The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-29
CANNOT MAKE PAYMENTS
AS the Death Rate Is Too High and
Assessments Will Be Made
TO- PAY OFF THE OLD BILLS.


A few days ago mention was made of
the financial collapse of the Odd Fell
lows Beneficial association, a Columbus
institution which numbers many Can
ton people in the membership. Men
tion was also made of the fact that
Alliance members had received notice
of the company's intended discontinue
ance of business and that they refused
to pay any further assessments. At
that time none of the notices from
the company had been received in
this city and the faith of the majority
Of members was mistaken, they believ-
ing that the story that such notices
had been sent out was canard.
Yesterday, however, there was an
other development and members re-
ceived in their mail letter which
is probably the same as those received
at Alliance and other towns some time
ago.
Local members are at a loss to ex-
plain the delay of Canton members re.
ceiving the circulars.
The letter is self-explanatory and
coming as it does from the secretary
and trustees of the company, may be
taken as an authentic statement of the
real condition of affairs:
Dear Brother: The affairs of our asso-
| citation have reached such stage that
| it is impossible to continue in business.
| The board of trustees has endeavored
| to avert the calamity, bat 1t cannot be
| done.
The average age Of our members is
nearly 60 years, and of our membership
of $500 over 5000 are more than so years
of age
We have $42, 600 of death claims, for
which we have made the present ten
rate assessment; over $4,000 Of death
claims have accumulated since, and
each weeks delay adds to our liabilities
so that it is important to act at once.
Under the laws of the state of Ohio
all members of the association on No
vember 7th, 1S99-at which time the
| present assessment was made-are LA
BILE for the assessment, and if our asso-
cition is dissolved through the court,
the court may order the receiver to col
lect the assessments from the members
who refuse to pay.
There are two ways to dissolve the
association: One by an action in court,
when a receiver and master commits
sioner will be necessary, and a large
part of our emergency fund will be eX-
hausted in the payment of costs and
attorney fees, and an assessment will
be necessary on the members of the
association to supply the deficiency, and
the other method is by the mutual con-
| sent of the members Of the association
| authorizing the trustees to eXpend the
emergency and management funds in
the payment of the death claims, and
save the costs, expense and attorney
fees
There is about 100000 which we can
use for the purpose and save so much
assessment on the members, for we want
to pay the widows and orphans, of our
brothers, whose claims are pending,
one hundred cents on the dollar. and
| quit business honorably, as Odd Fellows
| should do.
The trustees this day introduced a
resolution to transfer the emergency
and management funds to the mortu-
ary fund for the payment of accumula-
ted death claims, and to wind up the af-
fairs of the association by mutual con-
sent of the members.
| VIII you give your consent to the
proposition of the trustees?
Please sign the consent on the en-
closed postal card and mail the same at
once, so we can have them, if possible
by January 2, 1900-the next meeting OF
the board.
Fraternally, your brothers,
| l"' EDWARD BRYCE,
4 d. r. WILLIAMS,
4 JAMES McDERMENT,
| GEO. j. BRAND,
~ A. GARDNER, JR.
's JNO. M. BRODERICK,
ISAAC M. JORDAN,
VIM. II. ELSTON,
Trustees
Attest: w. c. WICOFF, Secretary.