The "Fraternal Department" ran as a semi-regular feature in the San Diego Union in the late 19th century. The fraternal orders and associated concordant bodies were so prevalent and important a part of the lives of the people of San Diego that their meetings and events were considered newsworthy!
Interestingly, in this particular instance, there is no mention of any of the several lodges in San Diego county. Nor, with the exception of a single OES chapter, is there any notice for any of the concordant bodies as well...Must have been a slow week for them. But even without any Masonic bodies listed, there are still quite a few meetings and events reported on. Thus, in continuing my effort to make known the significance of the fraternal orders to the growth and development of San Diego, I present the following from the pages of the San Diego Union.
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From The San Diego Union,
March 3, 1890, page 5
FRATERNAL DEPARTMENT.
LODGE ROOM HAPPENINGS BOTH NEAR AND FAR.
Various Grand Army Doings - Proceedings of the Foresters - Statistics of the United Workmen - Local Notes.
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[Items of interest are solicited from the various orders and societies of the city and county. All matter intended for this department must be received at THE UNION office not later than 6 o'clock Sunday evening.]
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Grand Army of the Republic.
The Department of Iowa has a membership of 21,000.
The State of Kansas allows $50 for the burial of any soldier or sailor whose family is too poor to afford a decent funeral .
A bill has been introduced in the House for marking the lines of battle and the positions of troops of the Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg, appropriating $310,000 for the purposes.
It has been proposed that the Fort Hays Military Reservation be donated to the State of Kansas to be used for Soldier's Home purposes. A bill has been favorably reported by the Committee on Pubic Lands.
The Pension Office report for 1889 shows one pensioner of the war of the revolution still living in Maine. The person is Mrs. Susan Curtis of Topsham, the widow of Caleb Curtis, a revolutionary soldier.
The National Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, Wis., is full. No new applicants can be admitted for the present.
The Department of Kansas, G. A. R., has within its boundaries an immense soldier population not members of the order. It seems strange that this department does not show on its rolls 50,000 members in good standing. The aggregate membership December 31, 1889, was 19,918.
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Odd Fellows.
It is not generally know that a brother may be elected a member of a lodge on a visiting card in date. Such, however, is a late law, and a brother may be regularly elected by deposit of his visiting card in the same manner as governs a withdrawal card. Immediately upon the election, however, the lodge who granted the card must be officially notified of said election, and the visiting card returned to the issuing lodge, which will immediately grant a withdrawal card, and, together with all overpaid dues, forward same to the lodge of which was elected a member. In all such cases no delay should be occasioned by either lodge.
Now that it is a settled fact that the World's Fair is to be held in Chicago (the most thriving city of the West), the members of the order there should immediately build he hall so long spoken of by them, and show their visitors, who are certain to attend the exposition in large numbers, especially those from the golden shores of the Pacific, what enterprise and American push can do. There is no denying but what the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Chicago are as progressive as any in the country, and as for hospitality they have few equals.
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Knights of Pythias.
In West Virginia the order has gained twelve lodges and 564 members the past year.
The Past Chancellors of Cincinnati have an association 300 strong.
There are at present about 260,000 members in the order.
The Uniform Rank has about 25,000 Sir Knights–nearly as large as the standing army of the United States.
New lodges are forming at Salinas, Hollister and San Miguel.
Red Star Lodge, No. 153, has made a wise selection in choosing S. G. Montijo and T. J. Monohon to represent her at the Grand Lodge which convenes April 14th at San Francisco.
A large delegation from Loma Lodge, National City, was present to witness the work in the Esquire's Rank at the last meeting.
Grand Chancellor Crowley will visit Red Star Lodge, officially, next Thursday night, 20th inst.
The question of working the Amplified Rank has again been resurrected and will be worked in first-class style by B. C., S. G. Montijo and assistants.
All attending Knights may be assured of the correct working of this rank on next Thursday night, as the above mentioned P. C. has added much to his store of knowledge by his recent extended travels.
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Ancient Order Foresters of America.
The A. O. F. of America met in their hall Friday evening, H. Tarnow in the chair. Eleven new members were initiated and seven applications were acted upon. A communication from the High Chief was read, saying that he was visiting all the Courts in the State and was in Los Angeles and that he would like to visit the San Diego Court and that he would be here Saturday. A deputation of six member were appointed to receive him at the depot Saturday evening and conduct him to the Albemarle hotel. The Court also gave the High Chief is banquet Sunday evening at the same hotel. J. Conroy was elected as a delegate to the grand convention of the Foresters of America in Oakland in May. F. Goodendorf was elected an alternate delegate to the same place. The committee on the social held in Odd Fellow's Hall, March 12th, reported it as having been a grand success and the same committee was instructed to go ahead and finish arrangements for a grand ball to be held in the near future. The C. R. having received news of the death of his father the sympathies of the Court were tendered him in his heartfelt bereavement.
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Order Eastern Star.
The regular meeting of Southern Star Chapter No. 96 will be held on Thursday evening at Masonic Hall.
The celebration of the anniversary of the institution of the Chapter will be held on the first regular meeting night in April.
The following item from he Kansas City Journal, under date of March 9th, will prove interesting to her friends in this city: "Mrs. James Snedden, E. W. Towner, C. L. Ericson, L. F. Martin, N. J. Saunders, delegates from Mendlas Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, to the General Grand Chapter of this State, will leave tomorrow for Lawrence to fulfill their duties as delegates on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Mrs. Snedden is Right Worthy Associate Grand Matron, being the next highest officer of his Order in the United Sates. She will install the grand officers on Wednesday evening of this week. There are now eighty Chapters in this State, ten of which have been formed within the present year, and the duties of the high office occupied by Mrs. Snedden have become manifold indeed."
The officers of Southern Star Chapter desiring to be in perfect working order under the new ritual, and also at the time of the official visit of the Deputy Grand Matron of this district, met for instruction and drill on Thursday evening last under the able guidance of their Worthy Matron
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Order Pythian Sisters.
A pleasant meeting of Love Temple No. 3 was held at Castle Hall on Friday evening last.
A vote of thanks was extended James R. Wear by the Temple at its last meeting for the certain properties so kindly donated by him to them.
Mrs. Helen C. Bushyhead, P. C., made her first appearance at the Temple on Friday evening, having entirely recovered from her attack of la grippe.
Several of the members were unavoidably detained from the session on account of the "spelling school," particularly among whom was Dr. Gochenauer, the famous "school master."
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A. O. H.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians will give a grand ball at Armory Hall tonight. Dancing will commence at 9 o'clock. Prof. Hester's orchestra has been secured for the occasion, and from the well known ability of the gentlemen composing the committee of arrangements a most enjoyable time can be anticipated.
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FEASTING FORESTERS.
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An Exceedingly Enjoyable Banquet Tendered
to the High Chief Ranger.
It was a happy company which gathered at the Albemarle Hotel last evening to a banquet tendered by San Diego Court No. 7592 Ancient Order of Foresters of America to the visiting High Chief Ranger of California, R. B. Harmon, of Sacramento.
Chief Harmon arrived in San Diego on Saturday evening and on yesterday was driven around the city and Coronado Beach by his brethren of the order.
When the High Chief arrived on Saturday several of the boys determined to give him a banquet and accordingly notified Manager Limbrick, of the Albemarle, of their desires in the matter. He promised to do his best and the spread which was placed before the banqueters showed that none cold do better. The following was the
MENU.
Blue Points on the Half Shell.
Mock Turtle Soup.
Baked Rock Cod. Oyster Sauce.
Fillet de Beef au Champignom.
Pale Sherry. Chicken Salad.
Cullets of Sweet Bread a la Jardinisre.
Pure Apple Fritiers, Garnet Sauce.
Leg of Lamb, Mint Sauce.
Stuffed Spring Chicken. Sirloin of Beef.
Zinfandel Wine.
Asparagus on Toast. Lettuce Salad.
Mashed Potatoes.
Baked Sweet Potatoes. Green Peas.
Plum Pudding, Brandy Sauce.
Lemon Merangne Pie. Strawberry Ice Cream.
Assorted Nuts. Assorted Cake.
Black Coffee.
Fruit.
Chief Conroy of the local court occupied the head of the table and High Chief Harmon had the set of honor at his right. The others who occupied seats were Messrs. McKay, Crowley, Welzell, Shirley, G. S. Goldthorpe, J. Goldthorpe, Glickman, Langell, Fulton, Corwin, Wallace, Ackerman, Limbrick, Lavin, Goodendorf, Appell, Kennedy and Cosgrove. The service was as excellent as was the banquet and during the time of is discussion the heal of the High Chief and the success of the Order were drank several times. When all had done ample justice to the good things before them Mr. Harmon was introduced and spoke at considerable length, his response being to the Grand Court of California. He refaced his remarks on the Order by his congratulations to the San Diego Court and its members for the beautiful city and climate in which their lot is cast. He was pleased to see a city of so great a growth and was surprised at the large number of elegant building, both residence and business. He added words of praise for Coronado Beach, for the hotel and for the excellent scenery to be found about the beautiful bay. He prophesied that San Diego would be at some time the San Francisco of the southern coast, and one of the three great cities of the whole Pacific, including Portland, Oregon, as the third. He had never been treated so nicely by the brothers whom he visited, and the banquet spread was by far the best he had had the pleasure of enjoying.
Speaking of the order he stated that its membership was increasing rapidly owing to the advantages it offered. He went on to enumerate many of those advantages, and closed by recommending the establishment of a woman's court of the order and also of a uniform rank court of the Knights of Sherwood Forest.
Chief Conroy, Dr. McKay, Mr. Crowley and others were called upon and responded briefly. A vote of thanks was extended to the Albemarle and the management, and after a few selections of instrumental and vocal music the banquet was over. High Chief Harmon will depart for the north today.
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