The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-12 00:00:00

THE PROVIDENT CLERKS' 111 -

TUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION.

The fifth annual general meeting of the donors, sub-
scribers; and friends of the benevolent department of this as-
sociation was held last evening, in the large room of the
London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, John Abel Smith, Esq.,
M.P., in the chair.
The meeting was very fully attended.
Dr. MULLINDER, the secraary, having read the advertise-
ment convening the meeting,
Mr. RICHARD HENRY. JONES, the Deputy-Chairman of
the Board of Managers, read the report, which stated
that "the managers, in meeting the friends, members,
and patrons, for the fifth time, had had great cause of con-
gratulation, inasmuch as the results of the year 1845 had
been most encouraging. During the year 1845 many influ-
ential gentlemen . and firms who had, in the first outset of
the association, been lukewarm, had during the past year
given their names to the association ; amongst whom might
be noticed Messrs. Crawford, Colvin, and Company, Jones,
Loyd, and Company, and the Court of Directors of
the East and West India Dock Company, who
had each subscribed 1001. to the funds, the latter body re-
commending their clerks to become members. The report
referred to the fact of a resolution having been passed at the
last annual meeting authorising the election of two an-
nuitant:-, and that the hoard, after the most mature de-
liberation, found that there were not two members duly
qualified by length of membership, according to the rules,
but Ling desirous to put the most liberal construction
upon the rules for the benefit of members, had selected two
cases; the husband of the one, an assurer, being at that
time an inmate of a lunatic asylum, his wife having four
children dependent upon her .exertions for support (he
having. assured with the .Society for 1001.,) the other a sub-
scriber to the Benevolent Fund; but before the intentions
of the board could be carried into effect with respect to the
first case the husband died, yet, nevertheless, lest the inten-
tions of the association should not be liberally carried out,
the board determined to allow this widow to become a can-
didate, and the board are happy to add that these two
widows were elected to receive annuities of 151. each sub-
ject to this meeting conferring the continuance of such
annuity. Here it ought to be remarked that no other
candidates had offered themselves,

The suggestion of a public dinner had been a most
happy one, inasmuch as the sum collected, inclusive of
the three donations already alluded to, had been nearly
1,000/. The report also alluded to the circumstance of
two attempts having been made during the past year
to establish societies for particular sections of clerks, but
which had proved abortive,' and had been abandoned.
The managers had,-by the advice of the treasurer, fixed the
6th of May next for the election of two more annuitants; and
the evening of such day as the occasion of a general dinner
of the friends, supporters, and patrons. The list of stewards
already offered were of the most influential character. The
report then went on to shew that the loan department had
been most successful and beneficial- to members, and that
during the past year every case of application for temporary'
relief had been most promptly met. As also that the situa-
tion book had been of great service to members. Particular
stress was laid upon this department, as a means whereby
much good might accrue to the members.
The report then noticed that the gratuitous services of the
talented medical officers of the asscciation had not only been
continued to members, but in many cases bad been beneficially
applied to the families of members, and that in several in-
stances the same line of conduct had been kindly pursued in
the provincial towns. The report also noticed that several
suggestions had been made by members with the view to
make the association more popular, every one of which sug-
gestions had received the most attentive consideration of the
managers; and some members entertained the notion that,
with the present small rate of annual contribution to this
particular branch of the association, viz., 11. ls. per annum,
they must necessarily be entitled to positive and fixed
annuities quite irrespective of age and other circumstances,
but for an answer to which the board referred to Mr.
Massen's late work " Contributions to Vital Statistics," as
also to the letters of the secretary of this society iu the
Bankers' and Post Magazines of September and October last.
It appeared from the report, that during the past year the
number of agents in the provincial towns had
been more than doubled, and that every day new
members were joining both branches of the associ-
ation. The report also alluded to the circumstance of the
house of Magniac, Jardine, and Co., of which J. A. Smith,
Esq., M.P., is a partner, having assured with the association
the lives of each of their clerks for sums varying from 1,000/.
down to 2504 making each gentleman a present of his
policy.
Many portions of the report were received with great
cheering.
Thostsosr !TAMMY, Jun., Esq., on moving that the report
be adopted and printed, expressed his regret that the task
which had been assigned to him, had fallen into his hands,
in consequence of the absence of several gentlemen of much
higher standing in the city than himself. He regretted this
the more because they should have had the opinions of gen-
tlemen who had not attended their meetings so regularly as
he had—(Applause)---but who were deeply aware of
tha importance of the Society, who had expressed their
cordial assent to its rules, and also had stated that at any
time they should feel happy to do all in their power to
benefit it.—( Hear, hear.) He thought it was hardly neces-
sary for him to make any observations with respect to the
report. The proceedings of the past year were so fully de-
tailed as to render it unnecessary for him to detain themwith
any remarks respecting it, but the meeting must excuse him
for a few minutes, whilst he expressed, certainly, different
feelings to those he had given utterance to on previous occa-
sions. His feelings were totally at variance with those he
had entertained at any previous meeting which he had had
the pleasure of, attending in that room.—(Cheers.) It could
not be a subject of small satisfaction to those gentlemen who
had watched the progress of the institution since its com-
mencement, to know and to feel that it had now taken root,
and that it was likely to make that progress which all those
who had taken an interest in it from the beginning had so
cordially desired.—(Great applause.) He thought, then,
that he might venture to give expression to
feelings very different from those which he addressed
to the members of the association at their meeting last year.
He thought he might venture now to congratulate the mem-
bers on the progress—the substantial progress—that had
been made during the past year.--(Great applause.) Ile
thought they would now see the Institution go on in a state
of constant and satisfactory Frogression.—(Cheers.) This
was no small pleasure tothose who felt, as he knew those gen-
tlemen did who had taken so much interest in the institution
since its origin, that the interest of their clerks in London
was intimately connected with the interests of their own

.... —.-
houses,. and liow mainly they were indebted for their suc-
cess in business to those on whom the proper management
of it principally depended.- (Cheers.) He knew, however,
that these sentiments had been expressed before more forci-
bly than he could lay claim to ; but he knew that they were
sentiments in which he was joined by every brother mer-
chant in that metropolis.—(Cheers.) He was sure there
were none but felt the intimate connexion that must
exist between the heads of houses and their clerks and
how mainly they. were indebted to their exertions, to
the integrity of their character, and to their ability and zeal,
for every success which had attended them in their pur-
suits.—(Hear.) Feeling this, as he did—a feeling in which,
as he had said, he was sure his brother merchants had parti-
cipated—how could they but feel a deep interest in their
pernianent prosperity, and in the success of any institution
which tended to provident habits—habits which were so
highly essential to the welfare of the principal as well as of
his clerks?—(Hear.) However, this was a topic on which
he would not allow himself to dwell, as he was sure, in
dealing with it, he should only detain them longer than he
would wish.—(Cries of " No, no.") But he must beg leave
to express the great pleasure he entertained at the great
increase which had taken place in their funds during the
past year.—(Cheers.) Not that he thought that hitherto
the institution had been joined by so large a number
as he still hoped and looked forward with pleasure
to see in the course of a few years.—(Hear.) But he
thought that the accession of members would ultimately do
away with the great difficulty which the directors had had
to encounter of providing for the uncertainty of the relief
required in cases of need.—(Hear.) Now,' how could they
best obviate that difficulty ? How could that relief which
was so much desired in such cases be rendered as certain as
possible? A satisfactory mode of effecting this was felt to
be all important by those who take an interest in the insti-
tution.—(Cheers.) It appeared to him that this difficulty
must continue to exist until a corsiderably greater num-
ber had joined the association—(Loud cheers)—for it seemed
to be highly desirable that a large proportion out of the
whole number of. persons qualified to be members of that in-
stitution should join it, in order' to enable those entrusted
with its direction to obtain that statistical information
necessary for the proper apportionment of the funds
at their command, to enable them to decide without
hesitation in giving that regular assistance in the time of
need, Which would make every member satisfied that, then
the day of adversity should overtake him, he would find a
sure refuge and aid, when his misfortunes were of a nature
to require it.—(Hear, hear.) He had taken the liberty of ex
pressing these opinions, because he strongly felt their im-
portance. When the number anticipated had joined them,
the directors would be enabled to form an average of the
demands which would be made upon them. When this took
place, they would have attained the desideratum they all had
in view. He concluded by moving, " That the report for
the year 1845, now read, be adopted and printed, under the
direction of the managers;" and resumed his seat amidst
general cheering.
J. Coca, Esq., of the firm of Trueman and Cook, in
seconding the motion, said he felt a degree of interest
in the welfare of the institution.--(Hear, hear.) It was
a glorious thing to see in that great city—a city re-
nowned over the whole world, not only for its wealth and cot:a-
mmo—but renowned over the whole world for its liberal
support of everything benevolent and philanthropic ; and not
one of its least remarkable features was the establishment of
institutions like the oue in which they were so deeply in-

terested.
The Ctiaffutme said, before he put the motion, he wished
it to be understood that a separate resolution would be put
to the meeting, with respect to the confirmation of the pro-
ceedings at the last election ; and that the adoption of the
motion then before them would not prevent them from
making any remarks on that subject.
The motion was then adopted.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed, ‘f That the proceed-
ings at the election of annuitants of the 28th of May
last be confirmed, and that the two annuitants then
conditionally elected, be, by this meeting declared to be per-
manently so elected, subject to the rules and regulations of
the Association for the time being."
R. IL JONES, Esq., seconded the motion, which was
carried.
T. BARING, Esq., M,P., rose to propose the next resolution.
He said, owing to a mistake as to the hour for which the
meeting was called, he had not heard the report read, and
apologised for his non-attendance at the commencement of
the proceedings. He knew, however, enough of the report
to be cognisant of the improved aspect of their affairs. They
had hitherto had the same tale to tell, and it had generally
been told by the same narrators; but the vase was altered, as
their affairs had improved, and those who had riot ,ipoicen on
former eeceaions now did so. He had great pleasure in
meeting the members of the Institution, and expressing his
ardent hope that the iaiceess they had. already obtained
might be greatly augmented. Ills approbation of the Society
had in no degree diminished, and he was delighted to find
that the opinions he had expressed with respect to it had
been more than realised. Their position this year was
superior to the last, and there was every reason to anticipate
a greAter addition to their funds, which had, and would con-
tinue to be, Applied to benevolent and charitable purposes.
He said benevolent and eharitable purposes, because the reso-
lution which had been put into his halide materially partook
of these attributes, as it was to the following etS'ect :
#4 That on the 6th of May next, or such other 'day as the
board may appqntf 4p notice of the same being given to the
members, a special general meethig
~he held for the purpose of
electing two additional annuitants, being meroher,,
pr widows
of members," This was the best proof he could Per that er that their
funds were in a good state, that their prospects were im-
proving, and that they were about to e4tend the benfiti of
the Institution to others. It was satisfactory to know, that
as their funds increased they did not hoard them,' but 'spent
them in benevolence to a class of society, of whom there were
a great number in the city of London, and who had great
claims upon the mei chante on account of the nature of their
dlxtk pip Hon, cientiemau resumed his seat amidst loud
cheers.