The Portland daily press., 1889-11-12
LIFE UNDERWRITERS.
The Maine Association at pinner-A
Speech by Major calef.

The Maine Life Underwriters Association
held business meeting and dined at the
Preble last evening. 1t was voted to hold
monthly banquets at which guests from the
various trades and professions shall be in
vted. The following new members were
voted in: j. Edward Lawrence Of Lewis
ton, S. Swartzschild, A. Cobbett:of Portland,
Fl. E. Hewes and Fl. G. Hckson. The mem
bership now consists of 80.
The following jovlal gentlemen crossed
legs under the mahogany: Maj. Ben. S. Ca
lef Of Boston, the guest Of the evening, John
Z. Dewitt. Esq, President. and Mr.. A. l..
Bates, Secretary Of the Union Mutual, w.
FL. Anderson, s. Swartzschild. G. P. Dewey,
J. NJ. Boardman, V. R. Foss, j. F. Lang, T.
FL. Gledhill, James Sinkinson, J. Edward
Lawrence. T. F. Phillips, Thos. Walker.
John Kerigan, G. A. Morrell. j. p. Stevens,
j. NJ. Gooding, G. f. Dunlap,
T. T. Merry, @. d. Munger, T. S. Burns and
III. Z. Hewes.
At $50 o'clock President Anderson raped
the assembly to order and introduced Maj.
Calef, who addressed the gathering. He
said:
In looking over some old documents re-
Gently came across paper written for the
International Review in 1887. by the Hon.
Charlton T. Lewis, then secretary Of the
Chamber Of Lie Insurance, New, York, and
known to you all as one of the ablest writ
ers and brilliant scholars Of the day. What
Is wrong in Life Insurance. was the title
and 1t was written in the dark days when
cloud hung for the moment over the bnsi-
Mr.. Lewis said: Tested by the standard
Of its ideal, aims and methods. life insurance
has achieved success more complete, and
has suffered In detail, failures less disastrous
than any other form of human enterprise
This was true in 1877, and the clouds which
lowered then have passed away. and thank
God 1t Is doubly true today.
Speaking of underwriters associations,
Major Calef said: II have been asked the
question. What have these associations
done for us?' Time will not permit me to go
into detail. but for one all important thing In
ours or any profession they have developed
test of character, and II you want crucial
test of character. you must put man upon
his honor for his personal acts. He may
start out all right to do his duty TO the COM
pany, his competitors and himself, and fail
II man means to do thing aud does not
do 1t, we have a fair test,-he has simply
made contribution of paving material to
that place where the mercury runs high. |
claim that these associations have lessened
the contributions and good intention stock is
to help himself in manly way, and that
means help his neighbor.
II read an English essay not long since in
which the author spoke of a certain class Of
people as cold water pourers.' whose sole
pretense to wisdom consists In admin
istering discouragement, and / also
remember that the whole class turned
out en- lnasse when our association was
organized SIX years ago. but they have run
short of water and thank heaven they can
not turn the wheel with the water that Is
passed. And so the good work has gone on
throughout the country, and If there are gen.
tlemen here tonight In whose territory no Or
| ganization exists, bid them to start one, no
| matter how disc0uraging may be the out
look. like the spirit Of the lrishman whs
was walking with a newly arrived country
man on the Bowery, and they stopped under
sign painted In Hebrew char acters.
What's that Moike,' asked one. 'Begorra oi
don't know, but II oi had me flute, dam me
If oi wouldn't try to play it,"
Major Caleb referred to the Instructions
in the rate book" placed in his hands when
ne entered fhe business, urging fair dealing
and justice towards competitors. Continu-
he said:
"We are fortunate in having with us to-
night the gentleman who placed the book In
my hands, and under whose instructions l
was to enter the insurance world. Our
paths have separated since then, but our
friendship has not waned, and I nave both
pride aud pleasure in being permitted to
thank Mr.. John Z. Dewitt"