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

MANC.TIRSTER--UNITED FRIENDLY

SOCIETE

A met-;11,7.11g 31 a somewliat novel character in the
metropolii, too' s -,-.lace on NVednescley evening at
Taylor's Depository, St. George':-road, when a lec-
ture was delivered by Mr. Charles Hardwick, of
Manchester, upon " Friendly Secktie9„" to members
and their friends who were interested. • Mr. Hard-
wick is well knowr: in this order as an earnest la-

bourer for many years -oast in the advancement of
friendly bocieties, and has written an excellent
manual for their guidance. The South London
district with praiseworthy liberality engaged him
to give a free lecture, in order to disseminate in a
popular way the important subject of friendly
societies' statistics and finance.

A. H. LAYARD, Esq., M.P., presided, supported
by the Committee of Management, and several
influential gentlemen of the borough. After a
few remarks from theichairman, the lecturer pro-
ceeded to address the large audience assembled.
The main points touched upon by Mr. Hardwick
were, that friendly societies were too often blamed
by well-meaning persons on account of insecure
rates of payments for the benefits provided, for-
getting that at the time the great societies began
their operations there was little or no data to
guide their promoters; that now the societies' expe-
rience had evolved complete and reliable statistics
upon which to work and which should not be dis-
regarded, that the large orders were gradually
strengthening themselves by adopting higher rates,
that a noticeable feature in many branches of the
Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows was that they
were getting into the practice of having periodical

valuations made of their assets and liabilities, the
members thus acquiring a knowledge of their true
position. He showed by full but simple diagrams,
the rates of mortality to be provided for by funeral
money subscriptions, and the average sickness ex.
perienced at each age of life—pointedly dwelling
upon the important fact of the rapid increase of

aggregate sickness at the higher ages of life ;

and instanced the increased rate of contributions
necessary to be paid in consequence by the man
advanced in years, over the young one.
The lecturer also insisted upon the absolute ne-
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 them 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 enrolment of
every society, under the statutes in force, for the
better security of the funds, and thereby obtaining
speedy j aline if the law coprts were resorted to.
Notwithstanding the crowded state of the large
room, the lecture, which occnped more 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 at some
length in support of the principles enunciated
by Mr. Hardwick°, and expressed his appro-
Ibation of the efforts being made to convince the
1 members of Friendly Societies of the necessity of
accumulating sufficient funds to meet the liabilities
which experience shows to be so considerable at
the more advanced periods of life ; he concluded
by moving a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which,
with a vote of thanks to the chairman, both of
which were carried by acclamation, concluded the
business for the evening. The meeting was alto-
gether a great success.

COUNTRY MARK.E2 S.

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NOTTINGHAM-APRIL 5.

There was a middling show of wheat to-day, and the
trade ruled steady ; former rates being fully maintained.
—White, from 61s to 665; red, 42s to 635. Barley waa
in small show, with a firm trade, and prices rather higher
—malting, 34s to 398 ; grinding, 29s to 31s. Oats were
steady at 30s to 355, old ; 24s to 27s new. Beans were sold
at 38s to 505 per qr. Flour, 38s to 425.