THE Ca ee | ; | a Hl ge Nie Nw — VOLUME IV. EDITORIAL OFFICE, ROCK ISLAND, ILL. MAY, 1903. PUBLICATION OFFICE, } LINCOLN, NEB. °§ NUMBER 5. WOULD CHANGE BY-LAWS Believes Change in Ritual and Laws Desirable Oracle Jennie Schultz writes from Wathena, Kan.: “Though we labored under many difficulties when we were first organized, we now have a live, progressive camp of which we are all proud. Our membership is not large as yet, but is steadily increasing. Nearly all are beneficiary members -and are very prompt in paying dues and assess- ments. We have lost a beneficiary mem- ber, either by card or suspension, but this win- ter we had our first loss by death. ‘We are very fortunate in having a faithful and efficient re- corder, Neighbor Naomi Stees, who is now serving her third year, and has never missed a meeting or failed to get a report off on time. I have been much interested in read- ing the discussions re- garding the proposed change in the ritual and by-laws. I think there is a great deal of room for improvement in our rit- ual, and hope to.see it revised at the coming session of the Supreme Camp. The vice-oracle’s lecture, though beautiful, is too long, and I think never the charges given by the different characterscould be made much more en- tertaining. But far more important is the revision of the by-laws, allowing the Royal Neighbors of America to take in mem bers not related to Wood- men. We would many good members who otherwise could not join, get in and I cannot see why we should hesitate to make a change that would benefit our order, on ac- count of losing the inter- est of the, Modern Wood- men. I believe from the letters I have read in THE Royran NEIGHBOR that the majority of the camps are in the same position we are; left to paddle our own canoe. The Woodmen have a camp of about 100 mem- bers here, and only three have joined us. A few of the Woodmen, whose | wives, are Royal Neighbors, are! very kind in assisting us in any way they can, but from the camp as a whole we have never received any as- sistance or encouragement. In fact the first year or two they advised prospective candidates to ‘keep out; it wasn’t going to last.’ But I think now they have concluded we are here to stay, and as we no longer meet with opposition we hope in time to receive their co-operation in our work. A sim- ilar change was made in the Rebekah by-laws a few years ago, and the gen- eral opinion is that it greatly bene- ‘ fited that order, thus strengthening the subordinate. The I. O. O. F. have a lodge here about the size of the M. W. A., and more than half of them belong to the Rebekah degree, and both work together harmoniously. We have been saving money and expect soon to order new floor cloth and robes, which will increase interest in our floor work. All enjoy reading Tur Royat NEIGHBOR and we derive much benefit from its columns.” Duties of Delegates Des Moines, Ia.—After reading over some of the articles in last month's paper, regarding the duties of the delegates, I have the same impres- sion as has Neighbor Brown, of Clin- ton, Ia. I am at a loss to know how much is required of us as delegates. This will be my first experience to meet with the supreme body as a delegate, and if we were to carry out every Neighbor's ideas, it seems to me it will take six months instead of four or five days to transact business. But I will say this for the benefit of the seventh distriet: If any camp has any question of vital importance which they wish discussed at the Supreme Camp, and will send the same to me before May 10, I will do all in my power to have it considered. I will say in conclusion that although you do not hear much from Julia Grant Camp 284, we are still in Des Moines and are moving slowly but surely along, ever up and doing when and where duty calls. Mrs. IDA WHITTINGTON. TWO MOTHERS. Mrs. Catharifle Heskell, oracle, writes’ from Wakefield, Kan.: “Camp 1239 is not a very large one, but we keep add- ing to our numbers every once in a while. We have a good recorder who is always at her post. February 24 we had Major Hendershot, the original drummer boy of the Rappahannock, and his son, also home talent, in an entertainment which was a grand suc- cess and said to have been the best ever given by any lodge in Wakefield. We feel encouraged to keep right on. We always look for our Royal Neigh- bor paper, enjoy reading it, and get lots of good information from it, which assists us very much.” GOD BLESS THE NEIGHBORS Good Work and Hindly Deeds Merit Greatest Praise Anoka, Minn.—Please let me come in this time, not as a deputy supreme oracle telling of work done, but just as a common Neighbor to tell of some of the good deeds of Dewey Camp of Anoka, Minn., of which I am a charter member. One of our Neighbors liv- ing in the country has had rheuma- tism in her arms for some time. Dewey Camp gave her an all-day sew- ing bee, furnishing a pic- nie dinner. Another Neighbor, living on a elaim in the northern part of the state, re; turned one day from a with a friend to find, instead of the home she had left, a heap of ashes. As soon as the news reached our camp boxes of clothing, bed- ding and many things needed to again begin housekeeping, with cash from the Woodmen, were forwarded them at once. February 14, it was my turn and was to have been a surprise, but they were obliged to ask me to have something on hand to sew and to please be at home, so I mis- trusted they were com- ing. They came in the morning, bringing din- ner and supper; sewing machines sprung up like magic and the amount of sewing done would as- tonish anyone who did not know the reputation our Neighbors have as workers. Last, but not least, was the presenta- tion of a beautiful silk and wool quilt, and two cushion covers, the blocks made by the Neighbors. This was a genuine sur- These are but a of the thoughtful things done by the mem- bers of this camp. Flow- ers and cheerful faces al- ways find their way into the sick room. This was the first camp I ever so- licited. I was its first oracle. I had four babies and lived on a farm, so I know something of the trials of oracles of new camps, and as I look back to those days (which now seem so long ag, though ‘really not yet five years), I think how much more cheerfully I would have performed my duties as a Neighbor had I known what being a _ Royal Neighbor was to mean to me during these dark years which have followed. I dare not think what the past three ‘years would have been to me and mine but for the kind thoughtfulness of the Royal Neighbors. Through sickness and death they have been true and you will not wonder that my fatherless babes have been taught to lisp “God bless the Neighbors.” Mrs. ADA M. Lawson, Deputy Supreme Oracle. visit to prise. few