Evening journal., 1905-06-30
LOCAL ARCANUMS
WILL TAKE ACTION
Majority Of Members Said to.
Oppose the Proposed
Increase
TWO COUNCILS IN WILMINGTON


There is considerable agitation
among the members of the Royal Ar
canum IN this city over the increase
Of rates. This increase was made by
the Supreme Council at its meeting in
Atlantic city several weeks ago. There
are two t)unchs OF the order in this
city, Chr.stiana and Blue Rock The
two councils number about 1870 menu
bers and the great majority Of these
are said to be opposed to the increased
rate.
1nere was a meeting OF Blue Rock
| Council on Wednesday hight when the
subject came up for discussion. Coun-
ellis I'm different parts Of the country
have recently met and passed resolu-
| tions opposing .Ae increase in rates
and calling upon the General Council
/ to hold "A special session to take ac-
tion tending to prevent putting the new
rate into effect. Members Of Blue
Rock Council were divided on the
subject and no action was taken. The
imembers OF this council however. will
I probably meet with Christiana Coun-
leil on Wednesday night next and the
united councils win probably come to
some agreement as to what the Will
mington members shall do.
George G. Maris, regent of Chris
tana Council was seen yesterday af-
ternoon and he was Of the opinion
! that the Council would take some ac-
tion towards asking the national body
to hold Special session to reconsider
the matter.
Henry Baird, a prominent officer OF
the same council was OF the opinion
that some action win be taken at the
meeting next "Wednesday night. MIR.
Baird thinks the majority Of members
are opposed to the increase.
! William II. Bowers, prominent
member Of Blue Rock Council was
also seen but did not have much to
say on the subject.
There are about 100000 members Of
the order in the United states and
probably 1870 to 14O in Delaware.
There are 10000 members past So years
who, it is argued, will probably die
within the next ten or fifteen years
land ii is principally ON account of this
that it is calimed an Increase Is neces-
sary to meet the demands.
SURPLUS GOING DOWN.
The reasons for the proposed revis-
ion Of rates are obvious to one glanc-
ng over recent reports Of the order.
The surplus has been constantly
ldwindling since 1S9S This is due to
the fact that the original members are
dying off rapidly by reason of ad-
lvanced age. and the organization Is
lmeetin calls for death benefits with
increasing regularity and that the
rates of the organization were never
fixed upon a basis intended or that
could be considered permanent. For
instance, in 1898 the surplus funds (
the organization amounted to st5E. .
l3lS.53. These figures dwindled each
lyear until i'm 1903 they were S204.34A72.
But the most alarming figures are
found in those pertaining to 1904. when
the order paid to dependents of de-
lceased members S27l, ,45O.50 more Shau
Was contributed by the members, so
shat II was found necessary to Craw
upon the already small surplus. in
stead of attempting to build it up. 1t
lwill be seen from this that 4 was ah-
'soluiely necessary for something 20 be
ldone in order to preserve the FIRM H.
lnancial footing of the Arcanume
The supreme Council met in Allan
tic City in May of this year. and a
committee, appointed TO- The purpose,
ldraftec res table of rates 1ri sub
mitted it 20 ;he Council with tie re-
lsult that II Wis adopted As 500 as
the table was made public. III. trouble
began. Il originated with me older
lmemb"rs aui Z is they VINO are pro-
Testing dhd who are .n1a ivnring su
lsterenuously to obtain a reconvention
l0f lie SUP Council Tho new rate.
are 70 lake effect on October I next for
tie prese,I nsmhers. at,i on all those
initiated after July ! IL becomes oper-
lati,e from The time they become mem-
bers.