Chapter XX

FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS

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   Many fraternal organizations or societies have been formed in the United States, for the mutual advantage of the members and based upon the principle that by contribution of the savings of many persons to a common fund, all can be assured of financial aid in case of sickness or death.  In England these societies are called "friendly societies."  They were first organized as sick clubs, composed of friends who met occasionally for recreation and social pleasure, and who paid small sums to a common fund, for the benefit of sick members, or to pay the funeral expenses of deceased members.  These societies have now become to a large extent fraternal insurance orders, and in addition to sickness and funeral benefits, they pay many other allowances, including accident and life insurance, old age pensions, widows' and orphans' annuities, and they maintain homes and asylums for the aged or invalid members and for the widows and orphans of deceased members.  Fraternal societies in the United States have a total membership of over ten million.

ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS

Masonry, or Free Masonry, is the name most commonly applied to the most ancient secret organization in the world.  It is also the largest in point of membership, one of the most beneficial and probably the most influential.  The members are known to one another as Free and Accepted Masons - in some jurisdictions as Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.  The name is usually abbreviated and designated as A. F. & A. M.

The fundamental principle of Masonry is a declared belief in God and the acceptance of a Book of Law, which among Christians is the Bible and among Jews is the Old Testament.  No lodge can be opened unless the Bible lies open upon the altar, Masons are also expected to believe in the immortality of the soul and in the resurrection and peculiarly impressive symbols are used to represent these principles.  The order also inculcates moral principles, of which the chief are charity, truth, temperance and justice.  Though

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in the constitution of the order there is no provision for the payment of set or regular dues for the relief of the members or others, all Masons are expected to relieve to the extent of their ability brother Masons, their widows and orphans, when in distress.

There are various steps, or degrees, in Masonry, but three degrees are only required in order that a man may become a Master Mason.  He is then as much a Mason as he ever can be.  All further degrees are only added exemplifications of the mysteries of Masonry.

According to legend the beginnings of Masonry can be traced as far back as the time of King Solomon.  However its definite history is known to extend only to the sixteenth century.  It is now believed to have arisen from the medieval guilds of masons and architects, the most skilled of whom had organizations, bound together by signs and passwords, which represented the secrets of their trade.  However it was not until the beginning of the eighteenth century that permanent lodges were re-established upon the principles which form the basis of the modern organization.

There are bodies of Masons recognized by the organization in the United States, in Canada, England, Ireland, and several of the countries of Continental Europe.  French Masons are not in this fellowship, for since the French Revolution they have not restored to their order a belief in God.

In America there is a Grand Lodge in each of the states in the union and in each of the provinces of Canada.  Subordinate lodges are widely distributed.  There are also Grand Lodges in Alaska, Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands, and in the states of Australia and in New Zealand.  The total membership of the order in all parts of the world in 1917 was about 2,400,000.  Of this number over 1,600,000 were in the United States.

In 1922 there were 158 Masonic lodges in West Virginia with a total membership of 29,404.  The record of the Grand Lodge for the same year lists 10 lodges in Fayette county with a membership of 1, 950.

The ten Masonic lodges in Fayette county are as follows: Longdale No. 14, at Winona; Chartered 1888; membership, 160. Lafayette No. 57, at Fayetteville; chartered 1888; membership, 186. Gauley Bridge No. 64, at Gauley Bridge; charted 1893; member-

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ship, 181. Coal Valley No. 74, at Montgomery; chartered 1878; membership, 407. Macdonald No. 103 at Mount Hope; chartered 1895; membership, 301. Laurel No. 104, at Lawton; chartered 1906; membership, 135. Warren No. 109, at Beury; chartered 1896; membership, 201. Hayden No. 113, at Ansted; chartered 1898; membership, 130. Oak Hill No. 120, at Oak Hill; chartered 1902; membership 161. William N. Page, at Page; chartered 1907; membership, 88.

ORDER UNITED AMERICAN MEN

The Order United American Men, which claims to be America's Pioneer Patriotic Fraternity, was organized at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1845.  It was formerly known as the Order United American Mechanics.  It is a fraternal, patriotic and beneficial society.  Its objects are: to assist and encourage each other in the affairs of life; to establish a fund to assist in sickness and distress; to promulgate morality, law, justice, education and patriotism; to secure the proper regulation of immigration and the education of the immigrant in the principles and ideals of Americanism.

The order stands for everything American, everything that is good, and everything that is for the moral and social uplift of its members and the community in general.  The order believes that the institutions of any country are not safe without patriotic citizens, and so in its work endeavors to instill a patriotic spirit into its members.  The order looks upon Washington as a great example of what a true American should be - as a man in whom great virtues are exemplified and whose character should be emulated, because he represents God's noblest work - an honest man.  The order teaches reverence for Old Glory - the Flag which is an emblem of the supreme will of a nation's power.  The order believes that the American public school system is a distinctly American institution, which has been and still is of great good to our country, and should be preserved and perpetuated, and the Order is opposed to the appropriation of public money to the support of any sectarian school.  The order stands for the proper regulation of immigration and believes the alien element in America can only be properly assimilated by means of enforced education in the principles and ideals of our Americanism.  The order seeks to care for its sick and

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and afflicted members, and pays sick benefits.  In case of death the order pays an insurance sufficient to assure proper burial.  In every way members are assisted and encouraged.

A new one-degree ritual has been adopted by the order which beautifully portrays the teaching of its motto: "Honesty, Industry and Sobriety."  A monthly periodical called "The American Man" is published by the National Council O. U. A. M. in the interests of all things American.

The following is a list of councils located in Fayette county: Rosedale No. 29, at Pax; Montgomery No. 35, at Montgomery; Ansted No., 36, at Ansted; Russellville No. 38, at Russellville; Keeneys Creek No. 43, at Winona; Pleasant Hill No. 59; Cotton Hill No. 39, at Beckwith; Cliff Top No. 120, at Cliff Top; Spy Rock N0. 25, at Divide; Clifty No. 126, at Clifty; Brotherly Love No. 128; Corliss No. 169, at Corliss; and Marting No. 170, at Marting.

IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN

The improved Order of Red Men is a secret benevolent fraternity whose history may be traced to a secret Revolutionary society organized in Maryland ten years before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.  The society was then called the Sons of Liberty.  In 1813 the existing organization took the name of Society of Red Men, but became extinct in 1830.  In 1833-34 the present Improved Order of Red Men was organized in Baltimore, Maryland.  The name is usually abbreviated and designated as Imp. O. R. M. Its motto is "Freedom, Friendship and Charity."  It confers three degrees designated as Adoption degree, Warriors degree and Chiefs degree.

Local lodges, or "tribes," are found in every state of the Union, in the Canal Zone, Hawaii and the Philippines, and the total membership is nearly 500,000.  Women relatives of members are eligible to membership in an auxiliary branch known as the Degree of Pocahontas, to which men who are members of the Red Men may also belong.

The order makes use of legends, expressions and customs of the North American Indians, and meeting places are called "wig-wams."  The lighting of the council fire calls the meeting to order, and quenching the fire signifies adjournment.

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   The Great Council of West Virginia has divided the state into districts.  Fayette, Raleigh and Nicholas counties form District No. 1.

Following is a list of tribes in Fayette county: Oswego No. 2 located at Scarbro; Macaponaca No. 20 at Gatewood; Re Jacket No. 31 at Mount Carbon; Chattahooche No. 35 at Winona; Mohegan No. 37 at Montgomery; Maumee No. 38 at Ansted; Chickamauga No. 57 at Carbondale; Eufaula No. 65 at Divide; Pottawattomie No. 72 at Lansing; War Ridge No. 80 at Backus; Shermoca No. 94 at Page; Idaho No. 117 at Minden; Ossippe No. 124 at Rosedale; Red Wing No. 148 at Kinston; Hampa No. 166 at Meadow Bridge.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS

The order of Odd Fellows is a benevolent and fraternal secret society originating in Manchester, England.  In 1819 a lodge was organized in Washington, D. C., and in 1843 the American order became independent of that of England.  Since 1852 the Canada branch has been merged with the American grand lodge, which is empowered to create lodges affiliated with it in various parts of the world.  The name is usually abbreviated and designated as I. O. O. F.

The chief purpose of the Order of Odd Fellows is to provide relief and insurance funds for its members.  Since 1830 about $180,000,000 has been expended for relief, exclusive of life insurance payments.  The affiliated women's organization is the Rebekah Lodge, which was founded in 1851 and has a membership of over 1,670,000.  The Odd Fellows reported a membership of 2, 230,231 in 1918.

The Grand Lodge of West Virginia has divided the state into districts.  District No. 16 includes the counties of Fayette and Raleigh.

Following is a list of lodges in Fayette county: Henrietta No. 82 at Montgomery; Ridgley No. 93 at Winona; Harmer No. 122 at Edmond; Gauley Mountain No. 133 at Ansted; Red Star No. 162 at Scarbro; Mount Hope No. 185 at Mount Hope; Fern No. 203 at Lansing; Oak Hill No. 206 at Oak Hill; Boomer Star No. 216 at Boomer; Chimney Knob No. 212 at Ramsey; William Henry No. 227 at Gauley Bridge; Cold Spring No. 254 at Graydon; Page No.

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278 at Page; Locust No. 302 at Backus; Shade Creek No. 333 at Victor; Elk Ridge No. 366 at Elk Ridge; Mossy No. 439 at Kingston; Murphy No. 445 at Miller; Cabot No. 446 at Clute; Jodie No. 450 at Jodie.

Encampments are located as follows: Thomas Wildey No. 34 at Montgomery; Palmetto No. 52 at Ansted; Lansing No. 69 at Lansing; Laurel No. 79 at Ramsey; Ridgley No. 83 at Boomer; Loyal No. 85 at Oak Hill; Hill Top No. 97 at Scarbro; Winona No. 141 at Winona.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS

The Knights of Pythias is a benevolent and fraternal organization founded in 1864 in Washington, D. C., the members of which are pledged to help each other at all times.  The name refers to the story of Damon and Pythias, whose friendship endured "even unto death." The name is usually abbreviated and designated as K. of P.

Since it was organized, this society has expended more then $50,000,000 in benefits.  There is a Supreme Lodge which has control over not only the order of knights, but over the so-called uniform, or military rank, and over the endowment, or insurance branch, as well.  Three degrees are given, known as the degrees of Page, Esquire and Knight.  The society has a membership of about 730,000 confined in the United States and Canada.  Over 70,000 belong to the insurance branch, and about 18,000 to the military rank.

The Grand Lodge of West Virginia has divided the state into Pythian districts, Pythian District No. 12 is composed of the counties of Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Raleigh and Summers.

The meeting places of the subordinate branches are called Castle Halls.  There are 250 castle halls in West Virginia.

Following is a list of lodges in Fayette County: Fayette No. 29 at Montgomery; Twinkle Star No. 85 at Paintsville; Signal Knob No. 99 at Ansted; Winona No. 105 at Winona; Mountain No. 117 at Oak Hill; Olympia No. 122 at Mount Hope; Old Fort No. 124 at Mount Carbon; Fort Defiance No. 140 at Gauley Bridge; Joy No. 149 at Ramsey; Lone Star No. 155 at Page; Armstrong No. 159 at Powellton; Home No. 173 at Boomer; High View No. 223 at Gatewood; Meadow River No.231 at Miller; Black Glen No. 239 at Jodie; Kingdale No. 250 at Thurmond.

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LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE

The Loyal Order of Moose is an international fraternal society consisting of more than sixteen hundred lodges in the United States, Canada and throughout the English-speaking world, having an aggregate membership in all these lodges of more than five hundred thousand men.  Most of the lodges provide sick benefits and funeral expense funds for their members.  Each lodge is a complete unit in itself, with full local autonomy.

As a means for better accomplishing their purposes the lodges have organized a central agency called the Supreme Lodge of the World, Loyal Order of Moose, with headquarters at Mooseheart, Illinois.  All general activities of the order center there and the supreme officers in active charge have their offices there.

      Mooseheart is an estate of one thousand fifteen acres of land, thirty-five miles west of Chicago on the Fox river, between the cities of Aurora and Batavia, Illinois.  The title of this estate is in the Supreme Lodge of the World, Loyal Order of Moose.  Mooseheart is a home and vocational training school for seven hundred and seventy-four dependent children of deceased members of the order.  The residential part of Mooseheart resembles a modern village of about one thousand inhabitants and consists of about fifty buildings of modern concrete fire-proof construction, with red tile roofs.  There is a central heating and power plant, large modern print shop, a high school building, several industrial shops, a modern farm and many dormitories and residences.  The educational features are highly vocational and practical.  About twenty-five of the most useful crafts, including agriculture, are being operated as a part of the education work

There are six lodges in Fayette county with a membership of 1,144. They are as follows: Meadow Bridge No. 674 at Meadow Bridge; Montgomery No. 946 at Montgomery; Ansted No. 947 at Ansted; Glen Jean No. 1017 at Mount Hope; Thurmond No. 1112 at Thurmond; Winona No. 1393 at Winona.

DEGREE OF REBEKAH

The Degree of Rebekah is a ladies auxiliary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  The 38th annual session of the Rebekah State Assembly of West Virginia was held in 1924. The total mem-

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bership in West Virginia on January 1st, 1924 was 12,306, of which number 8,654 were sisters and 3,652 were brothers.  Mrs. Sallie S. Rector of Clarksburg is President of West Virginia State Assembly.  The state is divided into 20 districts, the counties of Fayette and Raleigh comprising District No. 16.  There is about four hundred members in Fayette county belonging to nine lodges as follows: Golden Chain No. 9 at Mount Hope; Meadow Bridge No. 18 at Meadow Bridge; Starlight No. 111 at Boomer; Eden No. 142 at Montgomery; Laurel No. 207 at Oak Hill; Silver Leaf No. 239 at Winding Gulf; Eureka No. 249 at Powellton; Silver Star No. 265 at Scarbro; Jeannette No. 301 at Edmund.

MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA

The Modern Woodmen of America is a fraternal and insurance society founded in 1833 at Lyons, Iowa, and the following year charted under the laws of Illinois.  It is the largest fraternal benefit organization in America, having a membership of more than a million.

The head officer is known as the Head Consul, and the various geographical divisions of which there are more than 14,000 are called camps.  From its founding to April 1st, 1919, the order has paid out in death claims more than $210,000,000.

One of the benefit features of the society is large and well-equipped tuberculosis sanitarium at Woodman, Colorado.

Only a few camps are located in Fayette county, and these are at Ansted, Fayetteville, Montgomery and Oak Hill.

THE RED, RED ROSE

The Red, Red Rose is a fraternity of educators, and men who are affiliated or interested in educational work.

      The Garden of Montgomery was the first chapter organized in West Virginia; the other chapter is at the West Virginia University, Morgantown.

Since its introduction into West Virginia by Dr. Cunningham, about one year ago, a large number of leading school men of the state have become members.  It is expected that other chapters will be organized in the state inasmuch as the Presidents of nearly all the colleges of the state have become members at educational

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meetings held at Hinton, Bluefield, Montgomery, Charleston and other places.

The order originated in the west, and apparently is spreading very rapidly.

Whenever a class of neophites is initiated a sumptuous banquet is always part of the program.

The county superintendent of schools, most of the district superintendents, and principals of most of the graded and high schools of Fayette county are members of the chapter at Montgomery.

The order is also gaining popularity across the sea, and a very progressive and active chapter is gaining many members at Oxford College, England.

There is a ladies' auxiliary in connection with fraternity which is known as the Blue, Blue Violet.

THE AMERICAN LEGION

The American Legion is an organization of the American veterans of the World War.  It is non-partisan and non-political.  Any soldier, sailor or marine who served honorably between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and any woman who was regularly enlisted or commissioned in the army, navy or marine corps during the above period, is eligible for membership.  Its objects are "to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a hundred per cent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the great war; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses, to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safe-guard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by devotion to mutual helpfulness."

The American Legion in West Virginia had its beginning at a meeting held in Charleston on May 3, 1919, pursuant to a call issued by Lieutenant Colonel Jackson Arnold, of Weston, representing the Paris Caucus.  This meeting selected delegates to the St. Louis Caucus on the 8th, 9th and 10th of May, 1919, where a permanent organization was effected with Jackson Arnold, Com-

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mander, and Charles McCamie, Adjutant. This action was confirmed at the first state convention held in Charleston on October 15th and 16th, 1919, and they were regularly elected to hold office until the end of the fiscal year, November 11, 1919.  James H. McGinnis of Beckley is department commander of the American Legion in West Virginia at the present time, 1925.

About a dozen posts of the American Legion have been organized in Fayette county, but only four are active at the present time.  These four posts are as follows: Kanawha Valley No. 58 at Montgomery; White Oak Post No. 65 at Scarbro; Mount Hope Post No. 103 at Mount Hope; Solvay-Kingston No. 108 at Kingston.

The foregoing text was taken directly, verbatim, from The History Of Fayette County, West Virginia as it was originally written.  This book was written by J. T. Peters and H. B. Carden.  It was published in 1926 by the Fayette County Historical Society, Inc., Fayetteville, West Virginia, and printed by Jarrett Printing Company, Charleston, West Virginia.  All rights reserved.

[Table Of Contents]
[ Dedication | Foreword ]
[ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 ]
[ 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 ]
[ 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 ]