Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-03-14

ITunSWlCh, mas maze MS report W Iue
Head Camp of the Woodmen of the
World for the Jurisdiction of Geor-
gia. The report of Head Consul Sim
mons said in part:
Fellow Sovereigns:
In rendering to you, in biennial ses-
sion assembled, a report of the acts
and doings of this Office during the
period of my incumbency, together
with a few suggestions which may be
considered for what they are worth,
it shall be my endeavor to present
as concisely and pointedly as possible
the real features of the report and
subsequent recommendations, without
and attempt at the composition of well
rounded periods or ornate sentences
For various reasons is this essential;
, chief among which is the fact that 1t
is my purpose to bring to you facts
rot fancies; a report not an eulogis-
tic encomium of the society we all
love so we'll.
1t is hardly necessary to present TO
you facts and figures dealing with the
marvellous growth and development
along all lines throughout the Soyer-
eign Jurisdictions, as this is ably done
by our Sovereign officers, and pub
lished in the Sovereign Visitor, and
with which most of you are. no doubt,
familiar; but l shall speak with pleas
IRE of the unprecedented strides the
society has made in Georgia, with
some reference to the Sovereign Juris-
diction, by way of comparison.
In this jurisdiction during the year
1915, $3.50 applications were secured;
for 1916, 1929, making total of A.
318. Our net gain in membership for
1915 was 2475; for 1916, 3943, totallinG
64O9. Adding this net gain to the net
membership on December 31st, 1914,
which was 23,304, we find our net
membership December 31st, 1916, 29.-
713. which is based on reports from
camps for November installment,
showing a greater gain in net member
ship than for any other two-year pc
Rod the records of which have been
able to obtain.
The Sovereign office reports 155
deaths for the year 1915, and 100 in
1916; with total deaths since organiza-
ton in Georgia, 1910. During 1915,
1882, 1922 in death losses were paid
In Georgia, in 1916, $212, 475,00, MAX
inc a total for the two years of 1884,,
SG7.92. In 1915, there was spent here
for monuments $15,70000; in 1916,
S14,2O0.OO; a total of $29,90000. There
have been 1927 monuments erected III
Georgia Since organization. Disability
claims for 1915 and 1916 were $4,000
and 81 100000, respectively. Total ben
efits paid in Georgia since organi1a-
ton are $1,S26,591.09. The amount
from our great emergency found in
vested in Georgia is $338,1S78S. The
number of members in the Sovereign
Jurisdiction December 31st, 1916, was
SO4,291; a greater number coming in
during the year 1916 than during any
previous year in our history.
Taking into consideration the marx
ed increase in the cost of living, to-
gether with some misunderstanding
On the part of great many regarding
the causes and probable effects of the
new table of rates adopted at the last
session of the Sovereign Camp, the re-
markable growth throughout the Sow
ereign Jurisdiction is certainly graft
flying, and does more to attest the wis
dom of those who have the interests OF
the society in charge than any amount
of wordy arguments.
Under the head of Official Vista
tions, Sovereigns. it is with regret that
I must acknowledge l have done less
than most of my predecessors. Dur
ing the term of my Office I have made
twenty-one official visits TO camps in
the state. and have been compelled ryI
reasons of illness in my family, press
of personal business and professional
engagements, together with few con-
flicting dates, to decline invitations