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

ofThring hirmelf, then to elect three widows of mem-
k),.n to annuities of 15/. each." Thii resiintion
h,a b-2-m-i put into his hand, IKcause had been
intimately conneced with th society from its cons -
toencenient up to the present time. lie had had the
honour of proposing for election one of Om first anflui-
tants of the society, who was a widow f a person
who had insured his life in the society for three years
only. The widow and her children were left by the
death of the husband in a most deplorable condition,
and had it not been for the benefits derived from the
society he hardly knew what would have become of
them.— (Hear, hear.) He regretted to see that the
society was not encouraged more than it was by those
persons who might be expected to require assistance
from its funds. He remembered hearing Mr. Tattersall
suing, at a dinner of the Provident Postmasters, "that
all the wealthy came and supported the institution
well enough, hut those who wanted assistance were
the veriest jibhs 'in existence, and unless they ap-
plied the double thong to them they could never get
them to go."—(Loud laughter.) There was no doubt
that at present the poorer classes were suffixing under
some privation, and had very little to ri-k in such an
cssociation as this ; their more wealthy brethren must,
therefOre, bear the risk for them for a short tia.9, and
he had no doubt that they would then soon come in
am.] join them.
Mr. W. RENNELL, in seconding the motion, said

that no person could dispute the fact that the year
1847 was one of a momentous character. Firms
which had stood as it were, in the opinion of
some individuals, impo,sible to be shaken, had
fallen, find in their fall how many clerks had gone
ith them ? 'I he principal had failed, and where
was the man ? Failed, of course. Then it must
implant in the breast of every one the necessity of
institutions of this nature.—(Cheers.) But how was
it supported ? There were upwards of 50,000 clerks
in Londcn, and this society numbered among its
members only 500! This was very miserable in-
deed. Instead of being called the provident clerks,
one would think that they were the " improvident
clerks" who had joined the association, and that the
provident ones were the majority.—(Hear.) He deeply
regretted that he did not see more fresh faces among
them—seeing the old faces so constantly made it
almost irksome for him to address them.—(A laugh.)
He felt it his duty to reprove them. He did not mean
the clerks present, but those who were absent, and
perhaps they would be good enough to communicate
his opinions to them.—(Laughter.) He knew that
some clerks might say what was the use of joining
the Provident Clerks, because when they got old or
lame or nearly blind their employers would say "you
can go to the Provident Clerks. He was happy however
to hear their Hon. Chairman state that among his clerks
he would select those as the objects of his protection
who had connected themselves with the association;
that was a sentiment which did honour to his generous
heart.—(Hear, hear.)
The resolution was then unanimously agreed to.
R. H. JONES, Esq., then rose to move—" That the
warmest thanks of this meeting are due, and are hereby
presented to the treasurer, and trustees for their con-
tinued patronage and support." With respect to an
observation which fell from Mr. Hankey, he begged
to say that nothing was more difficult to deal
with than the question of expenses. The ma-
nagers strove all they could to reduce them, and
yet they were constantly told that they did not
advertise enough. Such was the position of the ma-
nagers. With respect to a statement also made by
the same Hon. Gentleman, that the country subscri-
bers would not stand so much chance as the London
ones, he begged to say that if any partiality was
shown at all, it was shown towards the country
members, in consequence of their being absent.—
(Hear.) Mr. Rennell had stated that the members
of the society were only 500 ; now in the two depart-
ments they had nearly 1,700; that fact would, per-
haps, tend to relieve the Hon. Gentleman's mind.—
(Hear.) With respect to the resolution he had pro-
posed he was sure that there was not one present who
would hesitate for a moment to agree to it; he would
not, therefore, detain the meeting by any remarks
upon the subject.
J. W. WELCH, Esq., seconded the resolution. The
institution owed a debt of the deepest gratitude to
those gentlemen who had bestowed their valuable
time upon the interests of the association.—(Hear.)
It was a subject of deep regret to him that the society
was not supported in a more liberal manner, for, be-
sides the feeling that it would advance their own in-
terests and those connected with them, there was also
a far nobler feeling, which this society appealed to,
and that was tne desire of doing good to others : there
was the noble feeling of charity which should
find a place in the heart of every man.—(Hear.)
Upon the question of the expenses, the meeting would
perhaps recollect that, a short time since, a full and
complete statement of the affairs of the society were
laid before the trustees and managers, and it was
finally resolved to conduct the business of the asso-
ciation with more energy. The directors bad acted
upon that recommendation ; the expenses had neces-
sarily been increased in consequence. The directors
did all they could through the medium of the press ;
and to the gentlemen connected with the press the
best thanks of the society were due, for the very
cordial manner in which they responded to the appli-
cations made to them.—(llear.) Then a certain por-
tion of the office expense sell upon this department, but
he trusted that in a short time the expenses under
that bead would cease, and the charges be merely
nominal. There was every disposition on the part of
the board to proceed with the greatest economy and
care in watching over the interests of the association.
There was no doubt such an institution as this ought
to be well supported. An association was recently
formed among the Coast Guard and other officers
of the Customs, the subscription to ssibich was
sixpence per month, and although most of the
persons subscribing had other means to de-
pend upon in times of necessity, still so well was it
supported, that although it had only been in existence
a few years, it had funds now to the amount of 9,0001.
He hoped that the clerks would come forward and
support this institution in a liberal manner, and that
this would be the last time that they would have to
be appealed to for aid in support of a noble cause of
charity.—(Hear, hear.)
The resolution was then put, and unanimously
agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN said that, on the part of himself and
the other trustees, he begged to assure the meeting of
their gratification in the resolution they had just una-
nimously passed. Upon the subject of the expenses,
he must say, that upon looking over the balance-sheet,
he thought that they were large, considering the
amount of receipts, and they had telt it their duty to
cart attention to the subject, in order to induce them
to increase the number of the subscribers. He felt
with his friend Mr. Hankey, a considerable pleasure
in devoting a little of his spare time to the institution.
Such an institution as this could not fail to be of
service, and it was gratifying to him to be able in any
way to do good to his fellow-creatures.—(Hear,
hear.) He trusted that at the next annual
meeting they would have the pleasure of meeting
them in a more prosperous condition; nothing would
give the trustees greater pleasure than to witness the
con tinuous prosperity of the institution.—(Hear.)
Mr. HOWDEN then proposed a resolution to the
effect, that each member should subscribe an addi-
tional guinea, for the purpose of increasing the
general fund of the society ; no seconder, however,
being found, the resolution fell to the ground.
The CHAIRMAN said that he feared he might be
misunderstood upon the question of expenses. What
he intended to have conveyed to the meeting was,
that the expenses were too large for the receipts.
There must of necessity be considerable expenses
connected with an association of this nature, but he
felt convinced that the gentlemen who managed the
affairs of the society did use a great deal of talent
and economy, and he trusted that no observation of
his with respect to the expenses would be construed
in any way as having reference to their management,
but merely to the proportion of expenses compared
with the receipts, thus showing the necessity for in-
creased support. What he complained of was, not
that the expenses were too large, but that the sub-
scriptions were toe small.—(llear, hear.)
J. J. Isms', Esq., then moved—" That the best
thanks of this meeting be presented to the auditors,
medical officers, both in town and country, and to the
honorary solicitors for their valuable services during the
past year." He would merely state in moving that
resolution that the auditors, the medical officers, and
the solicitors, one and all of them, rendered their
valuable sorvices gratuitonsly to the company.
W. J. JORDAN, Esq., seconded the motion, which
was also unanimously agreed to.
H. B. REYNOLDS, Esq., then moved—" That the
best thanks of this wieeting are due to the board of
management for their continued attention and de-
votion to the interests of the association." He
would just make one remark :—He thought that the
persons who were most wanted to support the insti-
tutions were those who gave their guinea and never
expected to have anything in return for it again.
HOOPER seconded the motion, which was also
unanimously agreed to.
Mr. JONES returned thanks for himself and his col-
leagues. They had done all that they could possibly do
to promote the success of the institution, and he
would add also, that they:had been able to meet every
case that had been brought before them.—(Hear.)
Mr. PRICE then proposed a vote of thanks to the
Chairman of the evening. The meeting were not
only under great obligations to him for his kindness
in coming down to preside over them that night, but
also for the great interest which he took in watching
over the concerns, and interests of the society. This
kindness in attending to the interests of the associa-
tion reflected, he thought, something like shame upon
those who ought to come forward and support the
society, for whose benefit it was instituted. The
meeting was deeply indebted to the Hon. Chairman
for his kindness in taking the chair, the ability with