Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-28

are such that they hit every member
for more and greater usefulness.
But that is not all. We come to-
gether in these lodges without regard
to party, without regard to religion,
without regard to occupation. with
out regard to wealth. Here the high,
the low, the rich and the poor meet
together. And the reward that a
man merits depends upon what he is
and not upon what his father was or
how much he had. (Applause) And,
my friends, We meet in these orders
that great idea of equality which lies
at the foundation of our government.
More than that, as we assemble with
out regard to conditions. we learn a
charity that is not common enough,
my friends, in our discussions. As
we get together, members of different
churches, members of different par
ties; as we come together and meet
in the lodge room upon common
footing. We are taught that charity
that should obtain between those who
have common purpose. but differ
ing. as honest men must differ. in
opinions. And | am led to believe
that assembling in the lodge room
and mixing together without regard
to politics or religion makes us will
ing to listen to the opinions of others.
And through deliberation and charity
and the clash of opinions must come
the truth on every subject. and we
are taught to place truth above all
things else in the race of life. But.
my friends, there are other reasons
for the existence of these orders. Not
only do they make us better citizens,
but l believe they make us better
husbands and better fathers.
II remember that it was a frater-
nifty that first led me to take insur-
ance on my life. As l look back and
remember how l invited a young lady
to share my fortunes with me when
didn't have anything for her to share,
l am astonished at my impudence.
While l remember that if death had
come to me it would have left her
with nothing but the memory of one
who was foolish enough to marry
without the means of supporting a
wife, l am astonished. my friends,
that / could have been so fOolhardv.
These orders and fraternities
which give young men an opportun-
ity to insure their lives and thus
make provision against the contin-
gency of death, are of vast benefit to
society. NY friends, while | was a
little late in commencing in the mat
ter of insurance, / have become a firm
believer in insurance since did COM
mence. And l believe that thousands
and tens of thousands, vet hundreds
of thousands, of the citizens of this
nation are first led to seriously con-
slider the matter of insurance through
membership in fraternities like this.
i know that after l had taken out
some insurance in this fraternal or
ganiZatiOn | was then led to take out
other forms of insurance. And if my
own experience is any criterion, l
think it is safe to say that much of
what is called the old line insurance
would never have been taken out but
for the education in insurance matters
which people obtain from these as
sessment organizations. And when
you remember what an enormous
amount of insurance is carried every
year, when you remember how this
insurance has increased and grown
day by day. you will realize. my
friends. what potent factor these
organizations are in the development
of our social institutions as we now
see them.
Helping Hand.
But there is another thing that oc-
ours to me in connection with the
benefits of this order. We are taught
not only to visit the sick. but we are
taught to have a regard for those
who have been left by our neighbors
My friends. when you remember how
a word will sometimes change the
course of life, when you remember
how helping hand in time of need
may be the one thing that will change
a child from downward course to an
upward course, and then remem Der how
many kind words have been spoken.
how many kind acts have been done,
through the inspiration of the frater-
nifty, yau can then imagine something
of the vastness of the benefits that
flow from orders like this. remem-
Der that while l was in college
heard man read an essay. don t
remember the subject of the essay,
and don't remember anything else
in the essay but this one illustration.
He said that on the top of the Al
legheny mountains was place where
a little stream was flowing so near
the summit that handful of mud
would change its course, SO that il
could be made to flow down on one
side or on the other side. That illus
tration impressed itself upon my
mind. And l have thought that if a
single word or kindly act can change
the course of a human life, then the
institution that makes that word pos.
sible that causes the act to be done
must be responsible for the con.
sequences that follow.
There are times when the fate of
the government depends upon the
wisdom of one person or the cour-
age of one officer. And my friends,
who can tell what one of the hare