The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-01-29 00:00:00

THE BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS ON

BENEFIT CLUBS.

On Thursday th, winter meeting of the Chew
nominal Schoolmaster's Association was held in the
National School-room, Ystton. The attendance was
not large, but amongst those present were the Right
Rev. the Lord Bishop of the l)iocess (Viscount Auck-
loud), in the chair ; the Ven. the Archdeacon of Bath,
the Itevds. E. W. Oinmsney, and many clergymen ;
Sir A. If. Elton, Bart.., Mr. W. J. Braikenridge, Mr.
C. Elwirds, Mr. H. J. Mirehouse, and • fair number of
achooliusstere and schoolmistresses, an well as some
pupil teachers.
The Hight R.v. Prelate, after speaking in the highest
terms of the Benefit Clubs established in the neigh-
bourhood, gave souse very interesting information re-
garding the formation and rules of societies in the
earliest times of English history. The advantages of
associations, similar in their nature to friendly societies
(said Ida Lordship).sesin to have been appreciated at a rely
early period; and it is more than probable that usocia.
Hums, which had for their object to provide for the
neosesities of the few by the contributions of the many,
were numeral's long prior to tits Norman Conquest,
in the year 1086, although the Taal of learn*,

and the great scarcity of authors at that
period, have provinted the exbdence of many
souls institutions being recorded. Hicks, in his
Thesaurus, mentions some soeietiee of the nature
allmled to, the rules of which, in the original Salon,
are efill preserved. [llia Lordship gave a translation if
its rules.) 'ruin these enrione deeds it would appear
-
thst guild .. s w.re ori ata..tu gistally t by the mutual
agreement of ft ionl and nitiglibunr, ,nil had no further
object than the relief of the brethren in tittles of dis-
tress, end perhaps the protection of the aattociated times-
hare %mind the lawleci attlekr cif powerful neighleairs.
.ifter the Coneticat, that is MO years ago, guilds or
anzieties were established for the express promotion of
religion, charity, or trade. The rules of several of
these institutions; have I•en inn-served. Amongst others
there w ta one eutablished at Coventry, well deeerving
Lb. attention of villao legislators. The rules of it are
cited by Der:dale, who speaks of them ne very
memorable, and mandeating the demizt govermuent,
ceremony, devotion, charity, and amity of
those times. So much fur tie olden times.
The learned lecturer then proceeded to review the
various schemes for mutual benefit which It .1 bees
brought before the legideture since the year 1673, and
especially dwelt upon the evil. which bed reetilted by
benefit societies holding their tu..ettitga to public houses.
Another cmii Iwa,, that until lately theao societiea liatl
nut hated their payments 011. fair scale, mid the man
whet was 30 years of age paid no inure per week than he
who was only 2.1, whereas for a benefit society to Mewl
• leak should be adopted 110 that after the members
became old. Young nieuilsers should rise and teke their
idaeo. His Lordship went into some very interesting
calculation., and concluded Ilia lecture by the following
sound and prat tical observations and suggestions :-The
requisites for • good club are t nose-the ntimber. al Id
be unlimited.-fresh Itheel is the (111140 of etreligth ;
membeis should pay according to their age at entronce
into the club -a matt of 35 year. is mere likely to draw
ere, the club than a youth of IN-the club itheulti not
he held in a public house-m.11,d iittelligt uce, honorary
menthols, abould be associated with the meethere ; all
classes should comities to render the club permanent.
If a man is able to .1 teatime work, when convalescent.
he about.' he allowed to do it, upon the condition of his
receiving lu. pay till he lied acquired his full strength.
Above all thing., the scale of payments et Id be made
according to the tattles of competent actuaries, 1.11.1 the
club vhoull lie regivteretl and tinder the supervision
of the Government officer, Mr. Tidil Pratt, In
conclusion, he had only to .y that labour is appointed
to man as hit. heritage ; list labour, in every well-
constructed !society, will Waive procure for men the
means of life. But though man 11 suhject to varinue
ineladies, Fiancee is out his natural state. A preper
attention to food, to escrtise, to cleanliness, to
thou, to haltite of sobriety and goo I cuntieet, will drive
to a divtance and render lea. frequent, a Wet of dineatme.
It.ll, sickness will occasionally eines ; and in conclu-
sion, my (ricotta, Ile would only soy that Scripture es
to bear one omother's burthens, to provide for our own-
that Wessed is the into that remembers the end, while
his wattle are few and hie attength perfect, and thinks
of the time when it will he otherwise with 111111 iu Ituth
respects. By joining a club of this description, a man
continues to eat hi, own bread, though lie hail ceased
to work witli hi. baud, aiiil rt Lc owes no man any•
thing. If sick nesa bidallv him, he is not left without
resource, hut he will be se a city prepared aguilot •
Accidetits may happen at env moment, and for
thee,' provision may be to.. he by entering 1111.0 a well.
conducted betiellt society. It is the duty of the itch to
assist the pour ; and it is the duty of the icier not to
encroach U 1.1.11 his rich neighbour, or meke hittmelf a
hurtlien to It itianeerileotly, but to help himself no far a.
he Ima the means before lie looks for help from others.
He owes at once to God, and to society, and to his
faintly, to be hottest, sober, iu.lnetriona, and
frugal, that he may maintain himself, and hty up twine-
thing for sicknees and old age. Nature governs not so
many seein to think, cupriciously, but for the most part
by Axed and Rellerld 1111141, which cannot be violated with
impunity. If eleterved, they would rule us for our own
good ; but to obey thens they must he kletwii. Hence
Lb. neeeasity for instruction in them, in the education
of youth ; and I am convinced that an Minimise amount
of good *eel.' arise if clergyman, resideet tradesmen,
and employers, and more especially the sehoultuaater,
would inculcate proper views on these matters among.
the Metering clams. tin q b.uently, hle is tnlship re•
(erred to the I 'hutch "tchoolonester's and tieheolinistress's
limievident Association, amiameliding the thinl annual
report of it tat the couvideration of the Chew Deestial
Asiowint , obverving that there were aidismiliers Lu th•
former Society iu Hettinimter amiul Itrivtol.
Sir A. Elton, in • neat etel practical pcsclm. proposed
a vote id thank, to him lordship.
The N'en. the Archdeacon el Bath eeconthal the pro.
position in camelimentary terms, and Khowe.l how much
the English peasantry require to be taught to Le pro-
vident.