Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-10


coNPITsHEp AND SUGGESTIONS ron THE
FUTURE GOOD FINANCIAL srArENENr-EN-
TREATMENTS By THE LOCAL COMMITTEES
The session of the frsternal congress. which
opened this morning at Wizards Hotel, has
drawn to this city body Of men whose names
are well known wherever beneficial socie ties
are known. and which means in every nook OF
this broad land. The congress 10 COM
posed Of delegates from a large number
Of the beneficial and benefit societies
OF the country. The congress possesses
merely an advisory character on the various
societies which have sent delegates but the
nature of the recommendations made have al
ways been of such a wise character that they
have always been adopted by the several or
CARNATIONS.
THE CONGRESS OPENS
The session of the congress this morning
opened at Wizards Hotel with about fifty dele
gates in attendance, the president OF the
congress, Hon. A. T. Savage of Maine,
IN the chair. Mr.. Savage Is q thorough
presiding officer, with excellent executive
ability. He is mayor of Auburn, Maine.
The other officer on the platform the
hard working and efficient secretary Of the or
ganization. Mr.. o. NJ. Shedd of New York.
The session this morning was opened BY
short address of welcome from Commissioner
Douglass, who formally welcomed the dele
gates to Washington.
THE PRESIDENTS ANNUAL ADDRESS.
The annual address of President Savage fol-
lowed. The address was a clear and eloquent
statement of the benefit Of benehcent societies
and the advances which the congress had made.
An eloquent picture was drawn of the succor
and aid which had been extended by the
societies, aud attention was drawn 10 the
prosperity which marked all of the differ
ent members OF the congress. They had pros
pered In numbers and strength and were more
firmly encascd iii the hearts OF the people than
ever At first, said the report, the societies
had struggled against the opposition. expressed
or otherwise. of courts and legislatures. So-
ciety likewise regarded the beneficial plan
wild utopian scheme. Now. however, by pa
thence and intelligence ali this had been
changed. The courts were favorable TO the soci-
eties and many legislatures have recognized the
societies by enacting many laws favorable to
their existence. The people have become more
and more firm in their adherence to the benefi-
cial plan and one out of ten persons are men,
bers OF such organizations.
BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL PLAN.
The beneficial plan, said Mr.. Savage, could
not fail when it filled such want IL cams in
contact with the old-time insurance COM
panies and other corporations, but nevertheless
the widow and orphan and looked for no
temporal gain for the societies. The presi-
dent suggested that the congress make itself
more felt in Legislative matters. A combined
effort could have lately performed much good
for the benefit system in many legislatures.
The combined effort OF l,500, 600 could not fail
to carry weight. In closing. Mr.. Savage paid a
deserved compliment to the work which Mr..
Shedd, the secretary OF the congress. had per-
formed.
The address was followed by report from
the committee on credentials, which was
adopted with the exception of the rejection of
several applications for membership, which
were laid over until this afternoon.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
The report of the secretary and treasurer, o.
NJ. Shedd, followed. Last year there were en-
rolled twenty-seven orders and during the year
applications had been received from eight
orders. The report recommended the adj
mittance of individual members from out
side societies on payment Of dues. The
receipts during the year had been
81, 1882 and the disbursements, SsS3 %.
The vice president reported as having no re-
port to submit, and the chair announced that
there were no special committees TO announce.
On motion the congress at this point adjourned
until afternoon.
There were in the United States when the
last report of the congress presented
thirty-slx beneficial societies. representing
l,0S4, l79 members. and of this number twenty
eight including most of the total membership,
were members of the congress. The Ancient
Order of United Workmen, with 2Sl, 923 menu
beers, stands at the head of the list SO far as
numbers go. The Knights of Honor, which is
largely represented in this city, stands second,
with l3l, 1853 members.
THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The arrangements for the sessions of the con-
gress has been In the hands of an executive
committee of the ID. c. Association, +. ID. s.,
consisting of the following gentlemen: Alvan
L. Tracy chairman, n. L.: J. II. Mills, A. L. of
H.; Isaac Cans Il. A; b. A. Harlan, " T.;
J. V. Wurdemann, h. of H.; Geo. W. Tay-
lor, S. OF H.; W. II. Signor, X. of G. E.;
Louis Heilbrun, U. s. b. F.; VIM. Thomas,
G. F.; ]. S. Tomlinson, &. F.; Chas. S.
Willis, G. C. A. L. H.; r. E. Storm, treasurer,
and F. F. Bates, G. L. X. of H., secretary. Com
mittee on banquet-Isaac Cans. chairman;
Louis Heilbrun, ]. II. Gisburne. Chas. 3. Willis
and Max Goldsmith. On printng-Isaac Cans,
Of welcome-A. I. Tracy, E. ]. Sommer and b.
A. Harlan.
At o'clock today the delegates we're photo
graphed by Brady and at 2:S0 resumed their
sessions, taking up the reports from the stand
ing committees. Reports were received from
the following committees: Constitution.
finance, statistics and medical examiners.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED.
The rest of the afternoon session was taken
up in the discussion of the following subjects
'Can Fraternal Society Safely Transact an
Endowment Business and Pay Stated Sum at
the End of a Stated Number of Years. or
Sooner in the Event of Death?"
The Uses of the Ritual and Secret Ceremo-
mics IN the Benefit Orders"
is 1t Advisable to Abolish the Per Capita
Tax. and Levy All Revenue for the General
Fund Upon the Same Basis as Assessments are
Levied to Pay Death Benefits"
PUBLIC RECEPTION TONIGHT.
A pleasant incident Of the congress will be
the public reception to be held at Wizards
this evening from to 10 O'Clock, when the
local members Of fraternal protective organi-
cations will meet the supreme officers and lead
ing men of their respective societies. The fol-
lowing will act as an introduction committee:
Alvan L. Tracy and F. {. Storm for National
Union, ID. ]. Evans and J. V. Wurdemann for
Knights of Honor. Isaac Cans and j. r. Gis-
burne for Royal Arcanum, Benz. A. Harlan and
]. S. /. Tomlinson for Chosen Friends, W. H.
Signor for knights Golden Eagle, +. S. Metcalf
and Chas. s. Willis for American Legion of
Honor, Geo. W. Taylor for Shield of Honor,
Fraternity, and William Thomas for Grand
Fraternity.
OTHER FESTIVITIES PROPOSED.
There are other festivities also on hand. The
Knights Of Honor delegates-Past Supreme
Dictator A. R. Savage, Auburn, Me-; Supreme