The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-11-13

fund. Mr.. Diment declared that the or
der did have reserve fund and that was
down in the pockets of 100000 American
Workmen.
Mr.. Randall of Hamlin reiterated the
congratulations that the local lodge had
received on the bigness of the class that
had just been invited. Only once was a
larger class ever initiated into the order
in the state of Minnesota and that class
only exceeded this by two. Within the
state there were now as many as thirty
thousand Workmen. He felt that the
Minnesota Workmen had big reserve
fund to rely upon when there were SO
many on whom he could rely for aid
and encouragement. Whenever a member
paid dollar assessment he should think
of the $4,000 that was being raised
over the state and of the great number OF
homes into which gladness was thus
being brought.
Mr.. Hallam of st. Paul remarked that
the A. o. U. w. was the very first
order to combine fraternity with bene.
ficience. It's 100000 members in the
United States could be relied upon to
carry reserve fund close to billion dol
lars. In Minnesota it's thirty thousand
were good for fifty-two millions. This
was larger reserve than was carried by
any old line insurance company operating
IN IL state of Minnesota, and if one
insurance company were excepted it was
. larger reserve than that of any three
old line companies combined. The insur.
anee was always kept up by the volun
tary effort of the members and never
yet had the order failed to obtain the
money to pay al just claims and liabili-
ties. If a man insured in the old line
way got sick and could not pay his dues
he was snuffed out in a minute and
his insurance was gone \ Workman who
got sick had only to tell a brother
Workman of the fact and he was car
ried along until he got well.
Joseph Ecksten of New Ulm, supreme
representative, made few amusing al
lusions to events of the orders local his
tory, saying that he did not claim to be
its father but ne did claim to be the
pO1n nthn Rrnthar Ahla of Miunoap.
oils he considered the godfather. He
too, was enthusiastic over the size OF
the new class, and exhorted the new
members to be equally faithful in serv-
ing the lodge and it would continue tc
grow, at the same healthy rate.
Judge Porter said about twenty of the
founders of this lodge were still liv-
ing. The older members were passing
away and would have to turn the work
over to the younger men. In the past
year four of the local brothers had died
and $4,000 of insurance money had been
paid to their benefciaries.
The judge turned to Bro. Able and or
behalf of the order presented him with a
token of its appreciation and gratitude, a
past master workman badge, of purple
and gold.
MIR. Able replied briefly expressing his
thanks and also referring to the cour'
teous and kindly treatment he had ex
perienced during his stay in Mankato.
The throng now adjourned to the din
ing room where they were served with az
elegant repast prepared by large mum
Der of ladies. Although the banquet die
not commence until one o'clock this
morning the guests were 10th to leave
the hall where they had just enjoyed sc
gay social time. Quite crowd re-
manned to dance regardless of the wee
small hours that the clocks struck out
from time to time.
The flowers with which the lodge hal
had been decorated were taken up tc
the hospital today by committee con
sisting of Mesdames Roemer, Nixon, w
B. Davies and Gus. Kleinschmidt.