and achieved a degree of satisfaction, but he was upset by the heavy, stifling atmosphere which seemed to prevail among the Finns. Religious activity and temperance work had been initiated, a few newspapers had already been started, but everywhere discord and envy seemed rampant, and all attempts to achieve any sort of unity were decried and torn to shreds. Stone realized that enlightenment was the key, but years passed before he found a way to introduce this among adults who possessed only the most rudimentary of education. The presence of many secret societies in this country provided him the pattern to follow: to establish a similar society adapted to the Finnish mentality and to the conditions of their life. And so, in 1898, the Order of the Knights of Kaleva was founded in Belt, with Jussi Jääskeläinen, Daniel Kuona and Matti Rautio joining Stone in the many discussions and meetings which resulted in the appearance of the first chapter in July, with the founders being joined by additional members : Joonas Koski, Lauri Nevala, Oskar Nieminen, Evert Auren, Johan Talso, Mikko Klippa and Johan Pakka. From that beginning, chapter after chapter was organized, and at its most flourishing period the Order counted some 1,300 members. Of course the Order did face opposition, even very strong opposition at times, but knights were never permitted to retort to any accusations or outbursts made from the outside in any public speeches or newspaper articles. Restraint was always required of members, and they were to regard the Order as superior to those who tried to slander or disgrace it. One of its basic tenets was: know yourself, know your own situation if you wish to advise and direct others : "The development and enlightenment of our own Order on the sole basis of brotherhood has from the very beginning been the most important responsibility of the Order, indeed a demand which, particularly in its earliest period of existence, permitted of no compromise. Let it be said that decent living, good conduct and Christian faith were the qualities required in those desiring membership, and those criteria have remained. An indication of how the Order tried to maintain the good reputation of the Finns even beyond its own membership is shown by the many visits to Finnish homes to warn the family father, or mother, about drunkenness or other indecent conduct," so Samuel Koskela wrote in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Order.

In many respects the Kaleva differs from other Finnish-American group activities. As a secret organization, its meetings were not open to outsiders. Arid in its organizational structure, the

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