Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-11
The Masonic Mutual Relief !associa-
tiOms

t1Ons
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
In behalf OF large and worthy class OF persons
In this District and outside of It, composed mainly
OF women and children whose great material In
terest lie In the uninterrupted continuance OF one
OF our most charitable local organizations, SUI
ncfent space In your valuable columns Is here.
with solicited to shed such twinkling rays among
many uniformed members as may serve to guide
them In their future action looking TO change OF
management The history OF the Masonic Mutual
Relief Association OF this District from its organ
iZatOn fourteen years ago to the present time, IS
well known to most OF its members. and pretty
generally known to our citizens at large.
The almost fatal mishap which befel it In It's
progress by the acts OF an unfaithtul secretary
the temporary languishment that followed; the
untlring struggles OF its projectors to maintain
pledged faith TO all It's beneficiaries; its subSe-
quent slow, though sure recuparation from almos,
state Oh bankruptcy to one of yigor and prosper
ity are an matters OF record and fresh in the
minds OF its early members
ihoSe VINO nave from time to time composed Its
several boards OF management have generally
honesty OF purpose, sound judgment and vigilant
in their efforts to maintain for It good name al
home, as well as among kindred organizations
throughout the country.
Tue united endeavors OF all it's friends to secure
Its great success has also warded OF many dan
gers which In the past threatened to impair its
usefuln SIS, and show to the public present roll
OF 1,6i2 members, all reasonably prompt In the
payment or assessments, ard also to show the
honorable distribution record OF $40 SAT paid out
TO the widows and orphans OF deceased members
up TO the present time.
With such a record should not the members
take courage for the future correct internal dis
sessions and abuses, and go on with the gOOd
WORK?
This can only be done by the selection OF hon.
orable and rght-mlndpd directors who will al
ways De thoroughly united upon questions arising
In the board affecting the interests of members
or the assoc iaton and the beneficiaries, leaving
outside matters and the interests OF other and
conflicting organizations TO take care OF them
selves.
It has been manifest for several years past that
hostile elements have sprung up in the board,
which, IL left undisturbed, Will certainly bring
trouble IL not utter ruin to the Relief Association
To a minority OF the board OF directors, who
assume to be free in thought word deed ami act:
looking to the interests OF the Relief Association
anu none other, these dangers are more glarlugly
apparent tn IN 10 members outside the board, who
DO not come in contact with them.
Most prominent of these evils is q persistent
enort on the part OF clique formed in the board
OF managers AMI controlled by few individuals
TO favor continued mixed management, COM
posed largely OF members very closely allied with
an3tner ASSOCIATION, good enough In It's own way,
put practically ana directly antagOniStic to the
Masonic Mutual Relief Association.
me evils OF this mixed management frequently
snow themselves In many ways. An outcrOpping
OF distrnst, consequent upon such mixed or COM
Dlned management, was painfully apparent at
tne annual meeting in November last during the
election for directors. At the same time on that
occasion there was ray OF hope felt for future
tranquility when prominent officer publicly an
AGAIN hpPOmG a n IL
date for reelection.
This officer felt that he could no longer with pro
prey serve TWO masters; but this hope was de-
stroyed by his subsequent qualification Of himself
wien lie uhmaSked and procured for himself a re-
election under film OF charity, the pretext being
that he would give permanent employment to a
soi, gentelnan VINO had Tor long time been
SICK ana unfortunate, giving him $50 per month to
AID him In the performance OF his duties.
The manner in which he performed his contract
wiIh that gentleman Is also well known.
uiStrpS6 no mo in
SO lhuch 10 De regretted Is entirely natural under
sne circumstances, coming as 1t does from con-
what similar in working plan but entirely dissim-
lar In aims and object, One being based mainly
upon charity and the other on making gains for
its stockholders.
For the good OF all concerned there should be a
total severance OF these two boards OF manage
merits ~
The general conviction is nothing less than such
separation VIII bring about the needed remedy
ana ,a ieeiiS OF security The real friends OF the
ltate TO apply the remedy. Ours Is chartered In
sttutlon, deriving Its powers direct ron Congr
III Is Old enough, and capable OF managing It's own
affairs without the unwho,esome counsel OF very
doubtful friends. Recently number of these
mixed members OF the board waking up to a sense
oi tne equlVocal position they have so long Occl-
ped, nave sent In their re tgnations to the board
not, however, until, In every case taklnr cara
tha e Pupils OF their own training should succeed
board. N ~
In three cases. directors who have opposed this
friendly to the Relief Association have also re.
signed. through sense OF manhood aud to secure
tnuSelseS agalSt repeated Insults for daring to
take issue with this combination management on
matters affecting the interests OF the association
me selection OF an Office as headquarters, when
the board were compelled to remove from the old
Office on the north side OF Pennsylvania avenue,
was contrary to the wishes and expectation OF this
clllue: VINO desired 1t to go to street. This has
mt frn, ITO
We're appointed To select an Office for which they
nave been hunted down by those directors
Oh the mixed persuasion who favored the F street
pfokfanl Inere Is another evil that needs cor
rectl0n, and which change vf directors would
most likely bring about. The custom inaugurated
several years ago. and since kept I'D by thu mixed
managers, OF sending delegates TO an annual con-
Vention OF insurance companies on the mutual or
ass plan which meets In different cities OF
the onlted states, is looked upon by the minority
members OF the board as unwarranted and wholly
unnecessary.
No one can orjec. to this regularly constituted
BOARD OF delegates going to these 1unketng reSti-
Vals. provided they elect themselves from the In
surance company they actually represent and
cnrge cots OF transportation, hotel bills and In
ciuentals 10 Their own companies instead OF the
feiiei Association, which has to foot the bills
every year.
The reports made by these returning delegates
upon such topics as actuarial life tables, ire
vision OF pamphlets on life insurance reserve
lund cooperative life Insurance." ''medical as
pect OF life insurance" SC. might be GOOD tones
for Life Insurance Companies to discuss but are of
little use to cur Masonic Relief. The ground plan
OF our association Is plain and sinnle: We each
OF US, agree to pay one dollar to - beneficiary
upon proof OF death Of every K, (.locr, and ten
cents TO cover the cost OF collecting the money
ana Keep the accounts OF memb rs straight
rms Is all there is in our scheme. No compli-
Gated actuarial life tables, &c. are necessary to
ennghten us In the payment of these scores.
Let us have officers and managers who are not
nanie 70 De sServed from their duty to the Relief
ASSoclaton In the interests OF conflicting asSocta-
IONS formed alone for the good OF tue stockhold-
ers: let US cultivate our own ways and means:
pay our scores promptly and cheerfully; do ali
the good we can TO each other; keep up our MEM
DerSh!p oy the injection OF young and vigorous
mttcr1al; decline to NEEDLE With our neishbor's
affairs, ana not permit our own to be tainpered
WIN lor selfish purposes. There is but one way
to cure these and other evls-by the ballot at onr
annual meeting. "Look well to the annual meet
1ngs!" YFRITas
The Garfield Monument Fair.