excluded or deprived of what a magistrate might deem just to grant, without any remedy, which it is to be feared has happened on too many occasions. Friendly Societies are institutions which are generally formed and directed by individuals who possess some degree of education, perhaps just sufficient to elevate them, according to their own estimation, above their companions. These people, although generally well-intentioned, are frequently of an intriguing disposition, and possess those failings common to persons who are not well educated, namely, the love of power, combined with a desire to possess consequence, and believe themselves competent judges of the task of forming rules and regulations for the organization of society. Many individuals who are invited to associate with them, understand but little of the import or probable operation of the rules. The effects of arbitration, excluding appeals to magistrates and others, are inserted perhaps with sinister views, and are neither seen or understood, until some occurrence or contingency discloses the imperfection. There are two objects, respecting which all members of friendly societies appear to be particularly tenacious, although in their nature destructive of the excellent and valuable purposes which ought to result from such institutions, and which have tended, and it is to be feared will ever tend, to check their progress towards those ultimate benefits which might be expected from designs apparently so well constructed for securing the associated members against the calamity of indigence. It appears to be the uniform practice of friendly societies, that an expense shall be incurred and paid out of the funds, for what is called a decent funeral for a deceased member, or his wife; and a further sum be paid to the widow on the death of her husband. This, in the one instance, enriches the undertaker, and in the other, the mercer or the milliner, as decent funeral mournings generally exhaust all that the family of the deceased member is entitled to receive for his contributions, perhaps for many years. There may, no doubt, be exceptions to this prevailing and ill-judged practice. The result is generally calamitous, † since in a few months, the • The exemplary example of plainness at funerals, is exceedingly striking in the Society of Friends, when compared with the gaudy, and often unfelt mourning habits, which it is the general custom of the world to wear. + The ordinary expenses and inconveniences of funerals, are generally severely oppressive to persons of the middle classes. It often occurs that a poor widow is crippled in her means through life, by the expense of a funeral. An ordinary funeral, including burial fees, &c., will cost from £50 to £70. Without deduction from the solemnity, such a funeral might be performed at a much less expense. The accompaniments, which (as they are at present conducted) are deemed part of the solemnity, is questionable in its effect, as widow and orphans of a deceased member are frequently without a shilling to support themselves. But this is not the only evil which attaches to friendly societies; as they are at present constituted, it seems to be a gene ral rule established among all of them, not only that the landlords of alehouses shall hold the purse, or at least the box where the money is de posited for current disbursements, but also that there shall be 17 general meetings in the course of a year, (at least in all large towns,) namely twelve monthly and four quarterly meetings, and an annual feast. The evil arising from these frequent meetings is of a twofold nature, moral and political, which perhaps is not observed at first. Those who determine to associate with others for the accommodations which friendly societies are expected to afford, are generally of a sober and provident disposition; they are not in the habit of frequenting public-houses, and are generally ignorant of the temptations which are to be found in social meetings. These attractions at length seduce them; their characters often assume a new form; the irresistible gratifications to be found in convivial songs and cheerful company, allure them from their business and families; and frequently produce idle and dissolute habits amongst individuals, who, but for these temptations, would have continued to live sober and exemplary lives. It appears from the reports in 1803, that 9,672 friendly societies are returned as established in England and Wales, comprising 704,350 members, averaging nearly 73 members to each, and 8 in 100 of the resident population in 1842. Supposing this number of meetings to be correct, the different well as appropriation. The customary orders are given in terms such as "to provide what is common." Persons of fashion or property, continue the ancient idea of the heraldic array of a baronial funeral, the two men who stand at the door being supposed to be the two porters of the castle, with their staves in black-the man who heads the procession, wearing a scarf, being a representative of a herald at arms-the man who carries the plume of feathers on his head being an esquire—and he who bears the shield and casque with its plume of feathers, and the pall-bearers with batoons, being representatives of knights, companions at arms-the men walking with wands being supposed to represent the gentlemen ushers with their wands. The cost of all these would be, with funeral fees, mournings, hatbands, scarfs, carriages, and 20 men in attendance, not less than £100, Funerals of persons in the condition of gentlemen, often cost from £200 to £1000; and persons of rank and title vary from £500 to £1500; a large part of which expense is incurred by the removal of the remains to the family vault. • It is very often the case that landlords propose and continue a club, for the express purpose of drawing customers to their houses. aggregate amount of assemblies in public-houses, in the course of a year, would be 164,424; and to include the after reckoning, when the business of the club is over, allowing at a very moderate calculation each member spends only 9d. for the good of the house, this will amount to £420,000, or perhaps nearer £600,000 spent without occasion. However we may deplore this evil tendency, it is unquestionable that the well-intentioned promoters of these friendly societies are unskilled in algebraical calculations, and the qualities which are necessary to estimate with accuracy the contingencies applicable to the objects they wish to attain; and hence it is those who have access to consider these regulations, and adjudicate these disputes, will generally admit that the advantages are not equal to what might be expected from these beneficial associations. From being erroneous, in many instances, in their calculations, under which they are pledged to draw upon the funds, their little stock is frequently annihilated ere they are aware of it, or the box is shut up against all relief; by which the old members who have contributed for a series of years, are disappointed and deceived with respect to assistance during sickness and infirmity. In some more modern societies this inconvenience is attempted to be remedied by occasional advances, which the members are bound to make, to prevent the funds being reduced below a certain amount; but the demands are grievous and burthensome to the members, as they are seldom prepared to meet them: these combined with wages and allowances to the clerk, stewards, and other officers, together with the different fines, the money expended at the numerous public meetings, and the benefits derived, bear no proportion to what they might be made to produce under a better arranged national system, where the Government would guarantee the fulfilment of all allowances. Instead of embracing that wide sphere of relief, to which the scheme is so eminently adapted, it extends only to temporary sickness, funerals, and a small sum to the widow or nominee. These societies are generally deficient in another point, as persons advanced in years, or above a certain age, cannot be admitted, even though they were able and willing to pay an increased premium to the club, in order to counterbalance the risk. Individuals engaged in certain trades or employments, such as white lead works and various others supposed to injure the health, are generally excluded; neither are these societies open to those whose indiscretions in early life have placed them in a degraded state of society, although they might be disposed to avail themselves of such contingent aid, under a decided disposition to amend their lives. Those who during the last and present century have entered into insurances and friendly societies, are generally composed of that class who are known to be provident and discreet, and prone to look forward to the casualties of life; but the most numerous body, comprising the mass of the labouring people, being 5 M No. 27. generally uneducated, and without any provident habits, are not likely to find relief through this medium to any considerable extent, unless guided and directed by facilities which at present do not exist. Looking at the general population, and including therein a proportion of women, (since they too have separate societies,) it may be concluded, as we have before stated. that the number of Males of the age of 20 years and upwards, is Under 20. Females above the age of 20. Under 20 ...... 4,161,067 4,513,531 3,689,486 We would propose that the whole adult population, above the age of 20, should be entitled to the same privileges, and eligible to be admitted to the benefits resulting from a yearly deposit of a small sum of money out of their earnings, and to receive in return a corresponding aid, under the following contingencies, for which they should pay, weekly, into a saving bank, according to their means, and receive 1.-In case of sickness or accident, a certain weekly allowance, from 4s. to 10s. per week, according to their stipends deposited. .... 2. A small allowance on the birth of a child, to 4. An allowance to compensate any loss or casu- 5. A small annuity to a widow, in proportion to the family she has to maintain, or in lieu thereof, a sum of money to enable her to carry on some business.... 6.-A moderate sum for apprenticing a child. 7.-A small annuity to infirm persons, or those) above 60, who from old age are past iabour, according to their deposits..... 8.-The deposits shall be made monthly, according to the class, leaving it to every member to choose his own class; the premiums or deposits to apply to lives from 20 to 30 years, and to advance accordingly—a scale to be calculated up to 60 years of age, so as to exclude no person able and willing to make such advances upon the fixed rate, namely— With additional sums for increased age above 30 years. A well regulated system, judiciously managed under the direction of Government, so as to insure punctual payment, would no doubt be advantageous in promoting provident and careful habits amongst the labouring people; and all benefit societies being merged into it, the evils now complained of would be either alleviated or removed, and consequently their regular stipend would be punctually paid. We live now in an age of improvements, when insurances upon contingencies are ramifying in all directions; and we have noticed in the operation of the sinking fund, by what rapid strides large capitals may be made to accumulate, when placed under proper guidance. Supposing we have a population now in the United Kingdom of 26,870,143, and taking the present paupers and young persons under 20 years of age, the remainder would be 11 to 12 millions, including females; and yet allowing all of them the same privileges, the condition of mankind is so varied and uncertain, that we find many reduced to poverty, who little expected such an occurrence. No bankruptcy or any crime short of felony, should exclude them from this privilege. The average of a deposit of only 3s. per month, extending from Is. to 10s., according to circumstances, would amount to £18,600,000 per annum. Of this sum, supposing 10 or 12 millions were sufficient in each year for the contingent expenses which would naturally occur, and the remaining sum. |