The Supreme Temple is composed of twenty-four State organizations and 1,124 local Temples, with a membership of 71,247. Four insurance branches have just been established (1900).
The Order of the Eastern Star was organized in the latter part of the eighteenth century—the exact date is not known. Its founders sought to create a social tie between the families of Masons, but it early reached a higher standard of usefulness. Among its objects are caring for the widow and orphan and assisting the Masonic brother in all deeds of mercy and love. It has founded Eastern Star Homes for widows and orphans of Masons and has become a mighty impetus in the building and support of Masonic Homes. Everywhere its members visit the sick, relieve the distressed and speak words of cheer to the despairing. It has been found helpful all over the land in carrying forward the underlying principles of Masonry. It has taught woman to preside in public meetings and to make herself conversant in parliamentary law. Masonry unites the heads of families, whereas the Eastern Star unites the entire families. Its ritualistic teachings are designed to inculcate morals and to improve the social virtues. The Order comprises 3,491 chapters with a membership of 218,238.
The Daughters of Rebekah were organized in 1851 as a side degree of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and chartered lodges were authorized in 1868. The object is benevolent work. The order stands very high among charitable organizations and pays out thousands of dollars each year for the relief of widows and orphans. The report for the present year shows that 6,212 families were assisted at an expense of $141,646; and $50,540 were paid for the education of orphans. The Indiana lodge erected a monument in Indianapolis to Vice-President of the United States Schuyler Colfax, the principal founder of the order.
The Daughters of Rebekah usually exist wherever there is a lodge of the I. O. O. F. Men may take the degree but the affairs of the lodges are entirely in the hands of women. There are 125,300 men and 200,850 women members.
The Grand International Auxiliary to the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, was organized Oct. 16, 1887, to elevate the social standing of railroad people, to promote a fraternal feeling between families of engineers and to render assistance in time of trouble. The Voluntary Relief Association, formed in 1890, has paid to needy families of engineers over $100,000. It has no home for dependents, but helps widows to keep a home and care for their own children. It secures homes for orphans and assists in their education out of a special standing fund. There are $15,000 in the general fund. The order is exclusively composed of women, who manufacture all supplies and from this source realize a considerable revenue. Study clubs for intellectual culture are maintained in the various branches.
There are 255 subdivisions and about 10,000 members. It was founded by Mrs. W. A. Murdock, who has served continuously as president.
The Ladies' Auxiliary to the Order of Railroad Conductors of America was organized in 1888. The idea originally was merely social, but so many objects claimed assistance that, in 1895, the Fraternal Beneficiary Association was added to help the widows and children of railway conductors. Assessments were levied and in five years $2,200 had been thus applied. Good speakers, parliamentarians and business women have been developed and its members have become broader and more enlightened in every direction. There are 156 local divisions, with a membership of about 4,000.
Miscellaneous: Various organizations are in existence which are national in their aims and interests but scarcely have reached national proportions in the number of auxiliaries and membership. Among these may be mentioned the Sociological Society Of America, organized in New York in 1883, to disseminate the principles of Social and Industrial Co-operation; the National Women's Republican Association, founded in 1888; the Pro Re Nata, started in Washington in 1889, to perfect its members in the art of extemporaneous speaking; Wimodaughsis, organized in Washington in 1890 for the improvement of women along all educational lines; the Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to Women; the National Floral Emblem Society, formed at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893, to gain an expression from the people which shall lead to the adoption of a national flower and also the selection of State flowers, which have been chosen in nineteen States and the choice ratified by the Legislature; the National Society of New England Women, founded in New York in 1895, to promote acquaintance among New England women in various localities throughout the country for purposes of mutual helpfulness; the National League of American Pen Women, started in Washington City in 1896, to band together women journalists, authors and illustrators; the Women's Press Association, organized earlier and with branches in various States; the George Washington Memorial Association, incorporated in 1898, to raise $250,000 toward an Administration Building to be a part of the university as set forth in the will of George Washington—$25,000 of this amount being now on hand and as much more guaranteed; the Woman's League of the George Junior Republic, formed in 1899 to promote interest in the National Republic and establish branches; the National Legislative League, founded in 1900 to obtain for women equality of legal, municipal and industrial rights through action by the National Congress and the State Legislatures; Woman's Educational and Industrial Union; various associations for improving cities and villages by means of parks, shade trees, good streets, sanitary appliances, etc.; and countless others of a social, educational or philanthropic nature.
There are also a number of large national organizations composed of both men and women, with the latter very greatly predominating. Of these the most prominent are the Universal Peace Union, founded in 1866 and chartered in 1888, with forty branches in the United States and sixty in Europe; the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; the National Consumers' League; the Christian Endeavor Society; the Epworth League; the Young People's Union; the King's Daughters and Sons; the Anti-Vivisection Society.
The above list shows that women are organized for carrying forward practically every department of the world's work, and that their associations have been steadily increasing in number, size and scope during the past half century. In the early years the Woman Suffrage Association not only stood alone in its advocacy of enfranchisement but was regarded with the most strenuous disapproval by all other organizations of women. In 1881, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, principally through the influence of its president, Miss Frances E. Willard, established a department of franchise, but it was many years afterwards before the idea of the ballot was received with favor by any large number of its members. The sentiment is not now unanimous, but considered as a body there are no more active workers for woman suffrage. The National Council of Women has no platform, but its leaders and also those of the International Council are prominent advocates of the franchise. These are now found in greater or less numbers in all the organizations but not one of them includes the suffrage among the specific objects for which it works. As these broaden the associations frequently find it necessary to appeal to Legislative bodies, and the result is usually a significant lesson in the disadvantage of being without political influence. The Federation of Clubs, organized in 1890, in its endeavor to secure the passage of bills for various purposes, has applied to more Legislatures, during the past few years, than has the Suffrage Association. It is indeed a most interesting study to watch the evolution of the so-called women's clubs. Formed at first merely for a superficial literary culture, they widened by degrees into a study of practical matters related to law and economics. From these it was but a step into civics, where they are to-day, struggling to improve municipal, and indirectly national conditions and gradually having revealed to them the narrow limitations of woman's power in public affairs.