The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-07 00:00:00

MANCHESTER tiViTED ERII;;ND,E,V
SOCLEI-"E

A meeting of a somewhat n ovel chaeacter in `he
metropolis, took place on Wek
Taylor's Depository, St. George\
Inesday evening at
-road, when a lee-
rum was delivered by Mr. Charll/41a Hardwick, of
Manchester, upon " Friendly SociAies," to members
and ticeeir friends who were interestel/4
wick is well known in this order as On earnest hi-
t Mr. Hard-
bourer for' many years past in the advc ncement of
friendly societies, and has written an excellent
rnqnual for !their guidance. The Soutl'i London
red him
district with oniseworthy liberality enga
to give a free k eture, in order to dissemina,'R in e'
popular way* the important subject of frie ndIF
societies' statisies a' id finance.
A. H. LAYARD, EE ~ M.P., presided, supported
by the Committee Of Management, and severe,'
influential gentlemen o.c. the borough. After a
few remarks from theich.la man, the lecturer pro-
ceeded to address the large audience assembled.
on by Mr. Hardwick
main points touched u
e too often blamed
were, that friendly societies wEet,
.ant of insecure
by well-meauleg persons on awe
rates of payments for the benefit* provided, for'
getting that at the time the great ea lcieties began
their operations there was little Olt no date to
guide their promoters; that now the societies' exile'
rieece had evolved complete and reliable elatisties
upon which to work and Which should not be clis'
regarded, that the large °refers were grati:18111
strengthening themselves by adopting higher re x,
that a noticeable feature in many branches of fo.'
Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows was that the/
were getting into the practice of having periodical
valuations made of their assets and liabilities, the
members thus acquiring a knol47ledge of their true
position. He showed by full but simple diagram s '
the rates of mortality to be provide+.
3. for by funerax,
money subscriptions, and the averaveragehi ck n ess a"
dwelling
perionced at each age of life—poiutedaly
upon the important fact of the rapid in crease 01
aggregate sickness at the higher ages ,ef life
and instanced the inereaeed rate of contrib.liti°es
necessary to be paid in consequence by the 'nag
advanced in years, over the young one.
The lecturer also insisted upon the absolute ye'
cessity for the members looking well after the
management of their societies, particularly with
regard to the investment of the surplus funds, and
argued that the best way to improve then:
at interest,
was to place the amounts in the public funds, or
other unqUestionable security ; the other chief point
dwelt upon was the advantage of due enrolinGut
every society, under the statutes iu force, for the
better security of the funds, and thereby obtaining
speedy justice if the law courts were resorted to.
Notwithstanding the crowded state of the large
room, the lecture, which occuped mere than an hour
and a half in its delivery, was listened to with the
most marked attention. At its conclusion the
Chairman addressed the meeting ;et sonie
length in support of the principles enunciated
by Mr. Hardwicke, and expressed his apPre"
bation of the efforts being made to convince the
members of Friendly Societies of the necessity
accumulating sufficient funds to meet the liabilitieo
which experience shows to be so considerable i 4
the more advanced periods of life ; he concluded
by moving a vete of' thanks to the lecturer, whiellt,
with a vote of thanks to the chairman, both o'
which were carried by acclamation, concluded the
business for the evening; The meeting Was alto"
gether a great success.