The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-25
Tho Mutual Endowment Association
Of Altoona, Pa, . Shaky
Concern.
Fiva Hundred Dollar Allurements
70 Lovers That Shrink
Amazingly.
where the Concern Had Its Origin-The
Secretary an Artful DodEer- =
Some Figures.

recent birth. whose objects. according to
the statements Of the projectors says the
Philadelphia Times, are $50 reasonable and
equitable that the association commends
itself to all Of either sex, and whether old |
or young, married or single, it will prove
most profitable Investment to all who join.
The president of the association, accord
ING to the prospectus, is J.. r. King, OF Al
toona, general secretary Of the Young Mons
Christian Association; the treasurer is J. D.
Hioks of Altoona, and its secretary is j. A.
keenan,.
The association, it 10 further stated, "is-
sues certificates Of $500 each, such oertif-
Gates being payable in five years to such as
continue to be members Of the association
for that length Of time; or payable at the
marriage Of such as have been
of the association" II a MEM
Der marries at the expiration Of six months
or at any time after six months his or her
certificate OF certificates mature and are
payable. After marriage no assessments
are required and the membership ceases.
If member does not marry during the hve
years his or her certificates mature at the
expiration Of that time"
It will be seen that this tempting allure
ment to thrift OF matrimony promises as
plainly 09 WO1O0 eau 6xQIo1D 6A 0ODOAus0
payment of $500 to those who marry OF
those Who continue their membership for
five years. The members to obtain this are
required to make payment as follows:
"An advance fee Of g will be charged for
issuing each certificate of membership.
except in cases of unmarried members, who
shalt be charged additional dues of fifty
cents q month for the first six months.
After that they will be charged the same az
other members. A uniform assessment of
fifty cents will DO levied upon all it's mem
bers for all certificates issued by the ASSOC
citation that shall mature by reason OF mar
rage or expiration of time"
A tender regard for those who contem-
plate marriage is shown by the promise, as
follows: AN certificates, assessment sss nasnt
will be enclosed in sealed envelopes. The
plan has been adopted on request of
number of our members who desire to keep
their membership secret. Some desire to
surprise their parents or their future wives,
while others are little bashful or sensitive
and desire no one to know OF their member
ship"
II was for the purpose of finding whether
bashful lovers and maidens coy in danger
Of being lured to matrimony by the Mutual
Endowment association Of ia Atoe 9 as PROM t9s
knot is tied get the aforesaid $500, or any
part thereof, that a representative of the
Philadelphia Times called upon Secretary
John A. keenan,, at the association rooms,
eand9, 1Ssouth Broad street.
The two rooms of the association are on
the third floor back. In one are two desks
and typewriter, in the other il large
table aud packing boxes. The associations
money has not been wasted on furniture.
Secretary Keenan, is 9 pleasant;faced and
agreeable gentleman of three and thirty OF
thereabouts. Being asked what guarantees
those who became members of the assOcia.
ton had of the fulflment of it's promises he
replied: 1.-The high character of hegentle
men who conduct its business" He Wal
not sure, however, that the president is still
General Secretary Of the Young Mems
Christian association" or, if he is, that he
is stil! "a firm believer in it's g,1inciples:"
"What capital have your" was then
asked.
has therefore sssSsn no capital was the reply
"How do you pay salaries and expenses?''
"There are but two salaries to be paid
These and the other expenses are paid out
of the twenty per cent. reserve fund, tn.
annual dues and advance fees and the q
cents extra dues for the first six months"
But this reserve fund, You say in your
prospectus, is to help pay off term certifi
oates of $500 maturing in five years, to thoss
who remain members for that period"
''Oh, three fourths of these are forfeited
Three-fourths of our members do not re.
AAeOS@See03
on two or three years."
"Then how are you to pay $500. less tn
20 per cent, to any who marry after 81
1--WE do not promise to pay $500. w
sePs pay sns isss
0.per cent"
''Oh, yes; quite number"
"What amounts have you paid?''
'Well, can hardly remember tho exac
fectly satisfied. have number of letter
expressing the highest qualification fron
them.''
Secretary keenan, then produced pack
age OF about a dozen letters pinned togethe
at one corner. Most of them were worl
and soiled and looked as if they had see,
service somewhere. He read from three o
them thanks for remittances. His visito
had a chance to glance at the letters as tn
secretary turned them over. In none wa
stated. In one the writer spoke of some
thing being explained. Such of the sig
natures as were seen were wretchedl
written, while the bodies were in fin
Spencerian script and noticeably alike
The hs to b his yso
those people paid in they received" he said
seventy, eighty, ninety. and in some in
stances one hundred per cent"
"How much did they pay in2'' was asked
"Oh, don't remember the exact figures.
In reply to further questions Secretar
Keenan, said that the association was incor
porated in Blair county in May, 1887, bu
did little or no business there, that til
Office was removed to York, Pa, some eigh
months since, and no effort was made t
obtain members there; that few weel
since the office was removed to where
now is on South Broad street, and that n
endeavor has been made to secure member
in Philadelphia; that the association ad
vertises extensively all over the Unite
States, and has members IN Canad;
states in the union, and that
publishes monthlv paper in York, Gale