Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1905-08-03
TROUBLE In
ROYAL ARCANUM.

ROYAL ARCANUM.
New Brunswick, N. j., July &c.
Ihe recent jumps in the rates of the
Royal Arcanum will come up for prob
ably hot discussion at a special session
OF the Grand Council of New Jersey
in Columbia Hall, this city, on Fri
day. August IL. A meeting of the
| Executive Committee was held last
night, and it was decided to convoke
the special session for the purpose OF
| affording the representatives of the
subordinate councils of the State an
opportunity to give thorough airing
OF their views upon the increase and
to give concrete form to the opinion
| held by New Jersey Arcanumites. 1t
| is expected, also, that the session will
put the matter in shape for formal
representations to be made at the Su-
preme Council at the special session,
which it is now certain will be con
voked at an early date in response to
demand from the order throughout the
country.
The official call for the special ses.
sion is made by the Grand Regent,
James Rogers, of Crawford. The no.
tice will be forwarded to each of the
| 1879 subordinate councils of New Jersey
within a day or two. It is expected
that the session will occupy at least
two days. The Grand Council OF the
State is made up of Representatives
from the subordinate councils Of New
Jersey The convocation OF special
session is not altogether unprece-
dented, but it is most unusual, and the
action OF the Grand Regent and the
Executive Committee, which is made
up OF the five principal officers OF the
council, shows that the men of promi.
nence in the Royal Arcanum realize
that the emergency is serious one,
and that the increase in insurance
rates, adopted by the Supreme Council
at the annual meeting. in May, at At
lantic City. has brought the organiza-
tion face to face with crisis in its
affairs.
| A member who is prominent in the
affairs of the organization said
Whatever may be the mathematical
facts of the discussion as to rates, it
| is generally recognized that the rank
and file of the membership, in New
Jersey, at least, are opposed to in
crease in the rates, at any rate, SO
drastic an increase as that projected.
The statement of the Supreme Coun-
Gil, that now we have system and a
table ofirates that will insure absolute
success is received with the comment
that this claim is exactly the same as
that made few years ago, when an
increase was made and the reserve
method improved, and they suggest
that in few years the claim of to day
may be proved delusive, just as to. day
the Supreme Council admits the hol.
lowness of the claims Of the past.
"Then, too. there is the argument
4
that the increase in rates will drive
out of the order every man who can
get insurance elsewhere at anything
like the same rates. leaving behind
only the poorest risks. those who hold
on to the order because there is no
other resource available. I am not
prepared to say that New Jersey will
suggest to the Supreme Council So
luton of the problems, but am GER
tain that If the sentiment of t6e sub
ordinate councils is correcly reported,
the special session of the Grand Coun
Gil will record an unmistakable re.
pudiation of the Supreme Councils
action in increasing the rates.