The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-27
The Advantages of Life Insurance.


WITHIN the past week, The attention Of the
reading public has been attracted, by the
action OF the convention of insurance compa-
MES which has been holding its meetings in
New York, to the subject ofliie insurance and
considerable interest has been weakened in the
working OF the system. The idea is eminently
due to our modern civilization, called into
life by desire to equalize the unavoidable
losses occurring to families by the death of
their heads, and is authorized by humanity as
well as by business enterprise. There is no
investment which recommends itself so
strongly to a prudent father as the purchase
OF policy in one Of the reliable companies of
the country. While the insurance for yearly
payment was the universal rule, the advan-
tages to be derived were so obvious, that
it behooved every man to lay aside a
small part Of his earnings, ia order that
poverty might not overtake those he loved
when his last hour arrived But the amended
and improved system, whereby the pur-
chaser, after lapse of years, not only ceases
to necessarily pay an annual instalment, but
actually becomes participator in the profits
OF the company. makes even the dullest see
the inestimable advantage Of securing one of
these paid-up policies. The Life Insurance
Companies OF America form one of the
grandest departments of business, and one
founded upon basis no less stable than that
of banks or any Incorporated institutions.
The idea on which they are based is
simple. A citizen pays certain small sum,
and receives certificate which, should he die
within specified time, will entitle his heirs
to a sum of money much larger than
even the principal on which his annual pay
ment would be the interest. How, then, we
have heard it asked, do these associations pay
The answer is very simple. A very small
proportion of the insured die until many years
after they commence paying the company.
The result is that, by successful investments,
1t is able to far more than gain the sum paid
when at last the insured does depart this life.
By judicious management, therefore, all OF the
| sound insurance companies not only do good
to those who avail themselves of their adyan-
tages, but also become most lucrative invest
ments for the originators.
The design of the meeting of the agents of
the various associations in New York was to
reduce all the systems to common basis, and
have all the laws throughout the United States
Uniform In their operations. To do this the
Chamber of Insurance was formed, which is to
be chartered by the United States Govern
ment, and thus be saved from the follies and
vagaries of State legislation. The effect Of
such change will be a great improvement.
II will not only secure uniformity, but it will
separate the chafffrom the wheat, and promote
confidence among the people. We hope that
we shall see the day when every man will
have availed himself of what is only duty to
his family.
The pictures printed on certain of the cards
Of companies, representing the agent paying
| to the beIeaVed widow and orphans the sum
which is to save them from penury, and place
them above the reach of manual labor for
daily bread, is no fancy sketch. All over this
broad land such cases are occurring, Many
sorrow-stricken families, whose only means oi
support has been withdrawn, are daily thus
succored. and have cause to bless the fore.
thought Of the head which has been removed
from them. 1t Is a duty which every man
owes 10 his children that he avail himself o.
the system. No man can tell uAder what cir
cumstances he may die. He does not know
at what hour, or whether the wealth he has
gained in life may not be rent from his Offsprins
when their protector Is berett them. But i