THE Nee os SN te VOLUME V. FROM WEST VIRGINIA HILLS An Encouraging Letter From Our Supreme Vice Oracle Clarksburg, W. Va.—Dear Editor: I wonder if the members of the Royal Neighbor family would not like to listen to some echoes from the ‘West Virginia Hills”? I think perhaps they will be glad to hear that the beautiful “White Rose” has been planted and is taking root in the fertile soil of this southland, and you may soon hear the rumblings of the marching host who are keeping step with their western sisters. The fall of 1903 will mark the rise of the Royal Neighbors of Amer- ica in this state, for it was then that Miss Lizzie McIntire came to us, and those who know of her work are aware that wherever she goes Royal Neighbor camps spring up as if by magic. Her zeal for the Royal Neigh- bor knows no ebb and flow but is al- ways at high-tide and if her physical endurance was equal to her courage and unselfishness, I am sure her faith would be strong enough to remove every obstacle and surmount every difficulty, although her modesty would prevent her accepting the full amount of credit due her. And so, with her guidance, the Alpha Camp came into existence in Clarksburg. It is auxiliary to Northcott Camp Mod- ern Woodmen of America, appropri- ately named for the Hon. William Northcott, whose early years were _ spent in this city and of whom Clarks- burg is justly proud. This camp was immediately followed by one in our neighboring city of Mannington. Other towns are pushing the work, and will soon be ready to fall in line, and you will soon hear the tidings that all over our state the White Rose will be entwined with our native laurel and holly, and the banner of the Royal Neighbors of America be flung to the breezes on these grand old hills. Right royally yours, Mrs. HestTeR RIDENOUR, Supreme Vice Oracle. Me The White and Purple Marshfield, Wis., Feb. 8.—Mayflower Camp 963, on January 27, had installa- tion. We invited Maple Leaf Camp 19386 of Masonville, and each member of our camp had the: privilege of in- viting one couple outside of their own family. We rented another hall as the one we have was too small and is carpeted. Mrs. Geo. Neilson, state ora- cle of Minnesota, did the installing very nicely, after which she gave a short talk which was very interesting. We gave our drill and it looked very pretty, as each lady wore white shirt- waist and black skirt. Each had a rosette of purple and white ribbon with streamers pinned on her left shoulder and white ribbon bow in the hair. They did look very neat. We prefer to wear the purple and white ribbon in- stead of robes. After the drill the evening was spent in dancing and everybody seemed to have a good time. Our camp served light refreshments to about 200. We have a local deputy at work and we have been taking in new members nearly every meeting. We are talking some of getting up the play “How the Wives Got Even.” We have EDITORIAL OFFICE., ROCK ISLAND, ILL. fifty-four members, of whom five are gentlemen. They are very good mem- bers and come very handy, as they are always ready to lend a helping hand when we need them. I enjoy reading our Royal Neighbor paper. I like to hear about our sister camps. We never get too old to learn and often we can be a big help to each other. Mrs. JENNIE EASTMAN, Recorder. We Ye The Work in California Los Angeles, Cal.—Mrs. Florence T. VanGalder—Dear Editor: I thought that maybe the members of our society would like to hear how the work was progressing away out here in Califor- nia, so will endeavor to give them an idea of our standing here. Since our society was introduced into this state about four years ago it has had considerable hard work to estab- lish a proper foundation on which to make a stand, but I am pleased to say that the Royal Neighbors are now on the way to success and are bound to grow, as the people are now looking on our society in the right light and can see that a society run on the prin- ciples that govern the Royal Neighbors are sure to succeed. I am very much pleased to say that when I took the position as supervising deputy supreme oracle for this state that I made up my mind to push our society to the front and have had very good success | so far, having placed an entire new force of field workers throughout the state and also in a great many of the old camps having commissioned depu- ties who are working hand in hand for the good of the order. Since Au- gust 1 there have been eleven new camps organized up to February 1, with a total membership of 133 social and 128 beneficial, making a good showing for a state where there are so many other societies, both social and beneficial. I had the pleasure of installing the officers of South Los Angeles Camp at a public installation given with - Vernon Camp, Modern Woodmen, on January 22. On January 29 Sunny South Camp gave a public installation, at which Mrs. Dunn, the past oracle of the camp, installed the officers. Sunny South Camp is the only camp in the state that has a degree team, but I hope that the other camps throughout the state will follow their example, as the team is a great help in the work. On January 30 Pacific Camp, Modern Woodmen, invited the Pacific Camp, Royal Neighbors, to hold public installation of officers with them, and I am pleased to say that the Royal Neighbors accepted the invita- tion, and the installation was a grand success in bringing our society before the public, there being present at the meeting between six and seven hun- dred people, some of whom had not heard of the Royal Neighbors until they came to the hall. I had the pleas- ure of installing the officers. Our so- ciety, after March 1, will have seven deputy supreme oracles in this state, and I am sure that under their super- vision the society will make great headway in the different districts. Yours for the good of our society, Mrs. Myra McELLIOTT, Supervising Deputy Supreme Oracle for California. PUBLICATION OFFICE MARCH, 1904. | PURMINCOLN, NEB.” FROM THE FIRST CAMP Members Working Hard for the Ad- vancement of the Society Council Bluffs, Ia.—Lily Camp 1 has had a number of pleasant sociables this winter and all have been greatly enjoyed by the members and friends of this loyal old camp, but it seems the old saying “the best, last,’ has again proven true, as is attested by all who had the good fortune to be present at our last regular meeting, Tuesday evening, January 19. Installa- tion and initiation with luncheon filled the program. The always interesting ceremony of installation was excep- tionally well performed by Neighbor Ida Selby, acting deputy supreme ora- cle, assisted by Neighbor Minnie Crocker, acting grand marshal. The entire ceremony was performed in a very impressive manner, and did great credit to the two acting grand officers. After installation six candidates were initiated. The team work was of a high order; the lessons being exemplified in a manner calculated to. make a lasting impression on the minds of the candidates. The new floor work, designed by Cap- tain Selby, was used for the first time and was highly pleasing to all. It clearly showed the result of much thought and study and is certainly a credit to the captain and the entire staff. Following the initiation a lunch- eon was served. The camp was hon- ored on this occasion by the presence of our Supreme Oracle, Mrs. E. D. Watt, who gave us a very pleasant and profitable after-dinner talk. We are also pleased to mention the presence of many other visitors from Omaha, Lincoln, South Omaha and many other places in this locality, and all seemed to enjoy the evening’s entertainment. Lily Camp is prospering and we are working hard to keep up our end in the advancement of our noble society and its principles. Continued prosper- ity for THE Royat NEIGHBOR is the wish of Lity Camp No. 1. Me Me Surprised Their Vice Oracle Oakley, Wis., Feb. 4.—Oakley Camp 743 was organized September 2, 1897, with twenty charter members. We were organized two years before Wis- consin got insurance, and quite a few dropped out during that time, and we started with ,only eleven beneficial members, but we have kept growing till we have reached twenty-eight bene- ficial and nine social members, with several cards waiting to be initiated soon. We meet every alternate Friday and have a pretty fair attendance. January 9 we invited Forest City Camp 784 to install our officers and twelve came and spent the day. We served dinner at our hall and presented each one with a bouquet of “Hayseeds” tied with the edlors of our order as a me- mento, which all enjoyed. When it was known that our vice oracle, Mrs. Vina Lake, was going to move to Cali- fornia with her family and make that place her permanent home, the mem- bers of Oakley Camp planned and car- ried out a surprise on her, as she is an honored member of our camp. Wednes- day, January 20, was the day set for carrying’ out what had been planned to do, but when the day arrived the NUMBER 3. elements were against us. It was rain- ing and sleeting. But when a lot of women plan to have a good time noth- ing less than a cyclone will stop them, therefore it was ’phoned to those who had ’phones that we would go, and upon our arrival Mrs. Lake was in the pantry mixing bread, and thinking that she heard sleighbells coming in the yard and upon looking out of the win- dow -saw several rigs driving into the yard and recognizing some of them she exclaimed, “There they have done it!” and ran to the door to meet them, exclaiming “I never was so surprised in my life!” and she showed it. After the first greetings were over the ladies began to empty their baskets and in a short time thirty-two sat down to ta- bles filled with good things. Just as they were about to arise from the table Mrs. Cora Bartley, in a neat lit- tle speech in behalf of the Royal Neigh- bors present, presented Mrs. Lake with a silver berry spoon with the date and the name of the camp engraved upon it. After the thanks of Mrs. Lake for this second surprise the afternoon was spent in social converse. Little Bessie Myers sang “The Kicking Mule,” which was greatly enjoyed by all. Miss Car- rie Barnum gave.some very nice selec- tions on the organ. Miss IONE BARNHILL, Recorder. Me ee Still Alive Riverton, Ia.—Camp 2728 is still alive and moving on. We were organized October 3, 1901. We got along all right for a while and then some of the Neighbors began staying away from the meetings and then they began dropping out and moving away, until it seemed for a time as if we would have to surrender our charter, but by the untiring perseverance of a faithful few we were able to hold our charter, with just about enough members to keep the lodge going. We haven’t had any suspensions for some time, and have been rapidly increasing for the past few months. We serve lunch when we get through the work when we have candidates, to learn the mysteries of our degree. We all have a very nice social time while partaking of our lunch, then depart for our homes in very good spirits,resolving to get some more candidates for adoption at our next meeting. We held joint installa- tion with the Woodmen January 13, which was a very enjoyable affair. Im- mediately after installation the preésid- ing officer of the Woodmen camp an- nounced that supper was ready at the hotel for all present, but as there could only a certain number be seated at one time, he invited the Royal Neighbors to take supper first, and we repaired to the hotel, where a fine oys- ter supper was served. After supper we went back to the hall where we enjoyed music and drills given by the Woodmen until a late hour, when we departed for our homes feeling better for having spent one more evening in the social bonds of our grand frater- nity. Mrs. MINA LESLIE, Recorder Me Se Says Charles Kingsley: “Let us be content to do little, if God sets us at little tasks. It is but pride and self- will which says, ‘Give me something huge to fight, and I should enjoy that; but why make me sweep the dust?” .