The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-23 00:00:00

directors had been able to meet every application
for a loan or gratuity without delay, and in all eases
with the utmost advantage, granting suoh aidsto
distressed members as the nature of the case seemed
to demand—(Cheers)—they had not only been abla to
effdct 'all this, but to add 1.2004 to the invested fund .of
this branch of the Association.—(Cheers.) These they
would admit were strong facts with respect to the pros
gress they had made, and the paramount value of the
association.—(Cheers.) If they continued to aid the
managers in disseminating a knowledge of the institu-
tion, and by inducing their friends to contribute to. ita
funds, and generally to strengthen them in their labours,
he looked confidently forward to the time when. they
would be enabled to place on their books an increased
number of annuitants. —(Cheers.)
Mr. RENNELL rose to econs? the motion.
He said he was called upon at an earlier hour of,
the evening than he expected, and, therefore,
ho could not get his courage up to the sticking point—.
(Laughter)—though a giant in size, his nervousness
rendered him almost powerless. As, however,-:he
knew ho was among friends who would excuse his
trepidation, he would merely observe that every one'who
had heard the report must be deeply gratified with it,
more especially that the labour of the directors had
enabled them to propose the election of four ad-
ditional annuitants. Every one, ho was sure,
must be delighted that they were the mem-
bers of an association which conferred so muck
unmixed good.—(Cheers.) It was his earnest hop*
that no case of distress might come before the board
which they should be unable to meet, in consequence of
want of funds. As their worthy Chairman had not yet
spoken, and as, doubtless, several other gentlemen in-
tended to address them, he would not detain them
longer, and, without further preface, second the
proposition.
The CHAIRMAN put it to the meeting, saying—Those
in favour of this cheering and gratifying proposal will be
pleased to hold up their hands.
The motion was carried by acclamation.
Mr. R. 11. Josses said, it had fallen to his lot on every
occasion to propose the resolution which be held in lass
hand, and as each year rolled round he assured them he
felt increased pleasure in doing so. It was to the follow.
iug effect :
" That this meeting tenders its warmest thanks to the
treasurer and trustees for their uniform kindness and
patronage in favour of the association."
—(Prolonged cheers.) The kindness of the treasurer and
trustees had so often manifested itself on very many
occasions, of which the members at large could
not be aware, that the applause which the
members had bestowed on the proposition was no more
than their due.— (Cheers.) The directors had often had
occasion to apply to them upon various matters, and
they had ever found them most ready to assist with
their co-operation and advice in all matters connected
with the society.—(Loud cheers.) In short, the deep
interest they at all times evinced in the association ren-
dered it imperative on him to make the statement he had.
—(Cheers.) A proof of this was to be found in the
fact of their voluntary attendance at the re-
cent meeting. They voluntarily came forward,
whether the base insinuations that were thrown
out on that occasion were just or not. " You heard,"
said Mr. Jones," on that occasion the expressions of our
chairman, which I trust have convinced every one pre-
sent—indeed, I think, the meeting to which I refer tes-
tified as much—that those insinuations were most inju-
dicious; nay, I will go further, and stigmatize the issu-
ing of such a document as most wicked. —(Hear.)
The resolution was seconded by Mr. WELCH.
Baron Rontscumn, M.P., who was much applauded,
rose and said,—Mr. Jones and gentlemen, as our
excellent chairman is to have the pleasure of addressing
you shortly, he has requested me to return thanks for
him, and for Mr. Mulkey and myself for the high com-
pliments you have passed upon us for our trifling ser-
vices. At the same time I beg to thank Mr. Jones for
expressing his willingness to attend to the advice of the
treasurer and trustees. Of course he is fully aware of
the fact that the advice which we give is for the
benefit of the society. At the last meeting we had
the pleasure of being present, we advised you
gentlemen to exert yourselves to extend the knowledge of
the benefits of the society throughout the country, and to
do your best to induce your friends and others to sub-
scribe. We were happy to find from the report that
your exertions have enabled you to accomplish, and to
propose to accomplish so much good. We are glad else
to find that the advice which we gave to the mana-
gers to economise the expenditure as much as
possible has been much attended to.—(Cheers.)
Of course, if the association is carried on expensively,
many parties may not subscribe who otherwise woald do
so. We are happy to find by the report that next
year the expenses will be materially reduced.—(Hoar.)
When you consider the amount of the subscriptions, and
the sum realised at the last dinner, I think the benefits con-
ferred, and the election of four additional annuitants, is
no more than you have a right to expect.—(Hear, hear.)
The institution has met with much applause, and
much credit is due to those with wheat it
originated ; yet the large subscriptions and the
generosity of the public, leads me to the opinion that
the benefits are not greater than might have reasonably
been expected. The advice given to the managers—who
devote an unwearied attention to the charity, deserve
as much gratitude on your part, and on that of
the public, as it is possible to bestow upon them—
is received in so excellent a spirit that I think we are
obliged to them for giving us the opportunity of offering
it. When I speak thus I utter the sentiments of
the whole of the trustees. Perhaps in the
course of the evening the chairman of the board
will state the amount of the reductions proposed to be
made. If they have that gratifying news to make I
shall be happy to hear it. If the society progresses as
during the past year—and I see no reason why it should
not do so to a ;far greater extent—we may not be
much under tho mark if we reckon that before long
wo may be in a condition to elect six or even eight
additional annuitants.—(Cheers.) In conclusion, I trust
that each year we shall see the number of annuitants
increase.—(Cheers.)
Mr. BELL said he rose with feelings of pleasure to
offer a few observations—feelings altogether opposite to
those with which he entered the room at the last meet-
ing. He trusted that the expenditure would not
be so reduced as to cripple the efforts of the
directors to extend a knowledge of the advantages of the
association.—(Cheers.) He would rather see them en-
terprising in that respect, and in doing so overshoot the
mark, than practise a false and consequently
an injurious economy.—(Cheers.) It was impossible
to carry out an undertaking of this kind, unless
great enterprise was used. It was perhaps pre-
sumptuous in him to offer these observations, as
he happened in some respects to be a stranger.-
-(No, no.) The management was above all praise.
Many, he was sure, would confirm him in the statement
that the officers attended most scrupulously to their
duty—(Hear, hear)—and whenever he had occasion to
seek any information from the directors he had levee
riably experienced from them the utmost urbanity.
He could say that never had greater care been taken
than was taken by their medical officers with those who
were about to become assurers in the association ; and
with regard to the medical officers in the country,
although ho was not able himself to insure that result
that had been:already laid before the meeting, still, when
at head-quarters matters were so admirably arranged,
it was undoubtedly the case that it was so at the out•
posts. To their honorary solicitors, he understood, teo,
they were very much indebted, although he heard a care-
less remark thrown out the other evening as to the
value of those gentlemen ; and ho therefore pro-
posed that the thanks of the meeting be
given to the auditors, medical officers both in
town and country, and to the honorary solicitors, for
their valuable services during tho past 'ear.—(Cheers.)
Mr. JORDAN seconded the motion, which was put from
the chair and carried unanimously.
Mr. H. B. REYNOLDS said it was his privilege to move
a vote of thanks to the gentlemen who composed the'
board of management.—(Hear, hear.) He felt in
making that remark that he could never by
any words of his enhance the strong claim which those
gentleman had on their confidence.—(Cheers.) If un-
limited confidence could be placed by one man in others,
that confidence was placed by him in the present board
of management. The report which had been read that
evening was extremely gratifying, inasmuch as it
showed, among other satisfactory considerations, that
this was no longer a society that could bo
of service to clerks generally, but it was really doing no
inconsiderable amount of good to other claw' for
whom it was not originally instituted.—(Dear, hear.)
He was sure that to every clerk, especially those
M
subordinate situations, the association was "Out in
in-
valuable for the assistance which it held
rneut.
times of sickness and loss of
°tyY was He
after the
did think, however, while the
pro-
gressing, that after so many years,them and
by their em-
kindness and indulgence
allowed to tell
Pbel°r Many persons
granted only under '
yce_rs(,ethhoeyeros.u)ght to pres4oiFenma
ibgehtttesrulpiaptoosef StrlballtEasri:
unit-
sistance from this society was u
them that members requiring
assistance from the so-
ciety!it, on the contrary, they came only to
h he
mugt
bea
did not come there to leek it in
listing circumstances; but
the fund
presented ja°srkmfjorPaa's‘Psiesrtianlce fromwhich the-
, themselves
w move tharatdthoef
best thanks of the meeting be
had created.—(Cheers.) II begged
prese
management.
Mr. Pesos said, that having
been for some time a
member of the association,
andone of its earliest
supporters, he must say he felt certain that the board of
management were deserving of h •
t els. very best thanks.
At the commencement of this association, and for about
two years afterwards, it made but very slow progress;
but owing to the assiduity evinced in the management
of the association for a period of five years, it had very
much increased. He begged to second the motion, that
the best thanks of the meeting be given to the board of
management for their continued exertions in protecting
and watching over the interests of the association.
The CHAIRMAN said, he need not tell the meeting with
what pleasure he put that resolution to them.
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. JONES said, ho assured the meeting that be felt
extremely gratified for that renewed mark of
their confidence.—(Cheers.) That expression of
confidence had always been accorded to the board of
management on every occasion on which they had as-
sembled there, and so long as he continued one of the
managers of the association they would always continue
to deserve it. It was their desire to use every exertion
and every means in their power to promote the advance-
ment of the association, and when they succeeded it was
the greatest gratification which they could experience.
_
He would just allude to the observations which had
fallen from the Baron Rothschild—they should not pass
unheeded.—(Hear.) One of the most difficult positions
in which the board of managers had been placed was to
know how to act with reference to their expenditure--
(Hear)—and the meeting might depend upon it that the
managers had every desire and every wish to reduce that
expenditure as much as pcssibie. But then Wen res