Encyclopedia Dubuque
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ROMAN CATHOLIC MUTUAL PROTECTIVE SOCIETY OF IOWA
ROMAN CATHOLIC MUTUAL PROTECTIVE SOCIETY OF IOWA. The Roman Catholic Mutual Protective Society of Iowa, organized at Iowa City, Iowa on May 21, 1873, but it was not until November, 1879 when similar organizations joined with it that the organization became strong. It had two branches in Dubuque. (1) Branch No. 1 met the first Tuesday of each month. Branch 2 met quarterly.
The organization provided "mutual assistance to the members and families and aid in the support of widows or heirs of deceased members." Members of the organization had to be been 18 and 50 years of age, "healthy in body and mind," and recommended by the parish priest or by a practicing physician. Initiation fees paid the expense fund. The fees ranged from $1.00 for 18-35, $1.50 ages 35-45; $2.00 ages 45-50; and five cents above the dollar paid at the time of a death of a member. A beneficiary fund assessed $1.00 at the time of initiation and $1.00 upon the death of a member. A member's heirs were paid $2,000 when the number of members reached 2,000. Until then the family would receive the amount resulting from the assessment of $1 per member. (2)
By 1890 there were sixty-eight branches with Dubuque having three. The total membership was 2,000. (3) In 1899 the state organization could claim 3,447 members and a reserve fund of $26,734.85. During the twenty years of its existence, the organization had paid $600,000 to the family of deceased members. (4)
In 1926 officials of the organization denied that the organization had been merged with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. (5)
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Source:
1. "Protective Society," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, November 6, 1933, p. 12
2. "Mutual Protection," Daily Herald, June 4, 1880, p. 4
3. "An Excursion to Dyersville," Daily Herald, June 7, 1890, p. 4
4. "City Briefs," Dubuque Herald, January 22, 1899, p. 5
5. "Merger Denied by Catholic Society," Telegraph-Herald, November 29, 1926, p. 1
