The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-01 00:00:00

especially during the last six weeks or two months,
during which time there had been a material increase ;
indeed, very early in the present year a rapid increase
had taken place. The benevolent department had also
slightly progressed, but not to the extent the directors
could desire, or that those who took a warm and sin-
cere interest in the association would like to witness.

Ile had always thought that if clerks of the city of
London and of the country districts, more especially
those in the large manufacturing towns, would only
consider and weigh well the important advantages
offered by an association like this, they must come to the
conclusion that it deserved their utmost support; and
nothing, he was satisfied, would do so much to convince
then of its great importance as the result of that day's
proceedings.—(Cheers.) He was very happy to see
present a gentleman connected with the press, who
had always shown the warmest interest in the asso-
ciation (Mr. Scott), and no doubt what had been
done that day would be very ably reported in the
papers with which he was connected.— (Cheers.) Ile
hoped that the result of his labours would have the
effect of proving to the clerks of the metropolis,
and of the country at large, that by a small
saving from their incomes they may make a
provision for their wives and children in case misfor-
tune should suddenly overtake them, as had been the
case of the individuals to whose widows and children
they had now the pleasing duty of presenting a small
annuity to relieve them, perhaps, from seeking
parochial assistance.— (Cheers.) He believed, not-
withstanding the unspeakable amount of good they
effected by the aid of the benevolent department, that
many clerks entertained a dislike to that part of the
association, because it was looked upon as partaking
too much of the character of a charity. He had al-
ways combatted the existence of so uncalled-for an
impression, and he should much like to see such a
feeling entirely removed. Whenever he had an op-
portunity of doing so he endeavoured to divest
the minds of those who treated the benevolent depart.
ment in this light of the notion which they enter-
tained, by showing that it was not a charity, inasmuch
as a certain number of them subscribed to a fund from
which they and their familes in the hour of need
might obtain, as a right, that pecuniary assistance
which, if it was a charity in the ordinary sense of the
term, they could only obtain as a favour.--(Elear,
hear.) Consequently they had an undoubted claim
on the funds. This association was not like
any of those charities where parties were
put forward to receive benefits from funds
to which they had never contributed; but
clerks by subscribing to the benevolent department of
the association placed their families in a position to
claim, as he had said, assistance as a right.—(Cheers.)
Therefore it was that he thought if all the gentlemen
connected with the association would only exert them-
selves among their friends and brother clerks, and
point out the very great benefits their families might
derive from their subscribing to the fund, they would
augment their numbers and enhance the amount of
good which they were enabled to confer, and enable
the directors to meet the calls that were continually
made on the funds under their control—(Cheers)—
for though they had elected four additional annuitants
that day, unless they exerted themselves, unless
clerks came forward as they should do,
it would be quite impossible for them to meet them
that day twelve months on so auspicious an occasion.
—(Cheers.) They could not obtain money unless
those of whom alone they required it came forward
and liberally assisted them iu doing so. He assured
them that it was to the interests of clerks to avail
themselves of the advice he gave them; it was impos-
sible they could tell how soon they might require the
aid which it was the province of the association to
furnish.—(Hear, hear.) He, therefore, hoped that
every gentleman present would urge upon clerks,
through the medium of their friends and connexions,
to come forward and subscribe to the institution ;
and he did trust that such an appeal would be made
on their behalf by his friend who was reporting their
proceedings, by which he would not only have the
gratification of benefiting clerks and their families
in case they should require aid, but have the satisfac-
tion of assisting those less fortunate than himself.
Air. HOOPER observed that though they had not
had the noise and bustle of an election, they had even
a greater amount of gratification—comely, that all
the candidates had been elected, and that up to that
time all the claims made upon the funds had been
promptly met.—(Cheers.) He trusted that they
should continue to receive such a measure of support
as would enable them to meet all the claims that
might be made upon them in the future.
Mr. TARRANT said he was requested by Mrs. A. J.
to return her sincere thanks for the extreme kind-
ness which she had experienced at the hands of the
board, and indeed from the members at large.
The proceedings of that day must be deeply gratify-
ing to them all, and he trusted that the very high
position which the society had attained would induce
all the clerks in the kingdom to join their ranks and
keep the association in full motion.—(Cheers.) He
confessed he was surprised that so many of the clerks
of London and the provinces held themselves aloof,
disregarding, as they thereby did, the interests of
those who were dependent upon them.—(Cheers.)
This surely could not arise from a want of knowledge
of the advantages afforded by the association, but
from some lack of proper feeling for themselves, and
those near and dear to them; but when the result of
that meeting had been trumpeted over the whole
country, he trusted that their means would be
augmented, and that they would thereby be enabled
to carry out the wishes which the Deputy-Chairman
had expressed.—(Cheers.)
Mr. JONES said, before they separated there was
one duty which they must not omit to discharge,
namely, returning thanks to the Chairman for at-
tending upon that occasion. On the present, as on
all former occasions, he had shown an anxious desire
to attend and evince by his presence how much he
esteemed the great and paramount objects of the
association.—(Cheers.)
Mr. PRICE seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said, I am very much obliged to
the gentleman for the way in which he has referred
to the very little service which I can render the
institution. Before I leave the chair I wish
to state that it is most gratifying to me,
as, indeed, it must be to all the friends
of the institution, to know that you have four-
teen permanent annuitants on your funds. Four-
teen would be a very small number, supposing the
institution had been mainly supported by the great
bulk of clerks throughout the country. When,
however, we recollect that so small a number have sub-
scribed as permanent members to the benevolent depart-
ment, I think it is a source of the utmost gratification
that, out of the funds at your disposal, you have been
enabled to elect so large a number. I am much struck
by the circumstance, the more especially as these an-
nuitants will receive their pensions from the funds for
the remainder of their lives ; and I trust that nothing
may occur to prevent so desirable a consummation.
I need hardly tell you that the amount these persons
would have had to pay to realise in the ordinary way
the annuities they will receive from this day would
have been very far beyond their means ; and, there-
fore, it is only by contributions of small sums by those
who come within the peculiar object of this associa-
tion that we can expect to continue and increase such
benefits as we have this day bestowed—not actually
looking forward whilst they do so to obtain a certain
benefit, but one of a contingent nature, should it
please God to deprive them, however ample their
present means, of their means of subsistence.—
(Hoar.) Looking, therefore at 'the association in this
point of view, I think the best and most economical
way in which clerks can acconnitrib so excellent and
provident a purpq.ile" is lip becoming members of this
association, because the cost is most trifling. Then,
again, those who wish to make .a certain provision
for themselves and their families, may do so in the
assurance branch of the association. Merely looking
at the benefits of life assurance as a question of pro-
vidence, I think it is the duty of every clerk to assure.
If a person is in a condition to assure himself a cer-
tain retiring pension, when he reaches an advanced
period of life it is the best and most desirable thing
for every individual to do, whatever position of life he
may be placed in. Allow me to state, as I see a gentle-
! man present recording what lam saying—and I think
the fact is one that ought to be recorded and re-
membered—that the annuities to which you have
elected these four individuals, could not have been
possibly purchased by them out of the funds placed
at their disposal. It is impossible they could ever
have obtained them, except by aggregate subscrip-
tions of clerks and others, who are not likely to re-
quire aid from the funds to which they have con-
tributed. They could not have been enabled, out
of their means, to purchase the annuities from
an ordinary assurance office. It is, therefore, impos-
sible to avoid the inference that hey would never
have been partakers of these benefits.—(Cheers.)
I have been much struck by the case of one of the
persons on whom you have just conferred an
annuity. She has become an annuitant at 31. Now,
supposing this person had, with the most prudent
regard to her future position in life, laid by such a
sum of money as would have purchased an annuity
of 15/. a year on reaching a reasonable period of life,
upon what period of life would she have fixed for its
receipt ? Any person of ordinary prudent habits
would have had to make great sacrifices in order to
secure an annuity of 151. on reaching even an
advanced period of life ; he or she would
have done a great dial.—(llear, and cheers.)
Now, supposing this had been done, what would have
been that persons position at the present moment ?
Supposing up to the present time, since the forma-
tion of the institution, not many years ago, she had
agreed to subscribe a certain sum per year, in order
to receive an annuity at SO, this annuitant would
have had to wait 19 years before she could have re-
ceived it.—(Cheers.) Indeed, she might have been
driven to the workhouse but for the aggregate sub-
scriptions of those who are not likely to require aid from