S&secure the greater VOLUME III. EDITORIAL OFFICE, ROCK ISLAND, ILL. APRIL, 1902. PUBLICATION OFFICE, LINCOLN, NEB. NUMBER 4. A Contest and Supper Randolph, Ia.—Sweet Camp was organized November 22, 1900, with twenty members, but has increased to thirty-two. In January we moved into the new I. O. O. -F. hall and are as proud of our new home as our broth- ers can be. We have plenty of room and a reception room extra which we sincerely appreciate. Last year our oracle and vice oracle chose sides for a friendly contest, each side to try to number of new members and the ones losing were to serve the a supper. The supper was served one night in February, after the lodge business was over, and if our sisters lost in the contest they made up for all defeat in the way they treated their more for- tunate sisters. We all enjoy reading letters from the different lodges. We are doing well and wish the same suc- cess to all Royal Neighbor camps. Mrs. IpA M. SHEAFFER, Recorder. we From Two lowa Camps Hazelton, Ia.—I received an invita- tion from Sylva Camp, of Dubuque, to install their officers and was very much pleased with the camp. Just after they have opening ceremonies Brier other side with they have a penny march, which goes to swell a fund to purchase flowers for theif Sick members. “At the death of a member twenty-five cents for each member is paid out of the general fund to the family and our emblem in flow- ers is always sent to the home. They have floor cloth, staffs and beautiful silk banners, and do fine work. They have an excellent oracle and a number one recorder. The day of installation was the recorder’s birthday and the whole camp wished her many happy returns of the day. They presented the oracle with a parlor chair and im- mediately afterwards she presented the installing officer with a large bou- quet of cut flowers. They have 114 members and are working hard to have the largest number of. benefici- aries in the state by 1903. After initia- tion they all form a circle around the marshal and her candidate and give the following cry: Welcome, welcome, one, two, three, Sylva, Sylva Camp are we; We wish you all prosperity, We'll help you in adversity; There always is an open door To Camp 2084. I visited the camp at Lowden and found them with twelve beneficiaries and two social members. * * The camp has coffees, and each one pays five cents each, which goes into a fund to pay for livery to visit their members residing in the country. They are an excellent class of people, and I wish them the greatest of prosperity. Mrs. Ipa LAWRENCE, Deputy Supreme Oracle. Letter From the South Vinton, La.—Since I came to the south one year ago, the thought has often occurred that perhaps the Neighbors would like to hear from me. You see Tam judging them by myself, for when THE ROYAL NerIGHROR arrives it is my first thought, upon opening it, to look and see if there is any thing in it about those whom IT have known personally. The next news I look for is the number of camps organized, and of course the most important state to me is old Missouri, my former home, where I labored for three or four years as deputy supreme oracle. Once in a while I read something from camps that I instituted and feel a certain de- gree of pride when I note that they are successful and are still working in their camps for our society; one of at the mill and about 100 men in the woods. This mill has a tram or rail- road running twelve and a half miles out into the big pine woods for the purpose of bringing in the logs, which are dumped into a pond and floated around to an endless chain and pulled up into the mill ready for sawing. My husband is manager for the lumber company’s department store at this place; he also pays off the men. We BEAUTIFUL EASTER LILIES—LOELLA ALLEN SmiTH, ALDEN, IA. the grandest societies in the universe. I am sorry we are not allowed to take in this part of the states, as there are so many here who want just that kind of insurance. While most all of my Neighbors are in the far north, where snow is spread abroad and the tinkling of sleighbells are heard and the pedes- trians are tucking their heads down and pulling their heavy coats about them, you have a Neighbor in the sun- ny south, where the bright sun is shin- ing and the sweet violets and narcissus are now blooming in the door yards, and gardens are being planted. We have cold nights and fires feel comfortable, yet you can look out upon the street and see men without their coats. Our little town of Vinton is situated about thirty-five miles east of Beaumont, Texas, and is about eighteen miles from Lake Charles, the parish seat, or county seat, as we would say up north. Vinton is a sawmill town. Now don’t think it is a little mill that saws out about three wagon loads per day, but a mill that saws 69,000 or 70,000 feet per day, employing 200 men and boys have only three Modern Woodmen here; one each from Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas. Mrs. Anice HowrEti PARKER. we Peoria Camp Prospering Peoria, Ill.—Baker Camp 2089, was organized on March 31, 1900, and at present numbers eighty members; a rather good’ membership considering our exclusiveness, since we were or- ganized as an auxiliary to Baker Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. During our existence we have held joint in- stallations, at which times we were entertained by the Modern Woodmen. Besides these we have had other pleas- ant gatherings with the Woodmen or- ganization; and have also received many favors from their members. Our meetings are exceedingly pleasant affairs, and we have many social func- tions aside from them. We own, with- out indebtedness, our own _ piano, dishes, banners, badges and other par- aphernalia, together with the cases in which they are kept. We certainly feel very happly to think we are prosper- ing so well. Tur Roya NEIGHBOR | is eagerly looked for by our members and'is greatly appreciated. We send our greeting and good wishes to our sister camps. Emma M. DIEetTz. we The Secret of Success Mary E. Leigh writes from Beatrice, Neb.: are prospering. Our camp is growing in numbers and interest. I must tell you what we. consider the secret of “We are Manettia Camp 40, and our success. Some time ago the ladies of the camp organized what we call Manettia Circle, our object being to promote the welfare of our camp both socially and financially. We meet the second and fourth Tuesday afternoons of each month. Any lady member of our camp is eligible to vote on any question brought before the circle. Each lady who attends pays five cents each meeting. This pays our running expenses and we generally have money in the treasury. Usually refreshments are served, but never more than two articles, because our by-laws inflict a fine of fifty cents on anyone who ex- ceeds that. We have very nice times at our meetings and have made them profitable as well. So far, our camp has never had robes for the officers. We decided it was time to have them, so at our afternoon meetings we made a beautiful silk biscuit slumber robe. The 18th of February we held a bazaar, afternoon and evening and served sup- per at the supper hour. Our hall is so arranged that we had our sale in the regular camp hall, and served our sup- per in the banquet room adjoining. At our bazaar we had a eandy booth, where fresh, home-made candy was sold; two faney-work booths, where aprons and fanecy-work were sold, and the gentlemen of the order had a ‘What is it? booth, where they sold small bundles for ten cents. Each bun- dle had a bouquet, toy whistle, or some- thing else in it. This booth created much merriment. At 8 o’clock we had an excellent free program. Then the quilt was raffled off. We sold 330 chances on it at ten cents a chance. Everything was sold, and we could have sold much more if we had had it. All our fanecy-work and eatables were donated by our own members. We took in nearly $90, and our expenses amounted to about $10. This money is to be put with some other money on hand to purchase robes and other necessaries. Perhaps some other camp would like to try this plan. If it does, we hope it will have as great success as we did. I assure you that we appre- ciate THE Royat NEr@uBor, and each issue is most eagerly read and dis- cussed. I forgot to say.that any mem- ber of our camp who has a lady friend who wishes to join our camp has the privilege of inviting her to our circle meetings. This gets the lady ac- quainted with our members. The last several times we have met, we have had about twenty-three members pres- ent. These meetings are very infor- mal, are always held at the home of a member, and have done more to draw our members into a close friendship than anything the camp has ever done. As yet, no gentlemen have ever been present at a meeting.”