The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-01 00:00:00

lieved it nev—e-Fi—edutT; for thedirectors meant to progress
until the Sea itself would net be able to outehme them.
(Laughter.) Another motto applicable to the society
was that of Viscount Sydney, "Right aritt,forward."
The principle of the company was aright one. 'A -mutual
society did not want to take more money from the pub-
lic for fire insurance thauewas essential. It took the
motiey from the insurers, managed their . busieess, and
thee handed back whatever surplus, remained. He
trusted that the company would stiecesaftilly pursue
the same course for .many years,. with increasing
lenefit to all connected with it. Mr. Pratt conoluded
by moving:—
"That this meeting congratulates the public on the si4,r-
-ns.l success which has attended the formation of The
British Empire Fire 'Assurance Company on the mutual
principle ; that it views with apieauhtstion the steady and
economical, yet diligent, manner iq which its business has
been coudinted, and calls upon.alt its numerous fellow-
insurers to cooperate zealouslyr,:mtt the directors in mak-
ing known the merits and advent-4mi)
,the company."
Mr. W. Gnosret seconded;-!- ; • on, and said he
thought when Mr. Pratt set u .eii4acriage and his coat
of arms, he should adopt as hiseripteo, ";Carer at a loss."
(Laughter.) _ i.e7Te
Mr. WATSON' recommendpct the members to make
known to their friends 4iie advantages of the society,
and induce them to support it, fur the greater the
amount of business transacted the greater would be the
profits to each member, the expenses of management
not increasing proportionately with the increase of busi-
ness. The increase had already been very rapid, especi-
ally considering the competition existing among the dif-
ferent societies ; but he hoped that the increase of the
past year would be far outstripped in succeeding years.
A conversation then arose on the best means of an-
nouncing the annual meeting, after which t
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Mr. JAS. BLACKETT said, that considering the very
excellent results of the society, and the advantages that
had accrued to the members from the original concep-
tions and subsequent exertions of the chairman and
directors,ende it would be wanting in the meeting not to
t rthtehem its best thanes. To the chairman in parti-
cular
them epmrbinecrisplweerwe
"grefiartisy indebted.uneiaed (Heevaerr,yhenalar.n)
When
must have seen that it was ant admirableen One and that
the only difficulty would h
gentleman who told the chaeirimn
him a twelvemonth, did not carrying
ekeaanntuhnautsubae•
.
subjectiin
the ;
wrung. bu t hTandeyb eheandnotonly
l vwbiuoetuwldotgTtihhve:
ibvuesriirti
iecses, for
an d twelvemonths,hw i ne ariy 8
ebruvted
abundantlyl shown that he was
gone on liking to the
seen bound ap-
they had attained to their majority he had their tim time
daoruidbtwthheant
kt the
w edg excellenceed,a and
df
that
principlet the
society
nvejorssatllyto
e wtyenwl do
would
bene-
ficial be and extensive in its operations. He begged to
move—

" That the cordial thanks of the meeting be given to
the chairman and board of directors for the skill, ability,
and integrity with which they had managed the busi-
ness of the society." (Applause )
Mr. LINDSEY, in seconding the motion, said he was
deeply t•ensinie of the impertence of the directors' la-
bours. When he first joined the society, be did not do
so as a matter of business alone —though he bad sense
enough to Nee that it was wrong to pay into a proprie-
tary company and get nothing, while a company co-ex-
-1,t0,d which would return hint a porti..n of his premium
—but he had pleasure also in associating biineeif with
men whose principles he esteemed and respected.
Mr. ISAAC Doxsev said, he wished to support the re-
,olutem, and to express ins entire confidence in the
directors, and in the chaerneu in particular. His (Mr.
Dexsey's) continued acquaintance with the Society had
only strengthened les ceevictien that they had the right
men to conduct their business. (Hear, hear) There
was a point to which be wished to call the attention of
the meeting and of the directors. An idea had gene
tomh into society (and he bad himself met with it in
recommending persons to insure with the company),
that there was cosisiderable risk in insuring in a
mutual society. The otjetction had been perse-
veringly put forward by proprietary companies in
this way : "You can insure with us without taking any
risk, because we are not mutual," leaving it to be in-
ferred by a logical deduction, that insurance with a
mutual society was attended with risk. Now, he (Mr.
Doxsey) thought it would be advisable to put ft promi-
nently forward that there is no such risk, as a standing
denial of the covert insinuations which were constantly
being made as to the unsoundness of their principles.
The motion having been unanimously adopted.
The CIiAiIIMAN thanked the meeting for its kind
expression of confidence and good feeling. He con-
gratulated the meeting on the excellent temper which it
displayed ; though ho did not see how it could be other-
wise than gpod tempered, seeing that there was nothing
to find fault with. It was only a proof that they were
sensible uieu, and, being such, the directors appreciated
the more highly the vote of thanks which they had
passsed, as they were able to form a correct itidg
ment respecting the conduct of the business. The
directors would endeavour to purstee the 'same course
which they had hitherto adopted with a view to ex-
tend the business of the society. The success
of the company, however, must rest mainly with the
members. He should like to see them in frequent
communication with the agents, and doing their best to
bring business to the company. The subject of agency
was a most important one. The society had 600 or 700
agents distributir.g all over the country ; and it would
be difficult to estimate their value. He (the chairman)
had the highest expectations from the efforts of agents to
carefully selected in future years.
The proceedings then terminated.