The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-04-06
RAPS, SIGNS And GRIPS.
An Interesting Report for
Members of the Legion
Of Honor.
URGED 70 ATTEND Tue MEETINGS.
Our Secret Societies---The Temper
ance Cadets.

ue4t ppOlHtStt az bile 1elst AHtcttHk VI tHe
Grand Council of New Jersey of the
American Legion of Honor. The com
mittee prods the members who shirlx
their duty to the subordinate councils,
points out their duty aud urges them to
do it, and the committee offers to render
all possible aid in having more life in the
healthy organization.
The committee. Messrs John M Grin
nell, Alfred Il. Craven and Dr.. Charles A.
Church, state:--"Ihe state of the order
presents to us ON the one hand great oc-
casion for congratulation; on the other
we see ground for anxiety. Cengratula-
tions, in that tho order is in such splen-
did financial condition; anxiety, in that
the individual members seem to have
drifted into such condition Of apathy
that they seem to consider all their work
done when dues and assessments are
paid. -
The question forces itself upon the
minds of the committee, How can we
arouse you from this state of Incidence,
and convince you that in the American
Legion Of Honor you have an Institution
deserving of all your confidence, and to
which you should give at least a fair Dor
ton of your time and labor?
The financial standing our order has
obtained shows a condition of prosperity
anu
utilized to bring about an increase in
membership which shall SO enlarge our
burdens as to make us secono to none in
mem bership sas we are foremost il finan-
cial standing. We have a membership of
$1,000, carrying an insurance of about
S1S0,000,000. Since the first death payment
IN October 1879 we have discussed to the
beneficiaries of deceased members the
grand total of $4,000 COO, averaging to
each beneficiary about $1,000
During the last two years we have paid
out under our Relief Benefit Fund the
sum of SILL This amount has
been distributed to members who in
sickness have found the necessity
OF Obtaining temporary relief for them
selves and families, aud has gone into the
homes of these members OF our fraternity
carrying unnumbeTed blessings in its
train. This amount is a charge against
the certificate of the member so receiving
It, and can be repaid at any time, or will
be deducted from the amount OF insur-
ance upon death of the member. Dur
ing the same period, and under the law
creating this fund as adopted by the Su-
preme Council, at Washington, d. C.. in
the fall of 1887, we have accumulated a
Guarantee Fund of nearly $780, 600 and an
Emergency Fund Of Sill 200, and at this
time all deaths recorded in the Office of
supreme secretary up to date are fully
provided for, and a balance over, in the
hands of our supreme treasurer.
The past has witnessed honesty in the
administration OF our affairs by our
supreme officers, promptness in the meet
ing of all obligations. no factious cues
tioning of claims with desire to dpay in
part" but quick compliance with all
honest demands. OF these "benefits'' the
1900 members in New Jersey have had
their share, having received during the
two years ending with June 80, 1888, the
sum of $346, 600 from the benefit fund, be-
sides a good share of the amount paid out
In relief during the past term True,
during the past three years our assess
ments have been regularly two a
month, but as result we have n finan-
| cial standing such as no other "fratern-
al'' association can show. 1t we had dis
pensed with our guarantee, relief and
emergency funds we might have had
some five assessments less during the last
two and half years. II our supreme
officers had determined to take advantage
| of all delays in payment of losses we
might have had still greater decrease in
| the number of assessments.
AS it Is, what have we received during
the past, as an equivalent for the assess
ments we paid, Let fair and honest
consideration of the facts we now present
! to you answer the question; and then we
desire calm consideration of tho cause
1 for anxiety, to which we now ask your
attention. Where is this cause? you ask.
4 We answer: it is most surely and plainly
/ in your own apathy and lack of sympathy
! with the general work so necessary to orr
continued success. Cause for anxiety is
found in the disposition Of the large ma
J jority OF our members to rest content
with general notion that Everything is
going WE'LL and SO allow small minor
ity to elect officers, govern subordinate
councils and rum the details of the or
feafs 4s1i lanf<a .cf- tt,af g Gno
members i'll this Grand Council fourteen
fifteenths rarely, il ever, attend council
meeting or manifest the slightest interest
in the details of our work You pay all
demands made upon you, you believe
everything is conducted properly, you
suffer yourselves to be led TO the council
chamber when some asplrant for Office
needs your vote, or when some rumor Of
acknowledgement is in the air; but be-
yond that you act as though you had not
the slightest interest i'll the order at
large.
Is this rightf Have you any business OF
greater importance than this? Have you
no personal interest in this vast system
which disburses millions of dollars yearly,
promises to provide for companions IN
sickness, and to care for yOur families
when you death depriyes them of youI
aid and counselY Are you honest TO your
selves, or your families? Are you com
pIN4AH Win Juc Obti-dllOuS YOU assumed
when you become mem beers OF our order;
In these statements, which are corrobor-
It b. the actual conditions in almost
every council in the State, is there not
cause Tor anxiety VIII you arouse to
| your individual duty in the case, and dc
yonr part to bring about the remedyY''
The report concludes with an earnest
demand for the members to De up anC
doing, to interest themselves in the WORK
! of the order and help build it up; to ae
( quaint themselves fully with its plans, It's
( peculiar features, its benefits and the
/ cost, its manner of conducting business
I and the results obtained. and TO attend
meetings of the councils and put into
these sessions the life they should have
/ Suggestions are given as to the plans t.
4 awaken interest in the order in this State
and bring in new members.
knights of Pythias.
Hudson Lodge No 81, at its regular
convention last Thursday evening, con
ferred the rank Of knight on two candi
dates and the rank of esquire on three
At the next convention the rank of knight
will be conferred or three candidates.
Jersey City Lodge No. 10 Will confer