Early history of fraternal beneficiary societies in America

Preface

For a number of years past I have been urged by many of my friends, who are engaged in the Fraternal Co-operative Protection field of effort, to put into printed form, details of the inception, organization and development of the societies in this country, of this distinctive character, during the first few years of their history. I have hesitated in complying with this request, feeling a disinclination to appear in the role of an author of a literary production. Being, however, convinced that a correct and permanent record of the inception and early history of this great movement should be put in a tangible form, and being the only one left who had personal official connection therewith during these early years, I have done my best in setting forth the facts as contained in the following pages.

As the Ancient Order of United Workmen was the first to be organized and occupied the field for nearly five years before any other society of like character was formed, this history, in its limited review, must necessarily be largely restricted to that society.

It is the hope of the author, imperfect as this presentation may be, that from it some word of encouragement and inspiration may be gathered that will induce a greater loyalty to those higher ideals of unselfish service and practical philanthropy so characteristic of the early pioneers.

M. W. Sackett.

Meadville, Pa., August i, 1914.

INTERIOR VIEW OF FIRST A. O. U. W. LODGE ROOM

Introduction

In the Keystone Workman, A. O. U. W., of June, 1 89 1, of which the author of this history was editor, appeared the following description with cuts showing the building and lodge room where the Ancient Order of United Workmen was born. It is here reproduced as an appropriate introduction to this book.

A. O. U. W. BIRTHPLACE.

Knowing the interest which centers around men and things that in any way contributed to the inception or partook of the surroundings incident to the organization of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, we present to our readers this month tnree electrotype cuts of the building and lodge room In which the Order was first brought into existence.

The first gives a view of the outside of the building, which is a three-story brick structure, built about the year 1850. It was at that time the most imposing business block in the town of Meadville.

The second cut gives a view of the front part of the lodge room, and the third gives a view from the back part of the lodge room.

The main lodge room is 58 feet long and 20 feet wide, with ceiling 9y 2 feet high. There are two ante-rooms, one 12x14, the other 6x12. The interiors of the lodge and ante-rooms remain the same today as they were in 1868, no change or alteration having been made since that date. The walls and ceiling, originally covered with whitewash, have become dingy with time, and the antiquated ~tove, whose warmth added comfort and cheerfulness to those present on that eventful evening of October 27th, 1868, still occupies its original place, covered with accumulated rust of nearly twenty-three years. Board partitions separate the lodge room from the ante-rooms. The wicket in the door that enters from the inner ante-room to the lodge room at once attracts the attention of the visitor. It is made of two pieces of sheet iron, with ends turned over and bolt inserted to make a hinge. No doubt this piece of mechanism was the product of the skill of Father Upchurch or some of his associates. In the views given only a part of the furniture seen is that which originally belonged to the lodge room. The arrangement, of course, is the work of the artist.

It is difficult for any one who has any just appreciation of the magnitude and scope of the results that have been developed from this first cause, to enter this historic place and not be deeply impressed. From out the accumulated dust and decay arises a vision of beautiful temples erected all over the land, whose protecting shelter extends over millions of our fellow men, as a result of that inspiration first manifested within this humble sanctuary.

Here, on the evening of October 27, 1868, Father Upchurch and thirteen of his associates erected an altar and consecrated it to the more perfect exemplification of good and helpfulness to mankind. It was rough, unpolished and crude in design, even as the interior of the place of its birth, and today would present no alluring demand upon the attention of mankind. It was not to be judged, however, by its exterior, for within was contained the germ that was to open into life and power, bearing in time a full fruition of unmeasured good.

Amid such surroundings the mind cannot dwell upon details, but with rapid glance looks back and contemplates the general good accomplished, and from that into the future, and gathers fresh inspiration for more zealous effort and greater achievements. Like all great undertakings, opposltion and discouragements were to be met and overcome on all sides. The battle of internal dissension, as well as outside indifference, had to be met and overcome. Through the crucible of trial was the pure gold to be extracted and the dross eliminated. How well this has been done the onequarter of million of members of the A. 0. U. W. today bears testimony. That Father Upchurch here planted a seed, the possibilities of which he had no adequate idea, is no doubt true. Still, like all heaven-born inspirations, some vision of the good to be attained must have been apparent to him, and we all rejoice that ere he was called to pass beyond the vale this seed had grown, ripened and multiplied, until the whole land rejoiced in its helpfulness to humanity.

LEAGUE OF FRIENDSHIP, MECHANICAL OR- DER OF THE SUN.

On April 30, 1868, there was organized in the city of Meadville, Penna., a subordinate League known as the "League of Friendship of the Mechanical Order of the Sun." ■

But little information is attainable from the minutes of the League in Meadville as to the objects, laws or regulations of the Society. There was in existence a Grand Council under whose direction the League in Meadville was organized, as evidenced by the fact that Grand Councilman Holstead is noted as being present and officiating. It is apparent also from the Minutes that membership in the League was restricted to the various kinds of mechanical and day laborers. The membership in the Meadville League was almost entirely composed of mechanics, engineers, firemen and day laborers employed in the shops and on the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, now known as the Erie R. R.

It is apparent that the object of the League was to advance and foster the interests of its members by cooperating in effort and financial assistance whenever called upon to serve a worthy and approved cause. To this pledge each member was bound by solemn oath to be obedient and faithful. It was an incipient effort striving in the direction of that which at the present day is represented in the labor unions of this country.

John Jordan Upchurch, familiarly known as "Father Upchurch," was not a charter member of the League but was admitted to membership therein at its eighth meeting June 16, 1868. He was soon after elected as its presiding officer.

William W. Walker, who was afterward closely identified with the early history of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, was a charter member of the League and active in its promotion.

The League at Meadville seems to have been very prosperous for a time, its membership numbering over one hundred members, as I have been informed by one who was affiliated with it.

The League, however, was destined to be short lived. Soon, it appears, suspicion was aroused as to the integrity of the governing body and especially of the officers that were conducting the affairs of the Grand Council, as it was called. This dissatisfaction culminated when the Meadville League was called upon to pay a tax to the Grand Council which they apparently considered an unwarranted demand. The dissatisfaction finally went to the length of causing many members to drop out and on the evening of October 27, 1868, it was determined to disband the League.

The foregoing short sketch of the Meadville League of Friendship has been given for the reason that out of it grew the inception and organization of Jefferson Lodge No. 1, Ancient Order of United Workmen — the first lodge of that Order and the first Fraternal Benefit Society in this country.

JOHN JORDAN UPCHURCH.

Founder of the A O.U. W.

JEFFERSON LODGE NO. i, ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.

Before entering into details as to the organization of Jefferson Lodge No. i, A. O. U. W., it will be of interest to enter as fully as may be into the underlaying thought and motive actuating Upchurch and his associates in the inception and organization of the Order. In this, we are fortunate in having the written words of Upchurch himself, as contained in a letter written to J. M. McXair in reply to request for data relative to the institution of Jefferson lodge. This letter was written by Upchurch Feb. 3, 1873, following immediately after the organization of the Supreme Lodge of the Order and at such an early date in the history of the Order that the facts "would be fresh in mind and worthy of full credence. The following is an extract from said letter:

Letter of J. J. Upchurch to J. M. McNair.

Meadville, Pa., Feb. 3rd, 1873.

Dear Sir & Bro. : Below I give you a few points that probably you are unacquainted with that may be of use to you in writing up the history of the Order.

The circumstances which first led me to study the wants of the working people and the best way of arriving at them were as follows :

In the year of 1864 I held the office of Master Mechanic of the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven R. R. In the month of June of that year the crews of engineers on the road demanded an advance of fifty cents per day of wages. Engineers at that time were receiving three dollars and sixty cents per day. Their demands were made known to the company, when I was authorized to give them an advance of forty cents a day which would (give) engineers four dollars per day, conductors and brakemen in the same proportion. When I made the proposition, it was received with derision; at the same time I was told that their union had directed them to demand an advance of fifty cents and they would not go to work without it.

It struck me very forcibly, the injustice in any order or society to assume to direct in a matter wherein they could not possibly know anything of the circumstances under which the difficulties had arisen and do arise between employer and employee, as was very evident in the present difficulty.

My mind seemed to be drawn towards the introduction of a plan whereby the necessity of all strikes might be obviated and all differences be settled by the more satisfactory method of compromise.

In my mind the best means to accomplish this object was to bring together employer and employee face to face, by uniting them in the bonds of fraternal friendship.

Having matured a rough plan in my mind to accomplish said object, I imparted my rough ideas in 1865 to Bro. Francis I. Keffer, of Petroleum Center. He encouraged me, concurring in my views of the matter.

Not having an opportunity of introducing my ideas, the whole matter was allowed to rest until June 2, 1868. At this time being a citizen of Meadville, Pa., I was proposed and elected as a suitable person to become a member of an Order or Society known as "League of Friendship, Supreme Mechanical Order of the Sun." I was not long in finding out that we were groping our way in the dark. We could get no information whatever from the officers of the Grand Council, as it was called, neither were we allowed a representative to that body unless we went further and joined what was called the "Knights of the Iron Ring." All we had to do was to pay more money or be quiet, live in ignorance and pay taxes. This information came to hand after stenuous efforts had been made to extract it. (This) was sufficient to convince me that the whole thing was a scheme, was rotten to' the core, gotten up for the purpose of fraud. From this time I was determined, if possible, to break up the humbug and introduce my ideas of right and justice between man and man, and went to work for the purpose." * *

Following the above extract is recited the action of the League of Friendship lodge, in dissolving its organization, the appointing of a committee with Upchurch as its chairman, to prepare a constitution and ritual for a new organization embodying the ideas advanced by Upchurch. Of this committee Walker was a member. The committee met October 10, 1868, at the house of Upchurch, and Upchurch presented a draft of constitution prepared by him and also a draft of a first degree of a ritual, both of which were accepted and approved by the committee.

On October 27, 1868, at the regular meeting of the League of Friendship, the committee reported. A motion was made and carried to dissolve the League of Friendship and proceed to the organization of a new Order.

Upchurch presented the constitution and ritual approved by the committee, which was adopted, the League was declared dissolved and birth was given to that which afterward culminated in the greatest and grandest movement of co-operative helpfulness the world has ever witnessed, viz., Fraternal Benefit Societies.

FIRST LAWS.

The code of laws prepared by Upchurch's Committee and adopted at the organization of Jefferson Lodge, was never printed but we are fortunate in having the original copy in the handwriting of Upchurch as it was presented and adopted by the lodge October 27, 1868. These laws were written in a small passbook which was carried by Upchurch in his pocket. Its soiled condition testifies to the truthfulness of what is certified to by Bro. J. M. McNair, to whom Bro. Upchurch gave the copy and who verifies its authenticity in a note on the cover of the original copy, as follows :

This is a copy of the first Contitution of the A. O. U. W., and was given to me by Brother P. S. M. W. J. J. Upchurch. There were no printed copies at this time, and this copy was carried while at work by Brother Upchurch. t J. M. McNair.

Deeming it to be a matter not only of interest to a large number of those who are concerned in Fraternal Benefit Societies, but also of importance in preserving a correct history of the first code of laws enacted for the government of the first lodge of the first Order among

WILLIAM W. WALKER

Fraternal Benefit Societies, the following entire copy thereof is given :"

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.

PREAMBLE.

The mechanic and working men generally have long since seen the necessity of an order being established on principals broad enough to embrace all the various branches of the Mechanical Arts and Sciences, believing that by so doing the interest of its members will receive greater protection, for where there is union, there is strength.

ARTICLE I.