The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-27
TRUE REFORMERS'
LICENSE RENEWED
Biggest Colored Order in Coun-
try Allowed to Resume It's
Business.
~
IS SAVED BY ITS MEMBERS
Extra Assessments .Checrfully
Paid-Enormous Business
Done by Organization.
s SAVED BY ITS MEMBERS

Fifty thousand negro families. scat
tered from New York to New Orleans
will rejoice at the announcement made
yesterday by State insurance Commits
sionor Joseph Button that he had de-
termlned to renew the license Of the
United Order OF True Reformers.
which has been suspended since last
October. This order. whose troubles
have been much i'll the public eye for
many months, is the Oldest and largest
colored fraternal organization in the
country.
Following the crash OF the True Re
formers Bank, involving the order in
its apparent complete ruin, Commits
sioner Button suspended the license.
The permit to do business expired on
January 1, and the Insurance Bureau
declined TO renow It. 81 hat it will
now be necessary to issue a new license
covering the remainder OF the present
calendar year. This will be done at
once, and tho solicitation of members
may proceed without further interrupt
ton.
Show Complete Loyalty.
Considering tho ADVERTISEMENTS of
the organization. tho members OF the
True Reformers have been loyal to
ii in a manner which is actually touch
ing. They have recently raised a con-
siderable sum of money by extra AS
sessments, levied on themselves and
cheerfully paid. which IS being used
in paying off the accumulated death
claims.
In addition. by other extra assess
ments. 1t is calculated that within n
year all claims will have been paId,
and the order will he again on Its feet.
This process Will be aided by The
right to secure new members which
is carried with the renewal OF the
license.
No reference Is made In these calcu-
lationS to the possible salvage from
the True Reformers' Bank. The report
of the receivers. which has long been
expected, has not as yet been fled. so
that tho ainoun which the bank will
save from the wreck. If any, is I'M
known. Should the order get anything
from tho assets of the banking insti-
tuition. 1t will he tho sooner in post
ton to face the world with q baIanced
ledger.
Changed officers.
The Grand Fountain recently met
In this city in extra session. making
n good many changes in officers. One
Of those dropped was Reubcn It. Hill
me Grand Treasurer. who is now n
fugitive from Justice on the charge Of
cmbezzlemcnt from the bank. of which
he was cashier. UGH connections as
ms have always proved the weak
ness or the enterprise carried on by
these colored people, who seemed not
TO understand that the various Institu-
tions-the order, the bank, the stores
should be conducted separately ana
reference to each other. AS e
was, the funds of one were used 10
noister up tho others. without regard
to the rights OF those who had inter
ests only IN the more prosperous of the
institutions. -
When the bank went Into the hands
OF receivers, there was great distress
and suffering among the colorcd peo-
pie many of whom had placed their
all in care of the leaders OF their race
who managed the True Reformcrs. en-
terprises. The bank was n favorit.
repository for colored churches. lodges
sunday schools, missionary socIciios
Il organiza lions of this character
while the amount which will be re-
turned 70 depositors is not yet known.
J, rs beiieved In some quarters that IL
Will be very small.
Mnny Deferred Check,.
AT one time something like s1oo nm
or checks drawn by the order n NM
insurance claims. and thus wiped or
us books. were held up by the bank
which was not in position 10 INV
them' After the appointment OF :
state, Bank Examiner. he acting In con
with the Bureau Of Insurance
discovered the real condition OF af-
la,rs and the probable insolvency OF
u organizations varied interests
!. is presumed that the othor States
mniom nave suspended the license of
the True Reformers Will now rostaua
It's rights, following the lead NJ ~
departfnent In the home State.