Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-01-04
AS 70 FRATERNAL INSURANCE..
ordec of Hcptasophs Refused Right
to Solicit New Business.


the Improved Order Heptasophs will
be Of great interest to the general
public of Oconee, and particularly to
the people OF Walhalia, as Oconee
Conclave, No. S27, Of this place is
not only one Of the oldest, but
tue largest local conclaye In tho
State to-day, having II members,
who In the aggregate carry insurance
TO the amount Of about $8O,0OO. Oco-
nee Conclave was organized In 1901,
and since It's organization has paid
out to Deneficiaries in and around
Walhalla, on accoutn Of deaths,
about five thousand dollars. All the
claims have been met promptly, in
one or two instances the benefits be-
ing paid several days before that of
old line insurance companies. One
claim was paid within eight days af-
ter proof OF death was furnished.
The Heptasoph Muddle
grows out Of the refusal of the gene
raj officers Of the order at large to
permit inspection Of certain records
at headquarters. The corresponds
ence of the Insurance Commissioner
follows, having been issued from his
office on December 31st:
The Order.
Supreme Conclave, Improved Or
der Of Heptasophs, Baltimore, Md
Dear Sirs: Your license to do new
business in South Carolina is hereby
revoked. You will please notify your
deputies In South Carolina and have
them governed accordingly.
This Is done in accordance with
the act regulating fraternal benefl-
clal associations, particular refer
ence being had to Section II, and in
pursuance Of notice given you No
vember 20, 1910.
This revocation Of license. is be-
cause OF your refusal to give Isaac
davenport. representing this depart
ment, such access to your books and
records as would enable him to- make
a correct valuation of your outstand-
ing certificates Of insurance. An ex-
ANIMATION or your association with
OUT a Valuaf'on Of its certificates Of
insurance would be as valueless as
tne examination of bank without
taking into account its bills navah,a
ana receivable and the amount due
its depositors.
Such valuation is necessary to
give your certificate holders informa-
tlon to determine the likelihood of
increase II their rates of assess
meh' and to permit prospective
members to determine intelligcntly
the adVisability Of taking insurance
IN your order. Your right to assess
members to any amount needed to
pay death claims is no Justification
Tor refusal to determine your pres
ent condition in this respect. In fact
this right to increase assessments in
amount or In number, makes it the
more imperative for aii order truly
fratcrnal, to deal frankly with the
public, so that its present and pros
pective members may govern their
own acts according to their own
Judgment.
In view Of the fact that within
the past Is months you made a re-
ratlng, and increased the rates only
iast January, leads me to suppose
mat your own knowledge OF the con
dltlon OF your order is such that Won
are unwilling to give it to the nub.
TIC. In view OF the further facts that
your report on file with the DEPART
ment for the year ending December
81, 1909. shows some $4,000 ex-
cess or disbursements over income.
ana your outstanding death claims,
though not yet due then for nav
ment, amount TO something more
than $3.50, 600, the need for a valua-
t'on OF your certificates becomes the
more apparent, and the refusal to
allow 1t the more unjustifiable.
Ihe refusal to allow this vama-
tlon on account Of eXpenes, | can but
regard as mere figment Of speech.
tor under any circumstances it would
be mere bagatelle. Indeed, If Won
mad furnished this department with
the necessary data. it would have
made the calculations without cost
TO YOU. Furthermore, If your dis
position be that expressed by your
attorney, that you are willing to go
10 the expense to maintain your DO
sition In South Carolina, and yet,
not give the Information asked for,
you are perfectly well aware that the
cost OF valuation under the most ex-
penslve methods would be but frac-
tion what you are willing to pay law
yefs TO try to prevent 1t being made
lheretore, as stated, your IL
cense to do new business in South
Carolina Is revoked this 31st day of
December. 1910.
Every truly, II. II. McAIaster
insurance Commissioner.
Look at 1t as Prejudicial.
Some OF the members of the order
mere with whom we have talked on
the matter seem to think that the
action OF the Insurance Commission
er is the result of Il feeling that he
has been sighted by the refusal to
permit the inspection of the records
by the officials Of the Heptasophs.
This view Is strengthened in their
opinion by the recent refusal of the
State officials to Interfere in the in
surance questions raised In regard
to the insurance department Of the
knights OF Pythias. The questions
involved in the two cases are not en-