. S. C, W. E. Faison for the high position of National Vice-Councilor was unanimously adopted, and, as the sequel shows, North Carolina won out for her choice at the following session of the National Council. None more worthy UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 539 could have been selected by the Juniors of North Carolina to lead the patriotic hosts of the Order than Brother Faison. His pres- ence in the State Council was always a source of enthusiasm to the brethren, and in the transaction of the business of the body, he was ever a prominent figure. That he was true to his high trust, has been verified by his admirable administration as the presiding officer of the Supreme Body, more than 15,000 members having been gathered under the banner of the Order while he occupied the Chair as National Councilor : and ere he retires from the Board of Officers, it is possible that 60,000 members will have been brought into the organization. (This statement was verified, the increase exceeding 60,000.) A resolution was adopted showing appreciation of the deliv- erances of Governor Charles B. Aycock in the interest of public education in the State of North Carolina. A resolution endorsing a State periodical, to be published in the interest of the Order in North Carolina, was also adopted. The presence of the National Councilor, the late and much lamented Geo. B. Bowers, added much enthusiasm and interest to the session. His address was timely and highly appreciated. A resolution, out of the ordinary line, was adopted, signed by 22 members, " and all other members." It was a request made of Capron Council, No. 33, to return as their Eepresentative, Brother Ernest Christian, stating in the preamble: " We believe the life and real pleasure of the State Council one year from now almost entirely depends upon his presence, etc." Balloting for candidates to fill the various offices was lively, frequently requiring the second ballot to decide. Of the principal officers, the following were elected : State Councilor — Geo. E. Hood, State Vice-Councilor— T. G. Cobb, State Council Secretary — Sam F. Vance (reelected), State Council Treasurer — J. T. Thacker ( reelected ) . These as well as the minor officers were installed by National Councilor Geo. B. Bowers. The Thirteenth Annual Session convened at Charlotte, Febru- ary 23, 1904, State Councilor Hood presiding. The attendance was large and the enthusiasm great. State Councilor Hood wielded the gavel with a master-hand, demonstrating executive ability of a high standard, and in all his rulings he commanded universal respect and esteem. 540 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Couched in beautiful terms, the State Councilor presented his report. His reference to the death of Past National Councilor Bowers was very pathetic and appropriate. In response to a com- munication of the State Councilor sent out during the year, it was learned that 39 Councils in the state had presented to the Public Schools of the Commonwealth either flags or Bibles, and in some instances, both a flag and a Bible. The same patriotic duty had been previously performed by other Councils so that along the lines of Patriotism and Morality, the Order in North Carolina was up to if not in the lead of any state in the Union. The State Councilor submitted 13 recommendations, all of which were approved. (The number 13 had no influence with Brother Hood; the Thirteenth Session with 13 recommendations.) In concluding his most excellent report, State Councilor Hood said: " We were first in the Revolutionary War, first in the Civil War, first in the Spanish-American War, and, brothers, we must he first in the Junior Order." Equally encouraging and gratifying was the report of the State Council Secretary, Brother Vance. Never in the history of the Order in the state was so great an interest shown and such results achieved. A net gain of 25 Councils was reported and an increase of membership to the number of 2,816, making in all 113 Councils and 7,980 members, or a gain of 54 per cent. The re- ceipts of Subordinate Councils amounted to $13,162.63; the total worth of Councils, $52,612.97. A resolution to initiate Ministers of the Gospel at reduced rates met with defeat. One night session was given to an open meeting in the Court House where ladies as well as Juniors were present. The address of welcome was made and the response by State Councilor Hood in behalf of the State Body followed. Brother Z. P. Smith and Hon. B. R. Lacey, the State Treasurer, also favored the large audience with addresses. The salary of the State Council Secretary was placed at $750. A page of the Proceedings was given in Memoriam of Brother Bowers and a full page cut inserted. When the election of officers was held, it was found that the results were as follows: State Councilor — T. G. Cobb, State Vice-Councilor — Z. P. Smith, State Council Secretary — Sam F. Vance (reelected), State Council Treasurer — G. V. Fulp. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 541 Brother Stephen Collins, Secretary-Manager National Funeral Benefit Association, and C. G. Hazlip, of St. Louis, were intro- duced, and addressed the State Council. February 21-22, 1905, found the State Council in annual session at Goldsboro, with T. G. Cobb presiding. The election of officers came up in the early part of the session, which resulted as follows: State Councilor — Z. P. Smith, State Vice-Councilor— R. T. Poole, with Brothers Vance and Fulp reelected Secretary and Treasurer of the State Body. The year past exceeded all previous years in advancement made, there being 55 new Councils instituted, of which number 43 were organized by Brother John E. Bridgers ; however, deducting those disbanded, the net increase was only 26. The total member- ship reported was 10,091, or a gain of 2,111. Sixty-six counties of the state had come under the banner of the Order in one or more councils each. In the rapid increase of new Councils, North Carolina was learning the same lesson that Pennsylvania had learned years before — too prolific — many Councils scarcely living the year; or in the common parlance, "died a 'bornin'." Several of the new Councils failed to report to the State Council Secretary, which was an evidence that they lacked attention after their insti- tution, which in so many cases has been the bane of the Order. A protest against the establishment of a Bureau of Immigra- tion in North Carolina called forth a vigorous discussion, and the same was finally adopted. The establishment of a State Or- phanage was still kept in the foreground and was the subject of an animated discussion at this session. The Special Committee to which the question had been referred, presented a majority and minority report. Finally a substitute was offered for all that was before the house, "that the State Council of North Carolina Jr. 0. IT. A. M., establish an Orphans' Home in our State." A Com- mittee of five was appointed to receive offers for sites and buildings, to ascertain cost of equipment, etc., and report at the next session. The session of 1906, which closes the record of North Carolina State Council, so far as this history goes, was held at Salisbury, February 20-22, it being the Fifteenth Annual meeting. Brother Z. P. Smith presiding. The preliminary exercises were held on the 542 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER evening of the first day, at which time Brother Smith W. Bennett, of Ohio, made an address. On Wednesday morning the State Coun- cil was specially honored with the presence of National Councilor W. L. S. Gilcreast, National Secretary E. S. Deemer,' Junior Past National Councilor W. E. Faison, Stephen Collins, Secretary- Manager Funeral Benefit Association, Smith W. Bennett, Chief Counsel, A. G. Martin and E. E. Dillingham, State Councilor and State Council Secretary of Georgia. The State Council was well officered and its proceedings were very interesting. The report of the State Councilor referred to the great ques- tion of immigration, and also discussed the subjects of Child Labor and Compulsory Education. The recommendation of the Governor to the State Legislature for an act to regulate Child Labor, although pressed by the Executive, was defeated by the legislative body. Referring to the Order, Brother Smith made some very good sug- gestions. The report of Brother Vance, State Council Secretary, was complete as well as encouraging. That he is an efficient official is self-evident, when from year to year his record has been read, as it has been our privilege to do in making up this short sketch of North Carolina Juniorism. Brother Vance referred to the most excellent condition of the Order both in standing and numbers. The number of Councils instituted was 22, all of them organized on a safer basis than those of other years. No organizer was em- ployed which was shown to have been the wiser method. The State Council Secretary kept in close touch with all of the new Councils and by this supervision and attention kept them in line. As this closes the record of North Carolina (Dec. 31, 1905), a fuller statement of its present standing (1906) is in order. Number of Councils 153 Number of Members 12,070 Receipts from Subordinate Councils $89,281.08 Paid for Relief 15,346.50 Paid for Death Benefits 10,996.25 Paid for Funeral Assessments • • 31,211.08 Paid for all purposes 88,440.00 Total worth of Councils 52,210.93 Per capita Tax 6,565.75 Starting fifteen years before with seven councils and three hundred members, and closing the decade and a half of her history with 153 Councils and 12,070 members, North Carolina should be proud of her brilliant record of disseminating patriotic sentiment. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 543 No state in all the galaxy of Commonwealths of this Union can show such advance in the same number of years. And yet there is nothing so wonderful in this story, when the records of the " Old North State" are brought to light. Here on May 21. 1775, at Mecklenburg, the first Declaration of Independence was declared — more than a year before the little old man in the belfrey of Inde- pendence Hall, Philadelphia, swung the ponderous pendulum of the old Liberty Bell that announced the birth of a new nation, and the founding of a Republic. Here the brave patriots aided by the noble pioneers of Kentucky and Tennessee, met the Redcoats at King's Mountain and gave them such a beating that it hurled Corn- wallis back upon Yorktown to meet his final overthrow by the hands of the immortal Washington. Although in the Civil War the State " went out of the Union," yet no braver men fought for what they thought was right than the " Boys in Gray " from North Caro- lina. And when a despotic hierarchy blew up the " Maine," among the first to respoud to the call to resent the insult to the flag, were the boys of the old " Tar Heel State," many being Juniors, among whom was Colonel " Zip " P. Smith. With such a record for patriotism and loyalty for what they thought was the right, it is not any wonder after all that an organ- ization like the Jr. 0. U. A. M. would find a rich soil and that the seed-truths of the Order would spring into an abundant harvest. All Hail, " North Caroliny." May her sun never set and may her glory remain undimmed. The Election Board declared that Brother R. T. Poole was unanimously elected State Councilor ; and the same was true of Brothers Sam F. Vance and Geo. V. Fulp for Secretary and Treas- urer of the State Council. C. G. Lee was selected State Vice- Councilor by a vote of 122 to 76. It has been a pleasure to the writer to follow the history of the State Council and Order of North Carolina, and to note the marvelous growth of the organization. The character of her membership is above the average, which reflects great credit upon those who watch at the portals of the Order. Governors, and other State officers, members of the Legislature and Congress, Mayor? of cities, and men prominent in church and business are numbered among her growing membership. The men who have been " at the helm " in the Order have measured up to the highest standard of executive ability. 544 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER If we would begin to designate the brothers whose names appear so frequently in the records of the State Council, the writer would scarcely know where to end. I think I know how to begin ; so here it goes : Faison, Vance, " Zip " Smith, Wootton, Webb, Horney, Cobb, Reynolds, Robbins, Poole, Fulp, Nissen, Bennett, Hood, Preston, Bellamy, Cranford, Featherstone, Lee, Kege, and Revs. Roach, Andrews, Sawyer and Thomas. " And what shall I say more, for time would fail me," etc., to speak of the " silent workers," yet just as active, zealous and patriotic whose influence is largely felt in their own little " parish " — the home Council. (The session of the State Council for 1908 was held at Winston-Salem and the report of the Secretary showed 186 active Councils and 17,624 members, there being a gain for the year of 3,000. Total receipts of Subordinate Councils, $17S,636 ; worth of Councils, $85,132.20. Total receipts of the State Council, $10,914.54; total assets, $13,193.58. The officers selected were: State Councilor, Chas. E. Brewer; State Vice-Councilor Jno. F. Reynolds; and for State Council Treasurer, Geo. V. Fulp.) CHAPTER XXXI PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued) OHIO TO Brother J. G. A. Richter, State Council Secretary, the writer is under great obligations for data relative to the history of the Order in the " Buckeye State." Brother Richter again and again submitted facts invaluable, and with most brotherly courtesy rendered every assistance possible. The Senior Order, through Geo. W. Jenkins, State Councilor of the 0. U. A. M. of Pennsylvania, introduced the Junior Order into Ohio in August of 1869, by the institution of Friendship Coun- cil, No. 1, at Salem, which was some months prior to the establish- ment of the National Council. The charter, which contained 17 names, was granted by State Councilor Edward S. Deemer, of Pennsylvania, attested by George W. R. Carteret, State Coun- cil Secretary, April 10, 1869. The following were the charter members : John M. Meade, Clark Miller, Robert Rittenhouse, Francis W. Meade, Jr., John H. Kirkbride, Marcus Reep, Frank B. Robinson, David Reader, Joseph T. Smith, James A. Leech, Wm. B. Long, W. P. Goodwin, G. A. Fries, James A. Teegarden, James H. Umstead, Wm. Cauffman, and J. B. Bowman. Jas. A. Teegarden was chosen Councilor and G. A Fries Vice- Councilor of the new organization. Of the charter members, Wm. P. Goodwin was recognized as a leader, being assigned to some committee by the first National Councilor in 1870. The Council was short-lived, however, going out of existence long before the institution of the State Council in 1873, but the number has never been filled and is still vacant. Champion Council, No. 2, while not the " mother Council " of Ohio, yet it should be considered the " step-mother Council " of the hundreds of Councils to follow, was instituted April 24, 1871, at Springfield, being organized by Leroy N. Van Horn, who, up to his death, February 9, 1907, was a member of the Council as well as the Senior Past State Councilor of Ohio. But one charter mem- ber, still belonging to the Council, is living at this writing (1907), Brother Harlan A. Routzahn. Others, however, are living but not members of the Order. Champion Council, therefore, is the foun- 35 545 546 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER tain from which has spread the stream of patriotism that has penetrated the great State of Ohio, and although giving, it has not been impoverished, since it is among the most prominent if not the strongest Council in the state, having about 500 members. Champion Council was followed by the institution of Wash- ington, No. 3, at Ironton, and Morning Star, No. 4, presumably in 1872. On January 8, 1&73, the State Council of Ohio was duly instituted in regular form. From a copy of a communication writ- ten for The Junior American Mechanic by D. P. Clark, State Council Secretary, under date of February, 1873, posted in the State Council Journal, we glean the account of the institution of the State Council. Deputy National Councilor L. N. Van Horn called a meeting of the Eepresentatives of Ohio to meet at Springfield, January 8, 1873, for the purpose of instituting the State Council of Ohio. Brother Van Horn called the convention to order, read the charter and presided over the preliminary exercises, D. P. Clark acting as Secretary. The first order of business was the election of officers. For each office, two candidates were placed in nomination, and the result of the ballot was as follows: Jr. Past State Councilor — A. W. Cool, State Councilor — L. N. VanHorn, State Vice-Councilor — C. G. Yeaman, State Council Secretary — D. P. Clark, State Council Treasurer — E. A. Cregar, State Council Conductor — T. J. Monahan, State Council Warden — L. King, State Council Sentinels — Chas. Davison and Geo. Furniss. Junior Past State Councilor Cool installed the officers in regu- lar form, whereupon the business of the State Council was trans- acted, the Constitution and By-laws adopted and the body adjourned. DAYTON, 1874 The First Annual Session of the State Council of Ohio was held at Dayton, January 20 and 21, 1874, beginning at 2 p.m. Neither the State Councilor, State Vice-Councilor or State Council Secretary were present. Messengers were sent several miles into the country to find the Secretary and get the books, but failed in their mission. Brother A. W. Cool presided and opened the State UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 547 Council. The first order of business was the election of officers, resulting as follows : State Councilor — A. W. Cool, State Vice-Councilor — H. J. Brusman, State Council Secretary — Geo. R. Furniss, State Council Treasurer — B. F. Guion. A Committee was appointed to look after the delinquent State Council Secretary, D. P. Clark, and secure a settlement. The State Council not having much if any funds on hand, had decided not to send a Representative to the National Council; whereupon the State Councilor appointed a proxy to represent the State Coun- cil at the meeting of the National Body held since the previous session. This proxy must not have been accepted by the National body, as a preamble setting forth the refusal of the National Coun- cil to accept said proxy, it was resolved, " That we look with the utmost contempt on the action of the afore- said Council in refusing to admit the said proxy to a seat in that body." The semi-annual session was held in July at which time the Committee to procure a settlement with the late Secretary Clark, reported the collection of $31.64, which amount had been paid over to the proper officers. Officers to be elected at the regular meetings in January were nominated at the semi-annual sessions, which custom continued some years. Brother Van Horn was present and was one of the most active spirits in the body, and for years, until his death in 1907, he was Senior Past State Councilor; or, in other words, the " Nestor of Ohio." SPRINGFIELD, 1S'75 In annual session, the State Council met at Springfield, Janu- ary 19, 1875, State Councilor Cool in the Chair. The State Coun- cil Secretary referred to the struggles of the year, stating how they had been " catching at a straw like a drowning man," but new life had come into the Order. The standing of the Order was as follows: Number of Councils 5 Number of Members 229 Received by Subordinate Councils ; . $337.70 Paid for Relief 95.20 Worth of Councils 732.13 548 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Twenty-seven votes were cast in the election for officers, the result of which vote was as follows: State Councilor — C. S. Yeaman, State Vice-Councilor — H. W. Lewis, State Council Secretary — H. J. Brusman, State Treasurer — Brother Householder. The following were named for National Eepresentatives : L. N. Van Horn and A. W. Cool. By action of the State Council these Representatives were instructed to vote to strike out the Fifth Object of the Order, which, at that time, was a " bone of contention " in the organization. The semi-annual session was held at Delaware, July 20, 1875, State Vice-Councilor Lewis in the Chair, with 20 members in attendance. The office of State Councilor was declared vacant and H. W. Lewis was elected to fill out the balance of the year. T. J. Monahan was elected State Vice-Councilor. SPRINGFIELD, 1876 January 25, 1876, the State Council convened in Third An- nual Session at ahove place, with State Councilor Lewis presiding, 35 members being present. As per report of the State Councilor, 3 new Councils had been instituted, Surprise, No. 11, Summit, No. 12, and Buckle, No. 13. The State Councilor recommended a change of name to " In- dependent Americans " and that the National Representatives he instructed to so advocate and vote for, which was approved by the State Body. The State Council Secretary reported an increased interest in the Order, there being in the state 322 members. The officers elected were as follows: State Councilor — J. L. Buvinger, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. R. Furniss, State Council Secretary — H. J. Brusman, State Council Treasurer — A. W. Cool. An adjourned session was held on March 8. A vote of censure was passed upon State Council Secretary Brusman for having failed to be present at a special session set for February. The business of the session was largely taken up with the consideration and adoption of the State Council Constitution and a code of By-laws, which were finally adopted at another special session held March 10. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 549 A special session was also held at Dayton to elect a National Representative in place of one resigned. The semi-annual session was held at Urbana, July 25, 1876. For the first time, the State Council of Ohio was represented in the National Council at its session held at Philadelphia, by W. A. Martin and J. L. Buvinger. SPRINGFIELD, 1S77 The State Council convened at the above place January 15, 1877, with all the principal officers absent, but their reports were sent and read. During the year the Order found a foothold in Cincinnati by the institution of Queen City Council, No. 14. Sub- sequently the Council " went out of business." The year showed little or no progress, there being but 7 Councils in good standing. Only $94.52 was received by the State Body and the disbursements reached $78.47. In the selection of officers, the following were named : State Councilor — W. A. Martin, State Vice-Councilor — Ed. F. Cregar, State Council Secretary — E. Shinn, State Council Treasurer — C. W. Zell. Pursuant to call, a special session was held at Dayton, May 30, 1877. The purpose of the call was to take into account the failure of the late Secretary and Treasurer to turn over the funds of the State Council, and at the same time make final arrangements for receiving the National Council in July. DAYTON, 1878 The State Council met in annual session May 20, 1878, pur- suant to change of time adopted at the semi-annual session in August. The reports were far from gratifying, several Councils, on the eve of the meeting of the National Council in July having surrendered their charters. In the election of officers, Ed. F. Cregar was selected State Councilor and J. W. Ebel State Vice-Councilor, both elected with- out opposition. For State Council Secretary, there was a vigorous contest between three candidates, no one receiving a majority after four ballots, each having five votes. A call for nominations was then made, resulting in a tie vote. The election judge having 550 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER decided the question by giving the casting vote in favor of new nominations, Irving Bradford was declared elected. C. W. Zell was reelected State Council Treasurer. SPRINGFIELD, 1879 In annual session, the State Council convened at Springfield on May 20, 1879, with neither State Councilor nor State Vice- Councilor present. Past State Councilor Lewis presided. State Council Treasurer Zell submitted a peculiar report: On hand last session $4.06 Received during year none Expenses none Balance on hand $4.06 The State Council Secretary received $26.37, paid out $10.75, leaving a balance in his hands, $15.62. He also reported 247 mem- bers in the state. The offices of State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor be- ing declared vacant, C. W. Mills and C. W. Zell were elected to said respective positions. Irving Bradford was reelected State Council Secretary and H. W. Lewis was selected for State Council Treasurer. Past State Councilor W. A. Martin presented a bill for $20 for attending the National Council at Philadelphia, which, on motion, was laid on the table for ten years. DAYTON, 1880 Again the State Council convened in the City of Dayton, May 25, 1880, State Councilor C. W. Mills presiding. The mem- bership was reported at 214. The Ohio brethren were ill-disposed towards smoking in the lodge room, judging from the resolution adopted and enacted into a law to fine any one ten cents for smoking in the council chamber. C. W. Zell was promoted to position of State Councilor, H. A. Siler was elected State Vice-Councilor, Irving Bradford reelected Secretary and Jacob Geiser was made Treasurer of the State Council. SPRINGFIELD, 1881 Again the time of the meeting of the State Council was changed, this time to the month of July, meeting at Springfield, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 551 3ii the 19th, 1881, State Councilor Zell presiding. The member- ship increased from 214 to 241. The Subordinate Councils re- ported amount raised from all sources, $1, 159.89 ; paid for relief, $208 ; worth of Councils, $1,433.37. The officers for the ensuing year were : State Councilor — H. A. Siler, State Vice-Councilor — C. S. Hutchison, State Council Secretary — Irving Bradford, State Council Treasurer — A. Deiter. DAYTON, 1882 At the above place, on July 19, 1882, the State Council con- vened in annual session with State Councilor H. A. Siler presiding. The reports of the officers showed no improvement in the con- dition of the Order, being at a " stand still." Only 233 members were enrolled in the Subordinate Councils. The following were chosen to direct the affairs of the Order for the ensuing year: State Councilor — C. S. Hutchinson, State Vice-Councilor — A. W. Hudson, State Council Secretary — Irving Bradford, State Council Treasurer — Ed. Oldham. .^PRIXGFJELD, 1883 : DAYTON, 1884 The time of the holding of the State session was again changed, this time to the month of May, on the 8th, 1883, on which date the body convened at Springfield with State Councilor Hutch- inson in the Chair. The State Council Secretary reported the Order in the State of Ohio at its lowest ebb since the institution of the State Council, there having been a loss in membership of 54, leaving a member- ship of 170. One Council, No. 17, had been instituted. A. W. Hudson was elected State Councilor and J. R. Arnold, S. V. C. State Councilor Hudson presided at the session held in 1884. The usual routine business was transacted with nothing of much general importance. A resolution to instruct the National Repre- sentatives to vote to strike out " Jr. 0. U. A. M." and insert " In- dependent Order of Americans," was adopted. A plan for an insur- 552 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ance association was presented and referred to the Board of Officers to adopt or reject. J. R. Arnold was elected State Councilor and Ed. Oldham State Vice- Councilor. CLEVELAND, 1885 For the first time in its history, the State Council met in the City of Cleveland, May 16, 1S'85, State Councilor J. R. Arnold at the helm. The State Councilor, in his report, stated his regret that he could only turn over to his successor the same number of Councils he had received from his predecessor and with only a membership of 175. The State Council was opposed to striking out of the article on Eligibility to Membership the word " white " and rejected a resolution to that effect. A resolution memorializing the National Council to submit to the vote of the Order the question of Change of Name was adopted. The result of the election for officers was as follows : State Councilor — Ed. Oldham, State Vice-Councilor — W. E. Newell, State Council Secretary — Irving Bradford, State Council Treasurer — C. D. Kidd. CINCINNATI, 18S6 The " Queen City " of the state received the State Council at its annual convocation, May 18, 1886, State Councilor Oldham presiding. Again the sad and regretful reports of the State Council offi- cers were presented of there being no progress in the Order. What trying years those must have been for the little band of Juniors in the State of Ohio. But full of pluck and a stick-to-it-ive-ness, characteristic of the leaders in the earlier years of the Order, they " stood by the stuff " and made it possible for the great State of Ohio to become second in the family of states in numbers and influence so far as the Junior Order is concerned. All hail to the "loyal band" of 20 years ago (18S7). Such are worthy of a memorial tablet to be placed in the headquarters of the organ- ization. As 20 years after (1907) the Order in the state reached its " high-watermark " in membership — 28,769 — so here in 1886, it reached its " lower-watermark " — eighty-six. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 553 Facing all the discouraging aspects, the State Council trans- acted its business in a methodical manner, listened to the reports, and elected a full Board of Officers to look after the Order for the ensuing yen-, which were as follows: State Councilor — W. E. Newell, State Vice-Councilor — W. A. Gordon, State Council Secretary — Irving Bradford, State Council Treasurer — W. H. Klussman. SPRINGFIELD, 1887 Rotating back and forth with but two or three exceptions, the State Council held its meetings in the cities of Springfield and Dayton; this year, 1887, it held forth at the former place on May 10, State Councilor W. E. Newell presiding. The long-looked for change in the tide in the Order of Ohio had come. Instead of reporting three Councils, the State officers had the gratification of reporting six, with a proportionate increase in members. During these struggling years the Ohio brethren blamed the lack of progress very largely to the name of the Order — its misleading terms "Junior" and "Mechanics'' creating anti- patlry towards the organization; hence at several of the sessions of the State Body, resolutions were adopted instructing the Na- tional Representatives to advocate and vote for a " change of name." With hope rising and hearts stirred, the following officers were installed for the coming year: State Councilor — W. A. Gordon, State Vice-Councilor — W. H. Tanner, State Council Secretary — Irving Bradford, State Council Treasurer — C. D. Kidd. DENNISON, 1888 In annual session, the State Council convened at Dennison, May 8, 1888, presided over by State Vice-Councilor Tanner. Upon the State Council roster of this session appears for the first time the name of one of Ohio's noblest sons, known throughout the national jurisdiction, Brother John distav Adolph Richter, Past National Councilor and at present (1907) Ohio's efficient State Council Secretary, who represented his Council, No. 12, of Can- ton, which he had organized during the year, being its Senior Past Councilor. 554 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER For fifteen } r ears the State Council of Ohio arjd the Order itseif had struggled to maintain its very existence. The same causes, common in the jurisdictions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, and other states, had retarded the advance of the organization in the " Buckeye State." That there were good and faithful men at the helm during these trying years, none dare gain- say. That they were zealous, enthusiastic and patriotic, must be admitted. But up and down went the Order, sometimes up then sometimes down, then down, down, down, until " low watermark " was reached — three councils and eighty-six members. Hope, how- ever, did not die. The copatriots of Ohio had faith in the funda- mental principles of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., believing that like a cen- tury plant, it would shoot upward into bloom. That their faith was well founded, is fully borne out by the marvelous advance made within the next few years. The session of 1888 showed marked improvement over any previous year since the institution of the State Council. A new fire seemed to descend upon the altar, new life leaped, as by magic, from the sphinx-like organization, and on every page of the written proceedings of the session Hope pointed upward, while the " slogan " of her leaders was " Excelsior." In short, the session of 18S8 was the beginning of Ohio's boom that has never ceased " booming " from that day until now. Was it because Brother Bichter was there? Without question he had something to do with the uplift. State Councilor Gordon had much to do in stirring up enthusiasm in the submission of one of the most thoughtful and suggestful reports ever presented at a previous session of the State Body. During the year a Council had been organized at Steubenville, and by request, Past State Councilor J. F. Koehnline, of Pennsyl vania, instituted same. Councils also were instituted at Zanesville, Leetonia, Canton, Wellsville, East Liverpool, and in other princi- pal towns of the state. The standing of the Order at the beginning of the advance was as follows: Number of Councils 13 Number of Members (estimated) 400 Receipts of Subordinate Councils $3,205.90 Paid for Relief 863.40 Worth of Councils 2,297.86 Receipts of State Council $123.46 Disbursements 109.54 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 553 Two resolutions were adopted: 1. Requesting the political parties, Democrat and Republican, to insert a plank in their platforms committing the party to the enactment of laws restricting immigration. 2. Endorsing Mayor Hewitt, of New York City, in his brave stand that none other than the American Flag should be hoisted over the city buildings. Death invaded the ranks of the State Council during the year in the removal of Junior Past State Councilor W. E. Newell, Oct. 19, 1887. He was a true soldier in the Junior army and nobly stood for its principles. Brother Newell was one among the first Juniors in the state, having joined the Order July 1, 1873, and served as State Councilor in 1886-188?. The officers selected were the following: State Councilor — Will. H. Tanner, State Vice-Councilor— W. E. Loller, State Council Secretary — J. P. Branin, State Council Treasurer — Irving Bradford. A special session was held November 28, 1888, at Zanesville, the purpose of the call being to consider some resolutions relative to amendments of the laws and settle some grievances. At this session appears the name of another brother, who, in subsequent years was to " father " a movement that has crowned the Order with a halo of glory — Brother J. H. Zimmerman, " father of the Orphans' Home " ; and from the very first he took an active interest in the affairs of the Order and is one of Ohio's noblest sons. However, as with Brother Eichter, Brother Zimmerman was a Pennsylvanian, he having traveled through the "camp" of Newport Council. No. 106, of Newport, Pa. A large number of proposed changes of the laws were sub- mitted and, under the rules, were laid over until the regular session. Charges were brought against State Councilor Tanner, and having been referred to a Committee, that Committee subsequently in the session submitted their report, recommending that he be removed from the office he was holding, which report was adopted; where- upon the seat of the State Councilor was declared vacant. State Vice-Councilor W. E. Loller was elected to fill out the unexpired term, and E. E. Hungerford was elected State Vice-Councilor. There being a vacancy of a Representative to the National Council, Brother J. G. A. Eichter was selected to take the place, for a term of four years. 556 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER DAYTON, 1889 The State Council, in Seventeenth Annual Session, convened May 14, 1889, at the City of Dayton, State Councilor Loller in the Chair. The attendance was large and the interest good. C. E. Tinkler, who has for years been and is now, an active spirit in the Order, was a representative; so was L. E. Stone, both of whom sub- sequently were honored by being placed in the highest position in the State Body. The State Councilor, in his report, could say what not one of the 16 former State Councilors could state, that " the past year has witnessed a most remarkable increase in our Order/' From a membership of 400 with 13 Councils one year previous, the State of Ohio at this session could boast of SI Councils and 2,112 mem- bers. Expressive of a Christian sentiment, the State Councilor was led to say : " Surely the Supreme Grand Councilor above has seen fit to bless us in our work." It might be proper to state that one reason of the great advance was the premium paid by the Na- tional Council for the organization of new Councils. " Providence always helps those who help themselves." The proposed amendments to the code of laws laid over from the special sessnon were taken up and considered, many changes being made: (1) Each Council required to elect but one Eepresen- tative to the State Council, to hold his office for two years. (2) Councils required to report to the State Council Secretary semi- annually. (3) The State Council to pay Officers and Eepresenta- tives mileage at the rate of six cents one way and $3 per day for two days. (4) A Council with a membership of over 200 to elect two Representatives for two years. For State Councilor, E. E. Hungerford was elected; State Vice-Councilor, J. A. Saulters; State Council Secretary, J. P. Branin; State Council Treasurer, D. J. Smith. Brother J. A. Zimmerman was elected National Eepresentative. canton, 1890 Canton opened its hospitable doors to the State Body, May 13, J 890, State Councilor Hungerford presiding. State Council Secre- tary Branin having been removed from his office by the Board of Officers owing to irregularities in keeping his books, Past State Councilor Geo. O. Eoberts had been elected to fill out his term. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 557 The Order during the year had increased, as stated by the State Councilor, " beyond all human prognostications." From a membership of 2,112 and 37 Councils, the Order in the state had reached its one hundredth Council, by the institution of No. 100 a few days previous to the session, and 6,041 members were found on the rolls of the Subordinate Councils. In 1887 there were 7 Councils and 407 members; and in comparison with the report of 3890 the great progress made stands more marked. The Ohio brethren were sound on the temperance question, a resolution having been adopted forbidding the selling of intoxi- cants, or cause it to be sold, at any picnic or entertainment held by any Council under forfeiture of its charter. The following recommendations to be submitted to the Na- tional Council were adopted : 1. To strike out the word "white" in article on Eligibility to Membership. 2. Change name of the Order by striking out " Junior " and " Mechanic." 3. The establishment of a code of greeting passwords, said passwords to consist of two greeting sentences with cotemporary answers. The election of officers resulted as follows: * State Councilor — John A. Saulters, State Vice-Councilor — J. G. A. Richtei, State Council Secretary — J. W. Hoagland, State Council Treasurer — W. A. Gordon. FINDLAY, 1891 Findlay, May 12, 1891, received the State Council in annual session with State Councilor Saulters presiding. Applications for charters had been granted from No. 101 to 153, five Councils, however, of that number had gone to the defunct pile. There was an approximate membership, March 31, 1891, of 10,000. The Election Board reported as follows: State Councilor — J. G. A. Richter, State Vice-Councilor — G. E. Coleman, State Council Secretary — G. E. Buchmun (on fourth ballot), State Council Treasurer — W. A. Gordon. The presence of Miss Lillian Burkhart and the reciting of her patriotic poems created much enthusiasm. A souvenir was presented her by the State Council. Miss Burkhart during those 558 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER years was much in demand at Junior meetings, and her recitations were in the line of Patriotism and on the Objects of the Order. This was the session that honored itself, and at the same time honored the great State of Ohio, in adopting the following, the greatest of all resolutions ever passed by a State Council — tbe "Original Orphans' Home Resolution": " Findlay, Ohio, May 13, 1891. " To the Officers and Members of the State Council of Ohio, Jr. 0. U. A. M. " Dear Sirs and Brothers. — " Whereas, We believe that the education and protection of the orphan children of deceased Brothers should be one of the principal objects of our Order, and that the founding and maintenance of a college where the higher branches of education shall be taught, and the principles of American Patriotism and Virtue shall prevail, be it " Resolved, That our Representatives to the National Council be instructed to present this resolution to that body and that they use their best efforts for its adoption. „ Chas Lawkence .» The author of this resolution was present at this session as a Representative of Freedom Council, No. 63, of Mansfield, in which Council the first suggestion was made. Unknown outside of his own State Council, and at present a member of another jurisdiction, yet by this one act Brother Lawrence has carved a name on material more enduring than granite or marble, that of fleshly hearts of the brotherhood that supports and maintains the Orphans' Home. Therefore very befitting was the act of the State Council of Ohio in having placed upon the wall of the reception room of the first cottage erected a life-size portrait of Brother Lawrence. In a plate in another place in this volume can be seen the portrait along with that of Brother J. H. Zimmerman, the " father of the Home." A sketch and a cut also have found a place in the section " Who is Who in the Order." COLUMBUS, 1892 The Capital City of the state entertained the State Council May 10-12, 1892, with Brother J. G. A. Richter, State Councilor, presiding. The administration of State Councilor Richter was one of unparalleled success, showing the greatest increase in Councils chartered and members enrolled ever known in the history of the Order in Ohio, either previous to that time or subsequent. Like an ocean tide, patriotism and Junior sentiment swept out over the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 559 state reaching city, town and hamlet alike, throwing its benign influence upon the people of the Commonwealth and awakening in the public mind the fact that the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was " here to stay/' The attendance at the session was large and the volume of business transacted, as compared with the annual sessions for two decades, was on a parallel with Ohio's marvelous growth, and right royally did " our John " preside over the State Body. As per resolution adopted at the previous session, that no officer or Eepresentative should receive his per diem for the day unless present, the State Council Secretary kept and published in the proceedings the exact attendance each day of each Represen- tative and officer of the body, 254 answering to roll-call. The story of the year, as told by Brother Eichter, was inspir- ing He referred to the wonderful change of sentiment awakened by the " flag movement " and the public demonstrations under the direction of the Order. When Brother Eichter assumed charge one year previous, there were 153 Councils located in 35 counties of the state. During the year, 125 new Councils were planted and 18 more counties of the state had been entered by the advancing hosts. The campaign in disseminating information as to the purpose and principles of the organization was carried on from the office of the State Councilor, 50,000 circulars having been sent forth on their mission of imparting Junior education, while hundreds of personal letters were sent to places where the Order had no existence. The State Councilor was ably assisted by his associates in office and Deputy State Councilors, to whom he gave much of the credit for the growth of the Order. The office work of the State Councilor was enormous; besides that enumerated above, more than 4.000 letters were written in answers to inquiries on almost every phase of the organization and its laws. Pursuant to the action of previous session, the proceedings, formerly kept in journal form, were ordered to be printed in pamphlet form, the first to be published being the minutes of the session of 1891, which were distributed at the session of 1892. The earlier records of the State Council were, at this time, lost, but on recommendation of State Councilor Eichter, a coiumittee was appointed to make search for same, and, happily, the old record book was found, and to Brother Eichter the Order in Ohio is in- debted for the preservation of the records. The writer was granted the privilege of examining same in the preparation of the synopsis for this chapter. 560 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The State Council Secretary, Brother Bliss, having been but a short time in charge of the office, was unable to give a full report, he having found the affairs connected with the business of the State Council in bad shape. Deducting the Councils not reporting or defunct, the report of the number of Councils and membership was given as follows: Number of Councils 252 Number of Members (gain 5,567 ) 15,567 Worth of Councils $64,758.32 The following resolution was certainly merited, but the attitude of the State Councilor indicates a type of manhood not usually found in any organization: " Recognizing the efficiency of our State Councilor, Brother J . G. A. Richter, and his untiring energy and devotion to our noble Order, we feel it but just that this State Council donate to our worthy brother $200 in slight recognition of the services rendered." A motion to accept was made, when Brother Eichter spoke as follows : " Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for this compliment. When I was elected to this office, it was with the understanding that I would receive no pay for my services. I have simply tried to do my duty, and shall most respectfully decline any compensation for same and earnestly request that the resolution be defeated." A motion to strike out " $200 " and insert " a State Councilor's emblem" was adopted. Following this, a resolution was adopted unanimously instructing the Representatives to the National Coun- cil to present the name of Brother Eichter as a candidate for Na- tional Vice-Councilor. A resolution was also adopted instructing the National Representatives to use all honorable means to have the Daughters of America made the auxiliary to the Jr. O. TJ. A. M. In the closing remarks of Brother Richter, he made a most remarkable statement. That at this session with their 253 Councils in the state, Toledo, on the north and Cincinnati in the south, did not have a single Council. Subsequent history has shown, how- ever, the latter city to be a power in Juniorism. The session closed with the following officers elected and in- stalled for the ensuing year: State Councilor — Geo. E. Coleman (237 votes), State Vice-Councilor — L. V. Stone (107 votes on third ballot), State Council Secretary — J. A. Bliss (109 votes on second ballot), State Council Treasurer — W. A. Gordon (237 votes). UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 561 YOUNGSTOWN, 1893 The Twenty-first Annual Session of the State Council ("li- vened in the City of Youngstown, May 9, 1893, State Councilor Coleman presiding. During the year a Council each in Toledo and Cincinnati had been instituted, which cities a year previous had no organization. Forty-one new Councils had been chartered and 11 rechartered, while 17 were dissolved. A resolution was offered requesting the National Council to so amend the laws on Eligibility to Membership that any " foreign- born white citizen " who comes to this country under the age of 14 years might become a member of the Order ; and any one coming between the ages of 16 and 40 years and has been a resident 16 years can become a member of the Jr. O TJ. A. M. The State Coun- cilor, however, declared the resolution out of order. A peculiar resolution was submitted, but it was not ap- proved by the Committee on Resolutions, asking for the election of three State Vice-Councilors, one from each of the three districts of the state, and the one bringing in the best record for the year to be elected the State Councilor for the ensuing year. The Election Board reported the following to have been elected to the four principal offices: State Councilor — L. V. Stone, State Vice-Councilor — Dr. L. H. Wenner, State Council Secretary — J. A. Bliss, State Council Treasurer — W. A. Gordon. Number of Councils Dec. 31, 1892 285 Number of Members. Dec. 31, 1892 18,393 HAMILTON, 1894 State Councilor Stone presided at the Twenty-second Annual Session of the State Council, held May 8-10, 1894, at Hamilton. Progress was not so marked as in previous years, in fact a loss occurred, but it was not due to the indifference of the officers of the State Body or inefficiency, but owing to the great financial depression that was at that time sweeping over the entire nation, throwing thousands of men out of employment, thereby depleting the Councils of members who were unable to meet their dues, and in many ways retarding the advance of the Order. While 24 new Councils had been instituted, 42 went out of existence, leaving 268 in the state, December 31, 1893, and a membership of 16,992, a loss of 1,401. A later report by Counties and Districts dated March 31, 1894, showed still greater decrease, so great was the 36 562 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER financial stress in Ohio, leaving but 241 Councils that had reported and 29 that had failed to submit their report, while 41 were marked defunct; and at the same time the membership had been reduced to 15,650. These figures did not include the estimated membership of the Councils not reporting which would have materially increased the number of members, which shows how carefully State Council Secretary Bliss compounded his report as to actual conditions. Another great cause of loss, common with all states, was the haste and lack of care in the organization of Councils during the " boom " — many of them scarcely surviving a year after their institution, while others were wrongly manned and controlled by inefficient leaders. Another cause, especially true of Ohio, for the retrograde movement, was the opposition of the Soman Catholic Church and the fear of "boycott" on the part of Americans. Still another cause, so common, was the reckless disregard in the selection of members, very often selected without regard to moral character or influence, who proved recreant to their obligation by voting and working with the enemies of American institutions, thereby dis- gusting loyal Americans which drove or kept them out of the Order. As to some of the causes that retarded the Order in Ohio, Brother Bliss fully presented them in his report. State Councilor Stone was a staunch friend of the Orphans' Home project and delivered himself thusly : " There is now before the Order probably the grandest and most gigantic movement in our history, a movement that should interest every member, especially those in Ohio; I refer to the proposed establishing of a home where the orphans of deceased members may be assembled and reared and so educated as to make upright citizens. . . . Bro. J. H. Zimmerman of Plain City, Ohio, who already holds the honor of being the leader in this grand movement, and is secretary of the committee, informs me that much aid has been given. . . . The idea of establishing the proposed home was considered in this State Council, and Bro. Zimmer- man, as the Representative of this State Council, has untiringly and unceasingly pushed the movement until it has arrived at the point where the Order must come to his aid, not only to support him in the work, but to maintain our honor, as the originator and instigator of this noble movement." The Election Board reported as follows: State Councilor — Dr. H. L. Wenner (unanimous; 224 votes), State Vice-Councilor — D. F. Anderson, State Council Secretary — J. A. Bliss, State Council Treasurer — W. A. Gordon. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 56.-? MANSFIELD, 1895 The Twenty-third Annual Session of the State Body was held at Mansfield, May 14, 1895, State Councilor Dr. H. L. Wermer presiding. A hard and depressing year had confronted Dr. Wenner in his great efforts to carry forward the cause of Juniorism in the state. Though the " dark clouds of adversity hung heavy and low/' yet to the eye of faith and with a heart all aglow with hope, Dr. Wenner could add that " already great rifts are seen through the brightness of the coming glory that shines with all the longed- for splendor." However, 18 new Councils were planted during the year. State Councilor Wenner, who, from the inception as well as all through the history of the National Orphans' Home, has been its ablest defender, warmest supporter and most enthusiastic advo- cate, in a ringing appeal sent forth to the Councils of the state, brought the subject of the Home close to the hearts of the members of the Order, pleading for 50 cents per capita as per call of the Na- tional Councilor. Dr. Wenner especially impressed upon the mem- bers of his state the necessity of offering every inducement to secure the location of the Home within the confines of Ohio, and to that end suggested an additional per capita of $1 per member to be contributed. Closing his strong appeal that sent a thrill of inspir- ation throughout the Order in his state, Dr. Wenner says : " Brothers of Ohio, posterity will record our negligence or resound with your praises. Which shall it be? Let a mighty patriotic shout go up from the 20,000 in Ohio that shall echo to the oceans: America, Ohio and our Order forever." Ohio's part in making the Orphans' Home a possibility, her offerings as a whole, and the princely gift of Young America Coun- cil, No. 136, under Dr. Wenner's superb leadership, has been told in another place. Of the 16 recommendations of Dr. Wenner, three are worthy of note: 3. "That the Orphans' Home, no matter where located (italics ours) be given moral and financial support in every Council in the state, and that Ohio's Representatives to the National Council be instructed to use all honorable means to secure the location of the Home at Tiffin. 5. " That the members of the Order in Ohio, through their Repre- sentatives, pledge an additional 50 cents, or $1.00 per member on the 50 cent call of the National Councilor to assist Tiffin in locating the Home in 564 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Ohio. Such is being done now by Carlisle, Pa., and something must be done immediately. 8. " That the Sunday preceding or succeeding July 4, of each year be known and observed by Ohio's Councils as Patriotic Sunday, and sermons or lectures on patriotism and kindred subjects be listened to that day." The above recommendations were approved by the Committee and concurred in by the State Council, with the exception of No. 5, which provoked quite an animated discussion, and, on motion, the approval of the Committee was denied. The long list of defunct and consolidated Councils as well as those not reporting, showed that Ohio had learned the bitter lesson of allowing Councils to be organized for " revenue only," when the premium was $35. At this date 61 Councils out of 331 stood defunct. The Committee into whose hands the State Councilor's report was placed for consideration, as was the custom with all officers' reports, recommended that Brother J. H. Zimmerman be elected National Representative by acclamation, as a tribute of respect for his arduous labors in the interest of the Orphans' Home. The State Councilor, however, ruled the recommendation out of order, as the law required that all officers shall be elected by ballot. In lieu of the recommendation, however, a rising vote of thanks was tendered Brother Zimmerman, with three cheers and a tiger. In the election of officers the total vote was 218, resulting as follows : State Councilor — Dr. H. L. Wenner (reelected), State Vice-Councilor — Dr. L. A. Perce. Number of Councils Dec. 31, 1894 261 Number of Members, Dec. 31, 1894 14,264 By a dispensation granted by National Councilor Richter, the State Council Secretary was elected at this session for five years, the law relative thereto to be amended at the next session. On motion, the clerk of the Election Board cast the vote of the State Council for J. A. Bliss for State Council Secretary, W. A. Gordon State Council Treasurer and J. H. Zimmerman to be National Representative. The following amendment to the Subordinate Council Con- stitution precipitated a very lively debate; was laid on the table, reconsidered, a motion again to lay on the table was made, but Mas lost and finally was adopted by a vote of 124 to 69 : " Section 3. No member shall be installed into the office of Councilor or Vice Councilor who cannot give the ritualistic work of the office to which he has been elected and the unwritten work of the Order." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 565 In glancing over the list of Representatives in attendance at this session, we note the names of some who have served the Order with distinction: Dr. Wenner, Dr. Perce, J. H. Zimmerman, C. E. Tinkler, D. F. Anderson, L. V. Stone, J. A. Bliss and W. A. Gor- don for sometime had been " in the harness " ; but two new brothers appeared on the scene at this session who are known throughout the national jurisdiction, honored and respected, Hon. Smith W. Bennett and D. B. McDonald, the former at present (1907) Chief Counsel for the National Council and the latter brother a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home and its President. CHAPTER XXXII PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued; ohio — (Concluded) STATE Councilor Dr. H. L. Wenner called the State Council to order at its Twenty-fourth Annual Session, held at Spring- field, September 8, 1896. A large number of new Representatives were obligated and for the first time admitted to the State Council. To Dr. Wenner belongs the distinguished honor of being the only State Councilor to serve the State of Ohio twice in succession. His zeal and devotion to the principles of the Order has placed him in the front rank of Ohio's Juniors. This was the " long year/' the revised laws having changed the time of the meeting of the State Council from May to September, thereby making this official year 16 months. The " hard times " had " weeded out " of the Order much that was indifferent, and while it left the organization in the state not so strong numerically, in standing and in the staunch and stable quality of its membership, it never stood higher. It is a striking coincidence that the fortunes of the National Orphans' Home were shaped under the administration of two Ohio brothers ; first in the creation of the Home under Brother J. G. A. Richter as National Councilor, and secondly, the location of the institution at Tiffin, Ohio, under the administration of Dr. H. L. Wenner as State Councilor. It was during Dr. Wenner's second year that the location of the Home was determined, the corner- stone of the first cottage laid and the election of an Ohio brother, J. H. Zimmerman, as Superintendent, who received the first orphans in the original farm house. To Dr. Wenner, more than to any other, belongs the credit of securing the location of the Home with- in the boundaries of Ohio and contiguous to his own home city. The munificent proposition submitted to the Committee on Or- phans' Home at Pittsburg, in February, 1S9 5, by Dr. Wenner, in behalf of Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin, overshadowed all other propositions submitted, hence it was with but little diffi- culty that the Committee decided on Tiffin, Ohio, as having offered the greatest inducement as well as most desirable location for the National Orphans Home. A further pledge was made to the Orphans' Home Committee, as stated elsewhere by Dr. Wenner, that Ohio was good for one 566 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 567 dollar per capita in addition to Young America's princely offering, provided the Home was located at Tiffin. Relative to the location of the Home, the Committee on Orphans' Home in their report to the National Council at Denver, in 1896, made the following state- ment, already quoted under the proper head : " This niagniiicent location of farm is given to the Order abso- lutely free. It don't cost us a single penny, but it does cost Young America Council, No. 136, of Tiffin, Ohio, the sum of twenty-nine thou- sand, five hundred dollars, spot cash; and then the Council deeds it over to us for, and in consideration that we take it. What an enormous dona- tion this for a single Council and a Council that is not yet five years old." Certainly it must be to Dr. Wenner a pleasing thought, that during his terms as State Councilor of Ohio, that the greatest and noblest achievement of the Order was consummated — a work that will live on when the Doctor shall have passed in through the Eter- nal Gates. Pursuant to the pledge of Ohio to pay one dollar per capita towards the Home, providing it was located in the state, a tabulated report was submitted by the State Councilor showing the number of members of each Council and the amount paid and the amount still due, as per proposition submitted at the Omaha session of the National Council in 1895. The Order in the state was still in the throes of " hard times," hence the 16 months had seen many Councils surrender their char- ters, 62 having yielded to the pressure since the last session of the State Body, entailing a loss alone of 1,407 members. However, 42 new Councils had been instituted and several reorganized, and there was an upward tide running. A new feature had been introduced into the State Council, by the enactment of a law at the previous session, requiring Sub- ordinate Councils to file with the State Council Secretary a list of all members expelled, suspended and reinstated ; also a list of appli- cants rejected and the cause of the rejection, which was sent out when the cipher pass was forwarded to the Council Secretaries. This feature, on the very face, commends itself to every State Council, and indicates that Ohio is progressive in more ways than one. In glancing over the list of rejected applicants, it is inter- esting to note the causes or reasons for rejection of same : " Con- duct," " Character," " Wearing Jr. 0. U. A. M. pin for political purpose," "Bad character," Drunkenness," "All around tough," " General principles," were some of the reasons stated. 568 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The following officers were elected : State Councilor — Dr. L. A. Perce, State Vice-Councilor — C. E. Tinkler, State Council Treasurer — W. A. Gordon. Number of Councils, December 31, 1895 237 Number of Members, December 31. IS!!.") 14,089 NORWALK, 1897 The Quarto-Centennial Annual Session of the State Council was held at Norwalk, September 14-16, 1897, with State Councilor Dr. L. A. Perce in the Chair. Among other things submitted by the State Councilor was the report of the amount paid by the Councils towards meeting their pledge for the Orphans' Home, which aggregated $6,590.62. This being the Twenty-fifth Annual Session of the State Body, a resume of the standing of the Order in the state is not out of place, taking the figures from the State Council Secretary's report: Number of Councils, December 31, 1896 216 Number of Members, December 31, 1896 13,534 Receipts of Subordinate Councils $97,576.00 Paid for Relief 30,332.00 Worth of Councils 101,479.00 Receipts of State Council $7,434.23 Expenses of State Council 6,097.58 Two most excellent members of the State Body died during the year, Past State Councilor Coleman and Geo. B. Donaldson, Chairman of the State Legislative Committee. In the election of officers the following were named: State Councilor — C. E. Tinkler, State Vice-Councilor— Dr. S. O. Giffin, State Council Treasurer — W. A. Gordon. MARION, 1898 Marion, the place, September 13, 1898, the date of the con- vening of the State Body, in annual session the twenty-sixth, State Councilor Tinkler presiding. The Credential Committee found entitled to admission to the State Council 205 Eepresentatives, 167 Deputy State Councilors, 6 Past State Councilors, and all mem- bers of the committees as well as officers of the body. John J. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 569 Weitzel, one of Ohio's conspicuous members, was a Representative at this session. Twelve new Councils had been instituted and six reorganized. Death again entered the State Council, this time removing the State Council Treasurer, W. A. Gordon, a most efficient officer and worthy brother. By action of the Board of Officers, Dr. Wenner was elected to fill the position until the meet- ing of the State Council. The following officers were elected: State Councilor— Dr. S. O. Giffin, State Vice-Councilor — F. A. Hartenstein, State Council Treasurer — Brent Cahill. Number of Council.-. December .'!L, L897 214 Number of Members, December 31, 1897 13,571 Estimated Membership, June 30. 1898 1 1,229 Grain for year ending June 30, 1898 656 COLUMBUS, 1899 The Twenty-seventh Annual Session of the State Council con- vened at Columbus, September 12, 1899, State Councilor Giffin pre- siding. Six new Councils were instituted and three reorganized during the year. Major Ryan had been employed as lecturer, and his words and presence accomplished much good in stimulating the weak Councils and arousing a strong patriotic sentiment through- out the state. The organizing work, proper, had been placed in the hands of the Deputy State Councilors, $30 being paid as premium. One commendable recommendation of the State Councilor was approved by the State Body. " That a sufficient amount be appropriated to pay for a suitable photograph of Brother Charles Lawrence, of Mansfield, to be framed and placed in the first cottage, in honor to him as the originator of the Orphans' Home." State Council Secretary Bliss reported 201 Councils in good standing and 14,855 members, a gain of 626 over previous report. At the session of the State Council of 1897, a resolution was adopted awarding a prize banner to the Council, showing the great- est per cent, gain in membership during the year. This year Liberty Council, No. 70, won the prize by showing a gain of 138 per cent. Two other Councils made 107 and 100 per cent, respec- tively. The Council having the largest membership was Cincin- natus Council, No. 82, at Cincinnati, numbering 551. 570 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The officers elected were as follows: State Councilor — F. A. Hartenstein, State Vice-Councilor — C. M. Davis, State Council Treasurer — Brent Cahill. Number of Councils, December 31, 1898 198 Number of Members, December 31, 1898 1.3,977 Estimated Membership, June 30, 1899 14.855 ( lain for year ending June 30, 1899 626 CINCINNATI, 1900 The opening century fonnd the State Council of Ohio in ses- sion at the Metropolis City of the state, September 11 and 12, 1900, presided over by State Councilor Hartenstein. Jesse Taylor, " the Terrible," was admitted at this session a member of the State Body. Two commendable features had been incorporated in the re- port of the State Councilor, viz. : 1. The inauguration of " Eally Day," a day set apart by official proclamation, for the members of the Order to visit the Orphans' Home in order to become more familiar with its workings and management. 2. An Inspection Report, furnished by the Deputy State Councilors, to be turned over to the succeeding State Councilor, which report gave useful infor- mation where new Councils might be instituted and special work might be advantageous, and gave the names of representative citi- zens with whom to communicate relative to future work. This feature must have been of invaluable assistance to the incoming State Councilors. Of the many resolutions adopted, the following are noted : 1. To save expenses of a lobby at Washington, etc. Cincin- natus Council believed that the better way to accomplish the pur- poses of the organization was to initiate into the Order all Con- gressmen and Members of the Senate who are eligible. 2. That all Past State Councilors, entitled to vote, be in- structed to attend all sessions of the National Council at the expense of the State Council. The officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : State Councilor — C. M. Davis, State Vice-Councilor— G. W. Hirst, State Council Secretary — J. G. A. Richter (five years). State Council Treasurer — Dr. H. L. Wenner. Number of Councils, December 31, 1899 193 Number of Members, December 31, 1899 14,588 Estimated Membership, June 30, 1900 15,798 Gain for vear ending June 30, 1900 943 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 571 Brother J. A. Bliss, who so efficiently served the State Council as its Secretary, declined renomination, hence the election of Brother Richter, who, at the present (1907) still swings the pen as the State Council " Scribe." EAST LIVERPOOL, 1901 East Liverpool entertained the State Council in annual ses- sion September 10 and 11, 1901, with State Councilor Davis pre- siding. Death again invaded the ranks of the State Body, taking as his prey, State Vice-Councilor Q. W. Hirst, May 22, 1901. In his stead, Reinhard Schwald was appointed by the Board of Officers. The Order, as per report of December 31, 1900, showed a con- tinued increase of members, there being 15,381, a gain of 1,31? and 4 Councils. To this was added an estimated membership June 30, 1901, of 16,932, a gain since January 1, 1901, of 997. The following resolutions, in substance, were passed : (1) Relative to the attempted assassination of President Mc- Kinley, and memorializing Congress to pass more stringent immi- gration laws. (2) Expressing to Mrs. McKinley the condolence of the State Body on the dastard attempt on the life of the President. (3) Condemning caucus or " ring rule " in the National Coun- cil and instructing the National Representatives and requesting the Past National and Past State Councilors to stand " solidly for economy and against all favoritism or personal preference, having in view only the good of the Order regardless of any would-be-boss or dictator." The State Council Secretary, on motion, cast the vote for the following officers : State Councilor — Reinhard Schwald, State Vice-Councilor — E. W. Funk, State Council Treasurer — Dr. H. L. Wenner. URBANA, 1902 In Thirtieth Annual Session, the State Council convened at Urbana, September 9, 1902, with State Councilor Schwald in the Chair. The standing of the Order June 30, 1902. was as follows: Number of Councils 217 Number of Members 19,025 Gain over previous year 2,093 Councils instituted during the year 26 572 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER A bill had been introduced into the Ohio Legislature known as the " Ohio Penitentiary Chaplain's Bill,'' providing, among other employes, " a Roman Catholic Chaplain, appointed by the Bishop of the Columbus Diocese at a salary of $50 per month." The Junior Legislative Committee fought the bill and it was defeated. The Election Board reported the following officers elected : State Councilor — E. W. Funk, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. O. Eoberts., State Council Treasurer — Dr. H. L. Wenner. The Ohio brethren were sound on the question of conduct unbecoming a Eepresentative. One of the Eepresentatives became intoxicated and thereby brought odium on the Order. By a vote of the State Council, the guilty member was brought up before the body and reprimanded by the State Councilor. tiffin, 1903 Tiffin, in September of the year of 1903, opened its hospitable doors to the State Council, in annual session the thirty-first, with State Councilor Funk presiding. Dr. Wenner had charge of the preliminary exercises and introduced Mayor Leister, a Junior, who, in his official capacity extended the courtesies of the City of Tiffin to the members of the State Body. Brother Jesse Taylor eloquently responded in behalf of the State Council. The report of the State Council Secretary was very cheering, showing continued increase in both Councils and members, there being on June 30, 1903, a gain of 23 Councils and 2,616 members, 33 Councils having been instituted, while the total membership had reached 21,801. A pleasing interruption took place during the session, a recess having been declared, whereupon Brother Kernan, Superintendent of the Home, accompanied by 26 children of the Institution, 10 boys and 16 girls, were admitted to the hall and the children en- tertained the members of the State Body with drill exercises. A " Silver Shower " in the interest of the Home followed, amount- ing to five hundred and ninety-six dollars and four cents. The Ohio brethren never do things half-heartedly when it comes to caring for the orphans in our National Orphans' Home. The Daughters of America held their State session at the same time and place, whereupon Dr. Wenner moved that three of the (f homeliest men" in the State Council be appointed to convey UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 573 the greetings of the body to the State Body of the Daughters of America. It goes without saying, that Dr. Wenner (a very hand- some man) was made Chairman of the Committee. Brothers Wolf and Woolenhaupt were the other two. The election of officers resulted in the following being selected : State Councilor — Geo. O. Roberts, State Vice-Councilor — Jesse Taylor, State Council Treasurer — Dr. H. L. Wenner. CLEVELAND, 1904 The Thirty-second Annual Session of the State Council was held in the City of Cleveland, Septemher 13 and 14, 1904, with State Councilor Roberts in the Chair. According to the State Council Secretary's report, the Order was sweeping forward with great strides, making large gains throughout the state. The total number of Councils reported was 249 ; members, 22,706 ; a gain of 14 Councils and 2,497 members. The Ohio brethren were not at first very favorably disposed towards the two new features of the organization, incorporated by act of the National Council, viz. : The National Funeral Benefit Department and the Beneficiary Degree, both recognized as integral parts of the Order, as much so as the National Orphans' Home ; and while they differed with the majority of the National Council on the question, it is presumed that they differed honestly. From the resolutions adopted at this session, there seemed to have been two principal reasons for their attitude on the matter in not accepting the new features of the Order: (1) That the beneficial features in- corporated in the objects of the organization might detract from the patriotic purposes of the Order and interfere with the promulgation of its sublime principles. (2) That the incorporation of the Funeral Benefit Department and the Insurance Branch, as part of the Objects of the Order, might effect the constitutionality of the amendment, thereby causing more litigation and entailing greater expense on the organization. In expressing the above named reasons, a resolution was adopted deploring the tendency of the National Council to convert the Order into an Insurance Society, thereby causing the expendi- ture of money that should be used to "further the fundamental principles " of the Order ; and while offering their undying loyalty to the principles of the organization, such as the restriction of im- migration, suppression of the tendency of the union of Church and 574 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER State and the protection of the Public School System, it was re- solved that the National Representatives be instructed to carry into practical effect the sense of the resolution, not to be understood as opposing the Objects of the Order as amended by the National body, but simply that the insurance feature should be entirely sub- ordinate to the more important patriotic, political principles of the Order. Impressed with such views as these, it is not strange that the State Council of Ohio refused to concur in the amendment adopted by the National Council at St. Louis, in June of same year, chang- ing the Objects of the Order to the form in which they now are, the yeas being 3 while the nays were 195. In voting on the amendment to the National Constitution, pro- viding for Biennial sessions of the National Council instead of Annual, the Ohio brethren were not in favor of the change, there being but 15 yeas to 225 nays. The section of the National Constitution amended at St. Louis providing for the conferring of the honors of Past State Councilor upon State Council Secretaries and State Council Treasurers who shall have served ten consecutive years, was adopted by a vote of yeas 150 and nays 6. A resolution with the following title was adopted, viz. : " Re- affirming our allegiance to the primary objects of the Junior 0. IT. A. M., and setting forth a certain hour in discussing the same in the National Council." The purpose of this resolution was certainly meritorious; to spend a portion of the time of each session of the State Council in discussing the practical subjects along which the Order teaches, such as Restricted Immigration, the Public School System, the Bible in the Public Schools, the National Orphans' Home, is certainly commendable, not only in sessions of the State Councils, but in the meetings of the Subordinate Councils as well, and the purport of the resolution suggested this wider scope and the National Council was requested, through the Representatives of the State Council of Ohio, that said resolution be promulgated. In obedience to their own resolution, the State Council set apart a period of time before the adjournment for discussion of some phase of Junior work, and State Councilor Jesse Taylor and State Vice-Councilor Miller were designated to present the patriotic feature of the Order; but Brother Miller gave his time to Brother Taylor who stirred the members by an address on the motto of the Order, Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 575 State Council officers were elected as follows : State Councilor — Jesse Taylor, State Vice-Councilor — Rev. Jas. G. Miller, State Council Treasurer — Dr. H. L. Wenner. all unanimously elected. DAYTON, 1905 In Thirty-third Annual Session, the State Council convened at the city of Dayton, September 12, 1905, with State Councilor Jesse Taylor presiding. Hon. Chas. A. Snyder, Mayor of the city, was introduced by Brother John B. Williams of the local commit- tee who extended the hospitalities of Dayton to the State Council, to which a suitable response was made by Hon. R. A. Pollock. Deputy State Councilor, in behalf of the State Body. The campaign during the year had been a very busy one on the part of the State officers, especially of the State Councilor whose; "rapid-fire " administration was unique as well as strenuous, which gave him the cognomen " Taylor the Terrible." He did not sparo " printer's ink," but sent abroad among the Councils again and again stirring appeals to duty, arousing much enthusiasm among the members. He was ably seconded by the State Vice-Councilor, who gave much time to visitations, and even the State Council Sec- retary, Brother Eichter, showed himself a model Secretary by visit- ing many Councils in his official capacity, infusing new life into the weaker Councils and arousing patriotic sentiment among the mem- bers. As the result of a year's hard work, 40 Councils were char- tered and the membership increased. State Councilor Taylor spoke with no uncertain voice on the immigration question. With his ear to the ground, he heard thp tramp, tramp, tramp of Europe's million a year, like the Goths and Vandals of old, sweeping over the fair land of Columbia ; and to arouse sentiment on the great issue, he appealed to the Order to most vigorously present a solid phalanx against the gigantic invas- ion of the twentieth century. Under the inspiration of such a campaign, it is not a matter of wonder, that all afire with the sub- ject, State Councilor Taylor and the Eepresentatives of Ohio, went to the Nashville National session and were able to secure an appro- priation of $5,000 to assist the National Legislative Committee for an aggressive campaign at Washington of which Committee Brother Taylor was Secretary. 576 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The State Council proceedings were pleasingly interrupted by the presence of the Orphans' Home Drum Band and the " Jimtown rooters/' whoever they were, whereupon a recess was declared by the State Councilor and the visitors were admitted to the chamber. The Drum Corps entertained the State Council with several patri- otic selections, following which a " Silver Shower " was ordered by the indefatigable State Councilor, and the result of the offering was forty-six pounds of silver coin, gathered from the floor. It must not be supposed that all these pounds of silver came out of the pockets of the members present, liberal as they always were towards the Orphans' Home, but it was a prearranged plan suggested by the State Councilor in a letter to the Councils in June preceding, asking that at the first meeting of each Council in September, a donation be taken up and the amount be placed in a bag and sent to the State Council through the Representative to be given in the proposed " Silver Shower." The total amount contributed for the use of the Home in the " Shower " was fifteen hundred and sixty- six dollars and twenty-five cents. Magnanimous ! On a par with what Ohio always did for the Home. All of the Eecommendations submitted by the State Councilor were approved, one of which was highly commendable, the fixing of the salary of the State Council Secretary at $1,200. The State Council Secretary submitted his report bearing date of June 30, 1905, which showed a splendid increase, there being at that date 273 Councils and 25,544 members, a gain over the report of year previous of 23 Councils and 2,855 members. Resolutions were adopted, which in substance, were as follows : 1. "Relating to the Restriction of Immigration." 2. " Better System of Revenue for Maintenance of the National Orphans' Home," which was as follows: " Resolved, That we instruct our Representatives to the National Body, to use their best endeavors in securing appropriate legislation, looking to a better system of revenue, and a more equal distribution thereof, resulting in an amount sufficient to support our orphans more comfortably, and increase their opportunities for development, and our zeal, for the permanency of this institution of practical patriotism." 3. " Relative to the Teaching of Modern Foreign Languages in Public Schools." 4. "Relative to the National Funeral Department." It is with a sense of personal gratification that the writer in- serts in its entirety the following resolution, which shows how loyal Ohio is to this important feature of the Order: UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 577 " RESOLUTION " Be it Resolved, by the State Council of Ohio, Jr. O. U. A. M., " That, whereas, the National Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., at its recent session held in the City of Nashville, Tenn., by resolution duly adopted, extended the time within which the Subordinate Councils could be admitted to the National Council Funeral Benefit Department, to October 1, 1905, without working any discrimination against members thereof on account of their existing age limit or other disqualification, and " Whereas, quite a number of Subordinate Councils within the State of Ohio have not entered said Funeral Benefit Department, but carry their membership in other Funeral Benefit Associations. " Now, therefore, we here express as the sense of this State Council, that all such Subordinate Councils should accept the liberal terms of the Funeral Benefit Department of the National Council and should ally themselves, at their earliest opportunity, with such Funeral Benefit Department. „ F A H artenstine, No. 51, " Approved : " Jas. G. Miller, No. 127, " J. A. Boss, " Brent Cahiix, No. 342, "S. W. Bennett, " D. J. T. Johnson, No. 24. " John J. Weitzel, " Committee on Good of the Order. The Election Board announced the result of the ballot for officers for the ensuing year as follows : State Councilor — Rev. Jas. G. Miller, State Vice-Councilor — John J. Weitzel, State Council Secretary — J. G. A. Richter ( five years ) , State Council Treasurer — Dr. H. L. Wenner. CANTON, 1906 The home city of the State Council Secretary entertained the Thirty-fourth Annual Session of the State Council, held at Canton, September 11 and 12, 1906, with Eev. Jas. G. Miller, State Coun- cilor, presiding. The session was largely attended; interest, har- mony and good will prevailing; while the gavel in the hands of Brother Miller was wielded with a masterhand. Superintendent Kernan, of the Orphans' Home, and Editor " Zip " Smith, of The American, were interested visitors at the session, and during the meeting addressed the State Body. The feature of the first day's session was the presence of 16 girls from the Home who enlivened the proceedings with patriotic songs and recitations arousing the usual enthusiasm, which brought the " Silver Shower," cast upon the folds of the American flag, the same amounting to $315.82 in cash, $88.25 in pledges and $1-12.50 subsequently paid over to the State Council Secretary, or 3 total of $546.57. 37 578 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Notwithstanding his professional duties as pastor of a con- gregation, State Councilor Miller was a faithful officer of his State Council and gave a year of conscientious and arduous work, which was made manifest by the large increase that crowned his adminis- tration. A no small part of his work was the appointment of hun- dreds of Deputies to look after the Councils in the state. Besides the regular Deputy State Councilors, Brother Miller appointed a large number of Special Deputy State Councilors for special duties. In his visitations he addressed many public meetings, thereby bring- ing before the public in a forceful manner the doctrines of the Order. He was aided in his work of a public character by both the State Vice-Councilor and State Council Secretary, who came in touch with the organization by their presence to inspire and enthuse. In closing a most excellent report, the State Councilor had this to say concerning a most faithful servant of the Order: " One name I may mention, and this report would be unjust without it. In all my associations with men, and especially among Juniors, I have never found one who was more true or unselfish, nor whose fellow- ship and gentlemanly courtesy I have appreciated more than one whom you already know so well, and love so truly. I refer to the best State Secretary of the best State Council of the best Order in the world, John G. A. Richter. His efficiency is best appreciated by those who have had closest association with him. Any body ought to succeed as State Coun- cilor, if he can have Bro. Richter for State Secretary." REPORT OF STATE COUNCIL SECRETARY In a complete and exhaustive resume, Brother Richter gave the standing of the Order in the state in such a methodical and business-like way, that if space permitted we would like to insert it ; but only a synopsis of same can be given : Number of Councils, December 31, 1904 248 Number of Councils chartered 41 Number of Councils reinstated 1 Number of Councils dissolved 5 Number of Councils consolidated 1 Total number of Councils, December 31, 1905 284 Number of Members, December 31, 1904. 22,760 Number of Members initiated during the' year 6,271 Number of Members admitted and reinstated .... 889 Total number of Members 29,920 Total loss in Members by Card, Suspension, etc . . 2,847 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 579 Membership, December 31, 1905 27,073 Membership, June 30, 1906 28,769 Received by Subordinate Councils $227,901.41 Paid for Relief 46,655.48 Worth of Councils 209,369.03 Receipts of State Council $20,108.30 Expenses of State Council 18,766.92 Balance in Treasury $5,382.43 The Banner Council of the state in membership was Young America Council, No. 136, at TiffiD, with 750 members on the roll. The amount of per capita tax paid the National Council was $9,354.66; per capita per member was 60 cents. The following are the officers for the ensuing year : Junior Past State Councilor — Rev. Jas. G. Miller, State Councilor — John J. Weitzel, State Vice-Councilor — H. M. Crow, State Council Secretary — J. 6. A. Richter, State Council Treasurer — Dr. H. L. Wenner, Two very interesting events took place, not ordinarily on the program of State Council meetings, that left an abiding impression upon all who were in attendance at the session, viz. : The public demonstration held in the Auditorium on the evening of the first day, under the direction of the local committee, and the silent pilgrimage of the body, accompanied by the State Council of the Daughters of America, to the tomb of the martyred President McKinley. The demonstration on Tuesday evening was a great ovation, held in honor of the two State Councils then in session in the city. One of the principal features of the entertainment was the " Human Flag," a most strikingly new production, participated in by 350 Canton girls, which aroused great enthusiasm ; patriotism was ram- pant and the vast audience was thrilled. The song sung was the "Bonnie Flag," and as the 350 voices burst forth in the strains of the song, the long streamers in the hands of the performers were held aloft and moved slowly back and forward, forming the fiag. The colors of the streamers were so held that the girls were hidden and nothing but the huge flag was visible. Other songs were sung, whereupon Brother Z. P. Smith, editor of The American, made an address on the Objects of the Order. 580 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The Silent Pilgrimage to the tomb of William McKinley was a most befitting feature to close the meeting of the State Council. Each member of the State Council was furnished with a carnation, some red and others white, the latter the favorite bloom of the dead President, and, being joined by the State Council of the Daughters of America bearing similar flowers, the procession marched to the residence of Mrs. McKinley, the Daughters of America in the lead, and, on reaching the residence, Mrs. McKinley, on the arm of an attendant, was led to a rocking chair where she received the greetings of the Orders through Brother J. A. Bliss and Representative Lackman representing the Juniors, and Mrs. Laura Faishel representing the Daughters of America. Brother Bliss, in behalf of the two Orders, in a most appropriate address, presented Mrs. McKinley with a large bouquet of American Beauty roses, which was received on her behalf by Hon. William R. Day, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Having received permission of Mrs. McKinley, the first time for any organization, the column proceeded to the tomb and were admitted to the sacred enclosure, the officer of the guard having opened the gate and the long line marched silently about the casket containing the remains of the noble patriot and each de- posited a flower thereon. Brother Smith in an article in The American tells the story so well we will let him describe it: " The tribute paid at the tomb was beautiful and impressive. As we passed through the tomb, there to deposit the carnation, which we wore, upon the casket, we saw standing at the head two non-commissioned officers of the United States Army in rigid pose; and as we passed out of the tomb, a glance to the left betrayed a sentry wearing the uniform of his country, rifle in hand, immovable as «the rock out of which the tomb itself is hollowed. Yes, there he lies, and the morning ' Reveille ' and the evening ' Taps,' are alike to him. He needs no guard, for where is the hand of an American that would disturb his quiet sleep! Thank God, it was not an American hand that struck him to mother earth — but the guard is there, a guard of honor only. He whom they guard is not there; for somewhere, beyond the stars he has put on a fuller and a better life." TIFFIN, 1907 It is historically claimed at one period that " all roads lead to Rome," the world's great Mecca. The Mecca, not only of the Junior Order of Ohio but indeed of the National jurisdiction is Tiffin, and towards that enterprising city the members of the State UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 581 Council of Ohio turned their steps to assemble in annual gathering, September 10 and 11, 1907, under the shadow of the Orders great Institution — the National Orphans' Home — to be presided over by John J. Weitzel whose intensely active and self-sacrificing adminis- tration as State Councilor was about coming to a close. A review of Brother Weitzel's administration reveals a de- parture from the usual and common routine of administrative activity, by classifying the work into three departments in harmony with the Constitution of the Order — the Executive, Legislative and Judicial — and under each department the work of the year had been systematically carried out. As the Executive officer Brother Weitzel urged the organization of new Councils and the securing of new members, still he laid great stress upon the point of the practica- bility of the one and the qualifications of the other. No Council was instituted during the year that did not have a special investi- gation by a Special Deputy State Councilor as to the effect such a Council would have upon a Council in the immediate locality, and in his appeals for increased membership he did not desire such in- crease at the cost of character but that quality not quantity should be the watch-word of the campaign. Notwithstanding this careful- ness and caution, 23 new Councils were instituted and 4,548 can- didates initiated, making a gain for the year of 2,197 members, leaving to his successor 296 Councils and 30,966 members. In a thorough and exhaustive report the State Councilor treated every phase of the Junior work and principles, thereby bringing before the State Body the wonderful scope of Junior activity. Brother Kichter, the State Council Secretary, displayed the same careful methodical system in keeping the records of the State Council and the Order in his state as characterized his work in previous years. Eeference to the statistics showed that Young America Council, No. 136, still stood at the head of the column with a membership of 853, followed by Cincinnatus Council, No. 82, with 559, and Champion Council, No. 2, with 525 members. Notwithstanding that in the establishment of the Orphans' Home, Ohio, bestowed its princely gifts of money and material, the old State has not forgotten how to contribute to the beloved Institution. One of the pleasant features of the State Councils' sessions is the " Silver Shower " in the interest of the Orphans' Home. At this session high-water mark was reached in the con- tribution to the Home by the munificent sum of one thousand five hundred and seventy-one dollars and twelve cents. 582 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The following officers were elected and installed for the ensuing year: State Councilor — Horace M. Crow, State Vice-Councilor — Frank Norwood, State Council Secretary — J. G. A. Richter (previously elected), State Council Treasurer — Dr. H. L. Wenner, State Council Conductor — S. W. Kissinger, State Council Warden — John C. Shaw, State Council Inside Sentinel — R. W. Enck, State Council Outside Sentinel — John D. Roberts, State Council Chaplain — Rev. J. A. Pantle. The story of Ohio's Juniorism has been told in the preceding pages, all too briefly, however, but lack of space and the general purpose of this history forbids a longer compilation. For years the Order confronted great obstacles, but the leaders, in the face of most discouraging circumstances, " stood by the stuff " and nobly and valiantly upheld the principles of the organization, believing thoroughly in them. The " lane however turned," and from 188?, with a few exceptional years, the Order forged ahead, until to-day Ohio stands second in the ranks of the states as to numbers, while her work and sacrifice for the Orphans' Home place her in the first column. In common with some of the other older states, Ohio could, until within a few months (March 15, 1907), point with pride to the Nestor of Juniorism, the Senior Past State Councilor, and the first State Councilor of the state, 1873, the late Brother Leroy Van Horn. Although long removed from his state by force of circumstances, he kept in touch with the Order both in his State Council and the National Council. Of the older Past State Coun- cilors, only three are left who are in affiliation with the Order, viz., Brothers W. A. Martin, of No. 2, State Councilor in 1877, H. A. Siler, of No. 7, elected in 1881, and E. E. Hungerford, of No. 12, elected in 1889. Those serving since 1891, as State Councilors, with one exception, that of G. E. Coleman, who was gathered to his long home, all at the present day (1907) are actively engaged in the work of the Order. Of these, Brother Eichter, at present the State Council Secretary, stands first ; then follows Past State Coun- cilors L. V. Stone, Dr. H. L. Wenner, at present the State Council Treasurer, Dr. L. A. Perce, C. E. Tinkler, Dr. S. 0. Giffin, F. A. Hartenstein, C. M. Davis, Eeinhard Schwald, E. W. Funk, Geo. 0. Roberts, Jesse Taylor, Eev. Jas. G. Miller, John J. Weitzel, and the present (1907-1908) State Council officers. But the above honored brethren are not the only worthy ones UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 583 among Ohio's Juniors deserving of mention as " stalwarts " in the organization. Scores of others, if space would permit, could be named who have largely aided in shaping the policy of the Order in the " Buckeye State/' a few of whom we can recall : Past Na- tional Eepresentatives, W. J. Keidel, L. E. Shull, C. M. Bulger, J. A. Bliss, Geo. E. Buchman, E. F. Mair, S. J. Minesinger, better known as " Uncle Sam," J. J. Grafton, J. H. Zimmerman, " father of the Orphans' Home," D. B. McDonald, at present President of the Board of Trustees of the Orphans' Home, and last, but not at all least, comes the name of one whose legal ability has placed him in the front rank of the National Council as a safe advisor, and to whom the Order owes much for steering the craft in the stormy sea of strife to a calm haven, the Chief Counsel of the Order, Smith W. Bennett, Esq. But these favored brethren do not comprise the sum-total of workers in Ohio's Juniorism by any means. In the rank and file, either as Eepresentatives to the State Council or workers in the individual Council, are hundreds of silent laborers who have helped to make the Order in Ohio the power it is. They may not have a place in the " temple of fame," neither may their names be em- blazoned upon the printed page, yet He who watches the workmen in the field, will not fail to reward such in the Great Day, in the commendation, " Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these (little children) ye did it unto me." OKLAHOMA (INDIAN TERRITORY) The Order was introduced into Indian Territory, now Okla- homa, by National Organizer F. E. Borden, by the institution of Liberty Council, No. 1, February 15, 1897. This was followed by Ardmore Council, No. 2, February 19 ; Capital, No. 3, February 26 ; George Washington, No. 4, February 22 ; Star, No. 5, February 23 ; Eagle, No. 6, February 27; Canadian, No. 7, March 31; Lehigh, No. 8, April 8, and Coal Gate, No. 9, April 12, all the same year, organized and instituted by Brother Borden. The Order, however, previous to this time had been introduced into the Territory of Oklahoma by Dr. J. L. Cooper, of Texas, by the institution of Logan Council, No. 1, in 1892, but the Council had but a brief history. On April 15, 1897, Brother Borden instituted the State Coun- cil of Indian Territory in due form at South McAlester. The in- stitution of the State body was attended by more than usual in- terest both to the Order and the citizens of the city. It was made 584 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER a public affair and the officers were publicly installed, there being more than 100 subordinate members present. Following these exercises, the local Council, Capital, No. 1, entertained the visitors and the families of the members in a very creditable manner. The records show that there was no undue haste made in the preliminary proceedings, but in a methodical and business-like manner the work of organization was accomplished and its business transacted. Brother Borden acted as Chairman and J. E. McCarty as Secretary, whereupon an election of officers took place, resulting as follows : Junior Past State Councilor — J. F. Pierce, State Councilor — Wm. Millican, State Vice-Councilor — E. D. Miller, State Council Secretary — J. E. McCarty, State Council Treasurer — J. W. McLaughlin, State Council Conductor — Wm. Glossen, State Council Warden — Alex. Bair, State Council Sentinel — L. H. Doctor, State Council Chaplain — R. F. Hamilton. Bro. Hamilton was elected National Eepresentative for five years. With a very auspicious beginning, the State Council of Indian Territory closed its first meeting and adjourned to meet in special session May 15, 1897, at which time the Constitution and Laws governing the State Council were adopted, the per capita tax placed at 60 cents and the jurisdiction between Councils was fixed at three miles, except in the cities. Two resolutions were adopted at the special session: (1) That the State Council have prepared a State Degree Ritual for the benefit of the State Council officers and all Past Councilors. (2) That the officers of Subordinate Councils should memorize their charges as soon after installation as possible. The First Annual Session was held at South McAlester with State Councilor William Millican in the Chair. The State Council Secretary submitted a very elaborate report, full of good sugges- tions, etc. His reference to the high moral standard of the mem- bership of the Order, indicated that the moral side of men was taken into consideration in the organization of Councils of the Order and the initiation of its members. Eight Councils had been instituted during the year and the membership increased. Brother E. F. Hamilton was the State Organizer and six of the eight Coun- cils were organized by him. A resolution submitted by Brother Hamilton, that a contribu- tion box in the shape of a schoolhouse be placed in every Council UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 585 chamber to receive contributions for the use of the Orphans' Home, was unanimously adopted. The Daughters of America, as an auxil- iary organization to the State Council, was endorsed. Brother Hamilton always stood for the National Council, which was shown at this session when the majority of the Committee on Law submitted a resolution charging the literature of the National Council as being " misleading " and a " drawback," wherein it referred to the Funeral Benefits being $250. Brother Hamilton, as a member of the Committee, submitted a minority report in which he says : " I cannot and will not endorse any recommendation or resolution that denounces any literature furnished by the National Council for organizing purposes, or any action of the National Council whatever, as fraudulent and misleading." (This was a few years before the creation of the National Funeral Department, and had reference to the plan then as it is now, of the Philadelphia Association in paying $62 for the first three months, $125 for the first six months and not paying the full amount, $250, until after the member had belonged nine months. This is why the majority of the Law Committee thought the statement misleading. — Editor.) E. D. Miller was elected S. C, and H. E. Berner, S. V. C, at this session. The State Council convened at Coal Gate, November 9, 1898, with State Councilor E. D. Miller presiding. Brother McCarty having died during the year, J. C. Carson had been appointed to take his place. A committee was appointed to take into considera- tion the question of petitioning Congress for a Free School System for the Territory. After the mere routine business had been transacted, the fol- lowing officers, as elected, were installed : State Councilor — H. E. Berner, State Vice-Councilor — W. A. Riley, State Council Secretary — Geo. C. Jahn, State Council Treasurer — C. E. Hale. The State Council met at Krebs on December 19, 1899, State Councilor Benner occupying the Chair. The first thing in order was the election of officers, which resulted as follows: State Councilor — W. A. Riley, State Vice-Councilor — A. E. Reed, State Council Secretary — R. F. Hamilton, State Council Treasurer — J. E. James. 586 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER A vote in favor of a Woman's Auxiliary resulted unanimously in favor of the proposition. Relative to the Change of Name, the State Council voted against the amendment. These were the reso- lutions sent from the National Council as the result of its meeting at Minneapolis. The income of the State Council was limited, and owing to the failure of the former Secretary to pay to the National Council the money due that body, the State Council was in arrears to the Supreme Body ; but with a spirit of personal sacrifice the amount of deficiency was divided prorata among the Councils as a loan and the money was subsequently secured. With the spirit of dissension rife in some of the Eastern states, Indian Territory manifested her loyalty and continued allegiance to the National Council by endorsing the work of the Minneapolis session. After changing the time of the meeting of the State Council to May, the body adjourned. South McAlester again entertained the State Council, in an- nual session, May 1, 1900, with State Councilor Riley presiding. In the election of officers, special honor was conferred upon Brother Riley by reelecting him State Councilor. The same was true of A. G. Reed for State Vice-Councilor, R. F. Hamilton for State Council Secretary, his term being placed, under the law, at three years. Plucky set of brothers were these brethren of Indian Territory. Facing a deficit of $50, seven members of the State Council agreed to bear their share of same. Those of the older and richer states cannot appreciate what real sacrifice the weaker states have had to make to hold their State Councils together in their earlier history. More heroic than any stands Indian Territory in upholding the principles of Americanism. South McAlester, again, in May 1901, had the annual session of the State Council, with A. C. Reed, State Councilor, in the Chair. Outside of adopting a revised code of laws, little of im- portance was done. For State Councilor, J. E. Jones was elected, for State Vice- Councilor, J. E. Ritter and M. 0. Reed for State Council Treasurer. The session of 1902 was also held at South McAlester, State Councilor Jones presiding. At this session Wm. Noble was elected State Councilor and M. D. Reed State Vice-Councilor. For State Council Treasurer J. K. Brooks was elected. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 587 Durant entertained the Seventh Annual Session, May 5, 1903, Win. Noble occupying the Chair, 25 members attending. Seven new Councils had been instituted by State Organizer W. H. Glossen, and the membership reached 450. There was paid i'or relief during the year, $1,969.20; total worth of Subordinate Councils, $1,900; total receipts of State Council, $339.29; Na- tional Council per capita tax, $84. GO. State Council officers: State Councilor — W. H. Glossen, State Vice-Councilor — S. J. Chronister, State Council Secretary — R. F. Hamilton. State Council Treasurer — J. K. Brooks. The Eighth Annual Session was held at Hartshorne, May 10, 1904, with W. H. Glossen in the Chair. The State Council was honored and encouraged by the presence of National Councilor Dr. J. L. Cooper, who inspired the body with his eloquence as well as cheering utterances. Efforts had been made to establish a State Funeral Associa- tion, and the matter had been referred to the Subordinate Councils for a referendum vote. Six Councils voted in favor of the propo- sition and 4 against, while 8 councils did not vote at all. The matter was deferred until the next session. This was a splendid year for Juniorism in Indian Territory, 10 new Councils having been instituted. The State Councilor was a " hustler " and had officially visited all but two of the Councils during the year. The State Council Secretary reported 21 Councils in good standing and 727 members, being a net gain of 7 Councils and 377 members. For relief, $3,202 had been paid. " The Indepen- dent American Mechanic/' a paper published by Brother Hamilton, was endorsed, as well as The American. The State Council was reported " out of debt," there being $198.84 on hand. The officers elected were : State Councilor — Dr. J. A. Cansdell, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. T. Bayless, State Council Treasurer — J. K. Brooks (reelected). The National Councilor at the close of the session, again enter- tained the State Body with one of his characteristic addresses in which he referred to the careful manner of transacting the business of the State Council and congratulated the members on the harmony that prevailed — " not an unpleasant word spoken or a rash act 588 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER done during the session " ; then he added the statement which must have been gratifying to the noble band of brothers, " It is the best meeting I ever attended." Dr. Cooper concluded his address by presenting Brother Glossen, Junior Past State Councilor, with a beautiful dinner set as a tribute of respect for his most efficient services. Brother Glossen was so overcome with this spontaneous outburst of esteem, that he could only say " Thank you, my dear brethren." The generous members of the State Body did not forget the little Orphans, but " Methodist fashion," they took up a collection, amounting to $15.50. Previous to this session, the minutes and records of the State Council had been recorded in a large Journal, but this session the proceedings were printed in neat form. The session of 1905 was held at Howe, May 9-10, Dr. J. A. Cansdell, State Councilor, presiding. The statistical report showed 22 Councils in good standing and 978 members on the rolls of the Subordinate Councils, making a gain for the year of 251. The financial statement was also gratifying. The proposition to estab- lish a State Funeral Association was again considered, and finally was indefinitely tabled. The officers elected were as follows : State Councilor — Geo. T. Bayless, State Vice-Councilor — T. J. Davis, State Council Secretary-Treasurer — R. F. Hamilton. In Tenth Annual Session, the State Council was entertained at Calvin, May 1-2, 1906, with State Councilor Geo. T. Bayless in the Chair. There were S new Councils instituted since the last session and a gain of membership of 312. Brother Hamilton, as Secretary-Treasurer of the State Body, submitted the following report as to the status of the State Council and the Order in the Territory: Number of Councils 28 Number of Members 1,290 Total Receipts of State Council $1,295.75 Total Expenses of State Council 968.30 Receipts of Subordinate Councils 5,327.00 Paid for Relief 5,055.45 Worth of Councils 4,076.60 In the adoption of revised laws at former session, the office of Secretary and Treasurer was combined under the term " State Council Secretarv-Treasurer." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 589 The law relative to honorary members, as per revised code, gave them the same rights and privileges as other members, that is, they shall be attended to, provided for in sickness as other members, and in case of death they shall be entitled to all the funeral rites of the Order and a burial expense of not less than $25. The law also provided that they shall be entitled to all the honors, emolu- ments of the Order and to be entitled to hold any office in the Sub- ordinate Council, except Financial Secretary-Treasurer, or any office in the State Council except, that of State Secretary-Treasurer, and shall be entitled to vote on all subjects except that pertaining to the distribution of the finances. A resolution adopting the change of name from State Council of Indian Territory to State Council of Oklahoma was passed, pro- vided the bill in the* United State Congress, then pending, making Oklahoma and Indian Territories the State of Oklahoma became a law, and the Board of Officers were authorized, in case of such event, to have the State Council Charter changed. The officers for ensuing year were elected as follows : State Councilor — Dr. M. A. Stewart, State Vice-Councilor — Charles Russell, State Council Secretary-Treasurer — R. F. Hamilton, State Council Conductor — Val Miller, State Council Warden— T. M. West, State Council Sentinels — R. D. Roberts and Jefferson Quiney, State Council Chaplain — Rev. A. P. Rhon^e. The story of Juniorism in the Indian Territory, to the writer, has been one of unusual interest, since of all the territories where the Order has been introduced, it is the only one that has been able to maintain its place in the family of State Councils. When we take into consideration the environments thrown around the organ- ization in the territory, without the advantages of statehood and self-government, without money even, the leaders being compelled to go down into their pockets to meet deficiencies and holding on like "grim death" to the old ship; when this story is read, we have no hesitancy in stating that for pluck and faith on the part of the little band of heroes who held aloft the banner of the Order, there is scarcely a parallel in the whole sisterhood of State Councils under the supreme jurisdiction of the National Council. And it is a gratifying fact, that after 10 years of official existence, as a State Body, the Order in the State of Oklahoma numbers nearly 1,300 at this writing (1906). The leader and worker, as well as the "tongue" and "fire" of the organization in Indian Territory from its inception, is our 590 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER genial, open-hearted friend and brother, R. F. Hamilton, to whom is due, more than anyone else, the credit of maintaining the grand and patriotic principles in the territory as taught in our Council chambers. He was ably assisted by Past State Councilors J. F. Pierce, E. D. Miller, A. C. Eeed, W. A. Riley, Dr. J. A. Cansdell, J. E. Jones and Geo. T. Bayles. At the present writing (1906) Dr. M. A. Stewart, as State Councilor, is at the helm, and there is every assurance that the prosperity that has been so gratifying the past few years will continue under his administration. Under its new name, Oklahoma, may the Order take on renewed vigor and soon take its place with the older and more populated states of the Union. OREGON National Organizer Collins instituted Portland Council, No. 1, in the City of Portland, March 17, 1893, which was followed by Washington, No. 2. Returning to the state in December, same year, Brother Collins instituted America, No. 3, December 26; Lincoln, No. 4, at Oregon City, January 3, 1894; Garfield, No. 5, January 4; Eureka, No. 6, January 5, and on January 6, 1894, the State Council of Oregon, was instituted in due form. Brother Collins then instituted John A. Logan, No. 7, on January 11, and Thaddeus Stevens, No. 8, on January 18. The Order in the S^tate of Oregon has had a strenuous history. While for a year or two the organization made fair headway, there being 11 Councils and 1,147 members June 30, 1894, and on May 15, 1895, 18 Councils and 1,200 members, yet the prosperity did not last long, as the standing of the State Council December 31, 1896, showed but 9 Councils and a membership of 488. From this time the Order in the state has had a precarious existence, scarcely having enough Councils to hold the State Coun- cil in tact. The report of December 31, 1904, showed but 6 Councils and 38 members, with value of Councils placed at $440.57. The list of officers elected at the session of 1904 was as follows: State Councilor — W. E. Harris, State Vice-Councilor — A. A. Hall, State Council Secretary — Geo. F. Rodman, State Council Treasurer — Chas. Hartness. C. G. Moser, for years, was prominently connected with the Na- tional Council and served on some of its important committees. CHAPTER XXXIII PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued) PENNSYLVANIA FOE nearly seven years, Washington Council, No. 1, stood alone, being the "supreme head of the Order," and was held together by the earnest endeavors of those who founded it. During all those years the 0. TJ. A. M., as an organization, gave the " boys " but little encouragement; but at a meeting of their State Council, April 15, 1859, a committee was appointed to formulate plans and methods by which to create a deeper interest among native Amer- icans in the principles taught by the organization. At the semi- annual meeting in October, following, the committee reported in favor of establishing Councils of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., in order to get the youth interested so that when they arrived at the age of 21, termed "proper age," they could be transferred to the Senior Order. The report was adopted, and in carrying out the same, the following Councils, Jr. 0. TJ. A. M., were instituted: Dec. 5, 1859— Relief Council, No. 2, Jan. — , 1860— Eagle Council, No. 3, Feb. — , 1860— Diligent Council, No. 4, Feb. 22, 1860— Kensington Council, No. 5, Feb. — , 1860— Resolution Council, No. 6, Mar. 5, 1860— Harry Clay Council, No. 7, Mar. 9, 1860 — Independent Council, No. 8. All of these Councils were organized by Councils of the 0. TJ. A. M. bearing the same name, with the exception of Harry Clay Council, which was organized by United States Council, No. 7. Washington Council, No. 1, Jr. 0. TJ. A. M., instituted all of the above named Councils, whereupon, delegates, three in number, from each Council were appointed to meet at the Town Hall, German- town, March 13, 1860, to organize the State Council of Penna. Pursuant to the call the delegates from the eight Councils met at the above place, on the evening of the date stated, and proceeded to organize the State Council, 23 Representatives answering to their names. Brother John R. Fanshawe, of No. 1, called the meeting to order and acted as temporary Chairman, and Brother Edw. S. 59i 592 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Deemer was selected to act as Secretary. The first order of business was the election of officers, which the records give in the following order : Sentinel— Wm. H. Smith, Conductor — Irwin F. Henry, Warden — F. Harpel, Treasurer — John P. Huver, Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, Vice-Councilor — Chas. Siner, Councilor — John R. Fanshawe, Jr. Past Councilor — A. P. Keyser. After granting charters to Union Council, No. 9, and Fame Council, No. 10, and transacting few minor items of business, appointing of committees, etc., the State Council adjourned to meet the following Tuesday. Subsequently, semi-monthly meetings were held to fully complete the organization of the State Body. For a year the State Council held meetings quarterly, then semi- annually up to 1876, then annually. At the second meeting of the body the motto of the Order was adopted, which, amid the changes that have characterized the organization, remains to-day the inspiring watchword of the Order — VIETUE, LIBERTY and PATRIOTISM. A seal was adopted, that of the coat of arms of Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA, 1861 The regular session of the State Council was held in April, 1861, at which time George W. Kreamer was elected State Coun- cilor and Francis J. Weckerly State Vice-Councilor. Edward S. Deemer was elected State Council Secretary; and it might be said without repeating the fact of his reelection each time, that with the exception of the years 1867-1870, when he was passing the chairs, Brother Deemer has been State Council Secretary from that day until September, 1907, when he declined to be a candidate. What a noble record is his; faithful, energetic, conscientious, honest, patriotic. From this session dates the official recognition of our worthy Senior Past National Councilor, Brother John W. Calver. This was the beginning of trying times for the little band of Councils, 13 in number. Many members had answered the call of President Lincoln and had gone to the front, and to such an extent did the enlistment reduce the membership, that some of the Councils could not hold their regular meetings. The question arose UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 593 whether it was right to enforce the provisions of the Constitution on delinquent Councils for their failure under the circumstances to meet the requirements of the law. To show the patriotic impulses that throbbed in the hearts of that little body of men at this critical hour of our country's history, the following is taken from the record: " When it was resolved that the present situation of our country, and the patriotism of the members of our Order in enlisting in its defense, renders it inadvisable to do so. The subject was then dropped with this understanding." Philadelphia, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866 During this period, from nine to 14 members attended the State Council sessions. Francis J. Weckerly was elected State Councilor in 1862, Frank C. Harmstadt in 1863, John W. Calver in 1864, Chas. W. Geissel in 1865 and John W. Paul in 1866. At the latter session Brother John W. Calver was elected State Council Treasurer, to which position he has been reelected at every subse- quent session up to the present time (1907). But little business was transacted during this period, only that of the necessary routine character. Quite a number of the members of the Order had fallen in defense of the flag, and Councils had suspended in consequence of the depletion of their ranks by enlistments. Washington Council, No. 1, the "mother Council," having been suspended owing to inability to hold its meetings, was reported reorganized at the session of 1865. At the session of 1866, it was agreed that the Bible should be read at the opening of the State Council, and that it could be read in the Subordinate Councils by permission of the Councils. PHILADELPHIA, 1867 Twenty-six members were in attendance at the annual meeting of 1867, and in the election of officers, Job B. Woodruff and Edward S. Deemer were unanimously elected State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor, respectively. Wm. Wesley Totheroh was elected State Council Secretary, but resigning during the year, Geo. W. R. Carteret was elected in his stead. During the discussion of a report relative to the consolidation of the P. 0. of Jr. S. of A. and the Jr. 0. U. A. M., Brother Calver was called to order for introducing politics while discussing the 38 59* HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER question, and the State Councilor sustained the point of order, and on an appeal, the State Councilor was sustained. It was decided to publish a paper under the auspices of the Order, the editor and two assistants to be selected by " scratch," the persons receiving the highest number of scratches to be editor and the next two highest to be assistants. Brother Deemer got 26 " scratches " and was elected editor and Wm. Totheroh and John W. Calver were selected as assistants. The Ode now used by the Order in the initiatory ceremonies in Subordinate Councils was submitted by Brother Deemer and adopted. The position of State Council Chaplain was created, by resolution, and Brother John D. Goff was appointed. WILMINGTON, DEL., 1868 Forty-three members answered roll-call at the annual session of 1868. The total receipts for the year were $146.64, while the expenditures were $192.38. Brother Deemer was elevated to the Chair of State Councilor, and Nathan Penrose, a conspicuous and useful member of both the State and National Councils was elected S. V. C. Two important questions came up at this session: 1. The granting of a charter for and the institution of a State Council in Delaware. 2. The election of a committee of eleven members to take into consideration the establishment of a National Council, which committee at a subsequent meeting held during the year, reported progress and asked to be withdrawn, which request was granted. The term Deputy State Councilor was used in place of en- stalling officer from this session. An amendment to strike out 16 and insert 18 was defeated. HARRISBURG, 1869 Sixty Representatives were present at the session of 1869, held on April 16. The year previous, under the leadership of State Councilor Deemer, was one of remarkable success. At the begin- ning of the year there were in Pennsylvania, 25 Councils in name, 9 being defunct, 3 in New Jersey and 5 in Delaware; Delaware, however, had its own State Council, which gave Brother Deemer 19 Councils in good standing at the opening of his term. At the close of the year's work he had 55 Councils in Pennsylvania, 7 in New Jersey and one in Ohio, making 63 in all. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 595 Nathan Penrose was elected State Councilor and John D. Goff, S. V. C, and the State Body resolved to meet semi-annually, holding its first semi-annual session at Easton. The new laws simplified the method of transacting business; the ratio of repre- sentation was changed from four to two and the standing com- mittees were reduced to four in number. The State of New Jersey had become independent, a State Council having been instituted. A very important committee, with power to act, was appointed at the Easton session, consisting of five members to confer with the State Councils of New Jersey and Delaware with reference to the institution of a National Council, which body was organized September 30, 1869, and it became the Supreme Legislative Body of the Order. PHILADELPHIA, 1870, 1871, 1872 The sessions for the above years were held in Philadelphia, with the exception of one semi-annual session which was held at Wilkes-Barre in 1871. State Councilor Penrose, in his report to the session of 1870, had this to say: " I commenced my term as State Councilor with Pennsylvania as the Supreme Head of the Order, with four states and one State Council under its jurisdiction and 55 Councils in this State. I quit it with a National Council organized, with its jurisdiction limited to its own state and 87 Subordinate Councils and a membership increased at least one-third." The election in 1870 resulted in placing John D. Goff and Charles H. Kurtz over the State Council as State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor, and the reelection of Brother Deemer as State Councilor Secretary, after having so efficiently served in the various Chairs of the body. Brother Calver was reelected S. C. T. I might add, that all of the above named officers are "hale and hearty" and still active in the ranks of the organization (1908). In 1871, Brother Kurtz was elected State Councilor and E. H. Hammann State Vice-Councilor. The laws at this session were revised, the most radical change being in the method of electing the State Council officers, providing for their election in the Subor- inate Councils, the Councilor and all Past Councilors in good standing to cast the ballot for the nominees previously nominated. The session of 1872 was held on January 16, and was attended by about 70 Eepresentatives. The statistical report, ending Sep- tember 30, 1871, showed 92 Councils and 6,543 members. The result of the election was E. H. Hammann for State Councilor and S. S. Sibbs for State Vice- Councilor. 596 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ' PHILADELPHIA, 1873, 1874, 1875 The regular annual sessions were held in the above named city, while the semi-annual sessions were held at Danville, Newport and Hummelstown. At the session of 1873, S. S. Sibbs was elected State Councilor and John D. Clous S. V. C. The session of 1874 was somewhat spirited, as there was a controversy between the State Councilor and State Council Secretary as to who should be the custodian of the Election Keturns from Subordinate Coun- cils. The report of the Election Officers declared that J. J. Williams had been elected S. V. C, and there being a vacancy in the office of State Councilor, Wm. M. Sharer was elected by the body to that position. The State Vice-Councilor soon after his election was removed by death. At the regular session in 1875 the result of the vote in Subordinate Councils showed that Benj. H. Miller was elected State Vice-Councilor and Edw. S. Deemer State Council Secretary by a vote of 386 to 115 for H. J. Deily. P. S. C. Penrose was selected State Councilor, but resigning, F. M. Cody was elected to serve the ensuing year. National Councilor Chas. H. Voorhees, a member from the State of Pennsylvania, was charged with not obeying the instruc- tion of the State Council by not voting to rescind a certain act of censure that had been passed upon Brother Deemer at a previous session of the National Body, and having been removed as a Eepre- sentative to the National Council, his office as National Councilor was declared vacant. At a special session charges were brought against State Vice Councilor Miller, but having resigned, Fred Eudy was elected in his place. PHILADELPHIA, 1876 The Centennial City in the Centennial Year had the honor of not only entertaining the State Council but the National Council as well. In conformity to the change of the laws the meeting of the State Council was held July 10, making an 18 months term. Owing to the panic, the State Council reported a heavy loss in members, there being but 4,957. State Vice-Councilor Fred Eudy was suspended by his Coun- cil, thereby creating a vacancy, which was filled by our good friend, Brother H. L. Williams. The report of S. C. Brother Cody was couched in most beautiful language and as a literary production is worthy a place in the archives of the Order. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 597 The law requiring that the State Council officers be elected by the Past Councilors of Subordinate Councils having been re- pealed at the last session, the State Council elected for State Councilor, Brother H. L. Williams and for S. V. C, C. M. Berry. The session was somewhat stormy, an acrimonious discussion having marred the peace and harmony of the session. PITTSBURG, 1877 For the first time since its organization, the State Body met west of the mountains, in the City of Pittsburg, July 6 and 7, 1877, there being less than 60 members present. An increase of 1,500 members was reported. C. M. Berry was selected for S. C. and D. G. Evans for S. V. C. YORK, 1878 At the annual session at York, D. G. Evans and Benj. B. Naylor were elected State Councilor and State Vice- Councilor, re- spectively. It was brought out in the reports of the officers how an embryo " insurgent movement " had developed, but that it had " died a bornin'." The State Council officers got in trouble with Pennsylvania Council, No. 20, charges having been preferred against it, but when notified the Council proceeded to dispose of its property and spent the proceeds on a banquet, and at once took steps to arrange a meeting of delegates for the " purpose of forming a new organization." By a large majority, the State Council instructed its National Eepresentatives to vote against a resolution to strike out the Fifth Object of the Order. altoona, 1879; easton, 1880 Benj. B. Naylor was elected State Councilor at the Altoona session and Geo. B. Hight State Vice-Councilor by a majority of 43, 36 having voted for H. Wells Buser. The State Council of 1880 met at the City of Easton, on July 20, and transacted its usual business. By a decisive vote of 61 to 10, the State Body refused to instruct its National Eepresenta- tives to offer in the National Council a resolution to have stricken out of the Constitution of the Order, the word " white." By a very striking vote, however, the State Council instructed its Na- tional Eepresentatives to offer in that body, and support the same, 598 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER an amendment to the laws of the Order so as to prohibit any Roman Catholic from becoming a member of the Order. In the election of officers, by a vote of 101, Geo. B. Hight was elected State Councilor and G. Howell Arthur State Vice-Councilor, the latter having received 56 votes to 47 for H. J. Deily. LANCASTER, 1881 The Twenty-second Annual Session was held at the above place, July 19 and 20, 1881. Brother G. Howell Arthur, so well and favorably known throughout the entire jurisdiction, esteemed both at home and abroad, was unanimously promoted to the head of the Order in the state by a vote of 116. H. Wells Buser, on the third ballot, was elected S. V. C. A set of resolutions on the attempted assassination of President Garfield was adopted; the last resolution, however, was peculiar: " Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon the Journal and a copy forwarded to the Hon. Wayne McVeagh to be given the President." A motion to strike out Hon. Wayne McVeagh and insert the Hon. James G. Blaine was not agreed to. As Secretary of State, the motion to strike out Wayne McVeagh and insert Blaine would have seemed more appropriate. A Memorial to Congress setting forth the evils growing out of the elective franchise being conferred upon foreigners after five years residence, was presented, at the same time recommending that the qualifications for citizenship should be twenty-one years resi- dence and the ability to read the Constitution of the United States in the English language. This was the first movement on the part of the State Body relative to the immigration question ; but the Order was not yet ready to enter the " arena of politics," as the State Council, by a vote of 65 to 42, refused to adopt the Memorial and resolutions. The unfortunate allusion in the Preamble to the causes that lead to the attempted assassination of President Gar- field, charging the crime to the " system of political spoils and the evils of disappointed office-seekers," savored too strongly of " fac- tional politics " which at that time had rent the Republican Party, hence the State Council did not want to endorse such sentiments. Again the State Body refused to instruct its Representatives to the National Council to have the word " white " stricken from qualifications for membership. A motion that the National Repre- sentatives vote for a change of name was defeated. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 599 PHILADELPHIA, 1882; ALLEGHENY, 1883 The annual session of 1882 elected H. Wells Buser State Councilor by 131 votes, and on third ballot, H. J. Deily was elected S. V. C. A gain in membership was announced, 964, and a growing interest was reported. The Twenty-fourth Annual Session was held in Allegheny City, July 17 and 18, 1883. Six years previous the first session of the State Body held west of the Allegheny Mountains, was at Pittsburg, at which time there were but four Councils in Western Pennsylvania. At this session there were 20 Councils in the same territory. The year showed quite an increase in membership, there being over 8,000 reported enrolled, with the worth of Councils aggregating $100,000.00. A resolution instructing the Eepresentatives to the National Council to " present, vote for and advocate with all their ability," the creation of a new office to be known as " Orator," the same to be elected as the other officers, was presented and referred to a committee, who reported that in their opinion it was inexpedient to create such an office, and the same was concurred in by the State Body. Neither was a resolution agreed to, to instruct the National Representatives to advocate adding to the Fifth Object the words " and uphold the reading of the Holy Bible in the Public Schools of the United States of America." The resolution was defeated by a vote of 64 to 44. A resolution to appoint a committee to draft a memorial to Congress praying for the enactment of laws to coun- teract the antagonistic tendencies of Socialistic Societies was de- feated by a decisive vote. Brother H. J. Deily was elected State* Councilor and J. F. Koehnline S. V. C. READING, 1884 The session held at above place, July 15-17, 1884, was some- what strenuous, owing to what some supposed, the arbitrary ad- ministration of the State Councilor, which developed antagonisms, not only in the Board of Officers, but throughout the state. Brother Deily no doubt was honest and sincere in rendering his decisions according to his interpretation of the laws and the Constitution, but many of his suggestions and recommendations were disapproved as well as his rulings overruled. The election of officers resulted in the election of Brother J. F. Koehnline for State Councilor and Geo. H. Harris for S. V. C. 600 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER SCRANTON, 1885 In Twenty-sixth Annual Session, the State Council met at Scranton, July 21-23, 1885, Brother J. F. Koehnline, State Councilor, presiding. Some of the " war horses " of the Order attended this session, prominent among whom were Wobensmith, MeCully, Solomon, Cranston and G. Howell Arthur. An animated discussion took place on the report of the Cre- dential Committee. The State Councilor reported 15 new Councils, making the total number 101, with a membership of 10,351, an increase of 1,351 over the report of previous year. State Council Secretary Deemer being in a reminiscent mood, gave a comparison of the Order in the state of 25 years ago with its standing at the time of this session. Then the State had 8 Councils and 500 members; now (1885) it had 101 Councils and 10,351 members. Of the 24 members who founded the State Council, but three at that time were members of the Order, and himself only of that trio was active. Brother Deemer also referred to the opposition to himself for reelection to the office he had served so long, continuously, with the exception of three years when he was " passing the chairs," because of his age; yet 22 years afterwards he declined to be a candidate for reelection, not because of old age, but because of his desire to lead a more retired life. The election of officers resulted as follows : State Councilor — Geo. H. Harris, State Vice-Councilor — John O. Montanye, State Council Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer (118 to 34 votes for Wm. H. Messick),* State Council Treasurer — John Calver (reelected). The state, by resolution, was divided into districts, Eastern, Middle and Western, as we have it to-day, by a vote of 62 to 41. HARRISBURG, 1886 State Councilor Harris called the State Council to order at the Capital City of the state in July, 1886, and proceeded to business, after a warm discussion on the report of the Credential Committee. The State Councilor reported that progress had been made, especially in the Western District, which advance in that section he attributed to the parade on Washington's Birthday that year, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 601 the first of a series of demonstrations that followed on February 22 each year, that wrought up wonderful enthusiasm. This parade referred to by the State Councilor was witnessed by the writer and it made such an impression on our mind that we lost no time in joining the local Council. J. 0. Montanye was elected State Councilor and Harry A. Keil State Vice-Councilor. By a vote of 146 to 43 for W. H. Messick, Edw. S. Deemer was reelected State Council Secretary, and by a vote of 119 to 75 for H. J. Deily, J. W. Calver was reelected State Council Treasurer. A vote amending qualification for membership by striking out 16 and inserting 18 was taken resulting, ayes 72, nays 113. Instead of calling the roll at every session, a change was made requiring but one call of the roll during the entire meeting of the State Body, the morning of the second day. A motion to instruct the National Representatives to vote for change of name to " Order of United Americans," was agreed to by 68 yeas to 18 nays. ERIE, 1887 The Twenty-eighth Session of the State Council convened at Erie, July 19-21, 1887, State Councilor Montanye presiding. Forty-six new Councils had been instituted during the year and 4,000 more members added to the roll in Subordinate Councils. The amount received by the Subordinate Councils for the year reached the enormous sum of $117,034.93; paid for relief, $34,386.90; worth of Councils, $139,651.14. The law was so changed that the State Council Secretary be elected for five years. A resolution was adopted, as submitted by some Subordinate Council, that Congress be memorialized to make the head tax of every foreigner five hundred dollars. With the attitude of the average Congressman to-day, such a resolution now to be offered in Congress would create a " storm " when five dollars seem to be exorbitant. A new Committee was created, named the " Committee on the Objects of the Order." A resolution offered by Brother Collins petitioning Congress to declare February 22 a holiday, was adopted. During the year the Uniformed Rank was organized at Alle- gheny City, April 14, 1887, and was named Commandery No. 1. The State Council endorsed the same. Harry R. Peck, a well 602 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER known Junior, was Prelate of the new Organization. The officers elected were installed as follows : State Councilor — Harry A. Keil, State Vice-Councilor — S. C. Weadley, State Council Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer (five years), State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. WILKES-BARRE, 1888 A four-day session of the State Council was held at Wilkes- Barre, July 17-20, 1888, State Councilor Keil presiding. Many who subsequently took a conspicuous part in the Order were enrolled as Eepresentatives at this session: S. H. Ashbridge, subsequently Mayor of Philadelphia, was there ; so were Geo. W. Hobson, of No. 1, John R. Marlin, Harry R. Peck, John K. Emge, Cyrus S. Weiss, I. V. Ptobbins, Dr. W. H. Painter, Heber McDowell and Rev. W. R. Covert, the latter a prominent lecturer in the interest of the Order. Will C. Evans, of Pittsburg, at one time a most enthusiastic Junior, was the State Councilor's Special Deputy and gave much of his time to the work of organizing and " making a record " for Brother Keil, and during the year travelled 4,573 miles, instituted 18 Councils and approved 44 bills for organizing new Councils. During State Councilor Keil's administration there was a great uplift given to the Order and a wonderful advance made, there being 91 Councils chartered and an increase of 9,000 mem- bers. The roll contained 198 Councils and 30,000 members. Never in the history of the Order in the state or nation up to this time had there been such an advance. When the votes for officers were cast, it was found that there were 292 in attendance at the session. S. C. Weadley was unani- mously elected State Councilor and J. P. Winower State Vice- Councilor. Both of these honored brothers have been transferred to the Supreme Lodge on High. Brother Calver, it goes without saying, was unanimously reelected State Council Treasurer. HARRISBURG, 1889 For the thirtieth time the State Council met in annual con- vention, this time at the State Capital, July 16, 1889, State Councilor Weadley presiding. About 400 members were in attend- ance. The addresses in the preliminary exercises were delivered by Mayor Fritchey and Governor James A. Beaver, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 603 Another great increase was made, 80 new Councils having been instituted and 33,709 members reported. The election re- sulted in the selecting of J. P. Winower for State Councilor and Stephen Collins for State Vice-Councilor, by a vote of 275 to J2G for S. A. Bickford, and J. W. Calver for State Council Treasurer. JOHNSTOWN FLOOD It was during this year that the dreadful calamity befell the Mountain City of Johnstown, that moved the world with sympathy. Among the first to reach the field of distress with the open hand of charity, was the Junior Order, looking after her own suffering brethren, burying her dead and feeding their hungry ones. The Board of Officers at once donated $500, and an appeal was sent to all the Councils for assistance in money or clothing or food. Junior Past State Councilor Harry A. Keil organized a relief association at Pittsburg, he himself being Chairman, Harry R. Peck, Treasurer, and J. K. Emge and W. T. Kerr, Secretaries. The following Committee was appointed to go to the stricken city and look after the relief fund in the interest of the members of the Order: Stephen Collins, Harry A. Keil, James Cranston, W. T. Kerr and J. Lindsay. This Committee was the first relief commit- tee to enter the place, they arriving on the ground June 2 after a most thrilling experience, having to walk 7 miles from the railroad terminal because of the destructive elements wiping the roadbed out of existence. Brother Collins remained constantly on the ground and ar- ranged for the distribution of the relief fund in a very satisfactory manner. About $12,000 was raised by the Order, exclusive of the thousands of dollars contributed in clothing, food, etc., sent to the scene of distress. About 11 members suffered either in person or by members of their families, being drowned or lost. The report of Brother Jas. Cranston to the State Council Secretary is too long to be included here, only extracts can be given in this connection. " I have just returned from Johnstown. Saturday, Brother Collins and myself called a meeting of the Jr. O. U. A. M., at the American office. . . . We (the above named Committee) started early Sunday morning and reached the Conemaugh at Bolivar, 10 miles below Johnstown, and from there up to our destination, viewed the most horrible sights, I believe a man ever witnessed. . . . We left the train seven miles below Johns- town and walked up through the settlements along the river where we have Councils. ... At Morrellville, where No. 206 is located, the scene beggars description. The yards of the houses along Main Street were 604 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER strewn with coffins and dead bodies awaiting identification, and others being carried up every few minutes and laid in rows in the street. . . . We then started for Johnstown proper, which we reached after a long tramp, through horrors of horrors. We were ordered back and assured by many who were returning that we could not get into the city; but we passed on, and rounding the hill overlooking the town we witnessed a scene that language cannot explain. (The writer the day following repre- senting the I. O. O. F., passed through the same experience as the Com- mittee). . . . Immediately below where we stood at the Pennsylvania railroad viaduct (bridge) was the wreck of hundreds of houses, backed up the river half a mile and heaped on the shore, containing hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dead and maimed all in flames. We finally got past the burning wreck, and after a fight with the crowd reached a rope bridge that was swinging over the rushing waters below. ... On the high ground we met several members of Nos. 72 and 85, but found they were so dazed and bewildered that we could get but little information. They did not know anything, poor fellows. One member was certainly demented ; another told me he had lost his wife and three children, and his father and mother, and others had like pitiful stories to tell. . . . Here Keil and I played out and could walk no farther, but Collins, Kerr and Hoffman continued. . . . Collins secured temporary quarters for a postoffice and Junior Order headquarters combined, and had a sheet of paper marked and put up on the building and in a short time 25 of the boys had assem- bled. . . . Here we met the wife of one of the members with nothing on but an old calico wrapper and gum shoes, no underclothing of any kind, and without stockings. She stated that her shoes had been pulled from her feet while she was still in the wreck by a Hungarian who carried them away. This is but an illustration of what you meet here." A full report of the receipts and disbursements of the Exec- utive Committee, consisting of Stephen Collins, Jas. Cranston, W. T. Kerr and Harry A. Keil, was submitted to the State Council and incorporated in the State Council proceedings. From Coun- cils, the following amounts in cash donations was received : Pennsylvania $9,135.83 New Jersey 549.80 Massachusetts 149.40 Maryland 185.00 Virginia 121.45 Ohio 158.00 West Virginia .' 11.00 National Council 250.00 Total amount received $10,852.70 Disbursements by Executive Committee 3,408.60 Divided among members of Johnstown 7,444.10 It is worthy of note, that the members of the Committee who spent weeks on the ground looking after the distribution of the relief fund rendered no bill for their services it being gratuitous, and all their personal expenses was borne by themselves. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 605 Brother Chas. H. Temple, of Johnstown, relates an incident illustrative of how kindness "heaps coals of fire upon the head." The day previous to the flood, a parade took place in Johnstown, participated in by the G. A. E., the Jr. 0. U.A. M., and other so- cieties. Two men, strangers to each other, were viewing the pro- cession, and as the Juniors passed by one of the men remarked, " That is the best organization in America." The other replied, "What! the American Mechanics? Why they are a crowd of Know-Nothings and fanatics who are opposed to poor people coming to this country." The next day the great calamity fell upon the town. The Junior Order, as stated above, was first of any secret association to get on the ground and established headquarters. A woman with a babe in her arms and a small child clinging to her dress, appeared at the Junior headquarters asking relief. Ascertaining that her husband was not a member of the Order, she was told that the supplies were for the members of the Jr. 0. IT. A. M. and their families. The poor woman burst out weeping, saying i,hat she had applied at the headquarters of the general relief committee but got no help. The Junior Committee could stand no more and helped the woman to clothing and food. Later in the day two men met at the headquarters, one of whom thanked the Committee for helping his wife and family. The other gentleman recognizing the man as the person who had said the unkind things about the Juniors, congratulated him on his safety. Hesitating a moment, the man stated that his opinion of the Order had greatly changed since the parade, as the organization had helped his wife that morning to keep his family from starving, and he was there to thank them and assure the Committee that as soon as his boys were old enough they should unite with the Order. WILLI AMSPORT, 1890 Williamsport opened its gates to the State Body, July 15, 1890, holding a 4-day session, State Councilor Winower presiding. The year preceding had been one of unprecedented growth, 140 Councils having been instituted, 101 of which were located in the Western District. Another appeal had been sent to the Councils of the Order for Johnstown, this time to aid in the work of the public schools of the town. The sum of $2,271.88 was raised and paid over, of 606 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER which Ohio contributed $127.25, New Jersey, $130.55, Maryland, $28.00 and Enterprise Council, No. 1, of Massachusetts, $6.00. The officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : State Councilor — Stephen Collins, State Vice-Councilor — Hiram J. Slifer, State Council Treasurer — John W. Calver. A resolution, numerously signed, that the State Council, by its endorsement, bring before the National Council the question of consolidation of the Junior and Senior organizations, to be under the name of " Order of United Americans," was on motion laid on the table for twenty years. The time of holding the State Council meetings was changed from July to September. uniontown, 1891 In annual session, the Thirty-seventh, the State Council met at Uniontown, September 15, 1891, and continued throughout a busy session of four days, with State Councilor Stephen Collins in the Chair, and 372 Representatives present. Among the first items of business was the reference to the National Representatives of a resolution asking for the establish- ment of a new degree, to be called the " Degree of Consistency." During the year the Daughters of America had been organized, August 22, 1891, with headquarters at Millvale, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and a resolution endorsing the new organization was also referred to the National Representatives. The report of the State Council officers was indeed gratifying, as to the " high tide " that had swept the State for Juniorism, the Order numbering 700 Councils and 65,000 members. Since the State Council held its session at Erie four years previous, 50,000 persons of Pennsylvania had united with the Order and 550 Councils added to the list. In the history of secret fraternal organizations, no such precedent was ever recorded. Brother Collins began his administration under the most auspicious surroundings, having the presence on the Board of two splendid men, Brothers Winower and Slifer, possessing well trained minds and having indefatigable energy. But, alas, the first of the trio, Junior Past State Councilor Winower, met with an accident while engaged in his occupation, from which he never recovered and died some months subsequent. Starting out in the work with high ideals, State Vice-Councilor Slifer gave promise UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 607 of a useful career, but after a few months a change of business took him out of the state, whereupon, Brother Collins all alone had to push the battle; and to meet every exigency of the work, at a sacrifice pecuniary, he surrendered his position and would not accept another, and gave his entire time to the Order. Untiring and earnest work, however, found its reward and the ' high water- mark" of the Order in Pennsylvania was reached, 235 Councils having been instituted and the membership increased nearly 20,000. The report of the State Secretary, closing nine months before, gave the membership at 56,566 and the number of Councils at 532; whereas at the time of the session there were above 700 Councils and 65,000 members, making an increase from January 1, 1890, to June 30, 1891, of 29,021. In the same length of time the receipts of the Subordinate Councils were $652,409.94; paid for relief, $230,903.12, while the worth of Councils was given at $495,706.18. The receipts of the State Council were $27,530.18 ; disbursements, $25,366.45. State Council assets, $6,524.73. The State Council of Pennsylvania had reached a point of unweildiness. Its marvelous growth and the admission of 50 regiments of members within five years brought with it some restless, jealous brothers who were ready, on first provocation, to stir up trouble. In fact, during the year, in a warm political campaign, the State Councilor was attacked by certain newspapers not in sympathy with the Order. It was a " tempest in a teapot," and was incited by a few malcontents in the organization. Notwithstanding the added Jabor to keep the machinery moving, with 700 Councils to look after and 65,000 members, the Finance Committee, on a " cheap John " basis, recommended a curtailing of expenses, reducing the State Councilors' salary from $1,000 to $900, and his clerk from $600 to $400. " Consistency, thou art a jewel." The recommendations were not approved. The State Council met with a great loss in the death of Junior Past State Councilor Winower, and for the first time, which custom was continued for many years, a Memorial sendee was held presided over by the State Councilor, and addresses were made by members of the State Body, the most pathetic and brilliant of which was delivered by Brother Perry A. Shanor. The election for officers gave the following results : State Councilor — Harry A. Heisler, State Vice-Councilor — C. N. Raymond, State Council Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, State Council Treasurer — John W. Calver. 608 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER EASTON, 1892 Easton entertained the Thirty-third Annual Session of the State Council, September 20-23, 1892, Harry A. Heisler presiding. The tide of Juniorism still swept onward, 170 Councils having been planted and the membership materially increased. Brother Deemer, in thought, took the State Council back 12 years, when it met in Easton, and made the following comparison : 1880 1892 Number of Councils 72 722 Number of Members 5,136 78,747 Receipts of Sub. Councils $24,558.34 $770,400.69 Paid for Relief 5,772.69 286,905.75 Worth of Councils 53,510.69 722,937.59 Total receipts of S. C 965.13 30,888.72 Officers elected: State Councilor — C. N. Raymond, State Vice-Councilor — W. T. Kerr. JOHNSTOWN, 1893 The brothers of Johnstown had an opportunity of showing their appreciation to the Order for kindness received in time of need, in entertaining the State Council in annual session, September 19-22, 1893. The State Council of Massachusetts sent the following unique greeting : " The Bay State to the Keystone, on this fine September day, Sends greetings with the fond hope that free schools here will stay Like our lofty hills so noble, towering high above the plain, So may this institution as steadfastly remain." As referred to in the History of Massachusetts, this poetic effusion came from the Junior " poet lauerate " of the " Bay State," Brother Geo. Noyes. C. N. Raymond presided at the session, whose report with that of the State Council Secretary, showed that 73 Councils had been instituted and the membership increased to 82,741. The voluminous reports of the State officers and the numerous com- plaints incorporated therein, indicated a year of strenuosity. The most marked feature of this session was, that it was the " begin- ning " of the internal strife that reached its climax at Minneapolis, Minn., in 1899. The " anti-Collins " movement, as it is known in history, had its inception here during his absence in the West as UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 609 National Organizer. Jealous of his growing popularity as a leader and a worker those who formerly shouted " Hail to the Chief," now cried " Crucify him." The first move adopted by the " cabal " to antagonize Brother Collins and his friends was in withdrawing the appropriation from The American which was followed up by the election of an entire ' anti-Collins " Board. Up to this time, (and State Council Secretary Deemer bears out the statement) there was no Collins or anti-Collins " faction " in Pennsylvania, and it is fair and just to say that to those who nine years after affiliated with the insurgent " cabal," belongs the odium of inaugurating the movement that placed our beloved Order in jeopardy. Those who were selected to have oversight of the organization for the ensuing year were: State Councilor— W. T. Kerr, State Vice-Councilor — E. W. Crane, State Council Treasurer — John W. Calver. 39 CHAPTER XXXIV PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued) LANCASTER, 1894 STATE COUNCILOR W. T. KERR presided over the State Council at its annual session held at Lancaster, September 18-30, 1894. The writer was admitted to the State Council at this session, being the Representative of his Council, Geo. Washington, No. 423, and was appointed Chaplain. The attendance was large and the body unwieldy. Factionalism ran high, much bitterness was engendered and the friends of the then existing administration won in every contest, with one exception. The year preceding had been a memorable one for the Order in the state; indeed for the whole national jurisdiction, during which time the organization was brought more prominently before the public than at any previous period of the country's history. The " Riverside " and the famous " Gallitzin " School cases had attracted the attention of the Order, and occupied much of the time of the Board of Officers in their battle against sectarian teach- ing in the public schools of the state This subject has been given in full under the section of the History of Legislation. Nine hundred and ninety-three dispensations had been granted by the State Councilor, 81 charters for new Councils issued, while the entire year was one of great activity on the part of the officers of the State Body. The proposed monuments to be erected on the battle-field of Brandywine and at the grave of John Morton, the thirteenth signer of the Declaration of Independence whose vote decided in favor of liberty, were endorsed by the State Council. To carry out the legal proceedings in the Gallitzin School Garb case, an appeal had been sent out to the Councils of the state for funds, in response to which $2,251.33 was received and $2,039.06 was expended in the prosecution of the suit. Pursuant to change of representation in the National Body adopted at Asheville in June of same year, the contest for National Representatives was spirited, there being 44 candidates with but 20 6io UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 611 to elect, making in all 32 as the representation of Pennsylvania in the National Council. Five hundred and thirty-three votes were cast in the election of officers resulting in the selection of the following: State Councilor — Robert W. Crane, State Vice-Councilor — C. B. Johnson, State Council Treasurer — J. VV. Calver. The membership reported by State Council Secretary Deemer, as per date of December 31, 1893, was 84,154; however the report for June 30, 1894, gave 86,134. Total number of Councils in good standing, 861. Received by Subordinate Councils $604,82 1.65 Paid for Relief 245,107.20 Worth of Councils 734,765.03 National Council Per Capita Tax $8,029.60 A resolution to instruct the National Representatives to use all honorable means to have stricken from Law 1, the liquor clause, was defeated. A resolution to have church property placed on a basis of taxation, was referred to the Legislative Committee. Memorial services were held during the session for those who had departed during the year, at which service addresses were made by Eev. W. C. Weaver, Eev. M. D. Lichliter, Wilmer E. Crow, Gustav Bacharach, A. F. Crow, J. W. McCleary, C. B. John- son, H. J. Deily and Eev. J. T. Steffy. McKEESPORT, 1895 What in Pennsylvania was termed the " battle-ground of giants " was the Thirty-sixth Annual Session of the State Body held at McKeesport September 17-19, 1895, presided over by State Councilor Eobert W. Crane. Without question this was the most strenuous session ever held in Pennsylvania and was participated in by " giants " from every section of the state. The feature of the session was the contest for State Vice-Councilor and State Council Treasurer, besides several National Eepresentatives. Brother J. W. Calver, the Nes- tor of Pennsylvania Juniorism and the State Council Treasurer since 1866, had an opponent in J. Wells Buser; but he won with " hands down," having a vote of 397 to 160 for Buser. The "blood (less) angle," however, was the contest for State Vice-Councilor which was a triangular affair, between J. W. 612 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER McCleary, Chas. P. Lang and the writer. The slogan of the winners was " Lichliter, Calver and Harmony." The first ballot showed the following result: Lichliter 277, Lang 187 and McCleary 103. On second ballot, Lichliter had 328 votes and Lang 194. The total vote cast was 569, resulting in the following officers being elected: State Councilor — C. B. Johnson, State Vice-Councilor — Rev. M. D. Lichliter, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. While there was much disappointment among the eastern members of the Order in the state over the fact of not having the National Orphans' Home located at Carlisle, still the State Coun- cilor during the previous year had promulgated the appeal of the Orphans' Home Committee for funds, and there was a reasonable response to same. The disappointment, however, soon died out and Pennsylvania learned to recognize the wisdom of the present loca- tion. During the year, by recommendation of the State Councilor, appeals were sent by Councils and individuals to the City Council of Philadelphia relative to purchasing the Ross Mansion, known as "Flag House " — a commendable appeal that met with a hearty response. Along legislative lines, the preceding year was great in results so far as the carrying out of the principles of the Order are con- cerned. The Jr. 0. U. A. M. was then in the "heydey" of its power in Pennsjdvania, and politicians and legislators trembled. The substance of legislative enactments finds its proper place in another part of this volume; but suffice it to state only in this connection the titles only: 1. The Religious Garb Bill. 2. The Farr Compulsory Education Bill. 3. The " Nickell Bill," providing for none but citizens to be engaged on public works. 4. The " Flag Bill," providing that no other but the Stars and Stripes be permitted to float from Public Buildings. The membership reported by the State Council Secretary, December 31, 1894, was 85,961, being a gain of 1807 ; however, on June 30, 1895, this number had been reduced to 82,832, being a loss of 3,129. The banner year was 1893-1894, the membership reported being 86,134. From that date there was a gradual decline each year until the administration of Brother Bowers, 1898-1899, when a gain was reported. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 613 GETTYSBURG, 1896 The State Council convened in Thirty-seventh Annual Session at the historic town of Gettysburg, September 15-18, 1896, State Councilor C. B. Johnson presiding. There was the usual large attendance of Representatives, and the volume of business transacted made a somewhat voluminous pamphlet. The field work of the Board of Officers had been strenuous, there being a large number of weak and defunct Councils to look after. Besides the Deputy State Councilors, the State Councilor appointed a few Special Deputy State Councilors who gave special work in certain sections of the state. The year with its business and work, also brought grief to the State Body in the death of Past State Councilor Harry A. Keil. which occurred October 2, 1895. Brother Keil was the prince of good fellows and the manliest of men. His funeral was attended by a large delegation of Juniors, and many State and National Council officers were in attendance acting as pall bearers. State Councilor Johnson gave his entire time in prosecuting the work of the Order, 187 days having been spent in the field, during which time he traveled 9,407 miles. The larger portion of his work, and that which entailed much labor, was in visiting country Councils, some of them remote from railroad lines and centers of population where the presence of a State officer was seldom seen. An unusual number of questions came before the Board of Officers to be "ruled upon," many of them, however, were upon matters so trivial that they should not have been sent to the State Councilor or brought to the attention of the Board and then inserted in the Proceedings of the State Council. Even under the usual custom that it was expected for an officer of the State Council to publish the controversies that occurred between him and some other officer or some member, much acrimonious matter was made public which should have been excluded from the printed records. That was true of this session, as there was made public letters that should have been kept from public sight. An argument in favor of a National Funeral Benefit Depart- ment, was brought out by an incident that occurred during the year. A controversy having arisen between a Council and the F. B. A. of Philadelphia over a death claim, the State Councilor decided that the claim was illegally withheld by said Association. The following letter from Cadwalader, the Secretary of said Asso- ciation, is an evidence of the wisdom of the National Council in establishing a Funeral Benefit Department of its own : 614 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " I have been instructed to notify you that we do not recognize your authority (State Councilor's) to render decision for the Association and most respectfully request that in the future you will refer all matters concerning us to our Board of Managers." The standing of the Order in the state was as follows : Number of Councils in good standing 847 Number of Councils defunct 144 Number not reporting 34 178 Number of Members 81,517 As State Vice-Councilor, the writer had the following to say concerning his District " over-loaded " with defunct and non- reporting Councils: " The causes of the decline of the Order in this part of the state are many — all contributing in defeating the progress of the organization. While it is true that factionalism in our ranks has had something to do with our condition, still it is more of a ' scape goat' raised for an excuse not to work, the cry of ' a wolf ' rather than a fact ; hence, became a stere- otyped phrase in the mouths of those who used it as an apology for not working themselves in the interests of the Order. " Never in the history of the organization did such a ' boom ' sweep over the District as in the beginning of this decade. Hundreds of Coun- cils were instituted, some of which should never have had an existence, and thousands of members were secured. Nearly every village and hamlet asked for a Council, and very little care being shown with reference to the material seeking admission, many were permitted to enter whose influence was far from good upon the better element in the community. That this wave of mere sentiment was injurious to the Order, the sequel clearly indicates. Reaction took place, which, in connection with the severest panic this section ever knew, has caused the great loss in this District, both in Councils and members. Thousands through no fault of their own were forced out of the active participation in the Order on account of the lack of money; while other thousands who connected them- selves with the organization under an impulse, or merely for the * loaves and fishes,' soon dropped out. As a result of this reaction many who were at one time foremost in every patriotic movement became indifferent and ceased from active duty in Council work, and have remained in a state of ' innocuous desuetude.' " Internal dissensions have wrecked many Councils, and in some instances the charters have been lifted. We hope in the near future to organize new Councils, leaving out the ' dog in a manger ' element, whose sole desire is to either ' rule or ruin.' " A resolution was referred to the National Eepresentatives that the Funeral Ceremony be reconstructed by having a prayer UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 615 at the close and the privilege of the members to strew evergreen or flowers upon the casket at the grave at the conclusion of the services. This reconstruction did not take place until the National Session at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1905. A motion asking to have the word " Socialism " stricken from the Eitual was referred to the National Representatives, and subsequently the National Body had the word stricken out. The contest for State Vice- Councilor was spirited, there being 4 candidates in the field, viz. : Dr. M. P. Dickeson, James A. Crawford, Edw. H. Kambo and Wm. A. Pike. There were 541 votes cast and the election resulted as follows : State Councilor — Rev. M. D. Lichliter, State Vice-Councilor — Dr. M. P. Dickeson, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. ALTOONA, 1897 In Thirty-eighth Annual Session, the State Council convened in the " Mountain City," Altoona, September 21-23, 1897, Rev. M. D. Lichliter presiding. Nearly 600 were in attendance, the session was quite spirited and at times exciting. The State Coun- cil Secretary submitted a complete report of the standing of the Order, a resume of which only is given here: Number of Council chartered and rechartered ... 45 Number dissolved or consolidated 71 Total number of Councils in good standing 826 Net loss 26 Number of Members 78,903 Loss 1,631 Received by Subordinate Councils $782,363.22 Paid for Relief 281,676.62 Worth of Councils 1,012,849.91 Gain in worth of Councils $52,097.20 From the above figures it will be noted that the Order had returned to the basis of 1892, at which time there were 815 Councils and 79,747 members, high water-mark having been reached in 1894, when the membership was 86,134 and the number of Councils 919. The reader will pardon a personal allusion to himself at this point. The writer, as the State Councilor, in his report to the State Body referred to the wonderful wave of prosperity that swept over the state from 1890 to 1894, and how Councils, as by magic, 616 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER sprung into existence at almost every cross-roads, aided by liberal premiums and a minimum charter list of 12. Secretary Deemer, in 1891, with a prophetic eye, saw the troubled waters ahead and said in his report at that time, " We are instituting Councils faster than we can maintain them." Even the Finance Committee at the same time saw danger ahead : " The past year fully convinces us that the present rapid gain is not healthful." Then came the desolating panic of 1893, the shadow of which fell upon the admin- istration of the writer which brought about the shutting down of nearly all industries and, as the result, the suspension of Councils and members. As is usual, following a " revival " or " boom " in business, religious or fraternal organizations, reaction took place and for years it meant hard work to stem the tide of decline. Furthermore, factionalism and internal strife were rampant in the State organization and jealousies and prejudice had marked effect upon the advance of the Order. Still further, indifference and the spirit of apathy had fallen upon the people and because of this, many, who formerly were " leaders " in the Order, " passed out " of the organization no more to take any part therein. These causes combined with the " sulkers " in the camp, it is not at all a matter of wonder that loss is marked up against us at the end of the campaign. That which added additional work to the State Councilor was the session of the National Council held at Pittsburg in the month of June, 1897, he having, as Chairman of the General Com- mittee, supervision over the arrangements for entertaining same. Two recommendations were submitted by the State Councilor instructing the National Representatives to advocate: (1) A change of name to " Order of United Americans"; (2) The practicability of a three-degree Eitual. The first recommendation was disap- proved while the second one carried by a vote of 254 to 185. The following enactments were passed by the General Assembly of the state, all of them being supported by the State Council Legislative Committee, and are given by title only: 1. To Protect the American Flag from Insult and Degredation. 2. Providing for the Purchasing and Display of United States Flags in Connection with all School Buildings of the State. 3. Maintaining the State Appropriation of $5,500,000 against a reduction of $500,000 for the Public Schools. 4. Changes made in Compulsory Educational Law. 5. To Validate Indebtedness of School Districts. f». To Establish and Aid Public Libraries in School Districts. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 617 7. To Establish Kindergartens where Possible. 8. To Protect School Property. 9. Relative to Special School Tax. 10. To permit the Children the use of School Books during Vacation. 11. To Provide Transportation for School Children. 12. To authorize the Teaching of Stenography and Typewriting in the Common Schools. 13. Removal of Aliens from Public Institutions. 14. Regulating the employment of Unnaturalized Male Persons. The bill to extend the Minimum School Term to seven months was defeated by a vote of 90 to 78, lacking a constitutional majority. The session closed with the following officers: State Councilor — Dr. M. P. Dickeson, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. B. Bowers, State Council Secretary — E. S. Deemer (five years), State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. NEW CASTLE, 1898 Dr. M. P. Dickeson, State Councilor, presided over the annual session of the State Council at its meeting September 20-22, 1898, at the above named place. The usual routine business was trans- acted, the usual somewhat strenuous contests for office were entered into and " the battle of the giants " was still on. The State Council Secretary made a very significant report concerning the depletion of the Order in the state by suspensions since 1892. During those seven years there had been initiated in the Councils the remarkable number of 122,097, the highest number initiated being in 1893, 24,982; and the lowest in 1898, 9,874. During the same time the losses by suspension, death and otherwise were 102,942, leaving a net gain of 19,148. The year that showed the largest loss was 1895, 19,497 ; and the lowest was 1892, 8,177. In commenting on the above remarkable statement, Brother Deemer said that of those initiated within the seven years, but 15 per cent, were members of the Order at that time (1898). What a commentary. Upwards of 90,000 members in seven years having dropped out of the Order by suspension alone, and that in a single state. What an army Pennsylvania would have to-day had this fearful cataclysm not come upon the organization. One can go nowhere in the state but he will find antiquated Juniors in every walk of life. Just think of it ! 100 regiments of patriots outside the fold of the Order as the result of the " weeding out " process. 618 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The year did not pass without a " broken link " in the Junior chain. Past State Councilor Frank T. Weckerly, one of the links connecting the past with the present, died June 19, 1898. When the State Council of Pennsylvania was instituted on March 13, 1860, the first charter the body granted was to Union Council, No. 9, which was instituted on March 14, and Brother Weckerly was elected the first Councilor of the Council. He was elected State Councilor in 1862 and was Eecording Secretary of his Council thirty-five years. Several resolutions were presented, some of which were adopted : 1. That the National Representatives be instructed to work and vote to make such changes in the Constitution so as to prevent the appoint- ment of any on Committees but National Representatives. 2. To abolish the office of National Organizer. 3. A resolution submitted by a self-constituted Board to create a State Orphanage Association and to create a fund to maintain the same. The paper was filed. 4. Instructing the National Representatives to demand the call of the ayes and nays in the National Council on questions the State Council instructed them to vote upon. 5. Protesting against the National Council in appropriating money for Orphans' Home, and also against the request of the National Councilor to vote on the amendment legalizing the Home at Tiffin. This resolution was laid on the table. The Election Board made the following report: State Councilor — Geo. B. Bowers, State Vice-Council — Chas. S. Crall, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. SCRANTON, 1899 Brother George B. Bowers, the fallen Chieftain, presided over the State Council at its Fortieth Annual Session, held at Scranton, September 19-21, 1899. The session of the State Council at Scranton is as memorable in the annals of the Order as the session of the National Council held at Minneapolis, Minn., the same year, as it marked the " part- ing of the ways " in the great army that constitued the Order in the State of Pennsylvania. The details of this unhappy session have been told under the head of " The Conflict at the Crossing of the Centuries," hence but a brief reference will be made in this connection. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 619 The State Council Secretary submitted the usual standing of the Order, which, at the " parting of the ways " should find a place here : Number of Councils 750 Number of Members 79,390 Gain 2,075 Received by Subordinate Councils $707,608.87 Paid for Relief 291,089.65 Worth of Councils 1,092,880.35 The " Death Angel " again swept down upon the State Council, this time John E. Marlin was the victim. Some one has said, " Death loves a shining mark." This aphorism is true when we think of " Johnny " Marlin. He had been a Representative of his Council to the State Council for 25 years, and also represented his State Council in the National Council two terms of five years, and at the time of his death he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home. The following measures advocated and supported by the Legis- lative Committee before the General Assembly of the state were placed upon the statute books of the Commonwealth: 1. To Establish the Minimum School Term to Seven Months. 2. To Confer upon School Boards of Townships the Power of Board of Health. 3. To provide for Equitable Method of Distributing School Funds. The only repulse the Committee met was in the cutting down of the School Appropriation $500,000 a year by the Governor's veto, that executive basing his reasons for the reduction on the inadequacy of funds to meet all appropriations. The session, however, before the conclusion of the business, came to an abrupt end, as fully recited in another place. The mutterings of the coming storm had been heard for sometime, and since the Minneapolis session of the National Council in June, the clouds grew blacker and the typhoon fell upon the Order in Pennsylvania first in all its fury. The 15 cents per capita tax levied by the National Council brought on the conflict. The insur- gent party resisted this levy and in resisting it they forced the State Council to resist the National Council, thereby placing it under insubordination. When the question of providing for the per capita tax came up, the opponents of the National Council, being in the majority, moved to levy nine cents for State purposes only. A motion to amend so as to include the National Council 620 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER tax was defeated by a vote of 166 yeas, the nays,being greatly in the majority, were not counted. Another motion to levy the National Council per capita tax of 15 cents was made which was defeated by the insurgent majority by a vote of 182 to 324. Fol- lowing this insubordinate act, the charge of insubordination made by the National Councilor was read by the Deputy National Coun- cilor, and by the fall of the gavel in the hands of the State Coun- cilor, the State Council of Pennsylvania was adjourned without day, its charter having been suspended. LANCASTER, 1900 — SPECIAL SESSION The National Judiciary having lifted the ban of suspension, and pursuant to a demand from the insurgent party, the State Councilor called the State Council to meet in Special Session at Lancaster, June 26, 1900. But to out-Herod Herod the insurgent leaders had the sheriff of Dauphin County on the ground to serve a summons on the State Board of Officers to appear at the court house in Harrisburg at ten o'clock on the same day and hour of the meeting of the Special Session, or be subjected to contempt of court. In view of these extraordinary proceedings, evidently for a purpose, the Board of Officers adjourned the Special Session to September 17, the day previous to the Annual Session, to be held in the City of Philadelphia. However, the " rump convention " held by the insurgents elected a " fake " Board of Officers and passed a resolution seceding from the National Council. PHILADELPHIA, 1900 — SPECIAL SESSION As per notice of adjournment posted on the door of the hall where the Special Session at Lancaster was to have been held, the Special Session at Philadelphia was called to order by State Coun- cilor Bowers on September 17, 1900, and the remainder of the business of the State Council (left unfinished at Scranton when the charter of the State Body was suspended) was transacted. The session was the most harmonious that had been held for years, because of the fact that the insurgents did not attend, they claiming that the business had been finished and officers installed at the " rump convention " held at Lancaster. The first item of busi- ness after receiving the report of the Credential Committee, was the reading of a protest addressed to " George B. Bowers, assuming to act as State Councilor," etc., declaring that the meeting called by Brother Bowers was illegal, and warned the officers and Bepresen- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 621 tatives against usurping the powers and privileges of the State Council of Pennsylvania at their peril. Of course the presumptious communication was laid on the table never to be taken therefrom. A resolution was submitted ratifying, endorsing, and affirming the action of the Board of Officers in adjourning the State Council session at Lancaster as " being wise, prudent and for the best interests of the entire Order of the state." The ayes and nays were called upon the resolution and it was adopted by a vote of 128 to none. The business of the session concluded with the installa- tion of the following officers : State Councilor — Charles S. Crall, State Vice-Councilor — Z. Taylor Wobensmith. PHILADELPHIA, 1900 The Forty-first Annual Session of the State Council was held at Philadelphia, September 18 and 19, 1900, with State Councilor Charles S. Crall occupying the Chair. This being the regular session of the Body, the insurgents were on hand, as was their right, but they were recognizing their " fake " State Council and their " fake " officers as the real and true State Council of Pennsylvania and the properly qualified officers of same; therefore, this session was to be a very important one, and, as the sequel shows, it resulted in the final break in the Order of the state and the existence of two State Councils and two set of officers. After the preliminary exercises were concluded, S. D. Wood, State Vice-Councilor of the " fake " body read the following announce- ment: " I demand my right and privilege to perform my duty as State Vice-Councilor of the State Council of Pennsylvania, Jr. O. U. A. M., and in the absence of the State Councilor, to open the session of the State Council of Pennsylvania and preside over same." State Councilor Crall refused to vacate the Chair, whereupon said Wood demanded a minute made of the refusal, stating he would not by force assume his rightful prerogatives. Following the report of the Credential Committee, another paper purporting to be the report of the Credential Committee, was read and same was ruled out of order by the State Councilor. Hostilities between the contending forces broke out in earnest when the reading of the minutes was called for. The minutes of the Scranton session were read; but when the Secretary commenced reading the minutes of the Special Session held the day previous objections were made but overruled, and the reading continued until the end, when, on 622 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER a call for the ayes and nays as to the approval of the minutes, the ayes were 126, and nays 269. The minutes of the Scranton session were then approved, and on motion of James McCleary, the minutes of Special Session of September 17 be rejected and not be made a part of this session, was agreed to. Then came the " straw that broke the camel's back," in a motion by the said McCleary that the minutes of the " rump " session of Lancaster, with its resolution of secession, be read, whereupon the State Council Secretary began to read same, when C. N. Kaymond moved that the minutes as printed be approved, excepting the resolution (seceding from the National Council), action on which be deferred till later in session, which motion was agreed to, notwithstanding the point of order raised by Stephen Collins, that all of the proceedings of said " rump " session must be read as it virtually amounted to a recon- sideration. It was self-evident to all that the final parting of the ways had come and that the existence of two State Councils in Pennsylvania was a reality. While the insurgents had the numbers, and if they had exercised even good judgment and not tried to cram their " fake " Lancaster session, with its rebellious resolution, down the throats of the loyalists, they could have controlled the State Council and secured the supremacy over the State Body, and by electing Eepresentatives might eventually have gained the su- premacy over the National Council ; while they had all this in their power by consistent action, they " sinned away their day of grace " and plunged into the vortex of gross rebellion to the constituted au- thorities of the Order ; while on the other hand the loyalists, largely in the minority, had the brains, the intelligence and the parliamen- tarians, as well as the right and the law, on their side, and, as at Scranton, they " cut their way out " of the environments of the occasion, and on the reassembling of the body in the afternoon Hon. Perry A. Gibson, of the loyalists, arose and read the follow- ing significant paper which fell as a thunderbolt upon the ob- structionists, at this time largely composing the State Body: " According to the papers and records offered, filed and adopted at the State Council session, held at Odd Fellows' Temple in the City of Philadelphia on this September 18, 1900, makes it manifest that two State Councils of the Junior O. U. A. M. do now exist, in this State, and as but one legal and loyal State Council can exist, therefore all those members holding allegiance to the National Council, and to save harm to the property rights, name and franchises of the State and National Council of the Junior O.U.A.M., do now request all those who do not so claim, to withdraw herefrom, otherwise those so claiming do UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 62S hereby adjourn to another place in this building for the transaction of such business as may be offered, and to finish the business of the State Council." The request of the State Councilor for the insurgents to retire met, as it was expected, with cries of derision ; whereupon the State Councilor made the request that the loyalists retire, which they did amid the shouts and jeers of the insurgent element. Taking with them the Charter and the property of the State Council, the loyalists repaired to the room designated and continued unmolested to transact in regular form the business of the State Council of Pennsylvania. After reassembling the first thing in order was the reconsidera- tion of the action forced upon the State Council by the insurgent majority relative to the minutes of the Special Session of the " fake " convention of Lancaster, which were rejected and the minutes of the Special Session of September 17, were approved as read. A resolution embodying the paper read by Brother Gibson, as above referred to, was drawn up and every loyal member of the State Council who left the hall below, attached his name thereto, one hundred and twenty-two in number, noble and true who pledged themselves to " stand by the stuff " and fight the most unreasonable and unwarranted rebellion ever inaugurated. Other resolutions recognizing the National Council, affirming allegiance thereto and accepting its laws as supreme, were adopted unanimously. All the amendments of the National Council handed down for concurrence were also unanimously adopted, by a vote of 122 to 0. One of the most exhaustive reports ever submitted to a State Council in any state of the Union, was that of Brother Geo. B. Bowers, who from force of circumstances, held the position of State Councilor for two years, lacking one day, and at this session his report was submitted. It was a complete resume of the whole controversy presented in an unbiased and brotherly spirit showing how the malcontents had erred and how unstable was their basis in the controversy as well as how unreasonable their demands. Equally exhaustive was the report of State Council Secretary Deemer, giving in minutest details the situation as it then existed. His statements under the title of " Why I Am A Loyalist," was a complete resume of the Order both in Pennsylvania and the Na- tional Council, in which comparisons of the several administrations are given showing that those who had been criticizing the National 624 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER as well as State Council for "extravagance" were the most ex- travagant when in power, and that the membership decreased and the finances dwindled when the persons who were now leading the revolt had the control of the State Body. In 1893 when C. N. Raymond was elected State Councilor he found in the State Coun- cil treasury $12,300.20; in 1896 when the writer assumed the Chair there was due the treasury, $119.4-5. During one of the adminis- trations between the above dates the State Council Legislative Committee, endorsed by the Board of Officers, inaugurated the famous " lobby " in Harrisburg in the interest of legislation, in the report of which the word " sundries " formed the principal item of expense, which were never itemized, for reasons best known to those who conducted the " lobby." Upon this point we quote a signifi- cant statement from Brother Deemer in his report to this session: " There are many other matters involved in this controversy. It is largely a struggle for the loaves and fishes, without any merit in it what- soever. I have at times seen what I considered extravagance in the National Council, and some bills which I thought excessive, but never in my 40 years of membership have I seen anything to equal that of the year 1894, in the State of Pennsylvania. William A. Pike was Secretary of the State Legislative Committee and has told me that it would never do to show an itemized list of expenditures of that committee (italics ours). A member of the Finance Committee told me some of the items, and I agree with Pike. Immagination could hardly overreach the items contained in the word ' sundries.' " It has been asserted outside the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania, that the leaders of the Order among the loyalists in the old Key- stone State were, not only the instigators of the disruption in the organization but the perpetuators of the controversy as well. This is a libel on the men in the ranks of the loyalists who have been in the thick of the fight since 1899, and more than those of any other state have given more time and suffered more severely to maintain the honor as well as the very life of the Order, simply because Pennsylvania was veritably the battle-ground in the con- troversy. Notwithstanding the high-handed proceedings of the insur- gents and their determination to either " rule or ruin " the organ- zation, the loyal State Council at this session held out the " olive branch " and sought conciliation. In harmony with this con- cilatory spirit, the following was unanimously adopted: " Whereas, It is the sense of the State Council of Pennsylvania now in session, that every effort within the power of said Council should be exercised in the management of the legal troubles now existing, or that may hereafter exist in the State Council; also to aid and assist the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 625 officers of this State Council in the management of such matters as they may ask from time to time, therefore, be it " Resolved, That a committee of ten be appointed, consisting of two members from each of the three Jr. 0. U. A.M. districts of the state, the State Councilor, State Vice-Councilor, Jr., Past State Councilor and State Council Secretary, and be it further "Resolved, That said committee shall act as a Board of Arbitration to adjust any and all troubles or differences that may arise between any factions that may exist within the Order." • The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — Z. Taylor Wobensmith, State Vice-Councilor — B. Frank Myers, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. PHILADELPHIA, 1901 State Councilor Wobensmith presided over the session of the State Council at its annual meeting at above place, September 17 and 18, 1901. The year had been utilized by the Board of Officers, not so much in advancing the Order, but in saving it from destruc- tion at the hands of the insurgents. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania reversed the decision of the lower tribunal in the Derry Council versus National Council and State Council of Penn- sylvania, thereby validating the enactments of the Minneapolis session of the National Body. There being two State Councils in operation in the state, the National Councilor promulgated a proclamation among the Councils recognizing the loyal State Council and its officers. At the same time the National Judiciary recognized the loyal State Body, and after due trial of bill of charges preferred against certain instigators of the strife in Penn- sylvania, pronounced upon them the penalties decreed, viz. : Wil- mer Crow, W. T. Kerr, C. N. Baymond, Evan G. Badger, James M. Crawford, S. B. Mench and James W. McCleary were deemed guilty of high crimes against the Order and their Councils were directed to expell them; Edw. Wilson, C. A. Westerman, Wm. Gundaker, John King, S. B. Kepner, W. A. Eeese and Henry Markus were found guilty in less degree and the State Councilor was directed to reprimand same, which was carried out either by himself or a qualified Deputy. That the leaven of discord had been working even among the loyal Councils, through basest fabrications promulgated by the insurgent faction, was evidenced at his session in the attempt to have James W. McCleary, under ban of expulsion which his Council refused to carry out, seated as a Representative. A protest had 40 626 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER been submitted against his admission which was referred to a Com- mittee by a vote of 112 to 56. The proceedings of this session were largely filled with matters growing out of the dissensions in the Order and the litigation resultant therefrom either before the National Judiciary or the Courts of the state. The work, therefore, of the Board of Officers was more protective and corrective than progressive so far as the Order was concerned. Two years had passed since the arch conspirators had hatched rebellion in the Order, with the hope of building their own struc- ture upon the ruins of the noblest patriotic Order ever created; hence it is natural that we turn to the report of the State Council Secretary to learn the story of the ruin wrought and the present standing of the Order in the Keystone State. The story is well told by Brother Deemer; but above the ruins there shone a star of brightening hope that brought cheer to the State Body and many in the Order thanked God and took courage. Number of Councils at last report (1899) . . 686 Number of Councils chartered and rechartered 7 Total December 31, 1900 693 Number of Councils dissolved 10 Number of Councils forfeiting their charter or not reporting 386 Total 396 Total number of Councils Dec. 31, 1900 297 Number of Members, December 31, 1899 77,354 Number of Members initiated, etc 6,322 Total • 83,676 Number of Members withdrawn, etc 49,604 Total Membership December 31, 1900. 34,072 Membership December 31, 1899 77,354 Membership December 31, 1900 34,072 Total loss 43,282 Membership June 30, 1901 34,565 Increase since December 31, 1900.... 493 Received by Subordinate Councils $577,095.67 Paid for Relief 63,718.48 Worth of Councils 502,147.06 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 627 Brother Deemer commented on the above standing, and by comparison, showed that the loyal cause was in the ascendancy notwithstanding the suspension and revocation of the charters of hundreds of Councils since the eventful year of 1899. He referred to the loyal phalanx at Scranton standing by the National Council, 182 in number, of which 167 were Representatives representing that many loyal Councils. At the Philadelphia session of 1900 the " Old Guard " numbered 122, of which number 109 were Repre- sentatives, showing 109 Councils loyal to the Supreme Body. According to the report dated December 31, 1900, there were 297 loyal Councils, and at the close of the semi-fiscal year, ending June 30, 1901, there were three hundred and two Councils true to the National Council. In July, 1901, death came very suddenly to an honored mem- ber of the State and National Councils, Dr. Martin H. Williams, Past National Representative, having been elected at the famous McKeesport session of 1895. Notwithstanding the loss of membership and the consequent heavy loss of income from per capita tax it is marvelous to state that the finances were in a splendid condition. The State Council receipts and expenditures were as follows: In State Secretary's hands, Sept. 1, 1900 $10,385.66 In State Treasurer's hands, Sept. 1, 1900 70.42 Receipts from Sept. 1, 1900, to Aug. 31, 1901 7,052.93 $17,509.01 Amount of expenditures, Sept. 1, 1900, to Aug. 31, 1901 16,744.33 Balance on hand $764.68 Heavy reductions were recommended by the Finance Commit- tee, especially in salaries of officers, that of State Councilor being reduced from $1,000 to $600. The State Council Secretary's salary being $1,500 a year, fixed by law, Brother Deemer generously returned $300 of his salary to the State Council. The estimated expenses by the Finance Committee were $9,100; but after the schedule had passed through the pruning process the amount showed $8,050. The Legislative Commitee, consisting of Brothers Cyrus S. Weiss, W. H. Nethery and Hon. Perry A. Gibson, reported the 628 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER results of their work along the line of legislation enacted by the General Assembly, which, by title is as follows : 1. Amendments to the Compulsory Educational Law. 2. Relating to the Study and Practice of Physical Culture in the Public Schools. 3. An Act Relating to Kindergartens in the Public Schools. 4. An Act Relating to Free Libraries. 5. Relating to Condemnation of Real Estate for Normal School Purposes. 6. Relating to Night Schools for Manual Training. 7. To Provide for the Centralization of Schools. 8. Appropriating a Sum toward Creating a National Park at Valley Forge. Efforts to keep the Legislature from " cutting " the school appropriation and reducing appropriations to sectarian institutions, such as hospitals, were fruitful and much credit belongs to the Committee. The Arbitration Committee of both State Councils, as per appointment at last session, had their joint meeting at which the phases of the controversy were discussed, but as in every effort towards conciliation, the conference of the joint Committee ad- journed without results, the insurgent Committee giving as their ultimatum that the only proposition they would accept was the recognition of the insurgent State Council and its officers as the true State Council of Pennsylvania. With them as always was the case it was the " whole hog or none." The ballot for officers revealed a vote of 187, resulting in the election of the following: State Councilor — B. Frank Myers, State Vice-Councilor — J. C. Bash, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. PITTSBURG, 1902 In Forty-third Annual Session the State Council convened at Pittsburg, September 17 and 18, 1902, with State Councilor B. Frank Myers presiding. The strife in the Order throughout the state was still rampant, the insurgents by every conceivable and inconceivable method were trying to dethrone the organization, not only promulgating false and unwarranted statements among the insurgent Councils, but even sending their incendiary circulars into the camp of the loyalists. The State Councilor revoked the charters of a large number of Councils for not complying with the laws, and thus " weeded " out the tares from the wheat. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 629 It is not a matter of wonder that, under existing circumstances, there could be no increase in Councils and members; but it is a gratifying fact that the Board of Officers, who did noble service, held the Order steady so that it held its own in the face of the most discouraging conditions. When it is remembered that there were two State Councils, and with conflicting doubts on the part of thousands of members who, in a sense, were neutral, waiting the decision of the Courts, the Order is to be congratulated that it had in the Chair a calm and deliberate State Councilor who, with his hand on the helm, kept the old ship from being dashed to pieces on the treacherous rocks that lay along the way. Though there was little or no gain, still the " Old Guard " stood valiantly for the right and held up the hands of Brother Myers and his associates on the Board. The election of officers revealed the fact that 196 votes were cast, resulting as follows: State Councilor — J. C. Bash, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. W. Arold, State Council Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. BETHLEHEM, 1903 State Councilor J. C. Bash called the State Council to order in Forty-fourth Annual Session at Bethlehem September 15, 1903. The usual preliminary exercises were held, the addresses of welcome being extended by the Burgess, Hon. Robert Taylor, in behalf of the town and by Brother A. C. Mosebach, in behalf of the Order, to which response was made by Junior Past State Councilor B. Frank Myers. As an inovation, these addresses were printed in full in the Proceedings. Another year of disquiet, doubt and apathy had passed with no decision in the Quo Warranto Case as to which was the real State Council. To say that the delay was disheartening even to the loyal Councils and members, is putting it very mildly The clouds hung heavy and dark over the Order and progress seemed handicapped, yet hope in the hearts of the leaders never was brighter than at this time. One regretable circumstance occurred during the year, that was the defection of the Councils of Lancaster county, hitherto loyal to the National Council, and their refusal to pay the per capita tax and submit a report of their standing to the State Council Secre- 630 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER tary. This unfortunate dissension arose over a set of resolutions submitted to the State Council at the last session from the Kepre- sentatives of the Lancaster delegation. These resolutions had refer- ence to certain proposed changes in the laws growing out of the existing strife in the organization, and the appointment of a self- appointed committee on arbitration to adjust the differences be- tween the two bodies of Juniors in the state. The subjects as contained in the changes proposed were laid over for one year, but the idea of an Arbitration Committee was accepted, however, with the personnel of same changed from the original. The action of the State Council did not meet with the approbation of the Lan- caster Councils, whereupon they refused to meet their obligations; but subsequently the differences were adjudicated and the Councils were restored. Notwithstanding this a temporary loss, the State Council had made advance in the face of the most stupendous discouragements that confronted the Board of Officers. While the State Council Secretary reported to the National Council December 31, 1902, a loss of 843 members, this, however, was overcome by the report of June 30, 1903, of an increase over the December report of 1,754, which was further increased by reports of August 31, making the total membership 35,848, or a gain since the December report of 2,546. The election of officers resulted as follows : State Councilor — Geo. W. Arold, State Vice-Councilor — E. C. Lafean, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. TYRONE, 1904 State Councilor Arold presided at the Forty-fifth Annual Ses- sion of the State Council which convened at Tyrone, September 20, 1904. The year closed amid peans of victory and the Order took an upward leap, because of the triumph in the Philadelphia courts over the long-drawn litigation as to which was the true State Council of Pennsylvania, Judge Audenreid deciding in favor of the loyal State Council. The decision was handed down on May 10, 1904, from which time there was a marked progress in the Order, many Councils hitherto holding aloof from either State Council returned to the fold by declaring their allegiance to the National Council and the State Council of Pennsylvania. Twenty- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 631 two Councils whose charters had been revoked were restored to the fellowship of the Order. In view of the return of these Councils the Order made great advance the closing months of the year, and according to the very latest returns to the State Council Secretary, the membership stood 39,514, or a gain of about 4,400. Death was busy during the year. Past National Councilor Geo. B. Bowers and Past State Councilor J. F. Koehnline were " gathered to their fathers," and appropriate resolutions were adopted. Both had attended the National session at San Francisco, no one then anticipating that their faces would no more be seen in the National Body. The amendments to the National Constitution, including change in the Objects of the Order and the holding of Biennial Sessions of the National Council, were concurred in unanimously by a vote of 182. The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — E. C. Lafean, State Vice-Councilor — A. H. Leslie, State Council Treasurer— J. W. Calver. MONONGAHELA, 1905. With patriotic pride, Monongahela received the State Council in annual session, September 19-21, 1905, State Councilor Lafean in the Chair. With lavish hands the local Council, No. 136, gave a hearty reception to the State Body, and the citizens, by way of decorating for the occasion, exhibited a marked interest in the organization. An old-time parade was participated in by the visit- ing Councils one evening and patriotic addresses were delivered by visiting members of distinction during the session of the body. The favorable decision of the courts relative to the true State Council brought a large increase in Councils and members. The report of the State Council Secretary showed 326 Councils and 46,093 members, being a gain of 47 Councils and 10,227 members. One of the original and charter members of the State Council of Pennsylvania, Past State Councilor Geo. W. Kreamer, died dur- ing the year. He was a member of Independent Council, No. 8, having joined it in 1859, making a continued membership in a single Council of 45 years, which, as Brother Deemer stated, has no paral- lel. He was elected State Councilor in 1861, having been beaten the year previous by one vote for State Council Secretary, Brother Deemer receiving 12 to his 11. 632 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Cyrus S. Weiss, F. A. Kopp and A. M. Van Tine, State Legislative Committee, reported the following legislation enacted in harmony with the teachings of the Order: 1. To permit Children in Districts where no High School exists to attend a High School in other Districts. 2. Supplement relative to Conveying Real Estate for School Purposes. 3. Providing a system of Humane Education in Public Schools relative to Kindness to Birds and Animals. 4. Amending Act for Compulsory Education. 5. To Regulate the Employment of Minor Children in Anthracite Coal Regions. 6. To Regulate the Employment of Minors about Industrial Estab- lishments. 7. Making an Appropriation for the Thaddeus Stevens Industrial and Reform School. Officers elected for the ensuing year were: State Councilor — A. H. Leslie, State Vice-Councilor — John G. Fry, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. WILLIAMSPORT, 1906 The story of Pennsylvania Juniorism is concluded with the Forty-seventh Annual Session of the State Council convened at Williamsport September 18 and 19, 1906, State Councilor A. H. Leslie presiding. The State Council Secretary submitted his report which con- tinued to be gratifying as to the progress of the Order in the Keystone State. It was as follows: Number of Councils 349 Number of Members 50,041 Gain for year 3,948 Received by Subordinate Councils $509,413.00 Paid for Relief 217,693.28 Total worth of Councils 987,791.01 In 1899 on the eve of the rebellion in the Order, by way of comparison, the following resume was given by the State Council Secretary : Number of Councils 750 Number of Members 79,390 Received by Subordinate Councils $707,608.87 Paid for Relief 291,089.35 Worth of Councils 1,092,880.35 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 633 When it is taken into consideration that at the outbreak of strife in 1899 the loyalists had less than 200 Councils and a little over 30,000 members, and for four long years there was apathy, doubt and fear occasioned by the failure of obtaining a decision as to which was the State Council the above growth is certainly remarkable. But in finances, the progress was marvelous, as the above report shows. Seven years before the Receipts from Subor- dinate Councils, 400 more than reported at this session, showed only $198,195.87 more than in 1906; amount paid for Relief but $73,316.37 more and a fact almost unbelievable, in worth of Coun- cils, the records of 1899 show but seventy-three thousand three hun- dred and sixteen dollars and thirty-seven cents more than in 1906. Surely the threat of the insurgent faction made at Scranton seven years before that they would crush the loyal body, break up the National Council and force them to get upon their knees to the " rule or ruin " party, had come to naught. The indications at this writing (1907) are, that it will be but a few years until the Order in Pennsylvania will again reach the high water-mark, if not in number of Councils, it will in members, and far outstrip the former figures in financial strength. The receipts of the State Council indicated a healthy con- dition almost equalling the palmy days of the body before the item of " sundries " depleted the Treasury. The receipts were $29,742.74, of which $28,864.98 was for per capita tax; expendi- tures $25,638.38, of which $17,577.42 was for National Council per capita tax, on a basis of 42 cents for National Council and Orphans' Home purposes and 16 cents for State Council expenses, leaving a balance on hand of $17,777.35, from which should be deducted $8,788.71 for National Council per capita tax payable in October, leaving a net balance of $8,988.64. A call for relief to aid the San Francisco brothers brought in response thereto the sum of $2,482.50. With generous mood and out <5i their own pockets, the members of the State Body contributed to the " Silver Shower " in the interest of the Orphans' Home, $103.13. The Committee to compute the mileage of the Representatives and Officers as proposed in resolution submitted at previous session, reported the total mileage of 120,885 miles entailing an expense on the State Council of $3,626.55, which would add eight cents to proposed per capita tax; therefore, in the opinion of the Finance Committee, it was deemed unwise to adopt the suggested plan. Again the black-winged Angel of Death laid his hand upon the State Council, removing therefrom Past National Councilor Harry 634 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Stites, whose death occurred in Havana, Cuba, while seeking his health. Dr. Stites united with- the Order early in the 70s and represented his Council at the session of the State Council in 1873 and subsequently was chosen one of the National Eepresentatives, and in 1875 was elected National Vice-Councilor and in 1876, was promoted to the Chair of National Councilor. The officers placed at the helm of the State Council for the year 1906-1907, are the following: State Councilor — J. G. Fry, State Vice-Councilor — Oscar F. Hauser, State Council Secretary — Edw. S. Deemer, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Calver. In this connection, it might be well to state that the other officers are appointive instead of elective, hence no list here is ap- pended. As is so well known, Brother Edw. S. Deemer, State Council Secretary, elected to that position at the institution of the State Body in 1860, and, with the exception of three years while passing the chairs, has been reelected at the close of the official term ever since, has notified the State Council, that at the expiration of his term in 1907, he will not be a candidate for reelection. Thus, briefly the story of Pennsylvania Juniorism, so far as the State Council is concerned, has been told. The mother of all State Councils, and for ten years the Supreme Head of the Order, no State Body in the entire National jurisdiction has so wonderful a history as that of the old Keystone State. Many of her sons have been prominent both in the State and National Council, some of them in a larger degree more conspicuous than others, binding as with a fraternal link, the opening life of the Order with the present (1907). Three of the honored brothers of Pennsyl- vania, as with a golden band, clasp the birth-hour of the National Council and bind it with the ever present now; yea, even farther back the Order has two links that bind the State Council of Penn- sylvania with the first decade of the twentieth century, in the only living delegates to the convention that created the State Coun- cil in 1860; yea, still farther back than that, Pennsylvania can go and furnish at this time a member who is the only living charter member of the Order itself, and still a member of Washington Council, No. 1. Therefore as we look back retrospectively, here and there in Pennsylvania stands a giant oak amid the mighty fallen forest of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 635 patriots, long since " gathered to their fathers." Brother Chas. P. Haupt, Past National Councilor, stands to-day (1907) as the only living pillar of the Junior Temple, being the surviving charter member of the Order, enrolled in the organization, and still a mem- ber of Washington Council, No. 1. Past State Councilor, State and National Council Secretary, Edw. S. Deemer and Past State Coun- cilor John P. Fanshawe, stand as two pillars of the Temple, they being the only living charter members of the first State Council of the Order, still members of the organization, viz., Pennsylvania. These two pillars, like the two famous columns at the entrance of King Solomon's Temple, Boaz and Jachin, adorn the Junior State Temple at this writing (1907), and long may they live to link the past with the present, binding the two as with a band of gold. Another unique feature of Pennsylvania Juniorism is its honored triumvirate, standing at the entrance of the National Council, like three great columns, the only living charter members of that body, still members of the Order, Past National Councilor J. W. Calver, National Secretary Edw. S. Deemer and Past State Councilor John D. Goff. No other organization of same age can show a record like this — -five living links holding as with a clasp of gold, the budding life of the Order itself, the State Body, as well as the National Council, with the glorious unfolding of the present (1907). As we continue to look back at " antiquity " of the State Council other names rise before us, still living and members of the Order; John W. Paul, State Councilor in 1866, Chas. H. Kurtz, State Councilor in 1871, Frank M. Cody, State Councilor in 1875, H. L. Williams, State Councilor in 1876, and Caspar M. Berry, State Councilor in 1877. These are followed by Benj. B. Naylor, G. Howell Arthur, H. J. Deily and John Montanye, who reigned over and guided the State Council in 1879, 1881, 1883, and 1886, respectively — all still living among us, honored and esteemed. Still living and more or less active, we might enroll among the " fathers " the following Past National Eepresentatives : E. S. Kurtz, L. A. Harmar, Eobt. L. McCully, A. L. Solomon, Dr. W. H. Painter, Harry K. Peck, and I. V. Bobbins. Among the younger generation of active spirits, we have Past National Councilors James Cranston and P. A. Shanor ; Past State Councilors Stephen Collins, C. B. Johnson, Dr. M. P. Dickeson, Chas. S. Crall, Z. T. Wobensmith, B. Frank Myers, J. C. Bash, Geo. W. Arold, E. C. Lafean, A. H. Leslie, and the present State 636 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Councilor (1907) John G. Fry. Among these young men, the writer finds himself classed as a Past State Councilor. Of Past National Eepresentatives, belonging to the younger generation, having served since 1890, we find the following brothers more or less active in the organization : John T. Brant, A. D. Wil- kin, William Gundaker, Geo. W. Hobson, James A. Miller, Cyrus S. Weiss, E. A. Magill, J. Kussell Smith, James Foust, W. S. Doebler, W. G. Madore, C. J. Cleland, H. G. Colbert, Geo. C. Schneider, A. G. Wirth, A. J. Eichards, Stanley 0. Large, Alex. M. DeHaven, Doron Green, M. V. Tuthill, J. H. Ehoads, Eobert J. McKean, Geo. A. Bauer, and G. B. Eoudabush. Those at the present time (1907) representing the State Council in the National Body, are John H. Eby, Thos. H. Walters, F. A. Kopp, J. M. Keech, J. P. Brewer, W. E. Heilman, Past State Councilor E. C. Lafean, C. B. Connell, L. H. Crick, John S. Alcorn and Wm. A. Bauer. The above brethren are not to be considered the only worthies in Pennsylvania Juniorism, simply because they have been espe- cially honored by the State Council. If time and space permitted scores of as worthy brothers could be named, who as Eepresentatives to their State Council or serving in some appointive position at the command of the State Councilor, have left their impress upon the Order. As we write they rise up before us in thought: Wm. C. Graham, Frank J. Eagg, D. K. Horner, John G. Hosick, Chas. At- kinson, W. J. Eobinson, Thos. O'Shell, Arthur M. Fording, Geo. B. Nesbitt, Hon. Chas. F. Heselbarth, Albert M. Hamer, Albert S. Logan, H. G. T. Miller, Phil. German, F. M. Hetrick, Thos. J. Ashford Jr., J. H. Bisbing, Hugh Simons, J. J. Braun, Oscar F. Hauser, State Vice-Councilor (1907), Chas. Kauffman, Geo. W. Huber, A. F. Noah, Col. C. M. Eishel, Prof. A. M. Van Tine, B. H. Kilmer, E. L. Getter, C. H. Hall, O. T. Eentschler, Wm. Linden- felser, A. M. Hetrick, Wm. Hitchens, W. B. Lowman, A. G. Sharra, Geo. S. Ford, Jr., J. 0. Miller, Dr. H. E. Campbell, Thos. C. Cook, Geo. W. Page, H. W. Barclay, J. S. Strickler, W. S. Carter, E. W. Sisly, Allen M. Seitz, Harry W. Shelly, F. W. Isiminger, H. J. Geisel, Wm. J. Berkey, Samuel B. Yohe, C. W. Biddinger, S. P. Craig, J. A. Martin, Edw. Igou, John A. Jones, Chas. Monath, Thos. D. Watkins, C. H. Kenyon, M. H. Bowman, and many others. CHAPTER XXXV PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Continued) RHODE ISLAND ELMER F. WIDNER, assisted by Past National Councilor Geo. H. Greenman, of Massachusetts, with members of Winona Council, No. 63, of Pennsylvania, instituted Winona Coun- cil, No. 1, at Woonsocket, Rhode Island, February 27, 1893, there being 21 applicants. Brother Widner was appointed Deputy Na- tional Councilor of the state by National Councilor James Cran- ston, who reported in 1894 Winona as being the lone Council of Rhode Island with 36 members on the roll. In April of 1895, National Organizer Orange took hold of the work in " Little Rhody " and Washington Council, No. 2, was insti- tuted April 10 ; Old Glory, No. 3, on the 30 ; Unity, No. 4, May 22 ; Standard, No. 5, May 29 ; Hope, No. 6, on June 1, 1895, and on June 12, the State Council of Rhode Island was instituted, all by the efforts of National Organizer Orange. Nos. 2-5 were located in Providence. In speaking of Rhode Island the National Councilor, at the session of 1896, referred to the growth of the Order during the first year of the State Council's history, there being 17 Councils and 600 members, a gain of 8 Councils and 390 members. Much of the credit of this gain and advancement was given to the Special Or- ganizer A. A. Jackson. Brother F. A. Potter represented the State Council in the National Body that session. The writer is very much indebted to the State Council Secre- tary of Rhode Island, Brother A. W. Barrus, for a condensed resume of the State Council taking same from a large record book kept for that purpose. As with other states, the business of the State Council was light and the receipts meagre, hence the first records were thus kept. Some of these Journals the writer has read with much interest so as to cull therefrom the facts desired. Referring back to the institution of the State Council, the preliminary meeting was in charge of National Organizer Orange 637 638 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER who found present 22 Councilors representing 9 Councils. The following officers were elected and installed: Junior Past State Councilor — Elmer F. Widner, State Councilor — A. A. Jackson. State Vice-Councilor — Edward E. Rider, State Council Secretary — Geo. W. Chace, State Council Treasurer — David Evans, State Council Warden — Richard C. McNair, State Council Conductor — Geo. R. Wakefield, State Council Sentinels — Wm. H. Winterbottom and Roland D. Gavitt. Eepresentatives to the National Council were selected as fol- lows: T. J. S. Hopkins, W. F. Monroe, Geo. F. Lewis, Fred W. Alexander and C. W. Mercier. The officers were elected in one room and taken to another for installation, the latter being conducted by D. N. C. Elmer F. Widner. The quarterly report of June 30, 1895, showed 9 Councils and 202 members, Washington Council, No. 2, having the largest mem- bership, 39, and Keystone the smallest, 11. On December 31, 1895, the membership had grown to 471 ; on September 30 there were 17 Councils and 598 members. De- cember 31, 1897, the membership had declined to 438 and Septem- ber 30, 1898, it had declined still more, there being but 11 Councils and 375 members. From that date until the present each quarterly report, with but one exception, showed gains in membership until June 30, 1906, there were 929 members. The First Annual Session of the State Council was held at Woonsocket, May 12, 1896, A. A. Jackson presiding. In the elec- tion of officers the following was the result: State Councilor — S. T. Jenks, State Vice-Councilor — S. T. Arnold, State Council Secretary — Geo. W. Chace, State Council Treasurer — David Evans. State Councilor Jenks, owing to ill health, resigned July 9, 1896, whereupon a special session of the State Body was held August 4, 1896, in the City of Providence, and Edward E. Rider was elected to fill out the unexpired term. The Second Annual Session convened at Pawtucket, May 11, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 639 1897, State Councilor Rider in the Chair. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows : State Councilor— S. T. Arnold, State Vice-Councilor — E. L. Chase, State Council Secretary — Geo. W. Chace, State Council Treasurer— P. W. Card. In Third Annual Session the State Body met at Newport, May 10, 1898, State Councilor Arnold presiding. The following officers were declared elected: State Councilor — E. L. Chase, State Vice-Councilor — Jas. P. Beaumont, State Council Secretary — Geo. W. Chace, State Council Treasurer — Walter T. Humes. For the fourth time the State Council convened in annual session, May 15, 1899 ; E. L. Chase, State Councilor, presided. The place of the meeting was Westerly. The State Body selected the following officers : State Councilor — Jas. P. Beaumont, State Vice-Councilor — Roland D. Gavitt, State Council Secretary — Geo. W. Chace, State Council Treasurer — W. T. Humes. In Fifth Annual Convention, the State Council met in the City of Providence, May 15, 1900, State Councilor Beaumont at the helm. After the usual routine business had been transacted, the session closed with the following officers for the ensuing year : State Councilor — Roland D. Gavitt, State Vice-Councilor — Charles L. Place, State Council Secretary — Geo. W. Chace, State Council Treasurer — N. F. Arendt. Again the State Council convened in the City of Providence, May 21, 1901, with State Councilor Gavitt in the Chair. Those honored with the offices of the State Body were. State Councilor — Chas. L. Place, State Vice-Councilor — Stephen E. Verry, State Council Secretary — A. R. Chandler, State Council Treasurer — John M. Magoon. 640 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER In Seventh Annual Session the State Council also convened in the City of Providence, October 14, 1902, a change in time hav- ing previously been adopted. State Councilor Place presided. When the Election Board reported, it was found that the officers for the ensuing year were: State Councilor — Stephen E. Verry, State Vice-Councilor — A. E. Northup, State Council Secretary — A. R. Chandler, State Council Treasurer — J. M. Magoon. Providence again entertained the State Council in 1903, Sep- tember 8, State Councilor Verry presiding. The election of officers resulted in the following: State Councilor — A. E. Northup, State Vice-Councilor — John Hodgins, State Council Secretary — Arthur W. Barrus, State Council Treasurer — J. M. Magoon. In Ninth Annual Session, the State Council convened at Wake- field, September 13, State Councilor N/orthup presiding. The ses- sion came to a close with the following officers installed for the ensuing year : State Councilor — John Hodgins, State Vice-Councilor — Geo. R. Burdick, State Council Secretary — Arthur W. Barrus, State Council Treasurer — H. E. Humes. The meeting at the close of the first decade of the State Coun- cil of Ehode Island was held at Valley Falls, September 12, 1905, with State Councilor Hodgins in the Chair. The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — Geo. R. Burdick, State Vice-Councilor — J. Frank Sweet, State Council Secretary — A. W. Barrus, State Council Treasurer — H. E. Humes. Westerly opened its doors to the Eleventh Annual Session of the State Council, September 11, 1906, presided over by State Councilor Burdick. The Order throughout the state was in very good condition, and with good men " at the helm " the prospects for further ad- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 641 vancement were excellent. The following statement, submitted by the State Council Secretary, shows the standing of the Order in the state at this time: Number of Councils 8 Number of Members 883 Past State Councilors 8 Past Councilors 160 Junior Members 715 Total 883 Receipts of Subordinate Councils $7,369.67 Paid for Benefits 2,120.30 Worth of Councils 4,551.85 Total Amount paid for Relief in 11 years $15,878.65 As per report December 31, 1906, membership was 929 Gain for the year 110 The election of officers resulted as follows : State Councilor — J. Frank Sweet, State Vice-Councilor — E. C. Lawton, State Council Secretary — Arthur W. Barrus, State Council Treasurer — H. E. Humes. The records of the State Council not being in printed form and the Minute Book being quite large and bulky, it was not possible for the writer to have the records before him in their written form, hence but little else than the place of meeting and time, with the list of the four principal elective officers find a place here. As noted in the above outline, the meetings of the State Council were held annually, and during the interim in the earlier years of the State Council the affairs of the Order were in the hands of the Executive Board, consisting of all the elective officers and the Na- tional Representatives. The State of Ehode Island, though smallest of the family of states in the Union, ranks high in the Order in the character of her membership and the standing and intelligence of those who have, during its short history, manned the bark and guided the affairs of the organization. Among those worthies the following are named : Past State Councilors A. A. Jackson, S. F. Jenks, S. T. Arnold, Charles L. Place, John Hodgins, A. E. Northrup, Earl L. Chace, Geo. E. Burdick and Elmer F. Widner, the later ranking as Senior Past State Councilor, serving as Junior Past State Coun- cilor during the first year, while Brother Jackson, for whom the 4i 642 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER writer entertains a high regard, having sat with him in the National Council, is Senior Past State Councilor by service in the State Councilor's Chair. Others who have been or are still prominent are the following : Past National Eepresentatives Geo. W. Chace, some years ago State Council Secretary ; Walter T. Humes, one year State Council Treas- urer ; C. E. Dawley, A. E. Chandler, two years State Council Secre- tary, and J. Frank Sweet, E. C. Lawton, Arthur W. Barrus and H. E. Humes, the present Board of Officers (1907), serving in their respective positions of State Councilor, State Vice-Councilor, State Council Secretary and State Council Treasurer. Brother Barrus is a very popular and efficient official, having been elected to his present position in 1903, and unanimously reelected at each session since, and Brother Humes having served in his office since 1904. But the above named brethren, though they have been or are serving in prominent State and National positions, are not the only brothers who prominently are active or were active in the work of the Order in the state. Quite a number in the humble ranks of the organization have been helpful in shaping the policy of Bhode Island Juniorism, a few of whom we here name : Brothers M. P. Jones, Frank H. Walling, H. W. Sutcliffe, A. T. Thurber, Geo. F. Lewis, Geo. Mason, Chas. M. Huling, Jos. J. Northup and E. C. Barber. SOUTH CAROLINA Special Organizer Thos B. Ivey, of Virginia, introduced the Order into South Carolina, June, 1894, by organizing and institut- ing Columbia Council, No. 1. Mountain City Council, No. 2, soon followed in September of same year, instituted by Special Organ- izer Ivey. National Organizer Walter E. Orange, also of Virginia, was sent into the state in February, 1895, and as the result of his work, the following Councils were instituted: Winona, No. 4, on February 28 ; Daniel Morgan, No. 5, Marcli 8 ; Mount Pisgah, No. 6, March 9 ; Sumter, No. 7, March 20, and Jasper, No. 9, on March 21, 1895. INSTITUTION" OF THE STATE COUNCIL On March 25, 1895, National Organizer Orange instituted the State Council of South Carolina at Charleston. In pursuance to the call the Eepresentatives of the various Councils assembled on the above date and the convention was called to order by the Na- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 643 tional Organizer who temporarily presided and instituted the State Council in due form, with the following officers : . Junior Past State Councilor — Dr. R. Atmar Smith, State Councilor — Edmund Bacon, State Vice-Councilor — V. M. Rice, . State Council Secretary — J. Frank Pate, State Council Treasurer — F. L. Naramore, State Council Conductor — J. H. Nelson, State Council Warden — C. F. Duncan, State Council Sentinels — C. L. Rhanie and G. S. Wood, National Representatives — Edmund Bacon, J. H. Nelson, F. L. Nara- more, J. Frank Pate and G. S. Wood. The per capita tax was placed at 30 cents; the State Council Secretary's salary at $25. The Second Annual Session was held at Columbia, April 15, 1896, State Vice- Councilor Eice presiding. The usual routine business incident to a new State Council was carried out and the brief session came to a close with the following officers elected, who were installed by Deputy National Councilor Dr. E. Atmar Smith : State Councilor — V. M. Rice, State Vice-Councilor — R. M. Baker, State Council Secretary — J. Frank Pate, State Council Treasurer — W. J. Gilmore. In Third Annual Session, the State Council convened at Charleston April 21, 1897, State Vice-Councilor Baker presiding. The Council of which the State Councilor was a member having become defunct, his office was declared, vacant, whereupon State Vice-Councilor E. M. Baker was elected and installed in his place. Arrangements were formulated by which the State Council could be represented at the National Council by having the Sub- ordinate Councils pay $100 and the State Council $50 towards expenses of the Eepresentatives. The election of officers resulted as follows : State Councilor — W. J. Gilmore, State Vice-Councilor — James Robinson, State Council Secretary — J. Frank Pate, State Council Treasurer — C. L. Rhame. Spartansburg entertained the State Council in Fourth Annual Session, April 19, 189S, W. J. Gilmore, State Councilor, presiding, with about 40 members present. 644 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER A resolution was adopted instructing the National Representa- tives to advocate and vote for a three-degree Ritual, to vote to retain the liquor clause in the laws and to support a proposition to change the Dame of the Order to " Order of United Americans." The above suggestions were embodied in the State Councilor's recom- mendations. A motion instructing the State Legislative Commit- tee to prepare a plan by which Compulsory Education could be secured was laid on the table. A resolution was adopted instruct- ing the National Representatives to favor and vote for a law which would prevent a State Council from adopting exclusively as an auxiliary either the Daughters of Liberty or Daughters of America. The advance during the year was very gratifying, 17 Councils having been chartered; 11, however, disbanding, made the total only 26. The membership increased from 533 to 1,392, a remark- able gain. Walter Oeland, as State Organizer, did a noble work, having organized and reorganized eight Councils. The returns of the Election Board showed the following : State Councilor — R. M. Baker (second term), State Vice-Councilor — Jno. Boman, State Council Secretary — J. Frank Pate, State Council Treasurer — C. L. Rhame. The Fifth Annual Session of the State Council was held at Columbia, April 18, 1899, Dr. R. Atmar Smith acting as presiding officer, neither the State Councilor or State Vice- Councilor being present at the session. The Order declined during the year in Councils as well as members, no Councils having been organized, but 11 were disbanded, leaving but 15 in good standing. The membership showed a de- crease from 1,392 to 1,135. The officers elected were : State Councilor — C. M. Trott, State Vice-Councilor — John T. Gaston, State Council Secretary — J. Frank Pate, State Council Treasurer — C. L. Rhame. A break occurs here owing to the fact that the proceedings of four sessions are missing, not having been printed ; but the minutes of the Tenth Annual Session, held at Rock Hill, April 26, 1904, show that State Councilor H. D. Funderburk presided. Previous to this J. Frank Pate had served as State Councilor one term. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 645 The preliminary exercises were of an interesting character, several addresses of welcome from the citizens being made, to which Col. Z. P. Smith, editor of The American, in a brilliant manner responded. The officers selected to guide the affairs of the Order were : State Councilor — E. H. Moore, State Vice-Councilor — K. S. Patterson, State Council Secretary — J. S. Wilson, State Council Treasurer — Caspar C. Stuart. State Council Secretary Wilson was elected to his position two years previous, and has ever since up to date (1907) been unani- mously reelected. National Vice-Councilor W. E. Faison was present and in- structed the State Council in the mysteries of the Order, and at the same time gave an interesting address calling upon the Represen- tatives present for pledges in number of members they would strive for, of which 742 were secured. In Eleventh Annual Session, the State Council convened April 19, 1905, at Greenville, State Councilor Moore presiding. An- other year of prosperity had crowned the labors of the brethren, 10 new Councils having been chartered, a net gain of 6, and the membership had increased from 1,416 to 1,65S, Avith a correspond- ing advance in the finances. Loyalty to the National Council was shown in a marked man- ner by the State Council officers in urging the membership to patronize the official organ, The American, and the National Fu- neral Benefit Department. Furthermore, all the amendments of the National Council were approved. Efforts had been made by the Legislative Committee to have enacted a Compulsory Education Law, but failed in the attempt. In the election of officers, the following were chosen : State Councilor — E. H. Moore (reelected), State Vice-Councilor — R. S. Patterson (reelected), State Council Secretary — J. S. Wilson (reelected), State Council Treasurer — C. C. Stuart (reelected). The Chapter of Juniorism in South Carolina closes with the Twelfth Annual Session of the State Council, held at Columbia, April 1?, 190fi, with State Councilor Moore in the Chair. State 646 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Vice-Councilor Patterson having resigned, Lewis G. Fultz was appointed to fill the position. The State Council was opened in accordance with the State Council Eitual adopted at Nashville session of the National Council and all Eepresentatives and Past Councilors were obligated by State Council Chaplain W. C. Winn, and the State Council Degree was conferred upon them by Deputy National Councilor C. L. Ehame. The State Councilor gave a resume of his work, among other interesting statements, referred to the visit of himself and mem- bers of the committee to the Governor of the State to secure repre- sentation in the delegation to be appointed to the Immigration Conference to be held in the City of New York, in the month of December, 1905, and the Order was honored with the appointment of two members of said delegation, viz. : State Council Secretary J. S. AVilson and Geo. Bell Zimmerman. As above stated, the State Councilor received the resignation of State Vice-Councilor Patterson, and later received from State Council Treasurer Stuart his resignation, to which position he appointed E. F. Matteson. The State Council Secretary gave a very complete report of the standing of the Order: Number of Councils last report 31 Instituted during the year 12 Reorganized 1 44 Councils surrendering charter 6 Councils subject to suspension 2 8 Total number in good standing 36 Number of members at last report 1,674 Number initiated and by new Councils 784 2,462 Number suspended, deceased, etc 553 Total membership 1,909 RANK OF MEMBERSHIP Past State Councilors 4 Past Councilors 116 Honorary Members 61 Junior Members 1,853 FINANCIAL STANDING Receipts of Subordinate Councils $10,662.15 Paid for Relief 3,752.20 Receipts of State Council $1,490.04 Expenditures State Council 1,351.61 National Council Per Capita Tax $588.00 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 6*7 The Nestor of South Carolina Jimiorism, the leader, not boss, is our genial friend and Brother Dr. R. Atraar Smith, whose coun- sels in the National Council have always been respected, and in his own State Council lias always had the esteem of his brethren. Past State Councilor J. Frank Pate has been a hard worker in his own State Council, for some years its Secretary, and when a member of the National Council he took prominent part in its business. For some years Brother J. S. Wilson has been the " scribe " of his State Council and has shown himself abreast of the times in that position. He very creditably represented his State Council at the sessions of the National Council, at Nashville and Boston. Past State Coun- cilor C. M. Trott, W. P. Berkmyer, E. H. Moore and D. W. Loyd have rendered valuable service to the Order, the two former having been National Representatives, both now deceased. Brothers W. C. Winn, C. L. Rhame, B. F. Adams, H. Terry, L. G. Fultz, the two latter State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor (1906) and A. L. Barton, are a few of the prominent factors of the State Body. The State Council of South Carolina is on a sound basis and the condition of the Order throughout the state is most excellent, and like its sister state, North Carolina, she has a future. The State Council Secretary referred to the growth of the Funeral Benefit Department and Beneficiary Degree in the state, which growth of sentiment came largely through the efforts of the Secretary and the Board of Officers. The Secretary, with an eye to the good of the Order, is laboring for a better business method on the part of the officers of the Subordinate Councils, and to that end has been urging Recording Secretaries to conform to a better system of keeping records and accounts. It is pleasing to note, as per report of Dr. R. Atmar Smith and Brother J. S. Wilson, National Representatives, the satisfaction in the adoption of a New Funeral Ceremony and the State Council Ritual by the National Council at its meeting in Nashville, Ten- nessee. " For years our State Council has been more or less at sea in this respect. Now there should be no trouble in opening and closing in a dignified way." The State Legislative Committee again pressed a Compulsory Educational measure before the State Legislature, but, as before, it met with defeat; sentiment, however, had been aroused upon the subject to such an extent that some members of the Legislature who had formerly opposed the proposed law, were favorable to it. By a vote of 46 to none the amendments handed down by the 648 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER National Council were concurred in by the State Council. A reso- lution submitted by State Council Secretary endorsing the proposed legislation on Immigration at Washington was adopted by a rising vote. After a most pleasant and harmonious session, the State Coun- cil adjourned with the following officers at the helm : Junior Past State Councilor — E. H. Moore, State Councilor — H. Terry, State Vice-Councilor — Lewis G. Fultz, State Council Secretary — J. S. Wilson, State Council Treasurer — E. F. Matteson, State Council Conductor — J. H. Robinson, State Council Warden — T. E. Rawle, State Council Sentinels — C. C. Deanhart and A. B. Smith, State Council Chaplain — W. C. Winn. South Carolina has not figured to a great extent in the affairs of the National Council, not that she had no " good timber," but because she has been conservative in her demands and has not pushed her claims as other states. Her Eepresentatives to the Na- tional Body have at least been equal in intelligence to those from other states, and have been received with kindly respect by their copatriots in the Supreme Body. TENNESSEE Bluff City Council, No. 1, was instituted in February, 1881, by John H. Soefker, of Eescue Council, No. 1, of Virginia, but it soon run into the " rocks " and met shipwreck in 1883. The com- plaint at that time, too common, was that the investigation of can- didates for initiation was not rigorous enough, hence an element was admitted that had not the proper moral qualifications which kept out the better class of citizens, thereby weakening the Council, and finally it succumbed. We have no record of any further effort being made to plant the Order in the state until 1894, when Special Organizer Thomas B. Ivey instituted Elizabethton Council, No. 1, on May 8, which was followed by the institution of Washington, No. 2, June 8, by National Organizer Stephen Collins, who also instituted Gen. Francis Marion, No. 3, on the 15th of same month. National Organizer W. E. Orange then assumed the work of organization under appointment of the National Board of Officers, and in November of 1894, he entered the state and on the 14th, instituted Winona, No. 4; Washington, No. 5, on the 27th; Good UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 649 Will, No. 6, on February 11, 1895, and Guiding Star, No. 7, at which time and date he instituted the State Council of Tennessee. At the close of same year there were 8 Councils and 713 members. It is with regret that we cannot give a synopsis of the State Council history of this energetic and wide-awake state, not being supplied with the State Council proceedings by the proper officer. That the Order in Tennessee has made splendid progress, is clearly demonstrated by the report of the standing of the State Council for the year ending December 31, 1904: Number of Councils 80 Number of Members 5,07 1 Received by Subordinate Councils $41,858.31 Paid for Relief 13,283.72 Worth of Councils 20,628.06 According to the same record, the list of officers for the year 1905-1906 were: State Councilor — Jamet; W. Watson, State Vice-Councilor — Dr. I. N. Hyde, State Council Secretary — A. B. Adams, State Council Treasurer — J. T. Beasley. Past State Councilors in good standing 1905, were the follow- ing: G. M. Hunt, J. A. Tarpley, J. H. Crossman, G. A. Gowan, E. H. NeaLG. H. Burnham, H. L. W. Taylor, E. D. Horton, A. S. Bashore; National Eepresentatives, Geo. A. Gowan, H. C. ITowse and E. D. Horton; Past National Eepresentatives, J. H. Crossman, J. A. Tarplay, with H. L. W. Taylor as N. V. C. 1907-1909. Tennessee Juniorism is composed of an active and intensely patriotic membership. Her leaders have kept abreast of the age and are made of a chivalrous and noble standard of Southern man- hood. No truer men to American principles can be found any- where than in Tennessee, and the coming decade will, without doubt, witness great progress in that historic state. With men as Gowan, Howse, Taylor and Hunt " in the saddle " the Order at large need not fear for Tennessee's future. The royal Southern welcome accorded the National Council of 1905, by the Order of the state, especially of Nashville, will forever linger with us as pleasant memories of our association with the National Body. Here within the state forty and more years ago our fathers of the Northland received a Southern reception, and no braver men stood up for what they thought was right than the men of Tennessee which has made Lookout Mountain and Franklin his- 650 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER toric. But the reception tendered the sons of those Northern sires by the sons of Tennessee's heroes in 1905, was indeed "warm," but how different the " warming/' with open house and throbbing heart and the " glad hand." Since writing the above, through the kindness of Brother J. W. Drummond, State Council Secretary, we are in receipt of the Pro- ceedings of the session of the State Council for 1906, held at Johnson Cnvy, May 8 and 9, it being the Twelfth Annual Session. Dr. I. N. Hyde, State Vice-Councilor, in the absence of State Coun- cilor J. W. Watson, called the session to order and presided over the deliberations of the State Body. The State Councilor, owing to his occupation, was much of the time outside the state, and the last four months had removed from the jurisdiction altogether; but in consultation with his friends, it was thought best not to resign, hence continued by correspondence to perform the duties of his office. However, as the State Council meeting approached and his work was about done, some of his brethren thought he should resign on the eve of the State Council, thereby losing his honors as a Past State Councilor. In submitting his report to the State Body he refers to this demand for his resig- nation and he naturally expressed his surprise that any such request should have been made. He spoke of his faith in Southern chivalry and fraternity and expressed his belief that the Tennessee brethren would not have approved such a procedure, thereby sacrificing his honors after attending to the work of the year. The State Councilor was greatly handicapped in the apathy and negligence of his Deputy State Councilors, which, so far as Tennessee is concerned, was a common complaint, as but few of these officers gave any special attention to the work assigned them. As many a battle has been lost to the bravest general through the failure of his aides keeping him informed, so many a State Coun- cilor has failed because his field aides'-de-camp have proved recreant to their trust. State Councilor Watson closes his report with some very sen- sible advice : " Brothers, your time is too valuable to be spent in political caucuses. Forget everything except the fact that you are a band of American Brothers united against a common enemy; and let me warn you, brethren, if the aspirations of office-seekers are forever and eternally going to divide you into jealous factions, you might just as well surrender your charter and disband. Let there be no East Tennessee, no West Tennessee but one solid UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 651 phalanx of noble, true-hearted Tennesseans, although more than 10,000 strong, united as one man, in your effort to advance the principles of Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism; then you can influence your legislatures to pass the Flag Bill; Compulsory Education will be enacted as by magic; Free Text Books will be thrust upon you; Child Labor will vanish; Rome will be shaken as by an earthquake, and will fall at the feet of Juniorism begging for mercy, and officials high in office will do as the Governor of North Carolina did when Brothers Faison and Smith asked him to appoint a couple of Juniors as delegates to the New York Quarantine and Immi- gration Convention, and after appointing them asked who they wanted for the other delegates." According to the State Council Secretary's report, the standing of the State Council was as follows : Number of Councils 138 Number of Members 7,851 being a gain of 19 Councils and 881 members for the year. While 25 new Councils had been instituted, 7, however, were dissolved or consolidated. A remarkable ingathering by initiation was re- ported, 3,599 ; but a stupendous loss by suspension, 2,801 in num- ber, made the net gain quite small. Financial^, the State Council Secretary had a very creditable report to give : Received by Subordinate Councils $64,581.76 Paid for Relief 19,940.49 Worth of Councils 43,114.15 Receipts of State Council $5,690.03 Disbursements 5,344.54 Balance on hand $2,344.54 It has been our privilege to glance over the reports of the Committees on Law in the several jurisdictions, yet in none of them did we find so pertinent, so clearly conceived and so practically stated a report as that of the Law Committee of Tennessee to the ses- sion of the State Council of 1906, which was signed by N. L. French, J. A. G. Althauser and J. W. Drummond. Believing that " order is the first law of nature/' the Committee came to the real- ization that law in many of the Councils of the state was not order as there was lack of uniformity of laws and that many Councils did not conform to the State or National laws, hence there was confusion in the administration of same. The following resolutions were submitted and adopted : 1. Endorsing the campaign of the National Legislative Com- mittee at Washington for the .Restriction of Immigration. 2. Endorsing Brother H. E. Howse for the office of National Vice-Councilor. 652 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 3. Instructing the National Representatives to use every effort to have the minimum age limit fixed at eighteen years. A resolution to make the fee not less than $5 for initiation was defeated. The State Council paid all its Representatives as well as officers and Committees mileage and per diem, which at this session amounted to $1,276.10. In the election of officers the following were named : State Councilor — Dr. I. N. Hyde, State Vice-Councilor — John A. Duncan, State Council Secretary — J. W. Drummond, State Council Treasurer — J. T. Beazley, State Council Conductor — R. L. May, State Council Warden — R. C. Hale, State Council Sentinels — W. B. Lawrence and Marion Tucker, State Council Chaplain — H. A. Harris, National Council Representatives — Dr. N. L. French, G. H. Burnham and A. B. Adams. The Boston session of the National Council conferred a great honor upon Brother H. L. W. Taylor, as well as the State of Tennessee, one of Nature's noblemen, by electing him National Vice-Councilor by a vote of 100 to 75 for his competitor. TEXAS From Deemer's History we learn that the Order found foot- hold in Texas through the personal influence of Brother Henry A. Wise, in the organization of Will's Point Council, No. 1, at Will's Point, which was instituted October 22, 18S7, by National Coun- cilor Geo. W. Elbert, who had this to say : " The applicants were among the leading men of the town, and in every way they were well pleased with the ceremony. They treated me with that respect due my position in the Order and I am sure they will succeed." The Order in the state, however, has had a varied experience — Councils instituted to flourish only for a short time then die — until the advent of Stephen Collins, National Organizer, in 1894. It might be well to state that Will's Point Council requested the National Council to hold its Annual Session in their town in 1888. In 1889 D. D. Ellis was appointed Deputy National Councilor over the State of Texas. Lone Star Council, No. 2, followed, located in Fort Worth, the home city of our genial brother, Dr. Cooper, who was elected May 7, 1891, to represent the Council at the Na- tional Council at its session held at Cleveland. On October 23, UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 653 1890, a charter was granted Davy Crockett, No. 3, located at San Antonio, which was followed by Goldthwait, No. 4. For term end- ing December 31, 1891, Texas had three Councils and 89 members (Will's Point having disbanded). Under date of June 8, 1892, J. L. Caruthers, Deputy Na- tional Councilor of Texas, gave a resume of the condition of the Order in the "Lone Star State." Lone Star Council, No. 2, at this time had 75 members and was composed of an energetic class of workers. Davy Crockett, No. 3, also had 75 members, but No. 4 did not last a year, there being but little material to build a Coun- cil. In his report, the Deputy National Councilor referred to the name as a hindrance to the advance of the organization in Texas, the " labor ear-marks " being a great obstacle. Dr. Cooper, Deputy National Councilor in 1893, submitted his report through which ran an optimistic vein as to the condition of the Order in his home state, an empire in itself. The Doctor endeavored, through Brother Henry A. Wise, to reorganize Will's Point Council, but the place being so small and the material for a Council so limited, it was found impossible to revive the defunct organization. The same was true of Goldthwait Council which had been organized by Wm. Van Glahr. Dr. Cooper instituted Sam Houston Council, No. ("5, at Cleburne, September 2, 1892, and was assisted in the institution by W. H. Eollins who lived there. On May 20, 1893, the Deputy National Councilor instituted Winona Council, No. 7. National Organizer Stephen Collins having swept over the Continent, arousing interest in Wisconsin and Michigan; opening up the work in Minnesota ; spending some time in Iowa encourag- ing the Councils; then crossing the "Eockies" into Oregon and establishing the Order there on a firmer basis by the institution of a State Council ; passing down into the " Golden State " of Cali- fornia and planting the Order from San Francisco to San Monica, and instituting a State Council ; stopping off in Arizona and organ- izing and instituting two Councils, finally entered the " Lone Star State," April 3, 1894, where he met his " match " at Weatherford, at which place even with Dr. Cooper's presence he failed to estab- lish a Council of the Junior Order. However, on April 21, the National Organizer instituted San Jacinto Council, No. 4, at Ter- rell, April 24; Washington, No. 1, at Waco, the number to take the place of Will's Point Council, now defunct, on the 26th: Alamo, No. 5, at Will's Point, which was followed on the 27th of April by the institution of the State Council of Texas at Dallas. 654> HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The following officers were elected : Junior Past State Councilor — Dr. J. L. Cooper, State Councilor — R. S. Woodyard, State Vice Councilor — W. T. Bashaw, State Council Secretary — S. C. McMillen. Representatives to the National Council : D. F. Kreamer, R. S. Woodyard, J. H. Jackson, F. W. Bull and J. W. Pope. Of this number, R. S. Woodyard, F. W. Bull, J. W. Pope, and D. F. Kreamer, including Junior Past State Councilor Dr. Cooper, were in attendance at the session of the National Body at Asheville, N.'C. On May 7, Brother Collins instituted No. 8 at Galveston and did preliminary work at Sherman and at the end of fiscal year, December 31, 1895, there were in Texas 24 Councils and 634 members; a remarkable record for a state of such magnificant dis- tances and where the towns were made up fully one-half by a colored population. The year following, under the energetic and able administration of State Councilor as well as Deputy National Councilor W. T. Bashaw, the Order rapidly advanced, and in his report to the National Councilor at the session of the National Body in June, 1896, Brother Bashaw placed the number of Coun- cils at 34 and the membership at 1,250. However, at the National Council of 1897, there was reported a " slump " in the organization, while the number of Councils had gone up to 40, 19 of them were dissolved and the membership decreased to 660. From this time until 1905, there has been a gradual decline and a struggle to maintain the standing of a State organization. The list of officers for ensuing year, beginning May, 1905, were as follows : Jr. Past State Councilor— J. B. Willett, State Councilor — J. M. Stewart, State Vice-Councilor — E. H. Lambert, State Council Secretary — A. S. Fulghum, State Council Treasurer — J. W. Coker. Three brothers of Texas have been prominent, not only in the State Council, but in the National Council where they are well known : Past National Councilor Dr. J. L. Cooper, Past State Coun- cilors and Past National Representatives W. H. Rollins and N. B. Moore. It is with regret that we have been unable to secure more information relative to the Order in the " Lone Star State," but what Ave have inserted has been received from limited sources of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 655 information. The hope of the writer is, thai the great State of Texas will yet see a prosperous organization and that the Order may be numbered by the thousands instead of the hundreds. VERMONT The " Green Mountain State," historically famous for Ben- nington and its gallant chieftains, Generals Ethan Allen and John Stark, received the seed-truth of Juniorism as early as 1879, by the institution of Ethan Allen Council, No. 1, at Sunderland, through the efforts of Past State Councilor S. H. Crura. However, after a few fitful years of struggle it succumbed by force of cir- cumstances. Nothing further was attempted to plant the Order in the state until 1896, when Special Organizer Fred W. Alexander entered the jurisdiction and the following was the result of his visit : Vermont Council, No. 1, at Bellows Falls, March 30, 1896; General Baxter, No. 2, April 4; Old Glory, No. 3, at Hartland, April 11 ; Lincoln, No. 4, at Windsor, April 15 ; Washington, No. 5, at White Eiver Junction, April 27; Ethan Allen, No. 6, at Putney, April 29 ; General Grant, No. 7, at Brattleboro, May 1 ; Seth War- ner, No. 8, at Hartford, May 15, and Nos. 9 at Montpelier, and 10 at Barre, May 25 and 27, respectively. On May 29, 1896, Special Organizer Alexander instituted the State Council of Vermont at Bellows Falls, and another State organization found its place in the growing progeny of Junior Order United American Mechanics of the United States of North America. Brother A. E. White, State Council Secretary of Vermont, very courteously consented to prepare a synopsis of the State Coun- cil, in lieu of forwarding the large Journal Book in which the records of the State Body are kept. In view of the concise resume he has culled from the records, we will let Brother White tell the story, and well has he told it: " The preparation of a history of the State Council of Vermont appears to be a difficult task, as the records of its earlier sessions are very incomplete, or perhaps more properly speaking, lack in those details which are clearly esential to give an intelligent understanding of the ups and downs of the Junior Order in the ' Green Mountain State' " We are well aware that as compared with other jurisdictions, we can but seem insignificant; but when it is known that the larger portion of our short life as a State Council has been a struggle for existence, and that had it not been for the grim determination of a small but exceed- ingly loyal band of workers, our candle would have been snuffed out years ago, and our grand Order would have died in poverty and obscurity. But 656 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER might, encouraged by right has prevailed and we hope in due time to occupy an honorable place in the large and constantly increasing family of State Councils. " Delegates to form the State Council were E. L. Green No. 2, Geo. D. Wood No. 3, Rev. E. F. Mitchell No. 6, Allen L. Pease and F. W. Alexander No. 8, Don H. Dodge No. 9, A. E. Glidden No. 10. The principal officers chosen were, Jr. P. S. C, F. W. Alexander; S. C, Allen L. Pease; S. V. C, A. E. Glidden; S. C. Sec, W. W. Allen; S. C. Treas., E. L. Green. The name of Geo. D. Wood appears as D. N. C, who installed the officers elect. It was agreed that the annual sessions should be held on the fourth Tuesday in May each year, and subsequently voted to hold the session of 1897, at Montpelier. " So far as can be learned the only member from among those who met to organize the State Council that retains -active membership in the Order at the present time is Bro. Don. H. Dodge, who is still a member of the writer's own Council, Green Mountain No. 9, at Montpelier. " The records do not disclose any reason, but the Second Annual Session met in Montpelier in April, 1897, one month earlier than the time previously set. Meager reports from the Secretary, who was absent, show a membership of 955, of which 780 were contributing. Thirty-five Councils had been organized up to this time but no report was made as to how many were in active work. An amendment was carried fixing the time of the annual session the first Wednesday in October, and St. Johnsbury was chosen as the next place of meeting. F. W. Alexander, who had insti- tuted all of the Councils, was chosen State Councilor, L. M. Cleverly S. V. C, F. W. Hawley S. C. Sec, and C. E. Harris S. C. Treas. " Pursuant to adjournment, the State Council met in Third Annual Session at St. Johnsbury, October 6, 1897, less than six months having elapsed since the last meeting. National Councilor Joseph Powell, of Colorado, was present and addressed the members. Twenty-eight Councils were reported in good standing with a total membership of 1,075. L. M. Cleverly was elected State Councilor, Geo. O. Farr S. V. C, F. W. Eawiey S. C. Sec, and C. E. Harris S. C. Treas. Windsor was chosen as the place of next meeting. " October 5, 1897, the State Council convened at Windsor. Bro. F. W. Pierson, of Delaware, was a visitor and lent interest and enthusiasm to the session. Only the four principal officers were present and the total number of Councils reported was 20. Membership, 968, of which 847 were contributing. Financially the State Council was $75.00 in debt. " The regular routine business was transacted and L. M. Cleverly was reelected S. C, E. F. Starkey S. V. C, and Bros. Hawley and Harris Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Norwich was chosen as the place of next meeting. " In accordance with the vote of the members at the last session, the Fifth Annual Session convened at Norwich, October 4, 1899, and was called to order by E. F. Starkey who had, the previous July, been appointed UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 657 to the office of S. C. by the State Board to fill vacancy caused by the neglect of S. C. Cleverly to perform the work and discharge the duties of the office. The number of active Councils had fallen to 17 and the membership to 845, while the debt had increased to $325.00. A serious condition con- fronted the Order and much discouragement was felt. " It may be proper at this time to say, that the cause of this start- ling loss of Councils was due to the fact that all Councils thus far had been organized on the ' Premium plan ' ; and it would seem that the organizer was looking with more interest to the premium than to the permanence of his xcork. Councils were instituted in places so small as to be totally unable to support them when started; others had been insti- tuted with a membership in numbers far below the requirements of law; some failed to hold any meetings after the organizer left and at once become deadwood. " The straightened condition, financially, is distinctly traceable to some of its earlier executive officers spending funds in a way that the condition of the treasury did not warant, but at this time, Bros. C. E. Harris, who served as S. C. Treas. for nine years, and S. C. Sec. F. W. Hawley, whose services covered a period of eight years, came to the rescue and proved their confidence and love for the Order by giving security for loans which carried us over the difficulty, aided in no small degree by the practice of rigid economy on the part of the officers in successive years, who denied themselves that which had to some former officers been * the glory of office.' The same careful management has since obtained, so that at the session of 1906, it was reported that the funds in the treasury amounted to considerably over $500.00, and the State Council free from debt of any kind. " No business other than the usual routine was transacted, and the members elected officers and went home. Geo. O. Farr was chosen S. C, A. E. White S. V. C, and the usual election of Harris and Hawley as Treas. and Sec. was ratified. " October 3, 1900, the delegates assembled in Montpelier. The reports of State Councilor and State Council Secretary showed that they had been fully alive to the affairs of the State Council. The work of the State Coun- cilor was mainly in visiting weak and inactive Councils, in an attempt to revive them, and in the collection of the property of those hopelessly beyond resuscitation. The number of active Councils had fallen to 14 and the total membership was 769. The debt had been reduced $100, and a feeling of hopefulness prevailed, as it was apparent that what we had left of the Order was in better shape than for some time. A. E. White was installed State Cfcuncilor, F. A. Emerson S. V. C, F. W. Hawley S. C. Sec, and C. E. Harris S. C. Treas. " Inasmuch as Geo. Leslie Council, at Wells River, had ceased to work, the State Board arranged for the meeting of 1901, at St. Johnsbury, where it convened October 2d. The State Council Secretary reported a loss of one Council and 31 members; and that for the first time since 1897 the State Council was free from debt, adding that much of the credit was due to the manner in which the last two State Councilors had practised 42 658 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER economy. This statement was received with much applause. D. N. C. John H. Noyes, of N. H., installed the officers as follows: F. A. Emerson, S. Coun.; B. F. Humphrey, S. V. Coun.; F. W. Hawley, S. C. Sec; and C. E. Harris, S. C. Treas. Wheelock, although off the line of railroad, was urged as the place of next meeting, and as a strong Council was located there it was thought best to try the experiment, and the State Council voted to go there for the session of 1902. " In pursuance of the vote of one year ago, the Eighth Annual Session gathered in Wheelock October 1, 1902, and it must be said, that in every way, the action of the Brothers in voting to go there was justified. " Free transportation was provided from the railroad station to the town, and the brethren of Wheelock did everything in their power for our comfort and enjoyment. The State Councilor reported that one new Council had been instituted and the State Council Secretary's report showed the membership to be 785, a gain of 47, while our genial Treasurer, with much pride, announced a balance in the treasury of $200. " Probably the improvement in the condition of the Order had its effect to make this session what it was — the most enthusiastic gathering within the state in recent years. The utmost harmony prevailed. When the gavel fell at the close, all felt it to have been the most profitable ever held. D. N. Coun., W. A. Spofford, of Maine, installed the following offi- cers: Kyle T. Brown, S. Coun.; Dr. S. A. Jones, S. V. Coun.; F. W. Hawley, S. C. Sec; C. E. Harris, S. C. Treas. Springfield was named as the place of next meeting. Nearly all in attendance remained to a meeting of the local Council in the evening, at which time the initiatory ceremonies were exemplified by the home Council in a highly creditable manner which was not only highly interesting but profitable as well. " The annual session of 1903, met in Springfield October 7. State Councilor Brown, in his report, said : ' I believe the past year on the whole has been one of progress, and that every Junior is awakening to the fact that good members only count, and that the moral standard is being raised.' The State Council Secretary reported one new Council instituted and that one had become defunct and a slight increase in membership. Balance in treasury maintained as one year ago. A proposal for a law placing the State Council on a representative basis was offered and laid upon the table one year. Officers elected were : Dr. S. A. Jones, S. Coun., W. E. Trombly, S. V. Coun., while Hawley and Harris again were elected. " The State Body convened at Windsor, October 5, 1904. Consid- erable gratification was felt, that by the efforts of a Special Organizer employed by the State Board, five new Councils had been instituted. A most enthusiastic meeting in the subordinate degree was held the previous evening by the local Council, and when the gavel fell Wednesday morning, all were alert and ready for the work of the session. A curious fact was noted, in that none appeared for admission to the State Council degree. The new Councils were not represented, as being all in the north end of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 659 the state, and as each Council pays the expenses of its representatives, it was probable they did not feel able to bear the expenses of the long trip to Windsor. The Secretary reported the membership to be 811, distributed in 18 active Councils, with one Council with a membership of about 50 not reported. Bro. Harris, ' The watch dog of the Treasury,' announced the funds in his keeping to have reached the sum of $327.00. Dr. S. A. Jones was reelected S. Coun., Geo. W. Young, chosen S. V. Coun., A. E. White, S. C. Sec, and C. E. Harris, S. C. Treas. F. W. Hawley had com- pleted eight years of service as S. C. Sec, and was reelected but declined to serve and P. S. Coun. White was chosen. " Because of local conditions the Eleventh Annual Session was post- poned by the Board of Officers to the 13th of October, when it met at St. Johnsbury. National Councilor Gilcreast of Methuen, Mass., was present and made addresses at the special meeting the night before and at the session. Dr. Jones had resigned the office of S. Coun. the previous August and the S. V. Coun., Geo. W. Young, had become S. Coun. and presided. " National Organizer, John E. Bridgers, of North Carolina, had been sent to Vermont by the National Councilor, and had instituted one new Council and had good prospects of others, but after two had been started he was obliged to leave for other fields. " Eighteen Councils reporting and 817 members, was the meat of the Secretary's report as to membership, with $378.00 in the treasury. The purchase of a safe for the keeping of the books of the State Council was authorized. Election of officers made C. W. Coffrain S. Coun., W. E. Gid- dings S. V. Coun., A. E. White S. C. Sec, and C. J. King S. C. Treas. Glover was named as the next place of meeting. " October 3, 1906, the State Council again assembled in annual session at a place away from the line of railroad, and this time met in the beautiful village of Glover. At a season of the year when the foliage was resplendent with the many and varied tints of autumn, and the pure air of our Green Mountain state most bracing and invigorating, the clear sunshiny days seemed to smile a welcome to us which was most cordially seconded by the good brothers of Orleans Council No. 40, who spared no pains for our comfort or pleasure. A rousing meeting of Orleans Council, held on Tuesday evening, acted as a stimulus to one of the best state meetings ever held in Vermont. Gen. Sherman Council, of Lyndon, which can be justly said to have the best degree team in the state, exemplified the initiatory degree in a manner that left little room for criticism. " We have now reached the point where that interest is manifested that members come to the state meeting openly declaring themselves candi- dates for office; a very encouraging sign, for we believe it to be a com- mendable ambition to take an interest in an organization that is willing to bear its burdens as well as share its honors. " The session opened with a good attendance. One new Council had been instituted soon after the close of the last meeting. A recommenda- tion of the State Councilor providing that each Council should be visited 660 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER by a member of the Board of Officers at least once during the year, found favor with the members and was adopted. " Resolutions commending the work of the National Legislative Com- mated. Certain we are that many cases might be enumerated where the Resolutions endorsing The American and making it the official organ of the State Council were adopted. The following officers were installed: W. E. Giddings, S. Coun.; W. H. Jeffrey, S. V. Coun.; A. E. White, S. C. Sec; and C. J. King, S. C. Treas. " ' The best state meeting ever held,' was heard on all sides when the State Council formally closed to meet in Montpelier in 1907. RECAPITULATION " As we said in our opening remarks, we do not feel great pride in the achievements of the State Council of Vermont; and yet we cannot feel that the eleven years of our existence as an Order has been entirely devoid of good. Much has confronted us of a discouraging nature, and Subordinate Councils, as well as the State Body, have had many drawbacks that cannot wisely be told of in a sketch like this. But who can say that the seed sown and the principles our beloved Order teaches have not accomplished good that never will be known, and therefore cannot be esti- mated. Certain we are that many cases might be enumerated where the Order's teachings have awakened an interest in those things which tend to make American citizenship more highly valued and respected; while from a monetary sense its ministrations in the hour of need have aided in relieving suffering and smoothing the pathway of the distressed as well as bringing cheer in the midst of afflictions which must continue to beset mankind until time shall be no more. " We well know that the figures below are not complete as in many cases Secretaries are careless in making reports, as to our knowledge many hundred dollars have been paid in death benefits which have not been reported, but there is recorded on our books that the sum of $14,219.87 has been paid in benefits and relief. " During this time, 2,439 persons have received the lessons of Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism by initiation, and while this is nearly three times our present membership, are we not justified in thinking that many of this number who have ' fallen by the wayside ' by reason of defunct Coun- cils and other causes, have profited by the lessons taught in the Council chambers and become nobler men and better citizens even though sepa- rated from the Order. " A total of $2,304.29 has been paid as per capita tax to the National Council, and while the jurisdiction has no children there at the present time, yet it is a pleasure to know and feel that from this sum we have contributed our proportionate amount to the maintenance of that grand and noble institution, the Orphans' Home. " Concluding, it seems fitting to make a hasty mention of a few, who by their efforts and willingness have done all in their power to bring success. None of those whose names appear below were members of the State Council at the beginning; but their labors in both state and sub- ordinate bodies should be recognized. No doubt there are many who have UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 661 labored just as faithfully along the ' picket line,' but as this article deals with the doings of the State Council, we cannot mention them did we know them all. We find Past State Councilors Starkey, Farr, White, Emerson, Brown, Jones, Young and Coffrain nearly always present at the sessions, while the present Board of Officers, not already mentioned, together with Bros. Wood, of Montpelier, Hill, of St. Johnsbury, B. F. Humphrey and Harris, of E. Burke, always ready to respond whenever their services are needed. " And now as we close this brief account of the work and doings in this jurisdiction, we desire to express the hope that when the next history of the Order is written we may, by our lives and labors in behalf of the Order, demonstrate that the principles taught in our Council chambers have not been in vain." The members of the Order in Vermont are to be congratulated on having so painstaking a State Council Secretary as Brother White. The synopsis as given above indicates the deep interest of our brother not only in the organization in his own state, but in this portion of the History of the Order to which he has contributed so concise an article. Later information from the " Green Mountain State " tells of continued prosperity of the Order. State Councilor Giddings' administration that ended with the session of the State Council in 1907 was successful, and now (1907-1908) under the leadership of State Councilor Jeffrey, the organization has at the helm an energetic and enthusiastic champion of the Junior Order whose campaign will undoubtedly result in a still greater increase. In the section " Who is Who in the Order " the reader can have the oppor- tunity of looking upon the faces of several of Vermont's Juniors and reading a brief sketch of their patriotic work in the interest of the organization. CHAPTER XXXVI PROCEEDINGS OF STATE COUNCILS (Concluded) VIRGINIA BROTHER Geo. W. Vollmer, of Eescue Council, No. 15, of Pennsylvania, introduced the Order into the State of Vir- ginia in the month of April, 1872, by the institution of Eescue Council, No. 1. The Council, however, survived but a short time, going out of business in June of 1873. The Order lay dormant until April 9, 1879, when Eescue Council was revived through the efforts of several of its former members. Other Councils followed in the order named : Stonewall, No. 2, July 25 ; Virginia, No. 3, in November, 1879, and Bichmond, No. 4, August 21, 1885. These were followed by the State Council of Virginia, instituted on the 21st of October," 1885. The Order made commendable progress during the " boom } r ears " of 1889-1896 and it spread over the state, reaching 72 Councils and 3,801 members by December 31, 1895. The last report of the standing of the State Council before it went out in rebellion against the mandates of the National Council, dated December 31, 1898, showed the following: Number of Councils 124 Number of Members 7,666 Received by Subordinate Councils $48,548.11 Paid for Relief 24,180.40 Worth of Councils 20,979.22 The State Council having been found guilty of insubordina- tion by the National Judiciary, the charter was suspended and finally revoked by the National Councilor, Brother Eeeves, January 12, 1901. On March 2, 1901, a new (loyal) State Council was instituted with a membership of 24 Councils representing 3,540 members. The officers elected to steer the new organization were the following: Jr. Past State Councilor — Dr. E. H. Heaton, State Councilor — E. L. S. Bouton, State Vice-Councilor — James R. Mansfield, State Council Secretary — Geo. E. Sprow, State Council Treasurer — J. E. Boehn, National Representatives — James S. Groves, O. B. Hopkins and J. E. Boehm. 662 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 663 Past State Councilors of the old organization remaining loyal were: 0. B. Hopkins, G. A. Simmons, Rev. L. W. Guyer, J. E. Boehm and Dr. E. H. Heaton. The loyal State Council was destined to travel a " rocky road " in its struggle to maintain its official existence. The insurgent State Council disputed their right to do business in Virginia, and itself working under a special charter granted by the Virginia Legislature and under the corporation of the state, claimed that the loyal State Body was an illegal body, hence filed a Bill in Equity against it before the Chancery Court, and at the same time the Court was asked to restrain the loyal State Council from using the name of the Order, " or any other name of like import." The case was tried in the Chancery Court and resulted in the defeat of the loyal Body. The attorneys for the National Council ap- pealed the case to the Supreme Court of Virginia, which tribunal affirmed the decision of the lower Court. The case was then re- ferred to the Supreme Court of the United States, and after a hearing, that tribunal simply reaffirmed the Courts of Virginia, thereby putting the loyal State Council, for the present, out of business. Notwithstanding the handicap that rested upon the loyal State Body and the organization back of it, by the opposition of the insurgent State Body and the delay in the Courts in having the litigation determined, the Order in Virginia prospered and to-day would be a strong organization was it not for the adverse decision of the Courts. The standing of the State Council for the year ending December 31, 1904, was as follows: Number of Councils 49 Number of Members 4,000 Received by Subordinate Councils $36,381.08 Paid for Relief 13,874.94 Worth of Councils 21,535.90 The officers to serve for the ensuing year beginning 1905 were : Jr. Past State Councilor — G. C. Jewell, State Councilor — Eugene Colver, State Vice-Councilor — J. W. Jones, State Council Secretary — J. E. Boehm, State Council Treasurer — J. H. Trimyer, National Council Representatives — Dr. E. H. Heaton, E. J. Reed and J. W. Forbes. 664, HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER WASHINGTON While yet a Territory, the Order was introduced into Wash- ington by Deputy National Councilor E. Hollands, of New York, by the institution of Forest Lake Council, No. 1, February 22, 1889. Mount Tacoma, No. 2, followed on May 7, same year, also instituted by Hollands. Bay City Council was organized by Brother W. S. Schenck, who at that time was a member of Wash- ington Council, No. 1, of Wisconsin, and was instituted by Deputy National Councilor Hollands on September 30, 1889. Having, according to the law at that time, enough Councils to entitle the Territory to a State Council, a charter was granted for same and it was instituted on December 19, 1889, by the Deputy National Councilor, after which, with the assistance of the State officers, he instituted Occidental Council, No. 4, at Bellingham. The following officers were selected at the institution of the State Council: Jr. Past State Councilor — E. Hollands, State Councilor — Otto Kaiser, State Vice-Councilor — W. S. Schenck, State Council Secretary — E. L. Bardwell, State Council Treasurer — Sam C. Anderson, State Council Conductor — H. C. Coddington, State Council Warden — Wm. Glassford, State Council Sentinels — Wm. Miers and J. A. Martin. E. L. Bardwell, however, tendered his resignation to take effect at the close of the session, and C. A. Hanson was appointed by the Board of Officers to take his place, who served but part of the year having become a defaulter and left for parts unknown and has never been heard from. The State Council Treasurer, Sam C. Anderson, was appointed in his place to serve until the next session of the State Council. Of the charter members of the State Coun- cil, but two at this time (1907) are left and still members of the Order, Brothers W. S. Schenck and E. L. Bardwell. The first regular session of the State Body was held at Tacoma, February 22, 1890, and the officers elected at the institution of the State Council, with the exception of where vacancies occurred, were continued in their several positions. Brother Sam C. Ander- son was elected State Council Secretary. The session was mainly taken up with the consideration of a full set of laws which were adopted. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 665 The Second Annual Session of the State Body convened at Fairhaven, February 21, 1891, which was presided over by State Councilor Otto Kaiser. The Order during the year did not make much advance, owing largely to " hard times," thereby driving many people from the state into other sections of the country. How- ever, 4 new Councils had been instituted and the membership was placed at 301 and an income from Subordinate Councils of $2,281.93 and estimated value of Councils of $1,403.66. The State Council was rather unfortunate with its officers, as this fiscal year charges had been preferred against Jr. Past State Councilor E. Hollands by the State Council Secretary for failing to turn over certain monies claimed to be due the State Council. As the result of the trial by his Council, he was expelled, and in lieu thereof E. L. Benton, of No. 6, was appointed by the Board, Jr. P. S. C. But Hollands having taken an appeal, National Coun- cilor Bartlett decided that while the appeal was pending no one could be appointed to that position, hence the appointment of Brother Benton was declared null and void. That there were " kickers " in the Order, even in Washington, is indicated by a peculiar resolution offered by a member of Council No. 1, that there not being enough Councils in the Territory to properly support a State Council, it should disband and the property be returned to the National Council. It goes without saying that the resolution was defeated. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : State Councilor — W. S. Schenck, State Vice-Councilor — Phil Gallaher, State Council Secretary — Sam C. Anderson, State Council Treasurer — S. E. Guiberson. In Third Annual Session, the State Council convened at Tacoma, February 22, 1892, State Councilor Schenck in the Chair. The State Councilor gave a full resume of the condition of the Order recounting the difficulties that confronted the organization. Six Councils had been instituted, Nos. 9 to 14, both inclusive, and the membership had advanced to 430. The State Councilor, among other recommendations, suggested that the State Council send one representative to the National Council, but the body refused to adopt the recommendation. 666 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The following officers were elected: State Councilor — Geo. W. Boyd, State Vice-Councilor — Dexter Shoudy, State Council Secretary — Sam C. Anderson, State Council Treasurer — L. C. Matthews. Tacoma again entertained the State Body in Annual Session, the Fourth, February 22, 1893, with State Councilor Boyd presid- ing, 17 members being present. A very encouraging communica- tion was read from National Councilor Cranston, in which he stated that the brethren of Washington would have the opportunity of see- ing at their session a real " live Easterner " in the person of Na- tional Organizer Stephen Collins, whose presence was not only an inspiration but helpful to the plucky band of Juniors who were struggling amid financial depression to hold the Order intact in the great Northwest. It is presumed that the law allowed but one day for the session of the State Council, not even granting of a night session under same, from the fact that a call for a Special Session of the State Council was submitted to the State Board of Officers to follow in the evening of the same day after the close of the regular session, for the purpose of considering the revised code of By-laws and Constitution, which call was granted and the special session con- vened and transacted its business as contemplated. Brother Collins was appointed Judge of the Election Board and the election was proceeded with, resulting as follows: State Councilor — Dexter Shoudy, State Vice-Councilor — H. E. Graham, State Council Secretary — S. C. Anderson, State Council Treasurer — Otto Kaiser, following which a set of resolutions were adopted and presented Brother Collins for his presence and words of cheer. Owing to unfortunate circumstances and financial difficulties confronting the State Council, the session of 1894 was held at Whatcom instead of Ellensburgh, as previously selected. In the absence of both State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor, Deputy National Councilor C. D. Bhodes presided. But one officer, Junior Past State Councilor Boyd, was present, and ten other members of the State Body. The financial depression that held the nation in its ruthless grip affected Washington and it was with difficulty that the State UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 667 Council could maintain its hold at all. However, with the assist- ance of National Organizer Collins and Special Organizer Schenck, three Councils were instituted and one reorganized, and deducting three Councils that had gone defunct, there remained 9 Councils and 164 members. The Daughters of America were recognized as an auxiliary to the State Council, and the Representatives to the National Council were instructed to vote to make the first named organization the auxiliary to the National Council. Owing to the Council of which the State Council Secretary was a member becoming defunct, the State Council declared the office of Secretary vacant. After attending to several items of business, the State Council adjourned with the following officers at the helm : State Councilor — C. D. Rhodes, State Vice-Councilor — C. V. Beardslee, State Council Secretary — W. S. Schenck, State Council Treasurer — H. B. Byron. The Sixth Annual Session was held at Bothell, February 22, 1895, with State Vice-Councilor Beardslee in the Chair. But two officers answered roll-call and seven others. The State Coun- cilor having deserted his post in June of previous year, the respon- sibility rested upon the State Vice-Councilor, who was aided by the State Council Secretary, Brother Schenck, whose entire career previous as well as subsequent, has been marked with faithfulness to duty in the interests of Washington Juniorism. He was only able to report at this time 6 Councils and 93 members. The officers selected for the ensuing year were: State Councilor — C. V. Beardslee, State Vice-Councilor — J. M. Riddle, State Council Secretary — W. S. Schenck, State Council Treasurer — S. M. Butler. The session of 1896 was held at Toledo, February 22, with State Councilor C. V. Beardslee presiding. Among the representa- tives present was Prof. C. F. Eeeves, subsequently elected National Councilor. W. S. Schenck was selected by the Board of Officers to represent the State Council at the National session in the month of June of previous year. Brother Reeves also was appointed to represent the State Body at same session. 668 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER During the year the Order had made a phenomenal advance, there being 11 Councils and 526 members. Financially the Order had made progress, as well, the amount raised by Subordinate Coun- cils being $2,386.37; paid for Eelief, $109.95; worth of Councils, $2,412.48. It certainly must have sent a thrill of gratification to the hearts of that little band when the above report was submitted. The influence and work of Brothers Eeeves, Schenck, Beardslee and Kiddle had much to do with this significant uplift. In the election of officers, the following were selected : State Councilor — A. F. Hoska, State Vice-Councilor — J. J. Brumbach, State Council Secretary — W. S. Schenck, State Council Treasurer — S. B. Irish. The " American Standard" a local paper published at Tacoma, by Brother F. F. Hopkins, was made the official organ of the Order in the state. The Eighth Annual Session convened at Tacoma, February 22, 1897, with State Councilor Hoska in the Chair. The attendance was fair, six of the officers being present. The Order declined slightly both in Councils and members, there being a loss of one Council. As a result of the election, the following were named as the principal officers for the ensuing year: State Councilor — Prof. C. F. Reeves, State Vice-Councilor — J. J. Brumbach, State Council Treasurer — S. B. Irish. Seattle entertained the State Council on February 22, 1898, State Councilor Eeeves presiding. There was a large representa- tion, largest in the history of the State Council. While there was an increase of 10 Councils organized by Special Organizer F. F. Hopkins, still there was a decline in membership owing to the heavy suspension list, there being reported but 290 members. J. J. Brumbach was elected State Councilor, L. P. Bowman State Vice-Councilor and W. S. Schenck and S. B. Irish State Council Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. At New Whatcom, on February 22, 1899, the Tenth Annual Session of the State Body convened, with State Councilor J. J. Brumbach presiding, there being 20 members in attendance. The UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 669 condition of the Order in the state was not the best; while three new Councils were instituted, 7 became defunct, 3 were in bad standing, leaving but 10 Councils and 272 members. A resolution was offered that the National Representatives work for the adoption of some good mutual protective feature for the members of the Order, the same to be under the control of the National Council and to be optional. In lieu of this a series of resolutions were submitted by Brother Hopkins favoring : 1. A three-degree Ritual, with an initiatory working degree so simple that while it impresses the principles of the Order, it may be readily taken up by new Councils, and they still may have more advanced work to which they may progress. 2. We recommend the adoption without delay, of an optional mutual protective beneficiary feature or endowment work, under the supervision of the National Council, to meet the popular demand for such fraternal insurance. 3. We recommend that ladies be admitted to full membership in the same Council as the brothers, at least in the initiatory degree and the endowment rank. The first and second propositions were adopted, but the third was not concurred in by the State Council. A resolution expressive of the regret of the State Council on the death of Luther Chapin, the founder of the 0. U. A. M. -in 1845, which occurred on February 19, 1899, was adopted and sent to the National Council of the Senior Order. Brother J. M. Riddle, when State Vice-Councilor in 1895, submitted a resolution requesting the National Representatives to urge the National Council to strike out of the Ritual and Declar- ation of Principles all clauses that pertained to Socialism. The Committee having the report in charge thought this was a violation of the principles of the Order, being " surprised to find a member of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. who has received official distinction and has been recognized by the State Council as its Vice-Councilor, should so far forget himself as to try and denounce the Declaration of Principles and Ritual, and in our judgment he ought to be repri- manded by the State Council," which report was adopted. Brother Riddle only forecasted what a few years subsequent came to pass, by the action of the National Council at Louisville, in 1898, by request of the State Council of Pennsylvania. Brother Riddle at this session realizing an injustice had been done him, asked that 670 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER the resolution of censure and its vote be rescinded, which the State Body did very cheerfully. The State Council closed with Brother F. F. Hopkins as State Councilor and Thos. M. Fisher as State Vice-Councilor. Tacoma entertained the State Council on February 22, 1900, with State Councilor Hopkins in the Chair. During the year one of the influential members of the State Council, Prof. C. F. Reeves, was highly honored by being elected National Vice-Councilor, whose presence at this session was a source of inspiration. Owing to an epidemic of smallpox, the session could not be held at Centralia, the place fixed by the previous session, hence, by action of the Board of Officers, the meeting was changed as above stated. Another year of hard and faithful work on the part of the State officers had not availed much as the Order had still declined since the last session; yet with "faith undimmed" and pluck commendable, the brothers of Washington held onto the belaying pins of the old ship, while they hoped and prayed for brighter days. The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — Thos. M. Fisher, State Vice-Councilor — C. N. Young, State Council Secretary — W. S. Schenck, State Council Treasurer J. A. Kelso. In annual session the twelfth, the State Council convened at Centralia, February 22, 1901, being presided over by State Coun- cilor Fisher. The National Councilor, Prof. C. F. Eeeves, again graced the session with his presence and aided the brethren with his counsel. Nothing but mere routine business was transacted and the session closed with the following officers : State Councilor — C. N. Young, State Vice-Councilor — J. R. Buxton, State Council Secretary — W. S. Schenck, State Council Treasurer — J. R. Ellis. Seattle received the State Council February 22, 1902, State Councilor Young presiding, with 18 members present. The stand- ing of the State Council showed 8 Councils and 222 members, three Councils having been instituted or reorganized. Receipts of State Council, $320.27; disbursements, $255.17. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 671 The following were selected to direct the State Council for the ensuing year: State Councilor — J. R. Buxton, State Vice-Councilor — J. M. Riddle (second term), State Council Secretary — W. S. Schenck, State Council Treasurer — P. W. Pierce. The Fourteenth and Fifteenth annual sessions of the State Council were held at Tacoma. February 21, 1903, and at Whatcom, February 22, 1904, respectively, State Councilor Buxton presiding at the former session and State Councilor Riddle at the latter. Z. Stewart was promoted State Councilor at the session of 1904, while I. S. Turner was elected State Vice-Councilor and Carl H. Reeves was selected for State Council Secretary and P. W. Pierce was reelected State Council Treasurer. We close the story of the State Council of Washington with the annual session of 1905, held at Centralia, February 22, State Councilor Stewart presiding. The following standing of the State Council was submitted : Number of Councils 4 Number of Members 145 Received by Subordinate Councils $1,493.32 Paid for Relief 616.75 Worth of Councils 593.84 The report of State Council Secretary Reeves was quite elab- orate, in which he gave a careful resume of the business connected with the State Council, as well as to the condition of the Order in the state. The Committee on the Good of the Order disapproved of the proposed amendment to the National Council Constitution for biennial sessions of the National Council, but approved biennial terms for National Council officers, which action was concurred in by the State Council. The election of officers resulted as follows: State Councilor — I. S. Turner, State Vice-Councilor — C. N. Groat, State Council Treasurer — P. W. Pierce, State Council Conductor — J. M. Snow, State Council Warden — F. M. Skinner, State Council Sentinels — 0. L. Palmer and N. R. Lund. with Carl H. Reese as a hold over, for Secretary. 672 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The above brief sketch of the Order in Washington is the story of fierce struggles and great discouragements scarcely paralleled in any state in the Union; but with the blood of patriots in their veins the little band of freemen stood for the principles of the organization. Among those Avho were true to the Order and labored hard for its success might be named the following: Past National Councilor C. P. Beeves, Past State Councilors Schenck, Eiddle, Hopkins, Baxter, Fisher, Beardslee, Stewart and I. S. Turner, State Council Secretary Carl Peeves, State Council Treasurer Pierce, State Vice-Councilor (1905) C. N. Groat and National Eepresentative Kelso. Among the most active Councils of the jurisdiction of Wash- ington and composed of some of the most active members of the Order is Bay City Council, No. 3, which, at present writing (1907), is prosperous, having more than 100 of a membership. Out of a list of 25 charter members, but three remain as members, viz.: Past State Councilors W. S. Schenck and J. M. Eiddle, and A. E. Parmelee WEST VIRGINIA The " Mountain State," as it is often termed, quite early im- bibed the spirit and principles of the Order, but it was short-lived, so far as the existence of Councils are concerned. The inception of the Junior Order United American Mechan- ics in the state was at Wheeling, in the year 1870, a charter having been granted Eoger Sherman Council, No. 1, April 25, with 20 applicants, and was instituted by Brother J. F. Smith, of Friend- ship Council, No. 1, of Ohio. From Brother Deemer's History of the Order, we learn that the Order was introduced into the State of West Virginia by Brother Wm. M. Weckerly, of the O. U. A. M. from Pennsylvania, who was engaged in the work of organizing the Senior Order in the state. The year following, 1871, Eagle Coun- cil, No. 2, and Jefferson Council, No. 3, both of Wheeling, were instituted, whereupon, sometime in February, 1872, the State Coun- cil of West Virginia was instituted. While with one Council, and under the jurisdiction of the National Council, Eoger Sherman Council, No. 1, was represented at the session of the National Council, at its meeting held in the City of Camden, N. J., by its first Councilor, it is presumed, John T. Cowl, who must have conveyed a favorable impression upon his associates, as he was taken up as a candidate for National Vice- Councilor, and, on second ballot, was elected, by a vote of 8 to 7. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 673 At the following session he was elevated to the Chair of National Councilor, a State Council in the meantime having hcen instituted as already noted. For some reason, the facts of which we were unable to learn, the State Council disbanded as well as the three Councils referred to, sometime prior to the session of the National Council in 1813, when it was held at Wilmington, Del., as neither the report of the membership, percentage, or the National Councilor was in evidence; in fact, no communication whatever was received from the " Mountain State." As a result of this neglect, the State Council Charter was revoked, the office of National Councilor de- clared vacant and another was elected to take his place for the session, and West Virginia, as far as the Order was concern'' I, dropped out of existence as completely as the ten tribes of Israel in olden times. Outside of a casual reference to the state in 1880, by the Na- tional Councilor, who stated in his report that he had appointed P. S. C. Jos. C. Blackbourne, of Ohio, D. N. C. over West Virginia, the Order lay dormant until 1887, when it took on new life in the institution of Wheeling Council, No. 1, at Wheeling, November 24, with 20 charter members, which was followed by Benwood Council, No. 2, at Benwood, February 18, 1888, with 13 applicants and Cum- berland Council, No. 3, at New Cumberland, on April 4, same year, with 16 applicants. Brother J. P. Branin, of Ohio, instituted No. 1 ; P. S. C. J. F. Koehnline, of Pennsylvania, No. 2 ; and J. L. Degant, of West Virginia, No. 3. These were followed by the in- stitution of Magnolia Council, No. 4, New Martinsville, December 4, 1888; Washington Council, No. 5, Wheeling, February 21, 1889; Mound City Council, No. 6, Moundsville, March 4 ; Marshall Coun- cil, No. 7, Cameron, March 11 ; Columbus Council, No. 8, Man- nington, March 18 ; Standard Council, No. 9, Wellsburg, March 15 ; Augusta Council, No. 10, Sistersville, March 18; Industry Council, No. 11, Morgantown, April 11 ; Parkersburg Council, No. 12, Park- ersburg, April 19 ; St. Mary's Council, No. 13, Eiverside, April 19 ; Mountain City Council, No. 14, Crafton, April 26; Ravenswood Council, No. 15, Ravenswood, May 10 ; Pride of the Interio'r Coun- cil, No. 16, Buchanan, May 20 — all the same year. INSTITUTION OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF WEST VIRGINIA With Representatives from the above list of Councils, the State Council of West Virginia was instituted June 10, 1889, J. D. Hall being appointed D. S. C, who, with Phil. A. Schaeffer were in attendance at the session of the National Council that met at 43 674 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Haverhill, Mass., same year as National Representatives, at which session, Brother Schaeffer was elected N. I. S. In common with other states, the Order in West Virginia had a struggle to gain a foothold, there being many obstacles thrown in its way by both the enemies of the Public Schools and other secret and fraternal societies. Unlike the men who tried the experiment of maintaining the Order 16 years before, those who now were at the helm were men of standing, pluck and enthusiasm, and ere two years had elapsed, the Junior Order passed all other American or- ganizations in the state in strength and influence, while the atten- tion of the public was attracted by the zeal of its members and the growth of the organization. In order to remove the erroneous impression that had gone forth relative to the Objects and Principles of the Order, public meetings were held and the doctrines and teachings of the Order were pre- sented by men qualified to do so, as for instance, Rev. Bro. Covert, of Pennsylvania, who at that time was a vigorous defender of the Order as well as an able expounder of its doctrines ; and to such an extent, by the placing of flags over school buildings, etc., was a favorable sentiment awakened that hundreds knocked at the portals of the Council chambers asking admission. Through the courtesy of Brother Brent Shriver, State Council Secretary, the writer obtained the printed proceedings of the State Council, as well as other valuable information. Unfortunately, the proceedings of the first four years of the State Council were not available. The Fourth Annual Session of the State Council was held at Fairmount, July 19-21, 1892, presided over by S. O, A. A. Askey. This session was well attended, there being about 75 members present, each Council at that time being allowed two representa- tives ; but at this session the Constitution was so amended that each Council was entitled to but one representative, and their " actual expenses " to be paid. The law relative to Standing Committees was so amended that all but two were composed of five members. There was developed at this session a strong temperance senti- ment and this high standard of morality was always a marked feature of succeeding sessions. In reply to a question whether an applicant for initiation who was engaged in selling intoxicants was fit to become a member of the Order. Seventy-one answered No, while but eight said, Yes. The year previous had been marked with great success in the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 675 progress of the Order, 31 new Councils having been instituted, making in all 70 Councils with a membership of 2,907. Another feature of this session, and a very creditable one too, (and the same was seen in most of the subsequent sessions of the State Body), was the absence of a "slate" when it came to the hour of the election of the officers for the ensuing year. There were a large number of nominations for each office and the contest was lively, frequently requiring from two to seven ballots to decide. Buckhannon entertained the Fifth Annual Session, September 12-14, 1893, with Brother E. D. Lappert in the Chair. The reports showed continued prosperity in the institution of new Councils as well as in gain of membership ; but difficulties to some extent marred the peace and harmony of the year, a special session of the State Body having been called in February to adjust matters. It was claimed that the State Council Secretary had failed to turn over a large amount of the State Council's money, $1,116, and had not paid the National Council per capita tax, the failure of which had placed the State Council of West Virginia in jeopardy. Hav- ing arranged matters satisfactory, the work went on under Brother Lapperts administration with continued zeal, and when the brethren left this session they went forth with the determination to regain their lost ground financially; and it is gratifying to state that when they met in Sixth Annual Session, all indebetdness was met and they had money in the treasury. Brother Brent Shriver was elected State Council Secretary at this session, which position he has faithfully and efficiently filled up to the present time (1907). Brother C. C. Newman, so well and favorably known to many in the National Body, was elected State Council Treasurer, which responsible position he still retains. The session of the State Council for 1894 was held at Mounds- ville, in September, John Kirk presiding, there being 99 Councils in good standing. At the last session the charter had been left at the hotel, but mysteriously disappeared — two men, the proprietor said, had carried it away, it being framed. No clue was found as to whom the culprits were. The session was a pleasant one, all working harmoniously for the upbuilding of the Order. The Seventh Annual Session was held at Piedmont, September 10 and 11, 1895, State Councilor John Kee iu the Chair. Another 676 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER prosperous year was reported, 36 new Councils having been insti- tuted and the membership had reached 5,500. A friendly and brotherly inter-state courtesy was manifested at this session, that of permitting applicants living near the Mary- land line to be initiated in a Council of the border state nearest their home. The same courtesy was granted by the Maryland State Council, Brother H. S. Barry, at the time, being State Councilor. The report of the State Councilor was an exceptionally well prepared paper, and as a literary composition deserves a place in the archives of the body. His remarks on " fraternity " were timely and well expressed. Clarksburg, in 1896, received the State Body in annual session, at which session Brother E. J. Savage, State Councilor, presided, while in 1897, Wheeling performed the same honor, at which time Brother S. O, F. M. Cheuvront occupied the Chair. During the interim between these two sessions, some practical work had been accomplished by the Order in the state. A manda- mus had been procured from the Supreme Court of Appeals to re- strain the reading of the Holy Bible in one of the schools of the state. Quick to act in defense of one of the cherished objects of the organization, the Board of Officers of West Virginia secured the services of National Councilor Perry A. Shanor to prosecute the case in the courts. In the meantime, the State Councilor sent to the Councils of the state a strong appeal to " make this fight our fight," and royally did the members respond. The case, however, was decided in favor of the Order, the mandamus having been removed. The " Mountain State Gavel," a journal published in the inter- est of the Order for the state, came in for great commendation for its determined stand in defense of the Fifth Object and the uplift it gave the Order. In 1898, the State Body met in Annual Session at Huntington, September 13-15, State Councilor E. A. Flesher in the Chair. With this session the first decade of the State Council was closed, showing a great advance in the Order in that time, there being 157 Councils and 6,482 members. The Eleventh Annual Session was held at Morgantown, Sep- tember 12-14, 1899, State Councilor W. F. Wilson in the Chair. The records show that 150 attended the session and the business UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 677 was mostly of a routine character, acting on reports, etc. Brother M. B. Summers was elected State Councilor. In 1900 the State Council met at Parkersburg, with Brother Summers presiding. Of 1901 session we have no record; but in 1902 the body met at New Martinsville with Arthur Reese in the Chair. A. 0. Allison presided over the session of 1903 at its meeting held at Martinsburg. During these years while in some of the states rebellion was rampant, West Virginia, true to her old-time principles, was loyal to the banner of the Order throughout those critical years. It is true, however, that some of the brethren of West Virginia had different views from some of the leaders of the administration rela- tive to the controversy and did not approve of all that the National Council had done ; but with all the differences of opinion as to the policy of the administration, there was not the semblance of dis- loyalty so far as the records show. The Sixteenth Annual Session convened at Charleston, Sep- tember, 1904, with A. J. Frick in the Chair, and in 1905 found the state body at Elkins, at which time Brother C. M. Bennett pre- sided as State Councilor. The session at the latter place was a very pleasant one, and the recognition of the Order by Senator Elkins whose grounds were thrown open to the visitors was appreciated. Z. T. McBee was elected State Councilor. The Eighteenth Annual Session of the State Council of West Virginia was held at Huntington, September 19 and 20, 1906, State Councilor Z. T. McBee in the Chair. The statistical resume of Subordinate Councils under date of August 15, 1906, is as follows: Receipts for the year $30,541.31 Paid for Benefits during the year 12,029.49 Invested by Subordinate Councils 20,701.77 In Treasuries of Subordinate Councils 12,597.70 Receipts of State Council $5,181.89 Expenditures of State Council 4,183.17 Balance in Treasury $998.72 Councils in Good Standing 87 Total Membership 4,752 Amount Received from Per Capita Tax $3,619.25 Amount Received from Special Tax 556.77 678 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The following resolution must be commended by all lovers of sobriety, and speaks well for the West Virginia brethren : " To the Officers and Members of the State Council of West Virginia Junior Order United American Mechanics. " Whereas, It has come to the knowledge of several of our members that one of our representatives has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a member of our Order, by being grossly intoxicated upon the streets of this city last evening; therefore, be it " Resolved, That in appreciation of the courtesy extended our dele- gates by the city administration, we denounce and disapprove the conduct of said brother." The following officers were elected and installed for the ensuing year: State Councilor — C. R. Lavalley, State Vice-Councilor — F. W. Seaber, State Council Warden — 0. J. Daniells, State Council Conductor — H. D. Correll, State Council Inside Sentinel — F. A. Jacques, State Council Outside Sentinel — G. W. Poisal, State Council Chaplain — Balser Rexroad, National Council Representative — M. B. Summers. Brothers Brent Shriver, State Council Secretary, and C. C. Newman, State Council Treasurer, in accordance with the Consti- tution, were " hold-overs," their terms not having expired. These two officers had won the respect and confidence of their brethren and from term to term they have been honored by reelection. The State Council has been quite modest in making sugges- . tions to the National Council in the way of legislation ; but when it did, it asked for the right thing. This is true relative to the Ritual question, the State Body always being in favor of a better as well as a three-degree Ritual. In this connection it might be stated that National Representative C. H. Wolfes, of West Virginia, is a member of the present (1905-1907) Special Committee on Ritual of the National Council. A study of the proceedings of the State Council of any state brings out prominently those who have " stood by the stuff." In West Virginia, among those who have been more or less active, might be mentioned the following: Brothers Shriver, Newman, Bennett, Summers, Lappert, Askey, Wolfes, Savage, Flesher, Frick, Kee, Kirk, McBee, Warfuel, McGrhee, Allison; besides a host of silent workers in the ranks, not forgetting to mention C. R. Laval- ley and Fred W. Seaber, the present (1906) State Councilor and State Vice-Councilor. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 679 WISCONSIN Past State Councilor F. J. Shaler, then of Illinois, introduced the Order into Wisconsin by the institution of Washington Council, No. 1, at Stevens Point, December 15, 1888, which was followed by America Council, No. 2, February 27, 1890; Lincoln Council, No. 3, March 14, same year; Winona, No. 4, March 16, 1892; Col. Ellsworth, No. 5, September 2, and Milwaukee, No. 6, September 15, same year. The last two by Stephen Collins who instituted the State Council Oct. 10. 1892. The first State Councilor was H. A. Kinney, and at the time of the institution of the State Council G. H. Erridge was made Jr. P. S. C. We were unable to obtain data relative to the Order in the state other than is found in the Proceedings of the National Coun- cil. That the " Badger State " had a " rocky road," so far as the Junior Order is concerned, is borne out by National Councilor Richter in his report to the National Council of 1895. " To my mind," says the National Councilor, " no other state has had more ' hard luck ' than Wisconsin. From 7 Councils and 450 members, our Order has decreased to 5 Councils and 200 members." The National Board of Officers during the year gave special attention to Wisconsin and made several efforts to secure Special Organizers to enter the field, but failed. In the meantime, Brother A. W. Izenour, of Pennsylvania, attempted to do 'some work, but met with indifferent success. Brother Jos. S. Eeynolds, of Illinois, was directed to give some attention to the Order and his presence inspired little enthusiasm. National Organizer Jos. Powell, who was directed to visit the state following the session of the National Council of 1895, reached Stevens Point, August 16, where he found the organization at low ebb, the Councils everywhere disheartened and the Order on the decline. Already several Councils had dissolved and the attempt to reorganize them proved unavailing. Brother E. W. Sellers at this time was the State Councilor and he did all in his power to cooperate with the National Organizer in reviving the Order, but they found much unrest growing out of the former supervision of the State Council which drove many out of the organization. Brother Powell not only found a most earnest worker in Brother Sellers, but also in Brother H. J. Slifer, of Pennsylvania, who had removed from his native state to Wisconsin. Brother Slifer was Deputy National Councilor and gave much inspiration wherever he went. In his report to the National Council for 1896, 680 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER he spoke in the highest terms of the work of Brothers Powell and Sellers, and was able to give a more encouraging report of the state than hitherto, there being a gain of 100 per cent, in Councils and 50 per cent, in members. A peculiar condition was present in the State Council of Wis- consin in 1897 which called forth the exercise of executive authority somewhat out of the usual order. It was found that nearly the entire Board of Officers of the State Council were inactive and neglected the business of the organization to such an extent that the Order was nearly wrecked. The situation becoming so serious, National Councilor P. A. Shanor issued a proclamation authorizing Deputy National Councilor Sellers, as well as empowering him, to take possession of the property and effects of the State Council, receive the per capita tax, distribute the password and to perform all other duties that was necessary until the meeting of the State Council. The result of this enlargement of the power of the National Councilor proved the wisdom of the act, as the session of the State Council following was one of the most enthusiastic ever held in the state and the Order never was in better shape for active and successful work. The Order, however, had a continual struggle, sometimes up, then down, making but little advance. The standing of the State Council December 31, 190-1, indicates the condition of the Order in the state : Number of Councils 4 Number of Members 131 Received by Subordinate Councils $947.13 Paid for Relief 461.24 Worth of Councils 298.33 Since the Order has been introduced into the state, 17 Coun- cils have been instituted, of which, as above stated, but 4 remain. Wisconsin contains a large foreign population, hence it has been difficult to maintain the organization in the state. Of those who composed the State Council at its institution, but two remain in good standing, E. W. Sellers and W. W. Gregory. Past State Councilors in good standing (1907) are E. W. Sellers, Senior Past State Councilor, W. H. Norstrant, D. E. Sneller, James M. Doug- lass, John Sellers and Geo. Campbell. Past National Representa- tives Fred J. Carpenter, Frank H. Patterson, Henry K. West and F. B. Gano. CHAPTER XXXVII WHERE STATE COUNCILS DO NOT NOW EXIST IN every State and Territory of the Union, with the exception of North Dakota, the banner of Jnniorism at some time in the history of the Order, has been unfurled to the breeze of a free country; in some State Councils once existed, in others not enough Councils were instituted sufficient for the establishing of a State Body. With the exception of one, Lousiana, all these states lie west of the Mississippi, in a territory that all must admit is the most uninviting for a patriotic organization, because of the heter- ogenous character of the population and other environments not experienced anywhere else in the United States. Even some of the other states have State Councils only in name as a result of the same conditions that beset the Far West and Northwest. The story of the National Organizers who have gone into this section of the country corroborates the above statements as to the difficulties that confront a distinctively American organization. However, in the writer's opinion, the " field is white unto harvest," and it is our belief that if the National Council had suf- ficient funds to employ Special Organizers for each state and have them give their entire time in that jurisdiction, organizing Coun- cils, then feeding them after their institution, the results would be entirely different. So far from the base of official operations, not coming in touch with the great organization that is sweeping over other states, has had more to do than anything else with the disband- ing of scores of Councils in this far away territory. There are those in the organization, not so many now as previous to the separation, who have nothing but adverse criticism to hurl at the National Or- ganizers who penetrated this field in the last decade of the nine- teenth century and first planted the seed-truths of Juniorism therein. Such criticism is unjust and unwarranted. The men who were sent into this territory by the National Council were men of iron and nerve, or they could not have withstood the dis- couragements that met them everywhere. It is true they instituted Councils and established State Councils, but they were expected to cover one-third of the continent in the pursuit of their work, hence 6Si 682 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER they could not remain anywhere to solidify their work by caring for the progeny. The careers of Collins, Powell and Borden in this region read like a romance, flying here and there, organizing, in- stituting, and encouraging Councils, living on the road, sleeping by rail, lunching where it could be got on the way, covering from 15,000 to 25,000 miles in a year while engaged in their labor. These brethren did honest and faithful work ; and while much of it came to naught, the fault was not theirs, but the system under which they were expected to work. As above stated, place in this hard field Special Organizers with sufficient funds to keep them in the different states the entire year, notwithstanding the environ- ments, the story that will be told ten years hence will be a different one from the one we must now tell, of State Councils disbanded and states without a Council at all. ARIZONA On a " stop-off " visit, on the way from California to Texas, National Organizer Stephen Collins introduced the Order in the Territory of Arizona, March 24, 1894, by the institution of Phoenix Council, No. 1, which was followed on the 30th of same month by the institution of Abraham Lincoln Council, No. 2. Business and political complications soon brought about a decline and the Order went quite rapidly into the " defunct pile." National Organizer Powell, in November of 1895, visited Phoenix Council but found it nearly depleted, although nearly 100 members had united with the Council in a year's time. Brother Powell stated that the Coun- cil did well until the members went into politics for city offices, some were elected and others, through the elected officers, were ap- pointed, and from that day until the death of the Council none had ever showed up in the Council chamber. The last report received by the National Secretary was in 1895. IDAHO J. W. Charlton, of Spokane, Washington, according to Deemer's History, instituted Washington Council, No. 2, at Ward- ner, Idaho, sometime during the administration of National Coun- cilor J. G. A. Eichter, 1894-1895. In February of 1896, National Organizer Jos. Powell visited the State and instituted Abraham Lincoln Council, No. 2, located at Boise City, February 21, and Eagle, No. 3, March 6, 1896, at Cceur d' Alene City. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 683 Brother Powell found a very uninviting field in Idaho. The anti-American sentiment was so strong that it was almost a rarity to find a native born acknowledge that he was an American and even among Americans he found sectional prejudices that, like oil and water, would not mix. Disappointed in organizing other Councils, the National Organizer hied himself to other territory. The standing of the Councils, as per report of December 31, 1897, showed a membership of 154; in 1898 there was but one Council with 75 members which reported in 1899 a membership of 89. The report of 1904 still showed the Council in existence but with a membership reduced to 20. IOWA It is a matter of surprise that so densely populated a state as Iowa, with its hundreds of towns and great agricultural interests, should be without a State Council of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., yet such is the case. Like its neighboring state, Illinois, the Order has had a hard road to travel in Iowa, notwithstanding its inception in the state was under most auspicious circumstances. Deputy National Councilor F. J. Shaler, of Illinois, introduced the Order into Iowa by the institution of Garfield Council, No. 1, December 16, 1890, and Eed, White and Blue, No. 2, both at Clin- ton. This was followed by Tama Council, No. 3, in April, 1892. In the month of May of 1892, National Organizer Stephen Collins reached Clinton, Iowa, and found Garfield, No. 1, not in working condition. After a few days' effort he realized the futility of any further endeavors toward resuscitating the Council, hence he ad- vised that they return the private work to the National Council and disband. The cause of the disbandment was owing to the fact that the majority of the members were railroaders which made their attendance uncertain — yet they had a thriving " Oriental Court " all the same — good seed traded for chaff. Red, White and Blue, No. 2, never met after it was instituted, but Brother Collins breathed new life into the Council and it went to work. Brother Collins then proceeded to plant the Order in other places of the state, and on May 10, 1892, he instituted Sutherland Council, No. 4, which was followed by Washington, No. 5, May 11 ; Star of the West, No. 6, May 24;' Bluff City, No. 7, May 27, and Sioux City, No. 8, on June 6, 1892. The day following, June 7, 1892, Brother Collins instituted the State Council of Iowa, there being 12 Representatives present and all of the seven Councils were 684 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER represented at the institution. Brother N. J. Pervier was selected Jr. Past State Councilor, E. L. Price State Councilor and Wm. Seiss State Council Secretary. During Brother Collins' stay of six weeks in Iowa he visited many of its towns sowing good seed, and in doing so traveled 2,500 miles. The State Council at its institution elected a full delegation of National Bepresentatives, viz. : E. L. Price, B. M. Hummell, G. W. Turner, C. C. Wales and F. J. Stockwell. Starting under bright skies the Order moved along nicely for a short time, but the clouds began to lower, strife was engendered, inefficient officials were at the helm, and as a result, when National Organizer Powell visited the state in October, 1895, he found the affairs of the State Council in bad shape and the Order on the decline. However he found in State Councilor A. E. Line, Jr. Past State Councilor Edward Canning and State Council Secretary B. Bobinson, true-blue Juniors who cheerfully cooperated with him in straightening out the complications that had arisen through the abuse of former officers of the State Council. Brother Powell spent some time in the state endeavoring to reorganize Councils and organize new ones, with but partial success; however he left the Order in a more hopeful condition after his two visits during the year, and as a consequence, the meeting of the State Council at Council Bluffs in May, 1896, was the most enthusiastic the body had seen since the institution. There were 6 Councils and 215 members. The Order the following year did make slight increase} four Councils being added to the number and the membership advancing to 280. But one year subsequent the number of Councils fell to 5 and the membership to 147, while in the report of the National Council Secretary ending December 31, 1898, Iowa was a blank. Since that time the State Council of Iowa has no existence, and according to the report of 1905, the Order is extinct. LOUISIANA In 1890, Past National Councilor Orange instituted Orleans Council, No. 1, some time in May, and Magnolia, No. 2, soon after. We quote from Deemer's History the following reference to the Order in Louisiana by Deputy National Councilor Thos. Ivey in his report to the National Councilor, dated May 15, 1895: " In reference to Orleans Council No. 1, I experienced no regret in learning that the Council is, defunct. The condition of affairs existing in it for some time previous to its dissolution was a stigma; and I rejoiced when I knew the Council was gone." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 685 Beferring to Magnolia, No. 2, Brother Ivey said : " But there is a Council in Louisiana, to which I wish to call special attention as a shining example of devotion to our principles. Magnolia Council is located in the town of Pollard, away to the northwest of New Orleans. They number more than 100 members and they have built for themselves a two-story building, the upper story of which is their Council room. The lower story is a schoolroom, and the school is supported by the Council. Two teachers are employed by the Council — one at $60 a month and the other at $40." It is a question if anywhere in the entire National jurisdiction a like exemplification of our belief in popular education can be found. At the close of 1896 the Council reported 96 members. The Council, however, since 1896 has gone out of existence, but the camp-fires of Juniorism has been kept burning brightly through McDonough Council, No. 1, which is a very flourishing and thriving Council with a membership of 80, made up of a high standard of American citizenship. This heroic Council stands alone in that great state, but like her sister state, Miss- issippi, there will come a tidal wave of Junior sentiment that will sweep over the state leaving Councils in every section. MINNESOTA National Organizer Stephen Collins carried the principles of the Junior Order into the State of Minnesota, in 1893, and the following was the result of his visit: Washington Council, No. 1, August 18; Lincoln, No. 2, September 4; Sibley, No. 3, in December, 1893; Jefferson, No. 4, March, 1894; Liberty, No. 5, in June same year. This was followed by the institution of the State Council of Minnesota in the month of May, 1895, at which time the follow- ing officers were elected: Jr. Past State Councilor — A. G. Bainbridge, State Councilor — Dr. Claud Kremer, State Vice-Councilor — S. E. Foreman. State Council Secretary — J. D. Woodruff. The first delegation elected to represent the State Body in the National Council were : Dr. L. A. Cox, S. E. Foreman, J. S. Kim- ball, Gr. M. McGeary and Dr. Claud Kremer, of which delegation Dr. Kremer and S. E. Foreman were in attendance at the National session of 1895, at Omaha, and were accompanied by Brother A. G. Bainbridge. 686 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The standing of the State Council for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1895, was as follows : Number of Councils 15 Number of Members 560 Minnesota, although with good men at the helm, had great obstacles to overcome, doubtless greater than found in any other state in the Union. The character of her population, so largely foreign, had a tendency to keep business and professional men from uniting with the Order for fear of " boycott " by the un-American element. However, the greatest hindrance to the growth of 'the organization grew out of the fact that the A. P. A. had cut a prom- inent figure in the state, politically, and the consensus of opinion was quite general that the Jr. 0. U. A. M. was another " political scheme " brought into the state, which prejudiced the public against the Order. Among those who served as State Councilors, the following are named: J. S. Kimball, S. E. Foreman, E. H. Godfrey and G. H. Drake. As an evidence of the " hard road " the Order had to travel in the state, the report of the standing of the State Council for the year ending December 31, 1898, shows the following: Number of Councils 5 Number of Members 324 Received by Subordinate Councils $2,163.30 Paid for Relief 722.30 Worth of Councils 613.11 The last report submitted to the National Body was in 1901, showing but two Councils and 146 members. From that date the State Council of Minnesota ceased to live. December 31, 1902, one Council reported 30 members, which on December 31, 1904, was " doing business at the old stand," having at that time 60 mem- bers, with but one member entitled to sit in the National Council, Brother A. G. Bainbridge, the pioneer Junior of the state, so well known throughout the National jurisdiction. MONTANA To Past State Councilor J. E. Creighton belongs the credit of introducing the Order into the State of Montana, May 30, 1895, by the institution of Washington Council, No. 1. He was followed by National Organizer Powell in December of same year, whose efforts resulted as follows: Tiffin Home Council, No. 2, at Great UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 687 Falls, December 21, with 29 applicants; Helena, No. 3, at Helena, January 2, 1896, with 26 applicants; Missoula, No. 4, January 10, with 21 applicants; Abraham Lincoln, No. 5, April 8, with 26 applicants, and Thomas H. Benton, No. 6, April 13, 1896, at Butte City, with 31 charter members. Delegates elected by the above named Councils met in conven- tion and formed the State Council of Montana, which was insti- tuted by National Organizer Powell, April 15, 1896. The new organization was placed in the hands of the following brethren : Jr. Past State Councilor — S. N. Mullin, State Councilor — B. H. Cook, State Vice-Councilor — J. H. Plummer, State Council Secretary — A. R. Jones. The following National Representatives were selected: B. H. Cook. E. M. Boyer, J. H. Plummer, S. H. Robson and J. R. Creighton. The story of Juniorism in Montana is but a repetition of the story told of many Northwestern states during the period Brother Powell was in the field, and it reads like a romance. From Wis- consin, through Michigan to Iowa, and then to Arizona, into Utah, then Idaho, Nevada and New Mexico, in his own state of Colorado, then Montana, this " globe trotter " sowed the seed of Junior principles and saw it develop in one short year. In doing this heroic work, Brother Powell traveled 25,000 miles. Has it occurred to the reader what it means to travel in those great states, an empire in themselves. We in the East think 100 miles a long distance. Think of Texas, of the gigantic size of that vast plain. One has said that if you would take a map of the United States and lay it down and measure the Lone Star State the longest way by stretching a cord across it, then place one end of the measure on Chicago, you will find the other end extend into the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. Or, take Montana, for instance, there is in that mammoth commonwealth one county that contains 20,000 square miles inside of whose boundaries could 1)0 put Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware and New Jersey, and still there would be plenty of room. California has a county of similar dimensions. This was the territory the National Or- ganizers had to traverse in their efforts to plant Juniorism. All hail to the men who sacrificed home comforts and business to expound the doctrines of our noble Order. Deputy National Councilor Creighton makes a full report of the introduction and progress of the Order in Montana for the year 688 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ending April 20, 1896. The organization in the state began under favorable circumstances: Council No. 1, after a year's work, had 150 members; Council No. 6, at Butte City, was made up of the very best people of the city, among them being bankers, profes- sional men and men of public affairs. Brother Creighton gives a sample of what is found in nearly every Northwestern state made up of a mixed population with the American element the smallest portion of the mixture. In Butte City they had at that time a population of 40,000, a large percentage of which was anti-American and naturally opposed to our free institutions. Among this heterogeneous mass were 1,600 Irish voters, 900 English, 500 Swedish, 900 Canadian, and 1,500 voters " assorted, high, low, great and small," with but 5,000 Americans, men, women and children. " A Canadian," says Creighton, " thinks as much of a Junior as he does of a snake." By 1900 the State Council had disbanded, there still being one Council in existence with 50 members. And with pluck scarcely found anywhere in the Union, Washington Council, No. 1, on December 31, 1904, was still doing business " at the old stand." The Council reported as follows: Number of Members 62 Receipts $131.40 Worth of Council 422.91 NEBRASKA In 18'86, on October 23, the Order was planted in the State of Nebraska, by the institution of Omaha Council, No. 1, in the City of Omaha, with 35 members, and in February, 1890, Lincoln Council was instituted. However, when National Organizer Col- lins reached the state in 1892, he did not find in operation the original Councils, hence began anew to lay the foundation of the Order and his efforts brought forth the following results : Washing- ton Council, No. 1, July 21; Lincoln, No. 2, July 29; Columbia, No. 3 ; Winona, No. 4, July 27 ; Garfield, No. 5, August 1 ; all in 1892. These were followed by the institution of the State Council of Nebraska, August 5, 1892. The Order for some reason did not flourish to any great extent, after the first few years; in fact, made but little progress at any time, according to the standing of the State Council December 31, 1894, when there were but 9 Councils and 279 members. Drought UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 689 and hard times were given by the Deputy National Councilors as the reason for the lack of growth in the Order and the subsequent decline. The report of the National Secretary for the year ending December 31, 1904, gave no report of Nebraska at all, hence the Order has died out in the state and another State Council is num- bered with " once were." In the earlier years of the Order in Nebraska, the following were prominent in State Council and the National : W. A. Howard, J. C. Thorn, W. F. Knapp, J. A. Silver, all Past State Councilors; and Past National Representatives W. A. Messick, H. L. Day, J. W. Houder and R. P. Dolman. NEVADA National Organizer Jos. Powell, during that year of mountain- climbing and prairie-crossing, entered Nevada and set up the ban- ner of the Order by the institution of Washington Council, No. 1, November 26, 1895, at Virginia City, which was followed by the institution of Kensington Council, No. 2, at Carson City, Decem- ber 4, 1895, and Sequoi, No. 3, at Reno, December 5, of same year. In 1896, Deputy National Councilor Chris D. Zeigler instituted Abraham Lincoln, No. 4, March 28, at Geneva, at which time the membership in the state was 116. The reports of the Deputy National Councilors during this period of the Order up to and including 1896, were published in the National Council Proceedings and are very valuable from a his- toric standpoint, in obtaining data that could in no other way be secured from those frontier states. Deputy National Councilor Zeigler was very thorough in reporting his jurisdiction and entered into every detail relative thereto. The strong anti-American influences, however, were too strong for the Order in Nevada, as one by one the Councils succumbed, until 1899, the name of Nevada was stricken from the National Council records. NEW JERSEY It is with regret that the name of New Jersey must come under the head, " States where State Councils do not Now Exist." Third in the family of State Councils, one of the trio to help form the National Council, and with a long and eminently successful history, New Jersey to-day is without a State Council, and the few 44 690 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER members therein remaining loyal are under the jurisdiction of the National Council. The cause for this condition of affairs is -well known and need not be repeated here. Eeference to Deemer's History, the story of the inception of the Order in New Jersey, is told: " The Order was introduced into the State of New Jersey by the institution of Lincoln Council, No. 1, in January, 1866, followed by Lafayette, No. 2, Hope, No. 3, in September, 1867; Malaska, No. 4, August 19, 1868; Washington, No. 5, September, 1868; Enterprise, No. 6, October, 1868; Excelsior, No. 7, April, 1869; Fidelity, No. 8, April, 1869; Morning Star, No. 9, May, 1869; Kesolute, No. 10, in June, Independent, No. 11, in July, and the State Council of New Jersey, July 12, 1869." Composed of strong men, New Jersey for years prior to her withdrawal from the National Council had much to do in shaping the policy of Junior history. The Order in the state made wonder- ful progress and stood high in the estimation of the public. From her ranks came six National Councilors, viz. : Ogden Laning, William P. Hayes, S. H. Crum, W. H. Meseroll, Geo. W. Elbert and H. A. Kibbe. In the business of the National Council her Eepre- sentatives took active part, and in the promulgation of the Objects and Principles of the Order, New Jersey was not behind any of her sister states. New Jersey's part in the revolt of 1899 is the only ignoble feat- ure of her long and brilliant history, and for that act of defiance to the mandates of the National Body there is no excuse, and it is the writer's opinion that there are thousands of the rank and file in New Jersey's former membership who feel that her representatives made a great mistake in the action taken. It is the hope of all loyal Juniors that New Jersey will again come under the banner of the National Council by returning to the camp-fires of the Order. The following was the standing of the State Council of New Jersey December 31, 1898 : Number of Councils 263 Number of Members 29,307 Received by Subordinate Councils $327,717.52 Paid for Relief 91,790.00 Worth of Councils 345,172.30 However, two Councils remained loyal to the National Council, viz.: Enterprise, No. 6, and Hollywood, No. 29, which reported to the National Council December 31, 1902, 414 members, with worth of Councils of $7,108.71. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 691 On March 1, 1904, National Councilor Dr. J. L. Cooper ap- pointed Brother 0. L. Forrester, of New York, Special Deputy for New Jersey. Intelligent, courageous and discreet, Brother Forres- ter proved the right man for the delicate work of " hearding the lion in the den," and entering a field so surcharged with prejudice toward the National Council. The Special Deputy got in touch with the rank and file and gave them an unbiased account of the whole controversy, and the causes that led to the revolt in the Order as well as the present status of the situation. His efforts were crowned with success, and in a short time he had enough Coun- cils restored to the Order to organize a State Council, but the opposition of the insurgent element defeated the ultimate purpose of the National Council. The two Councils are still true to the Supreme Body. NEW MEXICO Brother C. L. Voris, of Colorado, was appointed Deputy Na- tional Councilor over the Territory of New Mexico, in the fall of 1895, and organized the following Councils: Davy Crockett, Council No. 1, October 23, 1895, at San Martial; Bowie, No. 2, in February, 1896, and Alamo, No. 6, April 6, 1896. The report of the three Councils May 15, 1896, showed 105 members. However, December 31, 1899, there was but one Council in operation with 43 members and worth $249.50. Previous to December 31, 1904, the Council dissolved and the Order is extinct in New Mexico. SOUTH DAKOTA National Organizer F. C. Borden instituted Deadwood Coun- cil, No. 1, at Deadwood, South Dakota, August 27, 1896, with 30 applicants, and on March 31, 1897, the Council had 57 members. The Council, however, did not thrive after the first year, and before the close of the century it had disbanded. UTAH National Organizer Powell penetrated the State of Utah and instituted Washington Council, No. 1, at Ogden, February 14, 1896. No other Council being organized in the state, like a tender flower in the desert, it pined away and died. 692 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER WYOMING The inception of the Order in Wyoming occurred on the 16th of February, 1895, when Washington Council, No. 1, was instituted. This was followed by Winona, No. 2, in June; Custer, No. 3, in September; Minerva, No. 4, in November, 1895, and Abraham Lincoln, No. 5, in February, 1896. The latter Council was insti- tuted by National Organizer Powell. The institution of Washington Council at Cheyenne aroused much American sentiment and the outlook was exceedingly bright. Brother D. A. Hastings was appointed Deputy National Councilor, who entered the field and pushed the work with vigor. However, the same " rock " that wrecked the Order in other jurisdictions in the Northwest, the A. P. A/s, proved an obstacle to the advance of the Junior Order in Wyoming, and after a few " fitful years " of struggle, the Order succumbed to the inevitable, and expired. V. WHO IS WHO IN THE ORDER CHAPTER XXXVIII THE title of this section is not new or original. It originated in England some years ago in a publication entitled " WHO IS WHO," which gave brief sketches of prominent men not only of Great Britain, but of other countries as well. America followed with the suggestive title, and we have several publications in book- form : " Who is Who in New York," " Who is Who in Penna.," etc. " WHO IS WHO IN THE OEDER " relates especially to those who in a greater or less degree assisted in shaping the policy of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. in the National Council and in the different states of the Union, where the Order has official existence. There are those of this patriotic organization whose careers have had such definite interest, when considered as factors in the history of the Order, and whose lives are either National or state-wide, who deserve a place within the scope of this section. The Brothers who have labored for the up-building of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. should live in memory when they shall have passed into " The Great Beyond." Not all by any means, who, in the National Body or the various State Councils, have given faithful service to the organization, can be named or find a place in this " temple of fame " ; but it has been the aim of the author to place the names of a few of the representative men of each state, espe- cially those who have in some way or other left their impress upon the Fraternity. It is a lamentable fact, all too true of America, that in this fast and busy age, we soon forget our heroes. Men who have wielded the sword in the defense of our common country and its flag, and who gloriously fell on the battlefield, are shamefully forgotten, either by pen or monumental shaft. Such should not be the case. It is also a regretable statement to make that even in our Order, men who have had much to do in shaping the policy of the organization and making its history, that prejudice or selfish motives have relegated them to the background; and that there are too many who one day will cry " Hosanna " and the next shout with the rabble "Crucify him." 693 694 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Others claim that the world should be very sparing of its praise or commendation for a man in the race of life, but should wait until he is under the sod or at least until he lies in his casket before saying any good things of their brother-man. The writer has no use for such postmortem love — praise for a man when he is dead, speaking kind words when the man's ears are deaf to them and the heart is cold and still. Personally, we do not want any- body coming around our casket breaking alabaster boxes of spike- nard and myrrh, since it would do us no good; but rather if they have anything good to say, to say it when it will touch our ears and bring to us a realizing sense that we may have done something to make the world better and man happier, so we shall all the more be quickened to greater deeds of love and duty in the great battlefield of life. Any dog when he has been driven hard in the chase, will run with fleeter feet when the master strokes his head and says " fine fellow " ; any horse, when dragging the heavy load against the hillside, will pull until the traces snap if the driver will pat his neck and stroke his mane and speak endearing words. So any human being with finer sensibilities, amid the cares and struggles of his life-work, who sometimes feels that he is not appreciated, will be inspired to nobler deeds and purposes if his fellow-men will speak a kindly word of appreciation. We have aimed to follow this principle in writing the sketches that follow. When we conceived the idea of thus concentrating into one section of this work the portraits and brief sketches of those who have filled the highest office in the province of the National and State Councils, we sent a request to every Past National Councilor, and to two or more Past State Councilors of each state, consid- ering the number of state officers on the list, and to a few Past National Eepresentatives whose prominence in the Order has been marked, asking for a cut or photograph and data for a sketch to be inserted. We must, however, express our disappointment over the result. Some with feelings of diffidence or native modesty, were unwilling that they should be made so prominent, feeling that their work did not merit a place in this section. Others did not care to have their portraits inserted, but furnished few facts for a sketch. While others, we are sorry to say, must have thrown our request into the wastebasket, or otherwise treated our com- munication, as we never even had the courtesy of a reply. Hence if the reader finds a missing face or the absence of a sketch of those who have served in some of the highest positions of the Order, he should know that the " missing link " in this section CHAS. P. HAUPT Past National Councilor and Only Living Charter Member of the Order (1908) UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 695 is not our fault. However, we are pleased to refer the reader to some of our representative brothers who have been more or less associated with the work and progress of the Order. If there are those who have been unintentionally missed from this section, future editions can remedy the defect, and give some brother or brothers the credit that is due him, or them. CHAS. P. HAUPT Past National Councilor and the only Living Charter Member of the Order (1907). Brother Chas. P. Haupt, at present (1907) the sole connecting link with the birth of the Order, May 17, 1853, was born near the sacred landmark of the organization — Concord Schoolhouse — Germantown, July 21, 1834 his ancestry being residents of that section from the days of the Revolution. After securing a public school education and a course in the Rittenhouse Grammar School he went into business in 1849 and continued until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the 150th Regiment, Pa. Volunteer Infantry, Third Bucktails, and was appointed Commissary Sergeant of his company. After some months of camp life at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pa., the regiment was mobilized at Washington, D. C.,at which place Brother Haupt was stricken with small- pox. While in the hospital, though convalescent, his regiment had orders to march south to the seat of war. At this point we will let Brother Haupt tell his story: " I was determined to go with my regiment, and so expressed myself to the surgeon, Dr. Thomas. He told me that I would not be fit to leave the hospital for sometime; for, if I should catch cold, I would likely pay for my imprudence with my life. Well, I secured my discharge from the hospital, and when I got to camp, it was all hurry and bustle. Every- body was getting ready to move. I was given a warm welcome by my captain and comrades, and, in a short while, everything was in order for a forward movement. The following morning loomed up wet and cold, but there was no backing out for me. I got in an army wagon, and we started Southward, and were very soon on Virginia soil. I remained on duty some five months, when my health broke down completely, and they sent me home for repairs. As soon as I was physically able to do some work, I was put in the V. R. C. and sent to Pittsburg for special duty; afterwards to Trenton, and at the expiration of my term of service, was discharged from the army." When Brother Haupt was sufficiently recovered in health, he was appointed a clerk in the Registry Department, Philadelphia, and subse- quently was placed in the postoffice of same city where for 20 years he served as Cashier in the Money Order Department. So faithful was he in the performance of his duties that he was made financial secretary to the assistant superintendent, which position he still holds. 696 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The story of Brother Haupt's connection with the Junior Order is told in Chapter II, and cannot be restated here. Suffice it to say, however, that his name with about a dozen others is still to be seen on the first charter of the first Council, viz., Washington Council, No. 1, and was elected its treasurer which office he held until July, 1855, six months after his connection with the Senior Order. Brother Haupt returned to the Order and was readmitted to Washington Council, No. 1, with appropriate ceremonies April 26, 1895, as noted elsewhere. Past National Councilor J. W. Calver was given the honor to readmit our esteemed brother and since that time he has continued a member of the Mother Council. In view of the distinction of being the only surviving charter member of the Order, the National Council at Louisville, Ken., in 1898, conferred on him the honors of Past National Councilor. Although past his three score years and ten, Brother Haupt retains much of his youthful spirit and is quite well preserved in his body. He is a genial, courteous gentleman and those who know him best love him most. JOHN W. CALVER First National Councilor of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. Ascending by a rugged and circuitous path up the slopes of a mountain some years ago, the writer reached the top and there spread out before him was a plateau covered with fallen timber with the exception of four pine trees that lifted their stately heads above the scene of desolation. Standing as we do as an Order in this the twentieth century and glancing backward over the dead decades of the century that has left us, it is a source of gratification that four stately pillars of our Order still live with us (1907) whose life-spans have bridged or nearly so the life-span of the Order itself — Haupt, Deemer, Calver and Goff. One of this honored and esteemed quartette is the subject of this sketch — Senior Past National Councilor John W. Calver, of Pennsylvania, the first National Councilor of the Jr. O. U. A. M. Brother Calver has been so much a part of the Order that to tell the story of his life is to tell, in a measure, the story of the Junior organization. Born in the City of Philadelphia, August 15, 1843, Brother Calver has lived there all his life with the exception of a few years that he resided with his uncle at what was then known as Germantown, now a part of Philadelphia. When 15 years of age, he was apprenticed to his uncle to learn the Last Manufacturing business where he remained until he was 21 years of age when he returned to the city to assist his father who was a manufacturer and dealer in millinery goods, which business, on the retirement of his father in 1865, was continued by Brother Calver in partnership with his two sisters under the firm name of John W. Calver & Co., until 1873 when the sisters retired and the business was changed to Manufacturer of Hat and Bonnet Frames, in which business Brother Calver has been quite successful, having built up a large trade. For some years as a side line, he engaged in the selling of secret society goods, but closed out that feature of the business in 1899. In all his business relations he has been an honest and strictly concientious merchant and stands high in the opinion and respect of his business associates. JOHN W. CALVER First National Councilor of the Junior Order United American Mechanics UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 697 Brother Calvor is quite a fraternity man who is able to see in every secret order something that is noble and commendable. He is a member of the O. U. A. M., or " Senior " Order, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, improved Order of Red Men, the Royal Arcanum, the Order of Sparta, and the Artisans Order of Mutual Protection. Of the latter organization he is a permanent member of the Most Excellent Assembly (the National Head), and has been a member of the Board of Directors and its Secretary for 25 years. But in neither of these or all combined did Brother Calver take so deep an interest as in the Jr. O. U. A. M., the Order he espoused with all the pent-up enthusiasm of his boyhood years, the principles of which, like threads of gold have been woven into the very web and woof of his life. He was initiated as soon as he was old enough into Washington Council, No. 1, which was in September of 1859, and as a member and officer was present at and took a conspicuous part in the institution of the first Councils chartered by Washington Council, Nos. 2 to 8. His letter given in Chapter II recites the hardships and difficulties encountered while in the performance of those sacred duties in which the foundation stones of this noble Order were laid deep and strong. When the State Council of Pennsylvania was instituted in 1860, Brother Calver was not sufficiently advanced to have a part therein, but he was a delegate with other young bloods to the " curb stone convention " that was held outside the hall where the representatives were forming the first State Council and asked members of the State Body what was going on inside. As soon as Brother Calver had become eligible he was elected Representative to the State Council and was admitted thereto January 15, 1861, from which time he has been an active member for about 48 years, with scarcely any diminished interest at the present time ( 1907 ) . On April 19, 1864, he was elected State Councilor and on January 16, 1866, he was elected State Council Treasurer to which position he has at each successive annual meeting of the State Body been reelected, and in nearly every instance, unanimously. During these 41 years as custodian of the Order's funds, hundreds of thousands of dollars have passed through his hands without even the thought of suspicion on the part of his brethren of any irregu- lar ity, or misappropriation of a single penny. Brother Calver was an ardent advocate for the establishment of a National Body of the Order and when the question was agitated he was a member of the committee from Pennsylvania to take into considera- tion the feasibility of creating a higher body, and was a member of the delegation that met in convention in the afternoon of September 30, 1869, that created the National Council of which body he was elected National Councilor, and succeeded himself to the same office at the close of his first term, an honor that has come to no other member of the Order. He, with Brother Edward S. Deemer and John D. Goff are the surviving charter members of the Supreme Body of the Order that are members of the organization. Brother Calver has attended every session of the National Council, and to him has come the signal honor of installing the National officers into their several stations and places. In the van of every movement that had in view the upbuilding and advancement of the Order, Past National Councilor Calver has been con- spicuous. When the original resolution was adopted in 1891 looking 698 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER towards the establishment of an Orphans' Home, Brother Calver was appointed a member of the first committee to take the matter into con- sideration. From its inception he was an enthusiastic advocate of such an institution and when the Home was established by action of the National Council, Brother Calver was one of the committee to locate it where it now stands, the wisdom of which choice none can question, and was closely associated with its budding and opening life, and with the building of its first cottages upon the first one of which a flag was unfurled, being the gift of our brother. As a member of the Board of Trustees he devoted much of his time to the management of the Home, being for some years the President, and refused to continue longer thereon owing to his in- creasing business interests. As a man, Brother Calver represents all that is noble and true; as a citizen, he stands four-square on all questions of civic and moral right- eousness; as a Christian, he exhibits the Bible-type, and as a Junior he measures up to the highest standard — a true-blue patriot, a devoted ad- herent and a firm believer in the doctrines of the Order. EDWARD S. DEEMER * National Secretary, 186-1907. "Such a man Might be a copy to these younger times." — Shakespeare. Born October 12, 1840, in the City of Philadelphia, Pa. Was the National Secretary of the Order from the birth of the National Council to 1907, has at the same time been the State Council Secretary of Penn- sylvania from its beginning, and with the exception of three years he was passing the chairs in his own State Council, remained the Secretary of the body until 1907, when of his own volition, he declined to longer serve; lias lived the life of a noble man from boyhood's hour; loved, honored and respected by all who know him, and who is to-day not only the Nestor of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, but is also its idol — this is Edward Samuel Deemer, surely " such a man might be a copy to these younger times." We do not propose to write an eulogy of this man, neither do we intend to write an article long drawn out, for does not the Order know its own? The mighty character of Deemer has been stamped on the Order throughout all these years that he has labored. The power of his name is felt in the Council chamber of every Subordinate Council in the* land; the youngest recruit in the ranks has but to quote his name to obtain a respectful hearing, and that, too, in the face of the fact that hundreds of our Order's rank and file have never looked upon his kindly face. One might suppose he exercised some secret influence; that he pos- sessed the power to make and to destroy. The secret of his influence lies in his stainless name, and never questioned integrity, and the power that he undoubtedly possesses is never used, save to create for the welfare of the Order to which he has given the flower of his youth, and the strength * Written by Z. P. Smith as published in The American. EDWARD S. DEEMER National Secretary 1869-1907 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 699 of a noble manhood. Yes, this chieftain to whom we all pay willing honor, is in his life and works as gentle as a woman, and as a friend and brother always. tender and patient. One glance from the tired eyes, one word of welcome from the lips that speak only words of truth and the man, the DEEMER, the Rock of the Order, is revealed. In the past glorious history of the Order his name stands out promi- nent in all that has been said and done; in the dark days that came upon ns in recent years it was to Deemer that the Order looked for help and guidance, and with all his soul and strength he labored to regain the ground lost. No one ever heard fall from his lips anything save words of encouragement; when others faltered, he never did; when others seemed to lose control, Deemer was to be found at his post, calm, cool and unyield- ing. Little wonder that he holds first place in the hearts of the manhood that compose the Order; little wonder that, as the exiled Jew when lie piays. turns his face toward Jerusalem, so in our doubts and perplexities we turn our faces toward the face of this gentle yet militant spirit, that has bound us to him because we love him. Would you know of his early history? 'Tis but a plain record. He was the oldest child of his parents, John and Sarah Ann Deemer, and he was one of a family of seven — and his first schooling was obtained in a " pay school,"' afterwards, when he was a lad of fourteen he was entered at the city's High School. Here he remained for three years and then commenced to help his father as salesman and book-keeper. John Deemer, his father, was a pioneer in the manufacture of high-grade Morocco leather, and succeeded in building up a large and lucrative trade. Brother Deemer remained in the employ of his father for over twenty years, when a position was offered him by a large wholesale shoe house, which he accepted, and afterwards worked for a shoe finding house until 1887, when he resigned his position to take up the duties of National Secretary of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and has ever since given his whole time to the work of the Order. Brother Deemer was united in marriage to Miss Kate Mecauley, the daughter of a prominent member of the " old Order " — the 0. U. A. M. Two children were born to Brother Deemer and his wife, a son and daughter; the daughter died when an infant, and the son at the age of twenty-two. This occurred years ago; the death of this lad, the pride of a father, and the joy of a devoted mother, and through the years that have past think you not this father and mother have not known the loneliness of it all ? Think you not they have not longed for " the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is stilled." This lad, who was called on to yield up his young life, had connected himself with the Junior Order United American Mechanics at the early age of sixteen, and had the distinction of being the first son of a member to become of eligible age for membership in the Order. Would you know of Brother Deemer's early association with the Order? 'Tis a brilliant record, and yet we pass over much of it. He was initiated on Washington's birthday, in Eagle Council, No. 3, in the winter of 1860. He held various offices, and when the State Council of Pennsylvania was formed, the delegates, meeting as they did in the old town hall at Germantown, Brother Deemer, although less than six months a member of the Order, was chosen State Council Secretary, and held the position with the exception of the three years as above noted until 1907. 700 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER That his work as State Councilor of Pennsylvania was a wonderful success the following paragraph from his report to the State Body of 1867 would indicate: " One year ago our entire Order numbered twenty-five Councils in Pennsylvania, three in New Jersey, and five in Delaware. At the session at which I was installed, Delaware was taken from my charge by the institution of the State Council of Delaware, and of the twenty-five Councils in Pennsylvania, nine were defunct, leaving under the jurisdiction of the State of Pennsylvania nineteen Councils. To-day I have the proud satisfaction of reporting to you fifty-five Councils in Pennsylvania, seven in New Jersey and one in Ohio."' When the National Council was organized in the year 1869 (Septem- ber 30 was the exact date), in the old City of "Brotherly Love," Brother Deemer was chosen as its first and up to June, 1907, the only National Secretary. It was at this session that Brother John W. Calver was chosen the first National Councilor. In 1879 the National Council gave to Brother Deemer the well-earned honors of Past National Councilor. He is a member of other fraternal organizations, being, we believe, a Mason, a Knight Templar, and possibly others, but it will be as a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics that he will be remembered. He has been a prolific writer in the Order's interest, and indeed it is to him that we really owe the beautiful Ritual that we use to-day. For many years he has been a loyal and devoted member of the Universalist Church, and prominent in all its good works. Such is the story told in brief, and yet so much remains untold. Some day some one who has the power and ability will write this good man's autobiography, and when the book is written it will find a place in the home of every Junior, just as the memory of the man will always remain as a sweet incense in the hearts of his brethren. Edward Samuel Deemer — " such a man might be a copy to these younger times." Maintaining a longer official connection with the Order than that of any one of any organization of which we have knowledge, Brother Deemer holds an unique position in the history of fraternal societies. The above sketch was written in 1904, and that which remains to be told, already referred to, is his voluntary retirement from his official connection with the Order, both as National Secretary and State Council Secretary of Pennsylvania, in June and September of 1907. The "passing" of Deemer from official life brought its regrets, yet with the sadness there came the recognition of the fact that he had given a long service to the fraternity and had well earned the period of quiet and rest for the " sunsetting " years of his life. The beginning and the closing, officially, of Edw. S. Deemer — what a contrast. Beginning with eight Councils and less than 300 members, he stepped down into the ranks with tioo thousand Councils and 200,000 members. HENRY C. SCHAERTZER Past State Councilor, and National Councilor, 1907-1909. Twenty years after the discovery of gold in the " Sunset State " (on May 3, 1869) it was said in a San Francisco home that a man-child H. C. SCHAERTZER National Councilor, 1907-1909 H. L. W. TAYLOR W. L. S. GILCREAST National Vice-Councilor, 1907-1909 Junior Past National Councilor, 1907-1909 UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 701 had been born and subsequently he was named Henry. To write the life-sketch of Henry C. Schaertzer requires the " pen of a ready writer " — ours being inadequate. Suffice it to say that his early life was not unlike the average American boy, and when 14 years of age he entered upon his life career — at the bottom of the ladder it is true — as an all-around boy in the office of an attorney. Here the perceptive mind of our brother came in contact with Blackstone and when he was twenty-one years of age he was ready for college, and entering Hastings College of Law, a branch of the University of California, he graduated therefrom with high honors and was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of California and at once "hung out his shingle" announcing that the young barrister was ready to receive clients. In following his chosen profession, his success was varied, but per- sistently applying himself to his work he rapidly rose to a prominent place at the bar, and to-day has a large practice representing some of the largest and most influential corporations in the country and his clients are from Maine to California and from the Gulf to the Great Lakes. Comparatively a young man, Brother Schaertzer has attained his present prominent position as a corporation lawyer by hard work and tireless energy, having made his own way in life since he was fourteen years of age. The home life of our brother could not be happier. Mrs. Schaertzer is very truly a " help meet," intelligent, cultured and refined. In this model home are two most charming daughters, the joy and pride of fond parents. With such surroundings, a good practice, an affectionate wife, and loving children, Brother Schaertzer's life is one of sunshine over which it. is the prayer of his brethren, that clouds may never come to mar and darken. As a fraternity man — well Henry C. Schaertzer has joined almost everything that has come along, believing, as he does, that in every fraternal association there are important truths to imbibe and valuable lessons to learn. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, being Past Master of his Lodge, a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and is quite active in Golden Gate Commandery, No. 16, Knights Templar, of which he is at present (1908) Senior Warden. He is also connected with the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and is a thirty- second degree Mason. He is a member of the Improved Order of Foresters, Native Sons of the Golden West, National Union and many other organi- zations. Brother Schaertzer, however, is best known throughout the Union as a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, in which organization he has attained the highest place in the gift of the Supreme Body — that of National Councilor. Like many more in the West and South who are strong men in the Order and owe their inception into the Jr. 0. U. A. M. through the personal influence of Brother Collins when National Organizer, Brother Schaertzer was induced by him to connect himself with the fraternity, and on January 29, 1894, he became a charter member of Abraham Lincoln Council, No. 2, of California, at the institu- tion of which he was elected Councilor and representing his Council he took part in the organization of the State Council, being a charter member of same, which was instituted on February 22, same year, and was elected State Vice-Councilor. At the next session of the State Body he was elected 702 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER State Councilor which position he held for three consecutive terms, during which time the Order in the state grew from 700 to over 2,500 in member- ship. This wonderful success was attributable to the zeal and energy of Brother Schaertzer, who not only sacrificed his profession and business, but spent his own money to lay the foundation of the Order and preach the doctrine of patriotism. He was admitted to the National Council in 1895 and has been a member of that body ever since. He has taken a conspicuous part in the proceedings of the National Council, served on some of its most important committees, and as a debater on the floor of the National Body he has held a prominent place. When the National Council convened at Nashville, Tenn., in 1905, he was unanimously elected National Vice-Councilor and by the same expression of unanimity he was raised to the high station of National Councilor at the biennial session of 1907. Thus in brief is unfolded the story of Henry C. Schaertzer's life, and while he. is thoroughly imbued with the principles and teachings of all other organizations with which he is connected, still ninety per cent, of his energy and zeal has been given to the promulgation of the principles as taught by the Jr. O. U. A. M. When the " parting of the ways " came in 1899, Brother Schaertzer stood flat-footed and four-square on the side of loyalty to the mandates of the Supreme Body, from which position he has never for a moment swerved. And what more shall be said. Honorable, upright, brave and true, our brother represents the highest ideals of a superb Christian manhood, and the correct standard of American citizenship. With his brethren in the Order he has stood for the noblest and best; in his profession he has brought to the craft merit and respect; in his home he is the affectionate husband and most loving of fathers — in fact in every sphere he is placed he reflects all that is true and pure and noble in human character. , W. L. S. GILCREAST Junior Past National Councilor, 1907-1909. A descendant from an English and Scotch ancestry, Walter Lee Smith Oilcreast, of Massachusetts, was born in Methuen, same state, September 16, 1860, in which place he has lived all his life. Having secured a good common school education, he completed his studies in Tuft's College, from which institution he graduated in 1880, and for a number of years taught in the public schools, and then took up the profession of book-keeping which has been his life occupation. He was united in marriage with Miss Lillian Frances, daughter of Colonel Silas P. Richmond in 1898, and the fruit of the union has been one son, Seaver Richmond, who was born February 22, 1900. It is as a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. that Brother Gilcreast is best known to the fraternity, being a conspicuous figure not only in his own State Council, but in the National Council and the Order at large. His connection with the Order dates from August 5, 1891, at which time Methuen Council, No. 24, was instituted, he being one of the charter members. He was elected Financial Secretary at the institution of the Council, subsequently Recording Secretary and in due time passed the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 70S chairs of the Council. In 1892, he became a member of the State Council of Massachusetts, which body at once recognized his ability by electing him State Council Treasurer which position he held until 1894, when he was called to the Chair of State Vice-Councilor. In 1895 he was advanced to State Councilor, and so commendable was his administration, that for three sucessive terms his brethren kept him at the head of the State organization. Brother Gilcreast's connection with the National Council began in 1899, when he was appointed a member of the National Ritual Committee, but before the year was gone he was chosen to the high position of Supreme Judge on the National Judiciary, which, during those turbulent times in the Order, required a high type and exalted standard of intellectual man- hood. In this position he served the Order faithfully and well, and on looking around for a typical candidate for the honors of National Vice- Councilor, Brother Gilcreast was selected at the session of 1904 and was unanimously elected. A year later, at Nashville, he was placed at the head of the organization and for two years (being the first National Councilor to serve during the biennial term) he gave a good account of his stewardship, and when he resigned the Chair to his successor at Boston, in 1907, the Order had regained its numerical standing that it had before the revolt of 1899, the gaiji for the term being 194 Councils and 30,895 members, leaving a surplus in the National Treasury of $20,000. the largest balance ever reported. Brother Gilcreast stands high in the opinion and affection of his compeers. As one has said, " his name is a synonym for self-respect and entire confidence and esteem." Other National Councilors have been more gifted in speech. He of the "silver tongue," Dr. Cooper, or that intel- lectual giant from Pennsylvania, P. A. Shanor, are more resplendent in words and oratory, but as to sterling integrity, unswerving honesty and clear headed judgment, Brother Gilcreast measures up to the full standard of true American manhood. H. L. W. TAYLOR * National Vice-Councilor, 1907-1909. Hugh Lawson White Taylor, the subject of this sketch, is altogether deserving of the honors that the Order has bestowed upon him, tracing as he does, his ancestry back for four generations without the admixture of a single drop of foreign blood on either side. His great grandfather was Parmenas Taylor, who was born in Virginia in the year of 1753; emigrated to North Carolina and began his vocation as a surveyor prior to the War of Independence. When the Revolution broke out he cast his fortune with the American forces, and was found fighting for the independence of the colonies at King's Mountain, a captain in Colonel White's Regiment. During the war a warm friendship sprang up between the young captain and his commanding officer, and when hostilities ceased Colonel White insisted on his returning with him to his home in Burke County, N. C. Colonel White had a young and beautiful daughter just fifteen years of age, named Elizabeth, and between her and Colonel Taylor a warm attach- * Written by Brother Geo. W. Gardner. 704 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ment sprang up and after a very brief courtship the pair eloped from the maternal household on horseback and fled to the banks of the French Broad, two hundred miles west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where, on a big bend of that river, he took up and finally entered upon a tract of six hundred and forty acres of fine bottom land. This was in 1783, the country still being in the territory of North Carolina. Colonel Taylor and his young wife began vigorously to hew a home out of the wilderness. The soil was prolific, the climate genial, and before his and his wife's death, both attaining over seventy years, he had carved a magnificent farm out of the wilderness, which came into the possession of his youngest son Willis, other sons and daughters having been located previous to. his death. Colonel Taylor was an uncle to Zachary Taylor of Mexican War fame, and was a member of the convention that formed the first Constitution of the State of Tennessee. Willis Taylor was a farmer and a local Methodist preacher, and married Miss Annie Harrison. To them eleven children were born, the eldest Parmenas, being the father of the subject of this sketch. Willis Taylor lived to the ripe age of seventy-eight years and died on the farm where he was born and raised, and his ashes were laid to rest in the Taylor graveyard. Parmenas Taylor was married to Sarah Ann Moore, and on July the 14th, 1852, Hugh*Lawson White Taylor, the third child, was born at the old home place in Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was named for the great Tennessee orator and statesman, Hugh Lawson White, who was a cousin to his grandfather, Willis Taylor. Hugh remained on the same farm which had furnished employment and shelter for three gen- erations of Taylor's until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the Ragan High School at Morristown, Tennessee, from which he graduated in 1871. After his graduation, three years were devoted to school teaching. During his career as a pedagog, on May 21, 1872, he was married to Miss Emma Harrison. Their union has been blessed with three boys and one daughter. The daughter was removed by the hand of death from the family circle in 1899, at the age of twenty-six years, but three sturdy sons have reached manhood's years, and two of them have become active mem- bers of the Order. After his career as a school teacher, Brother Taylor returned to the farm, where he devoted himself to farming and stock rais- ing, and was very successful in a financial way until 1890, when he deter- mined to go West, and in 1891, disposed of the ancestral acres, and with his family moved to Paris, Texas, where he lived but a single year, returning to Newport, Tennessee, a growing little town within seven miles of his old home. Here he has lived ever since, conducting with some financial profit both a wholesale and retail grocery business. Brother Taylor has always been a fraternity man. At the age of twenty-one he was made a Master Mason, and has repeatedly represented his Lodge in the Grand Lodge of the state. He has been a member of the Knights of Honor for twenty years. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and a Past Great Sachem. He is now serving out a term as Representative to the Great Council of the United States. He joined the Jr. 0. U. A. M. in February, 1897, the first time he knew that such an Order was in existence. He was elected Councilor at the institution of Unaka Council, No. 24; was elected the first Representative and went to the State Council, May, 1897; was elected State Council Conductor, was CHAS. REIMER Past National Councilor and National Treasurer .MARTIN M. WOODS National Secretary STEPHEN COLLINS Secretary-Manager Funeral Benefit Depart- ment and Beneficiary Degree. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 705 also elected Representative to the National Council and attended the Minneapolis session in 1899; he served two terms as National Representa- tive and served three years as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Orphans' Home. He has served his State Council in every office; was State Councilor of Tennessee in 1900, and had the most successful administration the Order ever had in Tennessee up to that period. Brother Taylor has been President of the Board of Education of the Newport High School for the past five years, and a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, for thirty years past. He is abstemious in all his habits and a staunch friend of the temperance cause, never letting an opportunity pass to give intemperance a sturdy blow. Brother Gardner has presented an interesting sketch of our esteemed brother whose native modesty would not permit him to prepare same. It should be added, however, that to Brother Taylor there came unsolicited upon his part the honor of being elected National Vice-Councilor at Boston, Mass., in June, 1907, a post of duty as well as that of National Councilor he will most eminently fill. Being in the prime of life, the Order may expect excellent things from him, and as he has " made good " in every line of duty in the past, he will also do so in every capacity in which he is placed in the future. Well may the Tennessee brethren be proud of their Junior son in whose veins flow the purest American blood. Descended from such a noble ancestry, it is not a matter of surprise that our brother possesses those traits that go to make up a great character — uprightness, a high sense of honor and a simon-pure patriotism. CHAS. REIMER Past National Councilor and National Treasurer. For 22 years and more Brother Chas. Reimer has stood for all that is good and true as taught in the Jr. 0. U. A. M., having united with the Order in 1885, he has been signally honored as well as esteemed by his brethren. Having filled all the principal offices of his Subordinate Council, he was sent as a Representative to the State Council and for some years served as its Treasurer. He was elected National Representa- tive and attended the sessions of the National Council each year in that capacity; in 1898 he was elected National Vice-Councilor and at Minne- apolis, Minn., in 1899, he was placed in the Chair of National Councilor. During the year 1903-1904, National Treasurer J. Adam Sohl was compelled to resign owing to increasing disability, whereupon National Councilor Cooper appointed Brother Reimer Acting Treasurer until the meeting of the National Council, at which time, 1904, he was unanimously elected to that responsible position and has been reelected without opposition at each session held since. There are times in the history of nations as well as of religion and societies, that the " man of the hour " is needed and God has always the man for the emergency. Illustrations of this fact are so numerous, even in our own land, that it is scarcely necessary to refer to them. When a nation was to be born, the first constitutional government to be established, there were men of the hour ready — Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry and George Washington. Lincoln and McKinley were also men of the hour. 45 706 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER When rebellion within the Order was inaugurated and the very life of the organization was in jeopardy, the National Council fortunately had at the helm " a man of the hour " — Chas. Reimer — conservative, de- liberate, though true and faithful to the National Body, who guided the organization through the crucial years of its career. Loyal to the highest and best interests of the Order, never swerving for a moment from the path of duty, yet no one can justly charge him with being unfair; even those outside the fold must admit that he was lenient and considerate, all the while extending the " olive branch " to his erring brethren. Un- assuming, and modest, with but little to say on, the floor of the National Council, yet when Brother Reimer does speak, his words are the expression of mature judgment and a well-balanced mind. He is one of the strong men in the Order, clear-headed, a safe counselor and a perfect gentleman. MARTIN M. WOODS Past State Councilor and National Secretary. In the City of Newburyport, Massachusetts, on November 9, 1859, Martin M. Woods, of Massachusetts, the National Secretary first saw the light of day. His childhood was spent in the public schools until he was 17 years old, when he entered the shop of his father to learn the blacksmith's trade, which occupation he followed for 13 years. Leaving this work, he obtained a position with H. G. O. & T. M. Chase, the cele- brated comb-makers of New England, in whose employ he remained 10 years. In 1876, he was united in marriage with Jeannette Clayton Chase, of West Newbury, she being a direct descendant of the Pricilla and Aquilla Chase, so well known, historically, in England. Four years after his marriage, he removed to West Newbury where he spent 16 years of his life. It was while living at the latter place that he came in touch with the Jr. O. U. A. M., joining Indian Hill Council, No. 11, February 6, 18S8. His admission to the Order was the beginning of a faithful and earnest career in the offices of the organiation, his call to duty coming rapidly. On June 29, 1891, Brother Woods was elected Councilor of Indian Hill Council, and as soon as he had passed the chairs, he was made Financial Secretary, in which position he served five years. The year following his election as Councilor, 1892, he was sent as a Representative to the State Council, appearing the same year in that body for the first time as did his life- long friend, Brother W. L. S. Gilcreast, where he took foremost rank, and in 1894, was elected State Council Secretary, in which position he has served until June, 1907, when he resigned, having been elected National Secretary at that date. His State Council further honored him in 1896, by electing him National Representative and his first appearance in the National Body was at Pittsburg, in 1897. He also attended the sessions at Minneapolis, in 1899; Philadelphia, in 1900; Buffalo, in 1901; and San Francisco, in 1903; at which session he was elected National Conductor, and served in that position at St. Louis, in 1904. While Brother Woods was a resident of West Newbury, he took prominent part, as a true American citizen, in town affairs, having served UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 707 on the School Committee two terms, was one of seven that were instru- mental in securing a Free Public Library and was Chairman of the Board of Trustees as long as he resided in the place. He was also a member of the Board of Engineers of the Fire Department for three years and one year chief engineer. On removing to Leominster, Mass., in 1899, he took a position with the Viscoloid Company, having charge of the Hydraulic Press Department. The home life of Brother Woods is exceptionally happy. Two chil- dren, a son and daughter, have been born bringing sunshine and joy. Both Brother and Mrs. Woods are members of the Daughters of America, taking a prominent part in the organization. It remained, however, for the session of the National Council at Boston, in 1907, to confer upon our brother greater honors, that of electing hirn to the office of National Secretary. His long official connection with his own State Council having fitted him for that line of work, it is confi- dently expected that he will measure up to the responsible place of trust his brethren have placed him in. Brother Woods is of a quiet, retiring disposition, conservative, yet positive, when the right is to be maintained. In the counsels of the Order he has not a great deal to say, but his sterling integrity commands universal respect, and when he does speak he is generally found on the right side. STEPHEN COLLINS Past-State Councilor of Pennsylvania, and Secretary-Manager Funeral Benefit Department. Stephen Collins comes from an old Pittsburg family, his father being born in Pittsburg in 1804 and was a son of Thomas Collins, one of the first lawyers in that city coming there from Reading, Pa., in 1796. His great-grandfather, Collinson Bead, was a prominent lawyer in Philadelphia and was a member of the first electoral college which elected George Wash- ington as President of the United States, and Collinson Read's grandfather, Charles Read, was Mayor of Philadelphia in 1704 and afterwards one of the " Colonial Councilors " of Pennsylvania. Stephen Collins' father was admitted to West Point Military Academy in 1819 and his eldest brother, Charles Read Collins, was admitted to the same academy in 1854, graduated in 1859 and was killed in the Battle of the Wilderness in 1863. Stephen Collins was born in 1852 and attended the Public Schools in Allegheny. In 1872 he entered the Railway mail service and in 1881 was appointed Superintendent of Mails of the Pittsburg P. O. and served in that position until 1891. He entered the Jr. 0. U. A. M. as a charter member of Wilkinsburg Council, No. 92, on May 8, 1886, and was its first Councilor and repre- sentative to the State Council of Pennsylvania in July, 1886, and has attended every session of the State Council since that date. In July, 1889, he was elected State Vice-Councilor and during this year all records were broken and 101 Councils were organized in Pennsylvania. During his term as State Councilor from July, 1890, to September, 1891, 235 Councils were organized in the state. The membership of the Order in Pennsjdvania when Brother Collins became State Vice-Councilor was about 38,000 in 293 Councils. On Decern- 708 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ber 31st, 1889, it had increased to 43,854 in 394 Councils; on December 31st, 1890, to 5(3,566 in 532 Councils; on June 30th, 1891, to 64,274 in 638 Councils; and on June 30th, 1892, the last report prior to the time his term ended on the Board of Officers in September, 1892, the membership was 78,747 in 804 Councils. In February, 1892, Brother Collins was appointed as National Or- ganizer, that position having been made vacant by the resignation of Past National Councilor Ogle, of Baltimore. He started work at once in Michigan and the official proceedings of the National Council tell the history of his work in organizing and instituting the State Councils of Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado, Cali- fornia, Oregon, Texas and Georgia and also organized Councils in Wash- ington, Arizona and Tennessee. His work as National Organizer ended at the Asheville session in 1894. After serving on the National Legislative Committee in 1S98, 1899 and 1900, and at the Buffalo session in June. 1901, the Funeral Benefit Department was created and he was elected Secretary-Manager of the Beneficiary Degree and the new department was placed in his charge. The record made in this work is recent history. The Beneficiary Degree had less than 400 members and was in debt for over $5,000 and the report for December 31st, 1907, shows a membership of 3,566 members and all liabilities have been long since paid, and there was a surplus of over $35,000 safely invested and earning a good interest, and the plans of the Beneficiary Degree had been improved and placed on adequate rates. The Funeral Benefit Department was created at a very critical period in the Order's history and met with the most bitter and determined opposition in many places of the country Suits entered before the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and carried into the courts of Philadelphia by the Philadelphia F. B. A., known as the F. B. A. of the U. S., cost the Funeral Benefit Department over $2,000 for lawyers fees and court costs, but the National Council Department was successful in every case and nothing could check its advancement until at the end of six years it has a member- ship of over 133,000 and surplus funds of over $110,000 safely invested and earning five per cent, interest and has made a record for prompt payments and satisfactory service. The Department has made a record for economical management being conducted for less than four per cent, of the gross receipts. Twenty years of Brother Collins' activity in the Junior Order can, in short, be summed up in one word — intensity. This characteristic of his nature gave him great advantage over those who had no object before them spurring them on to greater efforts. Such a temperament, however, has its disadvantages ; while it makes undying friendships, sometimes it arouses strong antagonisms. While not a lawyer, yet he possesses ability for penetrating legal problems and judicial methods, and is generally correct in his opinions and judgment. When the pirates sought to scuttle the old ship and disrupt the Order, Brother Collins was a potent factor who, when others become pessimistic, never for a moment doubted not only the right- fulness of the claims for which the National Council was contending but of the ultimate triumph of the cause of loyalty; and to maintain the honor of the fraternity and the position of the Supreme Head of the organization, he threw himself like a valiant knight in the forefront of the UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 709 struggle. But the author has no intention of writing his panegyric — his work as outlined above is a matter of record and that is the standard to judge any man. Stephen Collins is somewhat of a fratcrnalist being a member of J. P. Winower Council, No. 618, Jr. O. U. A. M. of Pittsburg; Wilkinsburg Council, No. 760, Royal Arcanum; Stephen C. Foster Conclave, No. 360, Improved Order Heptasophs; Oakland Lodge, No. 421, Knights of Pythias; Griflin Lodge, No. 413, F. and A. M., and Pythagoras Chapter, No. 19, R. A. M. of Griffin, Georgia. CHAS. LAWRENCE Author of Original Resolution to Establish an Orphans' Home. As a single pebble cast into the sea will send a wave-movement across the mighty deep until it shall touch the farther shore, so one little act from one scarcely known outside the circle of his own home Council has started a movement that has become the crowning glory of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. — the National Orphans' Home — and as the years roll on, although he who cast the pebble shall be lying in " God's Acre," the influence and blessing of that one heart-throb will move on until the last orphan of the Order shall have found a home and human suffering shall have been swallowed up in the beatific glories of earth's millennium. Chas. Lawrence was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, on Feb- ruary 23, 1853, and was reared under the influences of New England conservatism. When less than two years of age, both his parents were removed by death, whereupon he was taken into a Christian home where he was adopted by the name he now bears Brother Lawrence spoke in the highest terms of the kind family where he spent his childhood and early youth, and under whose sheltering arms he found kindness and love. On arriving at the age of eighteen years, speaking in common parlance, young Lawrence started out on life's journey to " paddle his own canoe." He learned the plumber's trade and that has been his life occupation ever since. Removing from New England to Ohio, Brother Lawrence settled in Mansfield, where he was brought under the influence and teachings of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. in 1890, and became a charter member and the first Councilor of Freedom Council, No. 63. He at once entered upon his Junior career with enthusiasm and became a leader in his Council which he represented in the State Council several sessions and took a prominent part in the deliberations of the same. He also allied himself with American Commandery, No. 1, of Ohio, U. A. M., or what is familiarly known as the Uniform Rank. Recognizing his zeal, his Council, as stated, elected him Representative to the State Council in which body he served with credit. Previous to the session of the State Body in 1891, the " Original Orphans' Home Resolution" was introduced in Freedom Council by Brother Lawrence instructing the Representatives of the Council to agitate in the State Council the question of a " Widows' and Orphans' Home," which was adopted, hence becoming the inceptive movement that ultimately culminated in the National Orphans' Home, at Tiffin, Ohio. This action when pre- 710 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER sented in the State Body fired up the soul of Brother J. H. Zimmerman who became the champion of the movement, and justly earned the title " Father of the National Orphans' Home." Brother Lawrence at present (1907) is a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is as earnest and active as ever in the cause of Juniorism, and has connected himself with Lookout Commandery, No. 1, U. A. M., of Tennessee, and Winona Council, No. 4, Jr. O. U. A. M., of same city. J. H. ZIMMERMAN '• Father of the National Orphans' Home." To write the story of the National Orphans' Home of the Jr. O. U. A. M. and leave out of the romance the name of J. H. Zimmerman would be like placing one of the dramas of Shakespeare upon the stage with Hamlet left out. Space in this connection will not allow a restate- ment of many facts of Brother Zimmerman's part in the founding and establishing of the Orphans' Home and the reader is referred to the chapters on that subject; however, a brief reference must find a place in this sketch. Brother Zimmerman is a thorough-bred, simon-pure Pennsylvanian, of German extraction as the name indicates, and was born at Mexico, Juniata County, August 4, 1856. Having obtained a good common school education, he applied himself to the trade of a printer and has followed that as well as the publishing business ever since, being either editor or manager of daily and weekly publications. In 1883 he chose Miss Mary C. Weaver for his helpmeet and two children, Annie C, a teacher in the public schools, and Harry, still in school (1907), were the fruits of a happy union. Brother Zimmerman imbibed the principles of the Order while a resident of Newport, Pa., having been induced through the personal friend- ship of the late Past National Councilor Dr. Harry Stites to join Newport Council, No. 106, in June of 1873, and on the 30th of May following he was Chief Marshal of the first parade on Decoration Day in which the Juniors took the place of the veterans in decorating the graves of the heroic dead. In 1878, Brother Zimmerman represented his Council in the State Council that met at York, as well as at the session the following year, and subsequently served as Deputy State Councilor under three State Councilors. In removing to Plain City, Ohio, in 1885, where he became editor of The Plain City Dealer, he let his light as a Junior shine and organized Plain City Council, No. 14, and in 1889, represented his Council in the State Body at its meeting in Zanesville. This was the beginning of Ohio's revival in Juniorism, and our brother entered enthusiastically into the advanced movement. In 1890, he was elected National Representative and attended the session of the National Council at Chicago in June, same year, where he was placed on the Ritual Committee. It was at the session of the State Council of Ohio, in May, 1891, that Brother Chas. Lawrence presented the original resolution relative to establishing a " Widows'and Orphans' Home," as adopted by his Council, Freedom, No. 63, of Mansfield, which as stated elsewhere was the inceptive movement that has brought honor and glory to our Order. Previous to J. H. ZIMMERMAN Father of the Orphans' Home REV. J. R. BOBLITS Past National Councilor, Formerly Superin- tendent Orphans' Home GEO. B. NESBITT Formerly Superintendent Orphans' Home W. E. FAISON Past National Councilor, Editor of The American UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 711 this, however, the same thought had come to Brother Zimmerman, and it had been burning its way down into his heart as he gave expression to his thought in October of previous year to several members of the National Council, hence when the " original resolution " was offered in his State Council Brother Zimmerman at once became the champion of the enter- prise, and as Brother Kernan, in his " History and Description of the Orphans' Home," says: "He took up the work at the point where dis- cussion sank into indifference with so much vigor that he justly earned the title of the ' Father of the Orphans' Home.' " It was Brother Zimmerman who wrote the original National Council resolution, and in behalf of the State Council of Ohio, submitted it to the National Body at its session held at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1891, which was adopted and he was placed on the Committee to take the project into consideration and was selected as its Secretary, and as all know, he \v;is practically the Committee, as to him fell the work of formulating the plans and scope of the proposed Home, as well as stirring up the Order as to the feasibility and practicability of the undertaking. As is true in all great movements, the mind of humanity is slow to grasp the idea and the "man behind the gun " often lives many years in advance of his compeers; so it was equally true of the Orphans' Home movement — no one seemed to believe it could be accomplished — and many in the National Body looked upon it as a dream and Brother Zimmerman as a good dreamer. Even Brother Deemer viewed the project as the dream of an enthusiast, and when the Home, through the grit and faith of its champion became a reality at the session of the National Council in 1896, the National Secretary was frank enough to confess his former pessimism and doubts when there was handed over to the Order a property, clear, with money and pledges aggregating $50,000. The Home being established, Brother Zimmerman was placed in charge as Superintendent and in the month of August, 1896, the first orphans were installed by him in the original cottage, a two-story frame building. Cottages 1 and 2 were quickly erected and the farm and institution was placed on a sound basis under the wise supervision of the Superintendent. Such was Brother Zimmer- man's part in the establishment of the Home, which will stand as his monument when his soul shall have taken its flight to the " home beyond the tide." Ohio in those sunshiny years of our brother's life appreciated his work and worth. Each State Councilor spoke of him in the most complimentary terms; a motion was made at one of the sessions to elect him National Representative by acclamation, which, on being ruled out of order, as the laws required that all candidates must be elected by ballot, he was unanimously elected; and then as a mark of love and esteem, on motion, a rising vote of thanks was tendered him, accompanied by a tiger, for his magnanimous work. After serving as Superintendent for about two years Brother Zimmer- man retired and since that time has taken but little part in the affairs of State or National Council, although retaining his membership in Cin- cinnatus Council, No. 82. The causes that led him to retire from the Home and the wrongs that he feels that have been done to him, is a chapter in our brother's life over which we would draw a veil, as we cannot enter into the merits or demerits of an unpleasant controversy. Suffice it to say, that in his intense zeal in carrying out the project of the Home 712 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER and establishing it on a good basis, Brother Zimmerman involved himself financially, and as a result, he lost his home and all to meet his personal obligations made in the interest of the institution. No one in the Order worked as hard as he for the Home and none have sacrificed as much. If wrongs have been committed, they should be righted and the life of our brother be sweetened with expressions of gratitude due him. His present home is Wellston, Ohio, where he is manager of a daily and weekly publi- cation. REV. JOHN It. BOBLITS Past National Councilor from Maryland. One of the " veterans " in the Junior Order, although still in the meridian of life, is Rev. John Royston Boblits, of Baltimore, Md. He was born near the City of Baltimore, December 4, 1855, and secured his education in the public schools of the state and then learned the art of telegraphy, in which profession he is still engaged. Having been converted in 1887, he joined the M. E. Church in which he has maintained membership ever since. He was licensed to exhort February 24, 1893, and licensed to preach April 23, 1894, and for four years served under the presiding elder in the New Jersey Conference as local supply, and was ordained Local Deacon on April 5, 1903, by Bishop Fitzgerald. Brother Boblits' career in the Order has been a long as well as busy one, especially is the latter fact true in its earlier history, as the following outline indicates: Was initiated in Golden Rule Council, No. 6, of Mary- land, January 13, 1874; held the offices of A. R. S., Vice-Councilor, then Councilor and was then elected R. S. which position he filled for many years until compelled to resign on account of his business; but after some years he was again elected to the position, which he resigned when elected National Councilor. He was elected Representative to the State Council at the close of his term as Councilor, and was by that body elected National Representative, January 25, 1886, to fill a vacancy, and at the next sesson, January, 1887, he was reelected for a term of five years. Brother Boblits was unanimously elected National Vice-Councilor in 1890, and at the Cleveland session in June, 1891, he was placed in the Chair of National Councilor, in which capacity he presided at the session of the National Council held at Atlantic City, N. J. His administration was eminently successful, there being 1,260 Councils and 107,991 members recorded, a gain over preceding year, of 341 Councils anl 25,396 members. From 1893 to 1894 he served on Committee on Forms and Ceremonies, and when the office of National Chaplain was created by the National Council at Asheville, N. C, in 1894, he was elected the first National Chaplain and was reelected at Omaha, in 1895, being declared, on motion of Stephen Collins, the unanimous choice of the National Body. He succeeded J. H. Zimmerman as Superintendent of the Orphans' Home in December of 1897, and continued in that position until August of 1898. Brother Boblits has been connected with some very important legis- lation that has placed the Order on higher grounds. In 1890 he offered in the National Council a resolution which instructed the Ritual Committee to prepare a Ritual for the Opening and Closing of the National Council UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 713 and the State Council, Public Installation of Officers and a form for the reception of members by card. He also moved the adoption of the resolu- tion and led in the debate which made it impossible for a manufacturer or dealer in intoxicants as a beverage to become a member of the Order. Though of a quiet and retiring disposition, Brother Boblits has rendered splendid service to the Jr. O. U. A. M.; and for his devotion to duty, his unswerving Christian character and the noble type of American manhood he has ever exhibited, he is esteemed by his fellow-patriots. GEO. B. NESBITT Formerly Superintendent National Orphans' Home. In the dark days of the Republic Geo. B. Nesbitt was born, at Temperanceville, now a part of Pittsburg, Pa., January 31, 1862. His father answered the call of his country early in the Civil War, and fell wounded at the famous battle of Bull Run, from which wounds he died when the subject of this sketch was two years of age. On the establish- ment of the Soldier's Orphans' Schools, George was sent to Phillipsburg Orphans' School, where he remained until the building was burned, when he was transferred to the Orphans' School at Uniontown, Pa., from which he graduated on arriving at his sixteenth birthday. Brother Nesbitt's subsequent life has been a varied one, having learned the trade of ma- chinist, he followed that occupation for 18 years. In 1897 he was elected Secretary and General Agent of the Associated Hospitals of Pittsburg and Allegheny, which position he resigned to accept the Superintendency of the National Orphans' Home at Tiffin, Ohio, where he remained two years. He is now identified with the American Publishing Co., being manager of the corporation. Brother Nesbitt became identified with the Junior Order in 188G, being a charter member of Welcome Council, No. 134, Pennsylvania, of which he has ever since been an active worker, always taking a con- spicuous part in every movement for the promulgation of the Objects and Principles of the organization. He was one of the organizers of the Orphans' Home Picnic Association of Allegheny County (Pa.), and was its first Chairman, from which organization more han $12,000 has been raised for the benefit of the Home, and two buildings, the greenhouse and industrial school, are part of the practical results. For two terms he served his Council as Representative to the State Council and was a member of the State Legislative Committee for two years, serving as its Secretary. Locally Brother Nesbitt took part in the great contest between the school directors and the Jr. O. U. A. M., known as the "Riverside School Case" at which time the nuns were driven from the public school building in the ward where Welcome Council does business. As Marshal he led the South- side Division of the Juniors in the great parade on Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1891, and when the Councils of Pittsburg were making arrangements to entertain the National Council in 1897, by our appoint- ment, Brother Nesbitt served the General Committee very efficiently as Chairman of the Reception Committee. Brother Nesbitt is recognized as a " hustler," doing with all his might " what his hand findeth to do." His appointment to the Orphans' 714 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Home as its Superintendent was in the most critical hour of its history, rebellion within the Order resulting in a decreased income for maintenance and a debt of $18,000 hanging over the Home. Assisted by his wife, who was the matron, Brother Nesbitt entered upon his work with renewed zeal and in the two years of his Superintendency $14,000 of the debt was lifted and the Home placed on a firm basis. AMOS L. CRAY Past National Councilor and Secretary _;oard of Trustees of the Orphans' Home. As Past State Councilor of Indiana, formerly State Council Secretary of same state, Past National Councilor and Secretary of Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, Brother A L. Cray has attained merited honors at the hands of the Jr. O. U. A. M. The writer is without data as to the date and place of his birth, etc., but that he is of American parent- age no one questions and that less than fifty years ago (1908) he first saw the light of day, is a reasonable presumption. If it is true that the boy is father to the man, then it is unquestionably a fact that when a boy he was loved and esteemed by his associates. It is as a Junior, however, that we would place upon record a brief resume of Brother Cray's life. When National Organizer Robert Ogle entered the State of Indiana in 1891 one of the first he came in touch with was Amos L. Cray who most heartily entered into cooperation with him in the organization of Jonesboro Council of which our brother became a charter member, and in a few months was one of the wheel-horses in the reorganization of the State Council of Indiana of which he was elected Secretary, the date of the reorganization being December 4, 1891. Without opposition Brother Cray was each year reelected to the same position, until 1897 when he was elected State Vice-Councilor and the year following was exalted to the Chair of State Councilor. He had scarcely retired from the Board of Officers when, on the resignation of the State Council Secre- tary, he was again pressed into service to fill the position. Declining re- election, his wishes were considered, but a vacancy again occurred in the office of Secretary, when, as an " all-around-man," ready for duty when the call came, he was placed in the position once more to fill the unexpired term. In short, throughout the history of the reorganized State Council of Indiana Brother Cray has beeu its leading spirit and most enthusiastic worker. But for Amos L. Cray were still higher and greater honors. He was early in his Junior career admitted to the National Council which body at its session held at Philadelphia in June, 1900, unanimously elected him National Vice-Councilor and at Buffalo in 1901 he was advanced to the position of National Councilor, and at Milwaukee the year following presided over the National Body with gentleness of spirit so characteristic of his nature. He was made Chairman of the Arbitration Committee appointed in 1902 to hold out the " olive branch " to the erring members in which he performed his part in what proved to be a futile and hopeless mission. Brother Cray was one of the earliest and most ardent supporters of the National Orphans' Home and was one of its Trustees early in its AMOS L. CRAY Past National Councilor and Trustee of Orphans' Home d. b. Mcdonald President Board of Trustees Orphans' Home A. H. LESLIE Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania, Trustee Orphans' Home I MTED AMERICAN MECHANICS 715 history. As soon as lie laid aside the vestments of official authority as incumbent upon him on the Board of National Officers, he was again placed upon the Board of Trustees of the Home in which office he has served the Order most efficiently and is to-day (1908) the Secretary of the Board to which he gives his time without a penny's remuneration for which the Order of American Mechanics should be grateful. In the unfolding of the real life of our esteemed brother and friend, the words of the poet give the truest expression: " I live for those who love me, Whose hearts are kind and true; For the heaven that smiles above me And awaits my spirit too. For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, For the good that I can do." d. b. Mcdonald President Board of Trustees, National Orphans' Home. Although but seldom heard upon the floor of the National Council, yet for his sterling integrity, his unswerving loyalty to the Order and pleasing demeanor, Duncan B. McDonald, of Urbana, Ohio, Past National representative and member of the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, stands high in the estimation of his brethren; which fact is evidenced by his reappointment for five years on the Orphans' Home Board, where, as a member and as its President, his work and administra- tion gave utmost satisfaction. And it is worthy to note that the reap- pointment came unsolicited upon his part, but was made solely on his merits and most excellent record in that most responsible position in the gift of the Order. Brother McDonald has lived in Ohio all his life and was reared and educated in Urbana, where he has always made his home. His trend of life turning towards a business career, he got his first lesson in mercantile life in the store of his father. For twenty-five years, however, he has been engaged in the grocery business under the firm title of Houtz & McDonald, and his career in business-life has been congenial as well as successful. The call of his country for men to fill the depleted ranks of the Northern army was heard by Brother McDonald, when less than twenty years of age, in the year of 1864, when he enlisted in the 134th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the expiration of his enlistment. He wears the insigna upon the lapel of his coat with a soldier's pride. The present day tendency to betray the trust in official capacity, especially where public monies are handled, makes the public cautious into whose hands they place such responsibility. In looking about for a man of untarnished reputation and unimpeachable character to serve as County Treasurer of Champaign County, Ohio, the party managers selected Brother McDonald for the office. And as a result of the election, he is now filling, with complete satisfaction, this important place of trust and responsibility. 716 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Notwithstanding his many duties as a business man and county official, Brother McDonald for eighteen years has been active in the affairs of the Jr. O. U. A. M., having served in all the chairs of his Council, Mad River, No. 56, of Urbana, being representative to the State Council and also representative to the National Council for several years, and for five years, as above stated, has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, to which he has just been reappointed, hi3 term to expire in 1912. No better representative of the Order could have been placed in charge of the Order's great institution than he; kind and gentle in his disposition, the children of the Home hail with exceeding gladness his every visit. A. H. LESLIE Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. A. H. Leslie is a product of Pennsylvania, entering upon life in Westmoreland County, January 5, 1853. His father dying in 1867, the mother with her six boys moved to Pittsburg, Pa., where the subject of this sketch served as a carpenter's apprentice from 1868 to 1871; then for four years was employed as a railroad man from brakeman to con- ductor. Entering the insurance business in 1S75, Brother Leslie took an active part in municipal affairs as well as politics, and being a Republican, he entered the race for Alderman in the City of Pittsburg in 1880, and Avas elected. He was reelected in 1885, 1890, and 1895, and at the same time continued the real estate and insurance business, until August 1, 1896, when he was appointed Superintendent of Police of Pittsburg, and later was made Director of Public Safety, in which position he served very acceptably until a change of administration caused his removal. However, a year or two subsequent he was elected Superintendent of the Allegheny Workhouse which position he still holds. In all these offices Brother Leslie gave the people a clean administration. As a Junior, Brother Leslie has long been well and favorably known, having united with Bainbridge Council, No. 128, of Pennsylvania, May 28, 1882, and has held nearly all the offices the Council could confer upon him. When the National Council met at Pittsburg, Pa., in 1897, Brother Leslie was one of the most active workers, and on account of his influence and standing, was made the Chairman of the Finance Committee, one of the most important committees, in preparing for the reception of the National Body and the entertainment of same; and when the General Committee selected the Chief Marshal for the great parade, Brother Leslie was elected over one of the leading county officials, and proudly he rode at the head of the largest parade of Juniors that ever marched through the streets of the twin-cities. Brother Leslie was admitted to the State Council of Pennsylvania about 1896 and has been an active member of the body, having been elected a Representative to the National Council, and subsequently was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, his term thereon to expire in 1909. At the session of the State Council in 1904 he was elected State Vice-Councilor and the year subse- uent was elected State Councilor. As an officer of the State Council he has shown the same tireless energy that has characterized his work ir FRANK W. PIERSON Past National Councilor, Trustee Orphans' Home H. E. HOWSE CHAS. LAWRENCE Past National Representative of Tennessee, Author Original Orphans' Home Resolution Trustee Orphans' Home UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 717 every position to which he has been called, giving much of his time to visitations throughout liis jurisdiction. He is a typical Junior, having unbounded faith in the doctrines and principles of the Order with which he is in hearty accord. Brother Leslie is also a member of other fraternal organizations, prominently connected with the Order of Good Templars, having served in the highest position of the state organization and is a firm believer in total abstinence and sobriety. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for years was the Superintendent of one of the largest Sunday Schools in the denomination. Pleasant and agreeable in manner, he has made a success in every undertaking of life and has won for himself, by personal efforts, the honors that thick and fast have fallen upon him. FRANK W. PIERSON Past National Councilor and Member of the Board of Trustees, Orphans' Home. At the reorganization of the State Council of Delaware in 1893, one of the most conspicuous of the charter members was Frank W. Pierson, who was elected State Councilor of the new organization, and by his enthusiasm set the pace for all the State Councilors who in their turn succeeded to the highest position in the State Body. When he laid aside the vestments of official authority he did not allow himself to be placed " on the shelf " for dust to gather upon him, but as the foremost of Delaware's Juniors he kept at the front working with his copatriots in the cause of Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism. Brother Pierson represented his State Council in the Supreme Body and when the leaders of the Order were casting about for a strong candi- date for National Vice-Councilor, they looked toward little Delaware and found their man, and when the session of the National Council convened at Pittsburg, in 1897, notwithstanding there was sharp rivalry for offices, Brother Pierson's personnel and standing was so powerful that the opposition party placed no candidate in the field and he was unani- mously elected and with the same unanimity he was promoted National Councilor at Louisville, in 1898. When the National Council met at Minne- apolis in 1899 that portion of the body that subsequently placed themselves outside the Order by their insubordination came with " drawn swords " to rend and destroy. It was fortunate for the Order that the National Body had in the Chair F. W. Pierson who stood undaunted in the crisis of the organization and with a firm hand held in check the would-be insurgents. The organization is to be congratulated that during those trying years there were at the head of the Supreme Body men of nerve and iron who stood for regularity and loyalty. Since stepping aside from the official duties incumbent on him as one of the Board of Officers of the National Body, Brother Pierson found his niche by being appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, where he has served as President of the Board, but now (1908) is Treasurer. Here his business qualifications and con- servative nature have found a great field, and to him, as well as to the entire Board, the Order is indebted for the splendid condition of thin great institution. 718 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Outside of his work in the Jr. 0. U. A. M. we know but little of this stalwarth Junior. A very modest man is Brother Pierson who courts no publicity; but he is known by his work and loved for his honesty and sincerity. He is a quiet man, silent and unassuming. However, Past National Councilor Pierson belongs to a class of men who need opposition or a crisis to bring their latent powers into action. His power of silence and reticence are remarkable, at times suggesting the remark made of Von Moltke that he was " silent in seven languages, but when he broke silence it was demonstrated that he had done much thinking." Such was Pierson when the crisis at Minneapolis came it broke into full play, revealing the deep indwelling powers of a soul and mind that knew how to cope with a great subject. HON. HILARY E. HOWSE Past National Representative from Tennessee, and Member Board of Trustees National Orphans' Home. A typical Southerner, a loyal Junior, an ardent patriot, standing four-square on every fundamental doctrine of the Order, — is a fitting prelude in sketching the life of Hilary E. Howse, of Nashville, Tenn. The subject of this sketch was a farmers' son, born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, January 28, 1866, and passed his childhood and early manhood days amid the quiet surroundings of agricultural life. But the lowing of herds, the neigh of the horse or the cackle of the ever- present hen, were not adequate to satisfy the pent-up aspirations which welled up in the heart of young Howse; and like a young eagle dragging at his chains, the impetuous spirit of our brother was not content with the circumscribed sphere of his life, hence, when eighteen years of age he leaped the environments that held him and landed in the bustling City of Nashville, Tenn., and entered a business career, in which he has been preeminently successful; his firm being numbered among the principal houses of his home city. But a business life alone could not gratify fully the aspirations of the young merchant, hence he entered the exciting arena of politics, and such was his standing and prominence in his party, that for six years he served as County Commissioner and for two years served in the State Senate, from the largest county of the state, where he represented well both his state and constituency. Brother Howse's affiliation with the Jr. O. U. A. M. began in 1894, when he became a charter member of Goodwill Council and at the institu- tion of the State Council of Tennessee in 1896 he was one of the original members. The story of Tennessee Juniorism is largely the story of Brother Howse's connection therewith. He espoused with all the intensity of his nature, the principles of the Order, and linking arms with his co- patriot, Brother Gowan, these two brothers became the wheel-horses of the organization. Brother Howse served for several years in the National Council as Representative, or as a member of some committee, and his state was honored in his being appointed in 1907 to membership on the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, in which position his business qualifications and red-hot zeal will find full vent. If we were UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 719 seeking a sentiment that fittingly represents our brother and friend, it would be the words of the poet: " We live in thoughts, not in years, In feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart-throbs, he most lives, Who feels the deepest, thinks the noblest, acts the best." WILLIAM EDGAR FAISON Past National Councilor, and Editor of The American. One of the most conspicuous figures in the ranks of the Jr. O. U. A. M. of the Old North State and one of its earliest and most enthusiastic promoters in that jurisdiction is Past National Councilor W. E. Faison, of Raleigh, North Carolina. Brother Faison was born in the City of Raleigh, December 8, 1869. After graduating from the public schools he entered a printing establishment as an apprentice and for years followed that trade, and subsequently conducted a job and printing business of his own. In 1894 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Labor and Printing for the State of North Carolina in which office he continued until 1904, when he resigned in order to devote all his time to the duties of National Councilor. Brother Faison became a charter member of Baleigh Council, No. 1, at its reorganization February 3, 1893, at which time he was elected Vice-Councilor and advanced to the position of Councilor in July, fol- lowing. In December of same year he was sent as a Representative to the State Council and was admitted to that body at its session held at Winston in 1894, at which session he was elected State Council Secretary, which office he held until 1896 when he declined reelection. At tha session of the State Council in 1897 he was elected State Vice-Councilor and succeeded to the office of State Councilor the year following, and at the close of his term was elected National Representative for a term of five years. The records of the State Council of North Carolina tell the story of Brother Faison's energetic official life; how the Order swept forward under his matchless leadership until from the mountains to the sea the principles of the Jr. O. U. A. M. were implanted deeply and firmly in thousands of homes and hearts. The State Council of North Carolina, at its session in 1903, unani- mously endorsed Brother Faison as a candidate for National Vice-Councilor, and at San Francisco, same year, he was placed in that position. His record as a member of the National Board of Officers is without a parallel. When National Vice-Councilor, National Councilor Cooper's " slogan " was for an increase of 15,000, and the number was nearly reached. When National Councilor he surrendered his life position that he might devote all his time to the Order, and such was his enthusiasm, that when ho " gave an account of his stewardship," his request for an increase of a like number was more than realized. During the two years he served on the Board as its Junior member and under National Councilor Gilcreast's leadership the Order gained more than 30,000 members, making in all, in the four years he was a member of the Board, a gain of more than 60,000 members. Never in the history of the Order was such a record made. 720 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER The writer is cognizant of the fact that our brother desires no pane- gyric — no praise for what he has honestly and conscientiously done for the glory of Juniorism. Unassuming and reticent, Brother Faison has but little to say upon the floor of the National Council. He is not as eloquent as others in the National Council, but in the van of the marching hosts of Junior patriots can always be found our brother, tried and true, ever on the " firing line." He is cool and deliberate, but when once committed to a cause he is as unchangeable as he is fearless and cour- ageous. He may not win his way so quickly as some into the sympathies of men; but what he wins he holds. He puts emphasis on a specialty and no one can change or modify him; but what he stands for generally has right at its roots. In short, Brother Faison is an extremely modest man. He is no house-top or street-corner proclaimer of his own virtues or work, but quietly he has assisted in the building of the Junior temple, a work- man that " needeth not be ashamed." On the retirement of Brother Faison from the National Board of Officers at Boston in 1907, he was appointed Chairman of the National Legislative Committee, which appointment, however, he declined. On Feb- ruary 15, 1908, he was appointed Editor and Manager of The American which position he now holds. He is also prominently affiliated with nearly all the fraternal societies; being Past Master of Masons, Past High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter, Past Eminent Commander of Knights Templar and a member of the Shrine. ROBERT OGLE Past National Councilor from the State of Maryland. One of the " old guard," a " tower of strength " in the Junior Order, is' Robert Ogle, of Baltimore, Md. Our brother started on life's journey in the city that has been his home ever since, April 13, 1855; and, although, since the " passing " of the honored Sohl, he is designated as the " Nestor " of Maryland Juniorism, Brother Ogle is far from being old — in fact, he is as much one of the " boys " to-day as he was twenty years ago. To write the story of Brother Ogle's life in the Order cannot be done in this sketch — it is so replete with work and tireless activity. He united with Baltimore Council, No. 1, the Mother Council of Maryland, on February 3, 1872, and from the hour he entered the portals of the organization he has been one of Maryland's most active and enthusiastic members. He soon received all the honors at the hands of his brethren, and at the session of the State Council, in January of 1874, he was admitted a member, being a representative of his Council. Two years later, Brother Ogle was admitted to the National Council as a representa- tive of Maryland, and attended the session for the first time, held at Philadelphia in July, 1876. That body in 1880, at its session, held in Biehmond, Va., honored itself by electing him National Vice-Councilor, and the following year placed him at the head of the National organization. Brother Ogle's term was served prior to the great " boom " in the Order, yet his work was as " bread cast upon the waters to be seen many days hence." He presided at the session held at New York City, which was attended by forty representatives, the largest number that had ever ROBERT OGLE Past National Councilor from Maryland JAMES CRANSTON Past National Councilor from Pennsylvania Dr. J. L. COOPER Past National Councilor, Chief Medical Ex- aminer Beneficiary Degree JOSEPH POWELL Past National Councilor from Colorado UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 721 gathered at a meeting of the Supreme Body. His report to the National Council was especially well prepared, in which, couched in moat befitting terms, he alluded to the death of President Garfield. Brother Ogle lived ahead of his time, as his suggestion, submitted at that session of 1882, that the National Council meet biennially, was defeated; but our dear brother lived to see his recommendation carried out by vote of the Supreme Body at St. Louis in 1904. Closing his term with a total mem- bership of 9,500, he also has lived to see the Order reach 185,000 in membership, notwithstanding the depletion that came by the revolt of 1899. When the National Council in 1891 created the position of National Organizer, Brother Ogle was selected as the proper person to enter the great field, and for five months he gave his time to the work of organizing and instituting the State Council of Indiana, as well as doing other work during that time. He then resigned and returned to his home state, where he served as State Council Secretary for a year and a half. This position he then resigned, having been elected for the term of six years to the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court of the City of Baltimore, one of the most important offices in the gift of Maryland's suffrage. At the end of his term he was reelected by a greatly inci'eased majority for six years. Brother Ogle is a leader not a " boss " — true as steel to his friends, and a man of most acute discernment as to matter of judgment. Loyal to the core, he has stood for the right in every contest in the Order, and his opinion as well as voice upon the floor of the State and National Council, has great weight with his brethren. Busy man as he is, yet out from his great heart gushes most ardent love for the principles of the organization which he has cherished all his life. In his family, he is devoted and kind; as a person of affairs, he stands high with all classes; as a man, there is none more manly, and as a brother, none more fraternal. JAMES CRANSTON Past National Councilor from Pennsylvania. In the forefront of the marvelous advance of the Junior Order that marked its history from 1890 to 1894, was one of the Order's foremost men, — strong, active, enthusiastic — James Cranston of Pennsylvania. While in these later years, owing to business cares, he has taken but a small part in the work of the organization, yet to those who knew him in his prime there come the most kindly remembrances of his great love and devotion to the Order. We are not in possession of data relative to his earlier years in the Order, the records show that he was admitted to the State Council of Pennsylvania in 1885, and at the session of that body in 1889, he was elected National Representative and was admitted to the Supreme Body of the Order at Chicago, Illinois, in 1890. Brother Cranston at that time, possessed of a superb manhood, deeply zealous in the dissemination of Junior doctrine, soon won recognition and at the session of the National Council at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1891, he was elected National Vice-Councilor, 46 722 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER and succeeded to the Chair of National Councilor in 1892. During his administration Brother Cranston took high ground on all of the great questions of the day, while he expounded and encouraged on every hand practical patriotism rather than theoretical patriotism. On the great issues that came before the Order he stood four-square and flat-footed, ever on the alert to expose the machinations of the enemies of our common country. It was during his administration, as a member of the National Board of Officers, that the great flood swept down upon Johnstown, Pa. Calling a meeting of the members of the Order, he, with a committee, were chosen to proceed with all possible dispatch to the stricken city to render assistance to those of the Order who may have suffered in that great calamity, and they were the first relief committee to reach the scene of any fraternal organization. After securing headquarters for the issuing of supplies he left the distribution in tbe hands of the committee which was in charge of Brother Collins. Brother Cranston is a man of whom it can be said, that the more one sees of him the more you esteem him; the more you look into his face and take him by the hand, the more one is impressed that he is a true and manly brother, who is actuated in all his work by a sense of duty as well as a sense of what is right. When he was in the arena of active work in the Order wherein his brethren came in close touch with his everyday life, it was observed that that life was full of little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness, while his love for his fellow-man was an ardent feature of his being; and whatever sins of omission or commission the record of his life may reveal, yet when the Recording Angel shall open the Great Book on the Great Day he will find in James Cranston's career the milk of human kindness and most gracious love for his fellows: " Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace And saw, within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich and like a lily in bloom, An angel, writing in a book of gold. Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the presence in the room he said: 'What writest thou?' The vision raised its head, And, with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, ' The names of those who love the Lord.' 'And is mine one?' said Abou. 'Nay; not so,' Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerily still and said, ' I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.' The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a great wakening light And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest." UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 723 JOHN G. A. RICHTER Past National Councilor and State Council Secretary of Ohio. Sprung from the race that gave the world Luther, Goethe, Humboldt and Bismarck, came John Gustav Adolph Richter, Past National Councilor and State Council Secretary of Ohio. His parents came from Bavaria, the father coming to this country in 1851, and the mother three years later, and upon entering wedlock, they settled in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, where, on April 30, 1802, the subject of this sketch was born. When the little " Dutch " baby first saw the light of day, the nation was in the throes of Civil War, and shortly after the birth of his son, the father enlisted in the defense of his adopted country and fought throughout the war, falling, severely wounded, in front of Petersburg, nine days before the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox. In the meantime, John Gustav was learning to think and speak in German, then in English. He entered the public schools where he re- mained until, from force of circumstances, he was compelled to go to work to assist in the care of the family; but a year later he entered the German Reformed School where he was to receive German instruction. After a year in the latter institution, he again turned to some trade, this time he chose the baker trade, but soon tiring of the work, he began a three-year's apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, preferring the coal and iron to sugar and flour. Removing to Canton, Ohio, in 1881, Brother Richter entered the firm of Elbel & Co., saddlery hardward manufacturers, where, for 16 years he labored until compelled to seek some other occupa- tion on account of ill health. These hard, self-sacrificing years from childhood were not lost years, however, though the tasks were heavy and the work of life exacting, yet they combined to shape the body and develop the brain of the man who was to take so prominent a part in shaping the policy of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. It is as a Junior, however, that John G. A. Richter is best known, not only in his own state, but throughout the Union. His attention to the Order having been drawn, while a resident of Allegheny City, and his pure German blood readily imbibing its patriotic sentiments, in the latter part of 1887, he proceeded to organize a Council in his home town, himself heading the list of 42 charter members, and on January 14, 1888, it was duly instituted under the name of Washington Council, No. 12, and he was chosen its first Councilor. Under his leadership, the Council made remarkable advance, having, at the end of three months, 130 members. Brother Richter represented his Council at the session of the State Council that was held at Dennison, in May, 1888, and at a special session held in November, so marked was his enthusiasm and to such an extent did he enter into the confidence of his brethren, that he was elected to fill the unexpired term of National Representative, in which capacity he attended the sessions of the National Council at Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1889; Chicago, Illinois, in 1800; and Cleveland, Ohio, in 1891. His own State Council elected him State Vice-Councilor at the session held at Canton, in 1890, and one year thereafter, he was elevated to the Chair of State Councilor. During his term as State Councilor, 125 Councils were instituted and the membership was largely increased, and the Order in Ohio was strongly entrenched. 724 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Honors, however, and a wider field of usefulness came to our brother. When the National Council convened in Detroit, Michigan, in 1893, he was elected National Vice-Councilor, and the following year, was selected National Councilor. Coming at a time when the whole land was in the grip of a great business depression, with idle thousands everywhere, the prospect for an advance of the Order were not at all bright; but with his old-time zeal, Brother Richter carried forward the work of the organization, and when the time came for him to lay down the gavel of authority, in 1895, 201 new Councils had been instituted and nearly 10.000 members enrolled under the banner of the Junior Order. State Councils had been instituted in the District of Columbia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Connecticut, under his administra- tion, while the Order for the first time found a foot-hold in Maine, Idaho, Mississippi, Wyoming and Montana. It was during Brother Richter's term as National Councilor, that the Order's crowning glory — the found- ing and establishment of the National Orphans' Home — was consummated. Brother Richter's State Council had still more honors as well as duties to confer upon him. Having served for some years as assistant secretary in the State Council, in 1900 he was elected to succeed Brother J. A. Bliss, as Secretary of the State Council, and was unanimously reelected in 1905 for the usual term of five years and still holds the position (1907). As a member of other secret organizations, Brother Richter has been equally honored. He became a charter member of Mollie Pitcher Council, No. 10, Daughters of America, and was its first Councilor. He is Past Master of Wm. McKinley Lodge, No. 431, F. & A. M.; Past High Priest of Canton Chapter, R. A. M.; Past T. I. M. of Canton Council, No. 35, R. & S. M., and Past Chancellor of Lily Lodge, No. 362, Knights of Pythias. Politically, he had the distinction of being defeated for Mayor of the City of Canton. As to his home life, none could be happier. He was united in marriage, June 26, 1895, to Ella R. Weaver, and their union has been blessed with four children, two of whom are living, Henry Clay and Nathan Hale, Grace A., a dearly beloved daughter, having departed this life May 27, 1907. This, in brief, is the life-story of one of our noblest Juniors. Of a quiet disposition, unassuming, modest; yet his life has been forceful and has left a powerful impress upon the Order. Those who know him best, love and esteem him most. His very face portrays manhood. His eyes deep-set, "and serious, shine with a merry twinkle, which tells of a hidden humor that draws men to him. JOSEPH POWELL Past National Councilor from Colorado. A descendant of General Joseph Warren, who so gloriously fell at Bunker Hill, of the Webber's of Maine, the Harris's of Maryland, and the Powell's of Virginia, Past National Councilor Powell comes from both Puritan and Cavalier stock — the two great centers of American pedigree. Near Caldwell, Ohio, Joseph was born, April 12, 1865, in which locality he received his public school education. His mother dying when he was ten years of age, the Powell home was broken up, and UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 725 from that day our brother started out on life's journey to make his own way, fighting bravely the battle of human existence. On removing to Colorado, in 1887, Brother Powell there met and married Miss Lucy M. Cushman, a descendant of the Cushmans of Mayflower fame. Being seized with the " mining fever," for ten years, more or less, he followed that uncertain occupation until he lost all his money in the hazardous business. His health failing, and that of his brother, he removed to California in 1904, and settled in the southern part of the state and resided at San Bernardino, but subsequently returned to Colorado. Brother Powell's connection with the Junior Order is replete with interest, none in the fraternity coming more quickly to the front, none being more enthusiastic and none have shone more brightly in the galaxy of leaders. The advent of the National Organizer, Stephen Collins, in Colorado in 1893 was propitious. Among the first with whom Brother Collins came in contact was Joseph Powell, and it was but a short time until the soul of that " typical Westerner " was all on fire with the patriotism that long ago had led his gifted progenitor on his mother's side to raise the sword for the cause of Freedom when the " minute men " of New England held in check the red-coated cohorts of the mother-land. Joining Winona Council, No. 7, of Colorado, he made rapid advance, passing quickly the chairs of his Council and was sent as a Representative to the State Council at its session held in May, 1894. This body honored itself at the same session by electing him State Vice-Councilor as well as National Representative, and at the session held at Asheville, North Carolina, same year, he was admitted to the Supreme Body. At this time all through the West, the spirit of Juniorism was " in the air," and there were " giants in the land." Brother Powell's intense zeal and his qualifications of leadership, made him a conspicuous figure in the Order, in recognition of which he was sent into the great field as Special Organizer in Colorado in which position he accomplished n good work, receiving a salary of $50.00 per month on the condition of organizing two Councils in the same time. When he was unable to meet the latter requirement, he accepted in salary pro rata the amount due him. Added to his salary, however, were the premiums paid both by the National Council and the State Council of Colorado. Having been elected in May of 1895 to the position of State Councilor of his state, he entered upon a year of great activity that brought to Colorado its greatest advance. Later in the year he was appointed National Organizer, and in the performance of this line of duty he travelled more than 25,000 miles, working in the most unpromising territory in the Far West. Honors, however, were very rapidly conferred upon our brother. When the National Council convened at Denver, Colorado, in 1896, he was selected as the most feasible man for the office of National Vice- Councilor, and in one of the hottest battles for office ever waged in the National Body, Brother Powell was elected. After serving on the National Board with such men as Tyler, Shanor, Pierson and Reimer, he stepped down into the ranks but for a day, as he was appointed upon the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, in which position he served the Order for five years. In recounting the history of Brother Powell's incumbency in the years he served on the National Board, several things are worthy of 726 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER note: 1. The submission to and adoption by the Order of the Object on the Orphans' Home as now found in our code of Objects. 2. The splendid system of government under which the Order rests as adopted at Minne- apolis, Minn., in 1899, is the direct result of his recommendation both as National Vice- and National Councilor, the recommendation being adopted at Louisville in 1898. 3. The Funeral Benefit Department that has eclipsed all records in fraternal organizations and has placed the Order on a high plane, was the conception of Brother Powell's brain and was one of his recommendations at the Louisville session in 1898. In short, Brother Powell, as an officer, took high ground on all the great questions that confronted the Order, and fearlessly as well as en- thusiastically he supported every measure. Joseph Powell possesses a great soul encased, however, within a frail body. Again and again has he been attacked by the enemy of the human race, but with undaunted courage and faith he has crossed swords with the great Destroyer and beat him back and held him in check. None but he and his God know the fierceness of the battle our brother has waged. Borne down by disappointment and ill health, he sought a less rigorous climate amid the soft breezes of Southern California, and there, away from friends and associates he sought the return of vigor and health. In a private note to the writer, he says: " If I have been sick and out of touch with my fellow-workers these past several years, I have travelled silently and in silent communion with my God thousands of times through those old campaigns of activity. And although the frost of age and pain has wrought great changes in me, and the cloud still hangs dark and heavy, yet I believe I am to be given life, strength and prosperity sufficient to compensate all who ever knew and confided in me. Although I have been face to face with death many times in the past three years, — in fact several times it was thought by me that I was in the actual process of going out of this life — yet I have always had the consciousness that I have never knowingly or inten- tionally wronged any one, and my constant prayer has been, and is, that I may yet meet face to face and settle whatever accounts, morally or otherwise." Genial, warm-hearted and true, " Joe " Powell will ever be remem- bered and believed in by his old associates. May God bless him and prosper him and give him back his health and joy, and when the end does come, peace and eternal tranquillity. SMITH W. BENNETT General Counsel for the National Council and Chairman National Law Committee. On the 8th day of May, 1859, in the town of Apollo, Pa., Smith W. Bennett was born; however, when four years of age, his parents moved to Bucyrus, Ohio, which has been his home ever since. Within these 48 years there has been lived a life that has had its imprint upon the world in a larger degree than usually comes to the average American. Reading law with Congressman S. R. Harris, of Bucyrus, he was admitted to the bar in 1882, and began the practice of his chosen profession in his home city. Two years later, however, he was invited to form a partner- SMITH W. BENNETT Chairman National Law Committee H. S. BARRY Chief Supreme Judge National Judiciary A. D. WILKIN Member National Law Committee UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 72? ship with General E. B. Finley, which connection continued for 13 years; during the last four years of this period, Judge Thomas Beer was also a partner under the name of Finley, Beer and Bennett. A larger sphere, however, opened for Brother Bennett in 1898 by entering the Attorney General's Department of the State of Ohio under Attorney General Monnett, as " Special Counsel," and he was retained in the same unique position under Attorney-General Sheets. Here the brilliant legal mind of our brother had full play in having assigned to him the most intricate and difficult cases that came before the Attorney- General, which position he magnified, and by special act of the Legislature it became a permanent as well as a popular feature of the Attorney- General's Department. In this arena of legal jurisprudence Brother Bennett has been engaged in litigated cases of all classes. They include those of constitutional and statutory construction, actions in quo war- ranto and mandamus to determine the limitations of power of private and municipal corporations; questions of legislative power, in particular the "term extender cases; " cases involving the rights of foreign corporations under Ohio laws; the taxation of the shares of National banks, and the taxation of domestic and foreign corporations; — indeed the list easily could be made interminable, and it shows a remarkably wide range of activity. Brother Bennett was highly honored by Governor Nash by being appointed a member of the " Governor's Committee " to draft the municipal code, a committee of which no other state officer was a member. Being fully conversant with municipal law he rendered valuable assistance to the Governor in the framing of the original draft of the code which the Executive recommended to the Legislature. Following the enactment of the code, to Brother Bennett was assigned the task of construing the measure for the benefit of the officers of municipalities. Very frequently during the session of the Legislature he was called into conference with committees on some of the intricate measures that came before them for consideration. In 1901 he was chosen Secretary of the State Bar Asso- ciation of Ohio, and he has been a conspicuous figure in that body. In a paper read before the Association in 1901, he attacked a provision in the State Constitution, known as the Double Stock Liability provision which soon bore fruit, for it resulted in the Legislature adopting a reso- lution to submit to the voters of the state the question of amending out of the Constitution this detrimental section that drove millions of capital of Ohio to secure incorporation in other states. A writer in one of the public journals of Ohio has this to say concerning Brother Bennett: " In politics Smith Bennett has been a Republican of unswerving loyalty to his party; in official position he has been both loyal and devoted to his chief. Genial and urbane, — as courteous and gentlemanly in his intercourse with boon companions as with the Supreme Court justices — a hard worker and good playfellow, he is noticably a man of many and deep friendships, and of wide popularity." With such a record as given above, the acquisition to the ranks of the Jr. O. U. A. M. of Brother Bennett was fortunate, especially during the years subsequent to the Minneapolis session of the National Council in 1899. Sometime in 1894 he united with Bucyrus Council, No. 184, 728 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER and was made eligible to membership in the State Council by being sent as a Representative in 1895, at which session of the State Body he was elected National Representative and was admitted to the National Council in 1896. Either as a Representative or member of the National Law Committee — for five years being its Chairman — he has attended every session of the Supreme Body ever since, with the exceptions of Louisville, in 1898, and San Francisco, in 1903, in both cases being eligible. In 1904 he was appointed General Counsel for the National Council which position he still holds ( 1907 ) . He is also the Chairman of the National Law Committee. Being a constitutional lawyer, Brother Bennett rendered invaluable service to the Order by bringing into the consideration of the proposed new Constitution in 1899 the benefit of a fully equipped mind. When each section of the new government code was attacked by those antagonistic to its adoption, it was Brother Bennett who, in clear and lucid argument " let in the light " on all the intricate questions arising in the discussion of same; and through all of the years of strife subsequent, his remarkable ability to cope with the controversial questions that came before the Order, has made his services to the organization invaluable. On several occasions in the National Council when some difficult problem was before the body for discussion, and the members were " beating about the bush " to solve it, in a calm and deliberate manner Brother Bennett would " clear the air " and unravel every knot. As an interpreter of Junior law, as a debater on the floor of the State and National Councils he has but few, if any, peers in the Order. A. D. WILKIN Past National Representative from Pennsylvania and Member of National Law Committee. One among the most conspicuous figures in the National Body, who has had much to do with the legal end of the Order both under the jurisdiction of the State Council of Pennsylvania and the National Council, is A. D. Wilkin, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, member of the National Law Committee. " Archie " Wilkin, as he is commonly known among his friends, was born at Coshocton, Ohio, August 21, 1861. Subse- quently he removed to Pennsylvania, and after securing a public school education, he began the study of law and was admitted to the Allegheny (Pennsylvania) County Bar in 1887, in which court he has since been practicing. Brother Wilkin was initiated into Mansfield (now Honest Abe) Council, No. 66, of Pennsylvania, in 1887, and for years was a very active member of his local Council and an enthusiastic worker among the Councils of that immediate jurisdiction. Having obtained quickly the highest honors in the Council, he was elected its Representative to the State Council and was admitted to that body at the session held at Harrisburg in 1899. For a number of years he was a member of the State Council Law Com- mittee and was one of the originators of the Advisory Association of Allegheny County, which Association aroused much sentiment on the subject of restrictive immigration and drew up, under Brother Wilkin's direction, the bill favoring a restrictive measure that was championed by former UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 729 Governor W. A. Stone, then Congressman from tlie Pittsburg district. This association exerted quite a power and was very active until its place was taken by the National Legislative Committee. A vacancy occurring in the roll of National Representatives from Pennsylvania, Brother Wilkin was appointed in 1893 and he was admitted to the National Council at the Detroit session of same year, and at the session of his (State Council in the month of September following he waB elected for a term of five years, and in that capacity he attended the sessions held at Asheville, N. C, in 1894; Omaha, Neb., in 1895; Denver, Colo., in 1896; Pittsburg, Pa., in 1897; and Louisville, Ken., in 1898, taking an active part in each. Since that time Brother Wilkin has at- tended each session of the National Body from 1899 to 1907 and is still a member of the body. During that time he has served on the Law Committee, Ritual Committee and Legislative Committee of the National Council, for two years being Chairman of the latter Committee. When the new government of the Order went into operation in 1899, Brother Wilkin was appointed a member of the National Judiciary as first com- posed, resigning, however, in a short time in order to represent the National Council and State Council of Pennsylvania as attorney in the litigation then in progress within the Order. Taking everything into consideration, doubtless no one in the organi- zation has had more to do with the Order from a legal standpoint than Brother Wilkin. From 1893 until the present he has been more or less connected with legal questions in which the Order was interested and has had a part in some of the most prominent cases coming before the courts both judiciary and civil. The following list of cases is sufficient to show how prominently connected he has been with the Order along the line of legal jurisprudence: The Riverside School Case, in Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The Gallitzin School Case, Common Pleas Court, Cambria County, Pa., and the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth. Deny Council vs. the National Council and the State Council of Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County Court and the Supreme Court of Penn- sylvania. Crow vs. Capital City Council of Pennsylvania in Dauphin County Court, following the same to the Superior Court of the state. McCleary vs. Smoky City Council of Pennsylvania, in Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, Pa. State Council of Pennsylvania vs. Duquesne Council, No. 110, of Pennsylvania, now pending an appeal to the Supreme Court. Brother Wilkin also represented the National Council before the National Judiciary wherein the following State Councils had their charters revoked: New Jersey, New York, District of Columbia and Virginia. At present he is a member of J. P. Winower Council, of Pennsylvania. It might be added, that the Orphans' Home project as well as its location had in Brother Wilkin a worthy champion. The records of the National Body show that when the opponents of the Home were employ- ing every form of strategy to defeat the establishment of the Home as well as its present location, that A. D. Wilkin, astute, and quick of perception, readily perceived the purport of the motions of the anti-Home people and effectually spiked their guns. 730 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER HARRY S. BARRY Past State Councilor of Maryland, and Chief Supreme Judge of the National Judiciary. Suave, modest, and a born gentleman, Harry S. Barry holds a high place not only in the Order, but in the respect and esteem of his brethren. Brother Barry is comparatively a young man, having been born in Balti- more, Md., on January 10, 1868, and has lived in his native city all his life. He is a member of the legal fraternity, practicing at the bar of Maryland. Brother Barry joined the Order in 18S4, and is now a member of Baltimore Council, No. 1, a Council that has given to the organization such men as Sohl, Ogle and Buschman. After his admittance to the State Council of Maryland, he at once took a prominent part in its business, and was selected for State Vice-Councilor in 1893, and the year following was placed at the head of the state organization, and during his term he had the honor of bringing to the Order in his state the greatest increase of Councils and members of any year in the history of the State Body, there being thirty-four new Councils instituted and a gain of 5,056 members. Harry Barry's admission to the National Council dates from the session held at Omaha, Nebraska, in 1895, since which time he has been a member of the Supreme Body, and with but one or two exceptions has attended every session. When the judiciary department was established at Minneapolis^ Minnesota, in 1899, Brother Barry was appointed Supreme Judge of the National Judiciary, and subsequently was appointed Chief Supreme Judge of that tribunal, which exalted position he still holds (190S). ALEXANDER M. DeHAVEN Past National Representative from Pennsylvania. Possibly there is no better known member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. fraternity in Pennsylvania than Alexander M. DeHaven, whose picture adorns another page. He has been a life-long member of the Order, having joined Fredonia Council, No. 47, some 28 years ago. Subsequently, he became a member of William Windom Council, and when the secession movement of 1900 came about, he took his withdrawal card and joined the ranks of Courtland Saunders Council, No. 866, and he still continues a member therein. Brother DeHaven is about 46 years of age. He was educated in West Philadelphia Academy; subsequently entered the University of Penn- sylvania, and then studied law under those two eminent counsellors, Honorable William Nelson West, who was for many years City Solicitor of Philadelphia, and Honorable Henry J. McCarthy, who served with such distinction as a member of the Superior Court and of the Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania. Shortly after Brother DeHaven's admis- sion to the bar, he became the associate of the gentlemen above mentioned and subsequently continued in the practice of the law in connection with Milton C. Work, the firm being known as McCarthy, Work & DeHaven, and it so continued until the death of Judge McCarthy, when the firm was continued and still exists under the name of Work & DeHaven. P. A. SHANOR Past National Councilor from Pennsylvania ALEX M. DeHAVEN Past National Representative from Pennsylvania CHAS. S. CRALL Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 731 Brother DeHaven has enjoyed an extensive practice in his profession. having been associated in some of the most prominent suits in Philadelphia, notably the Harrison will case; the Receivership of the Union Surety & Guaranty Company, wherein $000,000 security was entered; and the liti- gation of the Patriotic Sons of America and kindred cases ; but his close connection with the Order itself probably is better known in the extensive litigation which the Order has been subjected to in the last eight years. He was the first attorney retained by the National Council immediately upon the commencement of the hostilities growing out of the Minneapolis and Scranton sessions of 1899, and he has remained continuously in charge of this litigation up to the present time, in connection with Hon. W. U. Hensel. No better tribute can be paid to him than the record of his manage- ment of all the important cases brought by and against the Order in Pennsylvania, when it is recalled that he has never lost a single case entrusted to him in all that period of time; although the litigation has extended through the various stages of an ordinary suit at law to Quo Warranto proceedings before the Attorney-General, warrants of arrest proceedings, rules for contempt of Court, Bills in Equity, Injunction pro- ceedings, arguments in the Superior Court and finally in the Supreme Court, — in all of which the cause of the National Council and of the State Council, as represented by the " loyalists," has been successfully maintained. We do not recall any like record in any other fraternal litigation throughout our country. In addition to enjoying the respect of the fellow-members of the bar Brother DeHaven possesses the confidence of our Courts, having been frequently selected by them for the important position of Master. Recently he was appointed by the Orphans' Court of Philadelphia to pass upon the marketability of certain titles to real estate, which involved the payment of over $400,000, the question of law being whether a woman at the age of 72 years could have issue, and Bro. DeHaven's opinion, substantiated in a voluminous report which was accepted by the Court, was that such issue were possible, and upon his report the money was paid and the title held to be good. In addition to his record as a successful attorney, he has been actively engaged in the domain of politics in his native city. He con- tinuously represented the West Philadelphia, district in the legislative branch of the city government for a period of 12 years, a longer period than any other person, during which time he has acted as Chairman of all the important committees and finally as Chairman of the Committee on Finance, admittedly the most responsible position in Councils, and for a considerable time he acted as President pro tern, of Councils. During his incumbency as Chairman of the Committee on Finance, some of the most important legislation was introduced and enacted, and his record in all of these matters is recognized as a splendid tribute to his faithful- ness and honesty, and won for him a splendid reputation. Brother DeHaven has served many terms as a representative to the State Council, and for three sessions as National Representative from Pennsylvania, having attended the sessions in San Francisco, Nashville and Boston, in all of which meetings he took an important part. His last efforts were in the " Deemer Jubilee," wherein he prepared the various resolutions relative to the retirement of Secretary Edward S. 732 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Deemer. Brother Deliaven's address on the occasion of the presentation of the resolution at the Boston session in June, 1907, is recognized as one of the finest pieces of diction and oratory with which the Order has been favored, and the unusual compliment was paid him of having the address published in full in the official proceedings of the Order, extracts of which are found in this volume. As a debater or as a public speaker, he is regarded as among the best in the Order. His manner is pleasant and his illustrations apt, and these combined with a wealth of historical knowledge and extensive reading, make in him a fearless advocate and a dangerous opponent. While he pays close attention to the exacting duties of his profession, he does not entirely neglect club life, for besides being a member of the Councils above mentioned, he is also a member of University Lodge, No. 610, F. & A. M.; the 24th Ward Republican Club; Harmony Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M.; Washington Camp, No. 270, P. O. S. of A.; the Delaware County Field Club; Waverly Castle, No. 13, K. of G. E.; the West Phila- delphia Lyceum; the Young Republicans, and the Bar Association of Penn- sylvania — in many of which club and fraternities he is an active officer. The domestic life of our brother is ideal. His household consists of his wife, his daughter and himself, and their home is situated in the fashionable portion of West Philadelphia, where the members of the Order and his many other friends always find a cordial greeting and a pleasant place to visit. J. L. COOPER, M.D. Past National Councilor from Texas. Coming from distinguished French ancestry, of Gaellic stock, Dr. J. L. Cooper, the " silver tongued " Junior, of Fort Worth, Texas, has an honored place in the ranks of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. His parents removed from Georgia to Texas shortly before the Civil War, where our brother was born in the year 1860. His father, being himself a highly educated gentleman and one of the most distinguished criminal lawyers Texas ever had and for years Judge of the District Criminal Court, gave his son every educational advantage. After completing the High School course, he attended the seminaries of his state, and then took advanced training at the Roanoke Literary College, Va., after which he studied medicine at the University of Virginia, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md., which was followed by post-graduate courses at Chicago and New York. Thus thoroughly equipped, he returned to his native state and established himself in the practice of his profession in the City of Fort Worth, in which he has been eminently successful. His home life is of the happiest. He was married to Miss Elsie LaCroix, of a prominent Michigan family, whose high literary and musical attainments brought into Dr. Cooper's life a congenial help-meet, to which union there was born two sons, 16 and 12 years of age. This happy family live in one of the handsomest homes in Texas located on Lispscomb Avenue, Fort Worth. Dr. Cooper's connection with the Jr. O. U. A. M. dates from 1889 or 1890, when he became a charter member of Lone Star Council, No. 2, instituted at Fort Worth, and he has served in every office of his Sub- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 733 ordinate Council as well in every office of the State Council. Be was elected to represent the Council in the, National Council, May 7, 1891, and in that capacity was admitted to the National Body at its session held at Cleveland, Ohio, in June of same year. He at <>nce took promi- nent part in the proceedings of the National Council and was soon recog- nized as a " coming man " for high honors. In 1898-1893 he served as Deputy National Councilor for Texas, and reinforced by National Organ- izer Collins in 1894, several Councils were instituted whereupon a charter for a State Council was secured which was instituted April 27, 1894, Brother Cooper being elected Junior Past National Councilor, thereby making him at the present time the Senior Past National Councilor of Texas. Dr. Cooper was present at the National Council, held at Ash- ville, N. C, in 1894, and with but one or two exceptions, has been in attendance at each session ever since, occupying several elective positions in the body as well as being a member of several of its most important committees. In a hotly contested campaign, he was elected National Vice-Councilor, at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1902, and was unanimously pro- moted to the Chair of National Councilor in 1903 at the San Francisco session. The " slogan " of Dr. Cooper's administration was " fifteen thou- sand increase " : and right royally did the members of the Order answer the " bugle call " of their matchless chieftain, and when the books closed, there was announced an increase of 14,871. Had the figures been obtain- able at the time of the session, the increase would have been largely in excess of this; however, with doubtless one exception, this was the largest increase ever recorded up to that time. Outside his official duties, Dr. Cooper has rendered great service to the Order in the part he has taken in the new Object, the Beneficiary Degree. He was one of the first to suggest such a feature to the National Body and to him was given the arduous task, as Chairman of the Com- mittee, of drafting a Constitution and a code of By-Laws, which, after a most thorough research into every phase of the Insurance problem, he, with other members of the Committee, submitted to the National Council at Minneapolis, Minn., and the same was adopted and the Degree was established. Dr. Cooper was appointed Chief Medical Examiner and under his careful investigations the Degree has made great progress and is to-day regarded as a very worthy feature of the organization. Dr. Cooper is an orator of convincing power as well as pleasing address, and combines logical clearness with rare elegance of diction. He has the pen of a ready writer and his official communications while National Councilor are among the most precious in the gems of the Order, excerpts of which have been given in their proper place in this volume. He is a most thorough gentleman whose glad hand and smiling countenance are characteristics of the man. While he is a most acceptable and successful physician, he is at the same time engaged in other impor- tant matters both in his professional and in commercial lines, some of which are noted: President of the U. S. Board of Pension Examiners for Northern District of Texas; Editor of the Health Department of the "Bohemian," the brightest of Southern journals; Chief Medical Examiner of the Beneficiary Degree, Jr. 0. U. A. M. and Supreme Medical Examiner of the United Benevolent Association; President of the Texas Drug Co.: President of the " B. B." Manufacturing Co.: and President of the Fort Worth Board of Trade. 734 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ROGER J. ARMSTRONG Past State Councilor of Missouri and Member Board of Control, Beneficiary Degree. A descendant of good English stock, Roger J. Armstrong was born at Westernport, Maryland, November 28, 1865. He was educated in the public schools of his native state and when 17 years of age he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, his present residence, and became an apprentice in the trade of a machinist. On leaving that occupation at the comple- tion of his apprenticeship, he engaged in the photographing business, which proved successful. Disposing of his interest, Brother Armstrong accepted a position in a nail firm to travel in Mexico, with headquarters at Monterey; this position, however, he relinquished after a year and a half and returned to his home city and engaged in the retail grocery business. Brother Armstrong became interested in the Jr. O.U. A. M. in Decem- ber, 1888, and was a charter member of St. Louis Council, No. 1. Having received the highest honors of the Council, in 1890, he was sent as a representative to the National Council that met in Chicago, Illinois, June 17. In November of 1892, Brother Stephen Collins instituted the State Council of Missouri, of which body our brother was a charter member, and in February the following year he was elected State Coun- cilor, and for two years had charge of the State organization. In 1896 he was elected State Council Treasurer, a position he has held ever since. Brother Armstrong for many years has been a member of the National Body, serving on various committees. For four years he was a member of the National Legislative Committee, in the work of which he took great interest. In 1902 he was elected a member of the Board of Control, Beneficiary Degree, and in 1905 was reelected for a term of five years. He is at present a member of Acme Council, No. 32, of Missouri, being its Treasurer for nine years, and has the distinction, though but a young man, of being the only original charter member of Missouri in the Order, as well as the only charter member of the State Council — all the others living having fallen by the way. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. Brother Armstrong is the prince of good fellows — genial, courteous and an all-around gentleman. He is at heart a thorough Junior, a firm believer in its doctrines and is loyal to its teachings; as a friend, he is as true as steel ; as a man, upright in all his actions, and one that always has honored his manhood. THOMAS C. APPLEBY Past National Councilor from Delaware. One of the few links that connect the first years of the National Council with the opening years of the twentieth century, still active in the Junior work, is Past National Councilor Thomas C. Appleby, of Wil- mington, Delaware. Life with our brother began July 22, 1847, in the city that has ever since been his home, where he has for many years been prominently connected with the Betts Machine Company. With him life hangs lightly, and though he has reached his three score years, his youthful spirit retains its vigor. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 735 Brother Appleby quite early in life connected himself with the Jr. O. U. A. M., joining Wilmington Council, No. 5, in January, 1868, and was elected Councilor in June of the same year, after which lie represented the Council in the State Council, and subsequently was elected National Representative. His associates in the National Council soon recognized his sterling character and ardent zeal and placed him in the Chair of National Councilor in 1873. For some years the Order in Delaware ceased to exist, but the fires of Juniorism were never extinguished in the breast of our brother, and when the Order was reorganized in the state he united with Welcome Council, No. 7, and for ten years he has served as its Treasurer. As an evidence of his enthusiasm and that advancing years do not diminish his patriotism, he has been for years and is still the captain of the Council team, the " crack team " in the state ; and summer and winter, hot or cold, finds Brother Appleby in his Council aiding in every work and enter- prise. His presence at the State Council meetings brings pleasure to the fraternity, while his counsel is often sought and his opinions are respected. He is also prominently associated with other fraternal organizations, being Past Commander of the Legion of the Red Cross, Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of T. 0. 0. F., of the State of Delaware, Past Grand in the Order of Odd Fellows, Past Commander in the Ancient and Illustrious Order Knights of Malta and a member of the Order of Red Men. E. R. DILLINGHAM State Council Secretary of Georgia and Member of the Board of Control, Beneficiary Degree. In a New England town, Fair Haven, Mass., on January 10, 1859, there came the announcement in the Dillingham home that a child had been born, who subsequently was baptized by the name of Edward R., now more familiary called by his many friends, "Ed" Dillingham. Of his early life and early manhood we are not informed, but being a descendant of a noble ancestry that can be traced back to the earlier records of Puritan history, the subject of this sketch spent his first years near the place where the passengers of the Mayflower first set foot on the soil of the New World, from which sprang a great civilization that, like the waters of the brook, " go on forever." Subsequently our brother found his way to the Southland, Atlanta, Georgia, being his present home. Brother Dillingham is, what has been called, a " jiner " — having connected himself with nearly every prominent secret association in the State of Georgia, being a member of Gate City Lodge, No. 2, F. and A.M.; Mount Zion Chapter, No. 16, F. and A.M.; Jasan Burr Council, No. 13, F. and A.M.: Schiller Lodge, No. 71, I. O. O. F.; Augusta Encamp- ment, No. 5, 1. 0. 0. F.; Comanche Tribe, No. 6, I. O. R. M.; Adolph Brandt Lodge, No. 53, K. P., and City of Atlanta Council, No. 2, D. of A. He is also a member of the Daughters of Rebekah and a Pocohontas Daughter. His affiliation with 1. 0. 0. F. dates from September, 1888, and in same year he became a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. In all these organizations he has taken a prominent part, filling various 736 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER offices, and is now (1907) Deputy Great Sachem for Oneida Council, I. 0. R. M., of Georgia. But it is as a Junior that Edward R. Dillingham is most distin- guished, being not only the Senior Past State Councilor of Georgia, Senior Past Councilor of the first Council organized in the state, but the Senior member of the Order in Georgia, his name being the first on the list of 19 charter members of Enterprise Council, No. 1, instituted at Atlanta, April 22, 1893, at which time Brother Dillingham was elected Junior Past Councilor, and in the month of June, following, was elected Recording Secretary, in which capacity he served the Council for six years for the compensation of one dollar a year. Brother Dillingham was the leading spirit in the organization of the State Council of Georgia, being one of the charter members, which was instituted June 5, 1894, having at the same time conferred upon him the honor of Junior Past State Councilor thereby making him the ranking Senior Past State Councilor of the state. For many years he has served as Deputy National Councilor, and at the present (1907) holds a commission as such from National Councilor H. C. Schaertzer. He was admitted to the National Council as a Representative at the Asheville (N. C.) session in 1894, and, with the exception of the session at Buffalo, in 1901, he has attended every session of the National Body either as a Representative, an elective officer or as a member of some Committee. He and Dr. J. L. Cooper offered the original resolution in the National Council to establish the Beneficiary Degree, of which Brother Dillingham has for some years been a member of its Board of Control. Brother Dillingham's greatest service to the Order has been within his own state, where, with tireless activity he has labored and is now seeing the results of his work. He was elected State Council Secretary in 1896 and, with the exception of one year, has served in that capacity ever since. He has been instrumental in organizing quite a number of Councils in his state all of which are in splendid condition. Our brother is so well and favorably known that it is scarcely necessary to add words to the above sketch. Unassuming, big-hearted, loyal and true are characteristics of this hard-working Southern Junior. While honors have been conferred upon him by both his State Council and the National Council, his head never swelled, and he wears the same sized hat that he wore before he entered the Order. In a private note to the writer, he said, " I have lost no time since I became a Junior and have worked constantly for the Order." He is one of the projectors as well as president of the Jr. O. TJ. A. M. Association of Atlanta, having in view the erection of a Jr. O. U. A. M. Hall, which is to be located on grounds opposite the Capitol buildings of the state. GEORGE A. GOWAN Past State Councilor of Tennessee. An all-around Southerner, true as steel and honest in life and heart, Geo. A. Gowan, of Nashville, Tenn., has an honored place among the leaders of the Jr. O. U. A. M. A native of Georgia, being born near Madison, still his life from a mere lad has been spent in the State of Tennessee. GEO. A. GOWAN Past State Councilor of Tennessee R. J. ARMSTRONG Past State Councilor of Missouri, Member Board of Control Beneficiary Degree PROF. C. F. REEVES Past National Councilor from Washington W. S. SCHENCK Past State Councilor of Washington UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 737 Brother Gowan joined Goodwill Council, No. ('». of Nashville and has been one of its most active members, serving for the past 11 years as its Financial Secretary, having previously passed the chairs and was sent as a Representative to the State Council in which body he has ever been a conspicuous figure serving as State Vice-Councilor and State Councilor, during whose administration the Order in Tennessee was placed on a splendid basis that marked the beginning of the great progress that has been made in the state ever since. From the State Council Brother Gowan was sent as a Representative to the National Council for a term of five years and was reelected for one additional year. Brother Gowan is well known in the Supreme Body in which he is recognized as an enthusiastic worker, fearless in expressing his opin- ions upon the great issues coming before it. Brother Gowan is a man of strong convictions, believing in the right as he sees the right and condemning the wrong, and being imbued with a high type of Southern chivalry and possessing an exalted sense of honor, he scorns that which is small and mean. In debate Brother Gowan does not wield a polished blade, but in his own plain way he generally lets his audience know where he stands and on what side he fights; but a more generous foeman can scarcely be found. One strong element in Brother Gowan's life is his red-hot earnest- ness. Some men in this life count more for intensity of purpose than of any other attribute. With them life's arena is no playground, but a work- shop where can be multipled their powers of usefulness to the world by the whole-hearted way they throw themselves into their work. Such is Brother Gowan. Realizing that he is going over the road but once in life he is determined to do the best he can in making hearts happy and the world better while passing through it. In short, the poet presents in song what the writer cannot put in prose — a true protraiture of our brother: "The bread that bringeth strength I want to giv<\ The water pure that bids the thirsty live; I want to help the fainting day by day; I 'm sure I shall not pass again this way. " I want to give the oil of joy for tears, The faith to conquer crowding doubts and fears. Beauty for ashes may I give alway; I 'm sure I shall not pass again this way. " I want to give good measure, running o'er, And into angry hearts I want to pour The answer soft that turneth wrath away. I 'm sure T shall not pass again this way. " I want to give to others hope and faith ; I want to do all that the Master saith; I want to live aright from day to day; I'm sure I shall not pass again this way." 47 « 738 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER H. L. WENNER Past State Councilor of Ohio. Through the courtesy of Brother Chas. C. Marquardt, of Tiffin, Ohio, a very close and dear friend of Dr. Wenner, the following sketch has been prepared of this intensely active and loyal Junior: H. L. Wenner, M.D., was born in Tiffin, Ohio, September 19, 1801 ; is a graduate of the Tiffin Public Schools, and subsequently took a course in the medical department of Western Reserve University and was grad- uated from that institution in 18S2. He has followed his chosen pro- fession with marked success for over 25 years, and has won for himself an enviable place in the Medical Profession of Seneca County. In 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Huss, to which union was born H. L. Wenner, Jr., now a medical student in Western Reserve University, and who has also been a member of Young America Council, No. 136, Jr. O. U. A. M. since his sixteenth year. Also Miss Marjorie Wenner, now a member of the Senior Class nf the Tiffin High School. Mrs. Wenner takes a very active part in D. of A. work, enjoying the distinction of being a Past State Councilor of the Daughters of America, in Ohio, and a Past National Representative of the D. of A., and through her pleasing address and amiable disposition has won for herself a -wide circle of friends both in, and out of the Order. Now, back to the subject of our sketch. Brother Wenner, who goes about with a " five hundred horse-power working force," under a full head of " steam," with plenty of surplus energy to " paddle," and when this tremendous energy gets to going every thing about him moves. Brother Wenner is an active member of the Baptist Church, and holds the position of treasurer; he also fills an important place in the choir. In politics he is a Republican, not in word, but in fact, alert and always on the skirmish line. Was a member of the Board of Education and served as President of the Board that introduced and passed a reso- lution to furnish free text-books to all the school children. In this matter of free text-books, Brother Wenner took a lively interest and championed the resolution to a successful termination. He was also a McKinley Elector of the 13th 'Congressional District in 1896. It is, however, as a Junior that Dr. Wenner has a magnificent record. He joined Young America Council, No. 136, February 22, 1892, at its institution, being a charter member. Was elected State Vice- Councilor at Youngstown, 1893, and State Councilor by an unanimous vote of 224 at Hamilton, 1894, was reelected at Mansfield in 1895, and served an extra four months because of change in term of office, thus holding office as State Councilor for a period of two years and four months, a distinction which no other State Councilor of Ohio has so far enjoyed. Brother Wenner has witnessed Young America Council, No. 136, grow from a charter membership of 14 to 880. This phenomenal growth is due very largely to his alert, persistent «and untiring effort, working day and night, no work too humble, no duty too onerous, but always serving cheerfully wherever and whenever duty calls. He served as chairman of the Orphans' Home Committee that secured for Tiffin the National Orphans' Home, which carried with it the responsibility of raising J. G. A. RICHTER Past National Councilor, State Council Secre- tary of Ohio JOHN J. WEITZEL Past State Councilor of Ohio DR. H. L. WENNER Past State Councilor of Ohio JESSE TAYLOR Past State Councilor of Ohio UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 7SQ $25,000.00 with which to purchase the grounds. His personal contribu- tion to this cause was $600.00 in cash. Dr. Wenner also advocated and instituted a movement looking toward a lodge home and club house for Young America Council, No. 136, and was made chairman of the building committee which erected and equipped a $40,000 Club House on the Y. M. C. A. plan. Those who know Dr. Wenner best, esteem his most; and as ;i raiser of funds, he stands without a peer, for his word is as good as his bond. He is at present chairman of the Board of Trustees of Young America Council, No; 136, and very seldom misses a Council meeting or a daily plunge into the swimming pool at the Club. In securing applications for membership, he stands in a class entirely by himself, having presented over 500 applications to Young America Council; and at the Tiffin session (1907) of the State Council he waa awarded the first prize of $20.00 (which he immediately turned over to the building committee to apply on the indebtedness of the" Club House, notwithstanding a previous donation of $300.00 to the same project) for the member securing the greatest number of applications in the State of Ohio, during the year. He is quick in his conclusions, decided in his judgment, active, earnest and faithful in the discharge of all his duties. And thus we might continue to represent this plain, earnest, approachable man of the people, whose friendship is sincere and generous. The sum of such a life finds its expression in the words, " A good citizen, faithful public servant, true friend, indulgent husband and a kind father.'' In other chapters the author has referred to the work, enthusiasm and fidelity of Dr. Wenner. It was while he was State Councilor of Ohio, that the crowning glory of the Jr. O. U. A. M. was begun and con- summated — the establishment of the National Orphans' Home at Tiffin, Ohio. To Dr. Wenner, more than to any other, belongs the credit of securing the location for the Home, and through his heroic efforts and princely giving, the gift of $25,000 was made by Young America Coun- cil, No. 136, whereby its establishment was made a possibility as well as a glorious fact. Not only was this munificent gift secured through his persistent enthusiasm, but he sent an appeal, as State Councilor, throughout the Order in the state that thrilled thousands of hearts asking for $1.00 per capita additional thereby swelling the contributions of Ohio alone to nearly $60,000. When our brother shall have joined the " great majority," there will stand on the banks of the Sandusky a monument of his devotion more enduring than granite or marble or that of any mausoleum that can be constructed by human hands. JESSE TAYLOR Past State Councilor of Ohio. Jesse Taylor, familiary known as " Taylor the Terrible," is a native of the " Buckeye State," having seen the light of day at Jamestown, February 28, 1864. He grew up like all boys to manhood, receiving a good public school education, and being inclined to the legal profession, he sought and obtained a position in a law office and was soon found 740 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER delving into Blackstone. In December of 1885, Brother Taylor removed to Kansas, in which state he was admitted to the bar in March of 1886, rising very rapidly in popularity, being elected County Attorney of Morton County in 1887, and was selected Probate Judge of same county in 1888. In 1889, July 1, President Harrison appointed him Receiver of U. S. Land Office at Garden City, Kansas, which responsible position he held until February of 1894. Yearning for his native heath, Brother Taylor returned to Jamestown in 1895 and was selected Cashier of the People's Bank of that place, which position he has held to the present (1907). The citizens of his old home soon recognized his qualifications and sterling character, whereupon, they elected him Mayor of Jamestown in 1896, which office he held until the expiration of the term in 1900. Again a few years later he was elected to the same office, the term of which expires in 1908. As is well known, Brother Taylor during the years of 1906 and 1907 was absent' from, his duties as the chief executive of his city looking after legislative matters at Washington. On his return he found that his salary as Mayor had accumulated and the Finance Committee had recommended payment of same. Brother Taylor, however, would not permit the city council to approve the bill, declaring that being away from his duties as Mayor, he had not earned it hence would not accept the salary for the time he was absent. Referring to this, which, in the minds of politicians was somewhat peculiar, a writer under date of March 29, 1907, has this to say: " He (Taylor) has just now again come into the limelight, and at the same time is a puzzle to politicians and officeholders, who declare he has started something that may not stop, and sets an example which make him at the same time the greatest of curiosities in the great State of Ohio." Brother Taylor's views, religiously, conform to the teachings of the M. E. Church, of which he is a member, and being in accord with its doctrines, his strong temperance proclivities threw him into the local option movement of his state, and in this, as in every cause he espoused, like a war-horse, he rushed into the fray, moved by a fiery enthusiasm so characteristic of his make-up, and campaigned the state in the cause of temperance, as the result of which many towns went " dry " at the next election. In his fraternal relations, he is a member of the Masonic Order, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knight of Pythias, Elks, Patriotic Order Sons of America, Daughters of America and the Jr. O. U. A. M. However, it is as member of the Juniors that Brother Taylor is well known. His connection with the Order dates from 1S98, when he entered as charter member, Jamestown Council, No. 31, and soon was honored with the highest office in the Council, and was sent to the State Council as the Council's Representative in 1899 and 1900 and was on the Law Committee in 1901 and 1902. In 1903 he was unanimously elected State Vice-Councilor and in 1904 was promoted to the Chair of State Councilor, whose rapid-fire administration and unique methods were marked features. He did not spare " printers ink " nor time in order to arouse the member- ship to duty and activity, and by prose and poetry he stirred the Order from one end of the state to the other, and as a result of his strenuous administration, 40 Councils were added to the roll and the membership increased. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 741 Brother Taylor was strongly imbued with Restrictive Immigration sentiments. With his ears to the ground he heard the tramp of Europe's millions sweeping down upon fair Columbia, and with his usual enthusiasm he entered the arena, and by voice and pen brought tbe immigration issue before the Order. His enthusiasm stirred up the National Council at Nashville, in 1905, of which body he was a member, and as a result. $5,000 was appropriated to the National Legislative Committee, of which Committee he was a member and its Secretary. His work at Washington for the years of 1005-1907 was of a strenuous character, where he and the Committee met most formidable opposition to the enactment of a Restrictive Immigration Law, both from the steamship lobby and Speaker Cannon, the latter the most inveterate foe of the question of American protection. Through the influence of the Committee, under Brother Taylor's direction, a good law on the subject of Naturalization was enacted, and a compromise measure on Immigration became a law which is dis cussed in its proper place. JOHN J. WEITZEL * Past State Councilor of Ohio. A more striking example of the real, self-made man cannot be pre- sented than the biography of John J. Weitzel, the " leading Junior of Ohio.'' The subject of this sketch made his initial bow to the world at Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 3rd day of June, 1874. His father, George Weitzel, was born in Germany and his mother, nee Amelia Hettrick, was born at Carthage, Ohio, near Cincinnati. " Honest John," as he is affectionately called by his Ohio brethren, passed through boyhood as was fit for the average American boy, attend- ing the public schools of the city of his birth. After leaving school he- served for a few years in various capacities — driving a team for his father ; printer's "devil " in a Sixth street printing shop, when he asso- ciated himself in the modest capacity of office boy with Rufus B. Smith. Avery & Holmes, one of the ablest legal firms in the state at the time. When Rufus B. Smith was elected Judge of the Superior Court of Cin- cinnati in 1891 he accompanied Judge Smith as messenger of the Court. It was during this period that was born to the progressive youth a desire for legal knowledge and training and he assiduously devoted his 7) in the cause of Virtue, Liberty and Patriotism. Brother Hamilton was personally interested in the organization of the first Councils of his state and was a leading factor in the institution of the State Council of Indian Territory, of which be was a charter member, on April 15, 1807. and was elected National Representative for five years and was in attendance at Pittsburg session of the National Body in ISO", also Buffalo, N. Y., in 1901, and was reelected and attended the session at St. Louis in 1904. At the session of the State Council of 1898, Brother Hamilton was elected State Council Secretary to which position he has succeeded himself at the expiration of each term since. Not only has he given his services to the Order in his own state, but has worked in other jurisdictions, having been instrumental in the organiza- tion of eight Councils in Arkansas and the institution of the State Coun- cil. Since the two Territories have been united to form the State of Oklahoma, Brother Hamilton has been quite active in planting the Order in the Oklahoma portion of the territory and is doing heroic work. In a letter to the writer he stated that he was then in the field and intended to work for the organization as long as he was able, and thus is carrying out the statement that he is " on the roaring red Firing Line." State Councilor Bayless, of Indian Territory, in his report to the State Council in 1906 had this to say: " I am afraid that you who are not fully acquainted with the duties of the office of State Council Secretary, do not know how to appre- ciate our worthy Brother Hamilton. I want to tell all, that I have ever found him a Junior in principle and truth." ARTHUR W. BARRUS State Council Secretary of Rhode Island. Doubtless, no one in the State Council of Rhode Island stands higher in the estimation of his brethren than Arthur W. Barrus, the present State Council Secretary. Descendant of sturdy Puritan stock, he was born at Falls River, Massachusetts, in the year 1S65, his father's name being John B. and his mother's Hannah L. Winslow, she being the seventh lineal descendant of Governor Winslow of Pilgrim Rock fame. In 1866, he, with his parents, removed to Warren, Ehode Island where, at the age of five years, he entered the kindergarten school, and when he arrived at school age, he entered the public schools where he remained until he was 18 years of age, thereby securing a good common school education. Upon leaving school he entered the employ of J. B. & S. M. Knowles, silversmiths, Providence, as an apprentice in the engraving trade. In 1887 he took a position in the Gorham Manufacturing Company as an engraver where he is still employed. His gentlemanly manner and sterling character attracted the attention of both his employers and fellow -work- men, hence step by step he has risen in their esteem and confidence. Brother Barrus is a. prominent member of the " Gorman Silversmiths' Mutual Aid Society," and has served as its President. 752 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER It is as a Junior, however, that this sketch deals more especially. In 1896, having received information that Miantonomah Council, No. 7, of Providence, Rhode Island, was about to surrender its charter, there being but 22 members left, Brother Barrus, in obeying the patriotic impulses that burned in his heart, authorized his application to be sent in for membership and in due time was initiated. At that time the Council held its meetings in the center of the city but on becoming a member Brother Barrus induced the members to remove the meeting place to the Elmwood District of Providence, the immediate vicinity of his home and the Gorman Manufacturing Company, promising to secure a good membership for the Council and thus prevent disbandment, Past State Councilor C. L. Place became interested in the proposition and acting upon the suggestion of Brother Barrus secured the consent of the membership for removal, and, as the result of the change of location, the Council has between 100 and 200 members and is one of the strongest and most prominent Councils in Rhode Island, composed of a band of progressive and patriotic men. In 1902, Brother Barrus was elected Recording Secretary of his Council and has been continued in that position without opposition ever since. In September, 1903, he was elected State Council Secretary, to which position he has been successively reelected at each meeting of the State Council. His courteous bearing and marked ability so impressed the members of the State Body that with a unanimous demand he was elected to the position : and he has proven himself highly worthy of the honor that was thrust upon him, in the dignity and efficiency he has brought to the office. Brother Barrus is not only an influential member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., but is connected with other organizations that have recog- nized his ability and sterling worth. He is a member of Elmwood Lodge, Knights of Pythias, being a Past Chancellor, and at the present time is Master of Finance. He is also Past Chief of the Knights of the Golden Eagle; ex-Councilor of the O. U. A. M., though not at present affiliated with the Order; member of North Star Lodge, I. O. O. F. He was com- missioned Deputy Grand Chancellor of the K. of P. in 1904, but owing to his position as State Council Secretary, he was compelled to resign. At the annual meeting of the Silversmiths' Mutual Aid Society, held Jan- uary, 1905, he was unanimously reelected President for the second term. SAM F. VANCE State Council Secretary of North Carolina. One of the brothers who has had much to do in shaping the policy of the Jr. O. U. A. M. in North Carolina, is Brother Sam F. Vance, the accomplished and efficient Secretary of the State Council. The birth -year of Sam F. Vance was in 1864, in Forsythe County, same state, and having passed through the regular course of the public school, he completed his education in the High School and spent several years in the cause of education by following the avocation of teacher in the public schools of his native state, proving himself to have been a "workman that needed not be ashamed." Subsequently he assumed charge of a manufacturing company, being its manager as well as book-keeper, which responsible position he held for six years, resigning in order to accept an appoint- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 758 ment tendered him of Deputy Clerk in the Superior Court of Forsythe County, which important post of duty he filled with complete satisfaction for seven years, tendering his resignation to become Assistant Postmaster of the Winston-Salem postoffice, which position he still holds at this writing (1907). During these active business and professional years, Brother Vance served in many responsible political positions, viz.: County Chairman of the Executive Committee for two years ; Chairman of the Eighth Con- gressional Executive Committee for two years; a member of the Board of Alderman of his city for two years: Mayor pro tern, two years; in all of which positions our brother served with credit and honor. One with such a record, intelligent and active, thoroughly imbued with an old-time patriotism, could not live in North Carolina very long without coming in contact with the advancing army of Juniors that as an Order, was sweeping over the state under the leadership of Faison, Homey, Webb and Preston. In the year 1895 Brother Vance connected himself with the Order and rapidly passed through the chairs of his Council, Fairview, No. 119, which he represented at the session of the State Council, held at Asheville, in 1899. Subsequently, same year, he was the acting State Council Secretary for a few months owing to the absence of State Council Secretary Preston on account of his health, and on the resignation of Brother Preston, in July, Brother Vance was ap- pointed by the State Executive Board to fill out the unexpired term. At the session of 1900, he was elected to the office, and at each session since he has been reelected by acclamation, and to-day (1907) is still occu- pying the position which he has filled with satisfaction and credit. When Brother Vance assumed the office of Secretary of the State Council, there were 2700 members in the Order in the state; to-day the old " Tar Heel State " stands high up on the roll of states with 15,000 members. Brother Vance has also been honored by his State Council by electing him a Representative to the National Council. He is also promi- nent in other organizations, being Past Consul Commander in the Wood- men of the World, Past Sachem in the Improved Order of Red Men, and a member of the Knights of Pythias. State Councilor Bennet of his state, says : "Brother Vance is a thoroughly efficient and painstaking man, earnest, enthusiastic, and untiring. His work is always well done, and done at the right time. He is courteous, affable, well-posted on every point of law, and has granted me every facility his office affords in my efforts to discharge earnestly and conscientiously the duties incumbent upon me." CLARENCE B. JOHNSON Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. In priority of rank, though not in service, the first of the " Wilkes- Barre Four" (see plate) that we sketch is C. B. Johnson. His place of birth was in an adjoining county, Columbia, at Espeytown, which occurred on August 29, 1863. We are without data as to his early life, but it is presumed that he secured all the advantages of a public school education before turning his face toward the realities of human life. The members of the Order in Wyoming Valley as well as the state 48 754 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER at large know Brother Johnson as a true and conscientious Junior. He was initiated into Columbia Council, No. 43, November 18, 1887, where his earnestness and enthusiasm brought him recognition and placed him in the limelight and soon he was given the highest honor at the disposal of the Council and was sent as a representative to the State Council, into which body he was admitted September 20, 1892. Prior to this, however, he served as Deputy State Councilor from 1890 to 1892. On September 19, 1894, his State Council selected him as its State Vice-Coun- cilor and at the annual session in 1895 he was unanimously elected State Councilor and on June 16, 1896, he was admitted to the National Council. The writer served two years with Brother Johnson on the State Board of Officers, and it is with pleasure that we bear testimony to his faithfulness to duty and his unswerving devotion in propagating the principles of the Order. His term as State Councilor was a year of most exacting work, giving all his time to the organization, spending nearly 200 days in the field visiting and encouraging Councils in his official capacity; and in doing so he did not seek out the large and best located Councils, of easy access, but gave special attention to the remote Councils far from railroad lines where a State Officer was seldom seen. In this self-sacrificing labor he won the love and esteem of the brotherhood in the rural districts where the struggle to cope with discouragements was the greatest. As a citizen Brother Johnson represents a high type; as a man he is without reproach. Serving as an officer of the court he was entrusted with a responsible mission to Europe and faithfully discharged same. Genial and pleasant in manner, he is respected by the fraternity with whom for years he has labored to plant Juniorism in that section of the Keystone State. B. FRANK MYERS Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. B. Frank Myers, Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania, was born at Sylvis, Clearfield County, Pa., April 26, 1863, and after obtaining an education he removed to Luzerne County and settled at Wanamie and later in Wilkes-Barre where he entered the profession of law and has a prominent place at the bar, having served some years as Assistant District Attorney for Luzerne County. His introduction to the Order was in Wanamie Council, No. 549, by initiation, November 13, 1891, and was elected Councilor July 1, 1894. He was elected Representative to the State Council, into which body he was admitted September 17, 1895. In 1896-1897 he served by appointment of the writer as Deputy State Councilor and gave eminent satisfaction. When the State Council of Pennsylvania was in the throes of rebellion, the question that confronted the leaders of the body was, who to select as State Vice-Councilor. The exigencies of the hour made it imperative that a man peculiarly fitted and endowed with prudence, good sense, and at the same time to be possessed with courage, should be selected, into whose hands eventually would be placed the helm of the old ship then storm-tossed and in turbulent waters. However, it was not difficult to find the "man of the hour" and the session of 1900 elected Brother Mvers to fill the office of State Vice-Councilor and the State C. B. JOHNSON Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania B. FRANK MYERS Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania A s~^ father's store at East Burke as a clerk, remaining until lS'.KJ, when he and his sister became the sole owners of the store and have conducted ii successfully to the present time under the firm name of C. E. Harris & Co. Brother "Ed," as he is familiarly called, has long been known as a " jiner." He is a member of the Masonic 32° fraternity, an Odd Fellow, a Red Man, and a charter member of General Sheridan Council, No. 20. Jr. 0. U. A. M., of East Burke. He was the first Past Councilor of that body and for many years served as one of the trustees. Brother Harris served the State Council for over nine years as its Treasurer and under his administration saw that body grow from a more than bankrupt treasury to a balance of $357.18 on the right side of the ledger. During that time there was a period of several years when the State Council would have gone out of existence if he had not put his personal note in the bank — at times the amount of the note exceeded $400. Year by year this note was carried along by Brother Harris until at last he was able to report " every bill paid, and $357.18 jn hand." Brother Harris has long been a familiar figure at the sessions of the State Council where his advice, and counsel is frequently sought by the members of the body. ERWIN M. MASSEY* State Vice-Councilor of Vermont (1907). There are very few members of the Order in the old Green Moun tain State that have done more for the organization than th« subject of this sketch, Erwin M. Massey, of Rising Sun Council, No. 34, of North Danville. Brother Massey has always been foremost as a Junior, but being of a rather retiring disposition he has never sought public or fraternal office. He was born in Irasburgh, Vermont, November 13, 1856, and receiving the usual public school education, early in life became a painter for the far famed E. & T. Fairbanks, Scale Manufacturers of St. Johnsbury. Later he entered the employ of A. P. Boiler & Co.. extensive iron bridge contractors of No. 71 Broadway, New York City, and for three years was one of their trusted foremen and had charge of large jobs in several of the Southern states; illness of his father, however, was the occasion of his return to the old home in Danville, Vermont, where he has remained for more than a quarter of a century. Brother Massey became a charter member of Rising Sun Council, No. 34, Jr. O. U. A. M.. when it was instituted, January 23, 1897. He entered into the work of the Council with a deep love of its exalted * Written by William H. Jeffrey 764 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER principles and has ever since held a foremost place in its career. He has served as Trustee, Warden, Conductor, Vice-Councilor, and for three terms as Councilor. He entered the State Council October 4, 1899, and at the session held at Montpelier, October 2, 1907, he was elected, without opposition, as State Vice-Councilor. E. W. SELLERS Past State Councilor of Wisconsin. Of American birth, E. W. Sellers, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, was born in Stockton, same state, August 30, 1869. For 14 years he was reared upon a farm and removing to Stevens Point he has resided in that city ever since. Having married in 1891, he has three children, two boys and one girl, to bless the home. For years he was employed in railroad and government service but at present he is conducting his own business, being manager of five cooperations. He is also Treasurer of the Public School Board, Secretary of the Business Men's Association and a promi- nent member of the M. E. Church, being a Trustee of the church property. Brother Sellers was among the first in Wisconsin to espouse the doctrines of the Jr. O. U. A. M. and was initiated into Washington Council, No. 1, at Stevens Point, July 10, 1890. He served in nearly every office within the gift of the Council, three times as its Councilor and 10 years as its Treasurer. He organized the Degree Staff and was its Captain for 12 years. He was conspicuous in the organization of the State Council, being one of its charter members when it was instituted October 10, 1892. He has served twice as State Councilor, four years as State Council Sec- retary and for a number of years has represented the National Council as Deputy National Councilor, at present being commissioned by National Councilor Schaertzer. He represented his State Council in the National Council from 1892 to 1901, and was again elected in 1904. He has served on important committees both in the National Body and the State Body, among which might be named, Legislative, Ritual, Ladies' Auxiliary, etc. To Brother Sellers's devotion to the Order is due very largely the maintenance of the organization as a State Council in Wisconsin. With a German population, strongly anti-Junior in sentiment to cope with, the progress of a distinctive American organization as the Jr. O. U. A. M. has been greatly retarded. But never did Brother Sellers " give up the ship " though it was assailed by the enemies of American institutions. At one time the State officers were indifferent, in fact left the Order to shift for itself, when the National Councilor placed the control of the jurisdiction in the hands of Brother Sellers who received the monies, paid the per capita tax to the National Council and promulgated the password. He always gave his time and money to aid the National Organizers when sent into the state, and in every way has served the Order faithfully and well. Brother Sellers is a pleasant, agreeable Christian gentleman, a true blue patriot and is held in high esteem in the community that has been his home since boyhood. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 765 CHARLES SOMERVILLE CRALL Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. One of the representative Juniors of Pennsylvania, a long-time worker in the ranks of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., is Charles S. Crall, of Monon- gahela. Brother Crall is a product of California, being born in that state, in the town of Sebastopol, Nevada County, Nov. 1, 1861, both of his parents having been Pennsylvania-born. In 18G6 they removed from the Golden State to Monongahela, going by sea via San Francisco, Panama and New York; but returning to California in 1871 and remaining three years, they again removed to Monongahela which has been Brother Crall's home ever since. Having been educated in the common schools, he entered into the florist business with his father, I. Shelby Crall, in which they were very successful, and on his father's death in 1901 he assumed com- plete control of the large business and trade, in which he has been too busy as well as looking after the interest of the Order to seek for and take unto himself a help-meet, therefore as he himself remarked he is " a confirmed old bachelor." It is as a Junior that " Charlie " Crall is most favorably known in the organization. Early after the introduction of the Order in Western Pennsylvania, Star of the Valley Council, No. 136, was instituted in 1881, of which Brother Crall was a charter member and the recognized leading spirit of the Council. Thoroughly imbued with patriotic senti- ments and never afraid to speak them, our brother was soon to the front and having received the honors of his Council, he was sent to represent it in the State Council, into which body he was admitted in 1886, and subsequently served in same position. For a number of years he was the Recording Secretary of his Council, and as Deputy State Councilor and " hustler " he gave much of his time in the earlier years. When the State Council of Pennsylvania sought for a candidate for State Vice- Councilor in 1898, all eyes turned to the " sage of the Monongahela." who agreed to enter the race and after a sharp contest won and took a place upon the Board of Officers vacated by the writer. Brother Crall occupied an unique position as a member of the Board. During his term the Order was in the throes of rebellion and although elected State Councilor at the Scranton session in 1899, he was not permitted to assume his position, the State Council charter having been suspended pending a hearing by the Judiciary tribunal, before the installation of officers, hence the officers of the Board remained the same as the year previous, making two years' service for each. Owing to the recall of the Special Session at Lancaster, the business was con- cluded the day previous to the annual meeting, at which session Brother Crall was installed State Councilor in which position he served 48 hours, having served the longest term as State Vice-Councilor and the shortest term as State Councilor on record in the state. During these critical years of tmrest and doubt the Order had in Brother Crall a chivalrous knight who stood valiantly for loyalty and who fearlessly met the in-ur- gent element in debate and otherwise, upholding the honor and integrity of the National Council as well as the loyal minority of his own state, never for a moment swerving an iota from his position in the controversy. The final "parting of the ways" in Pennsylvania came during the 766 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 4S hours he was State Councilor. When the session of 1900 convened both elements in the Order were represented, the insurgent majority assuming to stampede the State Council by their disreputable procedure; but they found no weakling in the Chair, but on the other hand they had to deal with a man of nerve who understood the plans of the " rule or ruin " party, and deliberately, and with a master-hand, led his loyal brethren out of pandemonium when it was apparent that there existed two State Bodies in the Keystone State. It was well for the Order that during those strenuous years it had at the helm in Pennsylvania such heroic men as Bowers, Crall and Dickeson. Brother Crall has served as Deputy National Councilor under two National Councilors and is still " in the harness." He is well esteemed by his own Council, stands high in the community as a business man and citizen, while to his friends he is as true as steel. WILLIAM SANFORD SCHENCK Past State Councilor and Ex-State Secretary of Washington. On June 3, 1856, at Greenwood, Steuben county, New York, William S. Schenck entered upon his earthly life. His ancestry on his father's side, were Dutch, the maternal grandfather being a native of New Jersey, who removed to the frontier of Western New York where, after a struggle with adversity, died, leaving a family of 12 children. On his mother's side, Brother Schenck came from sturdy New England stock, his maternal grandfather being John Rowley. His father's name was William J., one of the family of 12, as stated above, and his mothers's name was Emeline, one of a family of 14, both being humble and zealous Christians of the Methodist faith. When William was six years of age he with his parents removed to Wisconsin, hence in that remote region he had but limited educational advantages, having to go two miles to attend the district school in an atmosphere of 40 degrees below zero. Under such trying circumstances the boy grew to be a man. and when 16 years of age he entered the carpenter shop of one of his brothers and learned the trade and business, which has been his life's occupation, having become exten- sively engaged in the contracting and building business. It is as a member of the Order that we would pen this sketch of Brother Schenck. The beginning of his Junior life came while living at Steven's Point, Wisconsin, being admitted a charter member, December 18, 1888, of Washington Councid, No. 1, located at above named place. The principles of the Order were very deeply impressed upon our brother, whose heart " was strangely warmed." and then and there he was " converted " to the doctrines of the Junior Order and, though of Methodist blood, he has never " backslid." Removing soon after to the State of Washington, Brother Schenck proceeded to organize Bay City Council, No. 3, at Bellingham, which has been and still is a strong and active Council. At the institution of the State Council of Washington in 1889, Brother Schenck represented his Council and was elected State Vice- Councilor, passing on to the Chair of State Councilor in 1890, and at the same time was appointed Special Organizer by National Councilor Cran- ston and did good work in that capacity in spite of the unfavorable UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 767 surroundings and environments. He served for several terms as Deputy National Councilor and throughout the entire history of his association with the Order he has been a leading spirit. His honors, however, were not confined to his State Council, but as a Representative he was brought into association with the National Body, attending the sessions at Omaha in 1895 and Buffalo in 1901 in that capacity. At the session of the National Council at Denver in 1896, he was elected National Conductor and attended the Pittsburg session in 1897, at the close of which National Councilor Powell appointed him on the Law Committee and in the same capacity he attended the Bession at San Francisco in 1903. In 1894, Brother Schenck was elected State Council Secretary which position he filled very creditably until 1904. He as well as his wife and members of his family are members of the Daughters of America, in which organization they have taken a prominent part. His record in attendance in his own Council scarcely has a parallel, never missing a meeting unless absent from home. For loyalty to the principles of the Order, none have shown such persistent faith as he. His domestic life is most happy, his home being blessed with a good and careful wife. The " olive branches " in the home are four in number — three sons and one daughter. His eldest son, W. A., was insti- tuted into the Order when he arrived at " the proper age " and served as Councilor when he was 17. He is at present (1907) the Recording Secretary of Bay City Council, No. 3. as well as State Vice-Councilor of the State Council. The second son, G. B., is also a member of the Order and has served as Councilor and Representative to the State Council. His daughter is a Past Councilor of the Daughters of America, as well as Brother and Mrs. Schenck. In a letter to the wrjfcor, Brother Schenck says he has still one son 12 years of age whom he hopes to see a member of the Order. The type of manhood found in Brother Schenck is of the noblest standard, that type which frontier life has ever developed, that becomes the back-bone of a Republic, patriotic, faithful and true. It is the writer's hope that the hard work given to the Order by our brother will be as " bread cast upon the waters that shall be seen many days hence. ' JOHN C. STEWART Past State Councilor of Maine. On the eve of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the British General in com- mand, General Gage, said: "If General Stark will be in the battle, there will be some big fighting." General Stark of Bennington fame (which battle, fought on Vermont soil, had much to do in bringing about the victory at Saratoga) was a product of Vermont, which mountainous state has produced splendid men all down its history. Here, in Rycgate, Cale- donia County, on the 19th of June, 1850, was born the subject of this sketch, Hon. John C. Stewart, Past State Councilor of the State of Main". Being the son of a farmer, his duties on the farm kept him there until he was 17 years of age, whereupon he supplemented his common and select school education by entering the Grammar School at Peacham, Vermont, following which he entered Dartmouth College and graduated with honors 768 . HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER in 1873, receiving his A. B., and subsequently followed the profession of teaching in the public schools in the States of Maine, Massachusetts and Mississippi, receiving his M. A. from his Alma Mater in 1876, and upon entering the Medical School of Dartmouth College, he graduated there- from in 1877, being the valadictorian of his class. For 11 years Brother Stewart practiced medicine in York, Maine, then engaged in the contracting and manufacturing business until 1885, when he was admitted to the bar in the York County Court, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of law. Politically, Past State Councilor Stewart is a Republican, having served as Chairman and Secretary of the various Committees of the party, was Deputy Sheriff for six years and served in the State Senate in 1891 and 1892. As a member of fraternities and honorary societies, Brother Stewart stands high. The following is the roll: Maine Society of Sons of American Revolution, Maine State Bar Association, Portsmouth (N. H.) Medical Society, Stratford County (N. H.) Medical Society, York County Medical Society, U. S. Navy League, Paul Jones Club, Portsmouth (N. H.), American Academy of Political and Social Science, National Geographical Society, Independent Order of Good Templars, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Workmen's Benefit Association, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Pythias, United Order of the Golden Cross, and the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics. Of the latter organization he became a member in 1894, having joined Lincoln Council, No. 6, being a charter member and was chosen Jr. Past Councilor and a Trustee. At the organization of the State Council of Maine, he was elected State Councilor and served with dignity and honor, giving his best efforts to the extension of the Order, especially the Beneficiary Degree. At the close of his term the State Council elected him National Representative and placed him on the State Law Committee. Notwithstanding his strenuous life, Brother Stewart is in touch with the Order, having connected himself with Wash- ington Council, No. 9, located at Springvale. That Brother Stewart is a man of affairs is manifest from the fol- lowing: One of the Incorporators of the York Harbor and Beach Rail- road, and for years a director and clerk of the corporation; President and Treasurer of the S. S. S. Building Association; President of the York Printing Company, York Realty Company, Norton Brick Company and Lone Star Consolidated Copper Company; Vice-President of the York County National Bank and of the Old York Historical and Improvement Society; Treasurer of the York Corporation Trust and Law Company, Drew Crate Company, Atlas Manufacturing Company, Children's Heart Work Society of Maine; Director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, Agamenticus Light and Heat Co. and the Mineral Mountain Copper Co. Brother Stewart has taken a prominent part in the Prohibitory movement in his state, being at one time the President of the Peoples' Prohibitory Enforcement League of Maine, and in 1894 was a Represen- tative to the National Temperance Congress at Philadelphia. He repre- sented the State of Maine, by appointment of the Governor, at the Pan- American Medical Congress, Washington, D. C, in 1893, and has been from 1901 a member of the Medical Section of the National Fraternal Congress. It goes without saying, that Brother Stewart is one of the foremost citizens of his state, esteemed and respected by all. HERBERT SMITH State Council Secretary of Maine ■■.■■.■■■■■..■'.'.:■: GEO. R. BOWLEY Past State Councilor of Maine F. M. CODY Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania J. S. WILSON State Council Secretary of South Carolina UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 769 FRANK M. CODY Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. Contemporary with Deemer, Calver, Kurtz and Arthur, in Pa vania Juniorism, Frank M. Cody, Esq., of Philadelphia, stood for the Junior Order when it was a " small Hock." Brother Cody was horn in the city that has heen his home or place of business all his life on March 15, 1854, and had the advantage of a good education after which he read law and was admitted to the bar, November, 1875, and subsequently was admitted to practice his profession in the Supreme Court of the state and the United States Courts. His standing with the legal fraternity of that great city is good, and at the same time he has by hard work built up a most excellent practice. As soon as he was old enough ( 16 years) Brother Cody connected himself with Kensington Council, No. 5, of Philadelphia. Of this Council Brother Allen Dellaven, who was National Councilor in 1879, and G. Howell Arthur, who was State Councilor in 1881, were also members. In 1871 these brethren withdrew from Kensington Council and organized Science Council, No. 127, of which Brother Cody was elected its first Councilor and subsequently was elected Representative to the State Council which body, in 1875, elected him State Councilor. At the time of his election the State Council met semi-annually, but the laws having been amended, the body met annually, the time of meeting having also been changed from January to July, thereby making Brother Cody's term 18 months. During his term the country was in the grip of a depressing panic, hence no progress was made in the Order, there being but 4,957 members in the state. For many years Brother Cody was active in the work of the Order and was frequent in his attendance at the sessions of the State Council and the National Council. When the rebellion in the Order came, Brother Cody at once allied himself with the loyalists and his Council being insur- gent, he withdrew and connected himself with Liberty Council, No. 35, of which he remains a member. While he is a very busy man in taking care of his increasing practice, he has never lost his interest in the Order, his love for same being deep-seated. Brother Cody resides in the borough of Lansdowne of which he has been solicitor for years. He is married and has one son and lives in a comfortable home in that beautiful suburb of Philadelphia. He is most affable, courteous, and an all-around gentleman. As a citizen, a member of society, and a Junior, he is a splendid representation of an upright and noble manhood, whose fine form and courtly bearing makes him a distinguished figure in any sphere of life. PERRY A. SHANOR Past National Councilor, Pennsylvania. Head, and in some instances shoulders, bodily, over his associates in the National Council, Perry A. Shanor has an honored place in the fraternity. Where he was born or when, we know not, but it goes without saying that his early boyhood was not different from that of other boys. It is presumed that he played truant occasionally, purloined green apples 49 770 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER and stoned the neighbor's chickens as boys will, but when he became a man he put away childish things. Having secured in the public and Normal schools a thorough education, Brother Shanor engaged in the profession of teacher in the common schools, and for years was Super- intendent of Public Schools in the City of McKeesport, Pa. Having re- signed his position he turned his attention to law and was admitted to the bar and has followed the legal profession ever since, practicing in West Virginia as well as Pennsylvania. Brother Shanor connected himself with the Junior Order along about 1890 and at once his strong individuality and personality brought him to the front in the organization and having received the honors in his own Council he was sent as its Representative to the State Council and from that body he was sent to the National Council as a Represen- tative. Being a fluent and gifted speaker his services were much sought at public meetings held in the interest of the Order or at Council meetings where he unfolded the doctrines as taught in the Objects and Principles of the organization. The National Council recognized in Brother Shanor extraordinary qualifications as a leader and in 1895 he was elected National Vice- Councilor, National Councilor in 1896 and in that capacity presided over the National Body at Pittsburg, Pa., in 1897, and directed the proceedings of the body with a master-hand. When the Order was attacked either by foes within or without, like a fearless knight he threw himself into the fray and undaunted, defended the honor and dignity of the Supreme Body as well as the Objects and Principles of the fraternity. As a speaker on the floor of the State and National Council he is recognized as strong and effective, never mincing words, always calling a spade a spade, etc. Brother Shanor is also quite prominent in other secret fraternities. As an Odd Fellow, for years he was a Representative to the Grand Lodge, and as a lecturer for the organization he is known throughout the jurisdic- tion of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and has received honors therefrom. It is, however, as a member and officer of the Order of Elks that he is known nation-wide and in this society he holds a high place as leader and speaker, having recently compiled an extensive as well as complete Ritual for the Order. At present (1908) he is Secretary to the Grand Exalted Ruler of Pennsyl- vania, a position for which he is eminently fitted. Perry A. Shanor's tall and symmetrical frame, his speaking counte- nance, his boundless enthusiasm and his versatility are prominent charac- teristics of the man. His powers are as manifest as his form; a man bubbling over with human nature ; a handshake that is not mere muscular pressure, but a geyser-like spontaneity of illustration — in short, he is a battery of physical, mental, emotional, sympathetic force, light and warmth. HERBERT SMITH State Council Secretary of Maine. From the hour of his birth, on August 19, 1853, in a Maine home- stead. Herbert Smith has made Springvale, Maine, his home. The bud- ding and developing years of his life were spent in the public schools UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 771 of his home village which was supplemented by a course in an academy in an adjoining town. Subsequently be engaged in mercantile business, but leaving that, took a position in the Maine Alpaca Mills, one of the principal industries of the town. Brother Smith is a firm believer in secret fraternities and has always born a conspicuous part in propagating the doctrines of same. He is a member of the Ancient York Masons, Royal Arch Chapter, Golden Cross and Eastern Star; is also connected with the New England Order of Protection and the Independent Order of Good Templars. However, to the Junior Order he has given his best endeavors and has been and is still the foremost and best posted member of the organization in his state and is universally esteemed by the fraternity. When Washington Council, No. 9, of Maine was instituted, Brother Smith was one of the charter members and was honored with being its first Councilor, and has for years been its Financial Secretary. His admission to the State Council dates back to its institution, March L2, 1896, he being a charter member, and at its second regular meeting, held September of same year, he was elected State Council Secretary, to which position in 1907 he was reelected for the twelfth time. As State Council Secretary, Brother Smith has given his brethren as neat a record as can be anywhere found indicating the care he exercises in recording the minutes of the State Council. Although past the half-century mile-post, our brother is still " on the firing line," strongly imbued with the sublime principles he loves so well as taught by the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and through his tireless energy the Order has found a good foundation in the Pine Tree State. GEORGE R. BOWLEY Past State Councilor of Maine. A descendant of good New England stock, George R. Bowley was born at East Kingston, New Hampshire, April 3, 1868, being one of six sons of Charles M. and Sarah Goodwin Bowley. At the age of four years he. with his parents, moved to Sanford, Me., where our Brother has grown up and resided ever since, being employed in the Sanford mills — for ten years of that time holding the responsible position of overseer. In 1898 he united in marriage with Eldora Y. Grant, from which union a son, Belmont G., resulted, who, although but seven years of age, is a full-fledged patriot, having participated in the patriotic exercises of the State Council meetings of 1905 and 1906. Brother Bowiey's career as a Junior began in 1895, when he con- nected himself with Harmony Council, No. 10, of Maine, and very quickly reached the highest honor in the gift of the Council, and was sent as a Representative to the State Council, where he was elected National Representative for five years, attending the sessions held at Philadelphia. 1900; Buffalo N. Y., 1901; Milwaukee, Wis., 1902; San Francisco, Cal., 1903; St. Louis, 1904, and Nashville, Tenn., 1905, and was reelected for four years in 1906, and attended the session held at Boston in 1007. Brother Bowley has served his State Council as State Vice-Councilor and State Councilor, and has held the position of Deputy National Councilor over the State of Massachusetts. 772 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Considering the many honors conferred upon our Brother, although his life in the Order has been but twelve years (1907), it is manifestly apparent that he is one of the leading spirits of his State Council. He is thoroughly in sympathy with the objects and principles of the Order, especially of the Orphans' Home, in which he is deeply interested. He has kept in touch with the advanced movement of the organization, putting forth every endeavor to bring his own state up to the highest standard of work and success. Socially, our brother is pleasant and agreeable, winning friends by his kindly disposition and gentlemanly demeanor; while as a citizen and patriot, he is held in esteem by his fellow townsmen. S. H. MILLER Past State Councilor of Kansas. The subject of this sketch was born in Laurel County, Kentucky, in 1859, and was reared on a farm, obtaining his education in the common schools and taught one term in same. On leaving the state, Brother Miller reached Leavenworth, Kansas, June 14, 1880, where he was married to Miss Sarah Truesdale, November 23, 1882, which union resulted in two sons and one daughter. Brother Miller was initiated into the Order April 4, 1895, being a charter member of American Council, No. 20, of Kansas, to which Coun- cil he still belongs as well as his sons. Having " passed the chairs," he was elected Financial Secretary and served the Council in that office until he moved to a farm of 160 acres ten miles from Eureka. Having been sent by his Council as a Representative to the State Council, that body elected him State Council Treasurer for two terms, when he was elected State Vice-Councilor and subsequently State Councilor and served with credit in both positions. In 1900 he was elected National Repre- sentative and attended each session of the National Body in that capacity until 1904, when he was unanimously elected National Inside Sentinel and served in that position at the Nashville session in 1905. From 1905 to 1907 he served as Deputy National Councilor over the State of Kansas by appointment of National Councilor Gilcreast. Modest and unassuming Brother Miller has been a prominent figure in Kansas Juniorism, being recognized as one of her most loyal and faithful workers, who, in the midst of discouragements, never lost faitli in the fundamental principles of the Order. While he had but little to say upon the floor of the National Council, he was always present and was deeply interested in its business. WILLIAM M. THOMPSON Past State Councilor of Indiana. The subject of this sketch was born in Preble County, Ohio, July 15, 1858, being the son of Lewis and Mary A. Thompson. He continued to reside in Preble and Mercer counties, Ohio, until 1882, during which year he established his residence in Kosciusko, Indiana, where he remained until September, 1885, when he moved to the City of Dunkirk, same state, which place has since been his residence. JAMES NEEDLER .State Couucil Secretary of Indiana JAMES FOUST Past National Representative from Penn- sylvania S. H. MILLER Past State Councilor of Kansas GEO. W. AKOLD Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 778 In his domestic life. Brother Thompson is blessed with a good and home-loving wife, with whom he was united in marriage on August 5, 1880, her family name being Eva J. Denney. Four "olive bram-lu- was the result of the union, three sons and one daughter; of the former, one is a resident of Melbourne, Australia, two are married, while the ''sunshine of the home," the little girl, remains at this writing (1907) to cheer and comfort our brother. Brother Thompson's membership in the Order dates from the Bpring of 1893, at which time he united with Dunkirk Council, No. 14, with which he has since been identified, filling all of the offices of the Council with satisfaction to his brethren and credit to himself. When the State Council held its session at Dunkirk, in 1894, Brother Thompson repre- sented his Council, at which session he was appointed Chairman of the Finance Committee, filling the position for several years. At the session of 1905, held at Muncie, he was selected State Vice-Councilor and at the session of 1906 was advanced to the position of State Councilor which office, as all other positions of trust and responsibility, he filled with universal satisfaction to the brotherhood. Brother Thompson has proved himself to be an earnest and devoted member of the Order, and by his energy and honesty of purpose, has infused a spirit of loftier ideals in all with whom he has come in con- tact; and though he has laid aside the gavel of authority, after filling the highest office in his State Council, his interest in the organization has not abated, and from the tenor of his make-up, Indiana for many years to come will have in Past State Councilor Thompson a strong champion for the principles and purposes of the Jr. O. U. A. M. There is no place " on the shelf " for Brother Thompson. JAMES NEEDLER State Council Secretary of Indiana. Brother James Needier is a native of Iowa, having been born near the City of Des Moines, May 29, 1877. For a few years he and; his parents travelled from state to state until he was 5 years old, when they settled upon a farm in the State of Indiana where the boy grew to manhood under the influence of agricultural life. The subject of our sketch attended the public schools until he was old enough to engage in some occupation, when he accepted a position in the Willman Lumber Company of Hartford City, Indiana, in which employ he has been for 16 years (1907), having not only the confidence of his employers, but the esteem of those with whom he is associated. When Brother Needier arrived at the age of 16, he was impressed with the objects and principles of the Jr. O. U. A. M., and made applica- tion to Hartford City Council, No. 17, and was initiated therein, and ever since he has served the Council continuously in one office or another. He represented his Council at two sessions of the State Council, and at the expiration of his term as Representative he was elected State Council Conductor, but illness prevented him from attending the session at Lawrenceburg. He has served on the State Council Finance Committee as well as Deputy State Councilor under several administrations. 774 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Upon the resignation of Brother Harry Van Brunt, February 15, 1906, as State Council Secretary, the Board of Officers appointed Brother Needier acting State Council Secretary to fill the unexpired term; and at the regular session held at Noblesville, October 23-24, of same year, he was unanimously elected for a term of three years. Brother Needier is one of Indiana's most patriotic Juniors, thor- oughly competent in whatever position his brethren have called upon him to fill, both in the State Council and the Subordinate. He possesses a pleasing countenance, is a most agreeable associate and represents a high type of manhood, and is therefore a credit to the Order. JAMES FOUST Past National Representative of Pennsylvania. James Foust was born in Hollidaysburg, March 14, 1862. The summers of his early life were spent on a farm and the winters in at- tending the public school at Hollidaysburg, and later as a boatman on the Pennsylvania Canal. He then learned the trade of iron moulder and worked at his trade for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Altoona from 1885 until 1896. In November, 1895, he was elected by the Repub- lican Party of Blair County to the office of Coroner, entering upon the duties of the office January 1, 1896. At the February election of that year the Republicans were successful in electing their ticket in the City of Altoona, and Hon. H. C. Barr, Mayor, appointed Brother Foust to the position of Chief of Police. He entered upon the duties of this office in April, 1896, and served the full term of three years. For almost the entire year of 1896, he continued to hold the office of Coroner until his successor was appointed and duly qualified. As Chief of Police he gained for himself considerable distinction. A band of crooks that operated along the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad between Altoona and Philadelphia was, by his skillful and ener- getic efforts, completely broken up, and the leaders of the gang convicted and sent to the penitentiary. The records of Blair County show the apprehension and conviction of many notorious criminals, due to his vigilance and sagacity. It is a remarkable fact that during his entire term as Chief of Police, only one defendant of the many indicted through the efforts of the City Police force escaped conviction. This result was due to the care with which Chief Foust investigated the facts of a case before he commenced prosecution, and the intelligent and vigorous man- ner in which he prepared cases for trial afterwards. Brother Foust's great achievements along the line of civic righteous- ness, has been in the Dairy and Food Bureau of Pennsylvania, since his appointment as an Agent in 1900. Entering upon his work with great vigor and energy, he soon made a great record in apprehending violators of the State Food Laws and was rapidly promoted by the Food Commis- sioner until he became General Agent over the state, his duties being the preparation of all cases for trial, and at the same time having full charge of all the legal machinery. On the retirement of the Food Commissioner in 1907, Brother Foust was appointed by Governor Stuart to fill the position for a term of 4 years. Honorable and fair treatment to all UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 775 has become his slogan and from all quarters come the statement that in his appointment the Governor made no mistake. Brother Foust is an enthusiastic Junior, having united with No. 157, of Pennsylvania, in 1887, but withdrawing therefrom in 1901 he became a charter member of No. 472, with which he is still connected. He was a Representative to the State Council in 1894 and represented his Council at several subsequent sessions. He was appointed National Representative in 1899 and attended the session at Minneapolis, Minn., as well as the session of the National Council in 1900. Subsequently he was elected National Representative for a term of three years. Brother Foust was a close friend of the lamented Past National Councilor Geo. B. Bowers, who was a member of the Order in the same place. W. A. POLLARD Past State Councilor of Colorado. Our fraternity is rich in the high standard of character to be found among its membership, richer by far than we have reason to know or find out, because of that modesty which so frequently conceals from us the gems of thought, written and unwritten, that emanate from them. Among this class we find Past State Councilor W. A. Pollard, of Colorado, residing at Colorado Springs, one of the best and most ardent workers for years in the State of Colorado, yet only a few brief statements of his life have been furnished us. Brother Pollard was initiated in Victor Council, No. 21, where he reached the highest position in the gift of his Council and was elected Representative to the State Council, which body honored him in 1902 with the office of State Vice-Councilor, passing him on in 1903 to the Chair of State Councilor, after which he served two years as State Coun- cil Secretary. He is also a conspicuous member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum. Brother Pollard is of a pleasing disposition, a courteous gentleman and a loyal Junior. DR. WILLIAM H. PAINTER Past National Representative, State of Pennsylvania. Dr. Painter comes from a patriotic as well as a prominent American ancestry. His great-great-grandfather came from Germany prior to the Revolution and settled in Pennsylvania, and his great-grandfather served in the struggle for Independence as a captain in the army. His grandfather was a prominent citizen of the commonwealth, having served as Sheriff 1812 to 1815, and was a member of the Legislature in 1822. Removing to Bloomsburg, Pa., in 1827 he purchased the Columbia Register and con- ducted that paper until 1843. He served as justice of the peace for 40 years and died in 1862. He married a daughter of General Joseph Isreal. of Delaware, a veteran of the Revolution, from which union were born 16 children, one of whom was Ebenezer Greenough, father of the subject of this sketch. On his grandmother's side is a long and distinguished ancestry, the grandfather being the Rev. James Ewing, who for 50 years was a prominent minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, whose 776 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER father also was a minister in same denomination, in the long line of descendants of this man of God, four other ministers came and fulfilling their mission have gone. William H. Painter was born at Mauch Chunk, Pa., July 4, 1853, and when seven years of age he with his parents removed to Harrisburg, where he still resides. Having received a common school education, he studied dentistry and attended the Pennsylvania Dental College in Philadelphia from which institution he graduated and received his degree D.D.S. in the class* of 1881. He was married in Reading, Pa., December 23, 1882, to Miss Hattie B., daughter of Conrad and Sarah Anthony, of Easton, Pa. Three children was the fruit of this union, two of whom, Marion E. and Sarah A. are living. The home life of this little family is most happy and affectionate, always sunshiny and cheerful. It is as a member of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. that Dr. Painter is most favorably known. He united with John Harris Council, No. 174, but subsequently withdrew and was instrumental in organizing Capital City Council, No. 327, and was one of its charter members. For years he repre- sented the Council in the State Body, serving one year as State Council Sentinel, and in 1889 was appointed a National Representative and at- tended the National session at Haverhill, Mass., and same year was elected to fill out the unexpired term of one of the Representatives, and again was elected to represent the State Council in the higher body in 1899. Brother Painter was elected National Conductor at one session of the National Body and attended the session at San Francisco, Cal., in 1903, as a member of a National Council Committee. Dr. Painter's activity in the organization is noteworthy. In every movement and work that has for its purpose the uplifting and advancement of the Order, he has always been in the forefront — very frequently jeopardizing his practice. As a speaker he commands attention and his presence in the Councils is appreciated. When the Garb Bill hung in a balance, its foes bringing upon Governor Hastings great pressure to veto same, Dr. Painter's argument at the final hearing before the Chief Executive and his cabinet carried conviction, and as stated elsewhere, the bill became a law. Dr. Painter is also a Past Noble Grand of Peace and Plenty Lodge, No. 69, I. O. O. F., and Past Commander of Cincin- natus Commandery, No. 96, K. of M. He is also an active member of Lady Alpha Lodge, No. 15, Daughters of America. All who know Dr. Painter, know him to be a genial, big-hearted Junior, full of pent-up patriotism, a fearless champion of the public schools and a true friend. He has always stood up for the principles of the Order, sacrificing time and money in promulgating same. He has organized two or three Councils and at present is a member of John Harris Council, No. 174. GEORGE W. AROLD Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. Thirty-eight years ago (1869) it was said in the Arold home, in the City of Philadelphia, that a " man child " was born and he was subse- quently named after the Father of his Country. After obtaining a com- mon school education, George W. Arold secured a responsible clerical position in which occupation he is still engaged. E. W. SELLERS Past State Councilor of Wisconsin J. FRANK SWEET Past State Councilor of Rhode Island W. A. POLLARD Past State Councilor of Colorado rev. JAMES G. Mill 1:1: Past State Councilor of Ohio UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 777 Brother Arold began his Junior life in Resolution Council, No. 6, Philadelphia, in 1887, since which time he has been an active and tireless worker in the organization, having for many years served his Council as Recording Secretary. He was admitted to the State Council of Penn- sylvania, in 189G, and from that time until 1902, either as a Representative or member of the Finance Committee, he was in attendance. At the latter session he was selected State Vice-Councilor and was placed in the Chair of State Councilor in 1903. His administration was a strenuous one, giving much of his time to the work of the Order in his immediate district. He was popular with the brethren and gave a good account of his stewardship. J. FRANK SWEET Junior fast State Councilor, Rhode Island, 1907-1908. Brother Sweet was born in Smithfield, R. I., Sept. 2, 1849. He is a millwright and for years has been in the employ of the Woonsocket Machine and Press Co., and is sent by the firm into all sections of the country. He united with the Order in 1893 and has been and still is one of the strong pillars of Rhode Island Juniorism. The records show that at the session of the State Council in 1905, Brother Sweet was installed State Vice-Councilor, having been unanimously elected, and succeeded to the position of State Councilor at the session of 1906 and at this writing ( 1908) is closing his term as Junior Past State Councilor. Under his administration there was much advance in the Order in the state and a more hopeful spirit is shown by the membership. Our brother is a representative Junior, sound in the doctrines of the organization, believing that through them must come the influences that shall cope with the great issues that confront the Republic. It is an honor to any organization to have at the helm men with such lofty ideals of citizenship as exhibited by Brother Sweet. May the number multiply even in the Subordinate Councils of our Order. CARL H. REEVES State Council Secretary of Washington. Perhaps the youngest State Council Secretary in the entire galaxy of states is Brother Carl H. Reeves, of Washington, son of Prof. Chas. F. Reeves, Past National Councilor. The place, state and date of his birth was Allentown, New Jersey, October 24, 1880. After securing a good common school education, both in his native state and Pennsylvania, he finished his scholastic education in the high school of Seattle, Wash- ington, and at the Washington University, same state, receiving in 1901 his degree of Engineering, in which profession he is engaged in his home city. Brother Reeves united with the Order February 11, 1899, and at once he entered into the spirit of the organization and soon made advance and was sent as a Representative to the State Council where h? was elected, in 1904 (1907). He is a young man of most excellent character and possesses marked ability. 778 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER J. A. RIEHL Past State Councilor of Colorado. Colorado, though small in numbers, nevertheless out of her bosom has come to the front in the Order, strong and noble men to steer the little craft in the " Silver State." One of those is Past State Councilor J. A. Riehl, and at present (1907), State Council Secretary. Brother Riehl united with the Order in its opening life in the state, in 1893, joining Washington Council, located at Pueblo, which afterward consolidated with Lincoln Council, No. 9, of which he is still a member. His ability and earnestness were at once recognized, and for several terms he served as Recording Secretary of his Council and, in fact, was never out of office in the gift of his brethren. As a Representative to the State Council, he took an active part in that body, having been elected State Vice-Councilor in 1903 and succeeded to the Chair of State Councilor in 1904, in which position he served with honor to the fraternity, organizing two new Councils as the results of his labors. In 1906, he was appointed State Council Secretary. Not only as a Junior is our brother prominent, but as a member of the Daughters of America he has manifested the same zeal and patriotism and has in both organizations left an impress upon the minds of his co- laborers. He is also a member of Camp 29, Woodmen of the World, and is connected with Welcome Castle of the Royal Highlanders. L. C. SHANNON State Councilor of California, 1907-1908. In the vigor of manhood, the Order in California has at its head an enthusiastic Junior whose red-hot earnestness should bring large results — State Councilor L. C. Shannon. In his official call upon the members of the Order in the state to work, he asserts an axiomatic truth that " nothing is more essential than energy and perseverance " ; these he claims are " two of the great secrets of the successful worker." Then he follows: "Confi- dence is your magnet, and enthusiasm is your power. Confidence, like a friend, gets you a welcome; enthusiasm, like laughter, is catching. Confi- dence disarms doubt and carries conviction; enthusiasm arouses interest and overcomes opposition." L. C. Shannon, whose ringing call, from which we have quoted, has gone forth, needs no pen to " write him up " — his courage to do battle for the cause of Juniorism in a state that has a large opposition to the principles of the Order, is his own panegyric. Brother Shannon was born in Peoria, Illinois, March 20, 1874, but subsequently removed to Colorado, from which state he again removed in 1891, and adopted California as his future home. Early in life he learned the hardwood finishing business and has followed that line of work ever since. He has for many years been foreman and superintendent in the construction of large buildings of California, among which were the Postoffice and Federal Court buildings of San Francisco. The beautiful cabinet woodwork fittings in these two structures required two years work and are said to be the finest finished government buildings to be found in the United States. REV. R. D. HARDING Past State Councilor of Kentucky L. C. SHANNON Past State Councilor of California J. M. RIDDLE Past State Councilor of Washington UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 77!> When the Jr. 0. U. A. ML. was resuscitated in California, Brother Shannon early connected himself with the organization, joining Gen. Geo. A. Custer Council, No. 22, March 5, 1895, of which he has been an active member and at the same time has been a strong adherent of the doctrines and teachings of the Order, lie at once became very much imbued witli the principles of the organization and accepted them heartily. Alter serv- ing in nearly every position in the gift of his Council, he was elected Representative to the State Council and was admitted to that body in 1901, and was given a place on the Law Committee. He also served one term as Chaplain and also as Conductor of the State Council. In 1900 he was elected State Vice-Councilor and the year following Slate Councilor. His work on the Committee to distribute the funds of the Order to the members who suffered in the great calamity of San Francisco in 190G, is well known, and his efforts to bring order out of chaos in the organization will ever be appreciated by his fellow-patriots of California. EDMOND L. S. BOUTON National Representative from Virginia and Past State Councilor. Past State Councilor Bouton of Va., was born at Port Chester, N. Y., May 8, 1855; was educated in the public schools, and for five years was a clerk in a Wall Street banking house, resigning in February, 1878, to remove to Kansas where he engaged in ranching, and later published a Republican paper at the county seat — Russell. This brought him into politics, and in September, 1889, he was appointed to a special position in the Treasury Department at Washington, which, after about three years, he resigned to accept the position of Private Secretary to United States Senator B. W. Perkins, of Kansas, and Clerk of a Special Committee of the Senate. Upon his arrival at Washington, Brother Bouton located at Vienna, Va., a few miles from the National Capital, where he has since resided, and has become prominently identified with local affairs, having been a member of the Town Council for over twelve years, a member of the School Board for several years, and for four years has been Republican County Chairman of Fairfax County. Brother Bouton is a charter member of Vienna Council, No. 97, Jr. O. U. A. M., which was instituted July 4, 1896; was its first Past Councilor and held the position of Recording Secretary for eighteen con- secutive terms, but was compelled to decline further service on account of increasing official business, he being Postmaster, which position he has held for the last ten years. Upon the reorganization of the Order in Virginia, Brother Bouton was unanimously elected State Councilor without his previous knowledge, no nomination being made against him. Under his administration the Order made remarkable progress considering the adverse conditions then existing. He has been a hard fighter for the cause in Virginia, and while he much prefers peace, he will have it only on honorable terms, or fight until he gets it. He was elected National Repre- sentative from Virginia and attended the sessions of the National Council at Milwaukee, San Francisco, St. Louis and Nashville, and as National Inside Sentinel was in attendance at the Boston session. Brother Bouton 780 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER is also a Mason, being Past Master of Crescent Lodge, No. 236, A. F. & A. M., Vienna, Va., and is now its Secretary. The above is but a brief sketch of the life of Brother Bouton. His loyalty to the mandates of the National Council and the principles of the Order developed those fighting qualities of our brother referred to, and no man stood more valiantly for the right than he. When Virginia fol- lowed the revolt of 1899, the majority of the State Council having " made their bed," Brother Bouton would not lie therein, and hence the organiza- tion of a new State Council was brought about and Brother Bouton was honored as the first State Councilor. The new organization has had its reverses. The courts of the state have been arrayed against it and the Supreme Court of the United States has confirmed the lower tribunals. But Brother Bouton is not the man to cry " defeat " ; and when the storm clouds are lifted the Order will find him in the van with his fighting clothes on, leading old Virginia, the " Mother of Presidents," to victory and success. REV. R. D. HARDING National Representative from Kentucky and Past State Councilor. The subject of this sketch first saw the light of day near Burkeville, Va., June 3, 1863. Reared on a farm, he attended the public schools of his county; later the Louisa Male Academy, Louisa, Va., for two years; Kandolph-Macon College, Ashland, Va., one year; and the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky., three years, from which Institution he gradu- ated in June, 1891. His first ministry after graduation was in Wilson, N. C, where he remained but six months. He then moved to Somerset, Ky., where he spent three years, and during which time he built and paid for a neat, brick church at a cost of $8,000, and more than doubled the membership of the church. From there he came directly to his present locality, Dayton, Ky., where he has been for twelve years, and has built a neat stone church at a cost of $12,000, and towards the erection of which many of the Juniors throughout this great land contributed. On July 13, 1901, he became a member of Custer Council, No. 10, Jr. O. U. A. M. of Dayton, Ky., and soon filled the most important offices in his Council. As soon as eligible he was elected representative to the State Council which met that year in Newport, and was at this session elected State Council Chaplain, which office he filled for two successive sessions. In September, 1905, he was elected State Councilor of Kentucky, and during his term of office, forty-one new Councils were instituted, being the largest number ever instituted during any one year in this state. There was also the greatest gain in membership obtained in any one year, and the greatest advance in finances. In 1906 he was elected to a long term as a Representative to the National Council, and while attending his first National session in Boston, had the honor of nominating Brother H. L. W. Taylor for National Vice-Councilor. Brother Harding is a clear, deliberate yet forcible speaker, and his suave disposition and knightly bearing has won for him universal respect and esteem. No officer of the State Council of Kentucky has come so close to the heart of the Order as he. From one end of the state to the CHAS. S. DAVIS State Council Secretary of Maryland FRANK ANDERSON State Councilor of Kansas, 1908-1909 BRENT SHR1VER State Council Secretary" of West Virginia UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 78] other he has travelled in the interest of the Organization, visiting Councils, presenting flags, addressing public meetings and preaching sermons; and his great success has come in the sacrifice of time and much cost of physical exertion, by visiting inland Councils, far removed from railroad communication, whore the presence of a state officer is scarcely Been, knd though he has laid aside the insigna of ollice as State Councilor, -till there is no cessation to his work. But " on the wing," day and night, Brother Harding is preaching the doctrines of our noble Order. Along with hie church and Junior duties, he is at the same time publishing a paper in the interest of the Organization in the state, as well as writing up certificates, running into tens of thousands of dollars of insurance in the Beneficiary Degree. In the prime of a vigorous manhood, with a soul thoroughly imbued with the gospel of Juniorism, the State of Kentucky and the National Council will, for years, have the influence of his godly example and noble life. BRENT SHRIVER State Council Secretary of West Virginia. A native of West Virginia, Brother Brent Shriver was born June 28, 1859. Having received a good common school education, he engaged for some time in teaching school, thereby becoming fully imbued with the spirit of popular education. When the oil industry was developed in the state, Brother Shriver became associated with the business and served in several companies. At present (1907) he is engaged in the mercantile business in New Martinsville. On removing to the latter place in 1890, Brother Shriver united with the local Council Jr 0. U. A. M. the same year, proved himself an earnest and faithful member of the same, having been honored by the Council as Representative to the State Council where his qualities of character and strength of manhood brought him further honors by being elected State Council Secretary at the session of 1893, to which position he has been reelected at the close of each term since. The above sketch is brief, and it does not by any means tell the story of a true life humbly and quietly lived. That he has held the office of State Council Secretary for 14 years (1907) is abundant evidence of the esteem by which he is held among his brethren and the confidence reposed in him. As a further recogniton of his services in the Order, as per action of the National Council, his State Council conferred upon him the honors of Past State Councilor, he having served as State Council Secretary ten consecutive years. CHARLES S. DAVIS State Council Secretary of Maryland. On December 21, 1858, Charles S. Davis was born in the City of Baltimore, Md., and his residence has continued in that city up to the present. On March 15, 1876, Brother Davis became a member of Western Star Council, No. 12, which subsequently consolidated with Baltimore Council, No. I, of which he is still a member. Active and enthusiastic, he was soon called upon to serve in the various subordinate positions of 782 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER his Council, and was elected State Councilor in 1883. In 1893 he was elected Secretary of the Funeral Benefit Association of Maryland, which position he filled until 1895, when he was appointed State Council Secretary of Maryland, to fill the unexpired term of Brother Ogle, who resigned his office; and at the next session of the State Council he was unanimously elected and has been reelected without opposition ever since to the same position. As a special mark of honor, in 1906, the honors of Past State Councilor were conferred upon him, in lieu of ten consecutive years of service as State Council Secretary. The Order in Maryland, since Brother Davis has filled the office of State Council Secretary, has made great advancement, the membership increasing from 14,964 to 23,140. His records indicate care and efficiency in their keeping, as the writer can very readily verify. Modest and un- assuming, the Order in Maryland can congratulate itself on having a " scribe " who pursues his work so systematically and methodically. FRANK E. ANDERSON State Vice-Councilor (1908-1909) of Kansas. One of the younger members of the Junior army, State Councilor (1908-1909) of the State Council of Kansas, and one of the Order's most active workers, is Brother Frank E Anderson, of Iola, Kansas. Brother Anderson is a product of Indiana, having been born at Brazil, February 5, 1882, and spent his early years on a farm. His parents having moved to Terre Haute, same state, Frank attended the public- schools and for sometime the high school until he was 17 years of age, when he started out to " paddle his own canoe." His father having served bravely and well his country in the Civil War, being wounded on the battlefield, his recital of the experiences of his military career fired up the heart of the boy with old-time patriotism, that by the time Frank was old enough to join the Juniors he connected himself with Lincoln Council, No. 56, of Terre Haute, Indiana, wherein he found the patriotic manna his enthusiastic nature was craving for, often in the darkest of nights and through the muddiest of roads he walked six miles to attend his Council. He also took part in the organization of other Councils, and when duty called, our brother was ready to respond. His removal to Iola, State of Kansas, where he is employed as head salesman in a large hardware establishment, did not cool his ardor in the promulgation of the principles of the Order, but at once continued his work and succeeded in organizing Iola Council, No. 41, of Kansas, June 1, 1906, which, under his supervison has become one of the strongest Councils in the state. His election as Representative to his State Council brought him prominently before that body which honored itself in electing him State Vice-Councilor on February 13, 1907, and at the same time ap- pointed him State Organizer. At the present writing (1908), as State V.-Councilor, Brother Anderson already shows fruits of his labors, by organ- izing and instituting La Harp Council, No. 4, and reorganizing Border Queen Council, No. 39, and arousing increased interest in his jurisdiction. Brother Anderson is a staunch believer in Juniorism and is in hearty accord with its objects and principles and recognizes it as the greatest UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 783 patriotic Order in the land. He is an ardent friend of the Benificiary Degree and has in one year written more applications for it than was ever written in the state since the adoption of the Degree. The married life of our brother has resulted in one child, a boy, who is "a chip of the old block," whose young heart is already yearning for the day when he can "ride the goat" and be as good a Junior as his papa. J. M. KIDDLE Past State Councilor of the State of Washington. The life-story of our brother from Bellingham, Washington, if we could produce it, would read like a romance, but the scope of this work will not permit. Brother Riddle is a Pennsylvanian by birth, having entered this world on Friday, March 23, 1860, at or near Black Ash, Venango County. When but a babe his parents removed to Southern Minnesota, and later farther west in same state, and then returned east- ward to La Crosse, Wisconsin. From this place, when a lad of six years, the subject of our sketch " struck out " for himself, travelling several hundreds of miles, and finally when but 11 years of age, he sought the great logging camps of Northern Minnesota where, amid " God's first temples," he lived and worked for several years. On leaving the pines he returned to Minneapolis, and subsequently found himself a man toithout his country, having passed over the line into British Columbia. The American blood of our brother chilled under such an atmosphere and he soon returned to the land of " Old Glory " and settled at Bellingham. Washington, where he has resided ever since. However, previous to his going to Bellingham, Brother Riddle had sent for " his best girl," an American girl from Minnesota, who went all the way to British Columbia to join her life with his and share his fortune, the latter of which he had but little when he landed among strangers at Bellingham, having, as he puts it, " but fifteen cents in his jeans pockets." But he was on American soil, and with grit and a stick-to-it-ive-ness he mastered the temporal difficulties, and to-day is one of the representative citizens of the city and is blessed with a happy home and five blooming daughters. It is as a Junior, however, he is best known. He became a charter member of Bay City Council, No. 3, of Washington, September 30, 1889. the oldest Council west of the Mississippi River. In 1890, Brother Riddle was elected Vice-Councilor and in September of same year Councilor, and in 1891 he represented his Council in the State Council (at its second annual session) and was elected State Council Warden. He represented his Coun- cil at several sessions and took an active part therein, always a staunch exponent of the doctrines of the Order. He was elected State Vice- Councilor in 1895, but owing to home environments, was unable to attend the next annual session, hence was not elected State Councilor. However, in 1902 he was again elected State Vice-Councilor and the year subsequent was promoted State Councilor, and in 1905 he represented his State Council in the National Body at Nashville. He has served 12 years as R. S. of his Council, as well as Deputy State and Deputy National Coun- cilor. Our brother is a loya( Junior, every drop of blood within him sparkles with Americanism. 784 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ELMER E. FREIDLINE Past National Representative from Indiana. The world has its optimists and pessimists, those who look on the bright or dark sides of everything, or walk on the sunny side or shady side of the street as the case may be. To the former class belongs Brother E. E. Freidline, named for the lamented patriot, Elmer Ellsworth, who fell early in the Civil War. Elmer Ellsworth Freidline was born in Allen County, Indiana, in 1867, and has made that state his home ever since, living for years in Jonesboro, his present ( 1907 ) residence. Having attended the public schools, he sought a higher standard of intellectuality by attending and graduating from one of the colleges. Subsequently, he was engaged for years in the profession of teaching having taught both in the common and high schools of his state. However, he chose for his life work the legal profession, having been admitted to the bar in 1887, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of law before the County, State and Federal Courts, and is at the present time Prosecuting Attorney of the Forty-eighth Judicial Circuit of the State of Indiana. Brother Freidline's identification with the Junior Order dates from 1893, being initiated in February of that year in Grant Council, No. 7, of Jonesboro, and has served in the positions of Assistant Secretary, Vice- Councilor, Councilor and Junior Past Councilor and represented his Council in the State Council, which body honored him and itself by electing him National Representative and he was admitted to the National Council at its session held at San Francisco, California, in 1903. Since then he ha^ served the Order as Deputy National Councilor for three years and in various ways has manifested a deep interest in the organization, being one of Indiana's most active, progressive and wide-awake members, whose view of the Order is optimistic, believing in its doctrines and principles as the panacea for all our country's ills. F. E. CANAN Past State Councilor of Kansas. A Pennsylvanian by birth, the subject of this sketch saw the light of day in the City of Johnstown, February 16, 1846. Removing to the country he spent his earlier years on a farm with his parents, securing but a limited education from the rural schools. Returning to the city of his birth, he soon answered the call of his country by enlisting in August of 1864, in the 198th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served in the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war, being a member of the Fifth Army Corps. Soon after his return from the army, he moved to Ohio, and later, 1873, he followed Greeley's advice, and con- tinued farther west, settling in Jewell County, Kansas, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1887 when he located at Oakley, same state, where he has since resided, being prominently engaged in Real Estate and Insurance. When Oakley Council, No. 6, of Kansas, was instituted, Brother Cnnan was one of its charter members and was its first Recording Secre- UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 786 tary, filling the position continuously for 13 years. On his admittance to the State Council, he was elected State Council Chaplain, then State Vice-Councilor and a year subsequent was placed in the State Councilor's Chair. He was elected alternate National Representative at the session of 1906. H. H. EDDY Past State Councilor of Colorado. H. H. Eddy, Past State Councilor of Colorado to whom is due the present matchless governmental structure of the Jr. O. U. A. M., stands in the line of a long and noble ancestry. The first American ancestor on his father's side arrived at Plymouth Rock, Mass., October 29, 1030, on the ship "Hand Maid," while upon his mother's side not so mudi la known, but there can be traced at least an American grandfather. His mother's family was among the first pioneers to Oregon, the then unknown Northwest. His father's family was also among the early settlers of that great Pacific empire and here Brother Eddy's parents were married and here, in the town of Milwaukie, Oregon, he was born March 11, 1855. However, in 1S65 the Eddy family removed to the State of New York. Brother Eddy was much more fortunate than the average American, having secured a good education, thereby fitting him for the larger sphere of life's activities he was afterwards to enter. After obtaining a complete public school education, he entered Clinton Liberal Institute, Clinton, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1870. Taking an advanced step he entered Dean College, Franklin, Mass., and graduated in 1876, and turning his attention to the study of law, he was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in 1878. Turning his face westward, as did his parents years before, we find our brother spending the winter of 1878-1879 at Topeka, Kansas, where he was admitted to the practice of law in that state. Lured by the Leadville gold fever, Brother Eddy started for the " Silver State " and found in Colorado his future home, as well as the arena where his well equipped mind could find full play. After a short residence in the state he became a candidate for State Senator and was elected to that office in the fall of 1880 and at the close of his term was reelected and served eight years in the Upper House. But that energetic nature could not be at rest, and again he entered the political arena, this time as a candidate for the House of Representatives, and was elected in the fall of 1888 and was made Speaker. In 1890 he was reelected to the Lower House and in 1892, entered the campaign for Congress, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket by the Populist wave that swept the state at that time. Brother Eddy's career in the Junior Order has been as prominent as in the political field. Becoming a member in 1894 he reached the highest honor in the gift of his State Council and was admitted to the National Body at Louisville, Ky., in 1898. At this session the National Council ordered a revison of the Constitution and the General Laws, and that revision to be made in conformity with a recommendation of the National Councilor, approved by the body, " That the executive and judicial be separated and a judiciary created." Brother Eddy was appointed Chair- man of the incoming National Law Committee who substantially prepared the Constitution and General Laws as adopted at Minneapolis, Minn., in 5« 786 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER 1899, under which government the Order is to-day working. It was in the preparation of this Constitution and Laws that the legal and logical mind of our brother had full sway and when the document came into the hands of the members of the National Council they realized that a master- hand had fashioned it. One branch of this government, the Judiciary, was soon to be tested in the litigation that came as the result of the rebellion in the Order, and it stood the test well, and was referred to by Judge Audenreid of the Philadelphia Court as being " the work of a skilful draughtsman." It was a wise appointment on the part of the National Councilor that he who fashioned and molded this great branch of the Order should also administer it in the Judiciary Court, hence Brother Eddy was chosen Chief Supreme Judge of the National Judiciary and in that position presided over the Court of last resort from which tribunal was handed down opinions and decisions that in the opinion of civil jurists were of a high standard. His line of business having taken him beyond the limits of the United States, Brother Eddy resigned from the Judiciary Court in 1903, and for a few years the National Council has been denied the benefit of his wisdom. As we pen these lines we learn that our brother has returned to his native land where he is sure to receive a hearty greeting from his many friends. MORTON PHELPS DICKESON, M.D., Ph.G. Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. Loyal to the core when rebellion within the Order was rampant in Pennsylvania, fearless amid the " smoke of battle " in upholding the National Council and one of Pennsylvania's most representative Juniors, is the subject of this brief sketch — Dr. M. P. Dickeson, Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. Our brother was born at Media, Pa., his present resi- dence, October 8, 1864, being the son of Dr. Wm. T. W. Dickeson, an eminent surgeon and geologist, and Emily M. J. Dickeson, who was the daughter of Jacob Snider, the patentee of the first needle gun — the Snider rifle. Dr. Dickeson had the advantage of a most excellent and thorough education, obtaining his first schooling at the Friends School at Media, the public schools, then at Shortlidge's Academy. Following his academic course at the latter institution, he entered Swarthmore College and gradu- ated therefrom in 1883, receiving the title of A.M. This was supplemented by a course in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy from which he gradu- ated in 18S6 with the title of Ph.G. He then matriculated at the Medico Chirurgical College and accepted a position of assistant pharmacist in the dispensary, afterwards became prosector for Prof. Wm. Pancoast. the famous surgeon, and later was chosen resident physician of the hospital connected with same institution. After graduation and obtaining the degree of M.D. in 1888, Brother Dickeson took up the practice of medicine at Rockdale, Pa., and has been eminently successful in his chosen profes- sion being recognized as one of the leading physicians in Delaware County. When Rockdale Council, No. 803, was organized, Dr. Dickeson was one of its active spirits and from his inception in the Order he has taken a conspicuous part in the organization, and evincing qualifications of UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 787 leadership he soon came to the front. Recognizing the fact of the dis- crimination against the country Councils on the part of the city Councils, Dr. Dickeson championed the cause of the rural districts, especially of his own, known as the Eastern District, and effected an organization that linally brought to them the proper recognition, which made aim the logical candidate of the country Councils for State Vice-Councilor in 189<>. and after a warm contest in which three candidates from the City ol Philadelphia were his competitors, he won out h\ a nice majority at Gettysburg the same year. It was, however, at the sessioo of the State Council in 1895 that Dr. Dickesons ability as a debater was first brought out in his attack on the action of the Appeal Committee, which decree involved his own Council. A fighter every inch of him and having a righteous cause to defend, he met every argument and succeeded in reversing the decree of the above named committee. The writer who served on the Board of Otlicers with Dr. Dickeson as State Councilor and Jr. Past State Councilor, wishes in this connection to bear testimony to the high standard of manhood as well as ability displayed by him. He was a tireless worker, making 144 official visits to the Councils during his term of State Vice-Councilor, principally to isolated Councils, and during the same term he instituted 7 new Councils and reorganized 2, at the same time carrying on his extensive medical practice. On his promo- tion to the position of State Councilor in 1897 he brought with him a fully equipped mind and gave to the organization a year of hard and honest work. While his term as State Councilor resulted in a small loss — in fact there had been for years a gradual decrease owing to causes over which no one had control — so effectual was his work in his own district, that he came up to the session at the close of his administration with a total gain over the previous year of nearly 900 members. When the revolt of 1899 came, like a stonewall, Dr. Dickeson stood up against the unholy conspiracy in his own state, and on the floor of the State Council at Scranton fearlessly upheld the mandates of the National Council and met the vicious attacks of the insurgents with strong arguments in defense of loyalty and right. In medical and other fraternal organizations Dr. Dickeson has also a prominent place. He occupies a position upon the State Board of Medical Examiners of Pennsylvania, being appointed thereon by the Governor of the state. He is also a member of the Delaware County Medical Society, of the Philadelphia Medical Club, Pennsylvania Medical Society, State Board of Health and of the American Medical Association. As we write these words of our genial friend and brother, the public press announce the happy marriage of the Doctor, on September 20, 1907, with Miss Alice Smith Baker, the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Baker, of Media, Pa. GEO. S. FORD State Council Secretary of Pennsylvania. George S. Ford was born in Upper Derby, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1867, and after securing from the public schools a preliminary education, he removed to the City of Philadelphia where he finished his studies in the high school, and then entered upon a clerkship in n larpe textile company which he held for many years. 788 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Brother Ford became a charter member of Cohocksink Council, No. 526, at its institution and has served in every office in the gift of the Council and was admitted to the State Council in 1892 as a Representative of his Council and has attended every session of the State Body since that time. For 14 years he has been the Financial Secretary of his Council which position he still holds at this date (1908). However that which has brought Brother Ford so prominently before the Order in his state, was the position of clerk to the State Council Secretary, having been appointed September, 1891, which position he filled very efficiently until September, 1907. In connection with his duties as clerk to the Secretary, every third year he was clerk to the State Councilor, when that office came to the Eastern District. It was here that he received his training, under both the National and State Council Secretary, that made him the unopposed candidate for State Council Secretary at the session of the State Body, held at Wilkes-Barre, September, 1907, on the voluntary retire- ment of Brother Edw. S. Deemer ; the first, and with the exception of the three years he was " passing the chairs," the only State Council Secretary of the old Keystone State. Brother Ford is also prominent in other fraternal organizations, being Past Master of Keystone Lodge, No. 271, F. & A. M. ; a member of Columbia Chapter, R. A. C, No. 91 ; and Past Archon and Secretary of American Conclave, No. 4, Improved Order of Heptasophs; he is also connected with Chosen Friends Castle, No. 33, K. G. E., Philadelphia Mercantile Beneficial Association and Past Grand of Robert Morris Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F. JNO. G. FRY Junior Past State Councilor, Pennsylvania (1907-1908). Junior Past State Councilor Fry, of Pennsylvania, has passed his fiftieth mile-stone, yet he is considered one of the " boys," and is known as a " hustler." Brother Fry was born September 26, 1857, in the City of Philadelphia, where he has lived all his life and received his education in the public schools. Brother Fry became an active worker in the Junior Order by being initiated into Monument Council, No. 125, of Philadelphia, which, however, shortly after consolidated with Greble Council, No. 13. In 1891 he organ- ized Ivy Council, No. 970, being one of its charter members and has been a member ever since. His zeal for the advancement of the Order was recognized and as the Representative of the Council he became prominent in the State Body. Locally he was energetic in the interest of the District and served as Deputy State Councilor under many of the State Councilors and was instrumental in the organization of Betsy Ross and Kenderton Councils in the City of Philadelphia. He also served as a member of the State Council Finance Committee. A larger field for activity was opened to our brother by his election to the position of State Vice-Councilor by a large majority over his competitor. Into this enlarged sphere he entered with renewed enthusiasm, visiting Councils nightly until every Council in his district was visited, and keeping in close touch with the organizaton. Durng his term as State Vice-Councilor he organized in his district four new Councils and had UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 789 several to return thai had withdrawn from the -National Council or had remained neutral. At the same time be assisted in the organization of the Orphans' Home Association of the Eastern District and the Second Regiment, Jr. O. U. A. M. At the session of the State Council in 1900 Brother Fry was advanced to the station of State Councilor and therefore had a still larger field of operations. During hi~ term there were in-ii tuted 17 new Councils and an increase of 5,00(» members was reported. He devoted seven months of the year to his work visiting Councils through- out the jurisdiction and arousing interest in the brotherhood. As Junior Past State Councilor his enthusiasm continues unabated and at this writing (May 1, 190S) two new Councils have been organized in his district with several more under way. In a private note to the writer he expressed his desire that the Order in the grand old Keystone State would reach 100,000 strong and to that end he would concentrate his every effort. ROBERT A. MAGILL Past National Representative from Pennsylvania and Secretary National Finance Committee. Robert A. Magill, Past National Representative from Pennsylvania, was born in the City of Pittsburg, Pa., April 25, 1865, and subsequently, 1885, removed to Philadelphia, where he now resides. He sought and obtained a good public school education, then entered the mercantile business carrying on a men's furnishing establishment for 10 years, when he was led gradually into the real estate business and finally disposed of his business in 1900 and entered into that of real estate in which he has been very successful. Brother Magill's connection with the Junior Order dates from April 13, 1890, at which time he united with John E. Armstrong Council, No. 130, and same year was elected its Treasurer to which position he has been reelected each year since. His Council honored him further by send- ing him as Representative to the State Council in 1896 and reelected him each two years since, excepting when he was a National Representative which gave him a voice and vote in the State Body. Brother Magill was still further honored by his State Council in electing him in 1897 for the term of five years as National Representative, in which office he served with credit to the great state that sent him to the National Council. At the San Francisco session in 1903 he served on the National Judiciary and on the Law Committee at the Boston session in 1907. At the latter session the National Board of Officers appointed him to the very responsible posi- tion of Secretary of the National Finance Committee which at the present time (1908) he holds. He has been for 18 years a member of the S. of V. Brother Magill is one of the representative Juniors of Pennsylvania, deeply interested in the welfare of the Order, and throughout the revolt in the organization he championed the National Council and believed its cause just. He is an affable brother, generous and kind. As a business man he is respected in the city in which he lives; as a member of the Order he is tireless and fearless in maintaining its principles; as a citizen, a man of society — in fact in any sphere of life he is placed, he measures up to the standard and full stature of true manhood. 790 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER ZACHARY TAYLOR WOBENSMITH * Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. Brother Wobensrnith is well and favorably known to every member who has attended the State Council of Pennsylvania since 1883. His ancestors were among the Huguenots driven from Alsace-Lorraine to Switzerland, and emigrated to this country about 1750, settling in Berks County, Pa. Brother Wobensrnith was born July 9, 1854, in Philadelphia, educated in the public schools and was 17 years in the employ of the Reading Railroad in various clerical positions, and for the last 11 years on the reportorial staff of R. G. Dun & Co.'s mercantile agency. He was initiated into Schuylkill Council, No. 12, February 16, 1871, and after filling several minor offices was installed Councilor January, 1875, and Recording Secretary July 1, same year, and has served continuously in same positon. Brother Wobensrnith was admitted to the State Council as Past Councilor in July, 1876, and was Representative in 1883, and has attended every session since. He was elected National Representative in 1892 and admitted to the National Council in 1893 and served five years; appointed on Judiciary Committee by National Councilor Cranston in 1893; on National Finance Committee same year by Past National Councilor Kibbe, Past National Councilor Richter in 1894 and National Councilor Reimer in 1899. He has also served on the State Council Finance Committee and reading clerk in State and National Councils for a number of years and his sonorous voice is well known to the members of those bodies. Brother Wobensrnith has two sons, Geo. H. and Jas. C, both Past Councilors of Schuylkill Council, No. 12. Geo. H. was initiated June 18, 1893, when 16 years old. Jas. C. was initiated February 14, 1895, when of same age. The latter was in the Spanish-American War, serving in Porto Rico in the First U. S. Volunteer Engineers. Brother Wobensrnith is also a member of Keystone Lodge, No. 271, F. & A. M.; Columbia Chapter, No. 91, R. A. M.; Ponemah Tribe, No. 239, I. 0. R. M.; Totem Lodge, No. 1060, I. O. O. F.; Theresa Rebekah Lodge, No. 147, I. 0. O. F.; Spring Garden Council, No. 947; Royal Arcanum; and is the Representative to the Odd Fellow's Orphanage of Philadelphia. He is also a member of Excelsior Chapter, No. 38, 0. E. S. The above being written eight years ago, we would add that at the session of the State Council of Pennsylvania in 1899, Brother Woben- srnith was unanimously elected State Vice-Councilor and with the same unanimity he was advanced to the station of State Councilor. His ad- ministration was carried on during the darker hours of the State Council's history, but he stood royally for the right and on the side of the National Council. He was named as one of the defendants in the litigation in the courts of the state, which causes were decided in favor of the loyalists in both the local and Supreme Courts. S. E. STEVENTON One of the First Graduates of the National Orphans' Home. While not the first to be admitted to the Home, Brother Samuel E. Steventon has the distinction of being among the first of the Order's * Copied from The American of September Issue, 1900. E. L. S. BOUTON Past State Councilor of Virginia REV. M. D. LICHLITER Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania, National Chaplain E. M. MASSEY State Vice-Councilor of Vermont, 1907-1908 H. H. EDDY Past State Councilor of Colorado W. M. THOMPSON Past State Councilor of Indiana E. R. DILLINGHAM State Council Secretary of Georgia, Member Board of Control Beneficiary Degree ^w iff Mm DR. W. H. PAINTER R. A. MAGILL Past National Representative from Penn- Past National Representative of Pennsylvania sylvania — Secretary of the National Finance Committee UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 7)>i wards to graduate from the National Orphans' Home, at TiUin, Ohio, in the month of August, 1902, having the same year graduated from the high school of Tiffin. Our young brother was born at Nesquehoning, Pa., October 22, 1884. and was sent to the Home by Mt. Pisgah Council, No. 123, of Pennsylvania, August, 1898. After his graduation from the Homo he secured a position in the Garlock Packing Co. at their Cleveland Branch, :ind has been connected with the Company ever since working at the St. Louis and Pittsburg Branches. He is a member of Young America Council, No. 130. Tiffin, Ohio. At the session of the National Council held at St. Louis, Mo., 1904, Brother Calver had the pleasure of introducing him to the body at which time he made a neat little speech. REV. M. D. LICHLITER * Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania and National Chaplain. Rev. M. D. Lichliter, National Chaplain, Jr. O. U. A. M., was born April 10, 1849, and is a native of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm and secured his education through the public and normal schools and at Mt. Union College, Ohio. During the winter for five seasons he taught school and has ever been a staunch friend of the American public school system. For his life work he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for more than 25 years was actively engaged in that calling, until, owing to a nervous-breakdown he was compelled to relinquish his church work and since that time has been Chief Clerk in the Department of Agriculture of his state, being appointed to that position by the then Governor W. A. Stone. It is as a member and officer of the Jr. O. U. A. M. that Brother Lichliter is most prominently known, not only in his own state, but throughout the Order's jurisdiction. He was among the first clergymen in his locality to recognize the lofty and patriotic sentiments found in the organization and at the first opportunity connected himself therewith and from his initiation he became an enthusiastic member, ever ready to devote his time and raise his voice and wield his pen for the furtherance of the principles of the Order. His services were much sought by Councils to deliver lectures explaining the objects and purposes of the organization, as well as in delivering public addresses at union meetings and present- ing Bibles and flags to the public schools. As is well known the custom of placing flags on the public school buildings originated with the Jr. O. U. A. M., Mt. Pleasant Council presenting in 1889 the first flag ever given for that purpose. A few days after this event Brother Lichliter in the City of Pittsburg presented the second flag, in fact 57 of them at one time, to the schools of the city and since has had the honor of presenting nearly 400 in all. When the Order in Western Pennsylvania observed Washington's Birthday by monster parades, Brother Lichliter was always found on horseback as a member of the Chief Marshal's Staff, and one year led a division as Division Marshal, the first minister ever to be elected to that * Copied from The American of 1904. 792 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER position. Although he was bitterly assailed by the enemies of the organi- zation for his public espousal of the Order's principles and was often criticised by the church for his active work in promulgating same, yet he never swerved for a moment from his duty as an American citizen and was always a fearless exponent of the Objects of the Order. Brother Lichliter was initiated into General Putnam Council, No. 125, of Pennsylvania, from which he removed his card and deposited it in McKeesport Council, No. 109, and removing from the city, as his calling demanded, he again deposited his card in Geo. Washington Council, 423, where his membership still remains. By dispensation he was elected from the floor Vice-Councilor, then was advanced to the positon of Councilor and after serving a few months obtained his honors and was elected Representative to the State Council in 1894 and was appointed State Council Chaplain and was made a Deputy State Councilor for the year following. Urged by his friends, Brother Lichliter became a candidate for State Vice-Councilor and at the session of 1895 was elected in a triangular contest, the hottest ever known in the Keystone State. During his term as State Councilor, the National Council convened in Pittsburg where that body was welcomed by our brother, and under his direction the entertainment given the National Body by the Councils of Pennsylvania and the great parade inaugurated in its honor when 10,000 men were in line, was the most extensive ever extended the members of the National Council before or since. Since that time Brother Lichliter has attended every session of the National Body, serving for two years on the National Legislative Com- mittee, of which for one year he was the Chairman, one year a member of the Credential Committee and since 1901 has been the National Chaplain. We might add that it has been our privilege to represent the National Council on the Ritual Committee, having with Brother F. F. Hopkins prepared a Ritualistic form consisting of three degrees and same was exemplified in a session of the National Council at Minneapolis. Under appointment of National Councilor Faison was one of a committee to prepare a State Council Ritual, State Council Degree, Rules of Order, etc., and same was adopted at Nashville, 1905. We have the honor of having united with many other fraternal organizations, some of which, however, we are not at present affiliated with, viz.: The various branches of Masonry, and what is known as "Blue Lodge," being Past Master; Royal Arch Chapter, Knights Templar and Knights of Malta, I. O. O. F., being Past Grand; Daughters of Rebekah, Daughters of Liberty, Orangemen, Good Templars, Order of Malta, Knights of the Golden Eagle, etc. Our family consists of two children, both married, one a son who is a minister of a prominent congregation in the State of New York, and a daughter the wife of a leading merchant of Franklin, Pa. Our home is a museum of Archaeology, having more than 1,000 specimens in the collection. We expect to publish a volume on the history of Pennsylvania, entitled, " The Footprints of Patriots and Landmarks of Western Penn- sylvania." VI. 3 f n pernor tarn CHAPTER XXXIX NO mystic chain nor mortal art can impede the onward march of man's implacable foe. Silently as the snow falls upon the house-tops, the dread messenger claims as his own the truest and best of men. Death is remorseless. Before his dread altar the brightness of youth and the decrepitude of age fall alike, victims of a common destiny. " We march down the aisles of time ; Silently, swiftly, one by one. Musical murmur and mournful moan, Plaintive pleading and tender tone Blend in a living rhyme." No man has reached the high position which entitles him to membership in such an Order as this, who has not the capacity of understanding something of what the poet from our Southland meant, when he said: "• I walk down the Valley of Silence, Down the dim, voiceless valley — alone: And I heard not the fall of a footstep Around me, save God's and my own; And the hush of my heart is as holy, Aa heaven where the angels have flown. " But far on the deep there are billows That never shall break on the beach, And I have heard songs in the Silence That never shall float in speech ; And I have had dreams of the Valley, Too lofty for language to reach." In all the ages there has been the cry of the transitoriness of human life as contrasted with the stability of the world of Nature in which we live. The oak whose great branches sheltered us in childhood, remains unshaken when our eyes are dimmed by years. The sea which ripples its music to our ears has tossed its waves upon the shore while generations of men have lived and passed away. Even the brook can sing: " Men may come, and men may go, But I go on forever." 793 794 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER But in the light of the teachings of the Good Book we know that the superiority of Nature is only apparent. Man with his heritage of immortality lives on when the oak is fallen, when the great sea is silent; lives on though the earth shall be swept away and " like the baseless fabric of a vision, leave not a wreck behind." While here our brothers whom we would remember may have been fettered in a greater or less degree — held in restraint by in- visible bolts and bars, yet real; but with the end of their earthly lives every chain has been loosed, every bar dropped and death has but set them free. Geo. MacDonald has made one of his characters say as he looked up into the depths of a Highland sky where the stars were blazing with startling brilliancy : " I think perhaps up there, there might be something like room." Those who have gone from us fettered by ties of earth, unable to find exercise for their powers, have found something like room. Eoom for the exercise of their best powers, in a development, in a pro- gressive attainment, in a freedom of service which will never end. GIDEON D. HARMAR One of the Founders of the Jr. O. U. A. M. At the crossing of the centuries, April 24, 1900, there passed out into the land where centuries never began nor will ever have an end, a con- spicuous factor in the institution of the Order, he whom the brotherhood should gratefully remember as one of the " fathers of the Order," Brother Gideon D. Harmar, of Reliance Council, No. 40, 0. U. A. M., of Penn- sylvania. The readers of this History will readily recall, that Brother Harmar, aided by Elliott Smith and Wm. M. Weckerly, nearly a half century previous to his death, brought into existence the infant organization by the institution of Washington Council, No. 1, at Germantown, Pa., May 17, 1853. He with his copatriots witnessed the early struggles of the Jr. O. U. A. M., and gave of their unstinted devotion to its life; and our brother was permitted to live until the stone he had helped to cut out of the mountain of patriotism should roll over the land and touch every state and territory, with but one exception, and nearly 200,000 patriots to enlist under the banner of the Order. Although a member of Reliance Council, No. 40, O. U. A. M., out of respect for his memory, Washington Council, No. 1, on April 21, 1900, adopted resolutions which were sub- mitted to the National Council at its session held in Philadelphia, same year, and the same were adopted by that body and a memorial page in the Proceedings was set apart to his memory. How far apart do sorrow and grief seem to us, yet how really near to each other they are. A little breath between, and one sighs here, and the other sings there. Yet they never meet. Our brother possesses now that knowledge for which we who remain still grope. No mystery en- shrouds his vision, even if tears dim ours. The shroud clothes, the coffin GEO. B. BOVVERS Past National Councilor from Pennsylvania UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 795 encloses, the grave hides the form of our esteemed brother, but memory lingers behind to photograph the dead upon the mind of the living. GEORGE B. BOWERS Past National Councilor and Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. To get a true portrait of the character of George B. Bowers, we inu.-t turn from the recorded proceedings to the tablets of memory, sacredly cherished by those associated with him. On these tablets we find no dim outlines, no shady places, for all is clear and beautiful there, but like stars in the unclouded blue, the noble qualities of his splendid personality shone clear and bright revealing his strength and brilliancy, showing how truly unselfish he was in his devotion to the cause of the Jr. O. U. A. M. " They never quite leave us, the friends who have passed Through the shadow of death to the sunlight above; A thousand sweet memories are holding them fast, To the places they blest with their presence and love." George B. Bowers entered upon life in Hollidaysburg, Pa., December 2, 1861, and departed from it January 11, 1904. Within these two dates, the world, the Church and the Order witnessed a noble life. Having attained a good common school and academic education, and after teaching school a few years, he chose as his life profession that of an attorney at the bar, and at the time of his death he was a leading member of the craft. As a Christian, he was faithful to the church of his choice, being for years the superintendent of the Sunday School. It is as a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. that the name of Geo. B. Bowers is engraven upon the hearts of the tens of thousands of patriots. He was initiated into Pride of Mountain City Council, No. 472, of Penn- sylvania, and represented his Council in the State Body in 1891, and was elected State Vice-Councilor of Pennsylvania in 1897, elected State Coun- cilor in 1898, and owing to the peculiar condition of the Order, the revolt of 1899, he served as the presiding officer for two years, the last of the two being most strenuous and trying. He presided as State Councilor at Scranton in 1899, when the revolt of the "Pennsylvania line" was carried into effect. Never did an officer proclaim his unswerving loyalty to principle, law, order and the National Council as did Brother Bowers at Scranton; and in fact all through those turbulent years he stood in the van fighting inch by inch for the honor and the very life of the Order he loved so well. His noble stand for the mandates of the National Council, his unflinching hostility to the attacks of the insurgents, made him the logical candidate for National Vice-Councilor to which office he was elected in 1901, and was selected National Councilor in 1902 and while serving as Junior Past National Councilor, he was transferred to the Supreme Council on High. In a eulogy, pathetic and beautiful, his associate on the Board of 796 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Officers, the then National Councilor, Dr. J. L. Cooper, has this to say in closing: " Brilliant in intellect, lovely in spirit and rich in affectionate regard for the good of all, he has said good-night and has gone to sleep. In the presence of such a life the ' harping of infidelity is hushed, Atheism receives a fatal wound, Agnosticism is dumb and Stoicism flees for its life, away.' The world is purer that he has brightened it, manhood is higher that he has advanced it, Christianity is clearer that he has illuminated it. I am so glad that I knew him as I did. And while our tears are falling vainly about his memory, dear Bowers is sleeping; while upon his pure and sin- washed brow more dazzling than the noonday sun, I believe there is flashing the priceless gem of eternal redemption." There are three things in a man's life that make him great; yea they represent the truest and highest type of manhood: First, love of mother; second, love for children; third, respect for the aged. Brother Bowers's life was made up of all three. None ever loved his mother as he; none loved children so dearly and none honored old age as did Brother Bowers. J. ADAM SOHL For Twenty Years the National Treasurer. Entered into life July 15, 1847; departed from it March 2, 1906. Within those years lived the Patriarch of Maryland Juniorism, Brother J. Adam Sohl. Initiated into Baltimore Council, No. 1, of Maryland, as a charter member, January 31, 1870, was the inception of a life into the Order, that for zeal, devotion to principle and faithfulness, the Jr. 0. U. A. M. can furnish few peers. He was unanimously elected State Council Secretary on the night of its institution, to which position he was reelected successively for 24 years, until compelled to relinquish the duties of the office through failing health. Brother Sohl was a charter member of the State Council of Maryland at its institution April 8, 1870, and was its first and only State Council Secretary as stated, for 24 years, and was sent as a Representative to the National Council in 1871, with which he had an unbroken membership until his death, serving in office almost continually until 1904, when on account of physical disabilities he was compelled to decline further honors. When he became a member of the National Council, his sterling qualities were at once recognized. At the session of 1871, he was elected National Marshal, reelected in 1872, elected National Protector in 1873, again elected National Marshal in 1874. In 1877 Brother Sohl was placed in the Chair of National Vice-Councilor, advanced to the station of National Councilor in 1878, and in 1883, he was elected to the responsible office of National Treasurer in which position he served the Order continuously until 1904. For 35 years Brother Sohl was an active member of the National Body, and during all those years his influence, silent as the evening dew and beneficent as the morning sunshine, was a commanding force in all its work. His was the silent but irresistible power of a great personality ; the overwhelming pressure of a mind which knew nothing of expediency, nothing of petty ambition ; but was filled with eternal principles of right, duty and brotherly love. a / J. ADAM SOUL National Treasurer, 1883-1904 F. J. SHALER Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania LEROY N. VAN BORN Pa>t State Councilor of Ohio UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 797 There comes in the lives of men who have been conspicuous, the '" passing," which is full of sadness, not only to themselves, but to others. To J. Adam Sohl that "passing" came, Bret, in 1894, when he had to relinquish his post of duty as State Council Secretary, which for 24 years he had so creditably filled; and, second, in 1904, when entire physical infirmity compelled him decline reelection to the oflice of National Treasurer, a position he had held as stated since 1883. " How sweet a life was his — Living, to wing with mirth the weary hours; Dying, to leave a memory like the breath Of summer's full of sunshine and flowers, A grief and gladness in the atmosphere." The Jr. O. U. A. M. of Maryland, on August 24. 1907, did itself an honor by dedicating to the memory of Brother Sohl a shaft monument with appropriate ceremonies. The monument is of dark Barre granite, measuring 5 feet and 4 inches across the base and is 25 feet high. On one side of the shaft appears the record of Brother Sohl's life in the Order and on the other side the inscription: ERECTED BY THE Junior Order United American Mechanics of Maryland in grateful memory of his services in perpetuating our order. On the face of the shaft is the name with the dates of the birth and death of our brother, with the emblems of the Order inscribed thereon as well as on the back. There is also on the back the words: His Work Lives After Him. As far as we know this is the first monument erected by the Order to the memory of a Past National Councilor or of any Past National or State officer in the history of the organization. FRED J SHALER Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. The writer had penned the sketch of the living Fred J. Shaler and arrangod it in its proper place in the manuscript. The next morning, March 10, 1908, a message was received, " Fred J. Shaler died this morning at three o'clock." Instead of a place among the living worthies. Fred J. Shaler is numbered among the fallen patriots of the Order. 798 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Brother Shaler was initiated into Iron City Council, No. 171, of Pennsylvania, June, 1877, and represented his Council at the State Council session, held at Easton in 1878. For years he served as Recording Secretary of his Council until he removed to the West and for a time was inactive in the work of the organization. However the patriotic fire and zeal only smoldered for a few years when it again burst forth and our brother entered the great West to stir up American sentiment, to which work he bent every energy of his soul, organizing in December of 1888 Washington Council, No. 1, at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He then took up the work in Illinois, organizing George Washington Council, No. 3, in the City of Chicago, in February, 1889. At the organization of the State Council of Illinois he was elected Past State Councilor and then State Council Secretary, which position he occupied until his return to Pittsburg, Pa., in 1891, where he again identified himself with the work of his native state. He was admitted to the National Council in 1888 at its meeting held at Haverhill, Mass. As a member of the National Council he served as Chairman of the Law Committee, was a member of the National Legis- lative Committee and Chairman of the Committee of Forms and Cermonies, the report of which was adopted at the session of the National Body held at Asheville, N. C. Not only did Brother Shaler organize the first Council in Wisconsin, but he planted the banner of the Order in the State of Iowa, from which state went forth brothers who brought into existence the Order in the States of Washington and Texas. Brother Shaler had the distinction, during the administration of M. D. Lichliter as a state officer, of being one of the leading spirits in organizing the first excursion out of Allegheny County that gave a benefit for the National Orphans' Home, the proceeds of which in part, the first ever obtained in an outing for that purpose, were paid to the Home in the name of Sam Harper Council, No. 503. As stated in another place, besides Brother Shaler, Past State Councilor Stephen Collins, National Representatives C. J. Cleland, Harry R. Peck, and State Representative George B. Nesbitt, constituted the Original Committee from which came what was afterwards known as the " Allegheny County Orphans' Home Picnic Committee," which has accomplished a great work for the Home, contributing since its inception nearly $12,000, principally for a green- house and industrial school. At the time of his death Brother Shaler was a member of Sam Harper Council, No. 503, of Pittsburg in which he was a potential factor. For years he had been identified with the Insurance business, having acquired a thorough knowledge of it; however his latest years were given to a prominent Mining Company of which he was the Secretary. A wife to whom he was devoted and two children for whom he had great attach- ment, are left this side the " dividing stream." His burial took place in Allegheny Cemetery, three of the pall-bearers representing the church he was connected with and an officer, and three representing the Jr. O. U. A. M., — Past State Councilor Stephen Collins, A. D. Wilkin, of the National Law Committee, and Past Councilor Jas. B. Cully, of Sam Harper Council, No. 503. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 799 " Over the moaning harbor bar, Out on the unseen sea, Led by the light's bright star. My friend has gone from me. • Above the bar's low moaning cry Come floating back to me Strains of holy minstrelsy Louder than wind and sea. " Moan on, O sobbing harbor bar. Ye cannot keep from me The song that comes from choir afar, Where he at last is free." LEROY N. VAN HORN * First State Councilor of Ohio. " Thick sprinkled bunting, flag of stars ! Long yet your road, fateful flag, long yet your road — And lined with bloody death ! For now at last I see that the whole world is your own. All its ships, and all its shores, Interwoven with your threads, mighty emblem ! " — Walt Whitman-\865. Leroy N. Van Horn, the first State Councilor of Ohio, Jr. O. U. A. M.. died in Chicago, Illinois, February 9, 1907. His funeral services in said city were conducted by Columbia Post G. A. R., the I. O. O. F., and the .American Flag Day Association, after which the remains were conveyed to Springfield, Ohio, and laid to rest in beautiful Fern Cliff Cemetery, the last sad rites being performed by Champion Council, No. 2, Jr. O. U. A. M., of which he was an honored member, having organized said Council April 24, 1871. During the early history of our Order, — back in the " seventies " — Brother Van Horn was an ardent worker for the advancement of the principles of the Junior Order in Ohio, and at the organization of the State Council. January 8, 1873, he was chosen State Councilor, and did much to build up our Order during his term. To the members of the National Council Brother Van Horn was well and favorably known, having attended many sessions of that body, the la^t one being at St. Louis, Mo., in June, 1904. Brother Van Horn was born in Delaware County, State of Ohio, Oct. 26, 1842. He was a fifer for all the " wide-awake " clubs during Lincoln's first Presidential campaign. In '61 he enlisted as Civil War musician in Company A of the 18th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Army of the Cumberland under General Thomas, the " Rock of Chica- mauga." He had the honor of bringing together the North and the ♦The author is indebted to Past National Councilor .1 <;. a. RIchter for the sketch that follows. 800 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER South under the folds of "Old Glory" on June 17, 1875, at Chattanooga, Tenn., which brought about the greatest Fourth of July celebration ever seen. He also promoted a number of Bunker Hill Day celebrations at New York City, on Governor's Tsland, in '84 and '86, in the presence of Generals Hancock and Schofield. Brother Leroy N. Van Horn removed to Chicago, Illinois, in the hpring of 1887, and was a resident of said city until his death. On June 17th of that year he inaugurated a grand patriotic parade of fife, drum and bugle corps in honor of the Battle of Bunker Hill, and did much to arouse the American people to patriotism and to do away with anarchy, then prevailing in Chicago. He was the first to plan and celebrate Flag Day, holding patriotic exercises in Douglas Park with the public school children from the various schools of Chicago, in honor of our flag, and to teach our foreign-born citizens lessons in patriotism. He was the founder and first President of the American Flag Day Association, and in 1894 was instrumental in having the said association incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, and on June 14th of said year while he was President of the Association, over 200,000 children and youth from the public schools of Chicago took part in the celebration. Leroy N. Van Horn was a Patriot, he believed in the teaching of patriotism, the first and easiest lesson of love and reverence for the American flag, the only representative of the whole people. Let us continue the good and patriotic work begun by him. Peace to his memory! A. G. MARTIN Past State Councilor of Georgia. Death ever active, ever present, like as a thief in the night, robbed the State Council of Georgia and the National Body of one of the noblest and manliest of men, Past State Councilor A. G. Martin. The intervening space between " the mother's breast and the sexton's spade " was filled with a life lived in accordance with the highest principles. The babe that was born 60 years ago became the man that was mourned by the Juniors of all Georgia. The boy that learned his prayers and letters at his mother's knee, became a leader of the public mind and a patriot of the keenest caliber. It matters not which way you focus the kodak of memory, in every place and position, Brother Martin appears to be the same man. He was large-hearted, generous, capable, patriotic and honest. Such men do not write their names on the sand as they pass through life, but they cut them deep in the white stones as they travel down the pathway of time. Andrew G. Martin lived for a purpose, and what he accomplished is now commended and remembered by all who knew him. The earthen vessel holds precious odors, it may be broken, but the fragrance remains though the clay is shattered and scattered. The human- ity of our brother has been laid in the sepulcher, but the impress of his character abides with us to inspire us and to remind us of how good and true he was to duty and to friends. A. G. MARTIN Past State Councilor of Georgia HARRY A. KEIL Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania JNO. R. M \ K'l.l. > Past National Representative from Pennsylvania UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 801 " One by one we lose the hand-clasps That so warm a welcome gave; One by one the voices are silent In the stillness of the grave." Brother Martin was born in New Hampshire, in 1847, and died at Griffin, Georgia, March 7, 1906, being ill but a few days, having been stricken by paralysis. Having found employment in a cotton mill in liis native state, he soon made advancement and became an overseer. In 1881, he removed to Natches, Mississippi, where he was Superintendent of large cotton mills and then went to Atlanta and had charge of the Exposition Cotton Mills, and finally he settled in Griffin, Georgia, and assumed charge of a large plant there and placed it on paying basis. Brother Martin was a man who believed in fraternal Orders. Of these he became prominent in the Junior Order American Mechanics. He served the State of Georgia as State Councilor for two years, during which time the Order showed large and healthy gains. He was appointed by the State Board of Officers in 1905 as Representative to the National Council and attended the annual session at Nashville, Tenn., June, 1905. He was a member of the following Orders: Griffin Lodge, No. 415, F. & A. M., of Griffin, Ga. ; Pythagoras Chapter, No. 10, Royal Arch Masons, of Griffin, Ga. ; Griffin Council, No. 8, Royal and Select Masters, of Griffin. Ga.; Atlanta Commandery, No. 9, Knights Templar, of Atlanta, Ga.; Yaarab Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Atlanta, Ga. ; Hermes Lodge of Perfec- tion, No. 4, Scottish Rites, of Savannah, Ga.; Griffin Council, No. 4, Jr. O. U. A. M., of Griffin, Ga. ; Griffin Lodge, No. 80, K. of P., Griffin, Ga. ; Warren Lodge, No. 20, I. O. 0. F., of Griffin, Ga. ; Kibla Temple, D. O. K. K., of Atlanta, Ga. ; Atlanta City Council, No. 2, Daughters of America, of Atlanta, Ga. It can be said of this esteemed brother in the words of another : " He who has achieved success is one who has lived well, loved peace, and loved much; who has won the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche, and has left the world better than he found it; one who has looked for the best in others and gave the best to them; one whose life is an inspiration, and his memory a con- tinuation of it." JOHN R. MARLIN Past National Representative from Pennsylvania. At the "crossing of the centuries," another star was extinguished, another light in the Order went out and another name was stricken from the earthly records — Past National Representative John R. Marlin. Who in the Order has not heard the name of "Johnny" Marlin? In the State of Pennsylvania that name had become a household word, while a session of the State Council without John R. Marlin would have been a matter of comment. For 25 consecutive years Brother Marlin represented his Council, No. 18, in the State Council of Pennsylvania, and for ten years he represented his State Council in the National Body, having been elected for five years in 1886 and for five years in 1896, and for one year was on the Board of Trustees of the National Orphans' Home, in which 5i 802 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER position he was serving at the time of his untimely death, in the per- formance of a duty in harmony with his heart's tenderest emotions. His fidelity to the teachings of the Order so far as they pertained to the public schools was a marked characteristic of " Johnny " Marlin's life. For 13 years he was a member of the school board of his ward in the City of Philadelphia, and the three last years was its president. In fact wherever duty called or distress cried for succor, John R. Marlin heard the cry and responded to the call. Of him the sentiments expressed by the poet were true : " Let me to-day do something that shall take A little sadness from the world's vast store, And may I be so favored as to make Of Joy's too scanty sum a little more. " Let me not hurt by any selfish deed Or thoughtless word, the heart of foe or friend; Nor would I pass, unseeing, worthy need, Or sin by silence when I should defend. " However meagre be my worldly wealth, Let me give something that shall aid my kind: A word of courage, or a thought of health, Dropped as I pass for troubled hearts to find. " Let me to-night look back across the span 'Twixt dawn and dark, and to my conscience say, ' Because of some good act to beast or man, ' The world is better that I lived to-day.' " John R. Marlin's life was unique in one particular, he was born, lived and died in the same house, No. 232 Poplar Street, Philadelphia, where the partner of his life still resides. His birth took place February 1, 1855, and his death occurred July 21, 1899. His business in life was that of stationery, carried on in the house in which he lived. As soon as he was old enough to join (sixteen years) Brother Marlin connected himself with Vigilant Council, No. 69; however in a few years he withdrew therefrom and helped organize Spring Garden Council, No. 18, of which he continued a member until his death. He was also a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., Crusaders Lodge, No. 303, and was for years its Treasurer. DR. HARRY ST1TES Past National Councilor from Pennsylvania. Away from the bosom of his loved ones, on a cot in a little room of a hospital in the City of Havana, Cuba, all alone, the spirit of Past National Councilor Harry Stites passed out of the body and winged its way back to God who gave it. It was on January 25, 1906, that this occurred, and on Sunday evening, February 4, services were held at his UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 80S late residence, Harrisburg, Pa., under the direction of his Council, Harrisburg, No. 3:28, assisted by a Large number of members of John Harris Council, No. 174. of which he was formerly a member. Quite a number of members of other Councils were present and the Funeral Cere mony of the Order was carried out and a brief address delivered by National Chaplain Rev. M. D. Lichliter. The day following bia body was borne to his old home, Newport, where it was laid away in the hope of a glorious resurrection. Brother Stites organized and was a charter member of Newport Coun- cil, No. 106, of Newport, Pa., in 1870, was elected Representative to the State Council and from thence was sent as a Representative to the National Council in 1873, which body at a special session held on February 22. 1875, elected him National Vice-Councilor, and at the annual session held at Boston, same year, he was advanced to the Chair of National Councilor. Dr. Stites was a true-blue Junior — fully imbued with the principles of the Order and had an exalted opinion of its teachings. When the Object that called for the reading of the Holy Bible in the public schools was before the National Body, it was through his earnest efforts that the clause was retained. His work in the interest of the Order, however, was more manifest in his state and home city, in the latter of which he organized two new Councils, becoming a member of one of them, of which he remained a member until his death. In every movement the Order made in his state and city, Dr. Stites was in the van, fearlessly showing where he stood on every issue. His last appearance in public was in the parade of the Fraternal Societies during Old Home Week in Harris- burg, October, 1905, when he led the Jr. O. U. A. M., seated in a carriage and accompanied by National Chaplain M. D. Lichliter and Past National Representative W. H. Painter. GEO. W. KREAMER Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. Brother Kreamer was a charter member of Independent Council, No. 8, of Pennsylvania, and represented his Council at the convention that established the State Council of Pennsylvania, March 13, 1860, of which body he became a conspicuous factor. He was nominated, with Edw. S. Deemer, for State Council Secretary and on the first ballot both received 11 votes; on the second ballot, however, Brother Deemer received 12 votes and Kreamer 11. The following year, 1861, Brother Kreamer was elected State Councilor and creditably filled the position. As a member of his own Council, no man in the history of the Order has had a record like his; for forty-five years he held continuous membership therein, which, as Brother Deemer says, " is without a parallel in the Order." Brother Kreamer was prominent in other organizations. He was Past Great Sachem of the Improved Order of Red Men. and for many years held the position of Grand Keeper of Wampum. He was also Recorder of St. John's Commandery. Knights Templar and Treasurer of Shekinah Lodge, No. 240, A. Y. M. His death occured in 1905 804, HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER FRANK T. WECKEKLY Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. There passed to the gentler shades " beyond the River," on June 19, 1898, the soul of a brother who in his earthly life linked the Order from its inception to the dying of the old century — Past State Councilor Frank T. Weckerly, of Union Council, No. 9, Pennsylvania. On the night of the institution of the State Council of Pennsylvania, March 13, 1860, a charter was granted Union Council, No. 9, and on the following evening, March 14, it was duly instituted, of which Council our departed brother was a charter member, and a short time subsequent he was elected Recording Secretary in which position he served to the time of his death, a period of thirty-five years. Brother Weckerly was elected to represent his Council in the State Body, and in 1862 was elected State Councilor of Pennsylvania, succeeding Brother Geo. W. Kreamer in that office. " After the burden, the blissful meed ; After the flight, the downy rest; After the furrow, the working seed; After the shadowy river, rest." CHARLES WILLIAM GEISSEL Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. There is something in the mystic art that adapts itself to the various moods and temperaments of men, and it brings to light in different ones their aptitude for the place they are called to fill. All stones in a building are not of the same size, but all have their part in making the structure complete and perfect. Past State Councilor Geissel, though not active for many years in the State Council or the National Body, yet in the years of the Order's struggles, Brother Geissel was active and energetic. He was a member of Harry Clay Council, No. 7, of Pennsylvania, and remained a faithful member until his death which occurred in August of 1896. It was in the discouraging year of 1865, when the Civil War had sadly depleted the ranks of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., that Brother Geissel occupied the Chair of State Councilor. Those were the days of "small things" in the Order; but lion-hearted men were at the helm and steered the ship safely through the shoals. EUGENE H. HAMMANN Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. A few months following the death of Past State Councilor Geissel, Past State Councilor Eugene H Hammann passed on to the Supreme Council on High, departing this life in November, 1896. Brother Ham- mann was a member of Excelsior Council, No. 26, of Pennsylvania, to which he was admitted June 10, 1872. Those who were associated with him in those early days state that he was an earnest worker, always UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 805 taking a lively interest in his Council, which honored him by electing him Representative to the State Council; which body elected him State Councilor in 1872. Owing to business interests, liis presence at the state sessions was seldom seen, but he never lost faith in the doctrines of the Order. The writer had the pleasure of meeting Brother Ilaiiimaiiii at the State Council in 189G, but a few months later he was called home to answer to his name at the call of the Supreme Councilor of the Universe. J. F. KOEHNLINE Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. On February 4, 1904, another of the links that bound the earlier history of the Order with the present, in Pennsylvania, was sundered, in the death of Past State Councilor J. F. Koehnline, at his late residence, Jeannette, Pa. The writer is without data as to Brother Koehnline's early history, as well as his connection with the Order; but it was some- time in the '70s that he connected himself with Smoky City Council, No. 119, of Pittsburg, Pa. He was in those early years an active and enthusiastic member to whom much credit is due for in indoctrinating those about him with the principles and teachings of the Order at a time when the organization had but few members west of the Allegheny Mountains. Having represented his Council for some years in the State Council, that body selected him for the office of State Vice-Councilor in 1883, and the year following, at the session held at Allegheny City, he was unanim- ously elected State Councilor, during which term the Order in Pennsylvania reached the number of 10,351, being a gain of 1,351 over that of the previous year. Removing to Jeannette, Brother Koehnline connected himself with Crystal Council, No 300, in the communion of which fellowship he died. He was frequently in attendance at the sessions of the National Body, the last session attended being at San Francisco, California, a few months previous to his death. S. C. WEADLEY Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. The story of Pennsylvania's Juniorism could not be told and leave out the name of Past State Councilor S. C. Weadley. During the years when the Order was a " small flock," Brother Weadley, then in his prime, was an enthusiastic, though quiet worker in the organization. He was a thorough American and believed in American institutions, especially in the Public School System in the support of which there never lived a nobler champion. As a citizen, he was closely identified with the public schools of his county and for years served as school director, giving particular attention to the schools of his district, a duty which so many members of school boards fail to observe. Brother Weadley's love for the public schools grew out of his inculcating the principles of the Jr. O. U. A. M., with which organization he affiliated on the 25th of May, 1871, and for thirty years he was conspicuous in the Order in various positions. He was elected State Vice- 806 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER Councilor in 1887, and passsed on to State Councilor at the session of 1888 and was an associate of such " war-horses " as Harry A. Keil, J. P. Winower and Stephen Collins. For some years he looked after legisla- tion during the sessions of the Legislature and was instrumental in securing the passage of measures along the line of the teachings of the Order. He died at the " crossing of the centuries," much regretted and loved. HARRY A. KEIL Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. Entered life at Etna, Pa., January 1, 1862; departed from it at Minneapolis, Minn., October 2, 1895. Thus reads the record of Past State Councilor Harry A. Keil, of Pennsylvania, the beginning and the end. He lived and died a man. He never betrayed his trust nor violated his vows. His personal character and his daily life were above reproach. The world is better that he lived in it, whose ambition was to make the pathway of others smoother and brighter. Brother Keil became a member of Bainbridge Council, No. 128, of Pennsylvania, at its organization, June 22, 1881. In 1887 he was elected State Vice-Councilor of his State Council, State Councilor the year fol- lowing and presided over the State Body in 1889. His record as State Councilor was brilliant, and was the beginning of the marvelous advance the Order made in subsequent years. There was no man in the Jr. 0. U. A. M. more deservedly popular than Brother Keil, and when his death occurred so suddenly, great gloom was cast upon the entire Order in his native state. He was laid away with the honors of the Order and its ritualistic ceremonies, the honorary pall-bearers being P. N. C, James Cranston, P. S. C, Stephen Collins, N. R., J. K. Emge and S. V. C, M. D. Lichliter. JOHN P WINOWER Past State Councilor of Pennsylvania. A few months following the session of the State Council of Pennsyl- vania in 1890, Junior Past State Councilor John P. Winower, whose term as State Councilor had been marked with success, met with an accident while engaged in his occupation from the result of which he died, thereby removing from the Order one of God's noblemen. Death seemed very cruel, very merciless, to come and beckon him to its cave of silence. He had risen in the Order very rapidly and bore his honors well. He was young enough to be ambitious, old enough to be well-balanced. Always a gentleman, most winning in feature and personality, clean looking and clean spoken, he won confidence, he won love, he won men. No one, even the most captious, spoke one word of him but of praise. His eyes looked straight and his tongue spoke true. The very atmosphere about his presence was clear and bright. When he died, all Lancaster, his home city, was overwhelmed with grief. It is true that time has passed a little on from the strangeness of it all, yet hearts are still sore as they recall his beautiful life. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 807 DR. MARTIN H. \\ 11 A A A MS Past National Representative from Pennsylvania. Martin H. Williams, M.D., a member of Resolution Council, No. 0, of Pennsylvania, and a former Representative to the National Council, was suddenly cut down in the years of his young manhood, June 30, 1901. Dr. Williams stood high in the affections of his brethren with whom he had worked for 20 years in the interest of the Order. He was elected National Representative in 1895, and his presence in the National Body was an inspiration owing to his courteous and gentlemanly demeanor and his pleasing disposition. There was no discount on Dr. Williams' loyalty to the doctrines of the Jr. 0. U. A. M., for he espoused them with intense enthusiasm. His death, therefore, was a great loss to the world which can ill afford the " passing " of men of such fine sensibilities and mental and moral caliber. It can truly be said of our genial brother, that " Death loves a shining mark." WM. R. STROH Past National Councilor from Pennsylvania. Past National Councilor Wm. R. Stroh, of Mauch Chunk, Pennsyl- vania, for 20 years was an enthusiastic worker in the Jr. O. U. A. M. Genial, big-hearted and generous, he soon found a warm place in the hearts of his copatriots both in the State and National Council. The highest honor bestowed upon him by his State Council was to elect him a Representative to the National Council, and at the session of the latter body in 1888, he was selected National Vice-Councilor and succeeded to that of National Councilor in 1889. When the National Orphans' Home movement was introduced, Brother Stroh gave it his hearty support and was one of the first committee to be appointed to take the subject into consideration, the same being endorsed and the location secured while he was a member. Politically, he was a Republican and represented his county in the Legislature at the session of 1901, and the writer can bear record to his zeal and interest in endeavoring to bring about remedial and helpful legislation endorsed and supported by the State Council Legislative Committee. He died in 1902. LEWIS H. VOGT Past State Councilor of Maryland. One of the first Juniors of Maryland, and a copatriot with the beloved Sohl, was Lewis H. Vogt, a charter member of Maryland's first Council, Baltimore, No. 1. His interest in the Order at the time of its institution was marked and when the requisite number of Councils were formed, he with others were sent as delegates to form the State Council of Maryland, March 4, 1870, at which time he was elected Outside Sentinel. The same session honored Brother Vogt by electing him one of its National Representatives. At the first annual session of the State Council, he was elected State Council Treasurer which position he held until Iip 808 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER was elected State Councilor at the semi-annual session of 1872 to fill out the term of State Councilor Mifflin, resigned. Although Brother Vogt remained a member of the Order until the date of his death, January 12, 1899, his duties as Chief Engineer of the Merchant's and Miner's Steamboat Company monopolized his time to such an extent as to prevent him from taking any active part in the organiza- tion in the latter years of his life, not even permitted to attend his own Council Those who knew him in his earlier days speak of him as a good Junior and a true patriot. HARRY C. KRAUSZ Past National Councilor from Maryland. The brief record we have of this brother states that he was born April 16, 1859, and died April 7, 1892. His connection with the Order dates from September 3, 1877, at which time he joined Friendship Council, No. 7, of Maryland, and subsequently represented his Council in the State Council, which body elected him National Representative, and at the session of the National Council in 1882 he was elected National Conductor. At the session of the National Body held at Georgetown, D. C, in 1884, Brother Krausz was chosen National Vice-Councilor and in 1885 he passed to the Chair of National Councilor. There are those in Maryland who keep these earlier brethren in appreciative remembrance and have many kind things to say of their loyalty to the Order and its principles. CURTIS LEON DUSANG Past National Representative from Maryland. Like as a thief in the night, death, the remorseless foe of man came to Brother C. L. Dusang, Past National Representative from Maryland, May 1, 1907, cutting off a most useful career at the age of 35 years, he having been born March 29, 1872. When but 19 years of age, Brother Dusang connected himself with the Order, being a charter member of Aorman Council, No. 31, located at Hagerstown, Maryland, which was instituted August 28, 1891. The initiatory ceremonies through which our brother passed as he entered the inner circle of the organization were no mere forms to him, for his receptive nature fully imbibed the sentiments and principles of the Order and he became an active worker and a conspicuous factor, soon passing the chairs of his Council and then for eight years consecutively representing his Council in the State Council of Maryland, which body further honored him by electing him Representative to the National Council in 1894. When the State Council of Maryland decided to hold its annual session at Hagerstown in 1905, there was organized the Fraternal Enter- tainment Association of Washington County of the Jr. O. U. A. M., which had for its object the entertainment of the State Body, of which Associa- tion, Brother Dusang was elected President. However the Association became a permanent organization, and through it much interest in the Order was created and enthusiasm aroused until it became a power for good in that section of the state. In this forward movement, our brother UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 809 was the leader as well as its inspiration. As :t Special Deputy Stale Councilor or in any position he was placed, he was a faithful and untiring worker; and wherever he went, the impress it his kindly disposition and loving nature found an abiding place in the hearts of hia brethren. C. C. COOK Past State Councilor of California. It is with a sense of gratification that a State Council can welcome annually at its meetings its first State Councilor, or Senior Past State Councilor. Somehow for these good brothers there goes out from the heart greater love, respect and esteem than for other officers who have succeeded them. But, alas, as Time wanes, Death, " that fell destroyer," robs ua of our dearest objects of all'ection, and again and again the Order in the seA'eral state jurisdictions is called upon to say farewell to familiar faces iD the state assemblies. California, along with other states, has lost her Senior Past State Councilor, — C. C. Cook — who was transferred to the Army of Patriots in the bivouac of the skies, June 15, 1805. Brother Cook was one of the original members of California and cooperated with National Organizer Stephen Collins in planting Juniorism in the Golden State by the organiza- tion of Pacific Council, No. 1, at San Luis Obispo, and on the highl of its institution he was elected Councilor. When the State Council was instituted in 1894, Brother Cook was made the Junior Past State Councilor. We will let the committee appointed at the session of the State Council to draw up resolutions, of which National Councilor, Brother Sehaertzer was Chairman, tell the story: "Brother C. C. Cook was admitted to Pacific Council, No. 1, at San Luis Obispo in 1892 at the institution of that Council by National Organizer Stephen Collins, and was its first Past Councilor. At the institution of the State Council in 1894 Brother Cook became our first Past State Couuncilor. During his entire connection with the Order he demonstrated that the patriotic sentiments which actuated his enlistment as a union soldier in 1861 had not been dimmed by his increasing years. " Brother Cook died at the Soldiers' Home at Santa Monica on June 15, 1905, being at the time a member of Alexander Hamilton Council, No. 35. Brother Cook lived and died a patriot. He represented in his simple way the highest ideals 'of American citizenship. In his relations with his brethren he was always kind, courteous and considerate. In his relations with the Order, unselfish and self-sacrificing, and in his relations with his country, loyal and patriotic. PI. L. SPARKS State Council Secretary and National Representative of Colorado. Colorado had scarcely been brought into the Junior family, when Death entered the ranks of her leaders. At the institution of the State Council of Colorado, May 31, 1893, Brother Sparks, one among the bright lights of Colorado Juniorism, took an active part and was elected its Secretary. But the great law of Nature and of God spares neither beinjr 810 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER or thing. That law spares no man. From his very birth his doom is to die. Humanity creeps into the world, anon, stands upright, grows into maturity, then proceeds to make or mar the individual portion of respon- sibility in the great work of life. Before the semi-annual meeting of the State Body following its institution, Death swung his axe and cut down Brother H. L. Sparks, its gifted Secretary, inflicting a great loss on the fraternity. J. C. SHEARING Past State Councilor of Colorado. Another active spirit in the introduction of the Jr O. U. A. M. into the " Silver State," was Past State Councilor J. C. Shearing, the Junior Past State Councilor at the time of the institution of the State Council, hence is Senior Past State Councilor. Brother Shearing imbibed the doctrines of Juniorism in the mother state of the Order, Pennsylvania, having been admitted a member of Smoky City Council, No. 119, and was thus brought up under the enthusiastic spirit that at that time prevailed in the Keystone State, especially in Pittsburg. Removing to Colorado he became a charter member of Plymouth Council, No. 4, and served as its Recording Secretary until his death. He was one of the principal factors in the organization and institution of the State Council of Colorado and, as stated, was its Junior Past State Councilor. He was appointed Deputy National Councilor over Colorado, and in that position he served efficiently, and still held the office at the time of his death, which occurred sometime in 1895 or 1896. As a recognition of his sterling worth and as a tribute to his work in the Order, a memorial page was set apart in the National Council Proceed- ings to his memory. S. N. MULLIN Past State Councilor of Montana. A Pennsylvanian by birth and up to manhood, and leaving the state for Montana in May, 1895, he returned in 1902, and found his last resting place in the bosom of his native state, dying August 6, 1905. Past State Councilor Mullin was admitted to Loyal Council, No. 781, of Pennsylvania, May 18, 1892, from which he drew his card May 22, 1895, to remove to Montana, as above stated, where he at once began to preach the doctrines of Juniorism in the City of Butte and succeeded in organizing a Council which was instituted by National Organizer Jos. Powell, April 13, 1896. At the institution of the State Council by Brother Powell on April 15, same year, Brother Mullin took a prominent part, his experience in passing the chairs of his former Council being invaluable to the new organization, of which he was elected Junior Past State Councilor, thereby having the honor of being the Senior Past State Councilor of Montana. For many years Brother Mullin was in attendance at the sessions of the National Council in which body he took a lively interest. He was of a retiring disposition, indisposed to much publicity and never sought advancement or prominence. Returning to his native state in 1902, he deposited his card in his old Council, and silently he worked side by UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 811 side with his former copatriots in the humble ranks of the Order, there being but few members of the National Council who knew of hi- presence in the City of Philadelphia. GEORGE E. COLEMAN Past State Councilor of Ohio. In the month of March, 1897, Brother George E. Coleman, Past State Councilor of Ohio was transferred from the earthly to the heavenly fraternity. By reference to the history of the State Council of Ohio, we find that Brother Coleman was State Vice-Councilor in 1891, and had for his associate on the Board of Officers, Brother J. G. A. Richter, whose term as State Councilor was attended with such wonderful success. However, he was ably succeeded in the Chair in 1892 by Brother Coleman whose term was also one of great advance, 41 new Councils having been instituted and 11 rechartered, with an increase of membership of over 4,000. This fact alone is substantial evidence of his activity and prominence in the Order, and up to the time of his death, both in the National and State Councils he manifested a great interest in the organization. ABNER B. PYLES National Representative from Texas. Those who were associated with him in the work of the Order say. that Brother Abner B. Pyles was one of the noblest of men, true as Bteel and faithful to every duty. He was born in the State of Alabama, November 13, 1852, and died in Fort Worth, Texas, April 28, 1897. His career as a Junior was short, having joined Mansfield Council, No. 12, of Texas, as a charter member in April of 1895. He was elected Jr. Past Councilor on the night of its institution and was sent as a Representative to the State Council at its session in May following, where his sterling character was so quickly recognized as to commend him to the favorable consideration of his brethren, who, not only elected him State Council Treasurer, but conferred upon him the honors of National Representative and in that position he attended the session at Omaha, Neb., in 1895, and was prevented from attending the session at Denver the year following through illness. As a member of the Order, a business man and a citizen. Brother Pyles stood high in the community, loved and respected by all. W. O. STAPLES National Representative from Connecticut. Those who attended the sessions of the National Council from 1895 to 1899, will recall the name of National Representative W. O. Staples, of Connecticut, one of the most prominent Juniors of that jurisdiction. Brother Staples was a member of Liberty Council, No. 3, Connecticut, was a conspicuous factor in the Order in the state, and appeared first in the National Council at its session at Asheville, X. C, in 1895. While he was a loyal Junior and faithful in the propagation of its 812 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER principles, Brother Staples's great work in the cause of patriotism, where he was best known, was as National Secretary of the Daughters of Liberty, which position he held for 13 years. His work in both organizations, however, ceased in the interim of the National Council sessions of 1899 and 1900, by his answering to the roll-call of a higher Secretary in the Council of Spirits on High. We are told that back in the forests of British Columbia, a lumberman found the skeleton of a man at the foot of a tree. The man had evidently starved to death, but had strength enough to tear a leaf from his diary and write upon it in bold characters and fasten it upon the tree above his head. This is what was writ- ten : " This is the end of the trail." In the forest or on the sea, on the street or in the home, it will come to all of us in our earthly pilgrimage — " This is the end of the trail." The National Council fiscal year of 1897-1898 witnessed a great mortality among its members, seven of them having reached the " end of the trail," and their names follow : MELVILLE THOMPSON National Representative from Delaware. Those who attended the session of the National Council at Pittsburg, Pa., can recall the geniality as well as enthusiasm of Brother Thompson, who was the Chairman of the Delaware delegation in the interest of Brother F. W. Pierson for the office of National Vice-Councilor. It came like a thunderclap to the Order Avhen it was announced that but a few weeks subsequent to the session, July 5, 1897, he was translated to the Eternal City. Brother Thompson was a charter member of Eureka Council, No. 1, of Delaware, and on the night of its institution, in 1888, he was elected Recording Secretary and served continuously until his death, with the exception of the time occupied in " passing the chairs." His standing among his brethren was high and his death was deplored. JOHN A. EHRET Past State Councilor of New York. The life of Past State Councilor John A. Ehret went out so suddenly, through a terrible accident, that among his brethren sorrow itself was for a little while stunned, and grief could think no adequate message, but grope instead for breath and life and speech. Brother Ehret was initiated a member of Martha Washington Council, No. 11, of New York, March 23, 1883, and was installed State Councilor February 22, 1891. For years he had a prominent place in the Order's history in his state and died November 20, 1897, loved and esteemed by his brethren. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS 813 j. e. Mccarty State Council Secretary and National Representative of Indian Territory. The Order in Indian Territory soon after its introduction lost a most excellent member and the State Council a valuable officer the first year of its history, in the death of State Council Secretary J. E. McCartj . which occurred by accident on the 8th of December, 1897. Brother McCarty was not only elected the Secretary of the State Council a1 its institution April 15, 1897, but was also selected to represent the State Body in the National Council, to which body he never was admitted] however, because of his untimely death. Brother McCarty stood high in the estimation of his associates, and his sudden removal from the infant organization was very much regretted. Had ho lived, he would no doubt have had a prominent place not only in his State Council, but in the National Body as well. WILLIAM W. HALL Past State Councilor of the District of Columbia. William W. Hall, Past State Councilor of the District of Columbia, assumed the vows of a Junior in 1891, and faithfully and conscientiously met his obligation. He was one of the most active, yet unselfish workers the District of Columbia ever had. In 1895 Brother Hall was elected State Councilor, and was admitted to the National Council at its session held in 1896. He departed this life December 11, 1897, respected by all. He was a courteous and thorough gentleman, not by the veneer of outward polish, but by the instincts of a nature fashioned at its birth and culti- vated as an heritage. A. E. BURKITT National Representative from Connecticut. As a member of Winona Council, No. 5, Connecticut, Brother Burkitt was recognized as possessing most excellent qualities of manhood and at once he was placed in the front. He was elected to represent his Council in the State Council, which body elected him State Council Treasurer which position he filled with eminent satisfaction. He was further honored by the State Council by being elected a National Representative. He died January 30, 1898. W. A. GORDON Past State Councilor of Ohio. Ohio has produced some fine specimens of Junior manhood. Amon^ those of her earlier patriots lived one of Nature's noblemen, loved and esteemed by the entire brotherhood of the state — Past State Councilor W. A. Gordon, and at the time of his death. State Council Treasurer. Brother Gordon was a charter member of Western Reserve Council, No. 9, which was instituted sometime about 1883, from which he subsequently 814 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER withdrew to organize Forest City Council, No. 18, of which he was the first Councilor. For years he represented his Council in the State Council and nobly stood with the little band of patriots when Ohio was experiencing her " day of small things " so far as the Order was concerned. On the eve of Ohio's great boom, in 1887, Brother Gordon was elected State Councilor, and his term of office was marked with success, the membership being doubled. In 1890 he was elected State Council Treasurer, which position he filled with satisfaction until the day of his death, which occurred April 7, 1898. Brother Gordon was for seven years a regular attendant at the sessions of the National Council and took a leading part therein, serving on some of its most important committees. It can be said of him, that his zeal won him a host of helpers when he was at the helm. His interest in the Order awakened the dormant mind and attracted the enthusiastic. Brother Gordon is certainly worthy a place in this " temple of Junior fame." ROBERT L. LINDSAY National Representative from Missouri. April 18. 1898, was the date of the " passing " of Brother R. L. Lindsay, who for five years had represented his State Council in the National Body where he was well and very favorably known. He was a charter member of Thos. Jefferson Council, No. 11, of Missouri, and was always an earnest member and a tireless worker in the interests of his State Council. His death was much regretted both in his Subordinate and State Council. Thus in one short year seven of the members of the Supreme Body of the Order passed to " the home beyond the tide." Never in the history of the National Council had so marked a mortality been seen. All gone, but not forgotten. GEORGE M. LOUCK Past State Councilor of Indiana. During the interim of the meeting of the State Councils of 1904-1905, Past State Councilor George M. Louck had his membership transferred to the Supreme Council in the skies. Brother Louck was a conscientious Junior having served the Order faithfully and well. His Council sent him him to the highest position in the gift of the body in 1899. While his merited honors by electing him State Vice-Councilor and then promoted him to the highest position in the gift of the body in 1899. While his administration was eminently successful, there being a gain of 343. it would no doubt have been greater had it not been for a personal affliction, his wife having passed away during the term. In a very befitting manner, the State Council adopted a Memoriam on his death at the session of 1905. UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS sir, Death has cut down not only the brothers in the ranks of the Junior army, but has enteral a lew times into the sacred precincts of our beloved Orphans' Home, at Tiffin, Ohio. The beautiful tribute to one of our little ones found below is so touching thai we place it here in the memorial gallery of our departed brethren. It was written by Brother John R. Bliss, at that time Stale Council Secretary of Ohio, whose interest in the Homo at Tiffin was a marked characteristic. HAZEL P. RENZENBRINK " IN MEMORIAM " Hazel P. Renzenbrink was born in the City of Canton, Ohio. October 5, 1886. On February 18, 1897, she became a member of our Home, and remained in his care until June 2, 1897, when, after a brief illness, she died of tubercular peritonitis. Her remains were taken to Canton by Superintendent Zimmerman. At the depot they were met by Washington Council, No. 12, of Canton, with beautiful floral tributes, and together they gave resting place to all that was mortal of Hazel, in the city's beautiful cemetery. Her's was a beautiful and attractive life. In disposition she was gentle, kind and affectionate. She was tenderly loved by the matron and the members of the Home. " When she went home The angels sang a gladder, sweeter song, A tuneful melody both clear and strong. To guide her soul into the holy throng, " When she went home For her there was peace and freedom from pain. Calm rest in Heaven, all time to remain; A joy, that on earth one can never attain, When she went home." Stones and monuments mark the place where lie buried thoso whose warfare has been accomplished, but words and deeds illumine the present of our lives when we think of our brothers who have gone from us to the Land Beyond the River. In God's green acre the departed and the remembered sweetly sleep, and in our heart of hearts they live with us and the remembrance of their friendship is as green as the turf that mantles their resting-place. As we sit and think of them let it be like that of which the New England bard, Longfellow, wrote: 816 HISTORY OF THE JUNIOR ORDER " Ere the evening lamps are lighted, And like phantoms grim and tall, Shadows from the fitful firelight Dance upon the parlor wall. " Then the forms of the departed Enter at the open door; The beloved, the true-hearted, Come to visit us once more." They have fought the good fight, they have finished their course, and, we trust and hope, have entered into the enjoyment of their reward, and so we bid them farewell : Looking upward, shall we mourn theml No; the crown of life they hold, And in vision rare we see them As they walk the streets of gold They are echoing our music, As its harmonies ring true; For the best gift we may offer Is not rosemary and rue. So, my Brethren, as we linger On the dusty highway here, May we emulate their living, While we hold their memory dear. One we are for aye and ever, Though the earth and skies divide. May the mind of Christ dwell in us, And the peace of God abide! " L 005 449 308 5 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 000 945 544