Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-07-04
War and Life Insurance.

War and Life Insurance.
Eds. Freeman Tribune: Allow me
to comment on the numerous articles
which have appeared in your paper,
concerning the effect of war and mil
itary service on life insurance poli-
cies, particularly the article under
date of July 1st, written by soldier
at Camp Dodge, criticising the atti-
tude of the Modern Woodmen. This
good soldier evidently is not familiar
with life insurance; neither is he in
formed on the real mission and pur-
pose of the Modern Woodmen, be-
cause he has not taken into consid-
Grafton that there is an extreme diff
ference in life insurance company,
formulated for the sole purpose of
furnishing life insurance, and fra
ternal association, instituted on the
lodge-system, and whose first duty is
fraternalism.
He seems to believe that man
forfeits his life insurance when, be-
cause of loyalty to the flag, he en-
tiers military service, which is not
the fact. In event of death of the in
sured while engaged in military or
naval service, each policy claim will
be paid according to the condition
contained within the policy regulat-
ing such claim. This condition be-
ing, that during the first twelve
months the only liability to the com
pany being the premium actually
paid by the insured and after the
policy is twelve months old it is alb
solutely free from restrictions as to
residence, occupation, travel or place
of death. Let us recall that the
Modern Woodmen are not life in
|surance company. 1t is fraternal
society. It's nature and purpose is to
promote fraternal relations among
its members, and to furnish financial
aid to the beneficiaries of members
at the death Of such members in ac-
cordance with the articles of incor-
poration, bylaws, rules and regula-
tions of the society. The society does
not issue policy, contract of insur-
ance which guarantees to pay def
mite sum at death, for and in con-
sideration of a definite sum premium
paid by the insured. However, it
issues benefit certificate which en-
titles the member to all the rights
and privileges of the society, and at
death his beneficiary is entitled to
participate in the benefit fund of the
society to an amount not to exceed
the amount stated in his benefit GER
tificate-provided, however. that all
the conditions and requirements con-
tanned in his certificate, and in the
bylaws of the society, as the same
now exist, or may be here after mod
flied, amendej or enacted, shall
have been fully observed and COM
piled with. There is no reason why
any one should express great surprise
when informed that by entering mil
itary service his benefit certificate in
the Modern Woodmen becomes of no
value, for as a matter of fact. there
are dozens of legitimate occupations
much less hazardous than war, that
are not covered by their benefit GER
tificate, and in case member en-
cages in these occupations, all his
rights to recover indemnity from thu
society is forfeited. Every benefic-
ial member in the Modern Woodmen
signed an application for membership
in the society and agreed therein
that if he should fail to comply with
and conform to any and all of the
bylaws of the society, that his bene-
fit certificate should become null and
void: and it is my opinion that if a
man signs and agrees to these things,
he SQOulu COutluut " w 81 Willie
ly. The Modern Woodmen know well
that these things will come about.
and that is why they are contained
in the application, membership GER
|tificate and the bylaws. The Modern
Woodmen are without doubt the
greatest fraternal benefit society in
existence, leader in its class, and
doing the things it is instituted to do
lstrictly on the square; the man who
neglected to think deeply of what
Its real mission and purpose is, and
Joined its ranks feeling that he was
buying permanent life insurance, has
only himself to blame, and if he has
made a mistake he alone can correct
lit. Walter Terrell.