Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1897-12-04


1t il the duty of the editor of the
official paper not only to keep the
members of the Jurisdiction advised
OF what is transpiring in the Order
in this State as well as in other
States, but also to discuss the prin-
ciples of the Order and to correct
such errors as may be extant rega rd-
ing it. In thus doing the editor him.
self may err, for he is not infallible
and therefore invites each and every
member of the Order to correct his
mistakes, if he make any. We are
all more or less liable to err, but
when we discover our error it is our
duty to abandon it. 1t is not long ago
when the best men and the best
minds in our Order honestly believed
that the same could be perpetuated
on the level assessment plan. They
had not considered the element of
competition as well as other minor
matters, hence were in error. There
are many men in our Order today
who believe that their Beneficiary
Certificate is a contract between
themselves and the Order. They are
in error and to disabuse them of this
error is the object of this article.
The Beneficiary Certificate is not a
contract between the Order and the
member holding it, during the life
of the member, but becomes evidence
of the obligation of the Order at the
death of the member. 1t lacks the
essential clements of contract, for
a contract is ar agreement to pay
between two parties. There are not
two parties in this case, for the Or
der is composed of its members and
we cannot divide the one against the
other without destroying both; there
can be no Order without members
and no members without the Order.
They are one and inseparable. Our
Order is not body corporate, tran
sacting business with parties out
side OF it, but is mutual or joint
partnership in which all members
are engaged in the same, common
enterprise, sharing alike its privi-
leges and benefits and bearing alike
it's burdens and expenses.
This mistaken idea of contract
with the Order" has, perhaps, done
more harm and been greater detri-
ment than anything else, for who
ever entertains il, must and will
consider himself outside the Order.
The Order, to him, is party foreign
to him, with which he has made a
certain agreement, and however
much or little he may do for the
Order, he supposes that it he has
paid his assessments, relief calls
and Lodge dues, he has done all that
may be required of him. He is pay
ing for his protection and wants to
get it as cheaply as possible. He
even goes so far as to deny the Order
the right TO change its laws and
change his assessments, for he claims
that he has contract which can not
be changed without his consent.
The idea that he is part of the
Order which has made a contract
with someone else never occurs to
him, oh no, he is always the one who
has made contract with the Order.
To correct this error we publish a
decision of Judge Tuley, of Chicago,
az taken. from the Chicago Times
Herald:
Judge Tuley's decision in the case
of the Royal League Fraternal In
surance Society, seems altogether
just and equitable, bat will be new
to the members of such societies
and will probably lead to wide dis
cussion.' 'ty .S 81 sN
The case was this Mr.. James A.
Fulenwider joined the Royal League
Society two years ago and received
certificate stating that his assess
ment would be S2.62 per month. He
paid this as it tell DUE These assess
ments are. made, on all the members
for the benefit of the widows anc
lorphans of those who die;ps Wher
gar,aas4tv . ~ A. vi sefv mAilaSed thi,