The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-04-03

memoratlVe OF their origin, their rise al
progress.
These are many and varied in their cha
acter. Among secret organizations "
have Masonry, dating back to the days
King Solomon; then, Odd Fellowship,
more recent date; and then last, though /
no means least in Importance, we have I'll
Knights of Honor; and these, and all othel
have their anniversary occasions.
Then we have anniversaries peculii
" to each one of us. We all have birtl
days. Most of us have wedding days, an
those who have not had. are striving
gain that period in their existence. W
have wooden weddings, and tin wedding
and crystal weddings and silver weddings
and are looking forward hopefully to tn
time when we may celebrate our golde
weddings.
In brief, our lives are made up of ami
versaries, which we delight to celebrate
one of which brings lis here this evening
We are met to celebrate the first annivel
sary Of Lake Lodge, No. 1475, r. of II. Il
this connection it is but proper that some
thing should be said of the objects, pur
poses accomplishments of the Order 0
which this Lodge forms part.
The Order of the Knights of Honor, a
now constituted, was established in tn
State of Kentucky on the Both day o
June, 1873. For some time the order di,
not prosper us its founders and friends haC
hoped it would. The first assessment sen
out realized for the beneficiary thereof bu
$532; and it was not until May, 1875, tina
the full measure of benefits contemplated
and fixed in its constitution was realized
Since then, however. the progress anC
growth Of the order has been almost mar.
velous 1t has been extended into every
State in the Union except Louisiana and
Florida, and into nearly all the inhabited
Territories.
In 1878, the membership in the United
States and Territories had reached 10000.
At this date there are 800 working Lodges,
with an active membership of not less
than 10000. Each assessment pays now
about 43 death benefits.
| Since the first establishment of the Order in
this State, in March, 1871, three years ago, the
total number of assessments has been A.,
an average of IA for each year. This has
cost each member under the age of 40 years.
who joined at the beginning, little over
one dollar per month to maintain and Sc
cure the sum of $1,000 to be paid to his
beneficiaries at his death.
Contrast this with any other insurance
or BENEFICIARY organization, and we chal-
lenge any to show so safe and cheap u
method of securing so large a benefit for
families or friends in case of death. EX-
animation into the facts and figures will
convince any intelligent and unprejudced
mind of the truth of this assertion.
The first Lodge organized in this State
was at Meridian, March Sth, 1877. On the
22d of the following November, Grand
Subordinate Lodges. At its tirstscSsion in
July, 1873, there were "a Subordinate
Lodges, and 655 members.
At the second annual session in July,
1879, the number of Lodes had increased to
"a, and the membership to 1000. At the
present date there are IA working Lodges,
and Il membership of fully 5000; and it
is estimated that by our next annual meet
ing in June, we shall have nearly one hun
dred Lodges in the State.
This condition is q source of comfort and
to the brethren, and affords
food for reflection to those who being
strangers to our order, may have it in con-
to join our ranks.
Aside from the beneficiary feature of
the order its fraternal purposes and teach |
ings can not fail to commend themselves to |
all who are made acquainted Herewith.
One great cause of the almost unparralel- |
ed growth and prosperity of the Knights of
Honor as a society has been the demand on !
the part of the working and business men
Of the nation for some safe and cheap plan |
Of providing a means whereby those de-
pendent on them for support should be left |
comfortable and above want in case of
leath.
The old plan of life insurance besides
)eing too expensive for the masses, has
,een so managed and manipulated as to
mpar confidence in its security and sta
)illity.
In this we offer an organization which is
rec from these objections. We employ no
high salared officers, we speculate in no
tocks, and invest in no tluctuating securi-
les. The fund we raise for beneficiary
purposes is a sacred fund. and can be used
or no other purpose. The custodian OF
hat fund is under ample bonds to protect
gainst any probable loss, and should he be
dishonest the most that any one of us could
Ose would be the value of Il single assess
lent to be levied to replace one that might
ossibly though not probably be squander-
d and lost.
More than this the money is always on
and to pay any demands legally and law
lIly made, and payment is never delayed
eyond the time necessary to furnish the re-
uired proof of death and good standing in I
ne order. No technicalities involving veX- ,
tiOus litigation or ruinous compromise are
YER raised against those who are the
of our deceased brethren, as
too often the case in what are termed
egular insurance companies.
Other societies organized for fraternal.
laritable and beneficial purposes have .
one noble work, Notably among these
re the MasOns and Odd Fellows. These '
ave done all perhaps more than they have
romised. The objects and purposes of
leir organization have been well carried I
rward; but as efficient as they have been !
promoting fraternity among their menu
,rs and in the practice of beneVOlence and
larity their work has been more to meet T
'esent necessities than future wants. 1t y,
Is been left for the Knights of Honor to I
eet and provide for these. d
To visit the sick, bury the dead, comfort
e widow and soOth the orphan, are duties Z
hich all inculcate. but we have gone a
rther than this and made it certain for us
provide in life for the care. comfort and 4
pport of our loved ones when we are q
ne. We have done even more than this, >,
cOgniZing the fact that no good work is L
mpletc in which our wives and daughters, 4
If mothers and sisters are not to partici- d
te and be admitted as helpers, we have
ened the doors of our Lodge room for G
cir admission. A still newer branch o Ia
r order has been established where ladies
z admitted not merely as to side show W
{ to all the rights privilege and benefits n
In the knights and Ladies l
Honor woman is fully and equally recog-
,ed and is eligible to any office from the IL
vest to the highest, and though this l.
lnch of the order is still i'm its infancy il
Is fair to outstrip its parent order in in
lwth and prosperity, for when the ladies a.
re hold of any good work, they know no Y, -
,h word as fail. And thus are we carry L
forward the good word. Strong as l.,
v be the links that bind Us, they arc III
le too strong for our purpose. W
'he charity Of the world Is too often n,
llow and uufeeling. Too often. alas, are ~
appeals of those in need made to ears pl
L are deaf and hearts that are callous. n,
sled with our own affairs we have or
c little time to note the wants Of others. J'
With the knights Of Honor we have a M
at protection against this. We ask no :,
Is for our widows. demand no help for "
orphans. We have provided for this, III
when a worthy Knight is called TO lay :.
le his armor and surrender at the sum III
rs Of death. he may close his eyes in ra
zee. and 20 quietly 10 his rest, knowing ~,
{ his wife and little ones viii not be LEFT u'
pless nor penniless. IL
'uTing the six years Of our existence a m
eneficiary order, two and a quarter mil y
y (S2. 80, ,OO0D dollars have been dis u
,uted to the benefciaries Of our deceas- p
brethren. In the terrible epidemic Of
:. which visited our Southland. scOurg- m
cities. and towns aud villages with fr.
-ible desolatiou. one hundred and ninety ,
ee Of truest and bravest Knights fell IN
Tins to its ravages. To pay these ben tn
: S3S5.OO0 were demanded from our a.
lsury. Promptly and fully the drafts W
he honored. The distress call was heard Gu