The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-02-20
Insurance.

The system of fire insurance is bushes,
that has existed for many years, but to the
doth century belongs the credit of making
1t a legitimate business principle and it is
within this limited time that the larger and
more extensive mercantile and manufacture
ing institutions have urged upon the smaller
and less important industries the necessity
of keeping well insured in some reliable
company and have considered this one of
the smaller and more intricate complications
which 70 to build up business and place
it on safe and legitimate basis. Life In
surance Is an institution of more recent
date, but has grown to such an importance
| and has become so well perfected in all its
details, that while those in better circum-
stances take it as an investment, others of
moderate means use 1t as sort of savings
bank whereby they can, from their limited
means, from time to time save enough of
their earthly requirements to care fairly
well for the widows and orphans when they
are cold In death. At this time life insur-
ance was reality, but conducted as it then
was by Old-time companies, well Differed
by men with fat salaries, the rates of as
sessments and expenses were sufficiently
high TO be beyond the reach of those in
moderate circumstances. In view of these
facts and realizing the success attending
mutual fire insurance, certain wise men
devised the same mutual plan for conduct
ing life insurance. This was step in the
right direction but there was another seri-
Gus objection, policies wers allowed to
lapse, after more or less had been paid, for
the nOn-payment OF assessments, per capita
tax, dues, etc. To prevent this plan was
devised of connecting lodge or brotherhood
with the institution for the purpose of col
lecting the several expenses as we'll as look
ing after the minor details of the insurance
in its several and varied forms. All per-
sons applying for admission must come well
recommended, pass satisfactory medical
examination, and then be subjected to vote
of the brothers to see whether they were
morally qualified to become members. Now
1t amounted to simply this, a vote OF the
brothers was taken to see whether the APP
plicant should have the privilege of provid-
ing for his wife and children after his death.
For the brothers to lock one after another
and see that they were in sufficient good
standing to secure to the beneficiary the
amount they were insured for was indeed
another step in the right direction and pre-
sumo 1t was then thought and is still be-
lieved that no. one would use means within
their power, flor personal reasons only to
keep men of even low moral standing from
quite as high up the ladder of honor and fame
as otherwise. Undoubtedly at this time
those high in power I'm the varions COM
panies and lodges were quite well satisfied
with their work. Means had been provided
for watching over and preventing one an
other from becoming careless and thus allow
ing their policies to lapse by reason of non
payment OF assessments, per capita tax, dues,
etc. The constitution and bylaws of the
several institutions plainly provides that per-
sonalities shall not enter into tho pale of the
several societies, and anyone casting black
ball from personal reasons Is decidedly an
unworthy brother and liable to be seriously
dealt with. Yet such might be the case.
Brothers In good standing and apparently
charitable men and men Of good Judgment
1t would appear might so far forget these
solemn obligations as to allow prejudice and
revenge to occupy the place where charity
and benevolence should in prominence
abide. Yea, they might so far forget their
charities as to shut out good, substantial and
law abiding citizens and thus deprive them
from caring for the widow and orphan.
This my dear brother is taking the chances
of living to see widow and mother and
perhaps half dozen children, ekng out
miserable existence, uneducated, half clad
perhaps half fed, and all because some
brother kept her husband from thus laying
up enough of his hard earnings to at least
make them comfortable, after he had cross
ed the river Think of it brother, i'm all of
its various forms. Can you cast the hrst
black ball? Can any man become so de-
graded that his widow and children should
suffer for his evil doings?
KIRKwooD.