THE = S [i Taj Yf i Q VOLUME V. * EDITORIAL OFFICE., ROCK ISLAND, ILL. DECEMBER, 1904. NUMBER 142. THE WORK IN CALIFORNIA The Supervising Deputy MaKes Good Report Los Angeles, Cal—Dear Editor: It has been some time since I have writ- ten to THE Royat NEIGHBOR in re- gard to the work for our society in this state, and thinking that the Neigh- bors would enjoy hearing about what was being done here, I will write and tell them about some of the camps that I have had the pleasure of visit- ing lately. On September 18 I had the pleasure of attending the log-rolling of the Modern Woodmen of America, held at Riverside for the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino, which was attended by a very large crowd, there Being about 500 people present. The picnic was held at Fairmount Park, which is an ideal place for a gathering of that kind, every one tak- ing their lunch and the Modern Woodmen members of Riverside furnished coffee for all. After lunch,’ the opening address was made by Rev. Mark B. Shaw, of San Bernar- dino, who spoke in re- gard to the Modern Woodmen and_ the growth of that order. This was followed by an address by myself in regard to the Royal Neighbors, which was met with very much favor, the people of that. district never having been favored with a talk in regard to our society before, and some thought it was a great help to have addresses of this/ kind as they build up our society and bring it before the public. I am sure it did do a great deal of good for our society in that part of the state. Fol- lowing the addresses there were races for the ladies and gentle- men, a tug of war and a log chopping contest, both being won by the Modern Woodmen of Redlands. The nail driving contest for the ladies was won by a Royal Neighbor from Colton. The M. W. of A. and R.N. of A. of Red- lands came in with banners on their special coach and made a great show- ing for the camps in that city. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with the camp at Westmin- ster, and found them making very good progress and building up their membership. A little over a year ago I visited this camp and found them with only a membership of eight, and meeting in private houses and very much discouraged. At that time I per- suaded them to accept the offer from the Modern Woodmen camp there to meet in their hall once a month. Then I sent Mrs. Annie Gorham to assist them. She wrote up five new mem- bers for them, making a total of thir- teen, since then, they have increased their membership to thirty, with seven new applications in at present, Horton, Mrs, and more under way. This has been accomplished through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Coppage, their oracle and solicitor. On the evening of March 22 this camp gave the play, “What In- surance Did for Melvina,” and made $40 above expenses. On September 30 they held a box social with the Modern Woodmen and made $18.90 each. The Modern Woodmen gave a play from which they made a very good profit. On Thanksgiving they expect to give the “Old Dairy Homestead.” This is a small place where the plays given are by local talent, and they always have a good attendance. They have their floor-cloth and are now working to get their robes. On the evening of October 17 the Garvanza Camp team paid a visit to Poinsettia Camp, of Los Angeles, and at the request of that camp took charge of the meeting, and as there DRILL TEAM, PANSY Winner of First Prize at St. were seven candidates in waiting, they fully exemplified the work in a very nice way. Live Oak Camp, of Gar- vanza, is less than a year old but they have their badges, floor-cloth and ban- ners, and they are certainly doing fine work. They have a membership of sixty, and have more applications under way. . Poinsettia is the baby camp of Los Angeles, but is making very good progress, having adopted eleven in their last two meetings, with four more ready to be adopted and several new applications in, they hav- ing at the present time a membership of thirty-nine. On October 18 I visited the new camp at ‘Long Beach and assisted them in their work. They are doing very nicely, and adopted two on that even- ing and two new applications were balloted on. This camp expects to hold a box social on their next meet- ing, which will be the 25th. Last evening, the 20th, I visited the camp at Whittier and found only eleven members present, but a great many of their members are away for their vacation, and they are expecting a much better attendance very soon. The Whittier Camp is one of the oldest camps in the state, and they also have their badges, floor-cloth and banners, and are trying very hard to learn the new work, they having had the old work nearly perfect, and the members are very much interested. I will visit the largest camp in the state this evening, which is Pacific Camp 2867. They have a membership of 125. This camp has floor-cloth, badges, and staffs without the ban- ners, and have learned the new work very nicely. There is one thing I wish that the camps would think a little more about, and that is, that they would try and remember the old saying, “The Lord helps those who thelp themselves,” and CAMP 10, OMAHA, NEB. Louis on Royal Neighbor Day. From left to right—Mrs. Fanny Dermody, Mrs. Ada Willey, Mrs. Catherine Ahmanson, Mrs. Mary Agnes Gallen, Miss Ollie Ford, Mrs. Elizabeth King, captain; Mrs. Alice Gewinner, Mrs. Alice Stine, Lizzie Baker, Mrs. Ella Barlow, Miss Mabel Cooper. that when they find their membership dropping off and the members not at- tending, that if each one will take it upon themselves to say a good word for the Royal Neighbors and try and get one new name added to their list they will soon have a large camp and will not have to be writing so often to the Supreme Officers to send them help, when with a little effort on their part they will be able to help them- selves. I expect to visit some of the different districts in the near future and will write again of the progress that some of the other camps are making. I feel certain that if more members of the different camps would write once in awhile about the entertainments given by their camps it would have an en- couraging effect on the other camps. Wishing all Royal Neighbor camps throughout our jurisdiction the very best of success, I am, yours royally, Mrs. Myra McELLiorTt, Supervising Deputy for California. a Did Good Work Mrs. Sarah J. Pryer came to Grace- mont, Okla., for the purpose of organ- izing a Royal Neighbor camp, which plan, after about a week of faithful and earnest work, she carried out to a grand success. On the Evening of October 18, 1904, Blue Bell Camp was duly organized with twenty-three charter members, seven of the num- ber being school teachers. Perhaps in reading this you wouldn’t think it such a success, but before you ex- press your opinion let me explain to you what Gracemont is. It is just a railroad station with a country school- house and a store. But please do not judge our camp by the size of the place, for nothing has ever been at- tempted there yet but what it was a success, and we know our camp will be a success with such a good begin- ning as Mrs, Pryer gave it. In organ- izing she everything so_ thor- oughly that we hadn’t the least trouble to proceed with our next meeting. The Neigh- bors, feeling that Mrs. Pryer had done _ so much for them, gave a grand supper for her, after she was through organizing, which she certainly deserved for her faithful work. GERTRUDE CocHRAN, Ye Me Would Admit Men Who Are Not Woodmen In behalf of our so- ciety I will say I wish our by-laws might be changed in regard to gentlemen becoming social members. If men who are not Woodmen could be social mem- bers ofthe Royal Neighbors of America we would have more men in our camps and more ladies would at- tend. So many women are afraid to go alone and if their husband or brother goes with them they must stand outside and wait for the ladies until camp is out, when if the men could belong without being Woodmen they would join. There are not many men who eare to join the Modern Woodmen just to get into the Royal Neighbor camp. Men have told me they would be glad to be Royal Neighbors if they could without being Woodmen, but they say they do not care to be social members in Modern Woodmen, and some of them, cannot be insured. If this might be changed so as to ad- Isard, Miss Mrs. Nellie mit them as social members, but not as beneficial unless they were Wood- men I think it would help our camp, and I would like to see our camp pros- per, for I am deeply interested in the welfare of our order. I would like to see this put to a vote in the local camps, or hear what some of the members think in regard to this change. Yours for the betterment of our order, AN ORACLE, explained - Recorder. PUBLICATION OFFICE, LINCOLN, NEB.