The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-01 00:00:00

THE PROVIDENT CLERKS' MU-

TUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION AND BENE -
VOLENT FUND.
A special general meeting of the donors, subscribers,
and members to the benevolent fund of this excellent in-
stitution, was held at twelve o'clock on Monday, May 31,
at the London Tavern, for the purpose of electing two
additional annuitants. Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P., one
of the trustees, occupied the chair.
The following gentlemen connected with the manage-
ment of the institution were present:—Mr. Richard
Henry Jones, Mr. John White Welch, Mr. John Clarke,
Mr. A. Dawson, Mr. John James Iselin, Mr. S. Jepps
Mr. W. J. Jordan, Mr. J. Lintott, Mr. W. Maitland'
Mr. Richard Price, and Mr. W. S. Sawtell.

Dr. MULLINDER, the secretary, then read the resolu-
tion agreed to at the annual general meeting held on the
25th of February last, recommending the election of
two additional annuitants, which was to the following
effect:—

" That on the 31st May next, or such other day as
the board may appoint, due notice of the same being
given to the members, a special meeting be held for the
purpose of electing two additional annuitants, one being
a member, the other the widow of a member, duly quali-
fied according to the rules."
Having also read the advertisement convening the

meeting,
The CHAIRMAN said—We have met here to-day for
the purpose of electing as annuitants one clerk and one
widow, the first to an annuity of 251., and the latter to
one of 15/. Four candidates offered themselves in the
first instance—two clerks and two widows, but one clerk
has since withdrawn his name, so that there are now but
three candidates. With regard to the two widows, I am
authorised to state that both are deserving of your
sympathy and support, as both are deprived of their
husbands suddenly—both were fearfully sudden deaths,
as each left his home in perfect health in the morning,
for the purpose of pursuing his usual occupation. Each
widow was left with four children, and each was in the
family way, but one has since been confined. There
can, therefore, be no doubt of the strong claim which
both those unhappy persons have to the votes and sup-
port of the subscribers and donors to the fund. I have
nothing more to say, except that the poll will be opened
at once, and carried forward, in accordance with the
rules of the society, until three o'clock, when it will
close, and when the result will be announced to you.
Mr. RICHARD HENRY JONES, the chairman of the
board of management, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr.
Baring for his kindness in taking the chair.
The motion was seconded by Mr. J. W. WELCH, the
deputy•chairman of the board, and carried unani-
mously.
The CHAIRMAN felt much obliged to the meeting for
the compliment, and stated that it would always afford
him the utmost gratification to be of service to the insti-
tution.—(Cheers.)
The chair was then taken by Mr. JONES, who pro-
posed that the following gentlemen should act as scru-
tineers:—Mr. Jepps, Mr. Lintott, Mr. Maitland, Mr.
Price, Mr. Iselin, Mr. Dawson, Mr. Sawtell, Mr. Clarke,
and Mr. Welch.
The polling was then proceeded with.
The poll was closed at three o'clock.
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. B. H. Jones), said—Gentle-
men, before I declare the result of the poll, I "wish
to make one or two observations with respect to this
election of additional annuitants. When the ma-
nagers determined to recommend, at the last meet-
ing, the election of two new annuitants, they laboured
under the impression that no one would come for-
ward to offer themselves as candidates. They,
however, went to the extent they felt the funds would
then allow, and the result has shown how acceptable
this resolution will be to those who may become reci-
pients of this additional aid. They, however, feel very
deep regret that one of the candidates must be disap-
pointed on the present occasion ; that is inevitable—in
fact all must have been prepared for this result before
they proceeded to the poll ; but I can assure you that
in all our proceedings we are influenced by the same
feelings which prompted the managers in the
first instance to establish this assonation.—(Hear,
hear.) The same feeling of kindness and benevolence
with which we set out has been kept up by us through-
out, who,uip afrrionmg
afflic-
tion,ou t,
sandtan aidstand
n hu
ea
hs bi
ne enn e ended xd teonfd et d, tv,o,itthhoas
Thus a vast amount of suffering and sorrow has been
assuaged. The utmost delicacy is exercised in dispens-
ing relief, so that the feelings of the applicants for as-
sistance in the hour of need, and of candidates for pen-
sions, are never wounded. The fact of their requiring
aid is kept as secret as possible, as their names are never
divulged, and their condition is confined to the
knowledge of the board, who carefully investigate into the
circumstances of the parties seeking assistance ;
and I hope that the course taken on the present occasion
in giving the initials only, with the condition of the can-
didate, will secure- the approval of the members in
general, as it has done of those who are now
present. Aid in the shape of gratuities is afforded
in the same manner, and with one or two ex-
ceptions the names of the parties relieved have
never been revealed. I have now nothing more to do
than to announce the poll—J. M., the male candidate, is
elected as a matter of course. The numbers polled for
the :females are—S. M. C., 584 ; E. L., 1,128 ; conse-
quently J. M. and E. L. have been elected—the former
to an annuity of 25/., and the latter to one of 151.
Dr. MIILLINDER said—Mr. Chairman and brother
members, before you leave, perhaps it may not be the
least consolatory circumstance in the day's proceedings
for you to know something of our past and present pro-
gress. It is true you met to-day to elect but two out of
four candidates ; but I hope the time is not far distant
when there will not be two to four, but four to four—
(Cheers)—or, in other words, that we shall be
able to afford pensions out of the permanent
i an-
nuity fund to every member who may be n a
condition to need one. As an evidence that we are pro-
gressing, or rather reaching that point when we
.shall be
enabled to afford all the aid which may be required, I
may state, that in the year 1846 we effected 376 policies;
our income was then 4,841/. Now 1847 has been very
unwephroapveitihoausd; a wdee
phraevs es
oh
na di
naphs
the
iv
moneya stat or
market;
ina h r
kt e
te;
w e potatoes;have
had provisions at an extravagant rate, and I was told not
many nights ago, by a brother actuary, that no applica-
tions had been made to his office for policies during the
previous six weeks. Besides these, we have had to
deal with public health; but, notwithstanding all these
drawbacks, what is the Provident Clerks' Association
now doing? Up to the end of April this year we had
received 183 policies, amounting altogether to 38,6001.,
but since that period they have increased to 208 policies,
amounting to an aggregate of 43,0001., and before the
end of the present year, if even we go on at the same
slow drag pace as at present, and I am sure you will
agree with me that our progress has been hitherto most
satisfactory, the income of the assurance :department
will be very little short of 10,000 L a year—(Cheers).
Now, when it is recollected that a certain
portion of the subscriptions is carried to the
benevolent fund, and when the benefits derived from the
fund are also duly estimated, I think it is incumbent
upon every individual, whether successful or unsuccessful
in life, to subscribe to the permanent annuity fund, and
also to put his shoulder to the wheel, in order that the
fund may be still further enhanced. This is to be done
by your recommending your friends and others to par-
ticipate in the advantages which it offers, and conse-
quently to place themselves beyond the reach of abso-
lute want in the season of adversity, and when old age
comes upon them. In the temporary department we
have no difficulties to contend with—every case is met ;
but still it is a matter of congratulation to you to know
that you are in a position to go and tell your
friends that we are progressing, and progressing
well—that we are going on and flourishing, and that we
only require your active co-operation and assistance to
enable the board to meet every case directly it comes be-
fore them, and to have the satisfaction of saying that
they have no disappointed candidates.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HARKER thought, before the meeting broke up,
that some one should express the satisfaction with which
the society viewed the labours of the directors, and of the
way in which they had conducted the election. He,
therefore, begged to propose that the thanks of the
meeting be given to the Chairman and directors for
their exertions at all times on behalf of the institu-
tion.—(Cheers.)
Mr. FREED seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
Mr. It. 11. JONES, the chairman, was extremely happy to
find, from the motion which they had adopted, that his
conduct and that of the directors had given satisfaction to
all present. He concluded, therefore, that those not pre-
sent participated in the same feelings. He could assure
the meeting that they would endeavour in all their pro-
ceedings to meet the wishes of the members .of the in-
stitution as they had hitherto done—(Cheers.) Nothin.r
could give them greater pleasure than to know' that their
endeavours led to such results as they had witnessed
that day, and that their general proceedings met with
the approbation of the members at large.
The proceedings then terminated.

NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—I am informed that arrangements are on the
way to lease or purchase the North-Western Railway,
by some parties unknown to the body of the share:
holders; will you be pleased to give insertion to this
trickery, in order that the shareholders may not be duped.
Why not call a meeting in a proper business way, and
then the proprietors are aware what is going on with
their property? Those parties are buying up all the
shares at a very low price, and the holders of shares are
duped out of half of the money paid up. By inserting
this iu your valuable paper, you will oblige, yours,
A CONSTANT SUBSCRIBER.
Leeds, May 31, 1847.

EAST SURSET.—Mr. Kemble retires from the re-
presentation, but Mr. Antrobus will again come forward.
Mr. Alcock will, we are informed, supply Mr. Kemble's
place without opposition, and the county will thus be spared
the trouble, and the candidates the expense, of a contest
which would probably have only the same result that is
attained by this easy compromise,
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Strand.