I am above you all." He was defeated.

I really would like to be down on the floor this morning with the rest of you.

The reason for this conference. of course. grew out of the very successful time we had last year. Barring the weather. I suppose that meeting of last year is in the memory of all of us as a most pleasant occasion, and this present meeting is the growth from that conference known as the Ninety Conference.

The suggestion of this meeting was born at that time. It is a kind of triple arrangement. I understand the Company is interested. the general agents are interested. but far and above all, the soliciting agents are interested, and it is the soliciting agents who are in charge of this meet-

ing and who have been from the be-ginning.

When this meeting was planned it was a whole year ago. Matters have happened in the meantime which were not then foreseen or anticipated in any way whatsoever. Since that time Vice President Thurman, who had served most ably and success-fully and who was the friend of all of us. has laid aside the duties of the superintendent of agencies to continue as vice president of the Company. We hope he will have many years of usefulness still with the Company and that he will be just as much a part of us and of the Mutual Benefit as he was before.

I could go on with satisfaction to myself and with great personal gratification take advantage of this occasion to speak in eulogy of Mr. Thur-

man, but that is not the purpose of this meeting and it would be in my notion out of place at this time to say more upon that subject than I have already said.

When he laid aside the duties of superintendent of agencies. of course. we had to have a successor. and this first general meeting of the large group of soliciting agents of the Mutual Benefit seemed to be a most happy time to bring the new appointee into personal contact with the men in the field. and it did seem and does seem to inc to be the most appropriate arrangement that could haye possibly been made that Vice President Thurman, the friend. the counselor, for so many years of all of us, should be the man officially to introduce to you his successor, Mr. Kenagy.

MR. THURIVIAN'S ADDRESS

In a recent letter addressed to each qualified delegate, President Hardin happily emphasized friendliness as the broad foundation upon which the proceedings of this convention should rest. 1N o finer motive can draw men together. The desire for friendship is universal, and the sincere expression of it is the richest gift one can bestow. Rich are they who have true friends.

Personal friendships arise from many sources, but a spirit of vital coniradery is established and abides among large numbers who, with militant conyiction, espouse a common cause of high ideals. As representatiyes of a great Company engaged in a profound human service, we find such a common cause in supporting the ideals for which the Mutual Benefit has always stood. We can there-fore foregather at any time as comrades and friends. In such an atmosphere I. as the retired Superintendent of Agencies, am impelled to express again keen appreciation of the

VICE PRESIDENT THURMAN
Introduced the new superintendent

very practical aid your friendships have given me. When. through mutual efforts, we haye achieved success, our satisfaction has been heightened be-cause of existing personal ties, and at other times when we have had to

shoulder the burden of disappointment, it has been lightened by our sympathetic understandings. Friend-ship supplies these most practical values.

I am glad to have this early official opportunity to personally intro-duce to a large representation of the agency forces of the Mutual Benefit your new Superintendent of Agencies. Many years ago I had part in the organization of the Life Insurance Sales Research Bureau, and have experienced pride in watching its growth and development into an organization of recognized merit. Since Mr. Kenagy, "Andy" as we call him, began his insurance experience with the Bureau. I have naturally observed his work there with the keenest and most friendly interest. It is not now necessary for me to reiterate the published facts concerning his previous experiences. However, I have intimate knowledge of the work of the Bureau, of its constant study of the practices of many life insur-

6   THE PELICAN