since sixty days notice is given by the Grand Lodge of extra assessments it does not cause any extra work by reason of doing it in advance, and it obviates any hurry at the beginning of a new months work. If a member pays one or more months assessments in advance, I give him the receipts out of the books prepared for the months for which he paid. The reason for having a receipt book for each month is to check all receipts left in the book at the end of the month with the cash book and ledger; by thus having a check on every individual transaction I have been able to avoid all disputes as to whether or not a member had paid his assessments. The months collections being completed, I proceed to add up the entries on the pocket cash book, which, if correctly kept, will balance with the total amount of cash deposited and on hand. After we have had our last meeting for the month, and the checks are issued for bills approved at that meeting, I take the pass book to the bank and have it balanced; in the meantime if I have to make deposits I take a certificate of deposit for it, instead of having it entered in the pass book, until after the balance is made, then have the deposit entered in the pass book. when it is open, I wrote all the names on the right hand page and numbered all right hand pages in odd numbers. When the page is full-in two years-the names can be written on the left hand page of the book and the pages numbered in even numbers, and I am ready for two years more of record, a record of four years for each member and only one name to each leaf. I wrote all the names in the index on the left hand page in front of book. When the two years are up, the index names can be written on the right hand page and placed in the back of the book. The advantage of thus preparing the book is the fact that all the entries can be made without shifting the book from right to left, and having a four-year record of each man instead of two on the same leaf. I have tried to make this matter plain without going into minute details, and if any other financial secretary has any better plan without incurring more work, I shall be pleased to hear from him. I believe that we could be of great help to one another in our work as officers by discussing the diffierent ideas with our selves and the membership in general through the columns of the Magazine. I trust that I may hear from some other secretaries on this subject. A. B. HEDGES, Recording and Financial Secretary Lodge 430. Old Age a Disability. Brother Richardson's article, "Health and Accident Insurance-Convention Expenses," in the September issue of the Magazine is very good. There are articles published on nearly every subject and for the benefit of almost everyone but the old man who could not get a railroad job for love nor money. Just look down the I then make up Form S-13-record of receipts and disbursement for the month -and submit it with the pass book, receipted bills, vouchers returned and pocket cash book to the trustees at the first meeting in the month for audit. They have before them then every transaction in a condensed form, and the audit can be made in a very short time, and by thus making the audit in detail monthly it obviates going over the entire years work to compile the annual report. In compiling my monthly report I always charge off as a disbursement the total amount of advance payments made by the members, leaving the net balance list of disability claims "blind in one eye," belonging to the lodge; there is then no excuse for spending the funds belonging to the Grand Lodge for other purposes. In fact, our monthly reports do not include any money belonging to the Grand Lodge-except advance payments-for the reason that the disbursements are made from the collections for that month, and the collections made in that month are placed in bank and carried over for the report for the next month. page 385, September issue, totals three; page 386, two; in all five. These no doubt are all men able to do a days' work; they can hold some position with a railroad company if they lost their eye in its service. How about the old man who has stood by the B. of L. F. and E., through the dark days of the C. B. and Q. strike, that sacrificed so much that the order might live to do the great work that means so much to its members today? In preparing my loose leaf Record of We must struggle in our old age to live. Receipts and Disbursements I used a Our insurance we must try to keep up to leaf for each member and I make that some day give us a decent burial; we have leaf keep a record of him for four years. been through all the hardships of railroad On account of the length of the book life. Some old men have a struggle to ing. The "Brotherhood of Man" was exemplified in Brookfield, Mo., Monday, October 12th, the occasion being a union meeting a friendly gathering of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 616, Order of Railway Conductors, Division 194, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Lodge 634, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Lodge 19, and the local lodge of the Order of Railway Telegraphers. The following general officers were present: Michael Cadel, Assistant Grand Chief Engineer of the B. of L. E., M. C. Carey, Vice President of the O. R. C., and A. F. Whitney, Second Vice President of the B. of R. T. pay living expenses and keep up their Brookfield, Mo., Joint Union Meetdues, and such men should have, if not their insurance, at least their dues paid. Just help us a little to take the worry from us. The man who loses one eye can draw his $1,500.00 and go and run a store or do a day's work, but the old man who is past 60 years, who paid in his money in the years gone by, who has never been delinquent in 30 years, who cannot get work or hold a job if he got it, who is suffering from the ills that old age is heir to, what about him? Is not old age a disability? Is it not more of a disability than is the condition of the young, strong man with one eye who can do any kind of work? Something should be done for the old brothers who stood by the order in the critical period of its history and made it possible that the B. of L. F. and E. could now number about 90,000 men. I would ask our younger brothers to consider how they would feel on this question if they had been thirty years in the order and were old men? W. H. SMITH, A Fireman's Dream. He climbed up in the engine cab, A cheap cigar between his lips- "Oh, how I hate that durned old crab, For how old Dan misused the boys Then, lo, behold a face appeared. were. He offered a cigar, "Take two or three. They took a siding there at "Don't eat those nasty sardines, lad," Now take a nap, I'll watch the fire The five General Chairmen of the Burlington System were also present, viz.: G. W. Smith, B. of L. E., Centerville, Iowa, A. T. Wright, O. R. C., Council Bluffs, Iowa, M. Larson, B. of L. F. and E., Galesburg, Ill., F. S. Barnes, B. of R. T., Creston, Iowa, and J. F. Carder, O. R. T., Burlington, Iowa. There were visiting members of the respective organizations from Galesburg, Ill., Hannibal, Milan, Moberly, Marceline, and Kansas City, Mo., and Centerville, Iowa. The meeting, which was held in DeGraw Theater, was called to order at 9 a. m., and adjourned at 5:00 p. m. A. J. Seelman, B. of L. E., was Chairman, E. A. Perry, B. of L. F. and E., Vice Chairman, O. C. Barton, B. of R. T., Secretary, and M. Garvey, O. R. C., Financial Secretary. At 6:30 p. m. an elaborate banquet was served in Knights of Columbus Hall, The Ladies covers being laid for 350. of the local auxiliaries, viz.: DeLoss Evart 386, B. of L. E., American Rose 260 O. R. C., Benevolence 304 B. of R. T., and Helpmate 634-Lodge 48Ladies' Society B. of L. F. and E., served the spread. The veteran engineer, Colonel McElroy officiated as toastmaster. The general officers and general chairmen and several members of the local oganizations responded to his introductions with interesting remarks. On the musical program were Mesdames Van Coutren and Rawn, Misses Mayme Willis, Gladys Miller and Georgia Davis, all home talent. This is the second meeting of this kind He sat and thought, then thought some that has been held on the Burlington more, How nice old Dan did seem, System, the first having been held at Then yawned and stretched, fell out of Galesburg, Ill., in September last. It is bed The trip was but a dream. DAN C. LAUGHLIN. the intention to hold more meetings of this character on the system at the different division points. We believe meetings of this kind should be held all over the country far and wide for they are sure to result in closer relations between the organizations and to promote kindly feeling, good will and the real spirit of fraternalism. A. J. SEELMAN, B. of L. E. Chairman Union Meeting. O. C. BARTON, B. of R. T., Secretary Union Meeting. Management of Mechanical Help and Shop Organization. "Lack of attention to details by foremen is also a contributory cause of mental disturbances in employes, which in turn Some truly progressive ideas as to the interferes with their capacity and protreatment of employes and the best duction. I refer particularly to the failmethods of handling men are contained ure of foremen to interest themselves in in an address by A. P. Prendergast, matters of conveniences for employes in Superintendent of the handling of their work, as well as is a common condition in many shops to providing for their bodily necessities. It find employes trying to make headway with defective tools and devices. on the Machinery Texas and Pacific Railroad, delivered before the Railway General Foreman's Association in Chicago last July. This address is characteristic of Mr. Prendergast's methods of dealing with men working under him, whom at all times he has treated justly and fairly in every way. Mr. Prendergast served his apprenticeship as a machinist on the B. and O., and through his ability and perseverance he ultimatively became superintendent of motive power, when he resigned to accept another position. As superintendent of motive power on the B. and O. he was very popular with the engine crews. In fact, all our men regard him as an ideal official, which is the reason the members of my lodge desire the publication in our Magazine of the following paragraphs from his address, as we feel that too broad a circulation cannot be given to the views of progressive men-men who be lieve in according just and considerate treatment to wage earners. The follow ing are quotations from Mr. Prendergast's address: "It is my conclusion after nineteen years of real practical contact with shop employes and conditions that our men are largely what we, as general foremen and supervisors, make them. It is, therefore, apparent that the success of any organization or body of employes is dependent upon the manner in which they are directed and developed. It is difficult to establish and follow a defined system by which alone to govern the supervision of the various departments of our shops, and especially repair shops. It is, therefore, necessary to give study and consideration to each individual employe in order to understand his fitness, and to bring out the best efforts of our men without resorting to methods or a system that creates fever heat or high tension, which is so obectionable to the rank and file of our men. have served under leaders with "I "General foremen should never lose sight of the obligations they are under towards developing employes from the ranks to fit them for advancement and eventually make of them general foremen. The officer in charge of men who fails to educate and interest himself in the advancement of those under him can be numbered with the indifferent leaders who have done much to nurture and promote antagonism and disloyalty of employes.. "I cannot urge too strongly upon all our general foremen and all others engaged in a leading capacity the great value derived from the study of personalities and capacity of individuals under their jurisdiction in order, as necessity or opportunity presents itself, they will be in position to put the right man in extended the right of place among those the right place. Every man should be from whom individuals shall be selected upon basis of character, ability and capacity for the assumption of broader and greater responsibilities. Beware of the indispensable' individual. An organization which rests upon such a one is, to say the least, unstable and the efficient manager is one who long before necessity for any changes develops has located the men qualified for advancement, and as opportunity has presented itself, therefore, they have had extended opportunities for their development. "Co-operation and loyalty is essential between departments. We must sacrifice the tendency to build a fence around our own particular work, as it is bound to work harm and expense. We have but one object after all, which is for safe and economical transportation. We all know of instances of economy effected in one department which work still greater expense in another department, and we should think twice before organizing any branch of our work that will not ad vance the interest of all departments as a demand the amalgamation of the two whole. Brotherhoods. We should have one great organization for all enginemen. "Gentlemen, there is another channel which has been opened to us in the past few years that has been a valuable help in our shop practice, and I want to say a word of approval for their assistance, which I am sure you will all agree is beneficial, and that is the help that we get from the railway journals. As you all know, there is not an edition of the railway publications that does not contain accounts of the results of experiences that are valuable to us in our daily work, and in concluding my remarks I would feel that I had left something undone if I failed to mention the benefits to be derived through the railway journals." (Applause.) MEMBER LODGE 319. Employment Conditions in the South. Our members should attend lodge better than they do and all non-union firemen should be enlisted in the ranks of the "Tried and True." Every lodge should see to it that as soon as a new fireman is eligible to membership he becomes a member of the Brotherhood— that all eligible non-union firemen are kept lined up in the order. I fear that some of our men will lose out soon on the road on which I am employed because of the big Mikado type engines that the company is getting and the consequent reduction of the force. We hear much about business being dull, and it is attributed to various causes, but in my opinion the chief cause for so many engineers being back firing and so many firemen being out of jobs at the present time is the increased size and hauling capacity of engines and the excessively long trains. I am a constant reader of our Magazine and it has been some time since I have read an article in its columns relating to the employment conditions of the white firemen in the South. Nor have I seen anything lately telling of how the white firemen down here are being discriminated against since the Georgia Imposters. MEMBER LODGE 201. As Railroad strike. There are still some I had an experience recently which I engineers here who I am sorry to say consider worth relating. I am a member prefer a negro fireman to a white fireman, and the negro firemen keep working conditions at a low standard, as they are willing to put in three or four hours cleaning or scouring brass between trips, feeling that $2.40 a hundred for firing is ample pay for all this extra work also. Then in addition to this they serve in the capacity of a sort of servant for the engineer. They will carry products home for him that he buys out on the road, run errands and otherwise serve him in a personal capacity. These are things that I see taking place every day. Now, brothers, it is up to us to get together without further delay and improve conditions, and the only way to do that is to get all white firemen lined up in the Brotherhood and give our order more attention. of both orders-the B. of L. E., and B. of L. F. and E. While standing in front of a grocery store in this city-Sanford, Fla.-a large and very black negro came along, wearing a pretty B. of L. F. and E. button in the lapel of his coat. there was no room for any question as to his entire lack of right to wear the button I stopped him and pulled the emblem off, demanding to know why he was wearing it. He replied, "Cap, I'se wearin' that for the Odd Fellows." I detained him long enough to give him quite a talking to and when released he lost no time in putting as much space between him and myself as possible. I consider, however, that the wearing of our button by this negro was not as great an offense against our Brotherhood as its presence on some white men-imposters who try to impose on the Brotherhood and defraud its members and who because of the fact that they are white and usually smooth, it is difficult to recognize as imThe time is at hand when the two posters. All such should be given the orders the B. of L. E. and the B. of L. limit of the law. F. and E.-have got to get together, as the best interests of the men in the cab I have been working in the South for about a year and what B. of L. F. and E. men I have come in contact with so far in this section of the country, I am glad to say are surely true blue. A. P. BANDY, Member Lodge 80. Correspondence Brother Smith opened the fountains of sorrow and sympathy in numerous hearts and homes. Seldom has the tender sympathy of the whole membership in this city found more sincere expression than that felt for the family of Brother Smith. It is natural to love this life; it has many joys; and those which lie close around us in the natural world are wont to have the strongest hold on our affections. Life has many joys, and those LODGE 240 (D. C. Laughlin, Jackson, the Michigan Central Railroad, Thursday Mich.) Lack of interest in lodge mat- morning, September 17th. The death of ters is sadly prevalent on this system. We have here a lodge with about four hundred members and unless something is brought forward, that is, of special interest we do well to get twenty members to a meeting. I likewise find in going over the system that in proportion to their membership, the other lodges are doing no better. Brothers, I believe that it is time that you should take into consideration your own welfare and not let the "faithful few" run the lodge as some which gladden this probationary state few would try and make believe-some are neither few nor unworthy. In youth, who themselves cannot find time to spend looking forward is the rule, hope fills the a few minutes occasionally at a lodge heart, and we press onward to the realimeeting. Many brothers think that be- zation of dreams whose accomplishment cause they pay their dues they are good promises to fill and satisfy all ambitions members. This is by no means all that and desires. As we advance to maturer constitutes a good member. All brothers years, and youth strengthens into manshould go to lodge and take an interest hood, the stronger ties and better joys and a part in the discussion of the sub- and higher hopes of our earthly natures jects receiving attention. Remember that deepen-intertwining, with every fiber of those who sit still and are quite satisfied accomplish nothing, but those that are dissatisfied are the sole benefactors of the world. Remember that you as individuals working collectively are the men behind the guns and you must furnish the ammunition for the committees, for the railroads respect your committees for just what is behind them and nothing more. Were it not for you, your committees would fare rather poorly, and before you find fault with your committee, look up the facts, note what the Brotherhood has done for you in the last ten years, and ask yourself if the money spent for the Protective Department has not been worth while. We have been hard hit here this summer on account of the big engines being placed in service on the main line. They haul about 35 per cent more tonnage than the engines they displaced. About twenty-five of the boys that were laid off in the spring are back to work again and we hope that we will have the others back before long. There are about a hundred off still. It is with deep sadness that I tell of the death of Bro. Llewellyn Smith, a member of Gilbert Lodge 240, who, without note of warning or without word of leave taking from wife, daughters, parents, sisters, brothers, and many friends and associates by whom he was held in high esteem, met his death by being scalded at Spring Arbor Station on the Air Line Division of our human hearts, the love and joys of earth and time. And even old age-white with the frost of many winters-clings closer and closer still to a world on which, in the certain course of events, it can not much longer retain its hold. Death is a sure event, but nothing can better reconcile us to its inevitable visit than to bear as fully as possible the most hopeful philosophy of life and death; accept undoubtingly the evidence and assurance of a spiritual state of conscious existence; invoke the consolations of religion and the experiences and teachings of the ages— intuitions, impressions, convictions and longings-as to the soul's immortality. LODGE 49 (Member, Decatur, Ill.) Forty-nine is doing well. We are not taking in any new members now as we have all eligible men within the jurisdiction of our lodge but three. Two of these have already paid their money and will be members in a few days. Business is good here on the Wabash, but the long trains and large engines are keeping a lot of men back firing. We have some six or seven engineers firing freight. The last month's report shows that there were more cars handled on the Decatur division in the month of October this year than during the same month for the last three years. In my opinion these long trains do not pay the company near |