The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-13

xSCQuIC lie I NAl0C III VIOSC(0lAI46 LIZ
work; CIV him the entire management or
field work. with authority to secure such
AID as the appropriatioa from the supreme
tablishing new lodges and working among
old ones. requiring him to make annual
reports to the grand reporter, the same
to be distributed in ciruclar form TO the
subordinate lodges for Information. etc
1t Is now an admitted and exceedingly
gratifying truth that we have the very
best plan OF insurance, both as to equity,
order I'm existence. This, coupled with
our past honorable record, must and will
itself to those seeking purely
protective insurance. which. by the way,
is growing In popularity with the masses
every day. Our trouble In the past has
not been so much the fault of our plan.
but because we had no one set apart
specially to push the work and no funds
to work with, and SO we could not COM
pete with our sister orders who had pro-
flied by our mistakes and fortified them
selves against them by employing our
most faithful and efficient workers., and
thus turning their influence to more invit-
ing fields, to our injury. I have found.
without much trouble in seeking, some
talented and influential knights who at
one time We're only too glad to nave an
! opportunity to speak and work for our
cause, who. while nominally with us
for the insurance-are actively engaged
| working for others. This, as stated, has
been brought about because others were
prepared to offer inducements which we
4 COulu UOt, dIiQ 50 we nave SuuETCO anu
in many instances been led captive by our
friends into the hands of our more wide
awake and progressive rivals. What is
everybody's business in no ones, and my
conviction, after thorough Investigation,
Is that unless we very soon correct this
blunder in the way recommended that we
will have to surrender the field to those
who are actively prosecuting the work on
the lines designated.
2. 1 hat the premium offer
ed of $50 for every lodge constituted of
twenty-five full or half rate members be
continued, with this provision: The pre-
MUM not to be paid until it is shown
that the lodge so constituted was in good
orkin order, say at least three months
from it's institution.
3. This is an age Of advertising: the in
fuence and power of the press is acknowl-
edged in every department of work. We
have failed to avail ourselves of this val
liable medium to tell the world about the
past and present record of our noble Or
der, and I do especially recommend that
we use the press whenever we can do so
safely and proftably. Success comes by
agitating. We nave something worthy to
be brought to the attention of the masses,
so let us by all means agitate.
4. The fraternal feature of our order
has been very much neglected. We were
constituted and launched out to the world
as a fraternal insurance order, and our
very existence and perpetuity depend
active and alive. The best lodges in this
grand jurisdiction are those that strictly
a-lere to and faithfully observe frater-
nifty. and those neslecting it are careless,
Indifferent and rapidly declining. So 1
earnestly recommend that we keep alive
fraternity.
And now, my brethren. my work is be-
fore you for comment, criticism, censure
or commentator. Certainly it will stand
criticism and possibly censure, for I know
I have fallen short Of ny duty. I trust.
however, you will accord to me the credit
Of having done the best ] could, and while
I surrender to you the banner entrusted
to my keeping with comparatively few
successful battles emblazoned on it's folds,
and with little territory acquired over
which it's protective folds can wave tri-
u~mphantly, still, it has never been allow
ed to trail in the dust or to fall before the
attacks of it's many foes, both within and
without it's ranks. but with our motto,
"Spectemur Agendo," inscribed On one
side, and Excelsior on the other, it has
been planted where the fight was most OBJ
stinate and persistent, and has given
peace, joy and happiness to many a
stricken home during the past two years
May it continue to wave and the good il
has done be multiplied until thousands OF
widows and orphans shall have found
shelter under its protection of life in
~Surance.
trust your deliberations will be boil
pleasant and profitable; that harmony ant
peace may prevail, and when our WORK
here by the tap of lights out!" is fin.
ished, we shall awake in the presence o.
Him who was a friend to the widow ant
orphan, and shall hear the plaudit an,
%nounced, 'Inasmuch as you have dom
good unto others, you have done it unto
Me; come, We blessed of my Father, in
herit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world"
Yours fraternally in O. M. A,
NORMAN L.. SHAW,
t Grand Dictator.
REPORT OF GRAND REPORTER.
From the report of Grand Reporter P
G. Carlton we extract the following sta
~tiSticS:
: Number of lodges, last report..... 6
! Number of lodges instituted since
; last
: Suspended and consolidated........
Present number of lodges.......... 6
:. MEMBERSHIP.
t Membership December 81, 1884,. 1874
81, 1885,. 1,47
81 81
! RECEIPTS FROM JUNE 80, 1895, II
y. JUNE 80, 1897:
e Cash from per capita tax.......... So, 100
f supplies sold "a 3
" special FUND (supreme
r lodge)......... ........ ............ 400 &
s., 1853
. Cash on hand, last report........ 759
ABB
y DIsBURsEMENTsLTWO YEARS:
Paid pay roll-Morehead
C1ty........ $500. ........ III 80
Paid Supreme Lodge on
e accOunt........ ....... 49,. 185 W
e Paid for printing sup
.p!eS......... ........ 80. "a W
d Paid for printing proceed
ingS. 1S95 AZ II