The Colonial Dames of America were organized in New York City, May 23, 1890, to honor the brave men who in any important service contributed to the achievement of American independence; to collect manuscripts, traditions and relics and to foster a true spirit of patriotism. A hereditary society was deemed the most effective for this purpose. It has made a collection of valuable manuscripts, pedigrees, photographs and books; effected restorations in the old Swedes' Church at Wilmington, placed tablets in Baltimore, to Washington, and in Kingston, N. Y., to Governor Clinton. Historic tableaux have been given in the city of New York, with readings of original papers and lectures by historians. The publication of the "Letters to Washington" from the original manuscripts in the Department of State, has reached its fourth and last volume. For the sick and wounded in the Spanish-American War the society raised about $6,600, with a contribution of hundreds of garments and hospital appliances, and several of its members worked in hospitals and camps.
The society also has its valued social side. It has five chapters in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Paris (France), with about 400 members.
The National Society of United States Daughters of 1812 was organized Jan. 8, 1892. Its object is to publish memoirs of famous women of the United States, especially those of the period included in the eligibility of this society; to urge the Government, through an act of Congress, to compile and publish authentic records of men in military and naval service in the war of 1812, and of those in civil service during the period embraced by this society; to secure and preserve documents of the events for which each State was famous during this period; to promote the erection of a home where the descendants of the brave patriots of this war can be sheltered from the storms of life.
The work done in the various States is as follows: Two tablets, one marking New York City defenses during the war and one for "those who served," in the Post Chapel at West Point; Michigan, a monument to General McComb in the heart of Detroit; Maryland, the restoration of Fort McHenry (the inspiration of The Star Spangled Banner); Louisiana, a monument on the field of Cholnette. Massachusetts has received permission to restore the frigate Constitution and is raising $400,000 for this purpose; Pennsylvania is offering prizes in the public schools for historical work, and many other enterprises are under way. It has nineteen State societies with a membership of 776.
The United Daughters of the Confederacy were organized Sept. 10, 1894. The objects of the society are educational, memorial, literary and benevolent; to collect and preserve material for a truthful history of the War between the States; to honor the memory of those who fought and those who fell in the service of the Confederacy; to cherish the ties of friendship among the members of the society and to fulfil the duties of sacred charity to the survivors of the war and those dependent upon them. Much aid has been given to aged and indigent Confederate soldiers. There are homes for these soldiers in every Southern State and monuments have been erected to the Confederate dead in nearly every city. The orphans of Confederate soldiers have been educated and cared for, and in a number of States the society has seen that correct and impartial histories are used in the public schools. It has 500 branches and about 25,000 members.
LODGES:
The Supreme Hive Ladies of the Maccabees of the World was organized Oct. 1, 1892, to extend the benefits of life protection to women; to unite fraternally the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of the Knights of the Maccabees, as well as other women who are acceptable; to educate its members socially, morally and intellectually. Four hundred and twenty-five death claims were paid in 1900, amounting to $441,380; and twenty-two disability claims, amounting to $2,400. The total amount paid in claims from organization to Jan. 1, 1901, is $1,523,504.
The organization is composed of one supreme body, three subordinate bodies, known as Great Hives, and 1,835 subordinate or local hives, with a membership of 84,657, of whom 19,321 are social and 65,336 benefit members.
The Supreme Temple Rathbone Sisters of the World was organized Oct. 23, 1888, for promoting the moral, mental and social conditions of its members; cultivating a spirit of fraternal love which shall permeate and control their daily lives; ministering in all ways to the wants of the sick and needy; watching at the bedside of the dying; paying the last sad tribute of love and respect to the dead, comforting and providing for the widow in her afflictions, and daily exemplifying in every possible way the Golden Rule.
The Supreme Temple has general supervision of the Order throughout the world and makes the general laws. The Grand Temples, or State organizations, supervise the local Temples within their domain. The latter, besides carrying out the principles peculiar to a fraternal society, select some special work for the good of those outside their ranks. Reading rooms have been established, funds donated for public improvements, charity, etc. In order to care for the orphans of Rathbone Sisters a Home is soon to be erected, the fund being already set aside for this purpose. The local Temples care for their own poor and sick. In such disasters as those at Galveston and Jacksonville, the Temples send liberal donations to their members to relieve their financial losses.