Evening journal., 1908-03-10
UNITED WORKMEN
in SESSION HERE
Sixteenth Meeting Of Grand
Lodge Shows Organiza-
ton to be Prosperous
RESERVE FUND GROWS,
MEMBERSHIP Is 2Si7

The sixteenth annual meeting Of the
Grand Lodge Of Delaware. Ancient
order Of United WorlSmen, opened here
this morning with Grand Master Work
man Jacob II. Emerson presiding. Sew
enty representatives from the lodges in
Delaware and Chester county, Pa, were
present. 1t is likely to be two days
meeting Officers may not be elected
until tomorrow.
Among the important subjects to be
considered will be a new constitution
for the order, an extension Of the age
limit to membership to 55 years, an
increase Of protection to $4,000, and the
enlargement of the lodge jurisdiction.
At present the jurisdiction is limited
to Delaware and a section of Chester
county, Pa.
The reading Of the report Of Grand
Master Workman Emerson occupied
much of this mornings session Of the
( Grand Lodge. Mr. Emerson's report
was quite exhaustive. He referred to
the purchase by Wilmington Lodge Of
the property No. 900 Washington
street and of the invitation Of the lodge
TO have the Grand Lodge make its
quarters there, which invitation was
accepted. This, therefore, will be the
last meeting Of the Grand Lodge in
its present quarters, Workman Hall.
Recommendation Made.
The recommendations made by Grand
Master Workman Emerson were:
"The first and in my opinion, OF great
est Importance, to continue William II.
Dawson, grand deputy organizer; to
extend the present plant of using the
guaranty fund for another year.
ITO amend the laws providing for
semi-annual reports to make dates
conform to terms Of officers of subordi-
nate lodge; this was recommended by
my predecessor and approved. but the
laws were not amended to conform to
the same.
Both P. G. NJ w Kane and Richard
son recommended change from annual
to bienniel sessions Of the Grand Lodge,
believing this to be for the best in
terests OF the jurisdiction, will follow
their example.
The experiences Of the year have led
me to believe the Grand Lodge should
become incorporated and invest such
power in a board Of directors as will
enable then to properly safeguard the
interests of the order
'As our rates are adequate up to
age So, ---~-.'S suggest the age limit
be changed from As to So and also that
we increase the amount Of protection
to be carried by a member up to and
include $4,000. And that members be
admitted upon the classified plan but
! the applicant be between the ages OF
is and % years when he may be
adm itted upon the classied plan but
only on condition he go on the level
plan of attaining age 25 or earlier II
he so desire.
Il would suggest that the laws be so
amended that the grand master work.
man may, through the deputy grand
organizer, grant dispensations to lodges
to receive the application for member
ship and initiate the applicant at one
and the came meeting
Gain in Finances.
Thomas S. Taylor. grand recorder,
submitted a report showing the fnan-
cial condition of the order. He said:
For the first time in the history
Of our jurisdiction IL was necessary to
collect the maximum number of as
sessments (12) amounting to S91.s42.9 30,
the allowance made from the reserve
! fund on death claims paid las 81 1,66O.14
and from guaranty fund S9,27323. max
ing a total of S102, 1867, plus the bal
ance of S4,S2700 gives a total of s107,-
6O3.27
"Forty-nine death claims have been
} paid during the year amounting to
500, ,245.00 and S13,92S.9s was trans
Z ferred to the reserve fund. making total
: disbursements amount to S1O4, 1898
E leaving a balance on December 81, 1907
Of S3.429.29.
4 Twelve guaranty fund assessments
I were also collected during the year
I amounting to S19,059.95; ofNthfs amount
\ S5,146.S0 was paid H. b. Dickinson, su-
I preme receiver, for the fraternal aiC
r fund and SS,53O26 transferred to tn,
reserve fund for investment and $685..
: SO to the general fund.
Each month the required amoun
I has been placed In the reserve funS
/ amounting during the year 10 S1392S
= 9S, which amount was transferred T.
the reserve fund for investment
4 Amount Of interest collected durinl
n the year from members Of the variou
I options was S1.463.79. which amour
was transferred to the reserve fun,
for investment.
"The general fund, january 1st, 1901
was S631.69, S3,S22.1S was received fror
}lper capita tax, supplies and rent dur
; Ing the year and s5.8S2.S9 transferre
from the guaranty fund, making
s total Of S9,2O507; of this amount tn
{ expenditures were $7,s36.61, leaving
= balance of S1,26S46.
ID Membership January 1st, 1907, POI.
of Membership December 31st. 1907, 2S1
The total amount Of our reserve a
IA this time Is as follows:
N Loaned on half cash option, s3095o
10; loaned on selected age optioi
Sl6.414O0: invested in bonds, S4s0000o
balance in bank to the credit OF tn
vi board of financial trustees. s305S.9l
s. Total. s9s,423.66.
From a jurisdiction, July 1st, 100
ie :