Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/666

 652 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

benefits which ignores this fact cannot be sound. It seems almost incredible that in this late day men should be found who deny the certainty of mortality experience, yet in fraternal litera- ture one may find proof thereof. In justice to those who, it is hoped, constitute a majority among fraternalists, it should be said that notes of warning from within the ranks have not been wanting. They have been sounded loud and clear in unmistak- able tones. The National Fraternal Congress has taken the bull by the horns by repudiating the hand-to-mouth "levy" schemes and elaborating a table of level rates, step-rates, and of two modified step-rate plans. These tables have been recommended to members by successive congresses. The table of level rates is approximately one-sixth lower than the net premiums (i. e., premiums including only the mortuary and reserve elements, but not the "loading" or expense) based on the American Experi- ence Table at 4 per cent, interest, for corresponding ages up to thirty-five; and nearly 10 per cent, below the same above age thirty-five. Whatever may be said with respect to the adequacy or inadequacy of the rates recommended by the Fraternal Con- gress, it must at least be admitted that it shows a conscious attempt on part of influential fraternal societies to base rates of contributions on actual experiences in health and expense items. One fraternal society has adopted for its basis of rates the com- bined experience tables of four great orders, and intends to con- tinue on this basis until it has accumulated experience of its own adequate for the formulation of reliable tables. This is a rational method of procedure. If fraternal societies can furnish protec- tion at lower rates than those which have hitherto seemed possible, they should have an opportunity to do so, provided that the experiment does not involve inevitable ruin. Experimentation is justifiable, both ethically and socially considered, only within certain limits. We may encourage a man to become an expert marksman, but we have no right to condemn his fellow-beings to serve as targets, nor should our statutes permit him to go unpunished in case he persists in continuing such target practice. Some societies are doing business today at rates less than one- half and one-third of those recommended by the congress. This