Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-31
BANNER YEAR For
ROYAL NEICHBORs
Society Has 346,05O Members in d.,
Standing and Has Establish.
ed 1000 Camps.
NEW HEAD OFFICES PLAsyra
Propose TO Have Fine Structure 4,
Administrative Purposes in
Another Year.

The year 1915 has passed into his.
tory and the Royal Neighbors n
America has great reason to retoiee
The year has proved to be a reco,s
breaker in growth and in the low Der.
centage of suspended members who
have not reinstated.
The management of the society /,
TO be congratulated upon the effcien,
and capable manner in which the bins.
mess affairs have been handled in tha
past year. The supreme office Of tha
society, located in Rock Island and
under the efficient management d,
Hada NJ. Carlson, supreme recorder
has been the center Of great activity
throughout the entire year, and the
clerical force OF almost one hundred
including clerks and stenographers
together with the printing depart
ment, have not seen an idle moment
During the first / months of the
year and up to Dec. i. 29,765 new ben
eft certificates were issued. and
4 goo new certificates have been is
sued during the month of De-
cember. This undoubtedly will be the
record breaking year for the society
for new business secured No hene-
ffcial-fraternal society can compete
with the record Of the ROYAL Neigh
bors OF America as to lapsation dur,
ing the year 1915. Up to Dec. /, 1915,
there were 1916 suspensions of ben
e6cial members reported to the su-
preme Office OF that number IL, 9sl
have been reported reinstated, thus
making the net gain for the society
in beneficial membership. deducting
the deaths, 1904
City Proud OF Society.
Rock Island can proudly boast Of
the largest ernal-beneficiary So
ciety managed by women, having its
head office located in the city
The total number Of members in
good standing Dec. 1 was 346,050 OF
this number 2Sl,7 are beneficial
members and 64,2S3 are social mem
. bers. There are 1000 local camps To-
Gated in IS states Of the Union and
in five of the provinces of Canada.
! During the year the society has been
admitted to the states Of Florida,
Georgia and Mississippi, and an active
| field force is now engaged in these
states in establishing the Royal
! Neighbors. The organization has
/ 1890 commissioned field workers act
/ ing as deputies in securing new busi-
ness throughout the various states.
/ The finances Of the society are in
most excellent condition. the amount
/ in the benefit fund Dec. J. 1915, being
/ sl.S52. 95629; in the general fund
$60S, 633 so; the total in various other
funds, $36 ,G63.06; making the total In
all funds $2,49S. 259.15
During the year the society has paid
out 81 .507.S S692 from the benefit fund
in death claims, approximately Loot
deaths having occurred.
Considering that the year 1915 4
the Goth year that the society has beef
operating on the same plan undel
which they were first chartered ant
the present membership, the organiza
ton has a remarkable record Relic
has been given from the relief funC
of the society TO many Of It's members
who have been victims in cyclones
floods, tornadoes and other disasters
that have visited various sections o.
the country. The loss Of the lives oil
ii members who were victims in the
Eastland disaster will 90 down in the
history Of the society as one Of the
/ most terrible catastrophes AT no
time since its organization has there
| been similar instance whereby u
! members lost their lives.
New Office Building Planned.
It was the fond hope of the officers
Of the society that at this time they
would be able to report the erection
of a new Office building in the cts
as they have outgrown the presepl
quarters where they are located, ana
it is essential that the society be es
tabiished in a more modern freprooi
up-fo-date office building. With th'
I close of business for the year 1910
| however, it is their desire that soin'
definite plan will have been made o.
a new office building be under 'h'
course of construction
Locally, the society in the past yea
has initiated the largest class eve
secured in this vicinity. In the moh'l
of July $50 candidates were initia'ee
by the various camps OF Rock Islam
and Moline.