The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-04
ANVIL OFFICERS REPLY.
THEY DENY CHARGES OF MIsMAN-
AGEMENT AND OTHER THINGS.


Some of Its PoIicies-The Supreme
Officers Say They Put Their Money
Into the Enterprise and Worked
for Its Success-Solne of the Causes
of the Anvirs TroubIes-A state
ment From the Dissatisfied Policy
holders Attorneys.
There were no further developments
in court yesterday in The Anvil re-
ownership case. Receiver Morris is
now in charge of the business of the
company and the supreme officers say
they are entirely satisfied for the re-
ceiver to administer its affairsl They
say, however. that they have been
largely misrepresented in the charges
against their management. They have
paid every obligation, they say, except
some Of the policies. and any failure of
the company is not blameable upon
them.
The Anvils troubles, according
to Supreme President Lester, be-
gan some months ago with a
falling off in its membership, due to
Misrepresentation concerning it's bust
ness. The members dropped out in
large numbers, and, as a consequence,
at the rate of assessment, the company
could not continue without some adj
justment Since it's organization Mr.
Lester said, it has paid out on policies,
about $1,000.
The supreme officers of The Anvil are
men. They say they put their money
into the enterprise in good faith and
worked for it. They deny the charges
of Encouragement and any intention
to interfere with the books of the COM
pany. Supreme President Lester said
yesterday that they will show an alb
solutely business-like conduct of its
affairs To place themselves rightly
before the public. Supreme President
Lester, DR., ]. Lawton HERS, supreme
vice president; Mr.. T. H. Mcmillan,
supreme secretary and treasurer; Dr.
M. y. Corbin, supreme medical direc-
tor and Nh. r. NJ. Lester supreme
general counsel, have prepared a state
ment, with a view to correcting any
wrong impressions that may exist as
to their management of The Anvil's
business.
supreme Officers Statement.
The statement is signed by the SUI
preme officers, and is as follows:
Savannah, April "A meeting of the
gentlemen composing the board of di-
rectors of THE Anvil" was held this
day for the purpose of refuting the
statements made in the papers of April
and April regarding the affairs of
ttfTha Anxrflft hot 90
the affairs of the same.
The following resolution was adopt
ed:
Be 1t resolved, first, That the statement
made that the president, Mr.. d. g.
Lester, has been drawing a salary of
5000 per month is not true, and the
books will show the same to be fact,
as he has been its president for over
thirty months and has only drawn as a
salary for that period the sum of 1855,
which is less than $40 per month.
Second That the statement that Mr..
Richard NJ. Lester has been drawing a
. salary Of 800 per month as attorney
is also equally erroneous, as he has
only been connected with the order
since November last, and has only
drawn 500 for his services rendered not
in the line of his profession and 800
for actual expenses of five weeks on
the IOdOs also ABOUT at anOInCr
time for visiting two assemblies away
from Savannah as expenses, and the
only attorneys fees paid to Mr.. Rich
ard Nj. Lester was one of IS for repre-
senting the order in a small matter in
a justice court
Third. The statement appearing
that any of the books of the order
have been removed or purloined is
false, and the maker had no grounds
of suspicion for making such state
ment.
Fourth. That the statement that the
management of The Anvil has been
loose and its affairs grossly neglected
is another erroneous statement and
made solely to misrepresent the facts
in the case.
Fifth. That the five gentlemen con-
nected with The Anvil are reputable
gentlemen and no set of men were
ever more devoted to the interest and
welfare of an institution than they
were to The Anvil, which is shown by
the books, where they not only devoted
their time without money, but backed
it up to the extent of over $4,000 of
their money, and the books of the or
der VIII show that out of the above
amount they have really lost in cold
cash over $500.
Sixth. That Mr.. T. Fl. Mcmillan
secretary and treasurer of The Anvil
has devoted much time to the institu-
ton, for which he has never received
one penny.
Seventh. DR.. j. Lawton HERS, the
vice president, and for some time act
ing secretary of The ANVIL has been
faithful to his duties, and for which
he has never received one cent.
Eighth. DIR. Marion X. Corbin, SUI
preme medical examiner of The Anvil,
devoted his services since its organiza-
ton and received as compensation
the munificent sum of about 5000 in
full for passing on about 1000 medical
examinations, when he should have
received from this source alone $1,000,
when the examination was made and
not by the order.
Ninth. That the statements that any
of the funds of THE Anvil have been
Incorporated is entirely false. as
every dollar coming into the hands of
THE Anvil" went into the hands of
the supreme treasurer, Mr.. 7. H. Nc
MILAN. and was paid out by him under
the proper vouchers and applied solely
to the use of the order.
Tenth. That the statement that 1.-The
Anvil sold out for a cash considera-
ton is another dark plot to injure the
gentlemen connected with the order
and is as untrue and false as are all
the other statements above referred
to; as the only consideration for the
transfer of 1.-THE Anvil members to
THE American Guild" was the pay
ment of a certain per cent. of premiums
or assessments, above the commissions
due THE Anvil agents in the field,
for business already earned by them,