Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

would judge of those things well enough, if a parcel of wicked people would leave them to the exercise of their own understandings.

V.

CLOTHING CLUBS, &c.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

Bitton, Dec. 17, 1830.

SIR, I ENTIRELY agree with your Aston correspondent (in your Number for Dec.) in his observations respecting the superior advantages of Clothing Clubs, and similar institutions, in which "the rich and the poor," as it were, "meet together," in doing the Christian work of diminishing the temporal wants of their fellow-creatures, in preference to free gifts, which too often create feelings very contrary to that "charity which envieth not, and doth not behave itself unseemly."

It may be an inducement to others to persevere in such well-doing, to know, that, as well as at Aston, a similar plan has been attended with great success and benefit elsewhere.

In 1822 we established a Clothing Club; but, from some cause or other, (perhaps the novelty of the thing) very few joined it: however we persevered, and to instance one year; in 1829 we had 139 members, who paid

...

By weekly contributions.
Honorary members, subscribed to be
divided among the pence contributors
Interest of money deposited in the Sav-
ings-bank..

Balances paid by 139 members

£. s. d.

42 15 6

8 10 3

0 9 0

3 10 5

£55 5 2

Clothing Clubs, &c.

45

Which total amount, deducting forty-two shillings for printing, porterage, &c. our poor parishioners shared in clothing.

Last year we had only 72 members, who

[blocks in formation]

Next year we shall probably have many more; as already 154 members have entered their names. The rules are very simple—

Members may subscribe one penny, two-pence, or three-pence weekly; but only two members are admitted from the same family.

The sum subscribed by honorary members, is divided EQUALLY among the pence members, without regarding the amount of their contributions. Hitherto the dividend has amounted to one shilling to each member.

When the value of the clothing chosen by the members exceeds the amount due to them, they pay the over-balance.

The accounts are closed the end of November, that the clothing may be distributed thus early in winter. The weekly contributions are paid at the vicarage, and at two or three other receiving-houses, more conveniently situated for the members. Their personal attendance is not required after the first payment. The money is deposited in a savings-bank, which adds a little to the fund. All the members are well satisfied; and in such a charity, we have not the unthankful office of selecting fit objects; but we thus help those who do their best in providing "for their own house."

I believe our Club has no particular merit over many more such, which are now established around us. I merely call your attention to it, thinking it may be an encouragement to others, who have not yet tried this

profitable, satisfactory, and easy method of comforting their poor neighbours throughout their toilsome year.

We have a similar institution for the Sunday-school children. Each pays one halfpenny weekly, which (added to the value of prize-tickets) they receive in clothing at this season.

Allow me to send you one of our Clothing Club Cards; and wishing you continued success in your exertions for the poor, in your useful publication,

I am, your obedient servant,

H. T. E.

HAMLET OF BITTON CLOTHING CLUB.

No.

BENEFIT MEMBER'S TICKET.

Monthly
Total.

Dates Pence

Dates Pence Dates Pence Dates Pence Dates Pence S. d.

[blocks in formation]

RECOLLECT that whatever you take as your chief rule in life, and the leading governor and director of your conduct, that is your god ;-it is to you what God should be, it is in God's place.-It is this you remember, when you should remember your Creator; in this

47

Extracts from the Public Newspapers. you live, and upon this you must depend when you die!-beware, then, that you thus commit yourself to nothing but God; to no rule but his rule.-Wolfe's Sermons.

Rule.-Never to spend a penny when it can be better spared, nor to spare it when it can be better spent. -The Same.

Men could never be so bad as they are, if they did but take a proper care and scope in this business of self-examination; if they did but look backwards to what they were, inwards to what they are, and forwards to what they shall be.-Mason.

We should order our thoughts (so saith Seneca) as if we had a window in our breasts, through which any one might see what passes there. And indeed there is One who does for what does it signify that our thoughts are hid from men? From God nothing is hid. Sent by A. Y.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS.

Beer. At the board of Excise, the landlord of the Weavers' Arms public-house was charged on an information for mixing sugar, salt, and vitriol, or other ingredients, not being malt and hops, with his beer. The facts being proved, he was fined 100%. Another landlord was fined 150%, and another 2001. for similar offences, with different degrees of criminality. The highest penalty allowed by the law is 2001.

An ounce of the finest thread for making Brussels lace is said to be worth 200 francs, or nearly twice its weight in gold; the best grows near Courtray.

Preserving Apples.-Put the apples into a small apartment appropriated for that purpose in the highest floor of the house, immediately beneath the roof, in which no fire is ever lighted, and which is therefore more exposed to the cold than any part of the building; yet it is found by experience that if a thin linen cloth be thrown over the apples before the frost commences, the fruit under it is never injured. Linen only is used for this purpose; woollen-cloth has been found ineffectual.

A gamekeeper lately met his death whilst shooting. He had just shot a rabbit, and it is supposed that whilst re-loading his fowling-piece, the powder in the flask took fire, and caused an explosion, which shattered the upper part of his left arm in a most shocking manner, and occasioned such an effusion of blood that the unfortunate man survived the accident but a quarter of an hour.-Hampshire Advertizer.

An act of great humanity and courage was performed on Friday last, at the London Docks, by a cooper named Daly. A cellarman fell into the dock near the eastern entrance. The height, from the surface of the water to the wharf, was nearly twenty feet; and as the poor man could not swim, he would most certainly have been drowned, if Daly had not jumped after him, and held him above water until other aid was brought. Daly never thought of the necessity of throwing off any part of his dress, in his anxiety to save a fellow-creature's life, but carried with him his shoes, apron, and even hat, into the water. In a few minutes a boat reached the two men, and they were treated with all the kindness which their condition required, by the superintendent of the dock.-Globe. An inquest was held in the Southwark-bridge-road, on the body of Mr. G. Kennerly, aged 26, connected with a highly respectable house in the seed and Dutch root trade. The deceased was conveyed to the stationhouse in Southwark-bridge-road, in an insensible state, having swallowed an excessive quantity of gin. He was laid in a cell with his right arm under his head, and his shirt-collar loosened. In the course of the night he died in a fit of apoplexy. A verdict of " Died by excessive drinking of gin" was returned.-Globe.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of W. H. W., H. T. E., Oberlin, T. F., M. A. B., C. K., C. H., I. S., and several anonymous papers.

We would suggest to our Correspondents the advantage of giving some signature to their communications, that they may be enabled to know whether we have really received them.

The remarks of E. P. are good, but the subject is a delicate one to handle especially as, in the progress of time, many changes have occurred to thwart, in a considerable degree, the pious designs of our

ancestors.

We have just received a letter from our village correspondent, A. R., dated as far back as December 9, 1829. The parcel referred to never reached us.

We are pleased with the lines by an Irish peasant, sent by A.F.N.; but some of the stanzas are likely to be misunderstood, and to produce harm, when we are sure our correspondent would desire only good.

We wish we could find room for all the new year addresses which we have received.

We hope to insert C. H. in our next Number. We see the force of his objection; and, indeed, where a club is upon a large scale, a bounty fund could not be raised for the payment of so large an interest, nor would it be perhaps desirable. In the cases which we have introduced, the increased sum is not considered as interest—it is a gratuity, given to those who are most disposed to support themselves.

« ElőzőTovább »