Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-09-24
IRON HALL REDIVIVUS
Somerby's Enemies Bitterly
 Denounce His Election.
PLAN OF THE RECONSTRUCTION.

The MaIcOntents Would Rather Have the
 Affairs of the Institution Remain in the
 Hands of tho Court-Oficers of the Re-
 organized Order.
 BALTIMORE, Sep. 14-The election of Freeman B. Somerby for Supreme Justice of the Order of Iron Hall at the reorgani- zation convention here is bitterly com mented upon by his enemies. After the election MT. Somerby made short speech thanking the delegates for the renewed expression of their confidence in him. He then offered 'his resignation of the office to which he had just been elected, saying he did not wish to continue in the posi- tion and all he had desired was vindi- cation of his administration of the affairs of the Order. This, he said, had been given him by his reelection as Supreme Justice.
 The meeting decided not to accept his resignation, and therein Mir. Somerby's enemies again found cause efor the state- ment that the convention was packed with his friends, while the others were excluded from participation in it's pro ceedings. The latter claim that only a fraction more than half of the old policy holders were represe nted at the meeting.
 They admit that additional thousands want the Order reorganized, but they will have no part of Somerby and the other supreme officers and leaders. The mal- contents prefer to have the affairs of the wrecked institution remain in the custody of the court instead of again placing them in the hands of the wreckers.
 Mir. Somberby, however, succeeded in having his plan submitted by the reor- ganization committee and adopted by the convention. It is substantially scheme to have the members of the Iron Hall to hold on to their old certificates, take out new ones in the new organization and pay assessments until the court turns over the funds to the new organization, pro- vided it can be induced so to act.
 The other officers elected are J. Albert Clark. Exeter, N. H., Past Supreme Com mauder; A. H. Hosmer, Supreme Ac- countant; Joseph Harris, Supreme Cashier; Dr. c. H. Baker of Philadelphia, Supreme Medical Director. Somerby, Hosmer and Harris are officers of the old concern.
 The financial plan of the new order is to pay $1, 900 in seven years for about $450; or $500 in seven years for about $225. Old members going into the new concern sign warrant giving the Su preme Accountant the power to draw from the receiver of the old Iron Hall the amount due them, which is trans ferred into what is explained to be the reserve fund of the new order. Old mem bers will receive new certificates dated at the time of their entrance into the old order.
 They will have to pay certain percent age, about $125 on $1,000. Of thi! amount they will pay .one-sixth in cash give note for the remainder, whicl will be deducted from the amount of th' certificate when paid at maturity. Th one-sixth cash payment goes into the re serve fund.
 The new officers will be required t. give heavy bonds, and it is proposed tC engage the services of an expert accou nt ant, not member of the Order, to ex anime monthly all accounts and file re port for publication. Several of the new officers of the concern, after the plan wa adopted, could not definitely explain hoy it could be worked out.
 The amounts paid to members by tn receiver and turned over into the nev concern will, of course, be credited to tn accounts of the respective members Tn assessments will be $250 each, two month, and third will be levied the frs month on every new member to help t. | pay off the claims of members which vii mature in a year or two. The member | who have been in the old Iron Hall fiv or six years will be survivors in the neV Iron Hall.