Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-03-13

years; had 255, 309 members in the Uni
ted States and Canada January LIST
1908, and has paid in death losses as O
January LIST. 1908, SEVENTY-FIVI
MILLION DOLLARS.
The Real Point at Issue.
AS leader in fraternal work, tn,
Royal Arcanum and its accomplish
ments are always interesting and in
structive to not only fraternal expo
nents everywhere, but to the entir,
public, which is interested in securing
protection of safe and enduring ma
ture at the least possible current cost
The approximate figures as of De
cember 3lst, 1902, show that on Decem
Der 31st, 1901, the society had mem
bership of 231, 1872. At the close O.
December 3lst. 1902, the membership
was increased to 1858 This indi
ca es net gain for the year of u TT
or over 10 per cent as compared with
the mepbership of the preceding year.
The lapses for 1902 were 6,513, and
those who died numbered 2, $50.
In view of the widespread agitation
with reference to fraternal work, and
especially considering the degree of
hostility evidenced against the Royal
Arcanum on the part of old line insur-
ance interests, which have insisted on
all occasions that the society has been
going to decay" these figures are
short of marvellous. Indeed,
bad the lapsations been five times as
great as indicated above, 1t is believed
that they would not exceed those set
forth in the normal experience ordina-
~ Insurance company which eschews
fraternal ideas and methods. Certain.
~ the record is one which evidences
answering confidence on the part of
the membership, and it further shows
that the fraternal public will not be
nis!sad by the cry of temporary pro-
lection, evidences of decay, and the
ike, which cannot be shown by actu-
II experience.
With reference to the financial trans
lotions of the society last year, the fol
owing figures are interesting: The to.
'al receipts and the amount on hand
q the current fund were 81, TIA ,4SS 80;
he benefits paid during the year were
S6, 9O2, S6S 10; the current cash balance
IN hand at the beginning of this year
vas 1861, $40 OF; in the emergency fund
be amount on hand was 81 ,S16, 042 70.
from this it will be seen that the cur
ent resources were in excess of ST.
100, 900, and that the emergency fund
increased during the year in excess of
'250,00O. The membership increased
0 46 per cent, and the per cent. of ex.
lenses to death benefits paid in 1902
vas 10.
When the above figures are consid.
red in comparison with the statements
# the insurance companies, which
how more paid for expenses than for
ieath benefits, and when the fact is
that the percentage in the
Royal Arcanum was but slightly in
,xcess of three per cant. as compared
% the total disbursed. it will be seen
hat a material salvage has been saved
or the members of the Royal Arcanum
Is compared without the amount dis.
)ursed for expenses in the insurance
In the light of the fOregolng-cOn-
ndering that the average insurance
would have paid for expenses
So 100000 for doing the
ame amount of business, and that the
Royal Arcanum paid but $217, 900 for
he same service-it cannot be denied
hat the system under which it ope-
'ates can and does perform most use
ul service for the insuring public. and
hat it does save many fold with refer
,nce to expenses, and that it likewise
urnishes protection of an equally safe
ind desirable nature.
The Monitor commends the sum
nary of the Royal Arcanum to the
of not only fraternal ex-
0onents but to those who have not a
1ue comprehension of fraternal work
md fraternal achievements. 1t be-
ieves that the figures given, will alone
De sufficient to lead the average rea der
10 study as to thu vital points of diff
ference between fraternal operation
and old line operation. Granting that
the mortality element is the same in
each, it follows that the saving ia ex
penses is a direct benefit TO the mem
Dership and that the ratio the expense
clement alone bears to the expense ele
ment in an insurance company, indi-
Gates the amount of saving that can
be gained through this line of endeav
or. From this standpoint alone, 1t
would seen that the Arcanum and sis
ter fraternities should be willing TO rest
their cause, as certainly the percen-
tsge given il dictates, a iving that
should commend itself to people in all
4, - &