cible Co., which sets forth in a pleasing and forcible manner the many uses of the graphite products manufactured by the Dixon Company.

Bro. Wm. E. Stover, of Seattle, Wash., writes that Lodge 407 is steadily growing, and that they have nearly every eli; gible fireman on the Seattle Division of the Northern Pacific Railway in the organization. He states that the lodge is now supporting a local protective board, which is something it never did before. The lodge recently gave a grand ball which was a success, socially and financially, but there is work to do yet. Business has been good on the road.

Bro. W. H. Washington, of Division 230, B. of L. E., at Jackson, Miss., writes that on November 16, 1903, Mr. F. W. Taylor, roundhouse foreman on the I. C. R. R. at that point, was transferred to Louisville, where he assumed the position of general foreman. Mr. Taylor was highly regarded by all the employes, who looked upon him as a personal friend. In token of their appreciation of his many good qualities, on December 1, 1903, a large number of the employes assembled at the K. of P. Hall, where the enthusiasm displayed afforded ample testimony to his popularity. Suitable resolutions embodying the high opinions held of Mr. Taylor by the employes were adopted, a copy being forwarded to him and also to the engineer's, firemen's and machinist's publictaions.

Bro. J. I. Dollison of Lodge 175, Newark, Ohio, writes that his lodge turned the goat loose November 24th on some candidates, and that an enjoyable time was had. He states that his lodge is doing nicely and hopes for an increase in membership.

Bro. W. H. Condon, of Lodge 571, writes that at a recent meeting of his lodge, suitable resolutions on the death of Bro. John Shaski, a member of that lodge, were adopted. The lodge extends its sympathy to the bereaved parents and friends of their departed brother.

Bro. W. A. Garman, of Lodge 23, Sapulpa, I. T., writes that his lodge gave its first annual ball on Thanksgiving eve, at which seventy-five couples were present and a most enjoyable time was had. The Lucile Opera House, where the ball was given, was beautifully decorated. A prize turkey was given to the best lady and

office work. It is creditable to the officers and committees of the Brotherhood, and to the officers of railway companies, that argument and reasoning is permitted to settle all wage questions. Bro. Hannahan has been successful in bringing about an equitable agreement between our members and their employing officials whenever he has been called into an adjustment. The settlement upon the Manhattan Elevated, mentioned in this issue of the Magazine, is only one of many of similar nature. Since the settlement on the Manhattan he has been called to the Canadian Pacific and. the New York Central, in both of which instances satisfactory results were reached. The retiring Editor has requested the preparation of a statement showing the numerous wage agreements, wage schedules, etc., entered into between members of our Brotherhood and railway companies since Grand Master Hannahan assumed the duties of that office, but because of lack of time the Grand Master has not had the opportunity to prepare such statment. Doubtless it will appear in a future number of the Magazine.

In this issue a photograph of the Joint Protective Board of the Missouri Pacific Railway System is published. Bro. Asa Dillon, member of the Grand Executive Board of the Brotherhood, is centrally located in the group as Chairman. There is also published a photograph of the Joint Protective Board of the "Gould Southwest System," as composed in 1888. In this group Bro. Dillon appears in similar pose and location, and also as Chairman of the Board. Bro. Dillon has probably served as General Chairman of a protective board longer

than any other member of the Order, and it can be said to his credit, and to the credit of the men he represents, and to the credit of the officials of the "Gould Lines," that during these fifteen years since 1888 relations have always been most agreeable between the members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and the Company's officials. While Bro. Dillon declined to serve one or two years during this period, we find him "still at the old stand."

The group of the "Gould Southwest System" Board has interest aside from the presence of Bro. Dillon. It was one of the first "Joint Protective Boards" of the Brotherhoods to get a contract with a railway company, if not the very first. Among the faces seen in the group is that of Grand Master Sargent, only three years after his election to that position, and when he was not such a "heavy weight" in flesh. Standing second from the right is seen Third Vice Grand Master Maier, as he appeared six years before his election to that position. Standing third from the left and behind Bro. Dillon, is the writer, six years before his election as Editor and Manager of the Magazine and fifteen years before his election as Grand Secretary and Treasurer. His "skinnyness" at that time may be attributed to bad coal and leaky engines.

The old "Gould Southwest System" was then composed of not only the present "Missouri Pacific System," but also of the M., K. & T. Ry., the I. & G. N. Ry., the T. & P. Ry., and several other smaller roads. Not one of the boys at that time dreamed that fifteen years thereafter three of its members would be on the official staff of the Brotherhood.

What Does a Beneficiary Certificate in the B. of L. F. Mean?

Vaccination against poverty and want for your loved ones when you die. It is a sure indication of independence and thrift. It has the great advantage of providing money for immediate use to support your wife and little children after you have blown the last signal whistle of life's run, and have entered the great, dark station of death.

Many an engineman has saved the little home and property for his loved ones by having a policy in this great Order. The duty of every man to protect his family is recognized in the fact that very little or no sympathy is shown by a railroad company and the cold world for the widow and orphans of the man who has neglected to provide for the contingency of death and hard times. When you are firing or running extra is the time your family needs your protection the most.

To join the B. of L. F. costs very little, and it is the cheapest and safest way of

providing for your family. It is your duty to provide for your loved ones. It gives affection a place to stand and a lever to work; it transforms forethought and good-will into practical helpfulness in protecting love's own.

Paul says, "A man who neglects to provide for his family is worse than an infidel." How could a man be happy if he were in heaven and his wife and little children struggling against hunger and poverty? I think he would be very unhappy.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was 30 years old last September. From a nucleus of a few locomotive firemen it has grown into the thousands; good, true men bonded together, proudly holding before the world its noble banner of Protection, Charity, Sobriety, Industry, and brotherly love.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen has done a noble work throughout the land. It has brought sunshine and happiness to the homes of thousands of widows and orphans, in life's darkest hours, and its many kind deeds of charity will form a halo of glory throughout the world that will last when monuments of stone will be crumpled to the ground. The only true dignity a man can have,

the only nobleness he can possess, consists in living in accordance with the aspirations of his best nature, and in the use and improvement of his best faculties.

Practical life is a school where he may learn the lessons of true action, and true action is the highest being. In practical life he may learn to combine ideas and feeling with moral discipline and a beneficent action, and in true work, generous deeds, self denials, universal charity and courageous, intelligent thought he will be exalted and gladdened. No man is morally low who has a true work. No man is base, or even unhappy, who uses his best strength, faculty and purpose for the good of another, but I fail to call to mind any individual who studies his own happiness constantly that was ever happy.

The mission of the B. of L. F. is a grand and noble work that will act from generation to generation, that has already gone out all over our land and will bless firemen and their dependent ones. Our Order teaches its members to reach forth their hands, as fearlessly as they grasp the shaker bar or the throttle, and grasp this noble work. It teaches its members to aid the unfortunate, to shelter the homeless, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to comfort the widow, and to protect and educate the orphan, and by its beautiful precepts it awakens the freshest affections, the noblest friendships and most generous aims. It teaches its members to live a life devoted to right doing. It teaches us to favor and uphold profitable industry, to incite the spirit of culture, both mental and moral, to maintain a true standard of brotherhood, to give mutual aid to each other, and to protect our loved ones from the relentless hand of poverty and distress. When life's sun declines and death enters the secret chambers, and loved ones are weeping around the deathbed, it teaches us to give gentle and affectionate sympathy and to furnish $3,000, as the case may be, in a practical way for the comfort of the widow and the protection of her children.

Our mission is to establish a greater unity of feeling in efforts of mankind to each other, drawing forth our dormant faculties for good and truth, as is taught in the golden rule of life. We bind ourselves in one common brotherhood with

out regard to condition, faith or creed, prompted by the assurance that in many instances much greater good can be accomplished by united endeavor and fraternal encouragement than by individual exertion.

The founders of this Brotherhood were not men of wealth or power. They arose from the people, from the ranks of locomotive firemen; but history will gratefully remember them, under the guidance of minds which were liberal and progressive as were the founders of this Order.

With all our means of progress and successful adventure, with all our blessings and varied opportunities, born on the same day, shall we forget that society calls for a firm foundation woven of protection, industry, charity and brotherly love?

Still another mission that causes the whole world to love and respect our noble Brotherhood is to elevate, to raise our minds far above anything that is ungentle and uncharitable, maintaining truth, purity and beneficence; because its principles are the germs of power which shall prove vital and beneficial to all locomotive firemen because it presents to them an opportunity for improvement, and because it wakes up the joyous echoes of progression and sounds the shrill clarion of equality, thereby giving to all enginemen a complete existence, nobleness of motive and self-respect, and a fervor that dismisses dark thought and petty annoyances in the pleasant consciousness that thousands of loyal brothers extend the hand of charity and brotherly love.

The unlimited generosity of our Brotherhood is universally acknowledged, and nothing surpasses the energy and true dignity that unites the work and carries it onward.

We shall find destitution, misery and dark features of humanity in all places. We seldom find a community free from ignorance and vice. Shall they appeal to us in vain? Eloquent Isaac Barrow said, ""Tis the naked man's apparel which is shut up in your presses, 'tis the needy person's gold or silver you hide or spend idly."

Ladies, your earnest efforts to assist us in this noble work are appreciated. We are glad to merit your esteem and feel assured of your sympathy in our endeavors. Our lives become grander, more liberal and more complete if woman's perception of true beauty, graces of culture and warmth of friendship be associated with our aims and struggles for right.

Let us protect the unprotected. Let us seek to increase life's pure enjoyment and diminish its quantity of pain. This is our mission and work. Every member should interest some new fireman who does not belong, and tell him its wonderful advantages. I hope there is as much brotherly love and as much genuine fraternal feeling in all lodges as I have found in A. R. Cavner Lodge 356, of Loraine, Ohio. C. W. TRULOCK.

An Appeal for Aid.

A few weeks ago an appeal was mailed to the Secretary of each lodge soliciting aid for the brothers of Zealous Lodge 217, at E. St. Louis, Ill., who were unfortunate and lost heavily in the flood that swept away a portion of the city in June.

For various reasons we were late in getting the appeal spread, and, although the amount that has been received is greatly appreciated by its members, it is very small when comparing it with the donations of the other railroad organizations.

Many of the members have not yet recovered from their losses, and are crippled financially on account of having to replenish with borrowed capital.

Forty-one out of 600 lodges have donated to date. If there are any others who feel able to respond we trust that they will be prompt, and that our members who have suffered will be able to start in the new year more comfortably provided for. Lodges have remitted as follows: 21, $25; 201, $20; 146, $15: 94, $15; 411, $10; 27, $10; 65, $10; 143, $10; 16, $10; 326, $10; 316, $10; 566, $10; 381, $10; 267, $10; 34, $5; 79, $5; 212, $5; 214, $5; 123, $5; 527, $5; 14, $5; 574, $5; 377, $5; 531, $5; 102, $5; 400, $5; 138, $5; 287, $5; 429, $5; 594, $5; 145, $5; 428, $5; 99, $5; 183, $5; 83, $5; 339, $3.25; 589, $2.50; 451, $2; 211, $2; 20, $2. Total, $299.75.

Please address all communications to A. R. Layman, Past Master, 313 N. Sixth street, E. St. Louis, Ill.

FREDERICK SWARTZCOPE,

An Impostor and Spotter.

Master.

While the cares that infest the day are fast passing away, and all nature is basking in its silent realm of sweet repose, and while we are slowly traveling down the rugged pathway of time with an open