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Additional NELSON Surnames in WHITE County
NELSON, Nathaniel HollyNELSON, EleckNELSON, JamesNELSON, VergeNELSON, BettyNELSON, Kelvin NeilNELSON, Farley MNELSON, Mary CNELSON, Thomas GNELSON, Corha BNELSON, Thomas G (Close Up)NELSON, Corha B (Close Up)NELSON, GertrudeNELSON, DoraNELSON, Alta ReeNELSON, Alta Ree (Old Stone)NELSON, Richard GNELSON, JuanitaNELSON, Dale MNELSON, James McKinleyNELSON, Jewell GNELSON, Jewell G (Close Up)NELSON, James McKinley (Close Up)NELSON, Hettie SNELSON, Hettie S (Close Up)NELSON, Ed WNELSON, Jesse WNELSON, Manda PNELSON, Carrel NNELSON, George W (Overview)NELSON, George W (Close Up)NELSON, R AgnesNELSON, J HarveyNELSON, J Harvey (Close Up)NELSON, R Agnes (Close Up)NELSON, Icie PNELSON, Margaret JuneNELSON, Family Stone (Overview)NELSON, MervelNELSON, EulieNELSON, Billy JimNELSON, Alonzo EarnestNELSON, Cora ElizabethNELSON, Joe J.NELSON, Anna MaeNELSON, Nellie Pugh GilbertNELSON, Thomas AlonzoNELSON, Trula MarieNELSON, Ed LeeNELSON, Charles ENELSON, Kallie LynnNELSON, InfantNELSON, Carmal ENELSON, Harry Dale
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Submitted: 10/27/13 • Approved: 10/27/13 • Last Updated: 10/30/13 • R939354-G0-S3
Aug 31, 1903 - Jan 9, 1927
*The Mosaic Templars was a black friendly society founded by John E. Bush and Chester W. Keatts, two former slaves, in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1883.[1] The Mosaic Templars was an organization that originally provided illness, death, and burial insurance during an era when few basic services were available to black people. By 1900 Mosaic Templars’ industries grew to include an insurance company, a building and loan association, a publishing company, a business college, a nursing school, and a hospital.[1]
Up until the 1920s the Mosaic Templars paid $1,000 to the families of deceased members. It also paid sick and disability benefits. While the society considered itself a secret society but didn't not accent secrecy as serious as other groups.[2]
By 1905 it had a number of lodges across the state with thousands of members. Its headquarters were housed in a handsome new building that opened in 1913; Booker T. Washington delivered the dedication speech.[1] In the 1920s they claimed chapters in twenty-six states and six foreign countries, making it one of the largest black organizations in the world.
However, in the 1930s, the MTA began to feel the effects of the Great Depression and eventually ceased operations. However, a single chapter remains, in Barbados.
Various business rented the building into the late 20th century, but changing business climates, urban renewal, and the construction of a nearby highway through the old business district left the building without occupants and in disrepair.
*The Mosaic Templars of America emblem, found on headstones and the pediment of the National Grand Temple, is notable for its ritual and religious symbolism. An ouroboros (snake eating its own tail), representing the cyclical nature of life, sourrounds the emblem. The crossing shepherd staffs and the snakes are references to Moses and the Exodus story. The "3 V's" represent John E. Bush's triumphant motto, adopted from Julius Caesar, "Veni, Vidi, Veci". I came, I saw, I conquered.
Contributed on 10/27/13 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 939354