South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-07
Protected Home Circle to Initiate Large
Class In Presence of State Manager

funds might be accumulated. Not one
dollar was paid into the treasury ex-
cept the Initiation fees and the regu-
lar monthly payments and the original
incOrpOratOrs received no rights. nor
privileges not enjoyed by every MEM
Der of the society. The plans pro-
Vded for many new features that had
never been adopted by any fraternal
society up to that time. Among these
were a nxed monthly payment with
reserve fund that made a positive
guarantee to pay the amount OF the
benefit certificate ranging from $500
TO $4,000, and the admission Of both
men and women on an equality as 10
the rate of insurance.
The Z. II. c. was the first society
to own its own home office building,
the first to make loans from its gen
eral funds and the first society that
paid its first claim in full. This claim
was paid in less than a year after
the society was founded. Since that
time more than 100000 have been
paid To beneficiaries and the society
mas loaned and relOaned upwards of
100000 without a loss and now
has a surplus of upwards of $1,000
900.
The beautiful home Office building
located in the center of the town is
worth 100000 and owned i'm fee
simple by the society. The funds of
the society are invested in first mort
cages. state and municipal bonds.
The total beneficial membership on
Jan. /, 1915, was 8S,252, carrying
about $4,000, 000 of insurance.
In addition To 100000 paid in
death losses, the society has paid for
total and permanent disability OF its
members $S1.lS3.39, and in old age
benefits 1920, Spills.
These funds have gone into about
5000 different homes in the states in
which it is organized.
The society has never been refused
admission to operate in any state. in
which il has sought To do business In
the % years of the society's history
there has not been a single year in
which it has not shown a gain both
in membership and finances. The
management has been capable and
honest and there is not a skeleton OF
any kind in connection with the in
situation. Every safeguard is placed
around the funds. There is an an
nual audit Of the accounts by the
auditing committee appointed by the
supreme circle, the insurance COM
missioners' examiner has access to
and can make examinations at any
time. The bonds and securities are
lock and by resolution of the board
of directors il requires two supreme
officers in connection with the bank
er to gain access to these securities.
A kind Providence seems TO have
watched over this institution from its
inception. In the early history of the
order when the great flood occurred
at YOUNGSTOWN, Pa, there was a circle
of - members in that town, carry
ing over 100000 insurance. More
than 1000 persons were drowned in
the flood but when the membership
of the Z. III. G. was checked up. it
was found that not one of the - mem
bers had persisted and not a single
claim had to be paid. One member
who had refused 10 accept his benefit
certificate and had returned the GER
tificate to the home office was drown
ed. Had the society at that time
met with great loss of membership
| it would not have been able TO have
met its claims and disaster would have
followed
When the great earthquake Oc-
CURED at San Francisco many mem
bers were located there, including our
supreme vice president and wife, but
the lives Of none of our members were