PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

ued to be high, and the Executive Council had not ordered enough assessments to pay all the death claims. Consequently, there were a number of death claims unpaid which caused much dissatisfaction.

The High Court of Ontario which met at Ottawa during the last days of June, de- clared for a new endowment law based on recognized mortality tables, a strict medical examination, and a reorganization of the Supreme Court. On the third day of Au- gust the Supreme Court again met, this time in the City of Hamilton, to carry out the suggestion of the High Court of Ontario. The Order had already been incorporated in June by the Ontario Legislature. Bro. John A. McGillivray, now supreme secretary, was admitted a member of the Supreme Court at this session and was elected supreme coun- sellor. The number of members had fallen to 369. all of whom, excepting one court in New Jersey, were Canadians. There were no funds, the members were discouraged. and the outlook was anything but encourag- ing. It is not the intention to write here the history of the present supreme chief ranger, but it is unanimously agreed by friend and foe that if he had not been at the head of the Order. there would now be no Order and consequently no history to write. He cheered and encouraged the members. pointed out the need of such a society to place the benefit of insurance within the reach of the masses that needed it. He was of course re-elected supreme chief ranger. and E. S. Cummer, supreme secretary. An- other effort was made to unite the Canadian Order with the I. O. F., but without success. These were the dark days, but with the un- tiring efforts of Dr. Oronhyatekha, who was high chief ranger of the High Court of On- tario, as well as supreme chief ranger, the

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Order grew in spite of all opposition; so that, when the Supreme Court met in Lon- don, Ontario, on November 9, 1882, there were 53 courts giving a membership of 1,080. The combined mortality tables had been taken as the guide in fixing the rates for insurance.

The next session of the Supreme Court was held in Toronto in August, 1883. The reports showed 1,530 members and $5,565.22 of funds on June 30th of that year. The sum of $9,000 had been paid in benefits during the year then ended. Repre- sentatives were present from Ontario and Manitoba. The supreme chief ranger and supreme secretary were re—elected.

The session of 1884 was held in August at Kingston, Ontario. Representatives were present from Ontario, Quebec, New Bruns- wick, and Nova Scotia. During the year then ended the Order had been extended to the Maritime Provinces, the first court being established at Moncton on September 5, 1883, the second at Amherst, Nova Scotia, on September 24th. The membership had increased to 2,355 and the funds in hand to $12,337.25. The question of admitting la- dies was brought up at this session for the first time. such action being recommended by the supreme chief ranger. The motion to admit them was defeated by a vote of 20 to 7. The supreme chief ranger and su- ’ preme secretary were re—elected. J. A. Mc- Gillivray. Q. C.. was elected supreme coun- sellor and G. A. Hetherington, M. D., of St. John. N. B., supreme vice chief ranger.

The next session was held at Ottawa in August, 1885. Reference was made in the report of the supreme chief ranger to the Northwest rebellion and to the death of

S. C. Elliott, the first supreme counsellor, who had been killed on the battle field at