The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-23
new Rate
OF ARCANUM
DENOUNCED

A stormy scene was enacted last even
ing at the meeting OF the Delphi coun-
! ell. Royal Areanum, No. Z, when the new
| schedule OF rates that have been adopted
by the Supreme body Of the order were
explained and discussed The meeting
lasted until near midnight,
IL was evident from the discussion
which ensued that the move on the part
OF the Supreme body did not meet with
the approval OF the rank and hle or inc
members, and several declared that IL
would decrease the present membership
OF the order and that the increase made
by II would make the amount OF the as
sessment so high that It would in many
cases force out the older members,
While those who were present 10 ex-
plain the sew plan stated that the move
was made on he-part of the order=Has
strictly business purposes and 10 enable
the society 10 be able 10 meet the claims
OF the decreased members as they came
in.
The meeting was attended by represen-
tatives OF the various councils In this
state and members from councils in
Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
The interest taken in the discussion by
the members caused the speeches at times
10 be OF a very heated and personal ma
ture and denunciatory 10 the plans OF the
Supreme council. some declarin that
they had no authority 10 make such a
move.
The new schedule adopted states that
the present members must on Oct. ! go
on the assessment list for the rate OF
assessment for their nearest birthday.
In many cases this means that members
who tOintcd tho order yearS ago az
years of age must pay the rate assessed
TO members who enter after Oct. at a.
years of age. And that all members will
hereafter be assessed for the rate OF their
birthday nearest Oct. J.
A visiting member declared the move
was one wholly of equity. He said:
1T is my position tonight to stand here
I'm behalf OF the men whose hair has been
slvered by years and who have been
faithful members OF our order for a long
period. Now. they are TO be driven out
by these new rates adopted by the Su-
preme council. II is the wage Garner,
too. who is on the point OF being pushed
from the order by the new ratings II
is n question of equity and fairness"
Another member who vigorously op-
posed the new schedule said:
Are we 10 ask the brother wac has be-
come old In The order To take chIoroform
and shufle out He said the Supreme
council had wiped out the slate OF fra
ternalism and had recognized the Royal
Arcanum. He asked where the authority
for such action was received. and stated
that none had been given.
Let me tell you. young fellows. where
yoc'l get of. After you have been in
from 2l till you are IS years old then you
will pay S65 a month on each $1,000 in
stead OF 63 cents. as now. What do YOU
think OF that? They have done grand
thing for the old man, haven't they? I
believe we should go 10 the courts II we
cannot settle the question in the Supreme
council"
The different rates made under the
new plan were explained by Supreme
Orator Clovis Bowen
resolution was adopted petitioning
that special meeting OF the Grand coun-
ell OF Rhode Island 10 protest against the
new rates and to urge the supreme regent
u call a special meeting Of the Supreme
council TO take some other action.
II was the opinion OF several members
last night thet II the new rates went into
effect II would practically be the death
blow OF the Royal Arcanum.