UC-NRLF 
 
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LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 University of California. 
 
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 GIFT OF 
 
 
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Thought is deeper than all speech, 
 Feeling deeper than all thought, 
 Soul to souls can never teach 
 What unto itself is taught.'' 
 
 FINANCIAL 
 IDEAS 
 
 Worth $5000 to You 
 
 If You Can Comprehend 
 Them! 
 
 Orlando K- Fitzsimmons 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 ILIFO* 
 
 S*\ 
 
 Price Ten Cents 
 
 Copyright 1904, by Orlando K- Fitzsimmons 
 
 Comprehension means ability to know; capacity to under- 
 stand; power to receive, contain and retain ideas. It is 
 the gauge of individual wisdom. What is your capacity? 
 
LET US REASON TOGETHER 
 
 TTUMAN INTELLIGENCE is the most potent power in the 
 worlds All things else on earth owe allegiance to it* 
 Analytical reason is the supreme attribute of the human mind 
 and to it man owes his present environment* "Were it not for 
 this faculty there would he no telescope, no railroads, no boats, 
 no telegraph, no telephone, no machinery — there would be no 
 inventions, no progress, whatever. Long ages ago man realized 
 that every Cause produced a responding Effect and that every 
 Effect indicated a corresponding Cause. From these fundamental 
 principles is builded the wonderful science of mathematics which 
 teaches us how to take a Cause and mathematically (exactly) 
 deduce the Effect, or to take an Effect and arrive at the Cause. 
 
 All things and all conditions are the Effect of a Cause and 
 are therefore natural, ancf whatever is natural is possible* 
 
 "We are looking for men and women who have developed this 
 logical reasoning faculty somewhat (the greater the development, 
 the better); who can reason from Cause to Effect and from 
 Effect to Cause; who have learned that Suspicion and Prejudice 
 are the children of Ignorance; who can distinguish truths from 
 mere assertions; who can rely on their own judgment, form their 
 own conclusions and work out their own problems. To such we 
 offer financial independence! 
 
 If you are not in this class, it will be useless for you to read 
 further. The proper course for you to pursue is to place yourself 
 on a brain-food diet, go back to the primer class and get a 
 new start. You are a cipher — alone, you represent nothing — 
 and are useful only in determining the value of the other figures. 
 
 2 
 
(university 
 
 V OF 
 
 o^ h 
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 During the past two and one-half years we have distributed 
 some Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) in benefits 
 amongst our patrons at an average profit to living members 
 of over 200 per cent per annum. (Here is an Effect, seek the 
 Cause. The following pages will aid you.) In view of the fact 
 that this has been accomplished in the face of the most power- 
 ful opposition that could be brought to bear as well as almost 
 universal popular prejudice, the rational reasoning mind should 
 realize that there must be something uncommonly substantial 
 about it, for no ordinary business could exist under such con- 
 ditions, let alone the marvelous profits returned. 
 
 The opposition was vicious, venemous and unprincipled. 
 Slanderous lies were the chief weapons used ; ordinary business 
 greed and jealousy furnished the animus. 
 
 Failures are not attacked, they are simply devoured. Our 
 only offense to the ravenous business jackals is in being suc- 
 cessful. 
 
 The cause of the universal prejudice is the prevailing ignor- 
 ance of what we are doing and how we are doing it. The usual 
 contention of the mental bankrupts is that the business is 
 "bad" because it is "too good." Some are apparently so hope- 
 lessly inane that they can see no difference between an intelli- 
 gent reason and a figure of speech. They are simply human 
 phonographs and do nothing but reproduce the speech of others. 
 You have met some of them, have you not? Some of them go 
 into the newspaper business so that they can talk before a 
 whole lot of people at once. 
 
 No intelligent reason has ever been given in explanation of 
 why it is "bad." Many fallacious arguments and statements 
 are made by our opponents, however, that have deceived the 
 thoughtless and indifferent to their own detriment. Thousands 
 who have been asked to investigate this system thoroughly 
 have either been to indolent or fearful to do it, or else are de- 
 void of the faculty of reasoning from Cause to Effect and have 
 thus lost the benefits they otherwise would have received. They 
 have their reward! 
 
 3 
 
 
Perhaps it was but natural that "everybody" who learned 
 in a vague and crude manner that we had set out to do some- 
 thing hastened to tell their neighbor that we were attempting 
 to do something " impossible ' ' ; that we would ''fail"; that we 
 were searching for "suckers/' etc. It is those who are them- 
 selves contaminated with the inherent weakness of deceit and 
 dishonesty who declare us frauds, tricksters and fakers, and 
 every kindred epithet, which are words that picture the degen- 
 erate fancies of their own minds, because we have proven that 
 we are neither frauds nor tricksters by doing even greater 
 things and bestowing greater benefits on others than we an- 
 nounced we would do when we started. Therefore, if they 
 imagine evil where none exists, is it not of and within them- 
 selves ? 
 
 We have fulfilled every promise ; we have met every obliga- 
 tion; we do not owe any man a dollar in spite of the ranting 
 of the poor, deluded fools who are, perhaps unwittingly, dis- 
 honest with themselves and their friends and acquaintances 
 when they basely condemn that of which they are utterly ig- 
 norant. 
 
 For the benefit of those who do not comprehend and who 
 wish to obtain an idea of what this system is, we make the fol- 
 lowing brief explanation. Our agents can furnish you other 
 literature if you desire it. 
 
 We wish at this point to call your attention to the fact that 
 in the "ordinary business' ' plan there is 5 per cent of success 
 to 95 per cent of failure ! The daily record of failures would 
 appal you. Dun's, Bradstreet 's, Mulhall's or any good statis- 
 tics will tell you that 95 per cent of the people who start in 
 business— store, factory or farm— fail sooner or later. Think 
 of it ! Then realize that this is an Effect of a Cause, and that 
 this Cause has at last been traced out and we can make it so 
 plain that any school-boy who has the reasoning faculty can 
 see it at once. We will explain it in a pamphlet some time. 
 Without knowing the Cause, however, logical reason will in- 
 stantly conclude that such a plan must be very imperfect. If 
 our business were established under that same old plan it would 
 be subject to the same weakness, would it not? It must be 
 different else it would be no better. Does that appeal to your 
 intelligence as logical. 
 
 In the construction of our System we have cast out the er- 
 rors existing under the old plan and retained only that which 
 
 4 
 
is good. When man began using electricity he was obliged to 
 evolve a new measuring system, because the then existing stan- 
 dards of measure, the pound, the yard, the bushel, etc., were 
 inadequate. For the same reason, you cannot measure our sys- 
 tem by the old plan standards, such as "earning capacity/' 
 "earning power of money,' ' "reserve fund," "interest earn- 
 ings (rentals)," "investments," etc. You must learn the new 
 measuring system if you would "know all about it." 
 
 The Cumulative Credit System is a system of Mutual Bene- 
 fit to each and all of its patrons ; it is pure and practical co- 
 operation, an "each for all and all for each" plan. It is neither 
 Life Insurance, Building and Loan, Banking, Investment nor 
 Mercantile business. There is nothing else like it in the world. 
 The plan is almost directly opposite the ordinary business 
 methods. The only essential feature common to both being 
 Patrons and "new business." 
 
 (That you may understand this last statement clearly, its 
 analyzation is here given: All the other statements in our 
 literature that are not clear to you will become perfectly 
 plain if you analyze them properly. 
 
 Every business in the world requires a constant influx of 
 "money" to furnish that which must be paid out. What else 
 is there to commercialism but taking in money and paying 
 it out? That which flows in is "new business" from either old 
 patrons, new patrons, or both. The only "money" that any 
 business or individual can pay out must come from others. Did 
 you ever get a dollar in your life that did not come from some- 
 one else ? Others are the same in this respect. Therefore, ' ' new 
 business" is absolutely requsite for the prosperity and per- 
 petuity of any and all business, our own included. See also 
 letter to Gen. Agt. Am. Ex. Co., page 27). 
 
 The shortest and quickest way to explain the Cumulative 
 Credit System is by comparing it with an established business 
 which is also different in some respects from the ordinary busi- 
 ness. 
 
 When we speak of "ordinary business" we mean that 
 method of gaining a livelihood by first exchanging money for 
 something with one person and then finding another person to 
 give us more for the thing than it cost, so that a "profit" can 
 be made. All business is based on giving less than is received 
 so as to "make" a "profit," and the "ordinary business" rule 
 is "get all you can and give as little as possible." 
 
 5 
 
About a year ago a ragged little boy gave me an illustra- 
 tion of "profit" such as I had been seeking for a number of 
 years. He was selling matches and came into my office with 
 the inquiry: 
 
 "Do you want to buy some matches ?" 
 
 "How much are your matches a package?" 
 
 "Ten cents a package." 
 
 "I can go to a store and buy those matches for five cents 
 a package," I said to him. 
 
 "I know it," he replied. 
 
 ' • Why do you want me to pay you ten cents a package when 
 I can buy them for five cents?" 
 
 " So I can make something off them ! ! ' 
 
 His reply was truthful and was uttered with the candor of 
 one unused to dissimulation. When he gets more experience 
 in "business" he will learn to conceal the fact that he is seek- 
 ing financial assistance when he asks others to "buy" some- 
 thing from him. ' He will soon learn to call it "legitimate 
 profit." 
 
 "Profit" is merely a present you give to the other fellow 
 when you "buy" and receive from the other fellow when you 
 "sell." The word "profit" gives a certain respectability to 
 the taking of the gift. Some "Captains of Industry" simply 
 levy tribute under the guise of "legitimate profit." 
 
 People are gradually awakening to the fact that it is not 
 absolutely necessary to first exchange the money for things 
 and back again for money in order to receive this present called 
 "profit" from others. 
 
 Take Fraternal Life Insurance, for instance. That is a 
 wonderful business system and its patrons number millions 
 and there have been hundreds of millions of dollars distributed 
 in benefits without any property having been used in the trans- 
 action. 
 
 Life insurance is a comparatively new institution as com- 
 pared with the older method mentioned above, and, in the pro- 
 cess of evolution has pointed out the way to this new system. 
 
 [It was but a short step from the sickle, short blade and 
 one hand power, to the cradle, long blade and two hand power. 
 The results accomplished by the sickle and one hand were more 
 than doubled by the increased power of the cradle and two 
 hands. (You can see Cause and Effect plainly here.) Some 
 man discovered this truth by using intelligent reason and nat- 
 
 6 
 
urally concluded that a still longer blade and more power 
 would produce correspondingly greater results, and the out- 
 come was the reaper with horses as the motive power. The 
 same process of reasoning produced the harvester, and so on. 
 Looking back on it all you are obliged to acknowledge the sim- 
 plicity of it. Still it was a long time coming. You cannot, 
 however, truthfully say that the sickle was a ' ■ failure, ' • neither 
 was the cradle nor the reaper, although millions of "dollars" 
 were "invested" in reapers when the harvester displaced it. 
 The harvester, with its greater power, paid for both, however, 
 so nothing was "lost." Man can't lose by progressing!] 
 
 To make our meaning still plainer to you we call your at- 
 tention to the fact that the real and true basis of Fraternal 
 Life Insurance is giving instead of taking, and if every member 
 of Fraternal Insurance Orders realized the good they were 
 doing with their small monthly contributions for the benefit 
 of others, there would be very little discord or criticism of that 
 most beneficent system except with people in whom greed and 
 selfishness are the dominating traits of character. 
 
 The true spirit of Fraternalism is the spirit of benefiting 
 others in their time of need while being thankful that our own 
 lives are spared to enable us to make the small contributions 
 which experience has demonstrated is requisite for the per- 
 petuity of the order. 
 
 In Fraternal Insurance the members band together and 
 each individual member contributes a small amount each month 
 to help create a large fund to be distributed in benefits month- 
 ly to the beneficiaries of those members who die from month 
 to month. The members who thus contribute to others have 
 just as much to eat, are just as comfortable and have just as 
 many of the so-called pleasures of life as those who do not join 
 them in the work. 
 
 If this last statement is true, then wherein does or can any 
 member lose by making the paltry contributions called for? 
 
 The jealousy, the greed, the selfishness which wantonly as- 
 sails or even criticises such a beneficent institution should be 
 ostracized. Such people do not deserve the benefits they, them- 
 selves, are deriving from other people in the ordinary grabbing 
 ("business") process. These people, as a rule, fail to appre- 
 ciate the fact that all they have in the world, except what they 
 actually manufactured themselves, came from other people, to 
 whose intelligence and labor they owe everything they have. 
 
 7 
 
What has all this to do with the Cumulative Credit System? 
 
 Simply this, the Cumulative Credit System is a vast im- 
 provement over the Fraternal Life Insurance system in every 
 respect, in every detail. 
 
 That you may be better able to comprehend the truth of 
 this statement I here present the essential features of the two 
 plans in parallel. Note them carefully, weigh them pro and 
 con, reason from cause to effect and if you conclude that my 
 statement above in reference to the superiority of the Cumu- 
 lative Credit System over the Fraternal Life Insurance Sys- 
 tem is erroneous, and you can give an intelligent reason there- 
 for, I will make you a present of $100. 
 
 In Fraternal Insurance the members band together and each 
 contributes a small sum monthly for the purpose of creating a 
 fund with which to pay the beneficiaries of the members who 
 die from month to month. Now mark carefully: It is the 
 death of the members that designates which policies (or con- 
 tracts) are to be paid from month to month with the money thus 
 contributed. When a member dies his policy lives on until it 
 is paid or cancelled, because that is the only way to kill a con- 
 tract calling for money. Therefore the members of a Fraternal 
 Insurance Order contribute monthly for the purpose of creating 
 a fund with which to kill the contracts that death designates 
 or points out from month to month. Is this plain ? Now mark 
 again: It is possible under that system for an old contract (or 
 policy) and a young contract to be killed or cancelled the same 
 month, should a member who has been contributing a number 
 of years and a member who has contributed but a short time 
 die during the same month. In that case one member con- 
 tributes many times more than another for the same benefit to 
 beneficiaries, and therein is found an element of inequity which 
 cannot be avoided, because of the uncertainty of life. The 
 same is true of old line insurance, and is not here used as any- 
 thing detrimental to either system, but better to show the equity 
 of the new plan. 
 
 Under our new system the members band together for Mu- 
 tual Benefit and contribute weekly instead of monthly, for the 
 purpose of creating a Mutual Benefit Credit Fund to be used 
 in killing the oldest outstanding Certificate always, and not 
 some old ones and some young ones. The period of payment 
 is not limited to any given period of time, any more than it is 
 
 8 
 
in Fraternal Insurance, but is regulated by the death of 
 the Certificate, just as the payments in Fraternal Insurance are 
 regulated by the death of the members. 
 
 The amount contributed under this new system by indi- 
 vidual members is never less than at the rate of $500 per $1,000 
 in 80 weeks or less, according to the time of maturity. One 
 Certificate entitles a patron to the privilege of paying $1.00 
 per week and if it is reached in the order of maturity in 50 
 weeks he has then contributed $50 and receives $100 ; if it takes 
 62 weeks to mature, his contribution is $62 and he receives 
 $124; if it takes 70 weeks his contribution is $70 and he re- 
 ceives $140, and so on up to and including 80 weeks, when his 
 contributions amount to $80 and his return is $160, which is 
 the extreme amount returned on one Certificate. (A patron can 
 make application for as many Certificates as he desires. We 
 have several patrons in Los Angeles carrying from 50 to 140 
 each!) If the Certificate should not mature in 80 weeks, he 
 continues his contributions until such time as it does mature, 
 and this does away with what is known as ' ' paid up ' ' contracts 
 in the "Diamond Contract" or "Merchandise Contract" busi- 
 ness, and which is the rock on which they are finally wrecked. 
 This feature of the Cumulative Credit Company is a safeguard 
 against possible commercial "panics," and is an absolute 
 guarantee of perpetuity, because each patron thus joins hands 
 with his brother patrons for their mutual protection and the 
 result assures benefits to all. In the event of the payments ever 
 exceeding the 80-week period, nothing whatever is deducted 
 by the management for the Expense Fund on the payments 
 made in excess of the 80th week, but all such contributions are 
 placed in the Mutual Benefit Credit Fund, dollar for dollar, as 
 received. 
 
 In the following table of parallels, we present the essen- 
 tial features of the two plans and a close scrutiny and analyza- 
 tion will repay you. A mere glance at any part of this litera- 
 ture will not repay you. In this are embodied years of study 
 and investigation by a naturally analytical mind and the ideas 
 are presented in simple language and pertinent illustrations. 
 It would take a large volume to comprise all the details of this 
 intricate subject. This is but the primer, intended to prepare 
 you for that which is to follow. We propose to make this 
 not only the greatest Mutual Benefit Organization in the 
 world, but also the leading educational institution along new 
 and advanced ideas. You have the privilege of joining if you 
 wish. 
 
 9 
 
Study the Parallel 
 
 FRATERNAL INSURANCE CUMULATIVE CREDIT SYSTEM 
 
 Contributions axe made monthly. Contributions are made weekly. 
 
 Matured policies are paid monthly. Matured Certificates are paid 
 
 weekly. 
 
 Death matures the policies, (and The arrival of the money matures 
 the money must be there to pay the Certificates, 
 
 them). 
 
 The member dies and the policy is 
 paid. 
 
 One member of the family must 
 die in order to bestow the bene- 
 fits on his loved ones. 
 
 It is not possible under this plan 
 to establish a perpetual income 
 to be enjoyed by the member 
 while living and bequeathed to 
 his family after his death. 
 
 All money contributed by the 
 members in excess of the amount 
 actually needed each month to 
 pay the policies designated by 
 the death of the members, is 
 withheld by the management 
 from circulation amongst the 
 members until such time as there 
 are a sufficient number of deaths 
 to cause the money to be dis- 
 tributed amongst the benefi- 
 ciaries. 
 
 Life is uncertain and, while the 
 death of the members from 
 month to month is regulated by 
 the law of average, it is pos- 
 sible that such an epidemic of 
 deaths might occur amongst the 
 members that the contributions 
 provided for under the plan 
 
 The Certificate dies and the mem- 
 ber is paid. 
 
 The members receive their benefits 
 while living, thus enabling the 
 entire family to enjoy them 
 while they are all united. 
 
 It is possible under this system 
 for members to establish a per- # 
 manent monthly, quarterly or 
 yearly income to be enjoyed dur- 
 ing their lives and bequeathed 
 to their families after their 
 death. 
 
 No money belonging to the Mutual 
 Benefit Credit Fund is withheld 
 by the management, but it is 
 distributed amongst the members 
 in benefits weekly. We are 
 founded on the principle that 
 the best place for our patrons' 
 money is in their own pockets 
 and the Public Accountant's re- 
 port, Jan. 2nd, 1904, showed but 
 $16.70 on hand in the Mutual 
 Benefit Credit Fund, the bal- 
 ance having been distributed to 
 patrons in accordance with the 
 provisions in our certificates. 
 Some ignorant or envious people 
 proclaimed that a fault! 
 
 It is the arrival of the money con- 
 tributed by the members that 
 sets the time of maturity and it 
 is, therefore, an utter impossi- 
 bility under this system to have 
 such an epidemic of money com- 
 ing from the members that it 
 could not always be paid out, 
 
 10 
 
Fraternal Insurance (Con.) 
 would be insufficient to pay the 
 claims, thereby causing what is 
 known in the business world as 
 a "failure." 
 
 The prosperity and the perpetuity 
 of this plan depends entirely 
 upon the acquisition of new 
 business from new people con- 
 tinually . 
 
 Under, this system there is an age 
 limit, <an occupation restriction 
 and a medical examination. 
 
 Under this plan it is absolutely 
 necessary to have the money with 
 which to pay the matured poli- 
 cies, and it is possible for the 
 time to arrive when policies will 
 be matured without sufficient 
 funds with which to pay them. 
 
 Under this system a policy calls 
 for a fixed amount without ref- 
 erence to the time of maturity. 
 
 Owing to the uncertainty of life, 
 the inequity existing under this 
 plan is very great, as shown by 
 the amounts paid in by the de- 
 ceased and the amounts received 
 by the beneficiaries. 
 
 Money paid out in benefits is not 
 returned to be again used to 
 Benefit those who contributed it, 
 because the member is dead. 
 
 Cumulative Credit System (Con.) 
 hence, there is no possibility un- 
 der our system of what is known 
 in the business world as a "fail- 
 ure." 
 
 The present membership of the 
 Cumulative Credit Company and 
 their posterity could perpetuate 
 the system indefinitely without 
 the acquisition of new members. 
 
 Under this system no individual is 
 barred because of age, occupa- 
 tion or ill health, there being 
 neither age limit, occupation re- 
 striction nor medical examina- 
 tion. 
 
 Under this system it is absolutely 
 necessary for the money to be 
 delivered before the Certificates 
 are matured, and it is therefore 
 impossible for the time to arrive 
 when there will not be sufficient 
 funds with which to pay them. 
 
 Under this system the time of 
 maturity governs the amount re- 
 turned. The amount is fixed 
 equitably in accordance with the 
 time of maturity. 
 
 Under this system the maturities 
 are so adjusted that the inequity 
 is very slight, and we are now 
 contemplating <a change in the 
 Certificate so that, under ordi- 
 nary conditions, the benefits and 
 payments will be in absolute 
 equity. Our present Certificate 
 stands today the most equit- 
 able in the business world. 
 
 Not only is the money distributed 
 in benefits returned, as a rule, 
 but our records show a large 
 growth from those Who receive 
 
 the Benefits, because we 
 
 pay 
 like 
 
 living members and they 
 the Benefits and want more— 
 unless they belong to the ' ' men- 
 tally incompetent' ' society. 
 
 11 
 
Fraternal Insurance (Con.) 
 
 The vacancies in the membership 
 caused by death (which is the 
 only thing that matures the 
 policies) must be filled with new 
 people who must meet the age 
 and health requirements. 
 
 Th'e Benefits returned under this 
 plan show great inequity rang- 
 ing from "$2.50 for $1.00" 
 (seldom, if ever, is it leas than 
 $2.50 for $1.00!) to over "$1600 
 for $1.00!" The average is over 
 $15.00 for $1.00! (This statement 
 •is amazing, but it is absolutely 
 true. Verifying instances will 
 be given to those who wish 
 them). 
 
 The quicker the policy is matured 
 the greater the ratio returned to 
 the amount contributed. (Ex- 
 ample.— Peter Von Deesten, Tent 
 No. 34 K. O. T. M., Brooklyn, 
 N. Y., joined at the age of 44, 
 contributed $1.00 to the Benefit 
 Fund and died during the month 
 of February, 1904, aged 44, and 
 ihis widow received $1000.00. 
 ($1000 for $1.00). 
 
 James V. McLaughlin, member of 
 Lisbon Tent, K. O. T. M., Lis- 
 bon, Ohio, joined at the age of 
 30, contributed $200.40 to the 
 Benefit Fund and died during 
 the month of February, 1904, 
 aged 44, and his widow received 
 $2000.00. ($10 for $1.00). 
 
 Hundreds of similar cases can be 
 given. 
 
 Cumulative Credit System (Con.) 
 Since money does the maturing un- 
 der our plan there is no neces- 
 sity for a vacancy occuring be- 
 cause the living member receives 
 the direct benefit and is then 
 better able to contribute than 
 When he first started. 
 
 Our system is so adjusted at pres- 
 ent that not more than $2.00 for 
 $1.00 is returned to our mem- 
 bers on the maturity of their 
 Certificates. (That is exactly 
 what we have done so far. $3.00 
 for $1.00 or $4.00 for $1.00 could 
 be returned easily in a short 
 time if people would cast pre- 
 judice to one side and use a little 
 reason. Prejudice is a child of 
 Ignorance— a "spoiled" child 
 at that.) 
 
 The quicker our Certificates are 
 matured the less the amount re- 
 turned under ordinary condi- 
 tion's. We have always returned 
 and are now returning $2.00 
 for $1.00. In June, 1903, our 
 time of maturing was 70 
 weeks. At present (May, 1904) 
 we are maturing in 67 weeks! 
 $2.00 for $1.00 Benefits to pat- 
 rons during all that time and 
 we pay them every week. Why 
 in the world don't you get in? 
 Afraid? Bah! You can scarce- 
 ly find an old woman, any more, 
 who is too timid to ride on the 
 cars! They used to be quite 
 plentiful. What are you afraid 
 of? Your own weakness, not 
 ours— We are the strongest in- 
 stitution in the world. You 
 guess not? Guess again, you're 
 wrong. 
 
 12 
 
Our Plan in Brief 
 
 A preacher came into the Home Office one day and wished 
 to see Mr. Fitzsimmons in reference to the business. A brother 
 minister, who had spent some months in investigating the plan, 
 had told him that it was most worthy and wanted him To ' 
 come in. He rejected a prof erred chair, stating that he was 
 in a great hurry. 
 
 He said to Mr. Fitzsimmons, * ' Can you explain this business 
 to me briefly ?" 
 
 ' 'Yes, sir," Mr. F. replied, "I can explain it with one word 
 if you can comprehend it with one word. That is a matter that 
 rests entirely with you." 
 
 His smile had a sort of startled appearance as the idea 
 struck in, and he asked for the word. 
 "Giving!" said Mr. F. 
 
 The startled smile changed into a look of astonished per- 
 plexity and he murmured : 
 
 "I am afraid I can't understand it from that." 
 "That one word pictures the whole plan clearly and beau- 
 tifully to those who know," said Mr. F. "I'm sorry you can't 
 see it. Come in when you have more time." 
 
 That was about eight months ago and he has not yet re- 
 turned. 
 
 Giving is the opposite of "collecting,"— and, perhaps, he 
 thought of the old proverb— The shoemaker should stick to 
 his last! 
 
 That the word "giving" expresses clearly the principle on 
 which our system is based is a fact. You should remember 
 that there can be nothing given unless that which is given is 
 received by some one else. You can give yourself nothing. If 
 you give, you must give to others. If you receive, you must 
 have others give to you. 
 
 Our plan is one of systematic giving and receiving. 
 We issue Certificates, similar to insurance policies, to those 
 who make application for them. There is no application fee. 
 The Certificates are numbered consecutively as issued. Each 
 Certificate calls for a contribution of $1.00 per week or $5.00 
 every five weeks to the general fund, the major portion of 
 which is for the Mutual Benefit Credit Fund to be used in call- 
 ing in or in maturing the oldest outstanding live Certificates 
 each week, according to the terms of the Certificate, which, so 
 
 13 
 
far, has returned a net average profit of over 200 per cent per 
 annum to the patrons on the amount contributed by them, and 
 the balance belongs to the Expense Fund to be used as the man- 
 agement may direct. Out of the Expense Fund are paid all 
 the expenses of operating the various offices, the remuneration 
 of agents, the printing, etc. The Mutual Benefit Credit Fund 
 can be used for the purpose of maturing Certificates only. 
 
 When a Certificate is issued it receives a number which al- 
 ways designates its relative position to the others in force, and 
 this number is the one immediately following the last Certi- 
 ficate issued. 
 
 Example.— On April 30th, 1903, the number of the last Cer- 
 tificate issued was 3318 and the last Certificate matured was 
 213. At the close of that day's work number 3318 was at the 
 end of the numbering line. The next day as applications were 
 received new Certificates were issued in the usual manner, and 
 so on as day followed day and week succeeded week, until now, 
 (May, 1904), the last number written is nearly 9300 and the 
 last number paid is about 2000. Thus, you see, number 3318, 
 which was considered a "high number" when it started, is a 
 very "low" number now. 
 
 Joining a line buying theatre tickets during a rush would 
 give you an idea of our system, providing those who secured 
 their tickets and dropped off the front end of the line would 
 get in line again at the rear for more. Under our plan, the more 
 they get the more they want. Catch the idea? 
 
 This space is reserved for our local representatives to 
 stamp their names and address in. If you desire more in- 
 formation, or if you wish to join in the good work, call on 
 or address this representative. These booklets are furnished 
 free to agents and patrons. If you pay them 10 cents for it, 
 then their "profit" would be 10 cents. See page 6. 
 
The Important Question 
 
 How long a time will be required to mature Certificates 
 taken now is an all important question because people are not 
 yet educated in the business so but that their one idea is 
 centered on how much they are going to get out of it and 
 how quickly they can get it. In considering the business they 
 seldom observe it as a whole, but center their thought in self. 
 They do not realize that the real strength of the business 
 depends on what they all do and that the individual is but a 
 very small part of all. If they would all join together and cen- 
 ter their thoughts upon the accomplishment of a certain end 
 and let that end be the contribution of money weekly for the 
 purpose of the rapid cancellation of Certificates, no matter who 
 they belong to, they would soon learn that their own reward 
 would come quicker. 
 
 People who consider themselves intelligent are ludicrously 
 foolish when they encounter the question of money or material 
 gain. It is but the result of centuries of false education in 
 that respect. For instance, what could be more ridiculously 
 comical than the following absolutely true statement: A 
 person well able to carry 25 Certificates, after weeks of hesi- 
 tancy because the business is "too good to be true," finally 
 musters up the courage to take one or two Certificates, and 
 after he has paid 15 or 20 weeks desires the management to 
 figure out exactly when his Certificate will mature, and kicks 
 because the estimated time is three or four weeks longer than 
 was required to pay someone else ! The ridiculous side of peo- 
 ple is shown by the fact that they will not join in this plan 
 at first because it is "too good" and after they get in it 
 isn't good enough! I am pleased to say, however, that we 
 have many patrons of sufficient enlightenment so that they 
 have advanced at least one grade; they are no longer in the 
 primary grade. They have learned somewhat of the real 
 value of the business, and where its real strength lies. Being 
 desirous of perpetuating it, they work to the common interest 
 of all. 
 
 Now I am going to give a conservative estimate of the 
 probable time it will take for the maturity of Certificates 
 issued now. 
 
 15 
 
Seventy weeks should be about the extreme limit of time 
 required with the probability of maturing in about 60 weeks 
 and the possibility of maturing in 50 weeks. 
 
 What do I base my calculations on? 
 
 My knowledge of the business in detail and of the new 
 territory we expect to open up before the first of June, 1905. 
 (See "How to Figure Time of Maturity," page 19). 
 
 Reader, I would not willingly mislead you nor anyone 
 else in regard to this business, and, even were I so inclined, 
 you must admit that it would be foolish for me to do it 
 because it would take but a short time for you to find me out. 
 I wish to call your attention to but one little point and that 
 is, should it take 100 weeks to mature the Certificates the 
 benefits returned to you, even under those conditions, would 
 be marvelous. Why should you hesitate ? Why do you delay f 
 
 ORLANDO K. FITZSIMMONS. 
 
 Why the Time of Maturity Fluctuates 
 
 On February 28th, 1903, we were maturing in 64 weeks; 
 on June 20th, 1903, the time of maturity had extended to 70 
 weeks; on September 12th, 1903, the time of maturity was 43 
 weeks; on February 27th, 1904, the time had again extended 
 to 62 weeks. This is a year's record. 
 
 What caused this fluctuation in the time of maturity? 
 
 Answer.— The fluctuation of the volume of new business 
 written each week beginning during the period extending from 
 November 12th, 1901, to December 27th, 1902. (Notice these 
 dates particularly.) 
 
 To understand this you must view the business as a whole. 
 Remember that the Certificates are numbered consecutively 
 as issued, and we always mature the oldest as they are reached. 
 You must be able to realize that there are two ends and a 
 middle to its body corporate, and that we are constantly add- 
 ing to one end and tearing off the other. Every week we are 
 issuing new Certificates and paying old ones. Thus there is 
 a constant and steady movement toward the front, of each and 
 every live Certificate, each week. For example: On Feb- 
 ruary 28th, 1903, our last number written was 2182, and our 
 last number paid was 132, while at the present time our last 
 number written is 9216 and the last number paid is 1990. Sub- 
 tract 1990 from 2182 and you will perceive the wonderful 
 
 16 
 
change that has taken place during the few months since Mary 
 A. Caley of San Francisco made application for and received 
 Certificate numbered 2182 and became the 'Mast man" — until 
 the next morning. Week succeeded week, and the tearing down 
 and building up process went on. Those who had started ahead 
 of her dropped off one by one, by maturity and lapsation, and 
 newcomers were added to the membership ranks daily. New 
 offices were opened and the work went gaily onward. The ma- 
 jority of those she helped to benefit, appreciated the favors re- 
 ceived and, upon receipt of their benefits, took new Certificates 
 which were issued after hers, necessarily, until now she is near 
 the coveted maturity goal with over 5,000 live Certificates call- 
 ing in the contributions from which she will, in her order, re- 
 ceive her benefits. 
 
 Is there anything mysterious or supernatural in that? Is 
 this accomplished result an " impossible " one? Is there any- 
 thing "fraudulent" in the process? Is it even an unsound or 
 dangerous system? Yet, ninety-nine "business men" (mer- 
 chants, lawyers, bankers, etc.,) out of a hundred, had the mat- 
 ter been referred to them at the time she started, would have 
 told her that she was "foolish"; that the whole thing was a 
 "fraud," a "fake," a "gold brick." Why? Because in their 
 own "business" they are obliged to use more or less decep- 
 tion in order to be successful. Don't you believe that? Just 
 enter into business under the present competitive system and 
 you will quickly perceive the truth of it, if you are honest with 
 yourself. They were judging us by themselves— their only 
 standard of measurement— because they cannot "understand" 
 a business wherein all the truth can be told. 
 
 (We tell what our "profit" is— do they? 
 
 We distribute the actual "profits" of the business amongst 
 our patrons— do they? 
 
 We do not use the money belonging to our patrons for our 
 own private gain, but pay it to them as soon as it is received- 
 do all other businesses do the same? 
 
 A clear understanding of our critics' plans of "making 
 money" and our plan will make apparent to you many other 
 comparisons that are worth considering, and which will reflect 
 no discredit on us. If you will devote as many years of study to 
 the science of Money and Commercialism as the writer you will 
 find that the average "business" or "professional" man lives 
 
 tag 3 17 
 
in a glass house, commercially, and he can gain nothing by 
 throwing stones at our granite structure.) (See page 2). 
 
 The 1990 Certificates that have been cancelled by maturity 
 and lapsation were not all written at the same time, but their 
 writing covered a period of 65 weeks, beginning November 
 12th, 1901. During the first 13 weeks of this 65-week period 
 303 were written ; during the next 31 weeks but 251 were writ- 
 ten ; during the next 9 weeks, 230 were written ; during the next 
 2 weeks, 413 were written, and during the next 10 weeks, 778 
 were written. Now, realize that in this business the last be- 
 comes first, that is, that the business written in any given 
 period of time will sooner or later be reached in maturity, and 
 in order to have the time of maturity remain absolutely sta- 
 tionary we would be obliged to mature Certificates within the 
 same period of time in which they were written. For instance, 
 by referring to the above figures, in order to keep the time of 
 maturity stationary we would have been obliged to mature 
 the first 303 written during a 13-week period in 13 weeks, (an 
 average of 23 per week), while the 251 that followed after 
 them could have had a 31-week period for their maturity, (an 
 average of only 8 per week) without any extension of time, 
 providing but one week's business was taken up at maturity 
 during a one week maturity period. 
 
 Glance again at the above figures and you will see that the 
 230 written during the 9-week period should have been paid 
 in a corresponding period of time and also that the 413 written 
 in a 2-week period would have had to have been cancelled at 
 the rate of over 200 per week to have kept the time from ex- 
 tending when they were reached for maturity, and the 778 
 written during the last 10 weeks of the term would have re- 
 quired a maturity of about 78 per week to prevent fluctuation 
 in the time, while the fact of the matter is that our paying 
 power was sufficient to pay them only about one-half that fast. 
 The average time of maturity of these 1990 Certificates was 
 about 54 weeks. Is not that really wonderful? 
 
 The time of maturity will always fluctuate because, while 
 the tearing down process is steady and persistent, the other 
 end of the body corporate is erratic, that is, the growth from 
 week to week shows a great fluctuation, and the cause of this 
 fluctuation is principally due to newspaper attacks. 
 
 Some people have no confidence in their own opinions, and, 
 like a drowning man, grasp frantically at anything in sight 
 
 18 
 
of 
 
 in the shape of an opinion from somebody else, and they are 
 so used to accepting the opinions of newspaper reporters as 
 their " articles of faith" that they seldom, if ever, question 
 what they ' ' read in the paper, ' ' but accept the stuff as reliable 
 information. Great care should be exercised in separating the 
 few grains of truth from the bushel of false and ignorant state- 
 ments in the daily newspaper. Reporters are hired to make 
 "good stories" out of whatever material comes to hand. It's 
 a big job to fill a large daily paper with truth every day. Think 
 of the amount of "new business" required in that line to keep 
 it up! 
 
 During March, April and May, 1903, we wrote a little over 
 1700, and during June, July and August following we wrote 
 but 850 and of these latter about 250 immediately lapsed. Why ? 
 Because they had rather take the word of some newspaper re- 
 porter, who knows absolutely nothing about the business, than 
 to rely upon their own clearer judgment. A lull in the writ- 
 ing of new business for any considerable length of time always 
 has a tendency to shorten the time of maturity when the proper 
 time comes. The system is automatically self-adjusting, so 
 there is no cause for anxiety on account of these lulls. They 
 are beneficial rather than detrimental to the business. (See 
 page 2). 
 
 How to Figure Maturity Time 
 
 Many persons who would be unable to solve a simple prob- 
 lem in cube root or even simple fractions without hunting up 
 the old arithmetic to find the "rule," attempt to "figure out" 
 the approximate time it will take to mature our Certificates 
 issued at any given time. Their usual course is to subtract 
 the number of the last Certificate paid from the number of 
 the last one issued and divide the remainder by the present 
 average weekly maturities to determine the number of weeks 
 it will take to mature the next one written, thus:— 
 
 No. of last Certificate written • • . .9200 
 
 No. of last Certificate paid 2000 
 
 Total Certificates outstanding 7200 
 
 Average weekly maturities 36 
 
 It will therefore take as many weeks to pay 7200 as 36 is 
 contained in 7200 or 200 weeks ! That looks reasonable, doesn't 
 it? Maybe it sounds reasonable to you, too, but it is wrong. 
 
 19 
 
It isn't the answer printed in the book of actual experience, 
 which, of necessity, is the correct answer. For instance, the 
 number of the last Certificate issued on January 31st, 1903, 
 was 1786, the last one paid was 106 and the average weekly 
 maturities at that time was 6. Now subtract and divide as 
 above and you will find that the result shows that it should 
 have taken 280 weeks to mature Certificate number 1786 ! Over 
 five years! That is your "answer" obtained under the above 
 rule. 
 
 Now, what is the correct answer? The true answer is 64 
 weeks ! (A difference of 216 weeks— four years ! You should 
 be able to guess closer than that.) 
 
 How do we know 64 weeks is the correct time? That's 
 easy. The Certificate has already been paid and it matured 
 in just 64 weeks from January 31st, 1903. Similar discrepen- 
 cies will appear by the same methods being followed in refer- 
 ence to every Certificate we have matured since the business 
 began and every one we will mature in the future. Where 
 does the error lie f In the ignorance of the details causing false 
 premise for the basis of the first calculation. 
 
 In calculating the probable time of maturity of Certificates 
 written "now" we must not only take into consideration the 
 number of the last one written, the last one paid and the 
 present average maturity, but we must consider the effect of 
 the "lulls" (See "Why Time of Maturity Fluctuates, "page 16) 
 that have occurred during the period covered by the age of 
 the present oldest outstanding Certificate; the number of the 
 "lapses" that have occurred, because they have the same 
 effect as "lulls;" the location of these lapses; the probable 
 average weekly maturities for the entire period covered by 
 the calculation, and a few minor details. (See article on "The 
 Details of the Business," on page 23, also letter to Milwaukee 
 agent, page 38). 
 
 If you really must figure, start right and figure right. 
 
 A few evenings ago I was giving some young men some easy 
 problems that required a little Cause to Effect reasoning for 
 their solution. One of the problems, while requiring two or 
 three logical steps in its elucidation, was, nevertheless, very 
 simple. That is, it was all so plain when the correct answer 
 was known. ( In giving that problem on different occasions 
 to business, professional men and even college graduates. I 
 have received "answers" ranging from 1 to 2700!) One of 
 
 20 
 
the young men took a pencil and piece of paper and " figured* * 
 for about ten minutes on the problem and at the end of that 
 time was as far off as ever. I finally gave them the answer. 
 The one who had "figured'' so earnestly, stopped short, and, 
 after a moment's hesitation, said: "Sure! Of course! Well, J 
 declare! Hereafter I am going to think before I begin to 
 figure!!" 
 
 He is a bright, intelligent young man,— away above the 
 average— unconsciously he uttered the golden rule of mathe- 
 matics—Think before you figure! 
 
 (Don't forget to look at "The Details of the Business," on 
 page 23, also letter to Milwaukee agent, page 38). 
 
 Lapsation 
 
 This is a subject on which the average man is profoundly 
 ignorant. His idea of it is extremely hazy at best. He is usually 
 of the opinion that lapsation is necessary to return the 
 "profits." It is of little use to talk to men who do not think 
 or men who can not reason. If you will answer the following 
 questions for yourself and answer them intelligently, using a 
 small amount of analytical reason, you will then understand 
 that we do not desire lapsation ; you will realize that lapsation 
 is an evil instead of a benefit and that those Companies who 
 tell the public that they wish lapsation are doing so with in- 
 tent to deceive, or else they are ignorant of the true principles 
 on which their business is founded. In either case the man- 
 agement is unworthy. We have a business in which the truth, 
 the whole truth and nothing but the truth need be told. When- 
 ever we find an agent who is misrepresenting the business in 
 any manner, we either put him on the right track or else dis- 
 charge him at once. 
 
 Here are the questions mentioned above : 
 
 Why should we desire lapsation? 
 
 Does a man who is in the business of raising horses desire 
 his young colts to die? Does a man in the grocery business 
 desire any of his customers to "lapse"? Is there a Life In- 
 surance Company in existence that desires lapsation? 
 
 If every member of the New York Life Insurance Company 
 lapsed this year they would have at least twice as much paid 
 up insurance on their books as there is money in the reserve 
 fund. Their patrons would immediately cease paying in any 
 premiums ; their offices all over the world would be closed, and 
 
 21 
 
their agents would immediately be thrown out of employment, 
 and the business would come to a standstill. Supposing but 
 half of their members lapsed, would that not be just half as 
 bad as though they all lapsed ? The same would apply to one- 
 fourth or one-tenth of the membership, or even one single in- 
 dividual. 
 
 The management of the New York Life Insurance Company 
 knows that it is bad for them and bad for their patrons to have 
 lapses. 
 
 With our institution, we now have about 2,000 lapses be- 
 tween the last number written and the last number paid. These 
 lapses are scattered all the way through. There have been many 
 instances where patrons have paid 30 or 40 weeks and have 
 voluntarily lapsed their Certificates because of some wantonly 
 ignorant newspaper attacks, or because they " heard" that 
 the "Government" was going to "put us out of business." 
 If the "Government" could have put us out of business it 
 would have been done long ago. 
 
 We do not court opposition, but at the same time, we have 
 a supreme contempt for the puerile weakness of our present 
 opponents. 
 
 The patrons who so lapsed were undoubtedly feeble-minded, 
 or else they were disgustingly lacking in courage. Perhaps 
 the mildest way to put it would be that they were not strong 
 characters. 
 
 Do you think I am too severe? Let us dispassionately 
 analyze their condition. That they entered into the plan is 
 self-evident, because they made application for and received 
 their Certificates, else they could not have lapsed them. This 
 demonstrates clearly that they must have thought well of it 
 when they started in. After having once started, to lapse is 
 to admit a weakness of mind, either at the time of starting or 
 at the moment of lapsing. It demonstrates clearly a lack of 
 stability if not feebleness. 
 
 This does not apply to those patrons who met with finan- 
 cial reverses and were obliged to relinquish their holdings. 
 There were but very few of these. 
 
 A lapsation is an acknowledged weakness either in mind or 
 in pocketbook. A timid person admits weakness. A coward 
 is weak. Cowards are never praised in the army, and we can 
 only pity them for their weakness. People who have not the 
 courage to stand fearlessly for -the right as they see it, do not 
 make strong patrons. 
 
Those patrons who joined in this plan, carried their Cer- 
 tificates through to maturity and accepted the benefits be- 
 stowed on them by their fellow patrons and then refused to re- 
 ciprocate to the best of their ability, are deserving of the 
 severest reproof. What is the make-up of a character wherein 
 gratitude for favors extended is an unknown quantity? Do 
 such selfish cravens deserve the benefits received? However, 
 we know there are such people and that they are to be found in 
 all classes of society, in all kinds of business and in all organi- 
 zations which bind men together for a common purpose. We 
 usually find them out early, because it takes but a few weeks 
 for our Certificates to mature. Good riddance to bad rubbish ! 
 If the coat fits, put it on. 
 
 If these 2,000 Certificates had not lapsed we would have had 
 that much more money with which to mature Certificates and 
 the increased paying power would have actually shortened the 
 time of maturity to the benefit of all concerned. 
 
 Why is lapsation desirable? Answer it! (See page 2). 
 
 The Details of the Business 
 
 It is not necessary for you to know the details of telephone 
 construction in order to use the instrument. It will work just 
 as well whether you "understand" all about it or not. You 
 do not need to "know all about" a locomotive to ride on the 
 cars. There are electricians and engineers who attend to the 
 details. It is not essential for you to know all about the in- 
 tricate details of the life insurance system before you take out 
 a policy. There are actuaries and managers who attend to 
 those things. It would take a long time for you to "under- 
 stand all about it" even after the preparatory mathematical 
 instruction necessary. 
 
 We give you in this pamphlet an idea of the principles un- 
 derlying our system, which is all you have of the above men- 
 tioned conceptions of human intelligence. We are willing to 
 explain the details at any and all times, and try to answer the 
 most trivial and unconsequentiai questions in a courteous and 
 kindly manner, as there is nothing to hide— nothing to cover 
 up. The time will soon come, however, when our ability to 
 look after the details in an intelligent, careful and trust- 
 worthy manner and thus remove that unnecessary weight from 
 our patrons will be more generally recognized. We know this 
 
 23 
 
machine thoroughly and have proven conclusively that we are 
 fully competent to run it. We have automatic safety devices 
 at every crossing and there are no trains ahead of us, either 
 coming or going, and there is no danger of rear-end collisions ! 
 There are a few easy grades, but they give us a "down-hill" 
 pull when the summit is reached. Just buy your ticket and get 
 a berth and rest quietly. We'll call you when your station is 
 reached. We are wide awake and vigilant. You have confi- 
 dence in the electrician, the locomotive engineer, the life in- 
 surance management,— why should you distrust us? Have we 
 done aught to cause it? 
 
 Remember that our patrons' interests are our interests and 
 their success is our success. It gives us greater pleasure to de- 
 liver the maturity checks than to take new applications. Were 
 you in our position you could perhaps better appreciate the 
 truth of that statement. 
 
 Our System Automatic 
 
 We have analyzed carefully every phase of the science 
 of Money and Commercialism during our years of study and 
 experience and, as a result, have evolved an automatic financial 
 system which is self-adjusting in every respect. While the 
 plan at present returns "2 for 1" in a short time, still it must 
 be understood that it does that only because the results of 
 the System warrant it. Automatically the System will always 
 adjust itself to the proper ratio of more than "2 for 1" or less 
 than "2 for 1," as conditions warrant. 
 
 The deepest students of this wonderful System are be- 
 ginning to realize that Mr. Fitzsimmons is correct in his claim 
 that he has solved the great problem of "Wealth" adjustment, 
 the problem of Poverty, which has heretofore baffled the 
 world's greatest economists, and, what is more, he is putting 
 his ideas into practical operation and proving his contention. 
 
 He contends that, before men will join a plan of universal 
 adjustment, there must be a common magnet or incentive. 
 There must be something that is universally desired. He 
 uses that something— money— as the magnet. (See general 
 letter to agents, page 32. Don't forget.) The key to the 
 solution of the problem is contained in the following sentence : 
 We unite men in a practical application of the Golden Rule, 
 under Nature's great law of Evolution (Growth and Change) 
 
 24 
 
and make "money" the servant of men instead of the Master. 
 This must appeal to you as a triumph on the part of man 
 in his struggle towards amelioration. Which plan do you 
 prefer, the old or the new ? Will the old plan solve your prob- 
 lem? Can the new be any worse? What do you honestly 
 think about it? 
 
 What is Necessary to Continue These 
 Marvelous Benefits? 
 
 Just natural growth. That's all! (see extract of letter to 
 our Milwaukee, Wis., agent, page 38). You will like to get 
 these benefits if you were only sure, now wouldn't you? Afraid 
 we won't grow, Eh? Maybe you were one of those who thought 
 the same thing two years ago, or, perhaps only a year ago. We 
 did grow, didn't we? We are growing, are we not? Can you 
 give one intelligent reason why we should not grow ? Be honest 
 now, and try it. For every intelligent reason of that nature 
 you can give we will give you two intelligent reasons in opposi- 
 tion, or forfeit $100, to you in lieu, thereof. Remember this is 
 a kind of ' ' 2 for 1 ' ' proposition, and we have the goods ! If you 
 can't give an intelligent reason as to why we should not grow^ 
 then why are you afraid when you know we have grown in the 
 face of powerful newspaper opposition, ignorant political in- 
 terference and practically universal "popular" prejudice, 
 which are the greatest obstacles that could confront us. We 
 like obstacles, they give zest to the game. Come and join in 
 the fun, realizing that you will thus add strength to the worthi- 
 est and strongest institution in the world. We have been in 
 many "fights" and have always won— it's fun, I tell you. We 
 know what we are doing and the other fellow don't. We have 
 the same advantage over him that a National League baseball 
 nine would have over a High School nine. We know how! If 
 you have any good American blood in you, or even if you 
 breathe good American air, you should have nobility and sta- 
 bility enough to stand fearlessly for the right. 
 
 Better join us and reap the benefits. To the victor belongs 
 the reward. Those who oppose this work transgress Truth, 
 and the "way of the transgressor" is not strewn with roses, 
 you know. What have our opponents gained? Nothing, ab- 
 solutely nothing ! What have we gained ? Everything we could 
 wish for! Better join us? 
 
 25 
 
Other Companies 
 
 That which, is successful is always imitated and because 
 of this we have the maxim, "Imitation is the sincerest flat- 
 tery." You also often see the warning, "Beware of Imita- 
 tions/' and in no other business in the world is this warning 
 so important as in this. "Many are called but few are chosen" 
 as successful managers of an institution of this kind and much 
 depends upon the management. Even our opponents, as a 
 rule, admit that we are honest and have extraordinary ability 
 in this work. In fact, we are the originators of this plan and 
 know every one of the intricate details of this wonderful 
 machine. (Our Certificate and literature are copyrighted.) 
 We know each bearing and know where to look for friction; if 
 any part shows evidence of weakness, we know how to 
 strengthen it at once; we know how to make improvements 
 as they are needed from time to time. We are here to protect 
 our patrons at any and all hazards and we have demonstrated 
 our ability to do it. 
 
 Those who join us in this work, either as patrons or as 
 agents can "make" all the "money" they will ever need 
 providing they are honest and perform their just duty to 
 the institution. The field is unlimited. The work is based on 
 pure co-operation, therefore, there should be no incentive for 
 the scattering of forces, no motive for competition, which is 
 the polar opposite of co-operation. This but weakens all. You 
 can see that, can't you? We will write a pamphlet soon, 
 setting forth the details of that great error in a logical, philo- 
 sophical and convincing manner. In the meantime, remember 
 the fable of "The Bundle of Sticks," "A House Divided 
 Against Itself," etc., "United we Stand," and similar ways 
 of expressing this Truth, and cast your lot with "The Old 
 Reliable." 
 
 I wonder if those patrons who have already received bene- 
 fits realize that we have practically paid them $2.00 for $1.00 
 for the privilege of working for them. Would you like to have 
 us work for you? 
 
 After all, there is much depending on the management. Do 
 you think we are capable of continuing to do what we have 
 already accomplished with ease ? Drop in a dollar or more per 
 week and we will do the rest. Let your dollars work while 
 you sleep. 
 
 26 
 
Valuable Information is Contained in 
 These Letters 
 
 Portion of interesting letter written by Mr. Fitzsimnions 
 in reply to a general agent of the American Express Company. 
 Mr. F. was at one time an agent for this company 
 and is well acquainted with the details of the business and also 
 with the gentleman to whom the letter is addressed. The reply 
 will give an idea of the letter Mr. F. received. 
 
 Of course, I recognize the fact that you know nothing 
 whatever about this business, probably no more than you do 
 about life insurance, and particularly about the stigma that 
 is cast upon us and our work by other institutions who have 
 nothing to do with us and are not operating under our plan. 
 Your business is the express business and you can tell me 
 many, many things about it that I do not know. I was in the 
 business long enough, however, to find out that the two essen- 
 tial things for the prosperity and perpetuity of the express 
 business are patrons and new business. This feature of the 
 express business- is the basis on which every other business in 
 the world is founded. In our business we have used this same 
 foundation because it is absolutely requisite to any business, 
 just as the earth is necessary to buildings. Of course, people, 
 as a rule, wish to deny us the same privilege in this respect 
 that every other business enjoys. They insist on our eliminat- 
 ing the patrons and new business from our work and then ask 
 us to figure out for them "how it would come out." One man 
 asked me the other day what we would do if we stopped. I 
 answered him with one word, "quit." You remember, per- 
 haps, the story of the boy who put the calf's tail through a 
 knot-hole in a tight board fence, and the Irishman who passed 
 along on the outside and saw the tail sticking through won- 
 dered and wondered how the calf got through the hole. There 
 are a whole lot of people who view this business from the wrong 
 side of the fence. They don't wish to weigh the business from 
 a logical and sensible standpoint, but wish rather to eliminate 
 all the essential features and then figure out "how can we con- 
 tinue doing it supposing we stop." I hardly believe that the 
 American Express Company would continue to be a very large 
 business institution if the people were suddenly to stop ship- 
 ping goods with them. It is the patrons of the Am. Ex. Co. 
 who pay you your salary, my dear sir. The Am. Ex. Co. and 
 the men at the head of it never got a dollar that did not come 
 from some one else. Your duty as General Agent is to keep 
 the patrons you have and get as many more as possible, and 
 
 27 
 
it is your ability to do this that caused your promotion, the 
 matter of taking care of the dollar is secondary; the patron is 
 necessarily first because he brings the dollar. 
 
 In your letter you have quoted two extremes, the Miller 
 Syndicate (520 per cent per year) being at the one pole and the 
 Savings Bank (4 per cent per year) at the other. The Am. Ex. 
 Co., as to the matter of "profits," lies between these two poles, 
 does it not? Now, is the Am. Ex. Co.'s plan of "making 
 money" just the exact equilibrium or center between these 
 two concerns and are all institutions that pay greater "profits" 
 than the Am. Ex. Co. illegitimate or "off color"? If not, then 
 where is the dividing line? By the way, is not "earning 
 capacity" the capacity of getting more money from patrons 
 than is paid out, so that ' ' profit ' ' remains. What is ' ' value re- 
 ceived"— the article with the "profit" added, or the article 
 without any "profit" attachment? The only way any busi- 
 ness institution can "make money" is to take in more than 
 they pay out. If they give less than they receive, do they give 
 "value received"? Maybe the term "value received" is elas- 
 tic and can be made to fit all conditions. For instance, a job- 
 ber buys a pair of shoes from a manufacturer for $2.00 and gets 
 only "value received," a merchant buys the same pair of shoes 
 from the jobber for $2.50 and gets "value received" (less 50c?) • 
 the consumer pays the merchant $4.00 for the same shoes and 
 still it is "value received"! What is "value"? Were those 
 shoes twice as "valuable" when the consumer got them as they 
 were when the jobber had them, or did the consumer make a 
 few "presents" to the other fellow? 
 
 Here I am running on about business which I did not in- 
 tend to do when I started this letter. I desire to ask you though 
 to kindly name three or four "perfectly safe and secure" 
 places to "invest" money in case I ever get any. I am a little 
 "queer" (cracked, perhaps) on this subject and I do not know 
 of any "absolutely safe" investment, one where I can have 
 positive assurance against possible loss and still be certain of 
 an income from it. 
 
 I am sending you some of our literature and on the back of 
 the yellow pamphlet you will find a challenge that we issue 
 wherein we maintain that our business is the most stable, the 
 most equitable and the most beneficial (you will note that it 
 is the superlative degree) of any business in the world and that 
 we will present $1,000 to the individual who can prove that 
 our contention is erroneous. This is an open challenge and 
 we are perfectly willing to pay that amount for an improve- 
 ment on this plan. If there is any other business more stable 
 than this then we should be able to modify and model our plan 
 after the more stable one and thereby strengthen our institu- 
 tion. 
 
 This challenge has been standing for a year but none of our 
 critics or antagonists seem to want the money. Kindly tell us 
 
 28 
 
what is wrong with our System. If there is anything wrong 
 with it, both management and patrons desire to know it at 
 once so that we can remedy the fault, and we are willing to pay 
 for the information. In the old reader at school I remember 
 this: "Our true friends are those who tell us our faults and 
 help us to mend them." Are you a true friend? 
 Yours very truly, 
 (Signed) ORLANDO K. FITZSIMMONS. 
 
 The Road to Successville 
 
 An honest newspaper man who read a copy of the follow- 
 ing letter said, ''Do me the favor to place me on your agent's 
 mailing list. These letters are an education in themselves." 
 
 Read it and judge for yourself. 
 
 Agents:— 
 
 Now, I want to show you the secret road to success in this 
 work, or any other for that matter. It is a beautiful road if 
 your eye is clear, your mind healthy, your spirit bouyant, your 
 heart light and your step elastic. If you stray from the path, 
 you must expect to encounter briars and tangles occasionally 
 and if you get lost you will undoubtedly wander in a circle. 
 
 In traveling a road you can see only so far ahead and be- 
 hind you. The only reason for looking back is to view the 
 ground recently traveled. If we are bent on a destination we 
 usually keep our eyes a little before us to avoid stumbling. 
 We do not see nor can we even comprehend the road in its 
 entirety from beginning to end. We see only that portion of 
 our surroudings in our immediate locality whose conditions 
 are constantly changing as we move onward. The only way 
 that we can progress along the road is to make present efforts 
 and move now from the point where we are located. 
 
 I want you to catch my idea clearly. You cannot move 
 with an effort that you put forth five minutes ago, your ef- 
 fectual effort must always be now — the present moment. The 
 efforts you are going to put forward in ten minutes from now 
 will not move you at the present time. If you wish to start from 
 where you are and take the road to Successville you must put 
 forth a present effort and continue to put forth present efforts, 
 else you will not gain your destination. Give your attention to 
 the present moment, today. You have so far to go today, why 
 not move? Don't waste your time thinking how far you can 
 go tomorrow, but apply your energy to today's work and ac- 
 complish all you can right now. Tomorrow is a mirage— if you 
 pursue it, night will find you suffering amidst a parched and 
 arid desert. 
 
 Just sit down quietly and easily and think for a few min- 
 utes, and see if you cannot grasp my exact meaning. I say 
 these things to you in a kindly spirit. 
 
 29 
 
In your work for us I wish most of all for you to realize 
 that you are a teacher of a great and glorious truth when you 
 are presenting this plan of mutual benefit to the people. I 
 would like to have you study the principles underlying it 
 thoroughly, and if you can detect any flaw in the system I 
 want you to point it out to me, because flaws, when known, can 
 be remedied. Do all you can to get each one of your patrons 
 enthusiastic and working, themselves, for this grand and glor- 
 ious cause. Think of the business, of the principles underlying 
 it, of the vast benefits that will accrue to mankind through 
 this system and, realizing the beautiful strength of it all, 
 impart your knowledge to others continually. Show them that 
 there are no secrets in this work; that absolutely no harm but 
 only good can accrue to mankind through it; that it is a 
 personification in business of Truth, Union and Equity. For- 
 get that there are any such things as obstacles, or, take cog- 
 nizance of them only because of the exhilaration found in 
 surmounting them. Look around you in all fields of sport and 
 you will find that the true zest, the only spirit that makes 
 effort worth while, is that of overcoming opposition. A hunter 
 finds no pleasure in hunting tame ducks in a barn-yard. 
 
 What if we had no obstacles to encounter in this business 
 and everybody realized its stability and worth. We would 
 then need no agents for educational work and it would all 
 be resolved into merely the mechanical work of taking in 
 money and paying it out. It would be as delightful as would 
 be the process of eating without the sense of taste! 
 
 Therefore, enter into this work in the right spirit, keep 
 your mind healthy and active and go after obstacles in an 
 intelligent and vivacious manner, thoroughly enjoying the 
 game. If any should rebuff or rebuke you when you are 
 endeavoring to do them good by giving them information that 
 will bring them great benefits if they were only wise enough 
 to profit by it, just observe the weak points in their game and 
 make a counter move that will place you at an advantage and 
 them at your mercy. Learn how to ask the other fellow 
 pointed questions that will expose his ignorance of our busi- 
 ness, and make the exposure so plain that he, himself, will 
 recognize it. It is a game you can win easily if you really try. 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 ORLANDO K. FITZSIMMONS. 
 
 "I don't understand it" does not necessarily signify that 
 others are likewise deficient. Some are "dull" and some are 
 "apt." If all were alike mentally, there would be no words 
 coined to distinguish the different grades. Words are merely 
 symbols for thought expression. See the point ? Which grade 
 are you in? 
 
 30 
 
The following letter was written by Dr. J. Schmitz in re- 
 sponse to a letter of inquiry regarding our business and man- 
 agement. It's well worth considering. The management knew 
 absolutely nothing of it until it was written and mailed to Mr. 
 Walker. Mr. Lewis, equally as worthy as Mr. Johnson, is the 
 present Secretary. 
 
 Dr. J. Schmitz, 
 
 Physician and Surgeon. 
 3000 S. Main St. 
 
 Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 19th, 1904. 
 Mr. T. B. Walker, 
 
 Seattle, Wash. 
 
 Dear Sir— Yours of Jan. 14th received today. As a patron 
 of the Cumulative Credit Company, I take pleasure in saying 
 that I have the fullest confidence in the Company. I am carry- 
 ing now 140 certificates and will continue to take more from 
 time to time as I feel able. I did not become a patron from 
 hearsay, but through my own judgment and reason. I have 
 thoroughly analyzed and investigated it and to the fullest 
 of my satisfaction. Personally, I am prepared to say that 
 the institution is not based on mere wind or talk. Its founda- 
 tion is itself a higher law in nature. It is based on a business 
 principle that always remains the same, where all is equality, 
 where the survival of the shrewdest, or in other words, com- 
 petition cannot enter. One cannot be favored at the expense 
 of another, and therefore, it must forever be a success to all 
 its patrons alike. 
 
 The managers are all honest, capable and competent people. 
 The President, Mr. Fitzsimmons, is a person of a rare com- 
 bination of good qualities, particularly fitted for the business. 
 He is a deep thinker, a philosopher and a thorough business 
 man, who is, to my knowledge, familiar and at home with all 
 new ideas along all lines, or rather, old ideas in new and higher 
 light corresponding to our present age, or better, rate of vibra- 
 tions. The Secretary, Mr. Johnson, can also not be spoken of 
 too highly. He is strictly honest, understands the work fully, 
 and is well versed on all points connected therewith, and is a 
 good manager. So, with such reliable and competent men 
 at the head of the Company, and with the business being in 
 itself sound and substantial in nature, success will always be 
 assured. 
 
 This is, in short, my view of it, confirmed by my investments 
 in it. Yours very truly, 
 
 J. SCHMITZ. 
 
 We are just getting ready to begin to start to commence to 
 grow ! Better get in now. 
 
 What the world needs is more men, we have enough sheep ! 
 
 31 
 
Copy of recent general letter from Mr. Fitzsimmons to his agents. 
 Is it any wonder they are enthusiastic? 
 
 Dear Sir:— I wonder if you think you realize fully what 
 a magnificent institution you are allied with. I wonder if you 
 have ever stopped to think of the marvelous results if we had 
 one hundred thousand members joined together in the monthly 
 or quarterly income plan. When we reach that stage in our 
 development those hundred thousand members will each be 
 carrying an average of about five Certificates " every five 
 weeks''— this is a low average. If the time of maturity be 
 fifty weeks then each member would hold on an average, fifty 
 Certificates, which would mean that the hundred thousand 
 members would be paying on five million Certificates. Just 
 think of it! $5,000,000 a week! Then besides the hundred 
 thousand who are carrying under the monthly income plan we 
 will have thousands and thousands of other patrons carrying 
 them in other ways. Suppose that we had a million members 
 interested in the monthly income plan,— just try to imagine if 
 you can, what the wonderful results would be— and still a 
 million would only be a hundredth part of a hundred millions 
 and the world is our field ! During our two and one-half years' 
 existence, we have interested about 2500 people and they have 
 wrought marvels under the System. How long will it take 
 to secure one million patrons? Some of us may live to see 
 that glorious time ! 
 
 I contend that this institution is the most powerful in- 
 strument for good in the world. I contend that it will 
 eventually bring order out of the present chaotic condition of 
 affairs which exists today socially and financially; that it will 
 finally do away with our prisons by removing the incentive 
 for crime. Everybody will be placed beyond the want of a 
 few ll dollars" under this powerful method of just and rapid 
 distribution. Most of the incentive for crime and injustice 
 today can be traced directly to mere dollars. There is some- 
 thing that is infinitely above and beyond mere money getting 
 and the only way to lift people up to that higher plane is to 
 satiate their desire for the lower. Man is ever impelled towards 
 his desires. 
 
 The present age is the age of commercialism— the age of 
 mere money getting, so that it can be used to get more money, 
 so that we can continue adding to and heaping up that which 
 we will not use. A man can eat but one dinner at a time 
 though he have money enough to buy a million. The only 
 way to satiate a man's desire for anything is to give him all 
 he wants of that thing, and more than he wants. If I were able 
 to give you a magic pocket-book that contained a $5.00 piece, 
 and that, when the $5.00 was taken out and used, would cause 
 another $5.00 to appear in it, would you want any more money 1 
 If, whenever you desired any money, you could always go to 
 
 32 
 
that pocket-book and take out an indefinite number of $5.00 
 pieces, would you ask for anything more in the way of money? 
 This is practically what we offer people under our permanent 
 income plan. The only difference lies in the fact that we ask 
 them to place whatever amount they choose in this " magic 
 pocket-book* * so that they can adjust the matter to suit them- 
 selves. 
 
 For an illustration let us suppose that the average time of 
 maturity of the Certificates should be fifty weeks; it is im- 
 material whether it is fifty weeks or sixty weeks or seventy 
 weeks or eighty weeks or ninety weeks or forty weeks for 
 that matter— the illustration would hold good just so you set a 
 fixed time, so we will say fifty weeks, which is about the 
 average that the management will endeavor to maintain. Con- 
 sider what is possible under this plan for a man who is labor- 
 ing by the day, under the above conditions. Suppose that 
 a laboring man can save $1.00 per week for fifty weeks, and is 
 wise enough to join us by taking one Certificate. He would 
 receive $100 at the end of that period which would enable him 
 to take two more without drawing on his labor any more. 
 In another fifty weeks he would have $200. If he then takes 
 four and so on, continuing this process for five years, he would 
 have $1600. This is sufficient to take and carry five " every 
 five weeks' ' until the first five mature, and with one-half of the 
 $500 he would receive at that time, he could take five more, 
 and he could repeat that operation indefinitely at a profit to 
 himself of $250 " every five weeks" or $50 per week income! 
 This is possible for a laboring man to accomplish in the short 
 space of six years ! What would he have at the end of six yean 
 did he not join our members and save his first $50? 
 
 What if 10,000 laboring men,— that is not many— should 
 join us during the next year and carry that plan through for 
 six years,— can you catch a glimmering of the vast amount of 
 good that our plan would accomplish with just those few in 
 this saving and distributing process? 
 
 The far reaching results are entirely too great for you or 
 me to comprehend. To take a hundred thousand or a million 
 men under like conditions during, not next year, but say the 
 next twenty-five years, and the results would revolutionize the 
 existing relations between labor and capital, and our system 
 would finally bring about a proper adjustment of that great 
 problem. Can you not perceive it? 
 
 Now this is but one of the many things to be accomplished 
 and I speak to you thus briefly so that you will contemplate 
 these things. Whenever you see evil caused by lack or lust of 
 money, you will find a remedy for it under this wonderful 
 plan, for it is not only a plan for laboring men— it is for all. 
 Would a man commit murder for money if he had all the money 
 he wanted ? Would he rob ? Certainly not ! 
 
We say to people— is it "money" you want? Is that your 
 heart's desire? Come and get it! You can have all you want 
 if you will be patient a while and perform your part ! 
 
 Realize, if you can, that this plan is here to perform a work 
 for the benefit of humanity— is here to bring order out of chaos 
 —is here to hasten the coming Brotherhood of Man. Man's 
 greed has brought on the existing conditions of poverty and 
 want and crime and shame,— but there is good in all things, 
 so we will use the good in man's greed as the instrument of his 
 salvation. Thousands will join in the work, not for the good 
 they can do others, but for what they can make out of it 
 themselves, therefore let us use Greed for the purpose of 
 uniting them together. Then, after a while, they will realize 
 that they can only be benefitted by first benefitting others, and 
 that the greater the benefits they bestow on others the greater 
 will their reward be, and then the truth will dawn upon them 
 that there is enough and to spare in old mother earth's bosom 
 for all and ten times all, and that if each works for all and all 
 for each, there can then be no more poverty or crime com- 
 mitted for wherewithal to eat, to clothe or to enjoy. When all 
 peoples of the earth are finally united in this knowledge and 
 its application,then will have come the millennium and the 
 Golden Rule will be the only law necessary on the statute 
 books. (Explanatory note.— Our present laws are to prevent 
 men from taking unjustly. No statutes are necessary to pre- 
 vent giving.) » 
 
 Do you consider this merely the vision of a dreamer? Don't 
 so wrong yourself, your fellowmen, your Creator! Realize 
 that man has heretofore labored in darkness. He has longed 
 for these things but heretofore has been unable to find the 
 way. The plan he has followed for centuries, and still fol- 
 lows, is founded on error, therefore he should discard it. If 
 he still persists in following it, then he will continue to live 
 amidst the strife and contention which it breeds. 
 
 Animated by insane Greed, the blind monster, men prey on 
 their fellow men, swearing, fighting, trampling, grabbing, tear- 
 ing frantically at each other, torturing and murdering in never 
 ending turmoil, making a Bedlam where otherwise should be 
 peace and sweet tranquility. It is but insanity of a violent 
 type! I tell you it must and shall cease! Reason must be 
 enthroned. The children of men must be taught to appreciate 
 the principle underlying the fable of the Bundle of Sticks— the 
 true principle of the Golden Rule— the principle that links in- 
 separably the happiness and welfare of the individual to the 
 happiness and welfare of all! 
 
 Were not these beautiful things in store for man, he would 
 never have coined the words to express them for words are but 
 the symbols of ideas, and ideas are the realities of intelligence. 
 
 Don't you see? Can't you see? 
 
 34 
 
I could talk to you at great length on these lines, for my 
 heart is full of it— it has been my life study and it is my hobby. 
 What I want you to realize and hold close to your heart is, that 
 this is an humanitarian work and that it is your duty to do 
 all that you can to educate and point out the way to those who 
 are in darkness. Be ceaseless in your efforts and you will gain- 
 strength daily. Work for the work's sake and the dollars 
 will come to you— all that you will ever have any use for while 
 you live. You will leave them all here when you go. 
 
 In our work we are marching on to a goal which recedes as 
 we advance. There is no end. The point we reach today be- 
 comes our starting place tomorrow. Thus each day sees us 
 one step farther on our way— we never remain stationary — 
 we can never attain the ultimate. 
 
 I look for good results from you. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 ORLANDO K. FITZSIMMONS, 
 
 Die. A. B. President. 
 
 P. S. In submitting this letter to one of our agents here 
 for criticism and suggestion he said that it was "over his 
 head"— that it went too far for him. I then went through 
 it with him and explained the things he did not understand 
 and it all became perfectly plain to him. I therefor suggest 
 that you read this many times and study it so that you can 
 grasp my meaning in full. I have necessarily been obliged to 
 be brief in this matter. 
 
 
 Read this unsolicited letter from a man whose intelligence 
 is self-evident. He is a sample of the material of which suc- 
 cess is made. We have numerous patrons like him and we 
 will have thousands of them in the course of time. Intelligence 
 is contagious and infectious. You'll catch it if you mingle 
 with our patrons much! 
 
 Detroit Casket Co., 
 
 177-187 W. Congress St. 
 
 Detroit, Mich., Feb. 22, 1904. 
 The Cumulative Credit Co., 
 Mr. Fitzsimmons. 
 Dear Sir— I received your last literature through your 
 agent, Mr. Streeter. I am very favorably impressed with it. 
 In summing up all you have written and distributed to 
 your patrons from the time you opened this business, the mass 
 of educational matter which has been passed around from one 
 to another, one would hardly think it necessary to "ask more 
 questions. ' ' 
 
 I have one question which I want to ask you and it is this : 
 Has Detriot contributed her share to this business since it has 
 
 35 
 
been opened up? In my estimation she has not. I am simply- 
 ashamed of the little she has done. 
 
 With such a policy as we have in force today and the 
 "superb" management at the Home Office we certainly ought 
 to have done better. Look at the trifling expense account as 
 compared with some other companies and the grand total 
 which is given to the patrons, the quickness of the maturity of 
 Certificates. Why, Mr. Fitzsimmons, we ought to be rushing 
 business. 
 
 Another question I wish to ask you, is it necessary to go 
 slow? If not, then how can we reach the masses in this city? 
 There are probably seventy-five Certificates being carried in this 
 factory alone. There are possibly about thirty eligible peo- 
 ple, all told. We have done well right here. How have we done 
 it? I will tell you. Simply by being in close touch with each 
 other. 
 
 We are only a small concern in this building. There are 
 scores of other factories and workshops double our capacity 
 almost in the immediate neighborhood. Yes, sir, we have the 
 people all right. Do you want to line them up? About fifty 
 of the contracts in our factory are carried by working men 
 and working women. (Byrne is one of our piece workers.) 
 Mr. Blackford is the Superintendent and your humble writer 
 is interested in the firm just enough to make it interesting. 
 
 Mr. Fitzsimmons, I take a special interest in this (our 
 Cumulative Co-operation) and I want you to know that I do. 
 If it is good for me it is good ultimately for all, and I want to 
 see it progress and get to the front. You are all right at the 
 Coast and I am satisfied that for every stroke made here you 
 will make two there. 
 
 Oh yes, we meet with some opposition. By some anything 
 that borders on the Tontine business is not liked any more. 
 Many have been up against it in the Devore and other Com- 
 panies and they are not very anxious to get into a good thing. 
 Well, they are just sore and bruised and need a rest; they'll 
 be all right after a rest and a rub-down. They will be on 
 the right side next time. 
 
 When a man tells me, "It can't be done," I ask him why? 
 Then I advise him to read what I have given him, to read it 
 thoughtfully and thoroughly, but I want to say to you, Mr. 
 Fitzsimmons, you want to be very near to a man until you 
 get him interested and then still keep near to him, and if he 
 can afford he will. 
 
 Some of the boys at the factory say to me: "Do you think 
 it will take eighty weeks to mature contracts a year or so 
 from now?" I rather evade a straight answer, preferring to 
 tell them that I do not see why it should if every member does 
 his duty. 
 
 Have been a member of the Maccabees for about thirteen 
 years and only pay one more assessment per year more now 
 
 36 
 
than I did when I entered. Does the Cumulative work for new 
 business like they do? Are we going to grow so as to keep 
 the time limit where we would wish it? This is a vital ques- 
 tion in my mind to our company. Write me at your leisure. 
 With best wishes and kind regards, I am, yours truly, 
 
 WM. HOLDSWORTH. 
 
 Note.— Mr. Byrne, mentioned in this letter, received a 
 check from us for $3100 dated February 27th, 1904, upon the 
 maturity of 25 Certificates held by him. He began his pay- 
 ments of $25 per week on December 27, 1902, paid in $1550 in 
 62 weeks and received his benefits. We paid Mr. Holdsworth 
 a check for $1890 on April 16, 1904, for the maturity of 15 
 Certificates on which he began his payments February 2nd, 
 1903. He paid 63 weeks at $15 per week. Mr. Blackford has 
 also been paid a number of hundred dollars. They would not 
 have received these benefits had they not joined in the work. 
 Have you received any of these benefits yet? They are here 
 for you if you want them ! Why not ? 
 
 Letter to Portland Agent 
 
 February 24, 1904. 
 Dear Sir:— Am very glad to have you with us in the good 
 work and there is absolutely no question as to ultimate suc- 
 cess. You must realize, however, that in joining us you are 
 joining a band that is constantly fighting Ignorance in high 
 places and low. Let me tell you the reason for this. First, our 
 business is a "bad" business, simply because it is "too good," 
 and for no other reason. This, of course, is paradoxical, but 
 it also might be termed the truth. Our plan is automatic in 
 its workings and we never return more to the patrons than the 
 business will warrant, and so far it has warranted from 150 per 
 cent to 250 per cent per year profit. The faster we grow the 
 greater this profit will be. The one weak spot in our institu- 
 tion is the possibility of growing too rapidly, of being com- 
 pelled to pay "3 or 4 for 1" in order to keep the time of ma- 
 turity extended to a year or so. The one thing that keeps us 
 from growing so rapidly as to be compelled to pay "10 for 1" 
 in 50 weeks is what is known as "popular prejudice," there- 
 fore, I hope you realize that it is necessary for us in our in- 
 fancy to have this safety-valve, "popular prejudice," to keep 
 us from becoming top-heavy. A quick growth is a weak 
 growth, a porous, flabby growth. We desire a growth rather 
 as the Oak than as the Mushroom, therefore do not be dis- 
 heartened at "popular prejudice" and at the ignorance you 
 encounter in your work, but rather realize that it is necessary 
 for the best interests of the business that you have chosen for 
 your work. Simply prepare for the battle and you will realize 
 that one ounce of Wisdom will overcome a thousand tons of 
 Ignorance, hence, do not be dismayed at the apparently for- 
 
 37 
 
midable ranks of the enemy. You can blow down whole 
 platoons of him with a breath. He is weak, you are mighty 
 in your strength. 
 
 I am very glad to have you with us and trust that you are 
 of the right metal to enter into the battle. It requires sterling 
 qualities for a man to stand up under "popular prejudice." 
 "Be sure you are right and then go ahead." When obstacles 
 confront you either cast them out of your path or go around 
 them or climb over them. Your destination lies on the other 
 side of obstacles. Yours very truly, 
 
 (Signed) ORLANDO K. FITZSIMMONS. 
 
 Letter to Milwaukee Agent 
 
 Your statement as to the business doubling itself is ap- 
 proximately correct providing it is necessary to continue pay- 
 ing exactly "2 for 1." However, you must always realize that 
 the patrons we already have could double the business in one 
 week at the present time if each patron came in and took two 
 more new Certificates. You see, we have at the present time 
 about 2500 patrons and there are about 5,000 Certificates in 
 force. Thus, if each patron took two new ones that would 
 make 5,000 additional, or a total in force of 10,000, thereby 
 doubling the business in a week's time. Now, these same pat- 
 rons could double the business in 10 week's time or 20 weeks 
 or 50 weeks, by doing the same thing during the period. Thus, 
 it is not always absolutely necessary to find new people for the 
 doubling process. This is a matter that rests with the intel- 
 ligence and good judgment of the patrons we already have. 
 
 Again, we must take into consideration the fact that when 
 patrons receive their benefits they have twice as much money 
 to do with as they had before and it should be a very easy 
 matter for them to then double their holdings. The whole 
 proposition, however, can be better summed up in the state- 
 ment that new growth, such as all nature enjoys, is all that 
 is necessary to return most wonderful results under this system. 
 
 All one has to do is to watch the growth of a plant or tree 
 to appreciate the fact that there is a constant adding to in the 
 tearing down and building up process. The acorn contains the 
 principle which evolves the oak. We might say that this 
 principle is an idea, or perhaps still better, a law and this law 
 operates in such a way that there is attracted from the earth 
 the requisite atoms and particles that we call nourishment, 
 from which the giant tree is builded. It is a silent and per- 
 sistent process of constantly adding to and this process is 
 what we call growth. The underlying principle of this pro- 
 cess is what we term the law of attraction. If it were not for 
 this law there would be no oak. It is one of the basic laws of 
 nature. That business is most stable which has the strongest 
 attraction for the people, because the people are the atoms 
 
 38 
 
and pai 
 
 and particles of which every business is composed; the money 
 and the property used in business are secondary considera- 
 tions entirely. There can be nothing created without motion 
 and there is no motion inherent in money. An engine without 
 steam (or some other force) and the controlling intelligence 
 back of steam is absolutely worthless. When we go to nature 
 and observe the laws by which it manifests itself and then 
 apply the law of correspondence to this business we do not 
 need any figures any more that we need to figure on the num- 
 ber of particles requisite each year, and the new increase in 
 those particles, which is essential to raise the oak from the 
 acorn. A tree of ten years' growth could not live with the 
 first year's nourishment. Roll a snowball and perceive the 
 nature of this law- Let us, therefore, grow naturally under 
 the law of attraction. 
 
 Did you ever stop to think that the law of attraction is 
 a " 2 for 1 ' ' law ? The law of gravity and the law of attraction 
 are the same law. "The law of falling bodies" is but a 
 manifestation of the law of attraction and a body falling from 
 a height falls 16 feet the first second, 32 feet the next, 64 feet 
 the next, and so on. Thus, we see, when a period of time is 
 taken into consideration the law of attraction will always 
 produce a "2 for 1" result. Why that is will, perhaps, never 
 be answered by the finite mind. It is simply a law, unchange- 
 able, inscrutable, irrevocable. It all seems very clear to me. 
 
 I do not believe there is anything you lose sight of. I 
 think your understanding of the business is most thorough 
 because you are cognizant of the basic principles underlying 
 it. There are so few people, however, who have the ability to 
 think clearly and reason from cause to effect in their trying 
 to solve the problem of this business,— they fail to find the 
 answer printed in the book, and they are so much in the habit 
 of being guided by the opinions of others that they have no 
 confidence in their own. Of course, they are weak as is any- 
 thing else that has to be propped up. When you stop to con- 
 sider the following proposition carefully I believe you will 
 agree with me : Man is a paradox. He is the weakest and yet 
 the strongest of God's creations. Yours very truly, 
 
 (Signed) ORLANDO K. FITZSIMMONS. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 Our plan is pre-eminently the best and strongest in the world because it 
 
 esses all the requisite elements of stability. 
 
 It rests solidly on Natural (perfect) laws — not man's imperfect ones. 
 
 It appeals to man's supreme desires — freedom from want and independence 
 in the pursuit of happiness. 
 
 Its welfare and success is the fondest desire of the management, whose 
 sincerity is unquestioned by those who are in a position to know. 
 
 As for the directing, guiding and protecting intelligence at its head— an all 
 important consideration — read these pages and ponder, then judge for yourself. 
 
 What is your verdict? Can you find anything better? 
 
 39 
 
HARKEN! BEHOLD! 
 
 Nature is the school of mankind, 
 the symbolic manifestation of Supreme 
 Wisdom. In Nature the Supreme Intelli- 
 gence performs its wonders unhampered 
 by the perversity of man's ignorance. In 
 Nature we find a constant succession of 
 the New growing out of the disintegration 
 decomposition of the Old. Nature tears 
 down the Old and builds up the New. The 
 immutable and inscrutable Law says the 
 New shall prevail and the Old must suc- 
 cumb. Man will finally learn this mighty 
 lesson and cease clinging blindly to th^ 
 Old. He will learn that his happiness and 
 welfare depends thereon. 
 
 Nature co-operates, man competes. 
 Competition sows strife and contention 
 and man reaps a haruest of poverty and 
 want, crime and shame, misery and dis- 
 tress. Competition is man 's Old unnatural 
 method, Co-operation is the New and Nat- 
 ural. The march of progress is invincible. 
 Circumspect I [wtzsimmons] 
 
 PRESS OF 
 
 Kingsley, Moles & Collins Company 
 los angeles, cal. 
 

 YC 5172 
 
 
 
 U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES 
 
 
 
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