The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-07-09
THE KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

THE KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
Editor Bulletin:
In your remarks concerning the ad.
vance in assessments by the Knights
Of Honor In yesterdays issue the opin.
ion Is advanced that this action is an
effort to freeze OUT the older mem
bers of the order, etc.
The writer has been a member Of
the order for 2G years and is familiar
with all the changes in rates that have
been made. and does not believe that
this last change has any other motive
than that which prompted the change
previously made, which proved to be
wholly in favor Of the members over
60 years OF age. 1t is well known to
all who are familiar with fraternal in,
surance. thar the interest of the mem,
bers Is purely mutual and that be-
fore death benefits can be paid at all
the money must be provided by the
members for that purpose
The great problem which confronts
the supreme lodge, the executive body
Of the order, is how 10 adjust the as
sesgments in order that each respec
tive age shall contribute in proportion
to the losses by deaths occurring at
such ages Previous to 1899 it was
found that the rates In force were not
snfgilciept to- produce funds with
which to pay losses promptly, and
that frequent calls were becoming a
source OF serious complaint.
After mature consideration and with
the assistance Of life insurance ex.
ports the table now in force and known
as the step rate" plan, was adopted
II was felt at the time that to BIO en-,
tirely equitable the progressive in.
crease should have been carried be-.
yond the GO year limit, but owing to
The large number Of members who
had then reached that age It was final
ly decided not to increase the assess.
ments beyond that age. Even with
this concession to the older members,
the charge was made that the change
worked hardship on them The result
has proven the opposite, as shown by
the fact that the order has paid death
losses on members Of over GO years:
In 1900 $280,00l50 more than re-
CT ivod from them.
In 1901 $313,97O50 more than re-
ceiyed from them.
In 1902 $S0OOi1OO more than re.
ceived from them
In 1908 s444459,10 more than re.
ceiyed from them
In 1904 s570,999.0O more than re-.
ceiyed from them
10 continue at these rates under
such conditions would be manifestly
unfair to the members under 60 years.
and would be impossible to meet the
death losses without more frequent
calls, which would increase the bur.
den for ALL
In the reimbursement Of rates the
supreme lodge has provide three diff
fersnt options.
First BY arranging step rate"
increase from Gil to 10 years--so that
members over GO who have been ex.
empt from the proportionate increase
borne by other members for the past
six years shall hereafter pay an In.
creased rate each year up to 10.
SecondA level rate which re.
mains the same from year to year.
Third Members over 60 to continue
at the present rate CT premium, bul
be subject to a decrease of per cen,
Of the amount Of benefit each year.
tits needless to add that the neces
sity for these changes is deeply re
GREETED by the supreme officers, who
for more than 80 years have guided
the dsstinies Of this grand old pioneer
in the great army of BENEFICIARY orders
Since its organization the knight!
Of Honor have paid $S5,000,000.00 II
the widows and orphans Of deceased
members. besides millions in othe
deeds Of charity and benevolence. Tn,
immense increat In the number o
similar orders has to large extcn
prevented that infusion of new blco,
into some of the older orders, whicl
is so necessary TO Offset the losses b.
reason Of the increase In the age o
beneficiary members. This and not
desire to discriminate against mem
bers Of any age, was the occasion Q
the advance In rates.
A MEMBER.
(Note-The article referred to whic
appeared In The Bulletin yestcrda
was given to the city editor Of the ps
per by prominent member OF tn
Knights Of Honor In Cairo Ed. Hi
letin.)