Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-08-20
No. 10


cases, amply sufficient. Should peculiar CIR
cums;ances however, in any Instance render it
Inadequate to relieve the "dsress." The Lodge
by special vote, increase the appropriation, or
voluntary subscription among the members, sup
plies such amoun, as the emergency may de-
mand The aid thus furnished is Technically
called The "benef,s." These benefits however.
are not paid ndscrmnaely Three inquiries
are first made by the Lodge which must ali
satisfactorily answered before the Invalid can
receive Them. They are--ls,, Whether be
distressed brother is in good standing in his
Lodge; I'd, Whether he has punclualiy paid hls
dues up 10 The time Of his sickness; 81, Whrlh
er his sickness. is involuntary, and mi supefin-
duced by any immortality.
If these inierfoga,uries be afirmalivey re-
sponded TO, he is entitled 10 and receives every
so!acs he needs. Two brethren are regularly
provided TO tend his bed, If necessary, ay day
aud night. These kind Offices are always tar:h-
fully rendered, and they performed without
any implied obligation of gratitude on the part
Of he recipient. He is entitled to his "beoe-
Gts," because he has paid hi, "due.," aud COM
piled with the requlsiions of the Order. On
his recovery he returns 10 the Lodge, not shrink.
ing under the moItIiying consciousness of re
lieved pauperlsm, but with an independent, tho
grateful spirit, returns The greetings OF welcome
and congra,ulalion. Should, however, HI, DIS
ease terminate fatally, hts brethren do
slider themselves released from further attentions.
for the Lodge provide decen, sepuI'ure for bis
remains. The constitution of every Lodge
makes provisions for certain sum, generally
thirty dollars, for The burial expenses of de-
ceased member. Besides all thisa couiribu-
lion in money is made TO the widow. II The
deceased member has left any young children,
II is the duty of the Lodge moreover to aid and
assist the widow by money and advice in main
tanning and educating them. For these purpo-
ses there are established in our Lodges a Wild
ow and orphan fund, and school fund Should
the entire Treasury be exhausted by these out
lays, The Lodge is no, relieved from the re.pou-
bilies il has bound itself to assume. They
assessmen, sufficiently large TO defray these
expenditures. If they should be unable to COT
lect these assessments, the Lodge is virtually
dissolved and surrenders their charter 10 the
Grand Lodge, under whose authority it was is.
sued. have, however, never known such al
instance to occur. There is too much genet
osiiy and pride of consistency amougs, Us TO
snccomb to such crisis.
The lberali,y of the Order in relieving the
sick, burying the dead, assisting the widow and
educating The orphan is enormous. During The
pas, year about 100000 have been expended
for these purposes. Large oullays have also
been required for rent, furniture, lights, fuel &c.
in our Lodges; and notwithstanding. the aggFe-
gate general surplus exceeds 81 500 900.
Such an evidence in our favor is unaccOunt-
able TO the public at large The wealth OF our
fraternity is, however by no means miraculous.
|, is the inevitable result Of our mode Of organ
zalion.
Tha, the people acknowledges the good fruits
of our institution is evident from the vas, in.
crease of the Fraternity. Twenty seven years
ago five men organized the first Lodge in this
country. Already there are one thousand
Lodges and one hundred thousand members.