Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-14
Joutnal arlD Courier,
Satur,iaT 5Isrning. Jan. IA. iYS2
Masonic Benefit Association.

SaturIaT Msrning. Jan. 14. 1882
 Masonic Benefit Association. Annual DEeetfng-Report of the Seer stary | A Good Financial lExhfbit--Benefitso of | Mutual Aid Societies. | The annual meeting of the Masonic Mutual | Benefit association was held in the blue lodge l room of the Masonic Temple, the president, 1 10. $. Quintard, in the chair After reading the minutes of the last an nual meeting the secretary submitted his an nual report, of which full abstract is given below,
 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. To the officers and members of the Masonic
 Mutual Benefit association of New Haven,
 Conn:
 Brothers:- Having been permitted through the blessings of our Heavenly Father to again assemble in annual meeting, it gives me pleasure, in accordance with the requirements of our by laws, to submit herewith my eighth annual report, embracing the transactions of the association during the past year, and its condition at the present time
 The official board have held fourteen meet ings during the past year, and have acted up-
 
 for membership, all of which had been thor oughly scrutinlzed by our medical director. One hundred and forty of these were accept ed, the others rejected.
 Sixty-five members were suspended for non payment of assessment and thirty-seven of this number were reinstated to member ship after paying their arrearages and $1, as required by the bylaws.
 The board of directors have decided that mn hv. 1ayu xubo nt pay his assessment within the time specified in his notice must be marked delinquent and can only regain his membership by paying his arrearages and one dollar. Many of the delinquents during the past year offered as an excuse for payment that the matter had slipped their mind or the card was mis- laid. Prompt payment will obviate this diff fculty.
 Our death rate, although slightly heavier than during the past few years is still light, having been about one and quarter per cent. One reason for this increase in nor tality was the result of accident, eight mem- bers having had violent deaths. Deducting these our mortality during the year would not have been as large as during 1878, when 1t reached one per cent or $10 for each $100,000 of benefits. During the years 1879 and 1880 1t was much less than that.
 The average since our organization has been about eight-tenths of one per cent
 During the past year $1OO0O have been paid in death claims without direct assess ment, or 31 death claims have been paid by an assessment of $26 upon the members, being less than 83 cents for each death.
 The total amount paid without assessment since our organization is $50, ,OOO, ,oOO; this is in addition to paying the running expenses of the association.
 CONTINGENT FUND.
 The amount added to the contingent fund during the past year is SS2, 394 from the fol lowing sources For membership fees, $1,- 844 from interest on investments, $550.
 The official board in December instructed the finance committee to invest portion of the money standing to the credit of this fund in some suitable security. They purchased two Boston and New York Air Line per per cent. bonds of $1, 900 denomination, numbered respectively 159 and 1SS. They are registered in the name of this association.
 The total amount received for interest since our organization to the present time is $3, 201.25.
 MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.
 The board have requested the directors in their respective vicinities to forward for ap proval the names of physicians to make medical examinations of applicants Names have been sent from thirty towns and cities.
 During the past year have received number of letters from members informing me that they have assigned their certificate of membership and benefit to parties other than those named in their application and requesting me to make the proper change on the books. These assignments are void, as no change of benefit cap be made except as specified in section 2, article viii. of the by laws.
 LEGISLATIVE INTERFERENCE
 Jealousy is predominating characteristic with some men and we find 1t in the ordinary insurance men, who have failed in their ef- forts to convince the public that these asso- citations are short lived, and the cost of in- surance as they apply the term will be much larger than with ordinary companies.
 They have failed to convince the members of these benefit associations that they will not receive all that is promised them. They have flooded the country with leaflets and circulars putting these associations in the worst possible light before the public. They have tried every means in their power to break them up, but not succeeding they tried to have laws made to legislate them out of existence. In five States during the past year they carried this war into the Legisla- lures, and failed, as they ought to. The paper introduced in this State embraced four sections, the last aimed at us, and read as follows: s'Section That any association or organization in this State which affects to insure the life of any person to the benefit of another, with the insurance payable after death of the insured, shall be considered as doing business of life insurance in this State."
 As soon as this matter became known pa- pers were circulated remonstrating against the passage of this or any act in whatever form presented which tended as a blow aimed at our associations, and which would thereby paralyze the efforts of the poorer classes to secure at small cost support for 1piy a11H oh Uh bp foth ic Thousands of names were procured without any effort, and, to use the term of one of the Representatives, the Legislature was "snowed in" with remonstrances against this bill
 Later in the session bill was introduced ostensibly to investigate the Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance company, but it was soon found that the issue was again revived and the associations again new assaiIed. This necessitated calling our committee together lnstructing our counsel, &c. The matter was several times heard before the insurance con- Inittee, and resulted in presenting majority and minority reports, the majority report be- ing favorable to the company. The minority report was signed by Senator A. F. Brad street, of Thomaston, chairman of the con- mittee on the part of the Senate, and was strongly advocated by him, but was defeated. The majority report was ably championed by Senator William J. Mills, of this city, seconded by Senator Lyman D. Brewster, of Danbury, and others. The gentlemen of the Legislature who espoused our cause are cer- tainly entitled to the thanks of this and kin dred associations for the manly stand they took against bill which looked to the taxing of the widows dollar, or legislating out of existence, by imposing burdens which they could not bear, voluntary organizations of men whose primary and only object is to secure to families of deceased members pe- cuniary aid.
 REMITTANCES.
 In some places it is customary for mem bers to club together and send their remit tances for assessments through one party, thereby saving expense and risk of mails. This is generally done through directors or some member, and remittance made by check draft. find that while these directors are willing to accommodate the members and send their assessments, they think it is hard lysright for them to be at an expense for postage, check stamps, etc, in sending these