Catholic Mutual Benefit Association

• CMBA

The CMBA was organized at Niagara Falls, NY, July 3, 1876, with a membership of 25. It was incorporated in the state of New York June 9, 1879. The Grand Council of CMBA of Canada was organized at Windsor, Ontario, on February 10, 1880. It was incorporated in the Dominion of Canada March 1893. In 1899, there were 6 branches of the CMBA, each with their own number.

In the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton the CMBA appears to have first been organized at Immaculate Conception Parish. Unfortunately there is not much information available about the organization of the Edmonton branch of the Association.

The CMBA was established for the purpose of joining fraternally in one grand organization all male Catholic between 18 and 50 able to pass a proper medical examination, to supply life insurance of $1,000.00 or $2,000.00 at actual cost to give social benefits only give by secret or fraternal organizations outside the Catholic Church, and to offset the work of secret societies.