The Neighbors of Woodcraft were a fraternal benefit society that originated as a splinter of the female auxiliary of the Woodmen of the World.
The origins of the society go back to the Supreme Session of the Woodmen Circle in 1897 when delegates from nine western states led by Mrs. C. C. Van Ornsdall passed a resolution to secede from the parent order and form the Pacific Circle, Women of Woodcraft. The group was headquartered in Leadville, Colorado, but moved to Portland, Oregon in 1905, where it remained through the 1970s. [1] The Neighbors of Woodcraft merged into the Woodmen of the World in July 2001. [2]
Local units were called "Circles", regional areas were "District Circles" and the "Grand Circle" was the national authority. Circle officers included the Guardian neighbor, Past Guardian Neighbor, Adviser, Magician, Clerk, Banker, Attendant, Captain of Guards, Flag, Bearer, Musician, Inner Sentinel, Out Sentinel, three Managers, Correspondent and Senior Guardian. [3]
In 1979 the Neighbors had no less than five categories of membership: benefit, social, junior benefit, junior social and family affiliate. Benefit members contributed to the Benefit Fund and were insured by the order. Social members, like social members in other groups, did not contribute to the benefit fund and ordinarily unable to hold office. Junior beneficial and social memberships was much like the adult counterparts, other than the fact that they needed their parents permission. family affiliates were children who were insured under a family rider plan. In 1927 there were 77,000 members, but this had declined to 25,000. [4]
The Neighbors of Woodcraft had a ritual which included annual passwords, initiation rites and a ritual obligation. Once each year each member was required to reaffirm their obligation on "Obligation Night". [4]
Aside from insurance programs, the NOW also operated a home for its aged members, Woodcraft Home. This Home was originally based in Riverside, California, but moved to Hood River, Oregon in 1952. There was also a Grand Circle Scholarship Program open to sons, daughters or grandchildren of members. [4]
Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) is a fraternal organization that was founded on February 6, 1898, in Seattle, Washington, by a group of six theater owners including John Cort, brothers John W. and Tim J. Considine, Harry (H.L.) Leavitt, Mose Goldsmith and Arthur Williams. Originally made up of those engaged in one way or another in the performing arts, the Eagles grew and claimed credit for establishing the Mother's Day holiday in the United States as well as the "impetus for Social Security" in the United States. Their lodges are known as "aeries".
A benefit society, fraternal benefit society, fraternal benefit order, friendly society, or mutual aid society is a society, an organization or a voluntary association formed to provide mutual aid, benefit, for instance insurance for relief from sundry difficulties. Such organizations may be formally organized with charters and established customs, or may arise ad hoc to meet unique needs of a particular time and place.
WoodmenLife is a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society founded in 1890, based in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that operates a large privately held insurance company for its members.
Fraternal Order Orioles is a social and charitable organization that was founded in August 1910. The organization currently consists of about 54 local Nests and affiliated Auxiliaries located in 9 states in the eastern United States.
Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) is one of the largest fraternal benefit societies in the United States, with more than 750,000 members. Total assets reached US$15.4 billion in 2016. Though it shares the same founder, it is not affiliated financially in any way with another, similarly-styled fraternal benefit society, WoodmenLife, and despite the name "Modern" is actually older than its counterpart.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen (AOUW) was a fraternal organization in the United States and Canada, providing mutual social and financial support after the American Civil War. It was the first of the "fraternal benefit societies", organizations that would offer insurance as well as sickness, accident, death and burial policies.
Danish Brotherhood in America is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1882 in Omaha, Nebraska. It had about 8,000 members in 2010. A period report said of the Danish Brotherhood, "This is by far the strongest and most influential secular organization about the Danes in America."
The Neighbors of Woodcraft Building, also known as the Tiffany Center, is a building located in southwest Portland, Oregon, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Construction of the building was commissioned by the Neighbors of Woodcraft (NOW), a non-profit fraternal benefit society based in Oregon since 1905 and operating in several western states, for use as a national headquarters and clubhouse. The building was completed in May 1929 and dedicated in June. In 1993, NOW sold the building and moved out of its remaining office space there. The building was added to the National Register in February 1996.
The Junior Order of United American Mechanics is an American fraternal order. It began as a youth affiliation of the Order of United American Mechanics, but seceded to become its own organization and eventually absorbed its parent order. Originally, it was an anti-Catholic, nativist group.
The Daughters of America is an American secret society, Nativist organization dating from the late-19th century. It was founded in 1891 as an auxiliary of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Since its heyday in the 1930s, the organization is believed to have shrunk significantly, to the point that it is no longer known whether or not it still exists. As of July 2022, the organization is still active, though membership is dwindling and new membership almost nonexistent.
The Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum, commonly known simply as the Royal Arcanum, is a fraternal benefit society founded in 1877 in Boston, Massachusetts by John A. Cummings and Darius Wilson, who had previously been among the founders of the Knights of Honor, a similar organization, in Kentucky. The Royal Arcanum home office is located in Boston, Massachusetts.
Assured Life Association, formerly Woodmen of the World and/or Assured Life Association, having officially changed its name to on January 1, 2015, is a fraternal benefit society based in Denver, Colorado, whose beginnings can be traced to the same founder as Modern Woodmen of America and Woodmen of the World in 1890. Today, Assured Life Association is not affiliated with either organization. Aside from offering insurance benefits the organization is a non-profit Life Insurer organized to give back revenues to its member customers through direct benefits such as college scholarships and summer camp grants for youth and through discounts on other products and services. The Society also has a member-directed matching charitable giving program. Four national community service projects are promoted among Society member customers each year.
The Gleaner Life Insurance Society, originally the Ancient Order of Gleaners, is a fraternal benefit society based in Adrian, Michigan.
The Degree of Honor Protective Association is a fraternal benefit society. It was originally organized as a female auxiliary to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but split off in 1910 to become its own independent group. It merged with Catholic Financial Life in 2017.
Royal Neighbors of America is a Life insurance company targeted towards women.
The National Fraternal Society of the Deaf was an organization of deaf people in the United States and Canada modeled on ethnic fraternal orders that were popular at the beginning of the twentieth century.