The age-herald., 1898-02-27
AN INTERESTING
 MEETING
The Annual Gathering of the Mu- tuaI Reserve Fund Life As Sociation of New
 York City.

From Frank Leslies Weekly
 The annual meeting of the Mutual Re- serve Fund Life association members was held in the stately Mutual Reserve build ing, at the corner of Broadway and Duane streets, New York, on Wednesday, Jan uary 26, at 1 D. m. The attendance was very large, and the reports of President Frederick A. Burnham and of the other officers were listened to with great atten- ton. The gathering was one of the most enthusiastic that the members of this asso- citation have ever held.
 The Mutual Reserve, as its name implies, IS mutual company with mutual mem- bership to which the management holds itself strictly responsible. The eagerness with which the members listened to the eloquent words of President Burnham, and to his busineSs-like statement of the pro- gress of the association, showed the deep interest that is felt in its welfare and pros perity. President Burnham reported that the change in premium-paying methods had made it possible for the first time in the history of the Mutual Reserve, to eiimi- nate unpaid-for business from his report, that the agency force had been more thor oughly organized and extended and that it's work during the past year challenged the admiration and excited the wonder of all who knew the conditions under which that great work had been done.
 The Mutual Reserve Fund Life associa- tion closes the year with more paid-for business than 1t ever had before In it's his- tory, with more efficient agency organi- zation, larger premium income, and with its business on better foundation for the future than ever before. A brief resume of some of the strongest facts culled from the annual reports will fortify this state ment: First, consider the income and dis bursements. The income from all sources during the year 1897 was S6,0S1, ,309. ST. against $5, ,S5S, 476T in 1896, an increase of $222 S32.9 90; making the total increase for the two years, 1896 and 1897, s5O6.02S.31. The to- tai disbursements of the year have amounted to s5,963 O2s.s7, the total payment to policy-holders being s4.1626O3.4S; an in crease for the year in return to policy holders over 1896 of $173, ,27S.02.
 The excess of cash income over cash disbursements of s11S,2g7 has been added to the cash and invested assets. Every loss of which the association had any notice whatever during the year. even though no proof of the loss was received, is included in the liabilities reported. There has also been added to this item the of $216. 553 to cover any possible depreciation in values Thus the Mutual Reserve has been brought to bedrock and 1t is better prepared than before to do business in a business like way and on sound business princi- pies.
 The business received from the agency force during 1897 reached the enormous aggregate of over d15O0000. Ninety-two per cent of the new business of the year was WrluIen on Lne new HNe-ycar cO1nDlnd- ton option plan, the premiums on which will yield much larger revenue in future than the aggregate business written in any previous year of the associations history.
 The Mutual Reserve is no longer looked upon as a small organization. It has taken itStand within recent years as one of the largest insurance companies in the world, and is in fact the largest of it's class In istence. It's death payments in 1897 aggre- gated over $000.0 coo. Its income was over $6 900 O00, and it's total resources at the close of the year were over $10,000.000.
 These figures speak for themselves, and they attest the supremacy of the Mutual Reserve in it's chosen field of operations. From a small beginning it has developed into it's present magnificent proportions and this has been the natural result of the conservative management 1t has en- joyed, especially within the last few years of business stress, and also to the close and careful economies in the administra- tion of it's affairs under the direction of President Burnham and his associates.
 Kolb and Boggan's Statement
 The above is from "Leslie's Weekly published in New York, and from Its issue of February IT, and is certainly in position to know whereof it speaks.
 The increased assessments recently called for by the Mutual Reserve Fund Life Asso- citation only applies to the "old fifteen year policy" the premium rates on which policy were fixed in the outset at a ruinously low rate There has never been any increased assessment on any other form of policy