The New York herald., 1879-01-31
B'NAI BERTH.
FTFTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE GRAND
NATIONAL CoNvENTIoN-THE STATUE OF RE-

WITH DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE GRAND
NATIONAL coNvENTIoN-THE STATUE OF RE-
LIGIoUs LIBEgry--sTATE OF THE ORDER.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 30, 1s79
After long debate this morning it was resolved
by the Convention TO permit the statue of religious
liberty to remain in Fairmount Park.
The committeeto to inquire into the general state of
the Order presented interesting report. 1t stated
that the Order may well be congratulated upon the
marvellous and widely extended work that has been
accomplished. On January l. 1864, the membership
5997 January 1. 1878, 81 .4S1. and to-day it
numbers % 000 increase of Al per cent in five
years. The deaths in the Order in 1874 were JOG.
showing death rate Of 6-1o in the thousand while
in 1878 the death rate swollen by Of the
epidemic to 8 5-1o per cent in the thousand. The
death rate during the past four years has been As
per thousand.
The benefits and endowments have increased from
S134773 paid in 1874 to S275, ,000 estimated for
1S7San increase in the latter year Of 10t per cent
The funds of the lodges have increased from s50sS37
in 1874 to $3.50 in 1877 and probably to 100000
in 1878. These facts indicate that the present in
crease Of the order is not sufficient to it against
the attacks of time. II shows that the dues payable
to the lodges and their expenses for past and liab
ties for future benefits have not vet been reduced to
scientific basis. and tho committee suggests the
recommendation of the following:-
That the Executive Committee appoint sub
committee Of its own members residing as nearly
as possible to a common centre. to be known the
Committee the Statistics Of the Order. To this
committee each subordinate lodge shall through
tine Grand Secretary the district transmit infor
nation concerning the amount of dues paid by each
member. and the benefits payable to each during
sickness.
That with these facts as basis the subcommittee
shall recommend to the next constitutional Grand
Lodge a ratio between yearly dues payable by men-
bers and the weekly benefits and funeral charges re-
ceivable by them.
ordinate lodges TO the matter Of parliamentary dis
cpine. It has been brought to our attention that
Distracted the attention Of members from the plain
and immediate purpose OF our organization, and
concludes by stating that belief that every man Is
honest in his convictions is necessary to ind
vdual peace religious federation is to the peace CT
tho State.
instructed to carry out the recommendations.
ENDOWMENT FUNDS.
The endowment question another matter OF
importance which was the subject of an interesting
report from the committee that subject, who
recommended the following
in Chicago, unanimously resolved That tho bsh
ment Of widows and orphans endowment funds by Dis h
and objects OF the Order and whereas since that time
successful in each and every district of
Order .houg yet under Various more or less detective
Resolved, Tia, deem /, against the wishes of
pedient this time to enact general endowment
law do % sSsr s@s 10 a ss
by president Of the Executive COMMITTEES to the
utional Grand Lodge in his report keeping
stanty in view in all important points 10 give stability
aud this mode of supporting the widows and
orphans ot deceased brethren and keep faith with
the members.
Aside from the practical impossibility Of paying
the sum OF $1,000 TO each beneficiary with annual
contributions OF less than Sl2 without any provi-
sion for . reserve fund, proposed by District No.
T. whenever those who live to the age of 100 years
would not have been paid enough to satisfy their
own death claims. 1t should be considered that
widow and orphan endowment is not mere in
surance scheme, but is intended for the protection
OF the poor and needy, as better protection than
the small stipend formerly in use in our lodges;
aud while justice demands that all men,
bers should be entitled to it alike, all other
districts have wisely restricted the amount
of benefit TO $1,000 only. Nevertheless, the
committee does not recommend that the constituted
Grand Lodge exercise its supreme Legislative power
in prescribing limits of bcncht to the various dis
trcts on the subject of cndowments, hoping the
grand lodg, NAV enact such wise laws for tho pro-
lection the widows and orphans will conduce to
the welfare of their section A minority report was
also submitted read and filed, and the majority
report was adopted. After long discussion it was
finally decided that the next Convention OF the
order be held in Cincinnati, Ohio. ON the last sun
day In February, 1885, and the committee went into
executive session.