The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-25 00:00:00

71E PROVIDENT CLERKS' BENEVOLENT

FUND.

The 28th annual general meeting of the members
and friends of this fund was held yesterday even-
ing, at the Lundon Tavern, Bishopsgate-street,
John Abel Smith, Esq., in the chair.
Mr. Wm. Thomas Linford, the secretary, read
the advertisement convening the meeting and the
following report :
"The directors of the Provident Clerks' Benevolent
Fund have the pleasure to present to the members and
friends of the fund their 28th annual report. The
in come of the fund for 1868 was :—From subscrip-
tions and donations, £1,699 18s. ; interest on invest-
£l,so4 9s. 9d. ; proportion of bonus on mem-
bers' assurances in the Provident Clerks' Mutual
Life Assurance Association, £2,238 17s. 9d.; total,
£5,443 ss. 6d. Pursuant to the resolution of the last annual
general meeting an election of seven annuitants took place
on the 28th Mav, 1868, when two clerks and five widows
Were elected, whose annuities amounted collectively to
£165 per annum. Three annuities have fallen in by death
during
the year, and there are now upon the fund 99 an-
nuitants. viz.:-18 clerks and 81 widows, whose annuities
"'mint to £1,960 per annum. The board have much plea-
Sure in calling attention to the sum received from the
bonus of the assured members ; Lut even in this direction
they feel that much less is dune by the clerks as a body
than
might reasonably Le expected, or the amount in
question would be very largely augmented. The board
are now enabled to recommend that seven additional
annuitants be elected during the current year. A resolu-
tion to this effect will be submitted to the meeting. A sum
of money haying been left by the late Richard Goodwin
Itarner, Esq., for distribution among charitable institu-
tions, at the discretion of his executors, the claims of this
fund were laid before those gentlemen, who kindlyallotted
fifty guineas to it. This amount has now been received,
and will appear in the accounts of the current year. The
synopsis of the London charities, lately published in the
Tinier, will doubtless have attracted the attention of many
Members and friends of this fund. It is a source of much
gratification to the Board to find that, in economy of
Management, or, in other words, in the application of its
income to the real objects of the institution, the Provi-
dent Clerks' Benevolent Fund stands very nearly at the
head of the charities of this metropolis."
The CHAIRMAN said it then became his duty to
move the reception and adoption of the report that
had just been read, and, according to his usual
practice, he would just say a few words before
doing so, but they would be of the old character_
congratulation on all that was connected with the
management, and condolence with the members
upon the indifference with which the public gene-
rally looked on that singular charity. (Hear, hear.)
Previous to entering that room he had asked their
excellent secretary if ever, even once, the name of
their fund had been mentioned in the way of legacy,
and he confessed he did not hear the reply with any
surprise, informing him that nothing of the kind
had ever occurred. He must say it did appear to
him strange that, in the life branch of the associa-
tion, with upwards of 10,000 assurers, it should
never have been left one single legacy. But
this he would say, that they had done
very well without it—that they had averted
a great amount of misery from those for
Whom they ought to feel the greatest sympathy.
(Hear, hear.) He should ever feel the greatest
interest in the prosperity of the fund, his belief
of
its usefulness, and his conviction that if all the
clerks helped it more than they did at present it
Would do even more good than it did. lie
Was extremely glad that all went on satisfac-
torily to those who founded the fund, and ho felt
assured that it would obtain increased support the
Tore its usefulness became known. He trusted those
that its great benevolent object deserved, and he
Would resume his seat by formally moving the
recreption of the report.
"e
motion having been seconded_was put from
the chair, and carried unanimously.
directors,
Mr. R. H. JONES, the chairman of the board of
said it was now his pleasing duty to move
a_resolution authorising the election of seven ad-
ditional annuitants on the fund on:the 27th of May
11ezt• (Cheers.) It was a great happiness to know
that they well kept up their position, and that they
might vie with any society of the same description
in the metropolis, and the moving annually the re-
solution it was his privilege to do was one of the
_most pleasing occupations he could be placed in.
Those who founded it thought the benevolent fund
Would take the lead, but they had been disappointed,
as the life assurance had taken a very great strife
over it, but still they had not been de-
ficient in doing good. A reference to a
few figures would not be out of place at the
fleeting, because they would show what had been
done towards assisting those who stood in need.
Since the foundation they had granted 2,350 loans,
to the extent of £47,000 ; that fact in itself showed
that some work had been done, because the money
bad been lent out in sums of £5, £lO, and £2O.
(Rear, hear.) They had given away £3,600, and
paid to annuitants £18,296. Those were large

(hear, hear)—but it did seem strange that none
came from the charitable people who annually gave
so much for the alleviation cf misery and distress.
The reason, he believed, was that their fund was
not well known—it was not placed before them ;
but if they could only get the great solicitors, those
who were actively engaged in drawing wills—
(hear, hear)—to speak favourably for them then
their claims might be largely recognized.
The Chairman having returned thanks the busi-
ness terminated.