Endowment Insurance. ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. 26, 1904. EDITOR JOURNAL: Having often thought of writing to the JOURNAL for some information relative to several articles on endowment insurance, as I think that it is something we need, but none of the Brothers seem to explain their plans so that we can get at just how they want to do it. Why don't Bro. J. F. Freenor and others give us the particulars of their plans and then probably some more plans would come to light and we might get a good one, which I think we need, and which some of the large roads are trying to get their employees to do on their roads. I think it would be better for our order to handle these matters for us instead of the companies. I think that the Editor's reply to Bro. J. J. Conrad in regard to the Division Addresses should be satisfactory to all, but I see two ads in back pages that I do not think should be advertised in our JOURNAL at any price, as I do not think that we have as many men in our order or other railroad orders that need their goods, and that they cast reflections upon ns, and they think it is a good field to work in or they would not have hired our space. I think we have not many that need to be cured of drunken habits as the advertiser would have readers think there is in the railroad employees in general; and would rather see the Division Addresses every month than to see such advertisements. Yours fraternally, W. ONDERKIRK, Div. 46. Brother Onderkirk is laboring under a mistaken idea when he asserts that the ad alluded to casts a reflection upon any number of members of this organization, nor does it carry with it any insinuation that there are a large number who indulge in strong drink to excess. Father Coffin, of Iowa, who is widely known among the members of this order, thought enough of this remedy and its good results to allow his picture to accompany it as a commendation for it, and I am free to say that I would willingly pay for the space it occupies myself if I thought even one of the five names which appear in the expulsion list in the January JOURNAL could have been left out. No one would be better pleased than the Editor if every member of this order would remember that they owe an obligation to themselves, to their dependents, to every member of this order, and to their employer as well, to lead sober, upright lives, and that drink is a sin against all of these. Then there would be no necessity for a remedy for this evil, and no remedy would be advertised; but so long as some forget, however few, we should not put out of reach of wife or mother any means that has any hope for the better things in it. EDITOR. Correspondence School. GALION, O., Jan. 7, 1905. EDITOR JOURNAL: For the benefit of the order why could there not be a correspondence school started in the JOURNAL? The Brothers are paying thousands of dollars yearly into institutions which could be saved to them if there was such a department in our JOURNAL. Of course, old men have gone by that period in life where such a thing would be of no benefit to them; and again, there are others who would be indifferent to such a thing or take little or no interest in the matter. But when it is claimed we have 47,000 members and others coming in every month I believe, and others will coincide with me, that there should be an effort in helping the young men who are entering our order. I see a discussion arising in regard to the directory being removed from the pages of the JOURNAL. The space might as well be occupied by the directory unless it is occupied by some useful matter that will be of some benefit to the members. Twice a year is enough for the directory to appear in the JOURNAL, providing there is useful matter inserted in its place. Start a department in the JOURNAL with a systematic study of problems that confront the members each day in their work and there is no doubt but it will meet with the approbation of a large number. Hoping to see something done in this line, I am Yours fraternally, EDW. KAVANAUGH, The Pen Mightier than the Sword. JERSEY CITY, N. J. EDITOR JOURNAL: I hope the appeal of our Editor will be heeded in regard to "contributors and the lack of them." I heartily indorse the stand he has taken in making this appeal. Brothers, read your JOURNAL,—every one of us has a few spare moments,-and come out to our meetings. Div. 53 has had some very interesting meetings lately. Bro. W. P. Garabrant is devoting about one-half hour on the quick-action triple and air brake instructions in general every meeting Sunday. We had Bro. James Currie with us Sunday, November 27, and it was a pleasure to see his smiling countenance, and we all appreciated his visit. We had our charter draped in mourning for our deceased Brothers, Peter Logan and Edward Johnson, and the thought came to me, Who is next?-just one a little ahead of the other, for this is the only certainty we have in this life, therefore, let us strive for a good name and live for something, so we may not be forgotten when it comes our turn. Although riches and high positions are within the reach of but a few, learning and a good character may be obtained by every person; a good name is better than all. Without a character that commands respect, our influence in society is not felt, and while tolerated is never emulated. Write your name in kindness, love and mercy on the hearts of those you come in contact with day by day. You will then become entwined in the hearts you leave behind when the Great Master Mechanic makes the last call and our train bears us over the Mystic River. Good deeds will shine as the stars in heaven. a very nice addition to the furnishings of the Home, but not by any means what it should have been, for not more than one per cent of the members of the four organizations sent in tags, evidently because so few of the Brothers look into their official publication. Over half of the 250,000 composing the four orders use tobacco in some form, and if each one had sent one whole tag we would have obtained twice as many as we did; and if each had sent or would send in 100, as some of the Brothers did, it would build a new $125,000 Home. But we are thankful for the contributions that came to us and the result. Respectfully yours, MRS. & MR. M. E. MURRAY, 972 76th Place. 104 164. FROM G. I. A. DIVISIONS. SUMMARY. Grand Lodge of B. of L. F., by W. S. Carter, G. S. & T.... Hamilton Carhartt, of Detroit, Mich., B. of R. T. Lodges... L. A. to O. R. C. Divisions. Total... MISCELLANEOUS. 12.00 5 00 $2,500 00 154 77 I 00 I 00 355 00 404 40 115.00 268 75 31 75 62 50 2 00 $3,896 17 Two quilts from Lodge 100. L. S. to B. of L. F. One box of fruit and dry goods from Div. 303, G. I. A., and Div. 598, B. of L. E. One barrel of apples from Mrs. T. B. Watson. Two boxes of canned fruit from Lodge 28, L. A. to B. of R. T. One quilt from Div. 238. G. I. A. Two boxes of cigars from P. H. Morrissey. Respectfully submitted, JOHN O'KEEFE, Sec. & Treas. The next day was St. Valentine's, And so, just what was in it: "The rose is red, the violet blue, Sugar is sweet, and so are you." A Chat About Valentines. What a stir and flutter that sly little elf, Master Cupid, creates among the young folks as the 14th of February draws near! On no other day in the year do bright eyes watch so anxiously for the postman; while in country towns the small postoffice is thronged as soon as school is over with merry, chattering groups of laughing boys and girls, eagerly awaiting their share of glittering "hearts and darts and true lovers' knots "-the effort to discover the senders making no end of fun and mystery. St. Valentine, whose name, at least, is remembered in these gay, foolish missives, was no doubt a very good old person, for we are told that he "was a man of most admirable parts, famous for his love and charity," and that he suffered martyrdom in the third century; but we can find nothing in his life to suggest his festival being kept as it now is, and has been for four or five hundred years. The children, however, will not regret that these fascinating paper souvenirs have become a part of St. Valentine's Day; only the poor letter-carriers, as they toil along with their unusually heavy burdens, having reason to grumble at the worthy saint. As some wag writes: "Oh, Love! how potent is thy sway! Thou'rt terrible, indeed, to most men; Oh, hard, indeed, the lot must be Of him who wears thy galling fetters! Who must go round with all thy letters." The mode of celebrating the day differs in various countries, but to see St. Valentine at his best one must go to the old English city of Norwich. There it is the great festival of the year, to which all look forward, and for which shopkeepers prepare for weeks beforehand; for their valentines are no paper affairs, but of some intrinsic value, as toys, jewelry and sweetmeats. St. Valentine's Eve is the time of celebration, and it is said that furious rapping at the knockers, all over the town, sounds like the clattering of ten thousand casta nets. In no country are so many so-called comic valentines sold and sent as in the United States. Is it possible that we, who pride ourselves upon being a people progressive and one of the foremost nations of the world, are lacking in natural refinement, and can find pleasure in anything so low as the sending of comic valentines? There is no excuse for wounding the feelings of a fellow-creature by making sport of his infirmities or his position in life, even on St. Valentine's Day, and to a sensitive person nothing can be more cruel than to receive one of these exaggerated caricatures. The day should be one to look forward to with joy, bringing sweets and leaving pleasant memories, if we would rightly honor good St. Valentine, and as they seem to know how to keep the 14th day of February in Norwich, I will close this chat with the couplet that always ends the valentines there: If you'll be mine, I'll be thine, Greetings from Div. 1. M. E. C. DEAR SISTERS: We come to you with New Year's greetings and sincerely hope that the new year may be productive of much good in the work we are striving to do. May we see our duty clearly and do it not only for duty's sake, but because we love to help each other in every way we can. May we always be alert for opportunities to do the right things, and encourage our Sisters by all working together in harmony. This we will do if we keep our motives pure and really "Do unto others as we would have them do unto us." We have a very flourishing Division and a constantly increasing membership of willing, cheerful workers. We had a number of very pleasant social gatherings last year, notably our picnic at the Railway Men's Home, Highland Park, Ill., which we gave August 25, and which was attended by a large number of Brothers and Sisters and their friends. The C. & N. W. Ry. Co. again, as before, generously furnished us with free transportation for the round trip. To those who have never attended one of these picnics, I would say that you have certainly missed a good time, and the inmates of the Home always seem to enjoy them as much as we do. These picnics are given as a benefit for the Home, and all our friends have responded so liberally that we have been enabled to clear a nice sum for it every year. Our latest social event was a ball given on the evening of December 22nd, and judging from the happy crowd who attended it, it was at least a social success. As we have had no meeting since, at this writing it is impossible to say what the financial gains are, but any way the evening was spent most enjoyably and the refreshments served were all that could be desired. We would say to our Sisters that we are always pleased to have you visit us, and believe that it promotes a general good feeling to visit each other, and so you may always be sure of a cordial welcome whenever you call on Crescent Div. No. 1. I take the liberty to copy the following verses clipped from The Home Monthly, entitled "Nobility: " "True worth is being, not seeming, We get back our mete as we measureWe cannot do wrong and feel right, Nor can we give pain and feel pleasure, For justice avenges each slight. The air for the wing of the sparrow, The bush for the robin and wren, But always the path that is narrow And straight for the children of men. "We cannot make bargains for blisses, Nor gaining of great nor of small, MRS. W. W. HAMILTON. Little Acts of Kindness. MOBERLY, Mo., Dec. 19, 1904. DEAR EDITRESS: May I write a few words on the value of the little acts of kindness which make up the "sum of happiness below?" It has been my good, or ill, fortune to have been Corresponding Secretary for several organizations during the past few years. It is one of my few good traits to be "faithful to my obligations," and whenever requested to write a letter or an article it may be considered as done. I have noticed that if I write nine articles correctly they are taken without comment and as a matter of course. Perhaps I should be flattered by the silence which may be a compliment, but I am not. I like to talk, and like others to talk too. But, if in the 10th article I inadvertently make an error or incorrect statement, the telephone bell is sure to ring, and I am called to account. It is an old adage "serving the public is a thankless job," and I have proved it so in most instances. The few exceptions form the oases in the desert which make it "blossom as the rose." I did not write this article to obtain sympathy or ask praise, but simply "To point a moral and adorn a tale." Having had the above experience it may not be necessary to tell you how pleasant it was to receive so kind a letter recently from our Editress in acknowledgment of an article. When she closed with the expression, "Come again, Sister, you are always welcome as the flowers in May," you may imagine what a warm glow it sent to my heart, and it inspired me to write this, which may prove "a word in season. I thought how little it cost her, only the writing of that sweet note, but its memory lingers in my heart and warms it still. May I not tell the Sisters the train of thought this note aroused? Doubtless no Division which has been in existence any length of time is lacking in the class we style "reliable;" officers or members who never fail in attendance or duty. Does it ever occur to you to tell them you appreciate it? I know a lady who is neither witty, brilliant, handsome nor wealthy, and whose taste in dress rather approaches the ridiculous, yet she is welcomed in every social circle and beloved by young and old, because she has such a kind heart. She is always saying pleasant things, and in fifteen years' acquaintance I have never heard her say an unkind word of any one. Must we always wait to bring flowers until we can strew them over graves? Must we close so tightly in our minds the appreciation we feel for others, gifts that not one little ray can escape to brighten their pathway? Must we wait to say the pleasant word or do the kindly act until life's pulses are stilled or the heart grown weary and unresponsive to our touch! Mayhap the time never comes when we fail to love the bright, sweet notes of appreciation, but the waiting is weary and the road is long, unlighted by the lamps of kindly words and kindly thoughts. No one can delve into our minds and bring our feelings to the light and this is well; but, if they are good thoughts, give them expression; if harsh, hide them so deep down they shall not escape. If your friends are welcome and dear say so in unmistakable accents, and not with the air of a society dame. If your friend's new dress is infinitely becoming tell her so, it will not make her vain. If she writes well let her know you think so. It is not praise but justice to the heaven-sent gift which she has not hidden in a napkin but cherished and cultivated. Try praise. It may bring to some other heart the happiness thus brought to mine, and cause it to sing as mine has done over the bright little greeting, "you are welcome as the flowers in May." COR. SEC. 33. |