The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-20
ELMER W. HURST.
He Let His ssEagle Scream" at Cable
Last Night.

He Let His ssEagle Scream" at Cabl,
Last Night.
The ARGUS announced in lis Saturday
issue that Mr. E. W. Hurst would speaf
at Cable Tuesday night under the auspices
of the Ancient Order United Workmel
society. We are pleased to say that h
fulfilled his engagement, and from thost
who heard his. speech we learn that b,
acquitted himself in creditable manner
The meeting was held in the Congrega
tional church, and there was a large at
tendance. Mr.. Hurst was introduced tc
the audience by Brother Straughan, ant
spoke for about half an hour
He first touched on the origin of the A
o. U. W., whose first lodge, he said, was
organized on the s7th day of October
1868, consisting of only fourteen members
The cause of such a lodge being started
was from trouble between the managers
of the Mine Hill & Scuuykill Railroad
Co.. and it was organized with the inten
ton of alternating this difficulty. Tht
order gradually increased in strength
until supreme lodge was instituted on {
permanent basis on February 18th, 1878
In 1874 the order found its way into oul
| state, which now stands fourth in ranR
among the state jurisdictions. He ther
read several articles setting forth the
object and aim of the order, which showed
that it was noble organization, and thai
it was worthy the support of all good
citizens. During Its existence it has col
lected and distributed upwards of SO, 900,
900, of which ever $270, 900 has been paid
to citizens of Illinois.
The speaker, for the benefit of those
| who were not acquainted with the order
then went on to make a statement of the
plan of insurance connected with the
order, and which is one of its prominent
features. He said the A. O. g. w. was
the parent of all existing similar institu-
tions, it being the first one to guarantee &
fixed sum at the death of member, to his
heirs, or a person designated by the de
ceased. 1t offers the cheapest and safest
insurance of all similar cooperative asso
Citations; its system has passed from the
period Of experiment into that of sue cess
it was never more flourish ing than today
after fifteen years of trial, and there are
none so poor that they cannot avail
themselves of the benefits of the order
The admission fee is light and the assess
ments limited to 81 each, which past ex.
perience has shown ale so distributed
that their payment is hardship to none
The membership in the state now exceed
ing 5000, makes one assessment sufficient
to pay 81, 900 each to the benefciaries OF
six deceased members and leave over 81,
600 in the treasury of the grand lodge
There have been all the measures taken
which careful business men could desire,
TO protect the order from loss through
dishonest or careless officers. The grand
recorder, who receives all monies. is under
a bond of $25, 900, which far exceeds the
amount of money in his hands at any one
time, and is required to give duplicate re-
ceipts for all money received by him. one
to the payer and one to be filed in The
archives of the grand lodge. which are
examined by the finance committee and
the board of trustees The grand recorder
is under bonds of 100000, and he
is therefore compelled to faithfully
perform the duties of his office
The grand lodge guarantees the payment
of $4,000 to each members family or per.
sons as he may designate, payable at the
death of the member. He also favorably
commented on the Select Knights" q
degree lately added to the order.
The orator here commenced to grow
eloquent, remarkiug that some one had
said that men are oaks, women vines. and
children are flowers, and il there is any
heaven in this world, it is in the family
where the wife loves the husband, and he
loves the wife, and where the dimpled
arms of children about the necks of both.
But, alas how often death appears upon
the scene and removes the husband and
father upon whom the comfort and
support of the family depends; and the
father and husband who does not possess
wealth enough to leave those above want
who looked to him to provide for their
temporal wants. was guilty, in his opin-
ion, of criminal negligence, if he does not
avail himself of the benefits to be derived
from membership in an order like the
A. 0. Z. W.
MAN, like the generous vine, supported lives.
The strength he gains is from the embrace he gives
Heaven forming on the other to depend
master, or a servant or friend,
Bids each on another for assistance call
It'll one man weakness grows the strength of all
The speaker continued to eulogize the