Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 274, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1912 — M W. OF A SOON THIRTY YEARS OLD [ARTICLE]

M W. OF A SOON THIRTY YEARS OLD

Fraternal Order )>, 1888, At Lyons, lowa, and Now Has Membership of 381. The Modern Woodmen of America, the largest fraternal beneficTary society —hr - the world, will —be 30 years old on .Tan 5, 1913 r Tfae fir«t eamp-or-lorlge of the society was organized on Jan. 5, 1883, at Lyons, now a part of Clinton, la., with twenty-one charter members. This camp, which is named “Pioneer Camp No. 1,” is still in existence, with 381 members. The latest membership' statement discloses that it has a beneficial membership of 1,035,029, and a' social, or juti insured membership, of 24,510. There are over 15,000 local camps, scattered throughout the United States and Canadian provinces. The society is doing business in every state of the United States, with the exception of two, and in four western provinces of Canada. To date the society has paid the enormous total of $115,813,855.50 in benefits, to the beneficiaries of 65,468 deceased members, an average payment of $1,769 for each claim allowed. Local camps of the society throughout the jurisdiction are making arrangements to celebrate the society’s anniversary with appropriate ceremonies.