The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-22
(Eor Tile Mtcligcncer.)
Fraternity-Its Scope, Influence and
BeneyOlence.

EDITOR INTELLIGENCER: In this age
of Industrial, commercial and territorial
expansion, in this age Of progress, edu-
cation and good will toward men, the
average toiler or breadwinner takes no
time to acquaint himself or inquire into
the merits of social and benevolent
features OF fraternity. Often through
prejudice and Ignorance one is persua-
ded to believe that all fraternal orders
are on the decay, and that it is only Il
question Of time before all of them will
! disappear and become a relic of the
past. How much truth can be found in
such idle assertions when properly and
honestly analysed? One of the great
and upright statesmen, better known
AS the "Grand Old Man." the late Rt.
Honorable Wm. Z. Gladstone, said with
reference to fraternal orders:
"YOu go into these societies to seek
your own good through the good of
others. Friendly societies have be-
come so important and telling a feature
in the constitution Of English society
in it's broadcst and most fundamental
part, that any account OF this nation,
of this people to whom we rejoice to
belong. would deserve no attention as
a really comprehensive account it it
excluded the clement Of such societies. )"
There are ninety odd fraternal orders
reporting to the Chief Registrar Of the
English parliament, each more than
one hundred years old, and comprising
q membership Of over eight millions.
The Count Dc Winton, established
in 116S, in the reign Of King John, is
731 years old and solvent to-day. The
Royal Eyanus, established in 1857. is
542 years old and solvent to-day. The
De Foe benefit has existed for Ov er 211
years without defalcation.
The knights Of Honor, in existence
over &c years in this country, has paid
out over sixty eight million dollars in
benefits, which means that it has re-
lieved millions Of families who, through
the loss of the bread-winner, would
have been in distress and perhaps pau
pers to-day.
In Anderson alone tifty;eight thous-
and dollars have been paid by this or
der to widows and orphans, most OF
whom were in need of it when the head
of the family was lost to them, and
without this small protection, as some
would call it, there would have been
great suffering in our midst.
The figures from the last New York
Insurance Report of December 31st.
1898, shows that 4G fratcrnal orders paid
out during that year S2G, $50, 1872. Think
Of it for moment only, that these
millions were paid to widows and or
phans whose husbands and fathers
could not have paid the heavy prcml-
inns demanded twelve months in ad-
vance by insurance companies, and that
this protection was secured through
the instrumentality of these fraternl-
ties, who are furnishing its members
protection at cost, and that these as
scssments are paid in small. sums
monthly.
Would these millions have been paid
out if such benevolent, charitable and
fraternal orders were not IN eXistencee
Is any one justified in abusing and
slandering these societies by predicting
decay, when in the face OF such figures
struggling humanity is hourly and dai
ly relieved from dire suffering? Isany
stronger argument needed than the
presentation OF these figures which
are staggering to all who would dare
say word against these fraternities?
The knights of Honor, as q fraternal,
benevolent and charitable order, has,
during it's 26 years of existence, saved
many a home from foreclosure, has
helped many young boy and girl re-
ceive an education that would be other
wise neglected, and to-day are happy,
prosperous and blessed with home OF
their own.
Should we not feel grateful that all
who wish to become identified with this
noble order can easily do so now since
the membership fee Of $40 heretofore
charged to applicants, has been remov-
ed. Only the medical examiners fee,
one quarters dues and one months as
sessment is all that is required OF the
applicant.
You insure your house, your gin
house, your stock of goods, why not in
sure your life when such an opportuni
ty is before youf
The assessment principle is easy to
understand. tits not constructed upon
system of abstruse calculations that
only an expert actuary can understand,
and moreover one always knows just
what he is paying for. "Ihave butone
lamp by which my feetare guided" said
Patrick Henry, land that is the lamp Of
experience. 1know of no way Of judg-
ing OF the future but by IT,. past"
This is a good rule to apply to judg
ment of the order to which we belong.
OLD MEMBER X. OF II.
On the 10th of December, 1897, Rev.