The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-05

| suIIs Ludu ever DSIOr6 IN It's history,
and much if not greater part of this
is due to the noble and true women
who stand in its ranks and shed lus-
ter on its cause.
In full justification OF the ladies OF
Chosen Friends, who have earned FOR
themselves such a proud distinction
in our order over the doubt and dis
trust in which they were admitted,
and as full answer to the wise and
knowing ones who winked their ewes
and laughed at them and our order as
they passed in, l wish to quote a few
extracts from both the reports of the
Supreme Protector and Supreme Med
ical Examiner of the order of Knights
and Ladies of Honor at their supreme
lodge session, held in Philadelphia,
Pa, in September, 1887, an order also
doing life insurance business with
women, as have never seen the
matter officially stated in our own or
der. The Supreme Protector says:
During the two years ending June
80, 1887. 9O1 relief fund members have
died-426 sisters and Ats brothers; 40
more brothers than sisters. Here
we note the excellency of our fe male
risks. Computing the death rate upon
the membership as shown by the re-
port of June 80, 1886, we have an an
nual mortality among the females of
1O2 per 1000, and 124 per 1908 among
the males, balance of % per 1000 in
favor of the lady mem bers."
The Supreme Medical Examiner
says:
referring to appendices G and D it
will be seen that of the 1000 deaths
reported in class A, 1862 were of males
and 94S of females; from 400 deaths
in class &, 22S are males and 172 are
females. AS our record shows a much
larger female membership than male,
the percentage of deaths in the latter
is necessarily shown to be greater
than in the former. / will not at this
date comment on or make comparison
of the death rate between the two
sexes from any particular disease or
classification of diseases. The facts
are to be found in the appendices, and
| can only say after two years of addi-
tional experience. reviewing applica-
tons and tabulating deaths, quoting
from my former report evidently the
danger, exposures and various vicissi-
tudes to which males are subjected
together with the evil of intemperance,
more than counter balances the risks
of maternity and the climatic epoch"
These figures and statements, COM
ing from such high authority, ought
to show anyone where the strength
and vitality of our order lies, and when
it comes to the strong man and the
delicate woman in the race for life in
the insurance business, the frail woman
beats the lord of creation all to death,
and we have here as elsewhere but to
recall in her honor the beautiful lines
Blessings on the hand of woman.
Angels guard its strength and grace
In the cottage, palace, howell,
Oh no matter where the place
Would that never storms assail it,
Rainbows ever gentle curl,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
WOmeu uOW ulNlue your ulSSlOH,
Here upon our native sod
Keep, oh, keep the young soul open
Always to the breath of God.
All the trophies of the ages,
Are from mothers love impearled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle,
Is the hand that rules the world.
am informed the council here has
no lady members, only two applica-
tions. In my council there are many,
while in the rank and file of the order
generally is to be found the most dis
tinguished men and women of the
country, representing every profession
and avocation in life. Certainly,
ladies, you are missing one of the
grandest opportunities for good, as
we'll as not giving proper support to
one of those pioneer causes which
seek in the enlightened civilization of
the nineteenth century to disenthral
you OF a partial financial bondage in
herited from the past, elevate you to
competency and relief based on your
own efforts and individuality and dedi-
cate you to usefulness and prosperity
hitherto unknown, which is not
woman's rights or any part of it, but
a Just relation of the sexes.
Beginning business under the diff
culties and deplorable prophesies that
it did, it may be interesting to some
of you to know to what great and
glorious institution the Order of
Chosen Friends has grown. Accord
ing to the best estimate l can make,
there is about $50 councils, with a
membership of $4,000; of this
Texas has 1856, Texas having in
1885 only seventy-fve members. Cal
ifornia having 1923, the largest men,
bership, with New York second, con-
tanning 1858, while Indiana, the land
of its nativity, ranks about seventh,
with II membership OF 2511. The total
receipts to the relief fund from June 30,
1889, up to March 81, 1890, was alone
$71S, 1854. This does not include the
council and indemnity funds, both of
which are large. The total net receipts
to relief fund from organization up to
March 81, 1890, wa, $44 ,479, 96021.
This was disbursed on 2165 death and
252 disabilities, and left $l756.92 in
| A. t.oaS,,rv not 1rau,p OF that date