Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-01-28
P%RATERNAL INSURANCE.
Collapse Of Two Well-Known Insur
ance Orgsnizations-How the
Calamity Could Have
Been Averted.
To the Editor Of the Ledger.


MEXICO, Mo-, Jan. 27.-The UNI
fortunate failure of the Masonic and
Odd Fellows Insurance Associations
recently has justly caused much
comment upon insurance in or con-
nected with f~raternities. No good
man can feel otherwise than to deeply
deplore their failure and the sad re-
suits that ensue, for it leaves some
of our most worthy and honorable
families entirely without q depend
ance, and to all it has been an out
lay of money which might have
been used more benefcially. The
management of these two great as
sociations cannot be Justly criticised.
Men whose honor is unimpeachable
and whose business qualifications
rank with the cleanest headed and
far-seeing have had control of these
two unfortunate insurance COM
panies. The trouble was not with
the men managing the business of
these associations, but with the laws
and usages of these companies.
Had every Mason and every Odd
Fellow who were initiated into these
orders been insured then this ealam-
ity would have been averted. The
Masonic Insurance Company of the
State of Missouri was organized and
began business in the year 1892; and
the Odd Fellows Insurance Asso-
citation began about the same time.
Many of the old members of Ma
sons and Odd Fellows have taken
out insurance in the company con-
nected with their lodges. To be-
come insured in the Masonic
Insurance Association one had to
be a Mason, and likewise to be in
sured in the Odd Fellows Insurance
Company one had to be an Odd
Fellow. But every one who joined
the Masonic fraternity did not join
or take insurance in the Masonic
Insurance Company, and it was the
same with the Odd Fellows, SO we see
there was no more young blood COM
ing into these companies to perpetu-
ate them. The old members grew
older and, with advanced age, came
increased fatality, but all fraternal
organizations must not be judged by
the sad experience Of the two just
named. We note the order of Unit
ed Workmen upon whom it will be
almost impossible for a similar ca
lamity to come, for every man who
joins the fraternity o. the Ancient
Order of United Workmen is insured
from the time he makes application
for the second degree and is accept
ed therefor. To be an A. O. U. w.
is to be insured for 50 900. The fra
ternity and the insurance of the A.
o. Z. W. r not the same, and yet
you can not be one without being
both, and in a similar way are we
associated with all the other A. o. Z.
". jurisdictions of the world. Mis-
souri, is an independent jurisdiction
so is every other state that has TWEEN.
Ity thousand members. We pay the
debts or assessments of no A. o. U.
w. Lodge outside of Missouri unde,
ordinary circumstances, but should
pestilence or epidemic spread ovel
the United States, as was the case ii
the state of TENNESSEE in 1878, ther
we are one lodge the9fworld over I'M
til the assessments are paid; unit
the obligations of fhe order are al
met and the chasm bridged; thel
each state resumes its former posi-
ton. Had the Masonic and Cd,
, Fellow fraternities had this wise pro
, vision and every brother been a bene
. fciary, then failure would be mex
to impossible. There has never bee
a deferred payment or defaulte'
brother in the whole history of tn
fraternity of United Workmen. ]
has the advantage over all other fra
9 ternal insurance, in that it has mo-
y fraternity and less friction; NOR
mutual and less money to run il
9 The altar in the center, with the b
BILE on it, is the central figure in eac
, lodge room. Some who are not &C
o quainted with the order imagine tha
it is not a fraternity. If there is nc
! fraternity taught in every degree a
the candidate advances higher, the
there is no such thing as fraternity
A man who will disregard the obi
CATION OF the order of United Work
A men can be held by no promise c
relied upon by no oath, even thong
: lone from the grave should admins
ter it. To the many excellent point
e of advantage possessed by this insuI
ance fraternity can be indelibly trat
:. ed the defeat of the two referred I
Il above, and yet no antagonism exis
t. ed between them, but the yourl
Mason and the young Odd Fello
,e liked and wisely looked to the A. {
,r u. w. for insurance, while he r.
A. tanned his membership in these e,
cellent orders for f~raternity's SAX
I'M M