The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-06-29
Judge E. B. BeIden Gives Out a
Statement in Regard to the
Royal Arcanum.
HEAD COUNCIL ACTED FAIRLY
Judge of the First Judicial Circuit
Sustains the Action of Supreme
Council in Raising Rates.-Says
Insurance is Better.

L
squaDble among the members of the
Royal Arcanum which will go far to
pour Oil on the troubled water. In
the main the Judge supports the
position taken by the Supreme Coun-
Gil IN increasing certain rates. He
says. LsTsF9a i3as
| 'eThe Royal Arcanum has always
beenAthe foremost fraternal benefic-
| larry society in this country, and is to-
day. The fault in the construction of
all fraterna1 insurance has been that
the rates were too cheap and wholly
inadequate to meet naturally increas-
ing mortuary liabilities ACQUIRING with
increasing age. The chief purpose
of the organization of such societies
was cheap insurance. It has been
recognized for some years that the
cheap feature was but temporary and
| that increased rates were inevita BILE
| If the system was to be permanent.
Many similar societies have already
established themselves upon a per-
manent basis by raising their rates
and providing for an adequate reserve
OF emergency fund. The Royal
lArcanum rates recently promulgated
by the supreme council are lower than
| forty-three other societies who have
raised their rates. The executive
committee of the supreme council has
been working steadily for four years
in compiling the experience of the
order and in studying the matter of
rates. The experience of the order,
compiled upon four hundred thousand
lives during period of twenty-seven
years. is now admitted to be the most
valuable and satisfactory mortuary
experience table in existence. The
integrity of the men who have done
this work is above the slightest sus-
piciCa, and a1lta1k to the contrary is
unwafranted, unjust, and quite I'M
| worthy Of any man who so speaks. ]
Ihavesk known and been associated with
forgsome years all the men identified
with the administration of the order.
M finer or more highminded body OF
men can be found anywhere. They
havesbut one purpose in view in 1egis.
1ating for the order, and that is its
/! best interests andAits perpetuity.
| All Claims Met.
I Every claim made against, the
| Royal Arcanum during its twenty
| seven years of existence has been met
| promptly and fully. The only desire
of itsslegis1ative body was to insure
thatthi would be done in the future
and for all time. So far as human
knowledge, experience and wisdom
can devise and foresee, the rates now
promulgated are necessary, adequate
and gust. When | say just, mean
that every member now stands on his
own bottom, and, taking the average
of all the membership for the average
expectance of life, is expected to pay
in enough money which, together
with compounded interest accumula-
tons, will pay his certificate in full.
Any other method is inadequate.
| One. basic principal that cannot be
gotten away from, either in fraternal
oraold line insurance is, that as much
money as is paid out for death claims
must,be paid in. Members who have
given the matter any thought have
/ never understood otherwise, and have
always known chat fraterna1 rates
heretofore existing in all societies
were inadequate. The new rates are
already accepted by those members
who have considered them calmly
and from business viewpoint, as
necessary and just.
st Deprecates Agitation.
The agitation described in the press
is grossly exaggerated, and but little
has been said about the great body of
membership that is satisfied. The or
der is stronger today than ever before.
If the change in rates had not been
made, however, the time would have
soon come when the certificates of
those members who are most affected
| by the new rates could not have been
| paid. The new legislation makes it
certain that all certificates will be
1 pd1O. ne rates seem nara on some
members, butsthey are not unjust.
There is no member of the order,
| but who, under the old rates, has had
his full and absolute protection at
less than the cost of accident insur-
ance in any reputable company.
There has never been moment when
any certificate falling due, in the nat
ura1 course of events, could not have
been paid, and the legislative body of
the order has so legis1ated, so far as
human knowledge and wisdom goes,
that there will never be any doubt of
full and prompt payment in the
| future.
The supreme council of the Royal
Arcanun1 is representative body,
elected directly by the membership.
The only contract that any member
has with the order is, that if he pays
all assessments and dues and abides
by all laws and regulations made by
the governing bodies, his certificate
will be paid upon his death. All talk
about receivership for the order is