The Washington times., 1902-02-16

The particularly distinguishing feature
of the order. and one wherein it differs
from all of the other fraternal beneficial
orders, is its step-rate plan of assess
ments. This plan, the members claim, by
slightly increasing the amount of assess
ments on the LIST OF January of each year
up to sixty-fve years of age, makes the
order impervious to all the difficulties
that have arisen in some of the other fra
ternal societies.
The plan is based on the fact that the
cost of insurance increases as the age
OF the member advances, and that by
an increase in the amount of assessments
an increase in the number OF assessments
is prevented. This increase is slight, be-
ing only an average OF cents per month
on each 81 900 OF insurance carried, but
il aggregates over $50 600 increased year
ly revenue to the order on its present
membership-enough, it is said, to pay
for the increased demands on the order
by reason OF the increased mortality be-
cause of advancing years of its members.
Nothing of political or sectarian
haracter can be introduced in the order,
nor in its ceremonies is there anything
. disturb the most sensitive mind Its
tcnets are love, purity, and truth. Its
initiatory work is said to be impressive,
instructive, and dignified throughout.
The order has two funds-the benefit
sund and the general fund. The former
eund derived from assessments, is used
exclusively to pay death benefits. The
latter fund.- derived from a per capita
AK OF 30 cents per member, is used to
lay all of the expenses of management.
he cost to the individual member for
he support of the local and the grand
ody is limited to So per annum. in addi-
ion to the mortuary assessments.
The government Of the order is purely
representative, and has three depart
.nents, or bodies-the council. or local
ody: the assembly. or State body, and
he senate. or national body. The coun-
il is a social body and meets monthly
emf monthly, or weekly. The assembly
meets biennially, and is composed of rep
csentatives sent from councils in the
District. The senate meets annually, and
e.. composed OF representatives selected
y the assemblies.
The order has been very successful in
this city 1t is second in numbers 10
only the Masonic order, and has no com
pettors in point of membership among
the other fraternal beneficial orders. 1t
has about 1900 members. comprised in
twenty-three councils. located in the de-
partments and among the business men.
Its largest council in this jurisdiction is
Government Printing Office Council. with
$50 members. The youngest council is
Mckinley Council. recently organized with
a charter list of 225. being the largest
charter list of any council ever organ
lied by the order. The fraternal spirit is
highly developed among all of the coun-
ellis. which is fostered by Il frequent in
terchange of visits.
The senator's, or representatives, to the
grand body from this jurisdiction. are
Messrs. +. A. Warfeld and Max Gold
smith. The eX oilicio members are Capt.
II. T. Brian. eX-president of the senate,
and Messrs. William Briggs and Joseph
Dierkcn. members. respectively. of the
board of trustees and the committee on
extension of the order.
The Offices of the senate are located at
Toledo. Ohio. w. L. Wild, of Akron, Ohio
is president. and ]. w. Myers secretary.
The officers OF the cabinet. or district
grand body. are: President, James f
Bright: vice president. J. D. Biddis;
speaker, jane, \ Healsy; ex-president
j. p Burrill; secretary. J. Eliot Wright;
treasurer. NJ Cohen: chaplain. H NJ.
Gilman: usher. W. ". Chase; sergeant
alarms, j. T. Borland: doorEeeper, L. II
Lanman; trustees. William Barnum, w
w. Case. and Martin S. Decker.
JAMES E. BRIGHT.
President Cabinet. ID. C.