The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-21 00:00:00

JANUARY 211 lB5l

members, and he must confess that, without it, he
should himself feel no pleac,urc in going on with the
of of the association.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Lona wished! to ask, for the information of
the meelng, what was about the average age of the
assurers who had taken out policies during the past
year ? his object in putting the question was to
ascertain, if possible, how far young or junior clerks
had availei themselves of a general increase of salary
by assuring their lives in this office.
The Cuarrteraer said he had not the slightest objec-
ticn
to furnish the information ; but not having re-
ceived any notice that the question would be put, he
was unable to give an answer with any degree of ac-
curacy. However he might state, that as far as his
recollection went, the everage age was between 30 or
32.—(Hear.)
Mr. BELL raid it now became his duty to submit to
the meeting the last part of his motion, and he did
this certainly with less satisfaction than he had in
prliosieg the first portion, because it could hardly be
gratifying to any one to offer such a small sum of
money for division among so large a number of gen-
tlemen.— (Near, hear.) Last year the directors
had refused an increased vote, therefore he would
not on the present occasion go beyond the amount
then proposed ; hut he hoped, as the business
increased, they would be enabled to award them a
larger and more liberal remuneration.—(Hear, hear.)
He concluded by proposing that the sum of 500/
should be awarded to the directors for their services
during the past year.
Mr. COLEMAN cordially seconded the motion, which
was carried by acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, observing that if
_

the vote had not been unanimous they would have
received it with much less pleasure than they then
felt at the cordial reception it had met with.
The CLIAIRMAN said he had now to propose the re-
election of the tour gentlemen who had retired from
the direction by rotation. Having already come to a
vote thanking, in effect, the managers for their past
services, he assumed they were perfectly satisfied with
them.—(Hear.) He could only add his testimony,
bumble as it was, to the efficiency of their services,
and say that he should be extremely sorry to part
with any of them.—(Hear.) He concluded by pro-
posing the re-election of the following gentlemen for
the ensuing year :—Messrs. John Dankearts, Wm.
Maitland, Win. Jeremiah Jordan, and Wm. Stanhope
Sawtell.
Each gentleman was separately re-elected by a
show of hands.
Mr. DANKEARTS said, though he was the youngest
member of the board he had taken the liberty, in the
absence of any other member rising, to return thanks,
on his own part, and cn the part of. his brother col-
leagues, for this additional fresh mark of favour which
the meeting had conferred upon them, and to say
that it should be their duty for the future, as it had
been for the past, to consult the interests of the mem-
bers in every possible way.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WELCH rose to move the following resolution,
which he thought would be received with very great
pleasure :
" That the thanks of this meeting be presented to
Messrs. Lag fords, the honorary solicitors; to William
Ratray, Esq , the consulting actuary; to Dr. Jones,
physician; and John Gay and Alfred Smee, Esqs., sur-
geons of the association; to the Provincial Medical
Referees, the Agents, and Local Committees, for their
efficient services during the past year."
They would, perhaps, allow him to state that during
the progress of the amended Friendly Socities' Bill in
Parliament the managers had occasion frequently to
consult Messrs. Lawfords, the honorary solicitors,
and those gentlemen, with their accustomed desire to
promote the interests of the association, had
given them every possible assistance and advice
with respect to the course they should pursue.—
(Hear.) To their able friend on his left, Mr.
Ratray, they were also very much indebted ; he was
always ready to give them the best of advice con-
nected with the management and affairs of the asso-
ciation.—(Hear.) Of their physicians and surgeons
he need say very little, because the report spoke for
itself on the subject, but he might mention that
during the past year the number of deaths had been
comparatively few. He hoped they might in the course
of the present year give those gentlemen much greater
employment, and that the business of the associa-
tion would increase. What had transpired this
month gave fair prospects that it would con-
siderably augment, that they would be most
actively employed ; and he took that opportunity
of reminding them that they were partners in the
same concern, and that it was to the interest of every,
individual member to follow up the good and suc-
cessful working of the association by bringing to it
as much business as he possibly can.—(Cheers.) It
vvas:not sufficient that a gentleman should join them by
simply assuring his life. He should recollect that,
being a mutual association, the profits are equally
divided, and that it is therefore to the interest of every
gentleman who becomes a member to induce his
friends and acquaintances to become members also.—
(near.) By so doing he will increase the benefits
likely to be derived hereafter by his widow and chil-
dren whenever it pleases God to take him away ; and
will have the satisfaction not only of increasing the
value of his policy in a pecuniary point of view, but
a:so the satisfaction of inducing his friends to make
that provision for those dependent upon them which it
is incumbent every thoughtiul man should make while
in the enjoyment of good health.—(Hear.) There-
fore he earnestly impressed upon members this im-
portant duty at the commencement of the new and
important year of 1851, which he hoped would not
only figure very largely and conspicuously in the
history of this country, but also figure largely in the
history of this association; and be trusted, moreover,
that when they.met again this time twelve months,
the directors would have the satisfaction of
placing before them an exhibition which would
be extremely gratifying to all connected with
and interested in the association.—(Loud cheers.)
And he would again call upon them all to get their
friends to assure their lives, without delay, and not
allow them to waver and hesitate ere they made up
their minds on the subject. There was a very wide
field open for their exertions, because, looking at the
number of lives assured, compared with the population
of this country, the number of assurers was extremely
limited. They would have the satisfaction of going
forth and saying, they belonged to an association
which had done already a vast amount of good, and
enjoy also that pleasure and satisfaction which all
must feel in having made that provision
for a wife and family, which he held it to be the duty
of every man to make.—(Cheers.) To some of the
agents in the country the association was very much
indebted, but he looked forward with a great deal of
hope to increased exertions on the part of many of
them. This morning it was very gratifying to find
laid on the table of the board as many as seven pro-
posals from the country agents, thus showing that
they were alive to the interests of the association.—
(Hear.) There was one gentleman he could not re-
frain from alluding to by way of example as to what
might be done in the country—he, meant Mr. Lowne,
their agent at Norwich. He had followed the
advice given to him by the agent of a
very ola assurance-office in London. He did
not remember the name of that gentleman, but
he attended their meeting at Norwich, and spoke
very strongly in favour of life assurance, saying he
appeared there to advocate the principles of life assu-
rance, to induce every man to make provision for his
family, and adding that he did not feel the slightest
jealousy, but, on the contrary, would urge his young
friend (Mr. Lowne) to the same exertions which he
had used himself. He said, when he commenced his
agency in Norwich he had very little business the
first half-year, but that at the time of our meet-
ing he took many thousands of pounds from
the city. Now lie felt that Mr. Lowne
had followed the advice of that gentleman, for he had
circulated a knowledge of the benefits of the asso-
ciation not only among clerks and tradesmen, but the
public generally.—(Hear.) He felt satisfied that their
agents generally would see that it was to their in-
terest to promote the objects of the association with
energy and activity. He concluded by moving the
above resolution.

Mr. PRICE seconded the resolution, and bore testi-
mony to all which bad been said by Mr. Welch with
reference to the officers.

The CHAIRMAN said before he put the resolution
he begged to add a few words to what had fallep from
the Deputy-Chairman with respect to the kindness of
the Messrs. Lawfords in connexion with the passing
of the recent Act of Parliament, whose aid had been
called in by the board of managers daring the pro-
gress of the Bill. Those gentlemen refused to accept
any remuneration for their services.--(Hear, hear.)
The board, feeling they ought not to impose
such constant duties upon them, proposed to
those gentlemen that some person should be
appointed as acting solicitor in conjunction with
them. They readily and cheerfully acquiesced
in that proposition, and at the same time stated
their wish to continue their services gratuitously,
so far as they were required.—(applause.) And
he (the Chairman) had the satisfaction of
stating to the meeting that through the in-
strumentality and cordial co-operation and ac-
quic.scenee of Messrs. Lewicrds, a gewlernan was
named, who was now before the meeting, Mr. Philetcs
Richardson, as acting solicitor of this association,
and to that gentleman many thanks were due for his
kindness and attention since his appointment, winch
haa been of the most arduous kind, and very neces-
sary for the guidance of the board of p'-
...,,agers.
'solution was then pi uwabi-

- - -- - - ..
mouly 4 1
Mr. RATRAY said this was a very long list to nu-
swer for; he belie•ved tiiir medical friends were not I
present, and all he could .ay on their behalf was, that
the more lives they gave them to examine the more
and better they would be , pleased, and the more poli-
cies they gave him (Mr :. liatray) to value at the next
division of profits the ' better he should be pleased.—
(Laughter.) The r' jmarks which had fallen from

the Deputy-Chairman would be read with interest by
their agents in the country, and he hoped the effect
would be that it would urge them to renewed exer-
tions on behalf of the association.—(Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to the election of
the auditors for the ensuing year. The following
gentlemen were the candidates :—Mr. Richard Bell,
Mr. Edward Coleman, Mr. James Richard Lloyd,
Mr. Sancton Wood and Mr. Charles Woolley.
Mr. BELL intimated his wish to withdraw from
the office of auditor, and said that he had recom-
mended Mr. Charles Woolley to fill the office in his
stead, a gentleman who had both the will and the
ability to render important services to the association.
Messrs. Edward Coleman, J. It. Lloyd, S Wood,
and C. Woolley, having been severally proposed and
seconded,
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to take a show of bands
for each, the result of which was that there appeared
—for Mr. E. Coleman, 54; Mr. J. R. Lloyd, 47 ;
Mr. Sancton Wood, 47, and Mr. C. Woolley, 70.
A second show of hands was taken for Messrs.
Lloyd and Wood, when the numbers appeared this
time to be—for Mr. Lloyd 50, and fur Mr. WTood 40.
The Cnmamari then declared that Messrs. Wocl-
ley, Coleman, and Lloyd had been duly elected
auditors for the ensuing year, and a resolution was
afterwards passed fixing their remuneration at
15/. 153.
Mr. LLOYD briefly returned thanks, promising to
do his best in the service of the association, and urg-
ing upon the members the necessity for persuading
their young fellow-clerks to take advantage of its
principles.
Mr. COLEMAN also thanked the meeting for re-
electing him, and said he would do his best to deserve
their confidence.
Mr. MAITLAND moved a rote of thanks to the
press for the liberality with which it Lad given pub-
licity to the merits and proceedings of the association.
To show the great benefit which the association de-
rived from the advocacy of the press, he mentioned
that an attempt had recently been made in Liverpool
to establish a similar institution to this, only confin-
ing its operations to that locality. The attempt,
however, had not succeeded, and the management of
this association having offered to adopt the business of
the local society upon the same terms that they
accepted it, the Liverpool papers were now using
their best endeavours to induce them to accede to the
proposal.—(Cheers.)
The resolution having been duly seconded, was put
to the vote and carried unanimously, which closed
the principal business of the meeting.
Mr. THOMAS said he wished to make a few remarks
with reference to the special meeting that was about
to be called. He understood that, in conformity
with the Friendly Societies' Act the rules would
have to be altered at that special meeting, and he
should, therefore, be glad to know if it had occurred
to the board to make some alteration in the rules that
related to the division of profits. He alluded more
particularly to that rule which compelled every policy-
holder to give up thirty-three per cent. of his share
of the profits to the benefit department. Now, so long
as that rule lasted, the general public were not likely
to bring their business to them. They could go else-
where and have their interest served better, because
in other societies so large a deduction as
33 per cent. was seldom or never made. He
would, therefore, suggest that, in order to
induce the general public to insure with this
association, they should so alter the rules at the forth-
coming special meeting as to reduce that proportion
to five or ten per cent.—(Cheers.) At present it was
quite clear that this 33 per cent. was all profit to the
benevolent fund, which was by no means an equit-
able arrangement now. He thought it might have
been, when it was proposed to restrict the benefit of
the association to clerks only, but they had since
thrown open their doors to the whole public, and if
they wished to share the public business with other
offices they must cease to continue a rule which re-
quired the policy-holder to give up 33 per cent.
of his profits, when he could go to other institu-
tions who only deducted five per cent.—(Cheers.)
Another point of great importance which he wished
to mention was that of making all the policies of the
company indisputable. He thought the directors
should take every possible care in the first instance
before they accepted a life, but afterwards that
the policies should be like a Bank of England note,
payable on demand, without any question being put
or doubt raised. Clerks, as a body, could only afford
to take up policies for small amounts, and if any dis-
pute was raised after their decease it would not be
worth while going to law for the purpose of
recovering the amount ; and, even were the
representatives of clerks so disposed, they
could not afford the expense of litigation, and
they had no wealthy friends or connexions to apply
to for assistance; therefore, for several reasons, it was
desirable that the policies of clerks should be guarded
by indisputability.—(Hear.) These were the two
points on which he desired information from the
Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN replied that he would have to be
very cautious in giving an answer, as these were
very important points to decide ; but he would just
say, that as regards the first, he met the four trus-
tees on Friday last, and would have to meet them
again, when the whole matter would be gone into, and
their advice and assistance taken with respect to
the proposed alterations. As regards the other
point, that would necessarily be brought before
them on the alteration of the rules. The
policies issued were really indisputable, though the
word was not employed. There was not the slightest
disposition on the part of any of the managers to dis-
pute policiee ; on the contrary, they desired that every
possible latitude should be allowed, so as to avoid non-
payment. However, on these two subjects he could
give no further answer on the present occasion than
that they had been and were still under the attention
of the board.— (Hear.)
After some further discussion of an unimportant
nature,
Mr. BELL said be believed the fact of a third of the
profits going to the benevolent department was a
great bar and hindrance to members recruiting for
new assurers, because persons said they could go
to offices which divided the whole of the profits among
the members. However, he believed they had laid
the foundation of an institution which, if carried on
in the spirit it had been, and with the alterations sug-
gested, would not be exceeded by any similar one in
London.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. REYNOLDS said he was a member of the assu-
rance and benevolent department, and he thought
much might be said on both sides as regards the di-
vision of profits; but the best course, before any
alteration was proposed, would be to call a general
meeting on the subject, and allow members ample
time to reflect as to the propriety of the suggestion.
He entirely agreed with Mr. Thomas as to the neces-
sity of making the policies indisputable.
Mr. THOMAS, having said a word or two in ex-
planation of his former statement, begged to move a
vote of thanks to the Chairman. He had had the
pleasure of knowing Mr. Jones ever since the origin
of the association, end that gentleman had always
given his very best and most conscientious services to
promote the interests of the society ; and on this oc-
casion, as on every other in which he had occupied
the chair, he had shown himself unbiassed and im-
partial in every respect.—(Cheers.)

The vote was carried with acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN said he received the compliment
they had just paid him with no small gratification,
and the more so as it had been accorded to him with
that perfect unanimity which always prevailed at
their meetings.—(Cheers.) The chairman concluded
by adverting to the portrait of Mr. John Abel Smith,
M.P., the treasurer of the benevolent fund, placed
in the board-room of the society, and invited the in-
spection of it there by such of the members as had
not seen it, before it was sent to the engraver's,
which it would be in a few days, with a view to mul-
tiplying copies of it for distribution among such of
the members as should choose to avail themselves
of it.

The meeting, which was throughout characterised
by the greatest unanimity and good feeling, then
separated.

THE LAW OF PATENTS.

The following official orders have just been issued:—
" The Attorney-General, with the consent and con-
currence of the Solicitor. General, hereby gives notice,
that from and after the 15th day of January, 1851:1e..0.
" 1. Every outline, description, and drawi3glstrbe
sited with the Attorney and Solicitor-General,
signed and dated by the person applying for the patent,
or his agent.
"2. Every person who shall havhi in-e
veuuon, shall be at
of 110 the enrolment of tha
dep,osited an outline,
description, or drawing
liberty at any time previous ytion
of such outline,
specification, to cancel any rrrt_ .s
,_or drawing of his inwmtion,
this purpose to deposit a
de-
scription, or drawing; d I
description,Pao.shall have entered a caveat
omitting fresh
the
cancelled
" Eon --
P ben, induce the Attorney or Soli.
of any patent, and shall, upon the
.. 3. Ever., prievrtinogsi
against the granting
not to any report upon the applica-
tion of his ' make
fiheAt apposit with the Attorney or
:I.°unit:in ontlin(•, 00' cri 'lion or 1. . '
invention in respot, (IL viLich Le opposes the grunt-
his sctii,otFc-
i for Gte !ll:it:pi ,
~: i , , 1
aw 1 a
v;
ot
. of tie said v.:ails.% 3llch outline, deEerittun, Cr
nig
drawing to be approved by the Attorney ur Solicitor-
General.

"4. After the specification shall have been enrolled,
any person shall be at liberty, on the production of
eP lcrtificate of the enrolment, or after two days' not' ,i
and payment of is., to inspect the outline, des—.ipt : '
.....ion,
or drawing to deposited with the Attorn.-
General, as aforesaid, of th . ;
eiCit fto ro-
.— -arention -j or So
inresplc
.......,........ apecincation shall have been so enrolled, as
aforesaid, and any ly:reon shall be at liberty to obtain au
office copy of such outline description from the office of
the Attorney or Solicitor-General, on payment of the
accustomed charges.
(Signed)

" JOHN RODIILLY."

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