The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-24 00:00:00

BENEVOLENT DEPARTMENT.

The fifteenth annual general meeting of the members
of the benevolent department was then held.
The chair was to have been taken by John Abel
Smith, Esq.,M.P. but Mr. Jepps informed the meeting, at
the request of that gentleman, who had been waiting in
an adjoining raom nearly two hours, that a domestic
affliction prevented him remaining any longer, and he
wished him to assure the meeting of his continued inte-
rest in the association, and especially of that branch of
it of which ho was the treasurer. The chair was there-
fore taken by R. H. Jones, Eyq.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, called
upon the ster;taly (Mr. W. T. Linford) to read the
report.

The SECRETARY then read the report, which was as
follows :

"The Board of Management have much pleasure in pre-
senting to the donors, subscribers, and members of the
Benevolent Fund their 15th annual report, and beg to con-
gratulate them on the satisfactory condition of this de-
partment of the institution.

t! The income for zha past year is 1,9811.125. lid., being
an increase of 4681. :is. Bd. upon that of 1854, and the
board are much pleased to oberve that while the larger
portion of this sum arises from the kind- and liberal dona-
tions which have boen received both from public companies
and private individuals, yet there is no branch of the in-
come of the fund which does not exhibit some degree of
improvement—a fact which cannot but be extremely grati-
fying to the members.
" The Board have to congratulate the members on an
addition of 630!. to their capital during the past year.
The total balance in favour of the institution is now
15,47:34. 12s. &I.

" On the 30th May last, in accordance with the vote of
the preceding annual meeting, six additional annuitants
wore elected, viz.:-
1 Clerk, to an annuity of
• 1 Widow, „ ...... 20
4
15 each.
II SI
Two annuitants have died during the past year, 'and the
number now receiving assistance Iram the fund is 44, who
are collectively receiving 7901. per annum ; and the 13(,ard
recommend that additional annuities to the extent of 851.

be granted in May next. A resolution to carry this into
effect will be submitted to this meeting.
"The donations and subscriptions dining the past year
have been as follows :

DONATIONS.

Donations
322 Old Subscribers,...... £136 4 4;
48 New ~
1 Life „ ..., lO 10 0
---E5Ol 18 0
SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM INSURERS.

2,153 at lis.
70 „ 10i.
2 „ 10s. Gd
9 „ 20s.

£s3i 5 0
31 0 0
1 1 0
9 0 0

£383 6 0

£1,438 15 0
Gratuities have been' awarded to the amount of 911. ss.
Loans have been granted during the year for the sum of
2,523 t., making a total of 2,07ti1. since the commencement.
" During the past year numerous cases of an extremely
painful nature have been brought before the notice of the
board; and it has been with sincere satisfaction that they
have been able in seine instances promptly to relieve the
distresses of those who had a claim upon their assistance,
but the board regret to add that in many -cases they were
precluded from succouring applicants of a most deserving,
as well as of a most necessitous, character, from the fact
that those who could, by prudence and self-denial, have
secured this valuable aid to their widows and families,
had altogether neglected the opportunities of membership
or suffere i it to lapse.
"The Board trust that this fact, if widely known, will
be more effectual than any appeal on their part in arous-
ing the attention of those among the clerks who have not
hitherto availed themselves of the advantages which are by
this institution placed within their roach."

Tim CHAraua.rr moved the reception and adoption of
the report, and that it be printed and circulated, which
was carried unanimously.
Mr. JEPPS (director) moved the following resolution :
" That on the 29th May next, or such other day as the
board may appoint, an amount not exceeding 851. be
granted in annuities. The number of annuitants of each
class to be fixed by the board according to the applications
which may bo received."
He moved the resolution with much pleasure. It
was aiways a very pleasing thing to be able to
do good, and the more good the association could
do the more they ought all to be pleased, and
endeavour to increase its usefulness. In their desire to
do as much good as they could the directors had to adopt
a secure course, so that in looking after the interests of
the present applicants they did nothing that might in-
jure those who might come after. (Hear.) The sum
they had now to dispose of was 851., which might appear
to many, as it did to him, to be a large sum, but it
should be borne in mind that during the past year the
funds of the association had been relieved of 401. per
annum by the death of one annuitant and the marriage
of another, so that the increase asked to be granted this
year was only 451. in addition to that of last year.
(Hear.) They had this year had a prosperous and suc-
cessful year, as regarded the benevolent department,
from their having employed a travelling agent, both in
town and country, to solicit contributions. His exer-
tions had been very successful, and they had had the
pleasure of adding to the funds of the association upwards
of 7001., after deducting the extra expenses. (Hear. )
Under these circumstances he had little hesitation in
moving the adoption of the resolution.
Mr. PRICE seconded the motion.

Mr. LLOYD reminded the meeting that last year an
amendment was moved in opposition to a similar resolu-
tion to that now proposed, but withdrawn in conse-
quence of the board undertaking to bear the suggestion
it contained in mind, and act upon it for the future. He
wished now to know what amount in excess of the in•

terest on their funded property these annuities would
give, because they should not give annuities beyond the
amount of interest they received from the fund.
The CHAIRMAN said the annuities, including the 851.
now proposed, amounted to MN., and the interest on
the vested money to 5601. If they took 491/. from the
subscriptions, and 5831. from the insurers, it would give
1,0741. After deducting the 3001. required to make up
the above sure, there was a balance of 7001. to go to
capital. He thought the above amount was not too
much to take from the premiums to go towards annui-
ties.

Mr. LLOYD called attention to the propriety of the
association purchasing a nomination to one of the orphan
schools for distressed orphan children of deceased mem-
bers, which would be similar to an amount given away
in an annuity, but more to the advantage of both the
association and the annuitants. (Hear.) They had only
given away the paltry sum this year of 911. amongst
distressed clerks. He directed attention to a card
that had been circulated amongst the members soliciting
their suffrages on behalf of a widow whose husband had
been 50 years in employ as a ship-broker. He thought
it was a disgrace on the part of that firm that after a man
had worked for them half a century his widow should be
obliged to have recourse to that association. He hoped
the chairman would give them the name of the firm
alluded to.
Mr. JEPPS said that the board, in considering this
subject, agreed with the last speaker that something
should be done to limit the number of annuitants, and
to approximate the amount to be paid to the income of
the vested capital, and it was with those views that
there bad been a diminution in the number of annui-
ties voted last year and this. He hoped the time
would soon arrive when they would he in the position
Mr. Lloyd and he (Mr. Jepps) wished to see. It was
but just to state that in every ease that had been brought
befard the board requiring assistance relief had been ful'y
and adequately granted, and to such an extent as to call
forth the thanks of the recipients. •
The CHAIRMAN said the directors had made applica-
tions to several orphan cchools to know the sum they
would require for a presentation. Tne Infant Orphau
Society wanted 250 guineas for a life presentation for
one child, the British Orphan Society 2401., the Lon-
don Orphan Society 1001. for each child, or 3001. for a
life presentation, and St. Ann's school 250 guineas. The
board thought these such large sums that they had hesi-
tated about purchasing them. A difficulty had also
presented itself in whose name it should be perchased,
who should have the nomination, and how the child
should be selected for nomination.
Mr. WARWICK said that seven-tenths of the members
had no doubt been induced to become such from the fact
thata d e
n cew
of their being able on low terms to insure annuities to
their widows, and the board ought to be exceedingly
cautious how they acted so as not diminishetailenthe
e() n
at-
traction, and thereby materially is
and considered it
of the members of that department, merely to increase
the amount of money to be devoted to temporary assist-
ance, (Hear.) He thought they. had committed an
asked for.
oniterrorliglitih grantingve grantingb beentlt t
two
ouo
insteadany wisera annuities,
fourtt ehse
annuitiera
as
now
Mr. COLEMAN (director) reminded the last speaker
that there was a balance of 700/, on the year's account
to ho invested towards meeting these charges, and they
should recollect that as they increased their vested capi-
tal so they increased their income. He reminded them
that they had 2,9191. now out on loans, which was an
important branch of their operations, and one of which
the board knew its full value,
Mr. WELCH moved, and Mr. JEPPS seconded, a vote
of thanks to the trustees and treasurer, which was car-
ried unanimously,
1-)Aw80-N moved, as the next resolution, a vote of
thanks to the auditors of this department, which was
also unanimously carried.
The thanks of the meeting having been awarded by
acclamation to the chairman and acknowledged by that
gentleman, the meeting separated.