The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-03-15
ksIaHrs AND LADIES OF HoNoE
a History of the ordsr-Its osjeo,s-
Form of Government. &c.

a History OF the order-Its Objects
Form Of Government, &c.
Martha Washington Lodge No. 400,
4. & L. of H., located in this city, has
passed through the experimental period
incident to every new lodge and may
now be said to be upon q firm basis.
The lodge IS composed of many of The
very bost men and women of Emporia.
They now meet in sn elegant new hall
in the Masonic temple There Is no
order perhaps that presents better or
cheaper insurance. combined with ex-
cellent social features. The lodge in
this city holds its regular meetings upon
the first and second Tuesday evenings
OF each month. Many of these meet.
ings are open and the public generally
invited. For the benefit of those who
may desire to become familiar with the
advantages of the order few facts ale-
appended which may prove of general
interest.
HISTORY OF THE ORDER
The Knights and Ladies were char
tered in 1878.
Its original qualifications for men,
bership confined it to the members OF
the knights of Honor and their lady
relatives.
1t now offers its advantages to all of
reputable profession. business, or oc-
cupation."
The order now numbers about tWen-
ty-five thousand members and six hun
dred subordinate lodges.
OBJECTS.
The objects of the order are briefly
set forth in its Sup rene Lodge Consti-
tuition as follows:
1. To unite fraternalIy all acceptable
| white men and women of any reputable
! profession, business or occupation, who
are over eighteen years of age.
2. To give all possible moral and ma
terial aid in its power to its members,
| and those depending on its members, by
holding moral. instructive and scientific
lectures, by encouraging each other in
business, and by assisting each other to
obtain employment.
g. To promote b3neyolence and chart
ty by establishing a relief fund, from
which, on satisfactory evidence of the
death Of a member of the corporation,
who has complied with all its lawful re-
/ Quirements, sum not exceeding five
| thousand dollars shall be paid 10 his
| family, or as he may direct.
4 To provide for creating fund for
| the relief of sick and distressed men,
| bers.
Thus it is seen that its purposes are
humane. 1t seeks to protect, aid, and
1 IL for uhila 1iuinr
when dead, to provide for their depend
| ents, the children, the parents, the broth
eTs and sisters, the family.
FEMALE RISKS.
The Knights and Ladies Is believed
| to be the first society of its kind to adj
| nit female members. Its growth, at
first, was retarded by the popular preju-
| dice, that female risks were greater than
male. Such prejudice was founded
upon ignorance of the comparative NOR
| taIity of the two sexes. Its experience
has verified the testimony of experts,
upon this subject. Its female risks have
constantly proved better than its male.
According to the statistics of Sweden,
the expectation of life of females is, at
different ages, from one to four years
| greater than that of males. In England
the number of male deaths averaged
| from 1888 to 1926 years. to every
|
100 female deaths was 1O3.
IT'S FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
The government of this order Is vest
ed in supreme, grand and subordinate
/ lodges The supreme lodge is the head
of the order, with full power to make
| laws for the government of itself, and
the grand and subordinate lodges.
The collection and disbursement of
the relief fund is controlled exclusively
by the supreme lodge. Grand lodges
| have charge of the order within their
respective states, subject to the laws and
| regulations of the supreme lodge. Sub
ordinate lodges have charge of the order
in their immediate vicinity, and are the
agents of the supreme lodge for the col
lection and disbursement of the relief
! fund. Grand lodges are composed of
Representatives elected by the subordi-
nate lodges of state, and the supreme
lodge of representatives elected by
grand lodges.
SECURITY OF FUNDS.
All officers of the order who have
charge of any of its funds are required
| to give sufficient bonds for the faithful
| discharge of their duties. These bonds
| may be increased from time to time and
are always in a sum not less than double
the amount he will probably at any time
| have IN his hands.
RELIEF FUND.
The relief fund is divided into two
classes, class A, and class B. Each class
pays its own death losses. Glass A. is
the initiatory class. All beneficiary
| members must be admitted to class A,
where they are entitled to one thou
sand dollar benefit. Those wishing
more than a thousand, can enter class
B., where they can procure either one
or two thousand dollars more. Thus a
relief fund member can carry either one,
two or three thousand dollars. When,
ever less than $1,000 is in the supreme
treasury of class A, or less than $4,000
IN that of class B., an assessment is
called at the following
RATES:
BETWEEN THE AGES OF CLASS CLASS