The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-01
SOME FIGURES
Pertaining to Webster
ROYAL Arcanum.

Webster, Feb. 2S-Ever since the new
assessment rates went into effect in the
Royal Arcanum Lodge, Ben Franklin
Lodge r. A., members of the local
branch of the orderhave expressed con-
siderable disapproval. At the begin
ming of August of the present year. the
assessments were nearly doubled, not
/ II number, but in the amount asked
Inc assessments average a dozen a
year Since that time four members
o, the organization have resigned from
the order.
several persons in town express the
renewing reasons why members should
SUCK to the order: The question is
asked, how long will it be before the
rates VIII be incre ased again, or the
number of assessments increased? Such
questions involve so many elements
eacn bearing relation to the other and
10 the answer, that a definite reply can
not be given without. taking such Gle
tllents'lnto consideration. Any one can
understand that il such question is
based rpon the order remaining perma-
hehtlN stationary, or 'retrograding an
hually III numerical strength the an
sWer might be different than as though
II was presupposed that the order Will
continue in its progressive and forward
career.
First, then, if the order was to re-
man practically at a .standstill for a
year or so, the best actuarial ability
unite III the opinion that it would be of
put uifling Importance if the order
lhefeafter began to thrive and contin-
ued to grow.
1nasmuch as the new plan is certain
~ an Improvement upon the old and
Will furnish better security than the
OLD, it may be taken almost as axiom
atic that the new plan will meet with
greater favor than the old to those
seeking sure protection. The worst
tnen, that could happen would be that
little, II any, net gain might be made
Tor year or two; but thereafter the
accessions would be numerous and the
gains afeady lF
insurance statistics taken from flftv-
Two OLD line companies with over 500
200 lives at risk, and experiences Of
from thirty-five to fifty years each
snow that even after such long periods
OF existence the average death rate
does not exceed twelve per thousand
Twenty four fraternaI benefit societies
after experience of from ten to twenv
eight years, show equally good results
the general average death rate being
ten per thousand
The death rate of the ROYAL Area
num- now in it's 22d year is less than
9hs per thousand. The New York Life.
IN us same year, had a death rate of
10.9 the Berkshire lie, Equitable 1926
Massachusetts Mutual lis and North
western III, yet after experiences of
forty years and upwards their average
death rate per thousand do not exceed
twelve. 81 fA
Fhe Royal Arcanum may reasonab ly
expect a like experience, namely. a
gradually advancing death rate until it
reaches twelve per thousand which
will be the average death rate from
then on with slight fluctuations. This
prediction for the Royal Arcanum is
based upon it's present splendid phys
1cal condition, it's having a lower death
rate than nearly any old life company
at a similar period: and upon the fact
thsi the. best actuaries admit that the
future experience of the ord-g should
compare favorably with the expert snce
Of any of the old life companies, pro-
vided the Royal Arcanum presents a
plan that will be attractive to new en-
trants, so that. steady and substantial
annual numerical gains are made
1t is then confidently expected that
the death rate of the order will slowly
but gradually increase until a max
imum death rate around twelve per
thousand members is reached, after
which the death rate will remain prac-
tically stationary The new rates will
pay the mortality claims upon a death
rate of about liz to Tx per 1000 mem
bers. 1t should be at least 10 to &c
years before that death rate is
reached.
Within Is years the emergency fund
should, with interest added, reach a
sum not less than $10,000,000 The in
terest upon that sum at per cent is
100000, which is enough to about pay
death rate of one per thousand. So
| that the IL assessments per year. with
the interest on the emergency fund, a
death rate of 1919 to 12% per 1000 mem
bers, can readily be taken care of.