Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-22
A NICE POINT.

Suit Against the A. o. U. w. 70 Recover
$4,000 When Dues We're Not Poid.
Papers have been served on Grand Recorder
Bryant, of the Independent Order of United
Workmen, in suit commenced against the
society by the widow of A. G. Manson, for dam
ages of $4,000. The complaint alleges that
at the time of his death Mr.. Manson was men,
Der of the order, and being such, his heirs are
entitled to the regular death loss of $4,000,
ordinarily paid TO the family of deceased
member. In order to ascertain the correct
status of the case GLOBE reporter called on
Mr.. Bryant, and the interview resulted in the
following information:
Mr.. Bryant stated that it was the custom of
the order to pay the death losses incurred as
soon as possible. In the case of Mr.. Manson
the society did not feel obliged to pay the loss
for the reason that he had neglected to pay his
assessments and had been suspended by the
lodge. A few days before his death, however,
friend of deceased paid his full indebtedness
to the lodge, but the regular meeting of the
lodge did not convene until after Manson's
death. The trial is anticipated with great in.
terest by all the lodges of this and other States
as it involves several points of deep interest to
the order.
The case in point is similar to the case of
John Gellatly against the insurance depart
meut of the l. 0. o. F., now pending in the
supreme court, wherein the defendants allege
that the plaintiffs are not entitled to the
amount of the insurance pledged, in cOnse-
quence of the non-payment of assessments
due, which, according to the laws of the order,
deprives member of any benefits whatsoever
In the case of Manson, the grand lodge at its
late session held in this city Feb. 4. 1880,
adopted the following: while we take the po-
sition that Mrs. Manson has no legal claim
upon the order, she has our sympathy and we
believe q claim to be considered in the hearts
of all our brothers a proper recipient of
such sums from each and all of our brothers as
they, while contemplating one of the corner
stones upon which the superstructure of our
order is erected, and which is named charity,
shall see fit to donate Manson died Nov. 11th
1878, while under suspension for nOn-payment
of beneficiary assessments, leaving his family
without any means of sustenance except such
as would be received from the two benevolent
societies of which he was a member, to wit:
the Masonic Relief association and the A. 0.
q. W., In both of which he had become behind
in dues because of late pecuniary embsrrass-
ments. Under the circumstances, we think it
no more than right to call upon each member
OF the order in this Stare to donate for the ben
eft of the bereaved family such sums as they
may feel able, and would therefore recommend
the adoption of the following resolution: That
the lodge, and each member thereof, contribute
for the purpose mentioned, such sums as they
deem best, and that the same be forwarded to
the grand recorder, who shall turn such sums
over to Mrs. Manson. the wife of the deceased
brother, as often as it may be convenient, tax
ing her receipt therefor
The Masonic order took precise course, he
being in the same financial condition in that
order, and an amount was contributed equal
to the amount of his insurance. 1t is charged
by the leading members of the A. o. q. w. in
this city that Mrs. Manson has been hastily
or wrongly advised in relation to taking the
step she has in the collection of the contested
claim against the WoIkmen; that a proper
time has not been given the order to make a
general report of its donations the action of
the grand lodge not having any more than
been received in an official form by the various
| subordinate lodges in the State.