Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, “The Modern Order of Praetorians was a typical fraternal insurance society similar to the Modern Woodmen of America. It was organized in 1898 by Charles B. Gardner, and admitted men and women on equal terms. In 1923 there were 599 lodges and 36,752 benefit members. As a fraternal benefit society, the Praetorians had a secret ritual in the typical fashion of fraternal orders. Local groups were known as Councils, the national governing body was called the Supreme Senate.” [1] The organization “converted to a mutual company, The Praetorians, in 1957” and later “merged with the State Mutual Insurance Company.” [2]