Something Concerning the Local Council as Well as the Order at Large.
ALTOONA COUNCIL NO. 580 HAS MEMBERSHIP OF 125
Following is the third in a series of articles in the history of Altoona societies:
An order that has met with great success in Altoona and which has many well-known men in its ranks is the Royal Arcanum. Altoona council No. 580 is the local branch of the order, which has 250,000 members in the country. The local council was organized on June 28, 1883, in the Odd Fellows building on Twelfth street between Tenth and Eleventh avenues. Eight charter members of the branch are still living, being: Dr. H. L. Hartzell, Lemuel Elway, James Albert Elway, John W. Robeson, John A. Canan, W. B. Miller, Walter Filler and Dr. W. S. Ross. All but Dr. Ross were present at the initial meeting; he joined by card on July 3, 1883.
M. R. Hockmeimer, of Uniontown, was the officer who instituted the local lodge, and among the first officers elected were: Regent, Dr. H. L. Hartzell; vice regent, John A. Canan; secretary, John W. Robeson.
The lodge has grown until it now has a membership of 125. It is hoped to expand the order still more. Since the Altoona council has been organized, it has paid out a small fortune to local beneficiaries. Over seventy-five thousand dollars has been distributed. While the council promises no sick nor accident benefits, it has always done all in its power for a worthy brother who has made his case known to it.
The order in general has as good a record as the local branch. Up until March 1, 1910, the massive fortune of $131,000,000 had been paid out in benefits. The society has an emergency fund of $6,000,000, invested in excellent securities. The home office is at Boston and the society is incorporated under the laws of the state of Massachusetts. There was a gain in Pennsylvania in 1910 of 25,000.
While the society is mainly one for the protection of its members financially, it also has many social advantages. The local council frequently has literary and musical entertainments, which greatly enliven the winter season. A feeling of deep concern for the social welfare of the members is a noticeable trait of the association.
The national order was founded at Boston, Mass., on June 23, 1878, by seven men. The contrast between the membership at the beginning and now is striking The Arcanum is a fraternal insurance society, with the special object of benefiting the widow and orphan, and its policies once made out to a beneficiary cannot be used as collateral or transferred for any cause, such as a debt.
The local branch first met in the old Odd Fellow building, and then moved to the old Altoona bank building, on Eleventh avenue between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. Next it moved to the Schenk block, now known as the Blair County Title and Trust building, and then to the present quarters, on the third floor of the Winter building, 1317 Eleventh avenue.
The council is honored in having one of its members in a high office. Dr. H. L. Hartzell is alternate supreme representative, now serving a four-year term. J. B. McNoldy, another local man, held the office of grand warden from 1889 until 1891.
The present local officers of the order are: Regent, James G. McGuire; past regent, E. H. Freidley; vice regent, Andrew J. Forbes; orator, George W. Bradley; secretary, S. G. Tulloch; collector, John W. McFadden; treasurer, W. H. Stephens, esq.; chaplain, C. W. McClure; guide, C. W. Stiffler; warden, George H. Strobel; sentry, D. I. Gorsuch.
As will be seen by the date of the organization of the local council, the Royal Arcanum has been instituted in Altoona for twenty-eight years. The Mountain City got its branch of the order just five years and a few days after the Arcanum was first organized. In the thousands of dollars that have been paid out to local beneficiaries, many people have been aided, and hundreds of Mountain City residents feel a warm spot in their hearts for the Arcanum. The financial condition of the local branch is excellent.
Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Friday, October 13, 1911, page 4