The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-08-14
MASONIC MUTUAL.
Ninth Annual Meeting of the Aasocia-
ton.
The Condition and Prospects OF the Organ
tzation.


Masonic hall yesterday afternoon, there be-
ing a full attendance. The meeting was
called to order by w. w. Woollen, Esq,
president of the society. After the reading
of the minutes of the last meeting President
Woollen delivered his annual address,
which is as follows:
BRETHREN OF THE MASONIC MUTUAL BENEFIT
SOCIETY OF INDIAEA-FOr the ninth time we
to consider the interests OF our organization.
doubt not that you fully appreciate the I'M
portance of the work before you, and Will give
1t the thought and elaboration its Importance
In the summer of 1869 few masons of this
city, feeling the Importance cS OF PTovio q,
deceased masons, associated themselves
in a corporate capacity and formed the
At the time they had but little conception of
the magnitude of the work they had fnaugur-.
ateo. "They builded better than they knew"
E Proportions. And not only this, but the
masons of other states of the Union have
formed societies upon the plan of ours.
Indeed, the CONSTITUTION and bylaws
Bodily from those of our own. The odd fellows
and other benevolent organizations have also
inaugurated societies upon our plans, so IT
NAV safely be said that the Masonic Mutual
Benefit society of Indiana is the mother of all
slmil n associations. Il being responsible for
much. it is important to inquire whether
the work il has done has benefited mankind.
of the widows OF our departed Dreth-
orphansP II She has the doctrine of compen-
sation will say that her mistakes may be for
given, and her shortcomings blotted from the
book of remembrance.
since the organization of our society she
has paid to the widows, orphans and
benefciaries of deceased members the enor-
NOUS sum of 81, 679, 770.49. This vast sum has
been collected and discussed with less per
centum OF expense than was ever any equal
amount of money by any life tnsur-
ance society in the world. 1t has been coll
lected and disbursed with comparatively no
loss whatever. i believe the society has not
lost $500 by bad debts during its existence, and
barring a possible loss on the real estate taken
in settlement of the accounts OF It's former sec
retary il Is In no danger of having any of its
funds taken 10 make good the misdeeds or
shortcomings of those you have Entrusted with
its management. Surely these facts speak
something for the integrity and fidelity of
those who have heretofore been entrusted
with the care and direction of the society's af-
fairs.
At our last annual meeting
a proposition was introduced by Brother John
70 SsrS our Of dipsctors 20 so S as
members, these 10 be divided into three
classes of equal numbers, one class to
Proposition will come before you to-day for
consideration and action. There are many
reasons why the amendment should carry,
chief among which is the fact that IL will pre-
vent any sudden or radical change in your
dire Glory.
/ recommend the proposed amendment to
your favorable consideration.
At our last communication was directed to
appoint committee OF fve toeXamlne the Ia
bies upon which our assessments and benefits
are predlcated. performed that duty and the
report of the committee was read at a special
meeting OF our society In April last, ana TINS
report will come before you to-day Tor your
consideration. 1t is an intelligent presentation
OF the. principles upon which life insurance
organizations must be organized TO be perma-
nent. and doubt not you will give due weight
to its suggestions and recommendations.
Many cH of gsocietes formed mon tine
plan OF the Masonic Mutual. Indeed, II Is al
most the universal opinion of insurance ex-
lived, and contain within themselves the
seeds of dissolution. This subject has caused
me much thought and no little anxiety.
know that the Masonic Mutual has heretofore
performed all the functions of reliable
Insurance company at much less cost than
the average cost of the protection such socie-
ties give. 1t has paid its losses promptly, and
now has the funds to satisfy all its obligations,
matured or contingent. Can 1t, in the future,
do what it has done in the past? There is the
question that confronts you to-day. To ignore
IL would be folly; 10 meet 1t is your duty.
The average age of your membership is a
must be kept a; that rate or
brought lower, else the society's future is preg-
nant with DANGER should the average rea zen
society. We can not stand the cost which an
average age of fifty years would entail, for the
greater than the cost of obtaining an equal
amount of insurance from a regular life
insurance company. l need not tell
affairs would be fatal to our society You
know much without my saying it.
Now can the average age o. our membership
be kept at its present figure or reduced? If
this can be done our society can live; If IL
passes beyond it, it must die
You will observe that the committee shows
in the report to which have already invited
your attention, that members OF the fourth
class do not pay the cost Of carrying their
ues to increase and the first and second classes
continue to diminish the end will soon be
reached. How can such calamity be avert
ed?
Young men may die; old men must. This is
the law of God, and can not be suspended nor
repealed. Therefore, the way for the admis-
sion of young men into our society should be
made easy; the entry of old men into At should
be made difficult. If young man gets
out Of your membership ana is IN
good health, get him back If you can; IL an old
man drops out let him stay. Such course
may seem uncharitable and cruel, but it is a
undeviatingly pursued, will keep down the
average age of your membership and enable
the society to continue its beneficent work.
speak to you thus in no selfish spirit. My
own age is over 50 years, and l may be prop
erly classed with the old men of the society.
but love the society too well, and have its
good too much at heart, to be Influenced In
nt tbe s9cistP fo sand Want
the edifice which helped to build, whose
corner stone helped to lay, to stand as long
as masons die and widows and orphans are
made. know the good work it has done,
and want IL TO continue in wel-doing. II
anything / can say or do viii add
to its strength and prosperity, / shall
consider that L have not labored In
vain. The faithful pilot tells his officers and
crew of the rocks and breakers which lie In
the pathway of his ship, In order that they
may be avoided; so, my brethren, have in
my feeble way shown you the dangers which
, lie before US, as they appear to me. l could
not ignore them have not magnified them;
and having brought them to your notice, my
duty in the premises Is done.
deem IL unnecessary to go much into the
statistics of our society, as that ground will be
fully covered by our secretary In his annual
report. Suffice IL to say that the expenses
of the society have been greatly
reduced, without in any manner impatr1ng
the efficiency OF its working. Your board OF
directors has carefully guarded the scciety's
interests, and reduced expenses to the mini
mum point. This action on their part will no
doubt be properly appreciated by you.
In closing this address | commit the inter-
ests of the society into your hands. You are
the sovereizns, and YOUR officers are but your
servants. To day they give you an account OF
THAR gfoWQrdghiD for the Dagr wear. and 10 Is