The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-12-10
LETTER FROM w

NORTH CATAwBA, N. c., Nov. 80, '89.
! Mr.. EDIToR:-It is with no vain
curiosity just to see our name in
print, nor yet to boast, that we write.
Our Alliance, Amherst, No. 1859,
was organized a year ago with only a
few members. Our geographical To-
cation is such as to forbid a large
membership. We have a membership
of thirty, with very little material to
work up. We are situated no great
distance from the. picturesque Grand
father, as he stretches himself out in
sublime grandeur, rising his colossal,
head toward Heaven, on the line be.
tween Burke aud Mitchell counties.
Ours is a neighborhood noted for its
morality. 1t is but justice to u
Alliance that I say we have been very
vigilant that none but good moral
characters have been initiated. While
we, of course, have not made church
membership a qualification, prerequis-
lite, every member of our Alliance is
aprofessor of religion. While this is
nothing of which to boast, it is some
thing for which we feel especially
thankful.
1t is the effort of our Alliance to
break the letters of the credit system.
We are to a great extent doing our
purchasing for cash, thereby saving
great per cents, and necessitating our
doing without many things we might
otherwise have. We mean to get
right down to business, i. e. out of
debt and stay so.
Our brethren believe the order in
North Carolina should raise a fund as
. kind of insurance for the benefit of
the widows and families of those of
our brethren who die-members in
good standing. They make this
proposition: That each member of
the Alliance in North Carolina pay
INTO the fund 5 cents per quarter, 20
cents per year. If this was done,
something near $4,000 could be
raised. Let this amount be sent. to
the State Treasurer, who, having
been required to enlarge his official
bond sufficiently to cover the same,
could invest said sum to best advan-
tage possible, acting SIS receiver and
dlsburser, at a reasonable commission
lor his services, without the necessity
OF creating another Office. Let only
the families of those who have con
trlouted to this fund be recipients of
any benefits This, though it would
Oe a small amount to each widow,
u be a great help to every one in
need. Bro. Polk, can you tell about
what death rate there is among our
membership per month? 1t is be-
ueVed that this can be the starting
point OF what may prove a great re-
nef to those poor widows of our
order who r left without homes
when their husbands die.
IheIe Is nothing in, or connected
with, the interest of our cause that
Is more obligatory upon us, than the
care OF the widow and orphan.
The fact exists that we will all soon
ele and certainly most of us leave
families. Now, there is no better
way that I know of to protect our
amllles from want, especially those
%us who are poor, than some plan
u THIS sort. Brethren let US hear
nOm you all I'VE the State.
ms amount was purposely made
Saali, very small, that it might be an
aaucement to every true Allianceman
u State to go into it. Let the
%Hcsurers OF our Sub-Alliance present
Se matter to their Alliances at their
as1t meeting. I feel that something
Tan and must be done.
F~raternally,