Modern Woodmen of America [The Lima News, Ohio]

Aug. 28--LIMA -- The oddly named organization announced itself to Lima in the Lima Times Democrat on May 22, 1893.

"The Modern Woodmen of America is no longer a foundling at the mercy of capital, but a growing young giant endowed with strength and stability. ... The Modern Woodmen of America is composed of 75,000 men of the West who have banded together with no income but their daily toil and no capital but honor and loyalty, to insure financial aid to their families when they are dead and can no longer protect them."

The growing young giant was then 10 years old. Born in 1883 in Lyons, Iowa, the Modern Woodmen of America were created by Joseph Cullen. Root wanted to create a fraternal benefit society that would protect families and their financial futures following the death of a breadwinner.

Wikipedia describes Modern Woodmen as "a tax-exempt fraternal benefit society" in which the membership organization sells life insurance, annuity and investment products "not to benefit stockholders but to improve the quality of life of its stakeholders -- members, their families and their communities. They accomplish this through social, charitable and volunteer activities."

The odd name, according to the Modern Woodmen web site, grew out of a Sunday sermon.

"Full of ideas, all Root needed was a name for his fraternal society. During a Sunday sermon, Root heard Reverend Sydney Crawford tell a parable about the good that came from woodmen clearing away the forest to build homes, communities and security for their families. Because this seemed the perfect symbol for Root's goal of clearing away financial burdens for families, he adopted the term 'Woodmen.' To express that his fraternal society would be ever changing to keep up with the times, he added 'Modern.' Finally, Root added 'of America' to signify the society's patriotism and to honor our nation."

At a time when most fraternal organizations were affiliated with religious groups, the Modern Woodmen were open to all denominations as well as atheists and agnostics. Modern Woodmen membership initially was restricted to white males between 18 and 45 and only in the 12 "healthiest" states. Ohio was one of these and was admitted in 1895. Also excluded were residents of large cities and those employed in professions such as railway brakemen, miners, workers in gunpowder factories and professional baseball players. A ladies auxiliary, the Royal Neighbors, was started in 1888. In 1929, the Woodmen began to insure women and children.

Root left the Modern Woodmen in 1890 after a bitter dispute and founded another fraternal benefit society, Woodmen of the World.

The Modern Woodmen branches were called "Camps." Lima Camp 3290 was born in October 1895 with a "strong membership," the Times Democrat reported Oct. 19, 1895. Attorney W.T. Copeland was named clerk and would be active in the group both locally and nationally for the next 16 years.

The Lima camp grew quickly. The Times Democrat announced Feb. 20, 1897, that the group "introduced 14 candidates to the mysteries of Woodcraft at their regular meeting held in Wheeler Hall Monday evening, besides balloting up 17 applications." Membership, the newspaper said, "now numbers nearly 100 and each week adds from 10 to 15 to the list."

Introduction to the "mysteries of Woodcraft" must have been interesting. An April 8, 1902, story in the Times Democrat notes "A half dozen recruits were added to the ranks, and while some of them braved the dangers of the forest without fear, others entered the portal with fear and trembling."

A mechanical goat was one of "the dangers of the forest" in Kansas City, Mo.The Lima Daily News reported Aug. 11, 1899, that a man was suing the Modern Woodmen for an injured finger. The man, the story reported, "asserts that he was strapped to this goat and then the wheels were rolled over the lodge door and he spun around like a top." The man, a tailor, reached out his hand "to save himself and it was mashed between the wheel and the floor."

Despite these dangers, membership grew. "If it continues at its present rate the local camp of Modern Woodmen of American will soon bear the distinction of having more members than any other secret society in the city," the Times Democrat wrote Aug. 1, 1901. By the end of 1904, the newspaper reported "There are 450 Modern Woodmen in Lima, and this large camp is compelled to seek larger and more commodious quarters in which to hold their meetings."

Almost from its beginning, the Lima camp took its fraternal side seriously, particularly in the early 20th century. The Times Democrat noted Aug. 9, 1896, that the group had "secured Hover's Park for Labor Day, and expect to give one of the finest entertainments ever given at the beautiful park ... Go to Hover's beautiful park and see the sturdy Woodmen do heavy log-rolling and wood-chopping that will cause the white and hoary beard of our great-grandfather to turn to its original hue." A 1905 Labor Day event at McCullough's Lake (Schoonover Park) featured, according to the Daily News, "ladies ball-throwing contest, the boat race, Woodmen running race, apple-grabbing contest, fat men's running race, hop, step and jump, ladies' peanut contest, boys' shoe contest, girls' running race, blindfold running dash, and others."

In 1894, members in Hutchinson, Kan., organized the first Modern Woodmen Forester drill team. The teams were known for their elaborate uniforms, shiny axes and meticulous drills. On March 14, 1901, the team from the Findlay camp challenged Lima's team to "a contest for points." The Findlay Courier wrote that "if Lima wins they will get a sum of money, which Deputy J.B. Rosenberger, of Findlay's camp will put up. On the other hand, if the extremely probable happens -- that is if Findlay wins -- H.W. Bowersmith will part with an equal sum of money."

The Woodmen also sponsored Memorial Day parades, railroad trips to Cedar Point and rest tents at the county fair. On March 10, 1911, the Daily News reported, the Woodmen had reserved 600 seats to hear baseball-player-turned-evangelist Billy Sunday.

During the Spanish-American War, the Woodmen were "in the front and showing their patriotism," the Daily News noted May 3, 1898. Members voted to pay "all dues and assessments of members who joined Army or Navy during the present conflict."

Nationally, the Woodmen opened a tuberculosis sanatorium outside Colorado Springs in 1909, providing free treatment for more than 12,000 members between 1909 and 1947. Today, there are 37,856 members in Ohio and more than 773,000 nationwide.

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