VOLUME I. ns I mars oa i WD yf BELOIT, KANSAS, JUNE, 1900. Ti Ih \ is Fi BOR. NUMBER 6, Decatur District Convention. Omaha, Neb., May 3.—Editor RoYAL NEIGHBOR: I have just returned from attending the First District Conven- tion of our Society, held at Decatur, Ill., beginning May 1. This meeting was arranged for by Deputy Supreme Oracle Mrs. Ella Miller, and the suc- cess of the meeting was due largely to her and the other members of the Com- mittee’s efforts. The convention was well attended ; about twenty camps in the vicinity being represented, and all being highly entertained by the mem- bers of the three camps in that city. The Supreme Officers who had the pleasure of being pres- ent were Mrs. Winnie Fielder, Supreme Recorder; Dr. E. Franc Morrill, Supreme Physician ; Mrs. Jennie Franks, Board of Supreme Managers, and the writer. The Deputies of Illinois were repre- sented by Neighbors Mrs. Ella Miller, Mrs. Carrie Root, Mrs. Becca Prickett, Mrs. M. E. Arn- holt, Miss Carrie Steelman and Miss Lizzie McIntire. The meet- ings were well arranged, and great interest was manifested throughout the entire sessions. A number of very able papers were read, and all expressed them- selves as well pleased. Many of the business buildings were taste- fully decorated in the colors of the Society, and the key to the city was presented to the visit- ing Neighbors by the Mayor. I believe that these District Con- ventions will greatly advance the work in the localities in which they are held, and hope that very many other localities may follow the example of these good people of Decatur. A neat pro- gram was gotten up for the occa- sion. Mrs. E. D. WATT, Supreme Oracle. Another Report. The school of instruction was of great value to all who attended and all are loud in praise in their report of the meeting. At noon a tempting banquet was spread and there were drills by excellent staffs, exemplification of the work anda reception in honor of the visitors in the even- ing. Nettie Sliper, of Decatur, has our thanks for a number of newspaper clippings, one from a Lincoln paper, which is as follows: The First district convention of the Royal Neighbors of America was held in Decatur Tuesday. There were 300 delegates and visiting Neighbors in attendance. : ae Among the prominent visitors were Mrs. E. D. Watt, Supreme Oracle, Omaha, Neb. ; Mrs. Winnie Fielder, Supreme Recorder, Peoria, Ill. ; Dr. Franc Mor- rill,Supreme Physician,and Mrs. Jen- nie Franks, Supreme Manager, Peoria, Til. The sessions were presided over by Mrs. Ella Miller, Deputy Supreme Or- acle of Decatur district. The Knights of Pythias hall was used for headquar- ters. All delegates and visiting Neigh- bors were met at the depot by a com- mittee and transported free of charge by the street cars to the hall. The morning was taken up with receiving the visiting members, in social inter- course and a fine dinner spread in the dining hall at the noon hour. The opening address of the afternoon was delivered by Mrs. Ella Miller, who was followed by the representatives of the three Decatur camps. Mrs. Nettie Slifer, Oracle of Bay Leaf Camp, de- livered the address of welcome. After a cordial welcome to all visitors and Supreme Officers she presented the key of the city in the following chosen words: ‘‘By the authority of the Mayor of Decatur and in behalf of the three camps of Royal Neighbors, I have the ™ Tis pleasure of presenting this key to our Supreme Oracle.’’ The key was a large wooden affair, about a foot long, bronzed and decorated with large bows of purple and white ribbon, the colors of the order. Mrs. Watt responded by saying, ‘‘I accept this key with thanks. I shall take it home, hang it over my desk and keep it as a memento of this meet- ing and the hospitality of Decatur peo- ple.’’ Then followed papers from various camps, interspersed with music, and a question box at the close, which was presided over by Mrs. Watt. There was also a competitive drill, in which the ee ge a tee ae a a aa ae eG EN A ee ec ene nec ee Wapella and Illiopolis teams were the only competitors. The prize, a beau- tiful purple silk banner, was won by the Illiopolis team. The evening session was held in the Grand Army hall. There were songs, addresses by the Supreme Officers and an exemplification of the work by members of the three Decatur camps. The session lasted until 11:45. The visitors then adjourned to the Knights of Pythias hall and were served with ice cream and cake. Mrs. Ella Miller, Deputy Supreme Oracle of Decatur district, and Miss Carrie Steelman, of Springfield, will unite in the next convention, which will be held in October and most prob- ably be held in Lincoln. The visitors were loud in their praise of Decatur’s hospitality. The citizens responded most liberally in helping to make their convention a success. All ribbon for badges was donated by the merchants, and Lynn & Scruggs do- nated the banner. The convention was a@ success in every particular. Mrs. Anna Davy was the delegate from Maple Camp, Lincoln. A Happy Thought in a Heading. Cedar Fall, Ia.—THE RoyYAL NEIGH- BOR for May has come to hand. Our camp is happy. It was the one thing each Neighbor needed and the ‘‘Jour- nal’’ fills the bill in every particular. I want to call it a journal, as it is a record of the happenings in other camps. You were very wise in select- ing the cabalistic design at the top of the journal. What could be more ap- propriate than the mother protecting her home and children? The little ones leaning so confidingly on the emblem of our order, having faith that we will care for them. When I see the emblem I resolve to try harder to carry out the principles of our order which, I take it, are at the foundation of all worthy character. It was a happy thought to put a beautiful typogravure on the first page, rendering the whole make-up of the journal at- tractive. So many come into my home and, noticing the picture, say, ‘‘What journal have you here? How nice it is!’’ Many journals are too large for shelf or paper holders and are thus thrown about, but the size of this journal is just right and the print is distinct. Sociability and pros- perity reign in Cedar Camp, No. 621. We are having the best of times. We have exchanged helpful visits with Waterloo Camp, seven miles from here. We are especially fortunate in havy- ing considerable musical and literary talent in our Camp and seldom fail to have an interest- ing program. It is not an unus- ual thing for the camp to all invade the home of a Neighbor, carrying with them eatables and staying for supper. We call them birthday parties. A Neigh- bor announces her birthday in camp, which indicates that her home is open. We surprised the Woodmen camp and were treated right neighborly. Three times they saluted us with the Woodmen honors. Last Monday we gave an entertainment and invited the Woodmen and their families, charging an admission fee of ten cents. We had recitations, music, speeches and a farce. The social members are very helpful in these gatherings, keeping up the frater- nal interest. We must not lose sight either, of the fact that these social members bear their share in the expenses by paying equal dues, both to local and head camps. Mrs. EMMA B. ROBINSON, Recorder. Mrs. Fanny Woodruff writes from Kahoka, Mo.: ‘‘Oak Leaf Camp, 1331, is in a prosperous condition. Its members believe ' in having a good time. We have had three socials this spring and all were well attended and much en- joyed by all. The Woodmen have a good hall and give us the use of it, for which we are very grateful. We could not get along without their help, as they furnish us a number of good workers for our camp. We meet every Friday night, and have well attended meetings. When we have no adoption work we have a short literary program, or games are occasionally played until a late hour. We have a_ wide-awake camp of officers who are always look- ing out for the interest of the camp and we expect to have several new members to add to our roll in the near future. ’’