Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-01-31
Ancient Order OF United Work
men.
AN ADDRESS BY PAST MASTER WORK
MAN, W. II. CURRY.

having Il sociablc. and partaking Of the
unequalled supper prepared for the oc-
casion by Mrs. /. Penrose. All Of which
was duly performed and fully enjoyed.
On leaving the chair, Master Workman,
Bro. W. III. Carry delivered IN address,
and inasmuch ~ it fully answered the
question which is frequently asked,
.'Who are the Workmen, and what is
their object" Il copy Of the address was
asked for, for publication in the city
papers. by permission Of Bro. Curry,
1T the request Of the Lodge, copy is
furnished you for publication.
THE ADDRESS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN As Mas
ter OF this lodge, it falls to my lot 10
welcome you to this, our first public
installation, and in the name Of PRO
lection Lodge, No. 7. A. q. y. W., Of
Mineral Point, Wisconsin, ! hereby
extend unto you the heartiest welcome.
To many, our order Is involved in
mystery. and the name "a. d. T.. W."
may lead to the supposition that 1t
claims to have originated away back in
The ages, II not before the flood, ut
least shortly after IL, but a very ours
DRY glance ut It's history will soon dis
pei all such illusions, for, except what
the word "W0rkman" implies, notwith-
standing the name, 1t Is essentially a
modern institution, one OF the latest,
most modern, of organizations. AT a
meeting Of tho Supreme Lodge Of the
order, hold ut st. Louis, In March last,
It's founder, Mr.. j. j. Unhurch stated
thst the first lodge Of the A. q. U. W.,
| WAS organized by him on the night of
October 2,th, 1868. ut Meadsyilc III
Pennsylvania; - persons being present,
that Immediately after organizing, 7
out OF the Is withdrew. none OF them
imagining that In il few years the or
ganization would spread over the
length and breadth of the land. In the
short space OF ten years produce such
results IN increase Of membership and
general prosperity az the order now OK
hibits, for from tho l3 that met on that
memorable night, or rather from the y
that remained, ii has 80 grown that on
The 10Th day OF November last, "A. ID.
1873, by official statement, IL had with
In its folds membership or 52,7OO in
the following named States Of the
Union, to-Wit: Iowa, Indiana, Illinois,
california. Kentucky, Minnesota, Mis-
souri,, Michigan, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Tcnnessee, Wisconsin
and Georgia, Ia States; little or nothing
having ut that time been done toward
organizing lodges in the remainder Of
the States.
The reason for this unprecedented
growth and prosperity lie in what may
be regarded AZ the aims and purposes
of the order, which as set forth IN the
official publications. and carried ont IN
It's workings are ~ follows:
The a. O. u. W., IL purely u bcncvO-
lent and business organization, cosmo-
politan In its character, having In its
membership Ill classes, men OF every
vocation, works in every department
Of labor; men who toll with the head;
also those who know how To use the
brawny hand; employerand employees,
differing perhaps IN political and relig-
ious beliefs, but I'LL believing in the ex-
istence of God, the Creator and Pre-
server of the Universe, and extending
toward each other, in those things III
which men differ, That Charity taught III
the open Book which Is found on the
altar of every lodge.
The most distinctive aim Of the order
is Mu.ual Life Insurance, Oh the cheap
est. most effective and most rational
plan known to business men. 1t has
sought among the various systems of
life insurance and cooperative aid
associations, and believes it has found
the method OF providing life insurance
within the general reach Of the masses,
ls safe, il not safer than that obtained
from the general life insurance com
panies OF the day. Its system or meth
cd isas follows.
The Supreme Lodge of tho order has
original and exclusive jurisdiction over
all subjects pertaining to the welfare
OF the order, and appellate jurisdiction
from the decisions Of Grand Lodges,
and of subordinate lodges under its
immediate jurisdiction and its enact
menls and descisions upon all questions
are the supreme law OF the Order; ii
also issues charters to Grand Lodges,
and to subordinate lodges IN territory
not under the jurisdiction Of Grand
Lodges.
Grand Lodges are only established in
States OF Territories having within
their limits 1000 members-M Master
w vi hlHtii III Sbuh NiiN NiNi
the membership of any Grand Lodge
falls below that number it ceases to eN-
st and the subordinate lodges within
its limits revert to the jurisdiction Of
the Supreme Lodge; the various local
lodges IN II State having aGrand Lodge
are under its jurisdiction, and those in
Il State having no Grand Lodge are un-
der the jurisdiction of the supreme
Lodge. Upon the death of \ member
under the jurisdiction Of Il Grand Lodge
the assessment for insurance Is levied
on members under chat jurisdiction.
Upon the death of Il member under the
jurisdiction of the Supreme Lodge, the
assessment for insurance is on the
members of its jurisdiction.
Assessments in jurisdictions having
only 1000 members will be Sl.0O at the
death Of each member, never more
III Jurisdictions having more than
1000 members, the assessments vary
according to the number of members.
in some two assessments for every
three deaths, in another, only two for
every five deaths; the over plus IN each
assessment Is applied on account Of
the next assessment.