The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-07 00:00:00

The Star Life Assurance Society,
-
ANNUAL MEETING-THIS DAY.

The twentieth annual meeting of the members of the
Star Life Assurance Society was held to-day at the offices,
13, Moorgate -street, City.
Charles Harwood, Esq., chairman of the Board 01 Di-
rectors, presided.
The usual preliminary business having been transacted,
the annual report of the directors and the report of Mr.
Jenkyn Jones on the affairs of the society were read to the
meeting. The directors' report was read by Jesse Hobson,
Esq., the Secretary, as follows
The Directors Directors of the Star Life Assurance Society, in
again meeting their constituents, have groat pleasure in
being able to present a most gratifying report, at this, the
twentieth annual, or fourth quinquennial, meeting :
Tee figures which will be presented to this meeting will
refer not only to the operations of the society during the
past year, but to those which have occurred since its estab-
lishment in 1843.
The directors have to report, that during 1863 they
received 1,195 proposals for assurance; of this number they
issued 95G policies for the aseuranoe o £353,310, yielding
in annual premiums £13;114 16s. Id., the highoet amount
paid for new policies in any year since the foundation of
the society.
The directors have been compelled, reluctantly, to decline
many of the proposals which have been submitted to them,
as being, in their opinion, not eligible for assurance.
As a further illustration of the advance of the company,
the following comparative result is given of the four com-
pleted cycles elfin years which have elapsed :
No. of Sums
Pelleles. Assured. Premium.
First period, to 1848.... 2,204 £690,277 £22,506 15 11
Second period, to 1853..2,832 923,156 30,280 1) 7
Third period, to 1858 ... 3,191 1,086,040 37,766 14 4
Fourth period, to 1863 .. 4,792 1,721,252 60,031 5 0
of this number there remained in existence at the close of
the year 9,370 policies for the assurance of £3,229,841 10s.
By the auditors' report it will be observed that the in-
como of the society on the 31st December last, amounted
to £120,489 4s. 3d., and the accumulated fund at that date
amounted to £567,361 9s. 11d., showing an increase in the
fund of .£72,381 15s. lid. during the year.
Claims by death have arisen under 107 policies, assuring
92 persons, and the sum of £32,804 12s. Id. (which includes
bonus additions of £1,469 Os.) has been paid to the repre-
sentatives of those deceased, Of this amount, £6,000 has
been reassured with other offices, thus reducing the net
loss to the Star by death to £26,804 12s. Id. The claims
which have been discharged, since the origin of the society,
amount, in the aggregate, to £91,348 Os.
It is scarcely neeeesary to repeat, that to the valuable and
general support of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion is
this prosperity mainly to be attributed ; and the Directors
think that it will be interesting to the meeting to be in-
formed, that a very large proportion of the assured are
either members or hearers of that religious body.
This being the fourth quinquennial period, tho Directors
are called upon, by the deed ot settlement, to investigate the
affairs of the society, with a view ot apportioning the profit,'
to the policy-holders. For this purpose they have in-
structed Mr. Jenkyn Jones to make a valuation, and give a
complete and detailed report of the assets and linbUitien ot
the society. That report, which will be lead to you, shows,
as was anticipated, that the business effected is of a very
profitable character, and will enable the Directors 10 declare
a reversionary bonus averaging rather more than 50 per
cent. upon the premiums paid during the past five years;
the result of which, as relating to each particular policy,
will be communicated to those interested at as early a
period as posrible, As, however, these calculations will
occupy considerable time, it is obvious that such result can-
not be communicated to all the policy-holders in lees than
two or three months.
The Directors retiring by rotstion aro W. li. Smith, W.
M. Ware, A. Bealey, and Edward Ball, Esqs., who, being
eligible, will be proposed for re-election.
The CHAIRMAN sail it was with more than ordinary
pleasure that he met the share and policy holders that day,
because the success of the past year's exertions had been
crowned with the most brilliant success. (Hear, hear.)
The new business for the year amounted to nearly 1,000
policies of £353,310, which would yield an annual premium of
£13,114 16e. Id., which would be the largest amount paid
for new policies in any year since the foundation of the
society. There was another matter of congratulation, and
that was the increase of the accumulated Lfund. (Bear
hear.) In order to comply with the terms of the deed of
settlement, the directors, with a view of apportioning the
profits to both share and policy holders, had had to select a
qualified gentleman to whom they could submit the affairs
of the society, and the highly interesting and favourable
report they had had front Mr. Jenkyn Junes fully bore out
the eu ectations of the directors. (Hear, hear.) The bonus
was a substantial ono—(hear, hear)—and although ho could
not gratify the policyholders with the specific sum each
would receive yet, he would conclude his observations by
formally moving the reception and adoption of the report.
The motion, having been seconded, was put to the meet.
ing,and carried unanimously.

The CHAIRMAN neat moved the re-election of the retir-
ing directors—viz., W. H. Smith, Esq., J. M. Ware, /15q.,
and E. Boaley, Esq., which was also agreed to unanimously.
Thanks having lnen awarded to directors, auditors, and
medical officers,
A special vote of thanks was proposed and accorded to
the secretary and his very efficient staff.

Mr. IlonsoN thanked the meeting for the compliment
just paid to him and his staff. They had but ono ambition,
namely, to see the society in the most flourishing condition.
He had finished his first apprenticeship to thorn to-day, as
the present was theeihgth annual report he had the pleasure
of reading to them. Seven years ago their annual income
was £61,000, whilst it was now £120,000. Their assets at
that period were £202,000, they were now £5.57,000, and this
alone would show some exertion had been made. (Hear.)
It would always be his constant endeavour to increase and
extend their success by every means in his power. (Hear,
hear.) He had a favour to ask those present; it was
to kindly communicate to their friends that the
amount of bonus payable to each policy holdi•r could
not be ascertained for two or three months, but
immediately it was known there would be no loss of time
in acquainting those entitled to it with the pleasant fact. If
they would oblige him so far ho was certain it would save
him a great deal of letter writing, (Laughter.)' The
Shareholders' bonus would be payable about the first week
in April.
A ♦ote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.

THE POPE AND HIS VISITORS.—A correspondent
of I he Temps gives the following details respecting the cert.,-
nton
the ante-chambers you are introduced to thePope'mial at audiences granted by the Pops:—"After passing
through
presence. His Holiness sits at the end of the room, under a
canopy, on a small throne, raised One step hum the floor,
in an arm chair of velvet and gold, with a writing-table be-
fore him. You kneel at the dour, again in the middle of the
room, and a third time jua; before you reach the throne..
wTheeri: a opepresents his foot and you kiss the white slipper,
hgold cross is placed. You remain kneeling until his
Holiness 'notions you to rise. Tu men of the world the siget
ie wads instantly, and the conversation takes place stand-
ing. To religions
persona, monks, and even secondary
prelates, the sign to rise is frequently not made at all,
and they speak while still kneeling. onto high per..
sonages also speak with the Pope while kneeling ; M. do
Wrode always does, though so intimate with Pius IX.
There is nothing extraordinary in this here, for I have-
seen nuns kneeling before their confessor for a whole half
hour. It is an Oriental usage, which is common in the reli-
gious world at Rome and seems to shock nobody. Somo•

times, indeed, persons squat down familiarly on their heels.
Cardinals and bishops kiss the Pope'a hand, and sit on a gilt
stool. Some French bishops insist on kissing: his foot. NG
lady is admitted to an audience, except Queens and Prin-
cesses, with their Ladies of Honour. As to other ladies, tlea
I'ope meets them in the gallery or gardens, not in the apart-
ments. The toilet for ladies, of whatever rank, is black with
a veil. Men take off their gloves. The Popo remains scale&
withcardinals and bishops. He rises to rceeivo princes and
princesses. For Kings he advances to the middle of the room
and receives them there. For Emperors he goes aa far as the
ante. chamber. When tho Popo returns the visit of Kings
or Emperors etiquette requires theca to come down to his
carriage and open the door. It is a tradition that Popes are
charming in their audiences. Everything is prepared to
astonish and disconcert the visitor. Ono would say that the
secretirice and chamberlains guard the mnjesty of God:.
The result is a mntrasting effect ; at the first smile of this
venerable Divinity one's heart is deeply moved. Christina
of Sweden could not refrain from tears in the presence of
Alexander VII. Tile famoul Alexander VI. (Borgia) was
literally calif ivatiug. He had a frankness which was most
charming. lie ga" apublic audienco eve:y Thursday.
PiusVl. was very handsome for an old man. Gregory XV/.,
though of morose memory, was enchanting. As for rill!'
IL, everybody on retirjng from the audience exclaims,
He is an angel!' Never Vi 313 there a Pope of enure amiable
dibpoeition."

and, if not, whether such partiality in favour of one
belligerent Powers is reconcileable with the "strict
trality " professed by her Majesty's Government.
GOVERNMENT ANNUITIES BILL.
On the resuming of the adjourned debate on this bill,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
object of the bill was to meet a necessity that had existed
in reference to the requirements of society. This bill bad
been subjected to some ;criticism, but he challenged the
closest scrutiny into the principal details of the bill, and
he had no doubt the result would be satisfactory. It
had been asserted that this bill was unparliamentary,
but ho denied that the functions of the Legislature were so
restricted. The question with which they had to deal with
at present was about life insurance, When Government in-
terfered it was with a view to protect the labouring classes
from the evils to which they were subjected under the
. .
eeisting system of friendly sociatics. rehrence to
the practical operation of the bill, he seid that however
involved the question might appear to an ordinary ob-
server, it was very simple, for in estimating life
actuaries were aware that, although individual lite
was most uncertain, life in the aggregate was ascertainable
by calculations Of uuerring luta. (Hear, hear.) lie
entered into detail to show the necessity that existed as to
friendly societies and insurance aucieties as a net diem of
the investment of the poorer classes. Government
.did not want to interfere with private enterprises
in reference to so important a matter as insurance, but all
they were called upon to do was to afford the provident
classes a security for their investments. It had been said
to him by a deputation which he had received re-
cently, that the Government could not carry on the busi-
ness of life insurance profitably, because the trade had
to be found without " toetera" it could not bo profitable.
He repeated that the only object of G vernineut was to
affor
nd security to
to
tu te Proyident. Tho right hon. gentle-
laihcksatariteiss statistics
and quoted the report° of
theui most e'illustration of his views az to
nt
eminentn
[
Jive insurance being a profitable undertaking.
LEFT SPEAKING.]