Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-04-07
LODGE DUES and BENEFITS
A Decision That Affects SUBJ
ordinate Lodges.
OF INTEREST TO LOCAL BODIES
Where Changes in Bylaws
May be Necessary.


supreme court of New York in the case of
Moses Strasser VS.. Mt. Herman Lodge,
i. o. o. H.:
This case was reported to the Grand
Lodge of New York at its last session. and
has caused considerable comment among
those who have studied its effect with the
lodges of the Jurisdiction, as decided by the
supreme court
The bylaws of Mt. Herman Lodge pro-
vide that in case member become IN ar
rears 13 weeks for dues, or for i3 weeks
dues, he shall not be qualified to receive
benefits until 13 weeks after such ar
rears of dues have been paid Moses
Strasser died in arrears for dues to Mount
Herman Lodge. His son, who is not
member of the order, prosecuted claim
for benefits in the supreme court general
term. The court, disregarding the general
law and practice of the order applicable to
the case. that dues accrue weekly. took the
ground That, as Mount Herman Lodge was
in the habit of charging and collecting
dues quarterly at the end of the quarter,
the law and the custom of the lodge must
be held to have been, that dues accrued
quarterly and at the end of the quarter;
that, in consequence member could not
be in arrears at all until after the quarter
had ended that then his arrears for dues
must continue unpaid until Is weeks
hereafter before he could be held legally TO
be 10 weeks IN arrears for dues; and that
consequently the bylaw penalty, for dis
Qualification for benefits until l3 weeks
after payment of dues arrears, could not he
applied to any case until such full period
81 l3 weeks had run. In our law this
would allow member to be six months
IN arrears before becoming disqualified for
benefits.
In order that lodges might protect them
selves against the legal effect of the de-
cision OF the supreme court, which does
not properly represent the intent and
meaning Of the law and the principle in
volved in this case, the following were
adopted by the Grand Lodge of New York
ftesolued, That, so long that decision re-
mains undisturbed, the committee on laws be
and are heroby instructed 10 disapprovo of all
bylaw provisions, for disqualification for
benefits or penalties for arrears, which contain
In any form tho phrase thirteen weeks in
nrrears for dues or the phrase sin arrears for
thirteen weeks Dues ~ other phrase Of SINH
lar text; nnd, 10 require Tho substitution in
lieu thereof of the phrase - weeks dues
being and unpaid. or apt phrase TO that effect.
Rcsotptd, That the standing committee bo
and are instructed promptly To notify lodges
Of their duty TO themselves TO scrutinze by
laws In this regard, and in every case whore
objectionable phrase, AZ above indicated, shall
be found therein TO substitute the preferable
phrase ee above suggested.
The resolutions as adopted, appear on
PIP. 26, 247, Journal of Proceedings of the
Grand Lodge of New York, 1891, as pub
lished by the grand secretary.
II may be 10 the advantage of subordi-
iate lodges in Jurisdictions other than
New York, to look into this matter. No
doubt lodge bylaws generally read
as do those in this jurisdictions; if so,
the decision Of our supreme court may be
cited as good law, to the detriment of
lodges effected as Mount Hermon Lodge of
Albany, n. Y. MEDoLE.
or INTEREST TO LOCAL LODGES.
Editor Gazette 6 Journal: The foregoing
article from The Bindte Of Sticks, it seems
TO me, is of sufficient importance to excite
the interest OF hundreds of persons in the
State of Delaware, and in connection
Herewith, desire to submit the following
additional remarks and quotations so as, if
possible, tn emphasize the importance Of u
careful consideration of the subject by
those who are most interested.
EDWIN HRsT, Z. G.. Rep.
WILMINGTON, DEL, March 30th, 1892.
TIE MANNER OF PAYING DUES.
As the payment of pecuniary benefits is
made dependent on the payment, and the
manner thereof, of dues into the treasury
of the lodge, it is important that the laws
on the subject should be SO framed as to be
equitable, and secure both the lodge and
its members against imposition.
probationary period after payment of
arrearages before becoming entitled IL
llnaiciui DeHeits nus peconc general
feature i'll most beneficial organizations OF
the present day, and is sanctioned and
recognized as valid by the supreme legis.
lative bodies of such organizations.
An epitomc of the general laws of the
Sovereign Grand Lodge, !. U. 0. T., is EN-
bodied in the following extracts from the
the journals Of that grand body, with dates
of sessions and pages ON the Journals:
The dues to Il lodge accrue weekly, and
only for the convenience OF the lodge are
paid at stated periods; it is, therefore, at
any time, the right of brother to pay his
ues.-lSiS-lS5l-1S75, Journal PIP. 1890
23l2, 6620. The words ''at any time
should be construed TO mean at any lodge
meeting.-lSS7, Journal p. 10Tl1.
The following provision was declared
to be violation Of the law that 'due'
accrue weekly members shall pay Il
in adyance.r-ls76, journal p 6D7S.
1.-THE regular dues shall be 50 per quar-.
ter was also declared to be illegal. l.-lSS3
journal p. u276.
If dues are not paid before time speci
fled in the bylaws, the member is in ar
rears at that time.-lSs0. Journal p. 512s.
A lodge or cncampment cannot refuse tc
receive, III full or part, the dues of Il mem
Der prior to his suspension QS77, Journal, p
75O5) even II the constitutions of subordi
mates provide that after he is indebted tc
the amount OF one years dues lie shall bt
suspended unless he pays the wholeamoilnt
due.-lS74-lS75, journal, pp. 6I79, G575
66G6
A member notified that according to law
he will be suspended for non-payment OF
dues on certain evening unless payment
be made on or before that evening, is moi
entitled to the whole of that evening IN
which to make payment, but he is entitled
TO q reasonable opportunity at any time
after the lodge opens until the period in
the order Of business Of the lodge at which
such matters are usually consdered.-lSS9
journal, p. llO7S.
BYLAWS OF SOME LOCAL LODGES.
Without naming lodges, | will quot,
briefly few local bylaws, and let thos,
persons who are interested, Judge fol
themselves as To their safety and harmony
with general laws:
THE dues of members shall accrue
weekly, and be l6 cents per week"
EVERY member shall pay p cents PEE
week as dues, in bankable funds.
Each member shall pay into the fund
of this lodge 10 cents per week rs dues,
per quarter, or IA cents per week, into the
funds thereof, as regular dues.
''The dues to be paid by each member o.
this lodge shall be II cents per week, in
cluding nurse fees"
Every member of this lodge shall pay
as regular dues the sum Of 81 Per year" /,
''Eyery member shall pay SlO per yeal
as dues in bankable funds"
Every member = It Y shall pa,
the sum OF So per year as dues.
"Every brother y shall pay Sl.7
every three months as dues"
"Every member shall pay a
dues the sum of $3.50 per year"
\ Each and every member shal