Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-18
ANCIENT ORDER OF
UNITED WORkMEN
Continued from Page One.)
Bretllrcn:-

Brethren
We are again passing another mile
tone in the history of our order and
as we look forward to another year
,e should resolve that we will each
20 more than we have in the past for
lie grand old order.
IL assuming the office of grand mas
or workmcn l felt my own inability
nd my need of the support OF every
member Of the order.
l have visited 46 lodges up to Jan.
!, 1910, held several public meetings
md tried to arouse an interest in the
members of the order. | find that our
,lder brothers whom we have tried to
1clp do not respond to the call When
sked to assist in getting new mem
pers but rather inclined to criticize.
During the year four lodges have
onSOldated: Moptcalm Lodge, Nc
d, has united wisl Lewburn Lodge
No. 80, both of Lewiston. and Laurier
Lodge, No. 102, with Biddeford Lodge.
40. y, both Of Biddeford.
I 10 not believe that it is good
economy to have two lodges in one
Gown or city, the larger the lodge the
better.
In August ! visited nearly all of the
edges in Aroostook county. [ found
hem rather quiet, but very good fields
o work for new members. | find there
IS growing demand for good safe in
>urancc for women, and I recommend
nat our laws be so changed that they
an he admitted and take $3.50.
| recommend the admission of assoc
'.atc mpnhHrS least N.har4, thf.r-
re wife of members of w0rkman'<
'amily. l recommend change or ad-
!ition to our rates from 81 years and
Ip making a step rate to age 10 and
hen level, or extend to age so or 90
Up To- October, 1909, we had no solicit
ors in the field. We felt that it was
If vital importance that we get good.
lean mon Gas our experience in the
asst had not been very satisfactory;
We thought that we had better wait
and ] believe that the results of the
work done by Brother Chute at Ban
sor and Brother Everett ct Norridge-
Vock will prove that this as The best
plan. NorridgewoCk having but Il
members in the lodge has grown to
re ono of our best lodges. with q mem
bership of 30, having taken in 30 new
members up to January l. 1910. But
We cannot build up the order even
with solicitors unless our members
will give their influence and assist the
solicitor | believe with the admission
If women we could make a net gain
IF 1000 members during the coming
wear.
1t costs an average of mt least s.
COR every member secured with a So
licitor and I would recommend that
we change the law so that we could
nav our members s. for each new
member they secure, 81 when the
member takes the Workman degree
s2 afr three months if the member
so secured remains in good standing
in the 4order.
1 have felt for a long time that our
members were ignorant of the supreme
lodge and what it was doing. | have
known but little about the work my
self In 1906 the supreme lodge passed
2 law that each grand lodge must pay
their own death claims after. Oct. list,
1906 and what there was unpaid on
that date the supreme lodge would pay !
three f0urths of the entire amount |
provided the grand lodge which was in |
1eht should adopt rates made by the |
supreme lodge. The three"fourths to |
be raised from the entire membership, |
each on paying Is cents per month un' !
til it was all paid. 1t was to be called |
'raternal aid fund
On Oct. 1st. 1906. the Indebtedness |
Or three fourthS was $l,221.SS on |
Sept list. 1909, IL per cent of it had |
oeen paid.
The Supreme Master Workmen |
called meeting of the Grand Mas |
ers for the purpose to better under
stand conditions. This mc"til; wa
oeld at Saegertown, Pa, Sept. 20 to
g. ami believe that it resulted in