The Washington herald., 1916-10-22
Pythian Sisters.
The Maccabees.
wOMAN,s BENEFIr ASSOCIATION

"OMAN'S BENEFIT ASSOCIATION.
The feat of turning a debt of $50 into
a sum of $1O,OOO,OOO has been accomplished
by Miss Bina NJ. West in the twenty-four
years of her leadership of the Woman's
Benefit Association of the Maccabees.
which she founded October l, 1892, in Port
Huron, Mich. This has meant wise in
vestment and conservative management,
and this year Miss West will have the
satisfaction of collecting $45OOOO in inter-
est earnings on this invested sum.
Miss West was a school teacher. She
did not know much about fraternal in
surance. but she knew the principle on
which It should be based and she went
ahead with it with many wiseacres shak-
ing their heads at her. She started very
simply in a basement room with a little
desk, chair and waste paper basket, and
today is checking up a multiplicity OF
blue print detail for a fine new $250000
office being erected only a few blocks
from where she turned the key nightly
twenty-four years before on hopes and
dreams now finding realization.
There was a day once when a woman
could not buy insurance protection for
her little family and dependents, says
Miss West. This was way back in the
years before 1t was discovered that
women had better mortality experience
than men. If she saved a dollar here
an da dollar there and put it into the
old china teapot. at the end of her time
mayhap it helped to tide the little family
over the emergency. 1t could give no
promise, however. OF helping educate the
little folks for there was not enough OF
II. The little family had to be contented
with the thought that mother had saved
on her wardrobe and her pleasures to
leave even that small sum.
To-day a woman does not have to hide
the bureau drawer. She can lay away
little sum monthly in an adequately rated
fraternal society that guarantees the pay
ment of a stipulated sum to her family
when she is no longer able to care for
them.
In my own society S14.OOOOnO has been
paid out in beHefits alone, and S10,0O00OO
is still on hand invested in municipal
bonds for the payment of benefits, every
penny of which belongs to our members"
National Tent met last Monday night.
Three candidates were initiated by the de-
gree team. J. J. Buck and J. D. Jordan,
Of Mount Vernon Tent, were visitors.
DR.. J. ]. Slattery, formerly of Golden
Rule Tent, but recently transferred TO
National Tent, spoke. Edward Ivy Lewis,
the youngest Maccabee, sang.
IhlS week Will be ousy one IN Mac
Cabee circles. Tomorrow evening will be
held the regular meeting of Mount Yer
non Review, No. 2. A visit from the
deputy supreme commander. Mrs. Mabel
T La Rue, is expected. Georgetown will
celebrate the anniversary of the founding
Of the organization with a birthday party
in Potomac Bank hall.
On Thursday there will be an old-fash-
ioned country dance in Pythian Temple
The past commanders of the District will
be the hostesses.
The Officers Club will meet at the home
of Mrs. Johanna Frailey. 1247 North Capt
tol street, Friday evening. The new Off
GERS will assume their duties. The re-
cruiting contest is arousing much en-
thusiasm. Plans are under way for a
rally early in December, when the Balti-
more. Maryland and Delaware women
will be guests.