The Washington times., 1906-07-15
History of Order Since
Inception One of
Progress.
NUMBERS NEARLY 5000
Organized Grand Council
Nineteen Years After First
Lodge Was Formed.

Following closely upon the celebration
or the twenry-ninth anniversary of the
formation of the Royal Arcanum, the
Grand Council of The District OF Colum-
bia have about perfected plans FOR an
aggressive campaign looking 90 the ex-
tending of its benefits 10 many new
members. The incentive FOR this action
is found in the exceptional showing
made by the organization during the
past year.
During the past year the Arcauum
has been more prominently In the pub
lie eye than any other fraterual organ
izauOn, and because of the fact that
il was the first of the fraternal bodies
with basic insurance feature, 10 ind
a home In Washington. its present un-
assailable position of financial stability
Is most gratifying 10 all friends of fra
ternalism.
After over quarter Of century Of
existence and several attending changes
in rate schedules the order was forced
10 realize that the tables of rates upon
which they have been operating were
totally inadequate 10 meet the matur-
ing demands. and with spartan forti-
tudei the old garment was cast aside
and a new schedule of rates adopted.
Loss Has Been Slight.
With "A membership of three hundred
thousand the loss ocCasioned by the
change of rates was remarkably small
amounting to- less than half of that
which had been anticipated by many
of the supreme officers. This loss. the
reports of the supreme Council show,
has nearly been recovered. and the ef-
fort throughout the country is now di-
rected toward exceeding all previous
records and passing the three hundred
thousand mark before the close of the
current year.
So closely allied is the existence Of the
subordinate councils in this city with
the original founding of the order that
q historical sketch must necessarily 90
back 10 the early seventies, when eN-
cesslye rates placed old line Insurance
beyond the reach of the masses. In
1876 an effort was made ny John A
Cummings, of Boston. 10 have the
knights Of Honor adopt a scale of as
scssment recognizing one OF the we'll
known elements OF life insurance. His
effort failed. Returning 20 Boston and
enlistns the support Of DIT. Darius
Wilson, the first presiding officer Of
The *. of H., preparations were made
10 organize a new society under the
laws of the State Of Massachusetts
Organized Supreme Council.
Dr Wilson invited the members to
meet al his house. 1866 Washington
street. Boston This meeting was held
June %, lS11, Wien he organized the /
Supreme Council of the Royal ArCanum
becoming the first Supreme Regent
The order thrIved from the beginning 4
and in less than TWO years had spread /
throughout many Of the States and Ter
ritories. 1t was not long before IL was 4
realized that there We're a sufficient /
number of members in this city 10 jus /
tify the formation of a Council. The /
initiative was taken by c. c. Adams, !
George II. Cooper and J. r. Gisburne. |
through whose efforts Oriental Council /
No. 80 became "a reality. Nlr Gisburne /
alone remains, his two colleagues hav- /
ing passed away and their families ex- /
perienced the financial and fraternal /
succOr so essential ar such "a time
The necessary authority having been /
received from the Supreme Council. the (
twenty charter members were brought /
together on the evening of April 80 /
1873. when the first Arcanum Council i'm /
the District of Columbia was born
Representatives from the Supreme /
Council were present and installed the /
duly elected officers with impressive 4
ceremonies. These officers we're c. c. |
Adams, regent; John r. Carmiencke. /
secretary; W. p. Banes. collector. and 4
W. II. Hills. treasurer.
Had Rapid Growth.
The rapia growth of Oriental Council
spurred members To renewed activity /
and on May of the same year Capltol I
q Council. No 500. was duly installed with
the following officers; Regent, A W |
Hoft; secretary, H. Baumgarten. col /
letcor @. u. Smith treasurer, Jacob /
Rich
Something more than q year later DIR. |
>. p Walhaupter. VINO was the State /
medical examiner undertook the form /
tion OF q third council. ana on Septem- |
ber %, 1850 National Council. No. 5z7
was formally established, with 9. II /
Brown as regent; Edward /. Mills. see
retary: j. ". Harsha, collector; c. NJ !
Roudebush treasurer
Analostan Council No. 275, was in
stituted October L., 1881. Benjamin /
White was the first regent his secre- /
tary. collector, and treasurer being re- !
speCtively. r b. Smith Thomas L. /
1ddiuEs. and Henry L. Wilson.
Fauagut Council Organized.
The well-known clannishness that pre- /
walls amonE military men was the mo- !
tive from which sprung Farragut Coun- |
Gil No. CIT Farragut Council was in |
sututed March ., 1852, with eighteen /
charter members. The officers were |
Robert L HaTTiss. regent, w l. Bailie, /
~
lector; and John Lowe. treasurer. Since |
FaTraguJ Council became a reality. its
rolls have borne the names of many Of /
The country's most famous naval officers. /
Farragut was the last of the first divi- |
sion councils 10 be formed.
In TIE fall Of 1898 the local councils