The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-11 00:00:00

MR. J. CLAY, M.P., ON FRIENDLY
SOCIETIES.

On Friday evening Mr. J. Clay, M.P., attended
a party of about 100 members and visitors of the
James Clay Lodge of the Order of Ancient Druids,
at the Whittington and Cat, Castle-row, Hull. Mr.
Warriner, the Chief Druid of the lodge, presided,
having on his right Mr. Clay, who, at a lodge held
the same evening at the Blue Bell, Market-place,
had been " made ' a Druid.
After the usual loyal toasts, the CHAIRMAN, in a
brief historical speech, proposed "The health of times
Clay, Esq., and the Lodge," which was received
with much applause and drunk with honours.
Mr. CLAY, in acknowledging the compliment,
said politics were very well in their place, but there
were other subjects quite as much worthy of atten-
tion, and amongst those subjects he knew of few
more interesting, especially to the working classes,
than the history and the knowledge of the spirit of
societies such as this, which have so great an influ-
ence on the happiness of the people. What did the
friendly societies of this country mean ? The
friendly societies of this country constituted one of
the most remarkable monuments of the providence
and foresight of the people which the history of the
world affords. They meant an institution in which
probably one-third of all the people of England and
Wales were deeply interested ; because the members
alone of these societies exceeded twoanillions, and
almost all, or at least the greater portion, of those
members had fainiEes. It by no means, therefore,
appeared an exaggeration to say that one-third of
the whole population of the United Kingdom were
interested in the good conduct and. success of those
societies. They meant further, that a sum of up-
wards of £9,000,000 sterling had been collected by
these societies to be distributed specially on objects
of charity; they-meant that a sum of more than one
million annually was dispensed by these societies in
the relief of the aged and the sick. These few
figures justified him in what he had said, viz., that
these societies appeared a monument of the goodness
and forethought of our people, such as was wholly
unprecedented in the history of the world. As to
the Druids society, he most cordially agreed with
the chairman, that it would be for the best interests
of such a society to be enrolled. (Cheers.) Without
enrolment there was no security from frauds, and
uo security for the permanence of their charitable
intentions. Another benefit from enrolment was
that it compelled the society to have its rules sub-
mitted to the examination of a thoroughly educated
and practical actuary, who must certify that the
scale of contribution and of distribution was such
as would ensure, that those contributions would
be adequate for the return of the money in
the time of sickness and old age—thus giving
to these societies the elements of permanence.
There was no fear of these societies in general not
answering for 10 or 15 years, but it was when
societies became 30 years of age that their funds
were most severely tested, and it was most essential
that the members should know that their funds
would be forthcoming for the charitable objects for
which they were now bestowing their money and
their time. Again by enrolment, these funds were
limited to be distributed in no other way but for
the charitable purposes for which they were con-
tributed. Beyond all this there was connected'
with these societies a fund7-an excellent and beau-
tiful feature for which no compulsory 'payments
were ever made, but resting entirely upon their
voluntary offerings—viz., a fund for the support of
their widows and orphans. (Cheers.) He felt
quite sure, from the way that remark had been re-
ceived, that branch of the society would be encou-
raged and go on to prosperity. He proposed to
himself the pleasure of making the first contribu-