The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-20
SERMON ON THE
ROYAL ARCANUM.
Dr.. Hawthorne Gives Vent to
Outraged Feelings OIL Adj
vanccd Rates.
he is ONE or THE VICTIMS
Hc Had Kept It Up for Sake Of
His Wife; Now Gives
It Up.

On Sunday morning, Dr.. J.NB. Haw-
thorne, pastor of Grove Avenue Baptist
Church, In discussing the symptoms Of
moral decay in certain business institu-e
Tons, referred TO the Royal Arcauum.
lie said The Royal Arcanun, with
its insurance department., was Orsanizeu
IL Boston, Mas, tWenty-seveu years
ago The men VINO have directed its al
lairs have told US, again and again, that
the institution was on solid and en-
during basis, and that under normal con-
ditions In the financial world 1T would
ever be able TO 'fulfl every obligation 10
!. Its polIcy.holders. In their official organ
superiority Of the Royal Arcanum, In
every element of strength and safety, to
any kindred institution engaged in the
life insurance business. Not until a re-
the public their lack OF confidence in the
original plan OF insurance, on which the
order was formed. Now they come be-
{ fore the world with the startling confess
sion that their original calculations were
erroneous and that they have attempted
to perpetuata their life insurance bust
ness on n radically false basis. The REM
edy which they have adopted for the re-
lief OF their EN- barrassed situation is such
an assessment of old members as will
compel them to cancel their policies The
substance OF their message OF coincidence
to these old men. who have struggled
Il long and weary years TO nay their prem
iums is: we are sorry for you. but are
compelled to sacrifice you to hush the
clamor OF younger members and to retain
them In the order
II do not charge tho membership OF the
Supreme Council with wlful and DELHI
crate fraud. but do say that such In
Justice as they have inflicted upon the
old men who carry Insurance policies In
the Royal Arcanum Is Indicative Of a.
weakness OF Judgment and character
Eaf rlnS sf,nNA In.v toll q,
young members who Indignantly protest
that the young men have not demanded
and Will never demand the sacrifice Of
1 the old men for their benefit. Is not the
publication of this unwarranted pretext
an indication OF moral weakness some
where the management?
Old Men Have Done More.
+ ut will not be denied that the old men
3havc done more for he order than any
3 other clement of its membership. They
\ stood by 1t and nursad 1t in its infancy.
From It's beginning to the present they
Its officials in regard TO the justice and
wisdom OF Its plan OF insurance and the
zperpetuity OF It's existence. They have
put more money into Its treasury than
any other class. They have made the
largest scontributIons to Its reserve fund.
These and many other facts render
1T apparent to every sound minded man
that II any one element OF the mem
4harship deserves the favor and protection
OF the Institution more than another. #
/ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. aths sentiment by
selecting the old men for the altar Of
sacrifice. Disrcgnrdng public feelings
Z the traditions OF all civilized society. the
spirit and precepts Of divine revelation
3and an instinct which inhercs In the
very constitution OF the human race. the
) Supreme Council has said: Not the young
men. not the niddle-aged but the hoary-
headed, infirm and helpless must be our
victims 1t Is no extravaganza OF speech
TO say that such conduct is conclusive
proof Of misjudgmcnt, mal-administra-
: tIon and moral weakness somewhere.
I'm n card recently published in one
OF our city papers innocently made an
erroneous statement. which I now cheer
fully correct. In that card said that
during period. embracing nearly TWEEN
ty-fwa years, had paid In premiums on
penscs and to the sick benefit fund about
5000 Reference to my CORRESPONDENCE
with an Atlanta friend. who for mora
than twenty years has had entire charge
of my life insurance matters, has con-
WINGED me that I have paid less than
my assessments In recent years were
largely in excess of what they were ut
an earlier period OF my Connection with
the orders There Is no other statement
in that publication which needs correc-
ton.
A "Chosen Victim"
IT am one OF the chosen victims. MY
policy In the ROYAL Arcnnum. which
shall be comnellnd to cancel is all that
my, good wife had denended upon for
sustcnance when nv voice IL hushet7 and
my hands arr pnralyzed In death. While;
submit to this hardship ms q part of