The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-26 00:00:00

REPORT

Of the Committee of Investigation to the Memhpgs of the
Loyal United Legal Friendly Burial Society, better
known as the Royal Oak Burial Society.
The Committee of Investigation, in calling together the
friends of the society at this stage of the proceedings, are
actuated by a desire to afford them as early informatio r as pos-
sible regarding the actual position of affairs, as well as to
accustom them to take that necessary and legitimat • position
in the management of the society's business, without which any
attempt to place it upon a sure and lasting basis would end in
disappointment. Your committee, then, while congratulating
you upon the present aspect of the society's affairs, think it
desirable to bring to your recollection the circumstances which
led to the formation of this committee. They, therefore, claim
your indulgence while they state them as briefly as possible.
It had become notorious for some years previous to the last
annual meeting, that the sub-treasurer, as well as sonic of the
collectors, were largely indebted to the society. But some time
previous to that event, one of the auditors, Mr. Michael Mur-
phy, communicated to Mr. Shepherd that a wholesale fraud
was about to be perpetrated, the committee of management
having passed a vote cancelling all debts due to the society by
each and every officer and collector up to the 30th of Nov., 1855,
except £l,OOO due by the sub-treasurer, for which the society
held security in the shape two life policies for £5OO each,
thereby defrauding the society to the amount of £2,320 9s 7d.
That it would be sought to have this vote confirmed at the
annual meeting. Upon that gentleman and others attending
the said meeting, such was found to be a fact, and, from the
brutal treatment they received on that occasion, it became
apparent that all attempts to obtain redress through the
ordinary means of public meetings would prove utterly futile,
and hence the necessity of appointing a committee to obtain
legal redress. Soon after your committee entered upon their
labours, they discovered that a system of peculation had been
pursued in the management of the society for years, and that
the collectors, &c., by sitting on committees (for which they
received payments), instead of being the servants, had become
the masters and managers of the society. That the president
was wholly incapable of discharging the duties connected with
his office. That the rules under which the society is at
present constituted were one tissue of absurdities. That a
great many of the irregularities complained of arose from the
business of the society being conducted at a public-house.
That, in fact, it appeared to your committee that an entire
re-organisation of the society would be absolutely necessary, in
order to ensure its permanent prosperity. It might ho construed
is to an act of self-laudation, were your committee to enter
into details of their labours since its formation. They will
therefore content themselves by stating that, having at length
succeeded in placing their case before the proper tribunal, they
instructed their solicitors to pray for the removal
of every officer and collector who might be implicated in the
alleged frauds, and take such other steps as the law might
warrant. To this it was objected on the part of the solicitor,
that such a course would be incompatible with the preservation
of the society. Stating at the same time such reasons as con-
vinced your connnitteo of the correctness of his views to the
society. Your committee, therefore, being solely influenced
by a desire to benefit the society, consented to an amicable
arrangement, by which repayment of all debts duo by officers
and collectors is guaranteed, and proper means adopted to
provide for the re-organisation of the society. And thus your
committee regret to announce that individuals aro still
retained in Office whom they believe to be utterly
untrustworthy, and whom your committee will not hesitate to
name when the proper time arrives. Notwithstanding
your committee have great satisfaction in announcing that
considerable success has already attended their efforts, and
though they have not obtained full justice, yet as much has
been done as was possible under the circumstances, keeping
always in view the welfare and preservation of the society. In
conclusion, your committee beg to impress neon the members,
in the most earnest manner, that no matter what may bo the
amount of legislation, no matter what the amount of exacti-
tude with which their rules may be constructed, still
the strictest supervision and most untiring vig lance
will always be necessary upon their part 0
secure the future well being of.the society. It is a duty
which every member owes to his fellow member, to his
neighbour—in short, to society at hrge-----to attend all its
meetings. Do not allow questions, which may be of the first
importance to the general interest of the society, to be decided
by parties who may have a personal interest apart from, if not
altogether oppneed !ha' g-ncral interest. Let each member