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

r, B

THE PROVIDENT °LURKS'

MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION.

The seventh annual meeting of the members of the
benevolent department of this valuable society wes
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 lianla
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, AT he Fns
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 arid 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 bave 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 bad to re-
port that the progress of the Association, in connexion
with the Mutual Life Assurance Branch, 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 ,one widow; that the hoard had
given every ipublicity 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 15l.;
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 10,8001. 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,

538 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 25g. each, five widows
of 151. each, and had granted 14 gratuities to dis-
tressed members. That 56 loans had been granted
during the same period, amounting to 1,165/. in sums
varying from 101. to 251., the instalments on which
had been creditably repaid. The report stated that
the board ,considered this part 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 tie 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
The
by many of the provincial medical referees.
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 farther 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 nu.nber of policies issued during the year had
been 417, for sums aggregating 84,7501., 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 21st 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 81st 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. 1.1. 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 it,his 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
.)f adversity, the institution was established to
assuage. This question had. been asked by many
when solicited to become members—" What
shall we receive for the guinea we are asked
to subscribe ?"—(Hear.) , He (Mr. Jones) thought,