Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-01-09

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Features Of the Reports-Finan-
cial Standing-The ISOciety's Death |
Record OF the Year-The Associa. |
tionss Status. ,
The eighteenth annual meeting of the
Masonic Mutual Benefit association was
held last evening at Masonic hall, Church
street, the president, g. E. Prince, pre-
siding
The president, in a few remarks, con-
graduated the members on the prosperity
of the association and the good work it
was doing, and then called for the reading
Of the secretary's report, the leading feat
ures of which are as follows:
In presenting this report it gives me
pleasure to congratulate the members on
its continued prosperity.
In looking over this report you will find
that we are fast approaching the million
dollar mark. Already this association has
paid over nine hundred thousand dollars
to the families of our deceased brothers.
I have often wished that every member
could see the amount of good this money
has done and the blessings which have
been brought to many a home that other
wise would have been dreary and desolate.
It gives mo pleasure to report an In
crease in the total membership of the asso-
citation.
One year ago we reported total mem
bership of 2,525. Our present member
ship is 1865, an increase of forty over
and above all deaths and lapses. As the re-
suit of proper authorized effort made by
Brother J. R. Ford, a considerable gain
the year have been 10; death and lapses,
70; gain, 40.
Our death rate has been quite heavy
during the past year. By reference to our
table you will find that We have had one
of the heaviest years since our organiza-
ton, the number being 46.
Notwithstanding the fact that we have
had such heavy death rate, our assess
ments have been no larger than usual,
thanks to the wise provision in our by
laws which enabled us to accumulate a
fund when our death rate was light. We
had that fund to draw from during a
heavy or excessive death rate. Some of
our members who in years gone by were
opposed to fund of any kind can by our
experience of the past year, see the wis
dom of providing such fund as we have
to draw from in the time of need. We
can readily see that had we been obliged
to assess all the deaths as they occurred
during the year it would have been hard
on many of the members. Some, no
doubt, could not have met their assess
ments, and heavy loss in membership
from lapses would have been the result.
The only regret is that we did not &C
cunulate larger fund in the early days
of the association when our assessments
were light, whereby we might see our way
clear for all time. Our outstanding GER
tifcates amount to $4.S67, 900, and our
contingent fund is small for this liability.
We have assessed by % deaths during
the past year amounting to SIS, 900, one
being a S., 900 claim. Glasses "a and B."
"a claims amounting to $49, 900 have
been paid from the surplus and contingent
funds.
The additions to our contingent fund
have been $40. 1929, from which 500, 900
were taken for the payment of death
claims. The present condition Of the fund
is as follows:
10 per cent. of assessment. .......... sz1ns;
New members fees ............... $1,000
Reinstatement fees 46Ot
Interest and dividends on Investments. 1,2431(
Accumulated interest in savings
bank Observation-Disclosures. 9121
$40, 2!
year. ....................... 56,254 6
so6,441 9,
' DECENTRALIZATION. a9,ooo.O
-,, =. 49,. .......,. -. .,,, ss7,4 80 Z
Total present assets. ........ $685. 1908
$4,000 of New York, New Haven ani
| Hartford railroad bonds have been solo
| and So, 900 Essex town bonds were \callec
and disposed of. There have been no in
vestments made during the past year e1
cept the accumulated interest in the sew
eral savingss banks which has been al
lowed to remain on deposit.
Our members cannot fail to have noticed
the large number of short term or tire
to five year endowment association .whicl
have made assignments during the pas
year, in the words of departed philoso
pher, "they are here to-day and gone to
morrow" The poor deluded fellows VIII
put their money in them expecting fror
20 to 50 per cent on the investment fin
that all they have put in is gone. A
these orders that offer a great deal Tor
little or nothing are unsafe. Large nun
bers of them have sprung into existenc
during the past year or two; they hav
reaped golden harvests. Many hav
gone out of existence and others al
making final struggle before they to
expire. We can hardly pick up dali
paper without reading of one or more VIII
have made an assignment.
When thousand dollars IL offered
return for az investment of little MOI
than quarter of that amount in three
five years, we can safely say it cannot
done.
Our association does not offer somethin
for nothing, it never has, but we do off
the benefits of our association at the Low
est possible cost consistent with safet,
and no organization of this kind can off
more than that and live.
STATISTICAL.
Average age of new members, 1898 years,
Average age Of lapsed members, 1913 year
Average age OF deceased members, 1891
years. months, is days.
Average amount paid by deceased
Av. %s@0s smou 1ssl paid i BY deceased '
members since organization:..... 1877
| Largest amount paid by any. one
member since @ oreg an hea for .oa
Total amount of outstanding certif-
Total amount paid by iapsed mem: '
: Total amount paid by deceased mem:
Total Interest received since organi:
Total Humber Of deaths since oreani '
Total amount paid benefits since or. ~ ~.
Number Of PERSONS benefited by this '''''
Members resident Of New HAVEN: {
Members resident in Connecticut out
| side OF New Haven. ............... 1,z
: Members resident in other states. 80.
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