The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-12-02
AMERICAN
The Great FraternaI Insurance So.
ciety Now in Kansas City.

Among the great fraternaf insurance
societies of this country stands the
American Woodmen, with h~eadquar-
tiers at Denver, Colo. This society
was founded in 1901 under the laws
of Colorado, where the Mobile bill
is in force and whose insurance laws
are recognized as being the best in
existence for the protection of policy
holders. In the beginning, the found
ers of this society recognized the fact
that insurance, under whatever name,
to be permanent and safe must adopt
a system and operate on a plan that
the best insurance experience teaches
as safe. The American Woodmen
was from the beginning an adequate
rate society. 1t gives the National
Fraternal congress table of rates-a
rate that is known to be adequate and
safe. AS a result of this wise policy
the American Woodmen is on a safe
and sound basis, with a legal reserve,
n its valuation is the highest of
any fraternity doing business among
colored people. This society accepts
both men and women in the same
camp, and issues certificates from $3.50
to $4,000. In addition to the insur-
ance, this society protects its men,
bers against sickness, accident, old
age pensions and burial. The insur.
ance department of Missouri approves
of this society and every certificate
is guaranteed. Insurance is business.
whether given by a society or by a
company. Business recognizes GER
ain principles. 1t is not business to
collect taxes, extra assessments and
other fees in addition to regular prem
iums. In the Woodmen, "a member
pays the same each monthAneyer a
tax of any kind.
Nearly all of our secret societies
have recently adopted the insurance /
feature as a permanent part of their
organization. 1t has grown to such
proportions that the colored secret
societies alone carry over half a bill
lion dollars on the lives of men and
women Because of this tremendous
business and its far reaching power,
nearly every state in the Union has
passed laws generally known as the
Mobile bill" Its aim is to make these
institutions as sound and
safe as the old line companies.
The salient features of this law re-
quire that societies carry a rate OF
premium sufficient to meet all present
Immediately and accumu-
late a reserve capable of taking care
of the future increased death rate.
These rates are generally known as
the National Fraternal Congress rates,
and are based on a graduated system,
charging according to age.
All funds are required to be invested
in gilt edge securities as recommended
by the commissioner of insurance.
An annual valuation is the chief
of determining whether the
business is being conducted along safe
or not; also an annual examin-
alton by the Department of Banking
Ind Insurance of all books and &C
Some secret societies are known as
traternal Observation-Disclosures as fra
.ernal insurance. The latter have
complied with these laws.
such societies resort to extra
assessments of any kind. No grand
odge taxes or local taxes. Among
he most conspicuous are the Wood
nen of the World, Modern Woodmen
II America, Bankers Union, Yeomen
# America and American Woodmen.
American Woodmen is the only
ociety operated by colored people
hat is offering true Woodcraft to our
ace along these safe and sound lines. e
Read this letter from Hon. John II.
Ipton, head Of the validating board
I Colorado. Then read our folder
70. 2 and if you are not in a position
} becoma an American Woodman.
least rejoice hat our people have
advantage of such an institution.
June 8, 1916.
4 L. H. Lightner, Supreme Clerk,
American Woodmen, Denver, Colo.