UNITED STATES AND CANADA 155 



from 5^. to y^d. per week, and the fundamental prin- 

 ciple of the Order is to make provision for sickness 

 and death, thus preventing any member's family be- 

 coming an object of charity. In addition to this the 

 families of the various lodges meet together socially 

 on stated occasions, thereby keeping alive the English 

 love of country and the festivities of her fete days. 

 This organisation is non-political, unsectarian, and 

 exclusively English : to its own membership it is 

 of great advantage ; it lends a helping hand, and its 

 officers are always ready to advise and to assist them 

 when landing in the United States. 



On reaching the depot in Broad Street we found 

 a fairly large crowd, the members of which, having 

 got wind of Mr. Chamberlain's arrival, accorded 

 him a favourable reception. The Philadelphia Press 

 of the following day wrote : " Either for protection 

 against dynamiters or as a subterfuge to avoid Ameri- 

 can reporters, Mr. Chamberlain has two secretaries 

 so much like him in general appearance (?) that it 

 is difficult to tell which is the star of the trio, and 

 it was not until the ex-Mayor of Birmingham had 

 raised his hat in deference to an uncertain cheer 

 that the crowd were able to distinguish him." 



Our self-constituted chaperons, who had taken us 

 body and soul under their aegis, escorted us to St. 



