New-York tribune., 1899-07-20
CATHOLIC WOMEN MEET.
THEIR ASSOCIATION HAS NEARLY FIFTY
THOUSAND MEMBERS.
IT Is A SUCCESSFUL BENEVOLENT ORDER ORGAN
IzED. DIRBCTED AND MANAGED
Fly WOMEN.

E4 WOMEN.
Ashury Park n j. July 1s-The convention Of
tn Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association which
IS meeting here this week now has about six hun
dred delegates in attendance representing seven
teen States. This morning was taken up In listen
ins 10 reports submitted by the recorder and treas
urer The report Of the former covers two years
from June 1897. 70 June 1899 There had been col
ected in that time. s452.l2s D The reserve fund
statement shows a total Of s47612 So The number
Of members June l. 1899. was 4sle3. divided as
follows. Grade A. s244; grade B. 3d. $40; non-bene-
fcary. 200
The membership by States is as follows: New
Nc-k is4 branches 20.1SS: Pennsylvania. l27
branches lo7s9; Ohio 81 branches 3.43i: New-Jer-
sey ~ branches. 4070 Michigan IS branches. s4Ss;
Illinois p branches. L459; Colorado : branches 2f:
Massachusetts,. branches. 242: Kansas branches
q. Connecticut branches 80: Indiana Q
branches. -: Montana, branches SO: West vr-
einia. . branches. -. Louisiana. branches 81:
Delaware ! branch. SO: Rhode Island branch. IS;
New Hampshire. ! branch, 81
LIFE INSURANCE SOCIETY.
The Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Society is UNIQUE
not only among the societies affiliated with the
Roman Catholic Church. but among womens or
ganizauons II is not in the ordinary sense a re-
hgous organization. Its members must be practi-
eal Catholics vouched for by their pastors but no
special religious duties devotions are required
The associations chief claim 10 distinction
however is that # is the first benevolent order TO
be organized by women. directed and managed
by their own sex and carried on so successfully for
ten years 10 win the unqualified praise of the
New-York State Insurance Commissioners.
The secretary has endless facts and figures at her
tongues end TO prove that the Ladies' Catholic
Benevolent Association is quite the most interest
Ing thing IN the women's society line produced by
this outer edge Of the century. which is noted for
remarkable products in that line
Having been Of the originators." she re-
T+ ,f.,t-
record that can't be beaten OF course II isn't so
difficult for 10 get their lives insured now
IL was when we first began 10 agitate, but we
even vain enough 10 believe that our associa-
ton has helped materially 10 bring about the
change. That's what we are first and foremost
life insurance society We aim to assist women Of
very moderate means to make some provision in
case Of their death for the children parents
other relatives who may be more less dependent
them.
"Of course, have other objects We wish 70
promote the welfare Of the women members of our
Church intellectually. physically. morally and
c'ally, well financially. Our branches are en-
trely self governing. Only women are allowed to
hold Offices and all elections are by secret ballot.
Every branch has a social side to its meetings
We'll A. its business side All this. you readily
see, mas broadening effect. Women getting on to
middle age who might be growing inert and losing
interest in affairs kept alert by their interest in
electoneerng and meetings and conventions.
We have all classes OF women in organiza-
tion and all meet equal footing, the every
day farmers mechanics wife. the school teach
er the writer the society leader. We are absolute
Is democratic. and the woman with gift for lead
ing governing to the top by natural selec-
ton -
NOT WITHOUT FRICTIONs.
We are not without frictions and our cranks
Of course but we nave a system of local and gen.
e-aI officers which helps 10 smooth out difficulties
by making necessary rather long series Of ref
erences which gives time for cooler thought
on the whole the men have been exceedingly
kind TO US We probably shouldn't have been able
20 get a start at II IL had not been for some or
the oft5cers Of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Assoca-
uon and our association Is mooelIeo soine"Ha'
The late Bishop Ryan. of Buffalo. was another
etanch and unchanglng friend from the beginning.
LAST month am T5a Modem Woodmen the
largest beneficiary society In the country coPiIS P
series OF comparative tables. and they not only
gave Us full credit for our accomplishments, out
hey into details and praise OF our iheIhoGs; JOS
oaeT organization Of the kind-hfty cents mem m,
Der year. We were placed IotttH I'm az i-gT 80 a.
OF beneficiary societies having the largest n
crease of membership during 1885. or the loo IN IN
sarance societies in the coun "a zoo 0i members and
We have paid 10 the heirs OF deceased HleniDeiS
We have reserve fund Of ZOO This fund DIS is
drawn upon only in case or eineTseiS - on eent-
tects the order from bankruptcy IN m Iarye MIN
demic should carry of an unconnonIy 49,, a. ha-,a
Der OF members New York and N,SS ~ have
q large membership in Pennsylvania ana MiStrs S1a
We have branches IN COLORADO. Mohtaiiia' - tba
cnusetts and other States. West virginia WaS ,ar @
last 10 come In and are beginning 10 gam o'S
in the conservative South - l.. .htrt,-sever
The average age Of members Is Lni - .r,ss,
years we take in any Catholic woman pet"S%s'' %
eighteen and fifty. She must pass pnS ny S111 bene-
animation before she be accepted az &c
hciary me mber but applicant who iAs 20 90 20
may become q social member. ana DC rra,ce StI.s,
al benefits and privileges except the dlsu r1e rzed
The nrst branch Of the association ~as Ib,r5snches
in 1859 Union City. Penn Fou' ia ,n titus
delegates 10 the FIRST convention heie 10 %,
vile. Penn in 1880 Mrs. f. T. s Mcso~@' ee ;hst
Buffalo was elected Supreme president a. -