The Express.
London, England, 1863-11-02 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, NOVEMEER 2.

THE best actors are in the habit of studying
their parts from real life, and no doubt many of
the most celebrated scenes in " Pickwick" and
" Vanity Fair" are bat vivid descriptions of what
DICKENS and TRACIUMAY have actually witnessed.
Blue Books do not seem likely sources of inspire-
tion for novelists. But the selection of correspou-
donee between the Registrar of Friendly Societies
and all sorts of Working Men just published fur-
nishes excellent models for their imitation. To
write a fictitious letter in the name of another is
proverbially difficult. And if either novelist or
critic desires to know the style of thought and ex-
pression of the straightforward and prudent English
workman, he cannot do better than look through
the correspondence to which we have referred.
The nature of Friendly Societies, at hut in
theory, ought to be well understood. Their object
is to raise by voluntary subscriptions, sometimes
increased by donations, a fund to insure a certain
payment on the occasion of a birth or death in a
member's family, or to meet the necessities of sick-
ness or old age. It is impassible to deny the sub-
steuitial benefits to the working run of such societies
if they are properly administered. Perhaps their
most useful effect is to produce such habits of fore-
sight and prudence as are implied in becoming
members of such institutions. To be able to put
by a fragment of wages weekly or monthly, to
exercise • constant self-denial is order
to provide for the future, is a sort
of moral discipline which most produce
the happiest effect upon the working classes of this
country. To show the importance of these iodi-
tutions it need culy be observed that in 1868
there were enrolled and certified upwards of
28,000 of them, and that during the yea. 1869
the Registrar examined and certified the rules of
1,277 new ones; whilst in 1858, out of the
whole number, 9,994 poessood fonds amounting
to 1,562,7841., invested in the savings banks
alone. But the best things are domed ; nor have
these institutions proved an exception. As one
of the correspondents of Mr. TIDO Parr% the Re-
gistrar, says " Being a rather close observer of
" the workings of many of the old benefit
" societies held at public-houses, I have
" known many paupers now in receipt of
" parish relief who, in their younger days,
" were members of one or more of these sixth.
" ties, but who in the times of need found that they
" had only been keeping publicans, officials, and
" loungers ; that the funds had all bassi equandered,
" and that they had no alternative bat to apply to
" public charity." Another writes There lo no
" doubt that many of these dubs are little ;we
" than snares to the working dames. The most
" capable get into offices, and have to attend most
" frequently, and imperceptibly and apparently at
" little personal cost they are reduced to
" drunkards." The simple truth is, that instead
of being used as friendly societies they are
public-hoses dubs ; the menathes meet at the
pubilohouse, and the fends are spent for the
benefit of the landlord. " These societies,"
we read, " are so many props to pnblio.honees,
" and whenever • public-house is advertised
" to be Ist, it is often stated that there is one
" or more clubs held at the house, and when •
"new tenant comes to a public-house be generally
" gives • feed to the members as an indooement for
" them to step at the house.* The cruel thing is
that the members who do not choose to attend, or
who meant attend from living at a distance, are
compelled to pay for those who do. " I thinks
" myself," writes one brother, with excellent .066-
moo sense, " if there is to be stuffing, let each dip
" into his pocket and pay for it." And smother,
"We thing it is clothing but right and just pay
" for our liqor meld the MOO as members in
" others society do that is certified." Another,
who complains that the members spend "30s.
" every lodge night," says, " I love odd fellow-
" ship if they were pare odd fellows, but I cannot
" do with • majority of spendthrifts that cares not
" for the box or the sick member." One society,
which meets at the Cook-end. Bottle, Castle-green,
sterns to speed its funds first in making its mem-
bers
drunkards, and then in supporting them one
of the sick fund. "We bad two omen," writes a
member, "lest year; one was obliged 12 be kept in a
" lunatic asylum for eight weeks, and received sick
1,, pay." And according to one statement, between
1837 and 1862 no less than 5681. was spent by
one society in "drink and ale for the benefit of
" the landlord."

Now there is no question as to the illegality of
such extravagance when it takes place at the ex-
pense of the club. Mr. TIDD Plum and the Ar-
roaxirr-GassaaL have pronounced against it.
Many members have protested, but they have been
overruled. "Thy day week-feast," writes one,
" they would have 255. out for drink. The sheer-
" man opposed it with all his might; theydemanded
" his key of the box and threatened to turn him out
" of the room; Cneaux Buswiu., a trustee, taken
" possession of the key, and with two more
" taken the money out of the box, and
" before the day was over they got drunk, sad
" fighting took place, and some of the landlord's
"furniture was hvoken, and all was confusion sad
" uproar." Another says :—" They have turned
" me out of the Club at last because I would not
" pay for the dinner I
this same Club, which consiete chiefly of
poor labouring men, it appears that there
are one or two teetotallers. These virtuous sec-
tarians having asked fora glass of teetotal drink,
were told to pay for it themselves, whilst some of
the others stopped till two or three o'clock in the
morning, " to finials the drink bought with money
" taken opt of the box. Three or four of these

" were found next morning in a beastly state of
" intoxication, and carried home. Is this right r
We should say, certainly not. But what is to be
dune f As one poor man says : "The committy
" seams bent on their own way at the sacrifise of
" eather law or rola."

Fortunately the Legislature has provided a
remedy. The Act of Parliament provides that if
any person wilfully applies the funds of Friendly
Societies to any purpose except such as are sanc-
tioned by the rules, proceedings may be taken
against him, and he may be required to repay the
money he has taken, and also to pay a fine of
201. Accordingly Mr. TIDD Plum., fortified by
the opinion of the Arronszir.Gairinn, and moved
by the numerous complaints addressed to him by
the members of such institutions, has given distinct
notice that if any further misapplication is made
of the funds legal proceedings will be taken.
Nor is there any doubt that this intima-
tion will be effectual to prevent the funds
of these institutions being expended in feasting,
processions, banners, ribbons, aprons, bell-ringing,
or any object of a similar sort. Indeed, the effect
of threatening to take proceedings against a
Foresters' Friendly Society has already been
proved. The price of a flag which had been im-
properly purchased out of the society was repaid,
and an assurance was given that nothing of the
kind should be done again.