Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-04 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL PROTECTIVE BURIAL

SOCIETY.

The first annual meeting of the Liverpool Protective
Burial Society was held last -night, in the Concert Hail.
The chair was taken at eight o'clock by Walter F.
MacGregor, E q., one of the Guardian Committee. There
were also on the plitform---Mr. J. Finch, fun., Mr. J.
Woodruff, Mr. H. C. Beloe, Mr. F. Hull, Mr. Martin, Mr.
J. Wilson, &c.
The CHAIRMAN briefly opened the proceedings by stating
that it was the first general meeting of the Protective
Burial Society, and that it had been summoned in accord-
ance with the rules of the society..
The SECRETARY (Ur. Murphy} thm read the report and
Statement of accounts. They were as follows :--

REPORT.

The General Committee of Management of the Liverpool
Protective Berle] Society submit this the First Anneal
Report to the members.
The current year expired on the Ist of July, 1857,
although the society had only been twenty-nine weeks in
existence. This is so provided in the rules, and the com-
mittee think the Brojectors were right in fixing upon that
period. The gentlemen who took an interest in the for-
mation of the society, and now form the Guardian Com-
mittee, the members of the society, and the public, were
enti led to have the earliest opportuni.y of ascertaining
whether a society projected and constituted upon a new
plan could obtain a footiug. The steady progress already
made—unequalled, it is believed, in the history of friendly
societies in this country—distinctly proves that this society
was not only uecesgary to meet the requirements of the
time, bul-, that it has obtained the independent support of
the classes for whom it was designed. The first week's
collection was but £1 123 9rl; the last was £33 53 10A ;
showing an average weekly increase of nearly 300 mem-
bers.
Annexed is the annual statement, which contains details
of the moneys expended on account of the society ; and
whenever the members shall hereafter find this part of
their account given in a lump sum, they may be sure that
there is reason to suspect foul play on the part of their
committee and officers. The account (lees not include
some charges for collectors' books, printing, &c.. as the
bills had not been rendered previous to the let of July ;
but these will of course appear in the next year's account.
The committee intend to publish the statement before the
annual meeting, in order that the members may be pos-
sessed beforehand of the account which they are asked to
pass.
The committee think that the account explains itself ;
but ler ill; information (f those members who do not un-
derstand formal balance sheets, they have to state that
there is in the bank £2OO, and in the hands of the sub-
treasurer £37 19, 3d; capital to commence the year 1857-
1858, £257 193 31.
The services of the president and sub-treasurer have been
gratuitous.
The committee would beg earnestly to impress upon the
members that it is their duty to exercise the utmost vigi-
lance in looking after their own interests, as, however
carefully the society may have been constituted with safe-
guards ter them, yet upon the vigilance of each individual
depends the permanent welfare of the society ; and in
connection with this advice the members are reminded
that they have power individually to inspect all the
society's books and papers. It is not enough that mem-
bers attempt to cure, they ought to try to prevent evils.
This report and the annual statement will be laid before
the guardian committee, in accordance with the rules, and
the general committee have confidence that no error will be
found in the balance-sheet. HENRY SMITEI,
Ch airman of the General Committee.
Liverpool, 7th July, 18t.7.

We have audited the above accounts, and fi ad the same
correct. We have not audited the collector's books, because
the half year is not at an end ; but as the collectors have
paid regularly, the result of our audit will probaly show
only small errors, if any.
ROBERT ALEXANDER MaNIGIIT, }
Auditors,
JAMES BOAC.
Liverpool, July 7, 1857.

FIRST FINANCIAL ST aTEMP:Nr OF THE LIVERPO)L
PROTECTIVE BURIAL SOCIETY,—JULY, 1857,
1357. Dr.
July 1. To cash paid in by collectors and
secretary to date (there are no arrears) , £586 17 7

other like institutions bad committed. They had, however,
surmounted all suspicion, and he was happy to be able to
state that the society numbered ten- thousand members.
(Cheers.) There was no instance of- any society having
made such progress in such a short timeas they had done
and he was certain that, before another six months they
would have an additional ten thousand members. (Hear,
hear.) He was hippy to say that there were some very
respectable members convected with the society, who came
forward as voluntary subscribers, for the ptrpooe of
patronising the insti':ution. It was creditable to the
merchants of Liverpool to so support the,society, which,
with a guardian committee of gentlemen at-its head, could
never go astray. (Cheers )
Mr. EDMONDSON seenad.d the motion, at& observed' that
he believed every item in the accounts had been fairly
expended.
Mr. J. FINCH said, that the directors had celled on the
Guardian Committee and had voluntarily subjected them-
selves to the most strict examination. The Guardian
Committee put to them several questions, aria all were
answered in the most satisfactory manner. (Cheers) He
had no doubt that the society was conducted, in the most
fair and honest manner, and be wished it every succese.
(Cheers.) At the instance of the Guardian Committee; the
books were inspected by Mr. Beloe, and if in any respect
they required improvement he would do it. (Hew' hear.);
He had no doubt that the society would meet with every
support from the merchants of Liverpool. (Cheers.)
The motion was unanimously adopted.

A member, who called himself ‘‘ A Fustian Jacket,"
said there were three items of which he had to complain,
and which he considered as grossly extravagant for a
society in its infancy—'hey were the items for gas, for
water, and for coals. He considered that the item' for
coals was very large, and for water extravagant, As to
rent, that he considered also to much. They had a•large
house, and might let off a portion of it. He did not
object to the accounts, but he thought that if 110'could
be saved, it had a right to be done, and that it should be
conducted as economically as possible.
Hare a person in the body of the hall, evidently labour-
ing under the effects of some string atimulent, called upon
the speaker to " Speak-out," that all might hear him.
Mr, liertrn, after the•gentleman had been quieted, said
he would explain the motion.
The " Foresaid Individual" : Let me be heard. am
the best friend -in the house. I was one of the first.
(Laughter )
Mr. SMITH said he was exceedingly delighted that the
members of this society had thus come forward, fer• it ,
showed that they were really intent upon • having it can-
ducted with the greatest economy. For his parr, he did
not consider £3 16s 51 too much for coals for twenty-nine
weeks, nor £1 5s 7d for gas, considering that they had had
to pass over the winter quarter ; nor was .E 1 -3s 4d too
much for water ; and, as to rent—£6 ;5s 4d for the
quarter—he did not thing they could have done better than
they had done in getting the house, 140,
.Richmond-row.
He then explained the great necessity there was for a
society like that, with 10,000 members, to have a proper
place for the conducting of their business, and he did
not think that they would have done better than they had
there.
Fusrsier Jacaus again repeated his objections to the
items he had named, as being extravagant, and particu-
larly that for rent,. for he thought that a portion of that
large house could he let off.
Mr. SMITH replied to that objection, saying that it
would not be fit to have a house let off, as they might have
children sitting on the steps of the door, which would:be a
great objection.
After a brief conversation, in the course of which
Mr. Murphy explained a few items, the resolution was
unanimously carried.
Mr. WOOLLRY proposed the second resolution, which
referred• to the appointment of a president•in the room of
Mr. Mac Phillips, who retired. Ths speaker adverted in a
few words to the almost unprecedented success which had
attended the operations of the society during the brief
period of its existence. He proposed that Mr. Mac Phillips,
whom he eulogised highly for zeal, intelligence, and integrity,
be re-elected.
Mr. REDINGTON seconded the motion.
The resolution was carried by acclamation.
Mr. MURDDCB. proposed that Mr. Murphy, who, he
stated, had, -up to this period, discharged the duties of
secretary with great ability, and with the full confidence of
the executive and the Guardian Committee, be re-elected to
that office.
Mr. TAYLOR seconded the motion, which was unanimously
adopted.
Mr. WiLsort proposed the re-election of the committee.
Mr. Boar. seconded the motion, which was adopted.
Mr. 'Patrol:we moved that Mr. Boal and Mr. Mac-
Knight be re-elected auditors, which was seconded by Mr.
Carroll, and agreed to.
Mr. SHEPPARD proposed a vote of thanks to the Guardian
Committee, and exorcised his gratification at finding that
the proceedings of that evening supported the confidence
he had always felt in the capacity of working men to COD-,
duct public meetings and the business of societies with
order, regularity, and success.
Mr. MucPaimors seccnded the resolution, which was
carried by acclamation.
Mr. WOODRUFF, who was received with loud applause,
bridge tettirued thanks on behalf of the Guardian Com.

nu'LL aim), uttucti upuu, ouu, --
acknowledged the compliment conveyed in the resolution,
He was greeted with loud cheers.
A vote of thanks baying been passed to the Press,
On the motion of Mr. Murdock, seconded by Mr. Shep•
pard, thanks were voted to the chsirman ; and the meeting,
which was conducted in the moot orderly manner, quietly
sewated.