The news & observer., 1905-11-07
For the


the plan of assessments enacted would
i'm all probability be sufficient for the
needs of the order for the next
decade"
Though many individual members
of the order asserted their belief that
the assessment problem had been set
tied for all time to come, the Supreme
Council was extremely cautious not to
say such a thing, for it was a Well-un-
derstood fact that the rates Of 1898
were enacted as a compromise meas
ure and the men who enacted them
felt it was not a permanent rate in
view of the study OF the mortality
records of the order.
In 1898 all death claims were paid
and 100000 placed in the Elmer
gency Fund. Confidence was restored
in the orders ample ability to take
care of any conditions which might
arise, men realized they were getting
their insurance far below what amy
regular life company would furnish it,,
and the order continued to prosper.
In 1889 100000 was added to the
Emergency Fund. In 1900 $49O,0O0.
In 1901 $150,000. In 1902, $21O,00O.
In 1908, $135,000. In 1904, while the
twelve regular monthly assessments at
the Increased rate of 1898 enactment,
yielded 81, 3,909.22 the death claims
paid by the Royal Arcanum in that
same year amounted to $S,155, ,449.72
in other words the assessments for
that year yielded $271,540.50 less than
enough to pay the death losses for the
year!
The Emergency Fund. which with
interest accumulations now amounted
to about $2.000,000, was drawn on to
meet these excess claims.
The fixed past policy of the Royal
l1 w
full death claim was intlcXibly adhered
to. but when the Supreme Council met
in annual session in 1905, in May, it
was confronted with how to adjust
this problem of getting enough money
to pay the death losses and to assure
the perpetuity Of the order.
The gravity of the responsibility was
felt by all present And not only by
the members of the Supreme Council,
but by reading and thinking members
of the Royal Arcanum who were
merely members of the local councils,
for it had been the policy of the
Royal Arcanum for many years TO is
sue each month an "Ohicial Bulletin ,
which was regularly mailed to every
members of the order. This "Bulle-
tin" contained detailed account of
all monies received by the treasurer
and the names, addresses, etc, of
cnIIdren's claims had been paid the
previous month. In this way all mem
berS of the order who desired to do
so were constantly kept advised of the
state Of funds.
Now, the Supreme Council in enact
ing the revised rates of the order
which went into effect October |. 1905,
had most critical study made by
competent actuaries of the 100000
Iivcc which had bepn carried as inSur-
ence risks by the order since its in
ception % years before. The rates as
enacted are declared by them to be
ample to perpetuate the organization
during the years to come, and they
still remain cheaper than the old line
rates for life insurance!
After the session at Atlantic City in
May last of the Supreme Council there
was great publicity given to the rcVis-
ion of the rates and much dissatisfac-
ton developed among the members OF
the local councils.
During the summer many special
meetings were held and the Supreme
Council acting upon the petition of
many thousands of the orders memz
bership, convened again August 30,
1905, to receive and to hear PROPOSE
tions looking to the improving of the
conditions existent in the order. Sew
eral days were spent in giving a pa
tient hearing to delegations and to
other petitioners. Their arguments
were patiently listened to. AS a final