The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-24 00:00:00

PROVIDENT CLERKS' ASSOCIATION.

A special general meeting of the members of the
Benevolent Department of this association was held on
Tuesday evening, at the London Tavern, in order to ob-
tain the sanction of the members to certain alterations
in the rules, which had been adopted by the managers.
R. H. JONES, Esq., the chairman of the board of
management, presided, and he was supported by
nearly all the directors of the association.
The requisition calling the meeting having been
read,
The CHAIRMAN said he very much regretted to
have just received a letter from Mr. John Abel Smith,
who was to have taken the chair on that occasion,
intimating that unavoidable circumstances compelled
him to be absent. He (Mr. Jones) deplored this the
more, because Mr. John A. Smith had taken a very
earnest and active part in the proceedings with
reference to which they had assembled.
The absence of the Honourable Member
was owing to his attendance being required in the
House of Commons in regard to the case of Mr.
Salomons, but he intimated that if he could get away
before the meeting concluded he would come and say
the few words which he was very anxious to address
to the members.—(Hear.) Every
one present was
in possession of the main features of the alterations
contemplated by the board of management. It ever
there was an occasion on which he felt greater
anxiety in addressing the members than on another,
it was on the present, because he was quite aware
that they were now about to alter the principles on
which the society was originally founded. At the
same time, however, necessity compelled them to take
so important a step, and they were not single in this
respect, for many institutions of a similar character
had thought it advisable to adopt the course which
they now suggested.—(Hear, hear.) The main
features of the alterations he might mention were—
continuous membership--limitation as to age in re-
gard to future members—more lengthened period of
membership to render a member eligible for tempo-
rary or permanent relief—interest on all loans—
and a contribution of ss. to render an assurer eligible
for the benefit of the benevolent department. It
might be in the recollection of members that at the
last benefit meeting certain insinuations were thrown
out as to the discontent which existed in regard to the
large amount of profits contributed by the assurers to
the benevolent department, and broad hints were
made that unless the directors entertained the subject
some step would be taken by the members themselves.
On that occasion he (Mr. Jones) evaded the question,
but assured all present that the subject should
have their anxious consideration. That consideration
had now been given to the subject, they had devoted
the most persevering and laborious attention to it,
and had come to the determination of proposing the
alterations now before the meeting.—(Hear.) He
hoped that for the good of the institution their pro-
positions would be acceded to, believing firmly that
if carried they would place the managers in a situa-
tion to do an additional amount of good to many of
the claimants who now come upon the association.—
(Hear.) He should have occasion to introduce each
rule separately to their notice, and he would take the
opportunity of making some observations on each, in
order to put members in possession of all the facts
within his knowledge. At present, therefore, he
would say no more except to claim their earnest
attention and kind co-operation, in the confident hope
that what they proposed would meet with their una-
nimous approval.—(Cheers.)
After a prolonged and anxious discussion, in which
a considerable number of members and directors took
part, the following important alterations of the rules
were agreed to by a large majority :

OLD RULE.
Rule lll.—Clerks insuring for fifty pounds or up-
wards, subscribing one guinea per annum, or giving
ten guineas to the Benevolent Fund, become members.
Clerks who had once been admitted as members were
eligible for the advantages of the Benevolent Fund,
although their premiums or subscriptions might have
ceased.