Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-31
INFLU AFFECTS
M.W.A,PLAN To
MAKE A RECORD
Epidemic Interfercs With Prepara~
lions for Enrolling 10000
New Members in 1915.
BY J. G. RAY,
assistant Head Cleric

Notwithstanding the handlcaps
OF war and epidemic. the Modern
/ Woodmen OF America viii close the
year 1918 with remarkable rec
ord Of growth and gain Ia member
ship. For the first II months the
/ head office issued 1921 benefit
/ certificates 10 that number OF new
/ members. IL is expected that the
/ December record viii bring this
total to at least $1,000 for the en-
1 tire year, which VIII be only 5000
| less than the results for the year
Y 1917 IL is the opinion OF those In
/ touch with the promotion work that
/ the goal Of 100. 900 for lyI8 would
/ have been easily reached, if not
/ exceeded. had not tho flu epidemic
/ interfered. The ban on holding
meetings, together with the illness
Of many field men aud universal
/ sickness throughout most commun-
/ tiles, coming at a time when the
greatest volume OF new business %
/ usually obtained. prevented the fan
! carrying out Of the years program,
/ The fact that the lapse rate was
materially reduced during the year
/ resulting in less losses by suFTau-
/ siOns through failure 20 pay moLth-
! ly assessments, is considered as
distinct Improvement Although
/ the death rate during the latter
months of the year was excessive,
/ it is expected that the final report
! of the year viii show a net gam
/ in membership over all losses by
| suspensions and deaths of at least
! 80, 900, which wiH be gain over
the 1917 record by 1000.
The volume of business in 1913
/ from a financial standpoint. with
| out including December, tho re-
ports for which are not completed.
will exceed that Of all previous rec
ords as to income and disburse-
ments. For the first eleven months
the cash received and handled
| through the head office in Rock
Island aggregated $20197, 863.66,
as compared with S16,515. 0S3S7 for
! the same period in 1917, a large
proportion of the increased income
\ being attributable TO the patriotic
/ fund which was not established IN
| til Sept. /, 1917 In point Of dis
/ bursements on account of death
! EldlulEr Inc nftAA AAA4A n - p kIAfA q
| shows the year 1918 to be a record
! breaker in common with the eX-
/ perience OF all other life insurance
| organizations This report dis
| closes the fact that for the full
/ year, 1O6S2 regular death claims
we're allowed in the sum of $l4s-
/ 631 ,449.S5. The number OF soldier
and sailor claims in addition were
/ S95, requiring payment of $ll74-
900 from the patriotic or war fund.
/ The 70-year benefit feature was tn
ken advantage OF by 4l5 members.
who were paid $l99. 92705 In set
| Elements on account Of disabilities.
/ During the year vast amount
of war activity work has been car
ried on in various departments OF
/ the society. including the purchase
/ Of 100000 Liberty bonds, the
adoption and support Of 1000
| French war orphans by local camps
while much time and effort has
! been given by many Of tho off
Gals in connection with food con
| servation and other lines Of local
state and national war auxiliary
movements The reports received
I by the head clerk 10 date show that
| the society was represented in the
army and navy by 5s.53i members
! who carried insurance aggregatlnE
! $91 SAC 900.
The extensive and destructive
forest fires in northeastern Mime
sofa in October rendered hundreds
OF Modern Woodmen destitute With
customary promptness the society
raised a relief fund Of more than
. 10000 through local camp dona-
tions and this sum was appOrtioned
to the needy and deserving mem
1 bers in that region.
The managing officials of the so
ciety feel that the 1918 results oh
. tanned in the various lines covered
/ by its work in the fact Of cundt-
| tions disturbed and rendered alb
normal by war and pestileuce. real
! " exceeded expectations and VIII
no doubt prove satisfactory to the
membership al large.