Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-01

public accounts OF the State for the year
ending September 30 1902 In that report
4 can be seen that the colored people of
his city own personality to the value of
s2sa 800: lots valued at ssIl. $40, upon which
there are improvements of the value Of
s614sss making, total value OF s1.2n. rs.
+ Of this sum. fully 100000 could be added
i n the way Of school buildings, churches.
hospitals. asyfums and charitable insti-
.utjons not listed for taxation. This Is
Z 4 remarkable showing and an object les
son In thrift and enterprise to the colored
people of every Southern community.
4 or the large amount of property hold
sngs, and the great amount of business
lone by them. It is clearly seen that the
young men and women of the race have
taken the lead.
Prominent among the business enter
priscs stands the the True Reformers
This organization. which was founded by
.he late William Washington Browne In
RS1. Just twenty-one years ago. with but
hoo capital, and membership of $50. has
now a membership OF 61.967. with policies
aggreEating $7.23459s The organization
conducts wholesale and retail grocery
End general merchandise business In this
city, and retail stores in Manchester,
Roanoke. Portsmouth. and Washington.
D. c.. the gross receipts Of which, last
year. amounted to 02.616.9o. They publish
weekly. newspa per, which has a circu-
fation OF 1900. The printing plant IS
worth $4,000 They hold real estate as
follows: Richmond, three halls, one
store, one hotel, with rooms for $50
guests: hall each In Cincinnati. o.. Bal
Nmore Nd. ST. Louis, Mo-. Louisville,
KY, Lynchburg. Newport News. Ashland
alexandria. Danville. Manchester. Nor
Folk, Petersburg. Portsmouth, Roanoke.
centralia. Westhampton. and Was hing
ton, D. c., two. III Of the value of $685.
100. The Westhampton property, which Is
In Henrico county, is used as an Old
Folks Home 1t includes farm Of 634A
lcres. and is reached from this city by an
electric line. The organiza ton has mem
bership In twent-four States and the Dis
uict Of Columbia It also operates a
Bank Of the Grand Fountain, Grand Or
Ser OF True Reformers. The order en-
ploys regularly 155 persons.
The Independent Order Of st. Luke's is
another strong erganizataon.-=The head
quarters are at 300 St James street. in the
house formerly occupied by the late DR..
George H Bright. which was purchased
teveral years ago for $4,000. The ST. Lukes
7as a membership OF 1919 located in
,very section of the State, and In Wash
ngton. Maryland. West Virginia. Ohio.
kentucky. New York, and Massachusetts.
It conducts a weekly paper, the st. Luke
Herald.
There Is now in process of erection adj
oining the present building, handsome
hree-story red brick structure with
sray brick front and granite trimmings.
In this building will Dedicated. the gener-
u Offices Of the, association. the second
ioor will be concert hall, with a seat
ing capacity of 700. The upper floors will
Sc utilized for lodge rooms. as will the
sd building. The printing plant will be
ocated in this building. The cost of this
structure when completed and furnished
will be about s25.000.
The ST. Lukes will operate bank soon.
md will also begin the manufacture Of
Eoman's clothing and millinery.
Another large organization Is the Py-
:fian and Courts Of Calanthe. This or
eanlzation purchased three years ago at a
cost of s6.Ooo the Mittledorfer residence.
III north Third street. Pythian Castle is
he headquarters of the Grand Lodge of
colored Pythians of the State, and the
Pythian-Calanthe Industrial Association
If Virginia. John Mitchell, jr., Is the
head Of the Pythians of Virginia, being
Grand chancellor; he is also president
sf the Industrial Association. Rev. w. f.
Graham. D. D., is vice-president; T. NJ
Crump secretary, and Mrs. Harriet
Thompson. treasurer. The Industrial As
ISOLATION will begin some business enter
prise during the present year. the nature
Of which has not been given out
In Pythian Castle Is also located the off,
ces of the Grand Court Of Virginia. In
dependent Order of Calanthe. the female
branch Of the Pythians. Marietta L.
chiles Is the G.. w. Register Of Deeds.
The headquarters Of the Grand Lodge OF
colored Masons is at Sis east Clay street.
Or. II. L. Harris. Of this city. is the
rand secretary. The temple was built
about ten years ago, at cost OF $SoOO
There are ten blue lodges in the city.
With a membership of 400. There is also
1 royal arch chapter, two communicates
II tempiars, King Baldwin and Carter and
in order of the Mystic Shrine-Al Borak
Temple. 7s5v
In connection with this organization is a
female branch known. as. the Fannie
lewis Chapter, Daughters of the East
rn Star. The membership is confined ex-
tlusiveIy to the wives. daughters or sis
Aers Of Masons. -.
Sick and Death Benefits.
There are a dozen or more associations
,mong the colored people that pay sick
benefits from $50 per week to $1,000, and
ieath benefits from $1,000 to s12o.0o. The
companies declare no dividends ana earn
40 more than enough to pay the expenses
,f the running machinery or their omces.
utter paying the many sick and death
slairns which occur daily.
Among these companies may be men
doned the Southern Aid Society, the home
,fice of which is at 5oi north Second
,treet. This company gives employment
20 twenty-five inspectors: clerks, and
,gents. It has branch offices in Newport
News, Staunton, West Point Gordons-
,ille, and Charlottesville.
Another is the Benevolent investment
md Relief Association. It's home office
8 "a west Leigh street It has agencies
a Portsmouth. Berkley. Bedford City
Silmarnock, Petersburg. Toano. Danville,
Washington. D. c.. Baltimore. Nd, and
savannah and Brunswick, Ga 1t fur
fishes work for eight persons IN Rlch-
nond Offices. and manager for each
sne OF the agencies.
The United Aid Insurance Company,s
aome office is 5o6 east Broad street. II
las agencies In the principal cities OF the
state, and In washington. D. c. 1t en-
pioys an Office force of six =. u. Byrd
g president Of the company.
The Peoples Relief Association was
chartered In March. 1888. Its home Office
!s at Col north Thirtieth street.
The American Beneficial Insurance Com
,any was chartered only few'.nonths
tgo, but in that short space of time II
aas issued 10000 policies for sick benefits
md straight life insurance These poll
lies pay Sick benefits from 20 cents to