Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-11

ZOOS, 754
Benevolent grants. 17,7S(
Assistance TO other trades. ...... 10,S3t
| 9934,37G
Notwithstanding the heavy expenditures
we find the balance on hand at date of re.
port f116,326 Cd Tic.
This Society numbers 1886 branches, the
majority of which are to be found In Eng.
land, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, but of
late years its influence has spread TO the
British Colonies, Turkey, France and the
United States, and at the date of the report
under review, there were % branches in
operation throughout this country, all re-
ported to be in fourishing condition. The
| Society in this city contains Is members,
with John Mckenzie, James Lowrie and
Adolphus Klien as the Auditors.
In connection with the report, we have
also been handed an address from the Ex-
ecutive Council, from which we make the
following extracts:
Our desire is to advance the interests of
those who have not joined US, by pointing
| out the advantages which our Society Sc
! cures to those who become members, and
the personal and trade motives which
| should prompt every man who values his
own position, and the welfare of his fell
lows, to add his influence in favor of our
common cause; for, by becoming members,
they unquestionably promote their own and
their families wellbeing, and also the use
fitness of the Society, by means of the
wel-known strength of union which, when
judiciously applied in the maintenance and
development of our common interest, can
not fail to lead to good results. 1t is well
known that man in state Of isolation is
almost powerless; but unfortunately, like
many other truths, this to a great extent
is practically lignored, and although
every day testi6es to the fact, and
day by day repeats its tale, yet yes
terday is forgotten without making pro-
vision for tomorrow. Much as our society
has accomplished by combination in allevi-
ating distress and sympathizing with the
oppressed, it could do more if strengthened
by the accession of those whom we now
kindly invite to become members, With
this object in view, the council earnestly
solicits the cooperation of our members in
the circulation Of this address, and also to
supplement the same with their personal
influence in inducing all who are admissi-
bic by the preamble of our rules, aud I'M
Objectionable in their moral character, to
join our noble institution. To attain this
end, We deem it advisable to give the fullest
information that limited space will permit
ofthe history, operations, and results OfouI
society; including statement taken from
its financial records showing the amount
that has been paid for each benefit during
the las nineteen years, from which every
one VII be in position to judge of the
value of society which can show such re-
suits, and to which We are proud to be-
long.
The Society, although established in the
year 1851, is in reality the result of combi-
nation in the form of Sectional Societies,
several of which have existed in the trade
for upward of half century. Some
of these Societies were purely local
and ceased TO be useful to the mem.
bers when they left that place where they
were established; and this to those who
pursue an occupation which necessitates
| constant change, was sensible dsadvan-
tage. In 1851, these unions of scattered
| and isolated Societies gave place to the
present Amalgamated Society, which con-
tinually increasing and receiving the Access
sion of new members, has become the
most perfect and powerful organization ever
yet formed by Workingmen, and bids fair
to attain far greater height of prosperity.
The promoters of Amalgamation .haVe
reason to be proud of the great success of
their efforts, inasmuch as from the small
beginning Of 7,417 members in February,
1851, the Society now numbers, May, 1872,
SO 1926, and from its commencement till
the present time its growth has been both
steady and prosperous. Its laws from time
to time have been adjusted at Delegate
Meetings in the changing circumstances Of
society, and the utmost foresight and equi-
ty have been observed in the administra-
ton of its rules. Its financial liabilities have
been met by its stated subscriptions with
scrupulous eXactness, as will subsequently
be shown, and which have been able to
meet the seVerest strain that can be applied
to test the sOundness of the principles up
on which they are founded. This should
at once convince you of the advantages
which have naturally flowed from this foun-
tain of associated effort to advance the in
terests of our trade and fellow-Workmen,
and if still further pursued, must be at
tended with greater and more complete
achievements by raising the skilled mechan-
ic to that social position which he has
right to claim in the richest nations of the
world-whose wealth has been produced
by mechanical excellency and engineering
skill.
Our Society claims prominence for the
benefits which it offers and the advantages
which it confers, namely: the personal ben
efts which are those consisting of making
provision for the exigencies of sickness, su-
perannuation, accident, want of emplov-
ment, and death: also those matters relating
to the trade, which comprise resistance to
unjust demands on the part of employers,
and the furtherance of that manly and
friendly intercourse which daily occurs in
the workshop from member to member.
The funds of this Society have been de-
scribed as general voluntary rate in aid of
the Poor's Rate, and in their distribution
form striking contrast to the administra-
ton of the taxes for the relief of the poor.
The latter are spent under the direction of
laws purposely made to prevent men from
having recourse to them; they are doled out
grudgingly, the object seeming TO be to de-
grade and disgust the recipients. To be re-
lieved as pauper, means, in too many in
stances, the breakup of home and separa-
ton from family. 1t humiliates man in
his own eyes and disgraces him in the eyes
of others. 1t breaks down every sense of
personal dignity and Independence, and
leaves behind the stamp Of the Pariah of
society; and yet there is little left for him
in bad trade or sickness if he has not Joined
his fellows to make an independent provis-
ion. On the contrary, man may receive
relief from the funds ofthis Association and
still M aiDtaiD his self rocnaot uo hoe oC,