The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-12-02
THE GRANGE
Conducted by
J. w. BARROW. Chatham. N. Y.
Press Correspondent NeiU Yoafs State
Grange
GRANGE LIFE INSURANCE.
Worthy Master Hill of Pennsylvania
FavOrs IL.
Especial Correspondence


Favors Ii.
Especial Correspondence
The grange came into existence to
meet the wants of rural people. 1t con-
tinues to exist because it has been
meeting the wants of the farmers.
Should 1t fail to meet the wants Of
the farmers and their families the
grange would either vanish entirely or
give way to different organization
that would meet existing needs
Changing conditions of civilization are
constantly bringing forward new
wants. The luXuries of even ten years
ago are now wanted-not always as
luxuries, more frequently as necessa-
ries.
Less than ten years ago free rural
delivery of mail was enjoyed as a
luxury by the few. Today it is en-
joyed by over 12,500,000 people in
rural districts as a necessary factor
to make farm life more satisfying. In
which class shall we place life insur-
ance?
Business rules and custom are fast
making life insurance another of the
necessaries of our age. Policies are
now treated as negotiable paper in the
business world, and they represent II
definite form of property. If they were
all put together it. is estimated that
policies now in force would represent
nearly $4,000, 100000 Policies in the
old line companies number 1S,000,000,
while 100000 members of fraternal
orders have the balance. / presume
that 55,000,000 Of our population have
an interest in this property, as shown
in the policies carried by one or more
members of the family. Talk about
cooperation! Here it is developed to
the greatest success and having more
money and people connected with it
than any other private enterprise that
1 know anything about.
Life insurance is increasing at ire
mendous rate. l will not risk to give
the number of millions Of dollars worth
Of it that are said to be taken out in
new insurance each week. 1t makes
the capitalization Of the trusts look
small. Thousands of farmers are now
curry IHS luSuIdlCc. Adlly IlOIc WuuI
to do 50. They want insurance that
will be within reach of their pocket
books, safe and suited to their condi-
tons. The grange has a chance to pro-
vide the medium for life insurance of
such of its members as want to take
1t just as it has so successfully pro-
vided fire insurance for them. Then it
will no longer be necessary for farm
ers to join other orders or to go outside
Of the grange to get either form Of
insurance
But, like any commercial enterprise,
this must be established on q sound
basis, have n simple, safe working
plan and be intelligently directed local
ly to insure its supremacy. The ma
tional grange in 1902 provided for q
committee TO take this subject up, but
1t is probable that it's work will be only
of a suggestive character. 1t has not
been the policy of the national grange
to itself conduct an enterprise. 1t can,
however, blaze the way 50 that mem
bers of the Order in different states
and Pomona grange districts will be
able to establish companies based upon
such ideas and suggestions as are put
out to the membership with the in
dorsement Of the national grange.
w. Il. HILL,
Master PENNSYLVANIA State Grange