The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1913-10-24

one OF whom | am glad to call NV
friendly and rational relations be-
tween black man and white man.
You have here in the presence of
John 4. Bush, as well as the other
olhcers OF this organization, one of
the strongest characters of our race.
friend and III upllfter of humanity.
Bush, from the beginning, has been
supported by such men as Alexander,
Keats, Jones and host of others.
History of Organization.
Let me In brief reclte something
OF the history of this organization
IL was organized in 1882 by two
Negroes OF Little Rock, Bush and
Keats. The organization started
with one lodge of Is members, To-
Gated in Little Rock The Order
now operates in 26 states, the Pana.
ma canal zone, Central America and
Ihe west Indies. Its numerical
strength consists of LOO subordi.
nate lodges Of $4,000 members. The
Order started with no funds behind
II other than the necessary amount
10 detray incorporation expenses
Inc surplus in all departments now
amounts to $4,000. The new fem.
pie building was erected at a cost
OF $4,000 out OF the endowment sur
Plus. The temple has been COM
pleted and paid for for without lew.
ing any extra taxation upon the
members. This has never haan
done by any fraternity in America.
Since the organization of the Or.
der, the benefit departments have
PAID TO our people more than a half
million dollars, and today the Or.
der has all Of its death claims paid
up 10 date, and such has been its
record for 80 years.
y. b. Bush has been the financial
wizard of the Order since it's birth
and has acted as national grand
secretary and treasurer. All of
the funds of the Order have been
handled by him and its financial svs.
tenn planned. The Order has never
lost a cent by embezzlement
Order Growth Recent.
Inc greatest growth of the Order
mas come since the induction into of.
nee OF the present grand master
William Alexander. He succeeded
the late c. w. Keats. His work
shows up in tangible results. When
he assumed the head of the Order
the membership was barely 10000.
Through his work the membership
mas increased ten-fold. The surplus
In the endowment department was
S6,O49.57 He has Increased the
revenues of the Order in proportion
to the increase of membership. The
lrst recommendation he made to the
national grand lodge was to erect
national temple. In five years he
has pushed his ideas from a thcoret-
cal beginning to a practical conclu-
sion. The steady growth of the Or.
Ter will be indicated by the increase
IN the endowment surplus in six
years, which in 1907 was S6,O49.57.
and in 1913, is $113.423.
The more fact that you hvae been
able to erect this structure at a cost
If 100000, without leaving any in
on it, reflects the highest
'redit upon our race in Arkansas and
throughout the country. This shows
hat we are learning how to do busi-
ness, and that is one Of the lessons
hat these lodges can and should
emphasize among our people.
Proud of New Temple
when we can point to such mar
,elous results achieved in so short
/ time, I do not wonder that the city
If Little Rock is proud of this build
ng and that the people throughout
Arkansas and the United States are
equally gratifled.
Continued on page four)