The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-28
A SILVER Anniversary.
The Founding Of the Ancient Order
Of United Workmen Cele-
brated.
Its Rapid Growth In the Twenty
Five Years of Exist
enCe.
Tho Montana JarisdiotiOn Does Justice
to the Occasion by u Notable GATH
ering at Missouln.

The twsnty-hfth anniversary OF she
founding of the Ancient Order OF United
Worknen Of America occurred yesterday.
II was celebrated ut Miasoula, md the ee's-
bration will continue to-day. The order
vas organized BY John Jordan Upohufoh
a. Neadville. Pa. on Oct. q. 1868. with .
nembs, ship of nifty. The growth was slow
until 1878, al which time IL amounted to
81, 1913. Year by year it made rapid strides
In every direction until 1t had reached
every state In bhs union and nearly all the
provinces Of British Am erios. Since its in
ssption IL has paid out the magnificent sum
OF $44. 572. 94s. 50. Last year il paid ous
&C. lh O2O.6 GO. or. In other words. 1t paid out
every day SIG, 47O. 81; il paid ont every hour
In that year $685.. 6a, or $l1.A every minute.
Tho institution 10 recognized sLrouah-
cut the land as n of the old
ct and safest fraterual : benevo-
lent organizations Of its kind, and
its reputation 10 doubtless we'll msrited.
from the fact that il has never been known
10 dispute or repudiate any claims by viz
tue Of the death of any Of Its members.
The o. der admits all shades Of religious
belief and recognizes as . fundamental
DIluClpl0 buAb u6VlulAbdS ~ "A~
others 10 a duty; that in the performance
Of that duty men should secure protection
10 those nearest and dearest TO them, and
IL requires q belief in the existence OF a
supreme being. The membership IN the
United States now numbers 1926, OOO. The
order. Until the present month, admltteo
members who were otherwise eligible Al an
sue of over 81 and under SO years. but at
the last session Of the supreme lodge the
age limit was reduced to 40 years.
A system Of separate jurisdictions was
and 1t has enabled the manage.
mont 10 ad ,pt = specific ratio OF assessment
for eAeh, taking the same from tho death
rate Of tho several jurisdictions and com'
putting the same evsrv two years. the last
action in this direction having been taken
the supreme lodge At it, last session.
held in Toronto in June, 1898, at which
time twenty-thres assessmonts for ths year
were applied TO the Montana juYisdictlon.
By this 1t will be sven that there 10 . guar
anteed assessment of twenty-three. and
under this system. in the event of . twenty |
fourth assessment being Necessary. unaeI
ia made which il known ~ the snprsne
relief call. leaving . pro rata proportion OF
the necessary amount to pay debts over she
specified ratio upon evsiy membsr OF the
entire order.
The grand lodge of Montana was organ.
iX0u Az Helena ON Low IL, Aooo' eH"
where il became a separate benshoiary Jur-
isdiotion and which now has supervision
over forty-seven lodges throughout the
state, with q membership of something like
1000. The division has been more than
ssll-sustainina from the start. and for the
year 1893 has a record Of but thirtsen as
sossments. In 1891 and 1892 there were
eighteen, an average OF SIS per year TO
each member, or equal 10 tive cents pei day
for a continuous protection in the sum of
81, 600. Taking into consideration the fsot
thas the order boasts a membership OF 3D.
OCO in the United states and Canada tns
mortusry risk is indeed light and one which
persons OF limited means can we'll afford to
bear, The growth OF the order in Montana
has been remarkable, In fact, it may be
stated. phenomenal, as the membership OF
4. 900. as above stated. has been acquired
within the last ten. though the greatest
gains were made tho last three years.