Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-04-16

the order, although its beginning
dates back to the year 1880,
In the twelve years since it's inccr.
poration the numerical growth OF this
order has been phenomenal. BY
steady, substantial and continuous
accretions il has advanced from a
membership of 600 IN 1884 to the
grand total Of 15S,7Sl on December
81, 1896,
The territory of the Modern Wood
men is confined by lts charter to the
states Of Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa,
Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kan
sas, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Missouri, Indiana and Ohio. The
cities of Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee,
st. Louis and Cincinnati are exclud-
cd in the foregoing territory. This
gives 1t territory in which to
operate, the healthlest on earth.
The Modern Woodmen is not a
joint stock company managed by
few individuals with an lndfnite
tenure Of Office and without account
ability to anyone but themselves, but
it is a great fraternity that has inn
mediate control, through it's delegates,
Of the affairs Of the order II officers
become incompetent or corrupt, they
are speedily displaced and new ones
put in their places.
But there is still more in this order
than the insurance feature, there is
something in the brotherhood OF man
in the sympathy in times Of distress
"a kindly visit from a neighbor when
we lie on sick bed, and the help
given to the families OF the unfortu-
nate members.
The assessments for the purpose Of
paying benefits are graduated accord
ing to the age Of the person joining.
The rate does not increase, but re-
mains the same as at the beginning
special lnduccment being thus Of
fered to young and middle-aged men.
Financial affairs Of the order are
guarded by anLadmirable system Of
checks and counter checks, making
fraud and deception impossible and
it's bonds Of fraternal union admir-
able.
All the transactions OF the order
are from month to month published
in detail in the official organ, the
Modern Woodman, a copy of which
is sent to every member.
The searching medical examina-
tions insisted upon by this order, to-
gether with selected territory, pro-
hlbited risks and graded assessments,
have combined to make the cost in
demnity the lowest in the history Of
fraternal soCIeties-age and member
ship considered. The assessments
called for have never exceeded eleven
in any one year. The amount Of
claims paid to benefciaries has now
exceeded the enormous sum Of &c.
100000 On January /, 1896, there
we're 1908 camps and 10000 mem
bers in good standing.
The record made by the Modern
Woodmen shows that the cost of pro-
lection has not increased q single
cent within the last seven years; that
the order is furnishing sound lnsur-
ance at an average cost per year Of
only $4,95 per 1000; that the cost Of
management is only &c cents per
member; that the average is less than
ever, being $3.50 years; that the aver
age death rate per 1000 members is
only sos. The year 1896 showed a
wonderful record, the increase Of
membership being in round numbers
$4,000, the number Of CLAIMS paid
during that year were 692, amount
ing to 81, 4O8,5O0.
The local lodge at this place has a
membership Of about SO, and ia
weekly taking in members.
-Four Months for as Gents.