The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-21 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON,

THE PROVIDENT CLERKS' 1
ASSOCIATiv:,
The seventh annual meeting of the members of the
benevolent department of this valuable society was
held, at six o'clock, on Friday evening, in the large
room at the London Tavern. Baron L. de Roths-
child, M.P., one of the trustees, took the chair at the
appointed hour amidst considerable applause. Among
the gentlemen present we observed Thomson Hankey,
jun., Esq., George Hankey, Esq., James Mackil-
lop, Esq., R. Bell, Esq., A. Smee, Esq., F.R.S.,
T. W . Jones, Esq., M.D., W. Ratray, Esq., Dr. Ray-
ner, and the whole Board of Management. The room
was crowded.
The CHAIRMAN said—l have to express to you the
regret of Mr. J. A. Smith, who promised to preside
over the meeting this evening, that he is unable to
attend, in consequence of being obliged to be present
in the House of Commons to-night, to hear the
financial statement of Lord John Russell. I regret
this for your sake as well as my own, fer he Las
done so much good service to the institution, and has
its interest so much at heart, that his presence here
to-night would have given you and me, I am sure,
the greatest pleasure and satisfaction.—(Cheers.) On
account of his unavoidable absence, the humble indi-
vidual now addressing you has been selected to fill
his place ; but I am sure, after you have been ac-
customed to have so able and so excellent a chairman
as Mr. Smith, that I must present myself to you
under considerable disadvantages ; I assure you,
however, if I can be of any utility to the institution I
shall feel extremely happy.—(Cheers.) With your
permission, gentlemen, we will immediately proceed
to business. I have also to apologise for the un-
avoidable absence of Mr. Baring, for the same reason
as that which has kept Mr. Smith from amongst us ;
both of them, but for the reason I have stated, would
have felt great pleasure in being here to-night. With
your permission the chairman of the Board of Man-
agement will read the seventh annual report.
Dr. MULLINDER, L.L.D., having read the adver-
tisement convening the meeting,
Mr. R. H. JONES (the chairman of the Board of
Management) then read the report, which stated—
" That, although great commercial distress had
prevailed during the year 1847, the board had to re-
port that the progress of the Association, in connexion
with the Mutual Life Assurance Brandi, had been
very satisfactory.
That the annual meeting of this department, held
on the 25th of February, 1847, had, by resolution,
sanctioned the election of two additional annuitants,
viz., one clerk and tone widow; that the hoard had
given every {publicity to such resolution; that four
candidates offered themselves, viz., two clerks and
two widows ; but, before the day of election, one
of the clerks resigned; that, on the 31st of May,
the day appointed for the election, and at
which T. Baring, Esq., M.P., presided during a part
of the proceedings, one clerk was elected to an
annuity of 251., and one widow to an annuity of 15/.;
that the Board, fully commiserating the condition of
the unsuccessful candidate, at their next weekly
meeting presented her with a gratuity of 101. That
the Board, in their desire to conduct their operations
with the greatest delicacy, had abstained from pub-
lishing the names in full of the several candidates,
and had given the initials only, which course had been
universally approved.
" That from the great derangement of commercial
affairs affecting all classes, the board could not rea-
sonably expect any addition to their list of patrons
or augmentation of the funds of the benevolent de-
partment; they were, however, enabled to state that
the invested fund of 10,300/. Three per Cents. has re-
mained untouched, and that during the past year they
have received
£126 0 0 from 104 new subscribers,
412 15 6 from 355 old members,

638 15 6 459;
in addition to which they have also received

57 5 oin donations.

£596 0 6
That the board, with these means at disposal, had paid
the annuities to two clerks of 251. each, five widows
of 151. each, and had granted 14 gratuities to dis-
tressed members. That 66 loans had been granted
_ _

during the same period, amounting to 1,1651. in sums
varying from 101. to 251., the instalments on which
had been creditably repaid. The report stated that
the board considered this pare of the association's
operations a very important one, inasmuch as many
instances had come to their knowledge of real and
permanent good having been effected by such timely
assistance. The Situation Book had also been pro•
ductive of much good, having been the instrument of
obtaining situations for many members ; that the
board were most anxious to render this item
still more efficacious, and earnestly called
upon principals wanting clerks to make refer-
ence to it, being certain that they could at all
times obtain clerks of character and respectability;
while at the same time they appealed to clerks to
inform them of any vacancy which might be known.
The report then stated that the talented medical offi-
cers in London had, with their characteristic kind-
ness, continued to afford their valuable professional
advice gratuitously, and that such example had been
followed by many of the provincial medical referees.
The report then stated that the balance-sheet had been
duly certified by the auditors, and afterwards sub-
mitted to the treasurer and trustees, at a meeting with
which they honoured the board on the 14th instant,
and by them approved.
" The following is an abstract of the balance-sheet,
by which it fully appears that the board have realised
the expectation held out at the last annual meeting,
that the expenses of this department would be re-
duced, and from the anticipated great increase in the
Mutual Life Assurance department, the board antici-
pate that during the present year still further reduc-
tion of expense will be effected. In confirmation of
such expectation, the board were happy to quote
from the annual report of the assurance depart-
ment, presented on the 17th of January last, that
the number of policies issued during the year had
been 417, for sums aggregating 84,750/., being the
largest amount of business ever done by the associa-
tion in any one year ; that the board, in their anxious
desire to promote the interests of the association, had
sent deputations to Liverpool, Manchester, Bir-
mingham, Bristol, Gloucester, Exeter, Cardiff, Mer-
thyr, and Neath, for the purpose of holding public
meetings, and affording opportunities to parties in
the country the means of making themselves per-
sonally acquainted with the benefits of the association;
that such a step had been productive of beneficial
results, inasmuch as not only had publicity been
given to the association, but that many had been led
to join; that local committees had been formed, and
several principals been induced to give their names as
patrons and annual subscribers.
"The report then stated that the board now came
to the most pleasing part of their duty, that of re-
commending to the meeting that three additional
annuitants be elected on the list May next, viz., one
clerk and two widows, or in the event of no clerk offer-
ing, then three widows to be elected.
" The report then referred to the circumstance that
the board did not deem it expedient to commemorate
the last election of annuitants by a public dinner as in
previous years, but that .on the list May next, a
public dinner would take place, on which occasion
they hoped to be favoured with the company of every
well-wisher of the association.
"In conclusion the report expressed the deep
gratitude the board felt for the support and patronage
hitherto afforded them, and respectfully suggested to
principals the desirableness of stimulating their clerks
by themselves becoming patrons, and adding their
names to the list of donors and subscribers. To
clerks holding superior appointments, and who per-
haps think they may never require the assistance of
the association, the board appealed to add their names
to the list of annual subscribers for the benefit of
their less fortunate brethren, that should they them-
selves suffer the reverses of fortune they would have
the satisfaction of knowing that the day of prosperity
had provided for the season of adversity; and to the
clerks generally they would observe that all human
events are uncertain, but, in this association, specially
established for their benefit, and that of their wives
and families, all are enabled, by a moderate exercise
of economy, to provide for some of the contingencies
to which all may be subjected. Many have proved the
value of membership, then why should there be a
solitary exception ? The board then again earnestly
called upon the clerks, as a body, to come forward
and place the Benevolent Fund of the Provident
Clerks' Association at the head of the many excel-
lent institutions with which this country abounds."
Mr. R. H. Jones then said, before the Chairman
proposed the adoption of the report he was
anxious to make a few observations with re-
spect to it. The amount of good they had been
able to accomplish during the past year, as set
forth in the report, was satisfactory, as far as it went,
for they could only afford aid to the extent of their
means, hut at the same time he felt ithis duty to
observe that the result of the seven years' experience
which he had had of the working of the institution
had far from satisfied him, as he had hoped to have
seen 6,000 instead of 500 subscribers to this depart-
ment.—(Cheers.) The board had used every exertion
—had spared no trial—to make the advantages of the
institution known ; yet such had been the result of
their labours. They could only take the horse to the
water—they could not make him drink—(Laughter)
—but they hoped that this strong additional appeal
would have the desired effect upon the large body of
clerks in the kingdom, whose sufferings, in the hour
of adversity, the institution was established to
assuage. This question had been asked by many
when solicited to become members—" IV hat
shall we receive for the guinea we are asked
to subscribe ?"—(Hear.) He (Mr. Jones) thought,

after they had heard the report, that they would not i
fe.i! to be of ipinien that the advantages to be derived
Eby the annual payment of this small sum—and none
were so poor that they could not afford to pay it—
were so apparent, and so valuable, that no clerk in
the kingdom should be without its pale. In the first
place, the subscribers were entitled to receive medical
advice, which in itself was an important advantage,
as it was well known that a physician generally re-
ceived a fee of a guinea for each of his visits ; but
the subscribers to this institution who required such
advice, nut only once, but several times in the course
of the year, were entitled to receive it from the
medical officers.—(Hear.) But there were some
other equally important advantages. A situation
book was kept, to which the members might at all
times have access, and it was satisfactory to record
the fact that, during the last twelve months, twelve
or fourteen clerks had obtained situations through its
instrumentality.—(Cheers.) Then, gratuities of 51.
and 101. were given to distressed members at those
seasonable times when such aid was most acceptable,
and when, perhaps, it might save many from
ruin. This had been the case during the past year;
for the institution had afforded aid to many who,
without it, might never have been able to extricate
themselves from the difficulties in which they were
involved.—(Hear.) He bad a list of those who had
participated in the benefits of the institution in this
way during the time he had mentioned, and all the
cases showed the absolute necessity for extending its
operations. With respect to pensions he might say,
there was not the same certainty attending them as
gratuities; there was the certainty of a few obtaining
pensions, but not all who might require them. This,
however, would not be the case if the institution had
more ample means; all those who might be reduced
to the necessity of seeking a small pension in their
declining years, would have no doubts of obtaining a
pension. This was an additional reason why every
clerk in the kingdom should subscribe a guinea a year
to it. If they would come forward simultaneously
the managers would be enabled to give abundantly to
all deserving of its aid.—(Cheers.) At present
five widows were receiving 151., and two
aged clerks 251. each. With the exception of
one widow who was disappointed in being
elected on the last occasion, he believed
he might say that no one who had applied for assist-
ance had not -obtained it—(Cheers)—and he trusted
that on the next occasion, when three additional
annuitants would be elected, that the unsuccessful
candidate to whom he referred would he successful.

—(Cheers.) It was pleasing, on the other hand, to
observe that during this year they had received several
instances of goodwill towards the :association. He
would read the following letter from the chief clerk in a
mercantile house, of considerable importance, and
though it had already been published he thought that
the proper time to lay it before the members. The
spirit in which it was couched was one which he
should be delighted to see generally followed. He
troubled them with it, as he believed it a document
of a very important character, which was as follows :
" London, Jan. 12, 1848.
"Gentlemen,—On behalf of myself and brother
clerks in the establishment of --, I beg to hand
you a donation for the Provident Clerks' Association
of 161. Bs., the amount of which be pleased to acknow-
ledge. It is in consequence of our having been pre-
served from the disasters which have within the last
few months befallen so many of our fraternity, and to
lend them a helping hand, that we have determined
on making the donation in question.
".I am, Gentlemen, yours,
19

(Loud cheers.) Then one of the agents had generously
surrendered his commission, which amounted to
about 51. ss. a year, to the benevolent fund.—(Loud
cheers.) There was an excellent spirit in this spon-
taneous offer. He did not wish to single out the
names of parties who had shown themselves such
earnest friends of the institution, as they might object
to it. That morning they had received a letter from
a gentleman at Birmingham, stating that he had re-
ceived a guinea as an annual subscription from the
High Bailiff, in consequence of the recent visits
of the deputations of the association to that town,
and adding that the Lord Ilayor had consented
to take the chair at their next visit—(Loud
cheers)—at the same time he enclosed a sub-
scription from Mr. Clark, an influential gentleman
there. He could • mention many other equally satis-
factory results, but it was needless to do so ; that,
however, was the spirit he wished to see followed.
Before he resumed his seat he might mention that
they had issued this year in the assurance department
67 policies, amounting altogether to 15,0501. ; that
was a good beginning to the year.—(Cheers.) In
the same period they had received donations amount-
ing to 28/. 95., 24 new subscriptions, gave two gra-
tuities of Si. each, and had granted 13 loans, amount-
ing in the aggregate to 270/. He wished to mention
that they had received letters from the following
warm friends of the institution expressing their re-
gret that unavoidable circumstances would prevent
them attending that evening :—Sir T. Pirie, Bart,
M. Boyd, Esq., James Blyth, Esq., T. Baring, Esq.,
M.P., J. A. smith, Esq., M.P., &c. Sze.

The CHAIRMAN then rose and said—Gentlemen,
before the adoptioi of the report, which I hare heard
read with a great deal of pleasure, is moved, I can-
not allow the opportunity which now presents itself
to pass without offering a few remarks to you with
respect to this institution. A general feeling seems
to prevail in the meeting that the Chairman was
quite justified in the expression of astonishment
which he just now gave utterance to, that the number
of the subscribers to the institution have not increased
during the seven years it has been established to a
greater number than 500.—(Hear, hear.) On my
own part, having been one of the original subscribers,
and having always taken a great interest in its ob-
jects, I must also express my unfeigned surprise
when I look at the great benefits and advantages to
be derived from it. I confess I cannot,
in my own mind, really account for the
tameness with which it has been taken up by
those for whom it was designed, because on all hands
I behold its advantages. 1 see that it may confer
inestimable benefits on the subscribers .themselves,
should their circumstances become reduced ; and if
they should not happily require its aid, that in sub •
scribing to the institution they are simply doing that
which every man whg wishes well to his neighbour
should do as a matte': of duty.—(Loud cheers.) In
looking at the institution merely as a benefit, or an
assurance society, in the ordinary acceptation of the
term, you do it injury, for I beg you to recollect that
for a guinea a year you have the chance of receiving
251. a year in your declining years, and your widow,
in the event of your death, 161.: if you look at the
institution in this light, I am sure you will be of
opinion that it has much stronger claims upon your
support than an) other benefit or assurance company,
for its object is to confer far greater advantages
upon you than they profess to give.—(Cheers.) It
appears by the report that three additional annuitants
are to be elected in the course of the year ; but you
have heard that there are more applicants than can
be relieved by annuities. There are, I believe, four
applicants; it is possible there may be more—but
being able to meet the wishes of three, is a very great
proportion of the number seeking relief. I, as a
matter of course, prefer certainty to uncertainty ;
but, it may reasonably be assumed, that if the
society receives the support it should, the uncer-
tainty of a clerk, in the decline of life, receiving an
annuity, should he be in a condition to require one,
will be in a great measure removed ; at any rate this
is perfectly certain, that the subscriber of a guinea a
year purchases more advantages than could he ob-
tained by the investment of a similar sum in any
other benefit or assurance company. (Cheers.)
Looking at mere personal benefits—and that is not the
only light in which you should view a matter of this
kind I think every clerk ought, merely as a
matter of business, to invest a guinea a year in this
institution.—(Loud cheers.) By the investment of
that sum you may have the satisfaction of knowing
that you can _assist a man with whom you have been
in daily, T may say habitual communication. As a
charitable institution, I consider it ought to receive
the assistance of the whole country. An objection is
made to the institution, with respect to which I wish
to say a few words (I have heard the chairman
allude to it on a former occasion). It is this—that
clerks are afraid if they subscribe to it that it might
interfere with their promotion, and prevent their
principals from making that provision for them which
they ought to do, and which they would do if they
did not make any provision for themselves elsewhere.
In my own establishment we have a great many
gentlemen (and there are many like them in
other establishments), who are very careful, re•
gular, and attentive in their own affairs, and I
have invariably remarked that those who thus
distinguished themselves are the most regu-
lar and attentive to our own. This shows that those
who look to the future advantage of themselves and
their families have, from their assiduity, stronger
claims upon their employers ; therefore if those who
serve us best, and who are, in consequence,
promoted, subscribe to a charity like this. I am
convinced that they have our business as much at
heart as their own. Those who are careful of their
own matters, therefore, serve us the:best and have the
strongest claims upon us.—(Cheers.) I do not con-
sider on these grounds that there is any force
in the objection that principals do not suffi-
(gently attend to the promotion of their
clerks because they many subscribe to an institution
like this, which may afford them in the future ad-
vantages which, at present, they do not ino
they should need. I have not heard of any other
objection raised against the institution, and I do,
therefore, hope and trust that the example which we
have recently seen of the necessity of supporting it
will have its due effect. I allude to the failure of
houses which but a short time ago occupied high