The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-20 00:00:00

PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL
BENEFIT ASSOCIATION AND BENEVOLENT
FUND.

Last • night, at six o'clock, the fifth annual general
meeting of the numbers of the benefit department of this
Association nu held at the London Tavern, Bishops-
gate-street, fur the transaction of business. There was a
very full attendance of members, and the business
throughout was characterised by the greatest harmony
and good feeling. George Thomas, Esq., presided on
the occasion.
The business was opened by the Secretary, Dr.
Thomas Mullinder, reading the advertisement calling
the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to read the report of
the Directors, which was in substance to the following
effect :
It commenced with congratulating the members on the
increased prosperity of the Association, and showed that
during the year 1845 the number of policies issued was
.211,

anwunting to a sum equal to three-fifths of all the business
done in the past years; that since the formation of the Asso-
ciation all the moneys received as premiums had been in •
vested in the funds in the names of trustees, with the excep-
tion of 100/. paid to the representatives of an assurer, which
was the only death the managers -lad been called upon to
pay, and about some 5001. for office expenses; that during
the year an election of widows of clerks (one of whose hus-
bands had been an assurer) to permanent pensions had taken
place, and had been commemorated by a public dinner, at
which a very. large sum had been contributed (1,000/.
we believe) in aid of the Benevolent Fund ; that
some - eminent firms had during the past year
given in their adhesion to the Society, and subscribed to its
funds. That recently John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., together
with his, partners, Messrs. Magnac, Jardine, and Co., mani-
festing that gentleman's well-known liberality and desire to
promote the welfare of the Association, and of those gentle-.
men employed by his firm, had assured the lives of each of
their clerks for sums varying in amount from 1,000/. down to
250/., according to the length of time each had been in their
service, not merely paying the first premium, but making
each gentleman a present of the policy, and promising to pay
all future premiums. The report went on to notice the hand-
some liberality of the Court of Directors of the East and
West India Dock Company, who not only had contributed to
the aid of the benevolent fund, but bad encouraged the
clerks in their service to become members of the Association.
The report also noticed the growing estimation
with which the Society was favoured, not only in
London, but the provincial towns, and instanced that during
the past year the number. of agents had been more than
doubled, and that a most favourable and flattering opinion
of the stability and usefulness of the society by W. Farr,
Esq., F.S.S., the gentleman entrusted with the scientific de-
partment of the Registrar-General's-office, Somerset-house,
who, in a letter to the secretary said, " I think very highly
of the objects of your society, &c. ; your rates of premium
appear to me safe and fair for a society of mutual assurance.
I state this after having compaired the tables of premiums
for single lives with the calculations made at this office.
Wishing your Directors every success in this excellent under-
taking, I am, &c." The balance-sheet showed a very large
increase in favour of the Society, not only In the amount of
money invested during the year, but also in the greatly ex-
tended receipts of premiums over all preceding years.
The CHAIRMAN—The report now read contains a full
statement of the past proceedings and present position
of the Association, and nothing now remains for me but
to say that, should any explanation be wanted, I shall
be very happy to afford it.
Mr. KINSMAN of Manchester, one of the local com-
mittee, then moved—
" That the report for the year, 1845, as now read, be
adopted and printed for circulation at the discretion of the
Board!'

He had arrived in town on a journey to the west of
England, and having called at the office, he had been
persuaded to come to the meeting and move the resolu-
tion he had now done. He felt most happy in doing so,
as he considered the report just read to be a most satis-
factory document in every particular.—(Cbeers.)
Mr. E. J. GOSBELL seconded the resolution. He felt
much gratified at the report just submitted, and in
that gratification he was sure the meeting fully
participated.—(Hear, hear.) He was satisfied that the
Directors had done their best to advance the interests of
the Association, and to their energy and perseverance
they (the members) were much indebted for their pre-
sent improved position. He would suggest to the mem-
bers present that Chambers's plan be adopted, which
was for each member, during the next year, to bring a
member.—(ll.ltr, hear.) That step would at once place
the Association in a most commanding position.—The
resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. J. W. WELcu rose to move the next resolution,
which was as follows :

" That Mr. Richard Henry Jonea and Mr. Samuel Notley
be re elected managers of the Association, and Messrs. John
James Iselin, Samuel Jepps, Henry Pearson Maples, and
Richard Price be elected managers." _ _

He knew Mr. Jones well, as one of the oldest and best
friends of the Association, and one who, in his capacity
of Deputy Chairman, bad done much to advance their
interests. Mr. Notley had also been one of his col-
leagues, and a gentleman that had used great exertion
to advance the welfare of the body. The same might
be said of the other gentlemen named in the resolution,
to whom he believed they were also much indebted for
the present flourishing state of the Institution.
Mr. LLOYD had much pleasure in seconding the reso-
lution proposed by Mr. Welch.
The Chairman was about to put the resolution, when
a member in the body of the room suggested that the
names should be put separately, as he believed the Act
of Parliament required that it should be so.
The CHAIRMAN said he did not think that such was
the case, yet, in order to make sure, he had no objection
to put the names in that way. He then submitted the
names contained in the resolution to the meeting sepa-
rately, and they were unanimously agreed to as
managers of the Institution for the ensuing year.
Mr. JONES returned thanks for the honour done him
in his re-election. He had hitherto done his best to
serve the interests of the Institution, and would continue
to do so. He was much satisfied at the general tenour
of the report, partiCularly regarding that portion which
suggested that each member should endeavour to bring
another member into the Association during the coming
year. Ile was satisfied if they made an effort they
would succeed in carrying that recommendation into
effect.— (Hear.) He had a resolution to propose bearing
c n another point in the report. It was intimated in the
report that during the last year a most beneficent and
noble act had been performed by the house of Magniac,
Jardine, and Co. towards their clerks. I would also
allude to the most liberal gift of Mr. Samuel Jones Loyd
to his clerks, showing that there is springing up on the
part of principals a greater regard fur those who serve
them. I trust so good an example will be followed by
other houses ; indeed, I have some reason to believe that
another eminent firm contemplates a similar proceeding
to that of Magniac, Jai dine, and Co.—(Loud applause.)
The resolution he bad to propose was as follows:
" That the warmest thanks of the meeting are due to
Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P.; Thomson Hankey, jun., Esq. ;
W. G. Prescott Esq.; and Baron L. de Rothschild, for their
countenance and support as trustees of the Association; and
also to John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., for his continued inte-
rest in•the prosperity of the Association, and to himself and
partners for their late distinguished mark of approbation of
the Society."
Mr. SAWTELL seem-lied the resolution, which was put
and unanimously carried. •
Mr. MAITLAND moved the next resolution, which was
one in which he was sure they would all agree. It was—
" That the cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to
the medical officers both in town and country, to the local
agents and committees, to the consulting actuary, and the
honorary solicitors for their valuable services during the last
year."

He was persuaded they would all agree that they had
pibeen
ncmufluoach i nd
rrityhewa4 indebted es dtant
theyo h c
et
under
der
h gentlemenadobligationgi
vet a
tmthoee named
Associationhi
en irthme erde iscoa -1;
rofficers.— ( hae'
ehresy)
_had n
d grannetaerdly2ll 600
policies
from
theirduringfi
rtslite pas
y
esta-
blishment, and yet, out of that 600, up to the 31.5 t of
December last, there had been only one loss, and that
was for 100/. From this it would appear that their me-
dical officers had exercised no ordinary care in the se-
lection of lives to be insured—(Hear, hear)—and fur
this care they were entitled to their warmest thanks.
Mr. REYNOLDS seconded the motion, and said he need
not add one word to what had just been offered by the
previous gentleman. The secretary, the managers,
the solicitors, and medical officers, had all, he was
satisfied, done everything in their power to advance
the Association. For himself, the sole reason why he
retired from taking an active part in the management
was having other avocations to attend to that would have
interfered with his attending to their interests in an
official manner. He greatly regretted having to leave,
after struggling with them up hill to their present satis-
factory position ; but he did not like to hold office unless
he could attend to its obligatiOns. Unless he could do
so it was his bounden duty to retire. He, however, in
doing so, congratulated them on having, in their officers,
a body of gentlemen who would leave nothing undone
that energy, attention, and business habits could achieve
for them. Under such direction they could not fail to
bring their affairs to a most satisfactory and triumphant
issue.

The CHAIRMAN, on putting the resolution to the
meeting. observed that Mr. Reynolds had explained to
the meeting the cause of his retiring from the management.
He had a letter from Mr. Hudson, explaining also the
cause of his retirement, 4 nd it was gratifying to know that
neithi r of those gentlemen had retired from any ill feel-
ing towards the Society, but solely on account of their
other avocations rendering it, impossible for them effi-
ciently to perform their duties as managers.—(Cheers.)
The worthy Chairman read the letter from Mr. Hudson,
in which he complimented the Society highly, and
wished it the success it deserved.
The resolution was then declared to be carried unani-
mously.
Mr. JOHN JAMES ISELIN, as one of the newly-elected
managers, begged to return thanks for the honour that
had been conferred upon him. He could assure the
gentlemen present that his earnest endeavours should
never be found wanting in order to promote the best
interests of the Society—(Cheers)----and he hoped to re•
ceive and deserve at the conclusion of those exertions

the same feeling of satisfaction that had been displayed
towards those whose office he had been so undeservedly
selected to fill.—(Cheers.) He could assure those pre-
sent that it would be his greatest happiness in after
years to meet them with a statement that the success of
the Society had increased in the ratio of a hundred-

fold.—(Clieers.)
ALFRED SMEE, Esq., Fellow of the Royal Society,
rose to return thanks. He could assure ,the meeting
that their medical officers had striven all in their power
to promote the interests of the Institution, and he was
happy to say that, according to the the report, their
exertions had been crowned with success.—(Cheers.)
The duty that devolved upon their medical men was one
of difficulty and responsibility.—(Cheers.) Every gen.
tleman who was in that room had had to come before
them, and though they had not been more than ten
minutes in their company, they had had to look through
their bodies, and render that which was opaque tran-
sparent—(Laughter)—in order to discover not only
whether they were then labouring under any disease,