Year: 1878

be ever ready and in condition to extend the open
hand Of charity substantial SympaHy-to true and
deserving Odd Fellows and their families,


BENEFITS,


My attention has been called to the proposed
amendments to the ninth article Of the Constiu.
ton Of Subordinate Lodges, making provision for
an increase Of funeral benefits, which, It is claim.
ed will meet the wants Of the Order IN great de-.
gree, by amply providing for the death Of our
members and the protection Of our widows and
orphans from the cold charity Of the world be.
sides which II will to great extent, relieve
the embarrassed condition Of our Lodge treas
uries.


The proposition Is ne that the Representatives
to this Grand Lodge should give their serious at
tention during the next year and by cRnvassing
the subject among Il 3ir constituents be able at
their next session 10 " promptly and intelligent
| ly. The duty ofp.ovdipg for the decent inter
ment Of deceased bI ther and the prott ction Of
his posterlty is one W lch as Odd Fellows we can
not afford to neglec II is one of the positive
commands Of this order, and in these days Of
progress and reform, when new organizations are
daily springing into life. with schemes Of various
kinds for the alleged good Of the human family,
and into which our members are beiFg drawn In
the hope Of finding a safeguard for theiuture our
noble Order must not stand sill, but should be
ever ready to advance In the struggle to alleviate
the wants of our brother man.


The plan suggested appears simple and yet com.
prehensive. The small sum proposed to be paid
by each member, upon the death Of brother,will
secure to his heirs an amount equal to that pro.
posed to be paid by our sister societies under their
insurance features, and yet the assessment is so
mall as not 10 embarrass the very poorest Of our
members among us.


What Brother can be found not ready to pay to
he secretary of his Lodge the pittanCe of five
cents upon notice of the death Of member with
in his jurisdiction and who is he who would not
II necessary, forego the pleasure ofone cigar a day
to enable him to comply with so sacred duty 2
The proposition is based upon membership Of
10000 in good standing, and rate Of mortality Of
one per cent or four hundred per year.


supposing, therefore that during every year 400
should die, which appears to he the average OF
the past four years, the surviving members would
pay at the rate of five cents for each death, an ag
gregate of twenty dollars per year, would thus Sc
cure funeral benefit of near two thousand dol.
lars. And so at the rate Of three cents for each
death, twelve dollars per year, would secure a
funeral benefit of twelve hundred dollars, pre-
dicated upon the present membership.


Most certainly this would be cheap form Of
insurance II so denomlnated; for the lowest rate
of premiums on selected lives in the best intur
ance companies costs more than double that
amount Aside from this 1t is deserving of con.
sideration whether or not some such feature
would not very materially bring about more
prOmptness IN the payment Of dues; Of itself mat
ter of no no little importance


Fail not 10 remember that the public eye Is rest
ing upon US with favor the public heart is beat
ing in sympathy for our noble institution let us
act our part wisely and WELL let us do all things
with view to the preservation Of that good opln.
ion which is entertained for us, giving Increased
potency to its every pulsatiOn.


Brethren, the arduOus labors Of this session are
about drawing to a close, l trust 1t has proven
pleasant to yourselves and profitable to the Fra.
ternity' May you carry to your homes and your
Lodges which trust may be reached In safety, a
determination to elevate and improve the char
acter of man." remembering that all men are
brethren, and that God designed that they should
peacefully dwell together, and be of mutual ad
vantage, each to all, in kindly minlstrations, in
sympathy and support