The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-28

bama convention in Birmingham yesterday.
 q was recently requested to write an article on the subject of our order as had seen and known it. that is tc say. from personal experience and observation. With your permission will read parts of that article. as 1t may be of some historical value to you.
 First Twill say to you that it is the only Secret fraternal association in the, world that Is composed ex- clusively of commercial travellers. II was originated 34 years ago at tho city Of Columbus, O., by eight old traveling men, who incorporated II there, and established council No. l- the mother council. Two months later went there by request and joined that council for the purpose of or galizing council No. at Cincinnati
 From this beginning it has grown to approximately GOO councils, which are located in the business centcrs of 46 states of our union, and the British provinces at the north of us, and embraces a total mbership of about l0500o members. I have, thero- fore. witnessed 1t grow from a dey- icate infant. with 8 doubtful future, to giant hosts and become a com manding force and influence in the commerce of a continent.
 "One of its declared purposes Is to elevate the character and standing of our profession, and its followers. It has converted the almost disreputaLle drummer" of other days to the com mercial traveller of today, who is a respected citizen, gentleman every where, and a welcome addition to the business and social life in every com munity.
 Tt has paid to its members. for ac- cidental injuries and deaths resulting from accidents, more than s10,000.0 003, and better than this--better than all else. it has disbursed about $1.000, ,90O to the needy and worthy widows and orphans of our deceased brothers, in accordance with the pledge made by every member, that so long as this order shall endure these helpless ones shall not come to want.
 Its future Is assured by it's steady numerical increase. by the universal confidence and respect in which 1t is held, by the loyalty and devotion of it's members, and by the prayers and good wishes of it's host of bene- ficiaries. Being one of the oldest and earliest members, I have shared in the glory of it's achievements and 1 have sat with 1t in the shadow of threatened diversity, from which I have seen 1t emerge triumphantly.
 Perhaps It's greatest crisis was about 30 years ago, when q formid- able attempt was made to abolish the widows and orphans fun feature. Its promoters were locally prominent members of various councils who were aggressive and industrious and very noisy. It was agitated in every council of the order and much dis satisfaction was created. Numerous letters from individual members mad been received at headquarters de- manding its abolishment with threats of withdrawal. and from councils to surrender their charters.
 Many of us believed that this op- position was based upon misappre- hension and transformation. or lack of information. We believed that practically the entire membership. with a full and proper understand 1g of the purposes and possibilities of this feature would enthusiastically indorse and support 1t.
 The question finally reached the supreme council. where 1t was fully and freely discussed during most os the session.
 Those of us who were opposed 10 this change in our laws, believed that the widows and orphans fund was the one thing which distinguished our order from all other travelling men's organizations. and by the same token was an irresistible appeal to the redblooded chivalry for which our people were noted. We believed that it strengthened the love and devo- tion of it's members, made stronger the bonds of union between them and commanded the respect and congi- dence of the outside world. We be- lieved and contended that time and experience would show that It vas the order's greatest and best arSu- ment for its own existence.
 Tt was proposed and unanimously agreed to submit the question direct to the entire membership for decision, and an explanatory statement or the ease, enclosing Yes or No ballot. was sent to every member of the order who was urged to vote and to return his ballot to the supreme secretary to be tabulated at certain date. The tabuIation was done and showed less than 500 votes (out of membership of nearly 2,000) which favored the abolishment of the Widows and or phans' Sund.
 This result was wry gratifying to the friends of the fund, and disas- trously disappointing to it's enemies. Their overwhelming defeat has si- fenced the agitators. apparently for all time, and our widows and orphans will continue to be cared for as they have been. If there were any With drawals the number was negligible and no council surrendered it's char ter as threatened. and thus 1t was that the stone which the builders re- jected had become the headstone of the corner. for from the date of this decision new life. new interest, seemed to have been infused into the hearts of all the members, dissention ceased. harmony prevailed and the order began a new era of growth and progress.
 Tn this brief statement have not attempted, for obvious reasons. a general review of the orders history and achievements. but I want to tell you that for it's existence. and for all that it means to us, and to the world we are primarily indebted to the great heart and fine conception of Brother Levi c. Pease, who dreamed of it by night and wrought by day. He more nearly typified the life and character of Abou Ben Ad- hem than any man I ever knew. He literally gave up his life to the ser- xyf<ro Afu fo11c urou EIfo Uopt1o