The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-13 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL UNITED LEG AL _FRIENDLY.
BURIAL SOCINTY.

A special general meeting of the members of this society
was convened to be held in the Clarendon rooms, South
John street, yesterday afternoon for the purpose of obtaining
the consent of a majority of the members present at such
meeting to the rescinding some of the present rules of the
society, and to the making and passing certain new rules,
and also for making and passing certain amendments and
alterations in the present rules. The attendance was
numerous ; but of a more orderly description than on former

occasions.
On the motion of Mr. Wm. Mudge, seconded by Mr.
John Barry, Mr. John M‘Farlane was voted to the chair.
The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said he
hoped the meeting would be conducted in a peaceable
and orderly manner ; and he also trusted that parties
in speaking would introduce as little extraneous matter as
po6sible.

Mr. Boldig here read over the rules, with the prop red
alteratiotith
Mr, Hull asked whether these rules had been sanctioned
by the solicitor.
The Chairman replied in the neggive.
Mr. Hull said, from the hurried realing of the rules,
he understood that the accounts were not to ha sub-
mitted to a meeting of the members. The rWes, before
these proposed alterations, were carefully prepercd by
Mr. Martin ; they were then for a week iu the hands of
the County Court Judge. He thought they had laid out
much of their time in manufacturing for the society a
set of good rules, and he was at a less to see wh✓ they,
should be altered. Mr. Martin and himself held a
position as their trustees ; and he thought they had
succeeded in modelling for the socie y a code of rtes teat
might be an example to other associations of the hind.
It was impossible for him to pass an opinion upon the
new rules t but, Ysheti he observed in the pipers that
they were going to meet here that day, contemplating
alterations in the rules, he wrote to Mr. Tyle ea, the
concitor, requesting him to furnish him with the alterations.
One of the present rules stated that no alterations should
he made in arty rule unless the subject matter of that
alteration was put in the advertisement that called them
together. (Hear, hear.) He only, however, in reply to his
application, got a civil intimation from Mr. Tybee that he
should be furnished with a cony of the rules when the rules
were passed. But he (Mr. Hull) must say at once that he
would riot be the trustee of a society unless he approved of the
rules under which the society was conducted. He therefore
did trust they would now adjourn that meeting. Let the trus-
tees have a copy of the rules, and let them seek the assistance
which Mr. Martin and himself would fairly accord them, in
order to keep the society free from all that mischief which
had stooped its progress. The members were now in a
position to increase their surplus under the existing rules.
Why, then, should they shake the confidence of the public
by passing rules which nobody could understand ? He
could have no interest in this matter, beyond the good
feeling he had for the working classes of this town, and it
was that which had brought him on this occasion to protest
against important alterations being made in those rules,
without anybody understanding what they were until it was
too life.
Mr. Curry asked, amidst much uproar, how they could
be expected to give copies of these alterations to the trustees
when one of them was a member of a guardian committee,
and the other the solicitor to an opposition society ? What
they would do was this—if the meeting would piss these
' rules as they had heard them read, the trustees would both
be politely furnished with a copy.
Mr. Boldig asked if, when Mr. Hull and Mr. Martin
prepared roles for the society, did they give the members
the opportunity of discussing them ? (Loud cries of " No,
no.") Did they allow their rules to be read up aloud, as
they were that day. (" No, no," and a voice—" The
members never passed them !") He could only say that
the proposed alterations were not recommended before they
had been well and fully considered.
Mr. Martin said he, as a trustee, if these new rules were
passed, would be asked to continue a trustee under laws ho
knew nothing at all about; and he really thought it would
have been a proper act, on the part of the parties who bad
altered these rule:, to have asked the opinion of the
trustees on the subject of some of them. He knew the
solicitor of the society had not seen them ; they had been
kept secret. With regard to the alterations, he was not
going to discuss them, for he was not in a position to do
so. There were some which, if passed, would induce him
to resign immediately. There was one alteration, giving
the power of putting collectors on the committee—a most
impa per act. Indeed hi', for one, if these rules were
peeseo, would teuuer ills resignation before he went out of
the room.
Mr. Roberts said he had heard with pleasure that Mr.
Hull and Mr. Martin would tender their resignation ; and,
if they had not done so, he intended to have made a motion
that the trustees do at once resign. (Laughter.)
Mr. Shepherd next got up to address the assembly, when
a scene of indescribable confusion ensued. He was assailed
on all sides with every kind of remark.
The Chairman interceded for a hearing for him, saying
he would not continue long.
, Mr. Shepherd made himself sufficiently heard to say that,
if the moving of any amendment there, would have a bene-
ficial result, he would move a hundred amendments, for the
saving et this society. (Laughter, hisses, and uproar.)
They had spoken of hole and corner meetings, but there
was scarcely an individual there but collectors, their wives,
and the officers. (Great uproar, with indignant shouts of
'' false," '' false.")
A Member: Mr. Chairman, you ought to keep order,
and not allow such expressions to be made.
Mr. Shepherd continued, that the rules had already been
drawn up with great care, and at a great expense to the
society; and seeing that the confidence of the public had
been so recently shaken in the society, he thought it ill
became the present officers to come forward and utak,. those
rules worse. It was well known the riles were being altered
to keep in the officers for life. (Hisses and shouts.) To keep
in those officers who had already lost the confidence of the
working classes of Liverpool (A. Voice : " A pound a-week.
He wants a shop himself.") They could not alter the pre-
sent rules without endangering the stability of the society.
(" Oh, oh," and groans.) le boldly contended that the
alterations of those rules was from no other than sinister
motives on the part of same of the officers. (Uproar.) Al-
though he held a position in another society—(" Oh, oh")
--he wished well to this, and would do his best to make it
really useful to the working classes—there was room
enough for all. (Hisses and groans) He would press on
the meeting to take the advice of Mr. Hull and Mr. Martin
men who stood above suspicion. (Uproar,)
The Chairman called Mr. Shepherd to time.
Mr. Shepherd concluded by moving "That this meeting
adjourn sine die, and that the rules remain as they are."
(Renewed uproar, cries of " Order, order !" and remarks
uttered by females.)
Mr. Roberts : Mr. Chairman, I have tried to call your
attention several times. What is the object of this
meeting ?
Mr. Lawrence : Mr. Chairman, I claim your attention.
(Uproar.)
Mr. Roberts : Mr. Chairman, was not this meeting called
to pass the rules, and not to listen to any extraneous matter
Mr. Shepherd chooses to throw in ? (Hear, hear.)
A Voice : Mr. Chairman, 1 claim your attention for a
few moments.
Another : Mr. Chairmain, put the motion.
Cries of " Order, order !" by which the chairman was
asssiled from every side.
Mr. Smith (of the Working Tailors' Association) next
stood up. He said he understood, when lie came into that
room (uproar). " Mark me, gentlemen, if you interrupt
me, I shall have my full time." (" Have you brought your
nightcap ?" laughter, and uproar.)
Chairman : I gave you five minutes.
Mr. S:nith continued to say that, as a member, he had
a right to question the proceedings of that day. He
would second Mr. Shepherd's amendment (great uproar
amain ensued, in which Mr. Smith continued to speak,
addressing the reporters.)
Chairman : Will you sit down now, Mr. Smith, having
seconded the amendment ?
Mr. Smith : I will speak what I think necessary first, I
won't be interrupted.
Chairman: I will interrupt if you speak too long.
, Mr. Smith: I have a right to speak, and I won't submit
to dictation. I protest against this way of doing business.
(Disorder.) There are 45,000 members outside these
walls, whose interests must be considered as well as yours.
(Interruption.)
Mr. M. Cullen : We have not now—for two thousand
have gone to the Protective. (Laughter and cheers.)
Mr. Smith was continuing his remarks, when,
Mr. Boldig said: I propose that Mr. Smith speaks no
longer.

This was put to the vote, and carried with cheers.
Mr. Smith said things had come to a nice condition
when a chairman became a partizan, and when a member's
mouth was closed. (Uproar.) Mr. Smith sat down, after
protesting against the proceedings.
Mr. Lawrence then addressed the meeting amidst
uproar, in which he said it was a well-known fact that
there were parties in that room connected with another
burial society which sought the downfall of the Royal
Oak. When that meeting had been publicly placarded,
he thought the members of the society who had not
thought it worth their while to come forward, ought to be
satisfied with the resolutions of those who did. He stood
there as a man paying 8d a week, when men on the
opposite side (Mr. Shepherd included) only paid 2d. Was