Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-08-22


Highland Lodges are yet much excited
over the matter they are nevertheless
awaiting developments with much in
terest.
Bnngor members of the Ancient Or
der Of United Workmen, who number
between five and six hundred and are
divided into three lodges, are greatly
excited over the increased assessments
levied by the Supreme lodge its guar
anty fund. a meeting OF Anchor Lodge.
No, A. was held on Tuesday night TOR
thorough discussion of the subject, and,
although no definite statement mas
been made by the officials, it is under
stood that the plan of the Supreme
lodge met with general disfavor
"'rhe extra assessments" said a
prominent member of the order to
Bangor Daily News reporter, nave
caused throughout the country dissen-
sions between the Supreme and sub
ordinate dges-dissensions which, III
massachusetts, have eliminated in an
almost universal desire among the SUD-
ordinate lodges of the State to secede
and form an independent jurisdiction
1ariy surprised although, Of course, it
is ilnuussible to forecast with any de-
cree Of certainty--if existing conditions
should be revoked in the near future
and an entire separation perfected. OF
course in order to accomplish this, II
would be necessary to hold special
session of representatives from the
various lodges, and to obtain a per-
nit for such a session the court would
have to be appealed to.
although Maine as we'll as Massa-
chusets is affected by the action of the
Supreme lodge. / think that here the
feeling in the matter Is somewhat less
intense. We could secede only by
means of 4 vote of all the lodges in the
State-somcthing far from easy to OBJ
tain-Whle such an action would mean
that we should cease to be members Of
the Ancient Order of United Workmcn
and would be forced to found an inde-
pendent order Of our own. Individual
Workmen, not wishing to secede, could
still remain members of the order, as it
would be impossible for any subordi-
nate lodge. or even for the Grand
Lodge of the State, to control their ac-
tions.
The Workmen of Bangor as well as
The Wori;men Of Maine, will be guided
iii the matter by moderation and pru-
dence. 1t is complicated problem,
ana one of which only a person VINO has
studied it deeply can have amy adequate
idea. 1t is safe to say however, that
no immediate separation from the
supreme lodge is now contemplated
and that such q separation could come
only as Il last resort"
The cause Of the trouble is briefly
stated by a member Of the order as
follows.
''The objection We raise is due to the
le1ying BY the supreme lodge Of assess
meats in which are trebled the rates
for the guaranty fund. @
For instance suppose a man is 40
wears Of aSe. Under the present plan
his assessment would be set. OF this
e cents would be for the guaranty fund
Under the plan which is proposed to
put into operation Oct I, the assessment
rs certs would be for the guaranty fund.
Woall be $3.50. but Of this the amount
for che guaranty fund would be for the
beneficiary fund, out Of which the
death losses are paE. ....
'By the new plan, therefore. there
would he 4 loss for the beneficiary fund.
without which, Of course. we could not
exist, We're it not that here in Maine,
We have Il beneficiary fund of our own.
Now, we maintain that the increase Of
about 800 per cent. in the rate for the
guaranty fund is largely for the pur-
pose of making up deficiencies in the
beneficiary funds of western jurisdic- $
lions, where the death rate is 50 large
that the losses cannot be met unless
eastern jurisdictions where the rate is
small, help out the others. In fact tho
supreme lodge admits that the extra
money from the Increased guaranty
rate is to DC raised with that object.
I'VE insist that thesc western iuris-
diCtion# should hc assessed to meet
death losses. We do not see why we
should have to make them Il present Of
the money. If they cannot do profit
able business unassisted, then they
SHOULD get ont of the order.'