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

Friends. Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Order OF Chosen Friends is "an
organization of ladies and gentlemen
defined in their charter to unite in
bonds of fraternity, aid and protec-
ton; all acceptable white persons of
good character, steady habits, sound
bodily health and reputable calling,
who believe in Supreme Intelligent
Being, the Creator and Preserver of
the Universe; to improve the condi-
ton of its membership morally, So
cially and materially by timely coun-
sci and instructive lessons, by encour-
agement in business and by assistance
to obtain employment when in ee |,
to establish a relief fund from which
members of the association who have
complied with all of its rules and regu-
lations, or persons by such members
lawfully designated as the legal heirs
of such members may receive bene-
fit in sum not exceeding $4,000,
which shall be paid either when a
member reaches the age of 70 years,
or when by reason of disease or acct
dent, such member becomes perma-
nently disabled from following his
usual or some other occupation, or
upon satisfactory evidence of the death
of such member. Aims and objects
which alike command the highest
qualities of our minds, the noblest at
tributes of our hearts and the strong
est endeavors of our hands, and as a
platform of principles upon which to
work and labor, has few equals.
The order is one of recent origin, is
a native OF America, and may be aptly
termed home institution. Being
now in the eleventh year of its exist
ence, we find that its supreme charter
was issued by the State of Indiana on
December "a, 1880. The last supreme
council communication held in Min
neapolis, Minnesota, in September,
1889, being only the seventh regular
one of that august body. Springing
directly, as it were, from among us, it
has neither the lineage of the orient
nor the sacredness of traditions, and
what good and value there is in it
comes from its express utility and
practicability to the age in which we
live, and if it succeeds and prospers it
must be because its merits and USE
fulness deserve it.
The order, though not connected
with was suggested by the Mutual
Aid and Benefit association, then in
successful operation in the country,
and after which it patterned in many
respects, but deviating in several dis
tinctive and leading features, some of
which are that it made its benefits
payable upon permanent disablement
and on arriving at the age of 70 years
as well as upon the death of its men,
bers, and that it admitted ladies into
its ranks, gave them full membership
and attempted to do business with
them, insuring their lives and permit
ting them to pay for their insurance
like men, things these older instltu-
tions did not do, and doubted, as Or
CARNATIONS, if such could be success
fully done. But history repeats it.
self. Mutual aid and benefit associa-
tons are not different from anything
else-tho essentially of women is
dominant everywhere. We are told
Eden itself was beautiful, man was
perfect in the image of his Maker.
Creation hath done wonderful, yet the
poet says:
Mature was sad, the garden was a wild,
And man. the hermit, sighed until woman
| smiled"
The older orders, admitting to men,
bership only men, and giving a limited
insurance on the life of the husband,
father or brother, and in most cases
payable to the wife and children, and
designed for the help and support OF
the family after its guardian and pro-
tector was stricken down by the icy
hand of death, it was thought by the
founder of this order that the family
could be better protected and provided
for by admitting the women of the
household as we'll as the men into It's
ranks, and design their insurance and
benefit also for the common good and
support of the family. That the pro-
lection of the household would be
thus doubled and the usefulness OF
women widened and extended as to
those dependent upon them, especi-
ally to make of her, so far as this
order is concerned, as was intended
by the creator in truth and in fact a
helpmate for man.
1t is needless for me to tell you that
at that early date, this order, propos
ing to do life insurance business on
the lodge plan through membership
assessments in small sums, and taking
into its ranks this uncertain and
untried quantity as it was then called
women, and attempting to found, sup
port and maintain great financial
order with them as one of its import.
ant parts, that was to deal with life
insurance as a paying business invest
ment in which hundreds OF thousands
of dollars were to be raised, collected
and discussed annually, many were the
croakers and knowing ones we had Gas
is always the case when a woman's
name is associated with proposed
business enterprise) who laughed at
our folly and patiently and quietly
waited the time to see us financially