Fraternal Societies

Many of the secret fraternal societies of the United States include in their obligations the payment of sick and death benefits, and fraternal care of the members when sick. Others are formed for the expre purpose of insurance, the money for death payments being raised by a e ments, the a e ment rate either remaining stationary or increasing with the age of the member. The insurance is generally from $1,000 to $3,000. Another cla of such societies is that in which the lodge principle prevails: and which have the social features prominently kept in view. In these a stipulated sum is paid on the death of a member, and a e ments are made on the death ratio. Among the largest of these organizations are the Odd Fellows, founded in 1819; Knights of Honor, 1873; Knights of Pythias, 1877; and Royal Arcanum, 1877. The insurance paid by these varies from $500 to $3,000. There are numerous other societies conducted on the same principle. According to the reports; of the supreme bodies of these De gations for 1901, the membership of the principal fraternal organizations in the United States and Canada was as follows: Odd Fellows....cccccsccccsees 1,027,628 Freemasons....-sccrcceseccee 902,601 Modern Woodmen of America... 642,957 Knights of Pythias............. 516,944 Ancient Order of United Work- MEN 2.0.02 seccccer cccscces £20,000 Improved Order of Red Men.... 260,459 Woodmen of the World......... 252,130 Knights of the Maccabees....... 227,986 Royal Arcanum.....cec esee 226,782 Foresters of America........... 195,206 Independent Order of Foresters. 187,000 Ancient Order of Hibernians of AMETICa..crccccccsccccsece 162,804 Junior Order of United American Mechanics......cce ee eoe 108,786 Benevolent and Protective Order: Of Elke..ccccccscccccccsceses 100,000 Ladies’ Catholic Benevolent A n, 71,668 Knights of the Golden Eagle.... 70,000 Tribe ot Ben Hur......ccesee 67,428 National Union.....-.sceeese 60,328 Knights of Honor..........+.5. 59,932 Knights and Ladies of Honor... 53,736 Improved Order of Hept a sophs.. 52,462 Order of United American Me OHAMICE.onccc cccccsescesccs Mingnl Catholic Benevolent Legion...... 41,984 Ancient Order of Foresters..... 38.220 Sons of Temperance...........+ 82,675 Independent. Omier of B'nai B’rith 80,000 New England Order of Protection 29,125 Knights of Malta.........2s+++. 26,000 Catholic Knights of America..... 24,000 Royal Templars of Temperance... 23,641 United Order of Pilgrim Fathers. 22,747 Brith Abraham Order........... 19,457 Star of Bethlehem Order........ 17,500 United Ancient Order of Druids. 17,354 Mystic Circle....s.e c eeeee 16,500 Irish Catholic Benevolent Union. 14,000 American Legion of Honor...... 7,630 Smaller organizations not reported 42,972 Total