The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-21
IN. E. ORDER OF PROTECTION
FRATERNAL ORDERS GREAT
 POPULARITY.

Phenomenal Growth of the New England Order of Protection in This City and State.
 Among the fraternal orders that have prospered in this city and state, it is safe to say that none have at tained a greater degree of prosperity in so short a space of time as the New England Order of Protection. Its growth has been very rapid. The req sons for this are obvious. An official of the order gives the following con- cerning this organization:
 In the first place the New England Order of Protection is essentially New England institution, and this of itself is an element of it's growth and strength. In admitting none but New England residents it has rejected the of it's kind, while it has at the same time retained what is best in them. It has been proved beyond a doubt that residents of New England, insured in orders that embrace the whole country, have paid twenty-five per cent. more than if they had paid only for the deaths within the six New England states. And this is one of the reasons that fewer assessments have been made in this order and that the cost pfi irs. I;o,I,+ pared with other organizations of the same kind
 In the second place, the formation of three hundred lodges, comprising to- tai membership of over 23,o00 members in the first ten years of it's existence, is a guarantee of its permanency, and that it has the entire confidence of the public.
 Tn the third place. the assessments are graded according to age, and these assessments always remain the same Tn the fourth place, especial care is taken in the selection of medical exam iners, and as a result the examinations are carefully made, and consequently there is less risk and few assessments. In the fifth place, membership is made secure in this order, for. when members in good standing and having no money or property are unable-on account of sickness or accident-to support themselves, they shall have their dues and assessments paid by the lodge to which they belong as long as the disability lasts.
 In the sixth place, all death benefits are paid without discount or commits sion. within thirty days from the time ocial proof of death is made.
 And in the seventh place, member ship is not lost on account of removal from New England.
 In the state of Connecticut there are, at the present time, sixty-five lodges of the order, with combined member ship of between six and seven thou sand. In Waterbury the New England order is very strong, there being five lodges in that city, of which the two youngest Sheridan, No. 21S, and Brass City, No. 244-are the most progressive. New Britain. the home of the grand warden of the state. J. B. Weiant, boasts of three lodges. Bridgeport has four lodges, all of which are doing well. Meriden has four lodges, one of wIich-Electric, No. 50-is one of the most progressive in the state. High land lodge No. IS, of Winsted: Wal lingford lodge, No. 153, of Wallingford; Sherman lodge, No. 174, of Ansonia and Beulah lodge, No. 22S, of New Lon don, are all deserving of especial men, tion as having made large gains during the past year.
 But New Haven is the very Mecca of the New England order. There are nine lodges of the order in this city, all of which are doing well. Their com bined membership is about 2,S00, while the insurance carried by these mem bers in this order amounts to between four and half and five millions of dol lars.
 Elm Tree lodge, No. 35, the only lodge in this city composed entirely o1 male members, is the largest lodge oi the order in the state of Connecticut and the second largest in the entire or der. The membership is over 460. The great strength of this lodge is due par ticularly to the secretary, F. D. Grin. nell, who is also the grand secretary of the order in this state. He is with. out doubt the most popular officer, not only in his own lodge, but in the order throughout Connecticut The grea burden of the grand lodge work during the past year has devolved upin him and he has certainly acquitted himself with credit to himself and with glory to the order. It is confidently expected that-under. his management-tht state will show a net gain of one thou sand during the present fiscal year which ends April 1st. The year previ ously the net gain had been 517 Sec retary Grinnell has so erithused tht members of hi ,wD lodge of late tha at tha last meeting of Film Free com mittee of twenty was appointed to en deavor to bring in one hundred an{ fifty new members during the coming two months and place Elm Tree lodg, at the head of the list of the entire or ganization.
 The deputy of this lodge is Pas Warden J. w. Chapin of Charter Oal lodge of this. city. Brother Chapin ha! worked indefatigably for the orde throughout the past twelve months during which time he has attained { high degree of popularity among tn, members of the different lodges on ac count of his agreeable manner and tn many forcible addresses which he ha de1ivered thro,1phort Copnactiout r