The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-03 00:00:00

£3OO per annum, now that the association was in
so flourishing a condition. He also thought there
Was some imprudence in returning so large a sum as
£3,470 to the shareholders in the shape of bonuses.
Re thought that sum was all thrown away, and
should have been kept in their own hands for the
benefit of the undertaking. As one of the auditors
he had only to give his high approbation of the
excellent manner in which the books were found to
have been kept. Everything was beautifully exact,
notwithstanding that they had been tested by seve-
ral methods of cross-checking.
Mr. RATRAY explained that the bonuses were
actual profit, and it did not matter a penny whe-
ther they were handed over in reversion, diminu-
tion of premiums, or in actual cash.
The report was then unanimously agreed to.
Mr. MINTON said he had to move a resolution of
a very pleasing character, and he did so with very
great pleasure, because three years ago they had
presented to them a report of a somewhat different
description, and when they had to deal with a com-
mercial crisis, and a war. Happily such a state of
things had passed away, and this evening they had
!net under very different circumstances. (Hear,
hear.) Their receipts during the past year had
increased, and their expenses diminished, which
Was unlike the business of many societies. He felt
Confident that they were on the eve of more pro-
sperous times, and that on the next occasion of their
!fleeting, he should have to congratulate the mem-
bers on the completion of another year of prOsperity.
It was, he thought, always a pleasing duty to tender
their thanks to the directors for the exertions they
had made to increase the prosperity of their society ;
Se, with the permission of the meeting, he would
read to them the resolution he had to propose. It
;was as follows :—" That the thanks of the meeting
De given to the board of directors, and that the sum
of £BOO be voted to them for their services during
the past year." He felt certain it was a gratification
to all parties to receive the congratulations of their
fellow men,
but none more so than their directors,
Who had exerted themselves to the utmost to raise
the character and extend the benefits of their asso-
ciation, which was one of the most useful and
excellent societies in the country. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.)
Mr. PILCHER had much pleasure in seconding
the resolution.

The resolution having been put to the meeting,
was earned unanimously, with cheers.
The CHAIRMAN said it was a gratification to re-
ceive the congratulation of the meeting. The
directors had done their utmost to further the in-
terests of the association, and it was a pleasure to
see that those exertions had been crowned with
success. For himself and his brother directors, he
begged to thank the meeting for the vote they had
just passed. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He had
now to move that the three retiring directors, viz.,
Edward Coleman, Esq., Sancton Wood, Esq., and
Henry Rogers, Esq., be re-elected.
The motion having been seconded, the chairman
put it to the meeting, and it was carried without
a single dissentient.
Mr. COLEMAN. on the part of his colleagues,
thanked the meeting very sincerely for their re-
election. The members of the association might
safely rely upon their endeavours to do everthing
to extend the benefits of the institution, in every
respect sound, safe, and solid. (Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then moved the re-election of the
retiring auditors, Mr. tames Richard Lloyd, Mr.
Franc's Frederick Toole, and Mr. Charles Woolley.
Mr. KINTREA thought if a little new blood was
infused into this department it would do no harm.
The CHAIRMAN said the re-election of the audi-
tors
rested entirely with the members. The board
of directors had nothing to do with it.
Mr. KINTREA said he was aware of that, but he
knew the board had always a certain influence.
The CHAIRMAN replied.with some emphasis that,
neither directly nor indirectly, did the board ever
interfere with the proposal or election of auditors.
Indeed, they knew nothing of it until the proposal
were sent in, in the manner defined by the rules.
The retiring auditors were then reelected unani-
mously.
Mr. LLOYD, Mr. WOOLLEY, and Mr. TOOLE
severally returned thanks, and said, whenever the
members wished a change in the office of auditor,
they would most willingly retire, if it was the
wish of the members that they should do so.
A resolution that £3O be presented to the
auditors, for their services during the past year, was
then agreed to.
Mr. WOOLLEY said there was one respected offi-
cer who was entitled to a vote of thanks, and that
Was their indefatigable secretary, Mr. Linford.
(Cheers.) He begged to move that the thanks of
their members be given to that gentleman.
Mr. KINTREA said he had very sincere and heart-
felt pleasure in seconding such a resolution.
The resolution, on being put by the Chairman,
was carried amidst loud cheers.
Mr. LINFORD, in returning thanks, said he was
exceedingly obliged for the very kind manner in
which his name had been mentioned. (Cheers.) He
had endeavoured to do his duty to the utmost, and
it was a pleasure to find these efforts appreciated.
They had, no doubt, through a mistake, omitted to
couple with his name, that of the other officers.
(Cheers.) He begged to say that for assiduity and
ability his staff of officers could not be exceeded.
(Loud cheers.)
„ A vote of thanks to the Chairman, terminated
the business of the life assurance meeting.

PROVIDENT CLERKS' BENEVOLENT
FUND.

•
A meeting was then held of the trustees, mans
gel's, and members of the Benevolent Fund, John
Abel Smith, Esq., M.P. (who was
_received with
loud applause), in the chair.
The annual report of the managers was read by
the secretary, Mr. Linford, as follows :
The board have much pleasure in presenting to the
Members and friends of the Provident Clerks' Benevolent
Fund, their 18th annual report. The income of the past
Year has been as -follows, viz. :—Donations, £2l 10s. ;
an-
nual subscriptions, £497 3s. 6d. ; Life ditto, £lO 10s.-
4529 3s. 6d. ; subscriptions of ss. and upwards from assurers
being clerks, £665 Is.; interest, dividends, &c., £686 Os. 2d.;
proceeds of public-dinner in London, May 31, 1858, £1,244
128. 11d. ; share of bonus (one tenth) received from the
Provident Clerks' Mutual Life Assurance Association,
£l,OOO, total, £4,124 17s. 7d. An increased number of
appeals have been made to the board for temporary assist-
!Lace- There has, consequently, been a larger sum voted
1,11 gratuities, which- amount, during the year, to £lB5 Bs.
The loan fund continues to be extremely serviceable to
many of the members. The sum lent in 1158 was £1,863,.
Making a total. of £26,863 advanced in this form since the
est blishment of the fund in 1840. The capital of the fund
now amounts to £lB,BBO. The balance sheet, duly audited,
has been submitted- to the trustees. In pursuance of the
resolution of the annual general meeting, held on the 3d of
February last, an election of annuitants took place on the
31st May, when the following were elected, viz.:-1 clerk
to an annuity of £3O ;. 1 widow to annuity of £2O ; 1 ditto,
£l5, amounting together to £65 per annum. Four annuities
rhenalveaifnailnlegn in dining the • past year, and the number now
on the fund.are 48, viz.-9 olerks, and 39 widows,
who are receiving, collectively, £85.5 per annum.- The board
now recoinmend.that six additional be granted, viz., to one
clerk and five widows of clerks, subject to the discretion of
the board; A resolution to the above effect will be sub-
mitted to the meeting. The board have much pleasUre in
ccongratulating the members on the success which attended
the public dinner of this fund, which was held at the London
Tavern on the 31st of May last, under the able presidency
of Robert Wigram Crawford, Esq., M.P. for the City of
London, and they gladly take this opportunity of renewing
their thanks to those by whose kind and liberal contribu-
tions the result was obtained, upwards of £1,200 Wino-
added to the fund. It is also with much satisfaction the
board inform the members that they have received from the
Provident Clerks' Mutual Life Assurance Astociation the sum
of one thou Sand pounds, being the proporsion ofprofits contri-
buted by those members who are also subscribers to this fund.
The board have to report with much regret the loss by
death of one of the auditors, the late William Since, Esq.,
whose valuable services to the fund dated from it com-
mencement. The have also with extreme reluctance ac-
cepted the resignation of James William Gilbart, Esq.,
another of the auditors. who has been compelled by ill-
health to relinquish his official connection with the fund,
while expressing the same kindly interest in its welfare
which he has manifested since its establishment. In con-
sequence of the above the board have obtained the consent
of George Earle Gray, Esq., chief accountant of the punk
of Eng'.and, and Augustus Jackson White, Esq., manager
of the City Bank, to fill the vacanies thus created, which
appointments have, therefore, been made by the Ward, sub-
Ject to confirmation by the meeting, in accordance with
rule 8. A resolution in accordance with the above will be
submitted to the meeting."
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the members on
the
cr
great progress that had been made in the aug-
mentation of the fund, and especially with regard
to the £1 244 odd realised by the dinner, a circum-
stance which was not only a great benefit to the
society, but which gave them that stability and that
assurance of the anxiety for their welfare on the
part of the public out of doors, which in some
quarters had apparently been questioned.
Mr. LLOYD, after again referring to the large
payment of £3OO to the assurance office, com-
plained that undue pressure and unfair influence
were brought to bear to secure votes for applicants
requiring assistance from the fund. There was one
ease where a poor widow applied, whose husband
had been in the employ of a large firm in the city
for nearly thirty-seven years. Notwithstand-
ing this long servitude, the firm had not the
liberality to advance the poor widow the £l5
or £2O per annum, which was all the fund could
Supply her with, but they had the questionable
taste to print their names on her cards, and have
them sent round, for the purpose of influencing votes
for a trifling sum which would have cost them no
inconvenience whatever to have presented her with.
(near, hear.) Mr. Lloyd concluded by urging
upon the managers the importance of taking into
their consideration, during the present year, some
plan for the establishment of orphan schools for the
children of deceased members.
The CHAIRMAN said he was sure Mr. Lloyd's
remarks about the case of the poor widow would
.find an echo in every breast, though he (the Chair-