Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-01-25
Frsternal Insurance,

Wltnl1 o week 1ratPrnaf insurance
orders have paid $4,000 to widows in
this community, in both cases where
it was needed badly. The enormous
proportions Of this kind Of insurance
are realized by few. Albert Stevens
in the Review OF Reviews gives .
comprehensive summary Of the
growth OF these companies.
There are now doing business IN
the United States nearly 200 mutual
beneficiary insurance organizations,
conducted on what is called the lodge
system, surrounded by the sttrac-
tons found in the mysticism, real or
fancied, which hedges about a secret
society. 1t will have to be admitted
that these attractions constitute one
OF the strongest features Of such or
CARNATIONS, in that they form the
steel wire within the rope Of brother.
hood which tends to hold the men,
bership in line in spite Of occasional
drawbacks, failures and disappoint.
ments in the system OF insurance
employed" No doubt, as has been
observed by Mr.. Stevens, the mem.
bers are able to contemplate failures
here and there with considerable
equability in view Of the fact that
similar failures are not unknown in
the circle Of old line companies. In
the last forty.fve years eighty-nine
legal reserve life insurance failures
were reported with combined assets
to the amount Of SOL, 1925, 900.
Here are some Of the leading or.
ders:
Modern Woodmen Of America;
founded in 1888; members, 27,766;
benefits disbursed since organization,
$l4,333, 685; benefits disbursed last
year, $S,26S,O50.
Ancient Order OF United Workmen;
founded 1865; members, S7S, 2S9;
benefits disbursed since organization,
$9l, 04l, 6S4; benefits disbursed last
year, $7,6s7,S4
Improved Order Of Red Men;
founded 1884; members, 2lS,679;
benefits disbursed since organization,
SIG, O79, O76; benefits disbursed last
year, $5S9,076.
Knights OF the Maccabees; founded
1888; members, 1901; disbursed
since organization, %,6lO,679; dis
bursed last year, $l,27l,45l.
Woodmen Of the World; founded
1891; disbursed since organization,
$2,976,756; disbursed last year, s949,-
65l.
Junior Order United American.
Mechanics founded in 1858; members
1888, sos; disbursed since organization,
$S,6l9,7SS disbursed last year, $751;
1874.
Knights Of Honor; founded 1874;
members, Y, 1874; disbursed since or
ganization, 1858, 1856, SOL; disbursed
last year, 1884, 800.
Knights and Ladies of Honor;
founded in 1877; members, $1,000;
disbursed since organization, $751;
1874, 1888; disbursed last year, $l,l9l,-
900.
Independent Order Of Foresters;
founded in 1874; members, 100000;
disbursed since organization, 1885,
900; disbursed last year, $l,176, 900.
Independent Order Of B'nai Birth;
founded in 1S43; members, Sl,75O;
disbursed since organization, $780,
$1,000; disbursed last year, $l,24S,-
900.
Here, then, are ten societies which
have discussed in their lifetime the
enormous sum Of $25S,91 $1,000 to
their benehciarles. The rapid growth
Of these orders may be known when
1t is said that the Woodmen wrote
$l20, 100000 in new insurance last
year, while the Workmen wrote
nearly as much.
Altogether there 1900, 900 members
in the 200 fraternal insurance societies
Of the United States. This is more
than the total Of policy holders in the
old line companies, as they number
but 2,l66,274. December 81, 1898,
the old line companies had $780,.
0O0,0 worth Of insurance in force,
whereas the iraternal companies had
but IS, 4OO,0O0,OO0 The total ex-
pense Of management Of the old line
companies in 1898 was $7l,S9S,5 sol,