Jasper County, Missouri - Chapter 35: Social, Benevolent and Charitable, 1912

The Masons - Knights Templar - In Honor op John Gillis - ^A. 0. U. W. 4th op July, 1894 - Canton Lincoln No. 17, Partriarchs Militant - The Rebekahs - The Woodmen - The Independent Order OP Odd Fellows - ^Knights op Pytiuas - ^M. W. A. Log Rolling - The Qermania Society - First Elks Street Fair - Young Men's Christian Association - Entertains the State Y. M. C. A. Convention - The Joplin Charitable Union - Potato Day - A Novel Entertainment - The Joplin Children's Home.

Among the fraternities which were organized in Joplin during the decade were the Woodraen, Select Friends, Knights and Ladies of Security, Maccabees, United Commercial Travelers, Knights of Columbus, Elks and many other orders which, with the old fraternities already established, did a grand and noble work and brought the men and women of the city that **Jack Built," almost to the threshold of the ** golden age of fraternity.*'

Among the Masonic events which stand out during the early 'nineties was the excursion to Siloam Springs on St. John's day, June 24, 1892. The two Masonic lodges, together with the Star and their families, visited Siloam Springs, Arkansas, St. John's day of 1892. A round trip of one dollar was made and ten coaches were packed. The day was delightfully spent and long remembered.

The Eastern Star was exceedingly popular during the decade and no Masonic reception was complete without the assistance of this auxiliary. Mrs. Mamie Fletcher, of the Joplin Star, was honored by the State Grand Lodge by an election to the presidency in 1896 and as the grand worthy matron she made a most excellent officer. The Grand Chapter met in Joplin in 1897 and was an event in the fraternal history of the city.

February 7, 1897, was the twenty-first anniversary of the removal of Medoc, now Joplin Lodge No. 335, A. F. & A. M., to Joplin, and the event was duly celebrated by an open meeting and banquet to which

Fellowship Lodge and the Eastern Star were invited. Among those who were present at the banquet was Lee Taylor, who was present at the first meeting of the lodge in East Joplin, February 21, 1876.

After an hour's program at the hall the lodge, with their guests, adjourned to the Grossman hall, where a superb banquet was served, covers being laid for two hundred.

S. A. Underwood, Harmon Cline and Dr. Kelso, of Joplin Lodge and Clark Craycroft and Jno. S. Reynolds, of Fellowship Lodge, were among the speakers who responded to toasts.

Ascension Commandery No. 39, Knights Templar, attended all three of the triennial conclaves held during the nineties - at Denver in 1892, Boston in 1895, and at Pittsburgh in 1898. The conclave at Boston was a very enjoyable one, the Knights from Jasper county being the guests of Beverly Commandery, Beverly, Massachusetts, of which organization Col. D. A. Preston, formerly of Joplin, was a member. The Beverly Commandery entertained the Jasper county contingent with a clam bake and this novel feast was a rare treat to the people from Missouri.

At the meeting of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, in 1897, John Gillis, of Ascension Commandery, was chosen grand commander - a most distinguished honor for Jasper county - and on October 26th, the Knights from Joplin, Webb City, Neosho and Galena, entertained in honor of their genial, whole-souled son of bonny Scotland.

The banquet, which concluded the evening's entertainment, was, in Masonic circles, the event of the year, and was had at the Keystone Hotel. Eighty-one Knights, with their lady friends, gathered around the festive board. The landscape program gotten out for the occasion bore on the front cover, with the Knight Templar emblems, a splendid likeness of Captain Gillis in colors. The front page of the program bore the inscription: ** Ascension Commandery No. 39, Joplin, Missouri. Complimentary ta Right Eminent Commander John Gillis, Grand Commander, Grand Commandery of Missouri."

** Christian Knighthood - Let Brotherly Love and Knightly Courtesy Continue;" response Eminent Commander C. Woods, grand warden, and president Scarret College.

' * Ladies - Man was made when* nature was but an apprentice, woman, when she was a skilful mistress of her art;" response Eminent Knight Clark Craycroft, Joplin.

Maj. F. E. Williams was toast master and never appeared to better advantage than on this occasion. His ease and grace as a presiding officer and his pleasant address, mingled with an occasional witticism rounded off the several after-dinner talks and sent everyone home happy.

The combined Ancient Order of United Woodmen lodges of Joplin celebrated the 4th of July, 1894, at Cunningham's grove, and the occasion was one of the old fashioned celebrations of the father. Philip Arnold read to an attentive audience the Declaration of Independence and a number of patriotic addresses were given, pointing out the duties of citizenship. After the limcheon, which was an old fashioned basket picnic dinner, the people indulged in the pastimes of the pioneer days. Races were run, there was the climbing of the greased pole and the chase after the greased pig. A dancing platform added to the pleasure, and here the dignified city people did all sorts of stunts - one man, a prominent banker, waltzing around the floor holding gracefully his partner's arm and eating a big ham sandwich, all at the same time. It was a day of fun and frolic.

Canton Lincoln covered itself all over with glory during the early nineties, and not only reflected great credit on the Odd Fellows, but on Joplin as well. At Butler, April 26, 1891, it won the first prize for the best drilled canton, attending the natal day celebration at that place and winning from Kansas City, Port Scott and Lamar.

On November 3rd and 4th, at the annual encampment of the First Regiment, First Brigade, Patriarchs Militant, I. O. 0. F., which was held at Lamar, it again won the first prize, defeating Butler, Springfield and Fort Scott.

In St. Louis, at the meeting of the Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1891, the canton was especially honored, receiving honorable mention in the grand parade for the splendid appearance it made and, as a special mark of distinction, being honored by the Sovereign Grand Lodge with an invitation to act as its escort. The following were the members who escorted the Sovereign body from headquarters at the Planters hotel to the place of meeting: Capt. R. A. Spear, John James Falcon Weir, A. C. Barr, George A. Cochrane, E. J, Foreman, A. J. Morton, W. E. Morgan, J. W. McAntire, Dr. M. F. Balsley, John Hendricks, E. W. Beach, Fred Sellers, E. Gaede, William Chapin, Sid Hire, E. D. Zelliken, William Beller, G. R. Lavery, A. Stewart, Ben Carlisle, Frank Donnan, W. H. Kettinger, Jasper Vancil, A. Haughton, ^I. Scherl, M. Klotz, Charles Schoenherr, A. P. Clark, J. E. Currah, A. R. Jones, Williams Fuller and Maj. G. W. Koehler.

In the world's contest Canton Lincoln won the third prize, $250. At the meeting of the Sovereign Lodge at Dallas in 1896 the Canton took second prize.

Canton Lincoln, perhaps more than any other semi-military organization, has kept Joplin in the eyes of the public, for, unlike most of the other orders which have had those periods of success and for a time have been in public favor, it has never disbanded, but has from its time of organization to now been a prominent factor in Joplin 's fraternal life.

One of the first lady's lodges which was organized in Joplin was the Degree of Rebekah. The organization was effected April 7, 1891, the initiatory work being performed by the Carterville lodge, which came over to Joplin fifty strong and assisted, in a most impressive way, the instituting oflScer. The following were the first oflScers of the lodge : Mrs. Lola Dawson, noble grand; Mrs. S. J. Hire, vice grand; Miss Georgia Johnson, secretary; Miss Maggie Danford, financier; Mrs. J. B. Shaw, treasurer. At the conclusion of the work the members of the new lodge and the visiting teams sat down to a tempting banquet.

We make mention here of Joplin Camp, No. 3039, M. W. A., for two reasons - ^first, because of its phenomenal growth and second, on account of its bringing to the city the log-rolling of August 10, '98, which up to that time was the largest gathering of its kind Joplin had ever witnessed. The lodge was instituted in August, 1895, with seventeen members, and grew very rapidly. In September, 1897, the camp clerk announced that the lodge had passed the hundred mark and the event was duly celebrated on October 28th with a social session and banquet which were attended by the lodge and a hundred invited guests. John Gmeiner was the master of ceremonies, and in the jovial manner for which he is noted made the evening one continual round of pleasure. Nearly every one of the hundred guests came into the camp and before the close of the year its membership had almost reached the two hundred point. At the time of the log rolling Joplin Camp had grown to 600 and, as its members marched down Main street in the big parade they resembeld a regiment of soldiers passing in review before the commander-in-chief. W. A. Northcott, then head counselor of the Woodmen, was the guest of Joplin Camp at the log rolling.

On January 15, 1892, Mineral Lodge, No. 330, was organized at the Knights of Pythias hall, and at once became a very popular lodge. In 1898 G. A. Weyman built, at the comer of Seventh and Main streets, a three-story business block, leaving the third floor to the Odd Fellows and arranging it especially for lodge purposes. The hall was dedicated April 15, 1898, and from then until 1911, when the county leased the second and third floors for a temporary court house, it was one of the most popular halls in the city.

Joplin Lodge, No. 40, Knights of Pythias, continued through the nineties to be the social organization of the city. Their hall was the 3rd floor of the Burz (now the Worth) building, Fourth and Main streets. It was at that day the most elegantly furnished hall in the city and here a great many social functions occurred, as well as lodge meetings.

Joplin Division, No. 40, U. R. K. P., was organized in June, 1892, with G. K. Davidson, then city treasurer, as captain. The Joplin Division was very popular, containing some of the best young business men of the day. It was twice a prize winner in a drill contest, and took part in the biennial encampments at both Kansas City and Washington.

On August 10, 1898, Joplin was literally packed and jammed with the Modem Woodmen and their friends, who came to attend the Missouri- Kansas Log Rolling Association, the lowest estimate of the crowd being 35,000. The Kansas City Southern brought 3,000 people to Joplin ; the Missouri Pacific and Frisco Interurban lines both brought thousands and the Memphis special from Fort Scott contributed 2,300. The electric line had the biggest day's business up to that time reported and the special from Kansas City brought fourteen coaches loaded to the guard, many Woodmen i4ding the steps and platform from Kansas City to Joplin.

The speech making occurred at Cunningham Park and took place at 10 A. M. The parade occurred at 2 P. M., formed at Cox park and marched down Main street. There were eleven bands in the parade and thirty-two camps of Woodmen aggregating 5,000 members. Dr. E. C. H. Squire was the grand marshal and handled the great parade in a most excellent manner, not a single detail being overlooked. In the election of state officers Dr. Squire was named as vice president of the state camp.

The drill contest took place at 5:30 P. M., five teams of Woodmen entering the drill contest, which resulted as follows : First prize, Midland Camp, Kansas City; second prize, Nevada Camp.

The Fort Scott team entered the contest for the world championship, but no other team contested their right to the honor - ^took no part in the contest proper. After the contest for the state championship was over - tlie team gave an exhibition drill which thrilled the huge crowd of spectators with admiration.

bined and paraded the street, concluding with an open air concert, and this feature was one which lent no little enjoyment to the day's program.

In 1891 the Germania Society built a neat club room and dance and amusement hall at the corner of Third and Joplin streets and the dedication which occurred January 7, 1892, was a great event among the Germans of the city.

The dedicatory address was delivered by Lieutenant Gtovemor Claycomb and a number of short talks were made by prominent members of the organization, after which dancing was indulged in until the wee small hours.

Until the building of the Elk club house in 1905 the Germania Hall was the place where all swell society functions were had, and is yet a popular place for dances and social amusements.

Shortly following the building of the new home, a singing section was organized, with R. Seidenstriker as president and director. From that time to the present, this glee club, which now contains more than a hundred voices, has been one of the best singing societies in the state and has participated, with great credit to the city, in a number of musical events.

On May 29, 1899, Joplin Lodge No. 501, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was instituted with fifty charter members, all of whom were social leaders and among the best business men of the city.

The Elks lodge differs from other fraternities in this - ^that it has for its fundamental virtue the very laudable purpose of making its fellow members happy and living in the present, rather than being content with the glorious deeds of the past, or the future expectations. With the Elks, therefore, the club house, and the social functions of the day are most important.

Jopljn Lodge, No. 501, chose for its first presiding oflBcer a man of great energy, Geo. H. Redell, and to the upbuilding of the order he gave much of his time. The lodge at once set about to furnish a club room and with this end in view, gave in 1899 a very successful street fair - ^which by-the-way, was the first street fair that Joplin had.

The fair occurred October 23-28, 1899, and was managed by an executive committee, headed by P. A. Leedy as chairman. Booths for the exhibition of various wares and merchandise were erected all along Main street and the fair proper was given in a tented, fence-like enclosure on East Fifth street, between Kentucky Avenue and the railway tracks. The queen of the fair was Miss Mamie Schnur - and most graciously did she reign.

witnessed by fifteen thousand people, the business of the city having suspended during the afternoon. The opening parade was largely a spectacular and fraternal one and formed in the following order. Squadron of mounted police ; Company 6, Second Regiment, M. N. G. ; O. P. Morton Post, No. 14, Q. A. R.; mayor and city ofBciak in carriages; Joplin Lodge, No. 501, B. P. O. E., escorting the queen and her maids of honor; the Hoo Hoos; A. 0. U. W. lodges; I. 0. 0. F. lodges; labor unions; Ore Producers* Association; floats.

The Elks carried canes decorated with streamers of purple and white. The Hoo Hoos wore black caps and ulsters and were preceded by an immense black cat - ^the emblem of their order.

Among the floats that attracted especial comment were the following : The 'Frisco lines - a miniature engine and cars manned by a crew of little boys and girls, who cried as they passed along the streets '*Take the 'Frisco line!"

Walter Scott's little daughter appeared as a fairy driving a great white swan, and the effect was perfectly arranged and executed, winning the prize for the most unique float. The coronation of the queen occurred at night and was carried out with all of the splendor of a real inauguration. Mayor Spencer acted as high lord chancellor and placed the jeweled crown on the head of the social ruler for the week and figuratively delivered to her and her subjects the keys of the city. The queen was attended by Misses Van Osdel and Norris of Carthage and Misses Clark and Montjoy, of Webb City.

The flower parade, also the first that Joplin had witnessed, occurred Tuesday and was a spectacle worth going miles to see. This parade was headed by the exalted ruler, Geo. Redell, who drove an automobile - Ihc first one ever seen in Joplin. This parade excited so much favorable comment that it was repeated during the closing day.

Forty beautiful decorated carriages and traps were in line, among them the following: Mrs. Dr. Snyder and Mrs. J. H. Spencer, phaeton; white chrysanthemums and ruchings of white tarleton.

George Layne and Miss Kitty Austin, trap; literally covered with white roses, three white horses driven abreast, Russian fashion, with arches of white roses connecting them.

Mrs. E. S. Lockett; trap in yellow and white roses, very elaborate, accompanied by Miss Edna Lockett, Miss Emma Roesch and Mrs. Smith, her sister.

In our chapter of the 'eighties a mention was made of the efforts to organize a Young Men's Christian Association in Joplin. A permanent organization was effected February 11, 1891. On Friday evening, January 21st, a meeting was held at the residence of A. H. Waite, where plans were formulated for a permanent organization, and Sunday morning, the 23rd, in all of the pulpits of the city addresses were made, explaining the modes of working, and the benefits to the city of a Y. M. C. A. On February 11th in the old Tabernacle, at a mass meeting of the men of all denominations, the permanent organization was effected, with the following as the first board of directors: J. H. Dangerfield, president; J. W. Ore, vice president ; A. B. McConnel, secretary ; J. C. Faulkender, treasurer; 0. B. Hamlin, A. H. Waite, J. R. Yates, W. A. Nickell and E. T. Doty.

The sura of three thousand dollars was subscribed for the maintenance of the rooms and quarters covering fifty feet over Nos. 414-16 Main street were rented and used until the present elegant building was constructed. These old Y. M. C. A. rooms, although small, were the scenes of many splendid gatherings, both religious and social.

On January 1, 1892, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Young Men's Christian Association tendered a reception to the young men of the city, and this was the beginning of a series of social events which drew the Christian young people closer together in a social way. These New Year receptions were annual events in Joplin during the remainder of the decade and were always popular. At the reception of January 1, 1897, more than three hundred young people were present.

J. E. Colter, who came to Joplin in 1894 as secretary, was a most popular and hard working oflScer, and by his personal efforts built the Y. M. C. A. up to a formidable men's organization. During the Spanish- American war Secretary Colter accompanied the troops to the front and kept at the great camp at Chickamauga a Y. M. C. A. tent which, as much as any other thing, helped to keep the boys in good spirits. The Y. M. C. A. tent was **just like home." Here were all of the county papers, magazines, letter paper, etc., and when, during the hot weather so many of the boys were sick, Mr. Colter ministered to their wants, and visited them in camp and hospital, always bringing comfort and cheer. Every man in the Second Regiment had a tender spot in his heart for the Y. M. C. A. tent, and the local association has always been a power in the city for good.

men and church workers. The sessions of the convention were held at the First Methodist church and a number of splendid addresses were heard.

. Walter 6. Tyzzer, of St. Louis, led the big chorus which opened the conference, and it was an inspiration to hear the seven hundred men who were in attendance sing the Gospel hymns. It seemed to the author, who was present, as if the very rafters in the roof echoed and reechoed the songs that were sung. Andrew Baird, of Kansas City, W. P. Andrews, of Atlanta, Georgia, and G. T. Coxhead and Dr. Doggett, of Springfield, Massachusetts, were among the noted Y. M. C. A. workers present, who delivered helpful addresses to the young men. In the selection of officers Hon. Jno. H. Taylor, of Joplin, was elected president of the state association for 1897.

One of the notable features of the convention was the entertainment which Joplin accorded the visitors. The local Y. M. C. A. had appointed a reception committee of fifty, which was in every sense of the word a reception committee, for they at once made every out-of-town visitor feel at home and left nothing undone that would add to the comfort and enjoyment. Every delegate was supplied with a badge on which was

This informal introduction not only served as a means of at once getting the delegates acquainted with each other, but with the citizens as well, and the acquaintances that one made, and the friendships formed were long and lasting. The delegates were also entertained in the homes of the people, no one was permitted to pay out a cent for hotel accommodations and on the last day of the gathering the citizens turned out en masse with their carriages and took the entire delegation over the mining district, visiting all points of interest.

A history of Joplin would not be complete without a special mention of the Charitable Union, an organization which during the 'nineties came into great prominence and which did a grand and noble work for sweet charity's sake.

The panic of 1893 brought to an end the building boom which was then at full height and, with the general business depression which followed and the temporary closing down of many of the mines on account of the slump in the price of jack, there was naturally much suffering among the poor.

This condition called for immediate relief and the good people of the city organized the Joplin Charitable Union to care for the needy. In all ages women have been good ministering angels and the history of the world is full of their noble acts and kind and loving deeds. It was therefore but natural that the women of the city should take the initiative in this good work and they, with the assistance of a few men who

The first oflScers of the Charitable Union were: President, Mrs, E. D. Porter ; vice president, Mrs. L. A. Fillmore ; secretary -treasurer, Mrs. Dr. A. R. Snyder. In order that the work might be more eflEeetively carried on the five wards of the city were organized into separate districts, with a relief committee in each precinct, and in this way when a case of suffering was reported it was at once investigated by the committee and if worthy, assisted.

The men of means contributed large sums of money and a series of entertainments, dances, etc., were given to raise funds. The city council came to the front and did its part by providing employment on the streets and at a public wood yard for a limited number of men. In order that as many men as possible, might be given work, and thus keep the family in groceries and necessaries, no one was permitted to spend more than three days in each week on this public work.

On the day before Thanksgiving the pupils of the schools were asked to contribute provisions, and they were asked to bring at least one potato. The response was generous and whole-hearted. Wednesday afternoon the boys and girls came to school bringing potatoes by the pocketful, by the sackful and by the peck, and the school rooms of the city resembled miniature groceries. So generous were the pupils and patrons that over one hundred bushels of potatoes were gathered up and distributed by the union on Thanksgiving day, besides a considerable assortment of other groceries and provisions.

The admission was free and, as an attraction to get the people there, a number of gymnastic events were had including a silent drill and bayonet exercise from Company G; Indian club swinging from the Pansy Club ; twenty-four young misses from the Franklin school, and vaulting, etc., by the gymnasium class from the Y. M. C. A. After the exercises lunch baskets were sold. After selecting a basket the purchaser hunted up his partner - the lady who packed the lunch - and paid for it at the rate of one quarter cent a pound of the lady's weight ; and it was strange how much more the young ladies weighed on the charity scales than on the standard scales elsewhere. This entertainment netted a good round sum.

The Charitable Union continued as an organization until 1900 and did a noble work. During the later years of the decade, however, the work was largely done by the ministers, each of the denominations being represented on the official board. Rev. W. T. Wright, of the Methodist church, was the last president. The union was succeeded in its charity work by the Provident Association.

The following little incident came to the attention of the author one day in 1899 and he relates it here as one of many stories that might be told of the philanthropically inclined men of Joplin.

One cold and blustering day - and, by the way, just following a blizzard - the master of one of the Masonic lodges received a telegram from the lodge at Oklahoma City stating that one of their brethren, a former Joplinite, had died, and that his body was being brought to his home city for interment. The Joplin lodge was asked to perform the last sad rites at the grave for the Oklahoma lodge. The master of the lodge started out to summons a committee to meet the train and escort the remains to the home of his relatives. The first member of the lodge who was met was C. W. Lyon, later mayor of Joplin, and then one of the hard-working members of the Charitable Union. The master hailed Mr. Lyon, who was hurrying along the street, and told him the contents of the telegram.

Mr. Lyon said that he would be at the train at the appointed time, but said that he must hurry along as he had some important work to do. It so happened that the presiding officer of the Masonic lodge was going in the same direction that Mr. Lyon was hurrying and, as the wind was cutting, he hurried too, kept up with the kindly disposed man and found that he was out distributing coal to the homes which Jack Frost had caught short of fuel. He afterward learned that Mr. Lyon had been out since early sunrise and had been to fifty or more box houses and tents in the Kansas City bottom, leaving at each place a little pile of coal and wood.

In June, 1899, a movement was started by the "Women's Christian Temperance Union of Joplin, to provide for the homeless children of the city - and, after a few months of preliminary work, a children's home was established in a small four-room cottage at No. 708 Pearl street, with Mrs. C. E. Barr as matron. In this small house what is now Joplin 's most widely supported charity had its beginning.

"Charity should begin at home" - ^but not if there are destitute children somewhere else. ** Suffer little children to come unto Me" were indeed a sarcastic adjuration if those children had to come hungry and cold and forlorn. Men whose lives are thrown into that hunt of gaunt, gray Want that romancers so glibly name the ** underworld'* soon learn to look calmly upon scenes of misery that a Dumas could not describe. But when they look into the pinched face of a starved, worldweary child the most hardened of them feels an unwonted tightening of the throat.

Charity begins with the children in Joplin; or, to be more accurate of diction, Joplin 's most pretentious charitable institution is devoted to the care of children who would otherwise be thrown upon the tender mercies of a busy-with-its-own-aflPairs world. Not once, in the years since it was established, has this institution failed to receive adequate support from the citizens of Joplin. Not once, in that time, has it failed in its fulfillment of the public obligation to unfortunate childhood.

Previous to 1891 there had been no general observance of New Years m a social way, and only now and then an occasional lady would keep open-house. January 1, 1891, however, the day was generally observed and at a score or more of homes, open-house was kept, the lady of the house being assisted by a number of her lady friends.

The following were among the places where New Year's Receptions were held: Mrs. W. A. McMillen, assisted by Madames James A. Bolen, T. D. Waninfred, W. K. Proudfoot, and Misses Ella Johnson, and Opal McMillen. Mrs. L. Riseling. assisted by Miss Corine Allington and Lizzie Riseling; Mrs. A. H. Waite, assisted by Madames H. H. Gregg, Lillian Robinson, and Miss Mary Carson ; Mrs. Will Moore, assisted by Madamea H. H. Crittenden, Will Holman, H. P. Campbell, and Miss Mattie Campbell ; Mrs. Dr. A. R. Snyder, assisted by Mrs. Jno. Craigin, E. D. Porter, Miss Lillie Campbell, and Miss Clara Mason; Miss Dora Landauer, assisted by Misses Stella Thurman, and Belle Prince ; Miss May Hunt, assisted by Misses Maude Hunt and Helen Purcell; Mrs. M. C. Allen, assisted by Misses Ida Babst, and Kate Allen; Mrs. J. E. Pearson, assisted by Madames Dr. M. T. Batsley, and L. M. Bates; Mrs. W. C. Witman, assisted by Mrs. W. S. Paul ; Mrs. A. V. Allen, assisted by Mrs C. V. Petrause.

At each of the above places a large number of gentlemen called and the day was most Helightfully spent, old friendships were renewed and new acquaintances formed. This pleasant custom of keeping openhouse on New Year's day has been observed on numerous times^ but never more pleasantly than in 1891.