The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-06
THE SECRET societies.
Effect of the Grippe Epi-
demic on the Atten-
dance and Finance.

The prevalence Of the grippe is evident
by the slim attendance that has marked
the meetings of the secret societies dur
ing the past week. Many of the old
reliables who rarely miss a meeting were
absent, and the majority of these who at
tended were sneezing and coughing.
If the grippe does not release its firm
hold. initiatory and degree work will
have to be abandoned as the effect would
be wholly destroyed by the incessant in
terruptions of the afflicted members and
officers
Absolute quiet must prevail to make
the obligation solemn and impressive,
and one little sneeze will rob the cere-
mony of it's serious character.
Not only will initiatory work be sus-
pended, but it is extremely likely that as
the attendance is so meagre that many of
the lodges Will be authorized to call off
as.they do in summer months and hold ses-
sions only once month instead of every
week or every other week.
The epidemic has assumed serious
and fatal form, as numerous deaths have
occurred from pneumonia and kindred
troubles which developed from the dis
ease. Scarcely lodge or council of the
many mutual insurance orders have es-
capped losing a member, and not one has
a clean health bill.
1t is the same with the orders in the
Eastern cities, for the death rate is ex-
traordinarily high in the cities and towns
jim the New England and Middle States,
and the disease is extending through the
South and West.
The result will be severe drain on
these life insurance societies. The mem
bers must make provisions for extra as
sessmentS as they will certainly be inn
n0Gad a 0dOnf
the policy of deferring payments in anti
cipatiOn that the epidemic will soon
cease, and one or two of the deferred
claims can be settled each month with
the regular batch of claims.
1t change does not speedily occur,
some OF the weaklings will go out OF ex-
lstence, as the tax will be too great for
the members to stand. and there will be
host OF those who will not consider the
unusual condition of affairs, and they
will withdraw from the order.
Some of the orders may have sHch an
enormous death roll that it will kill the
organization. 1t will be a test of the rel
alive strength of the several institutions,
and from present indications it seems
certain that the weaker ones must GER
tainly collapse.
In this city at least score of those who
have succumbed to the disease during
the past ten days are members OF these
secret mutual benefit societies, which is
at least ten times greater than the usual
number. AS the same high proportion
will be reached if not exceeded in New
York. Brooklyn, Boston and other cities
and towns where these orders flourish,
the effect is apparent without any pro-
found thinking, that the rush of death
claims to the supreme treasurers will be
enormous and these claims must be met.
1t is the trying time for these institu-
tions and will be marked by the survival
of these best established and the collapse
of those who, to win members, have
| offered such strong inducements that il
will be difficult in a time like this to meet
their obligations.
Look cut for G crash # the epidemic
| does not quickly abate.