MIaNCL4I?‘^\4piNMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 FRIENDLY SOCIETIES: 
 
 A TREATISE FOE THE GUIDANCE OF LODGES AND DISTRICTS 
 OF THE ORDER OF DRUIDS 
 IN THE ADOPTION OF GRADUATED CONTRIBUTIONS 
 ACCORDING TO AGE; 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 REMARKS UPON THE EQUALIZATION OF FUNDS, 
 RESERVE FUNDS, MEDICAL ATTENDANCE, MANAGEMENT, 
 TONTINE SOCIETIES, &c. 
 
 BY P.D.&.M. GrEOB&E ¥00D AID P.G.S. SAUL. C. NICHOLSON. 
 
 “ Whoever is afraid of submitting any question, civil or religious, to the test of free 
 discussion, is more in love with his own opinion than with truth.” — B ishop Watson. 
 
 MANCHESTER : 
 
 PRINTED BY H. SNAPE AND SON, 61 , MARKET ST., AND 3 AND 5 , BLACKFRIAES ST. 
 
 1868. 
 
UNiVERSiTY OF 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
 AT URBAN A-CHAMPAIGN 
 OAK STREET 
 
FINANCIAL GOVERNMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 FBIENDLY SOCIETIES: 
 
 A TREATISE FOR THE GUIDANCE OF LODGES AND DISTRICTS 
 OF THE ORDER OF DRUIDS 
 IN THE ADOPTION OF GRADUATED CONTRIBUTIONS 
 ACCORDING TO AGE; 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 REMARKS UPON THE EQUALIZATION OE FUNDS, 
 RESERVE FUNDS, MEDICAL ATTENDANCE, MANAGEMENT, 
 TONTINE SOCIETIES, &c. 
 
 BY P.D.G.M. GEOEGE WOOD AND P.G.S. SAME. 0. NICHOLSON. 
 
 “ Whoever is afraid of submitting any question, civil or religions, to the test of free 
 discussion, is more in love with his own opinion than with truth.” — B ishop Watson. 
 
 MANCHESTER : 
 
 PRINTED BY H. SNAPS AND SON, 61 , MARKET ST., AND 3 AND 5 , BLACKFRIARS ST. 
 
 1863 . 
 

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ORDER OF DRUIDS’ FRIENDLY SOCIETY, 
 
 WHOSE DIRECTION AND INFLUENCE 
 
 EXTENDS OYER FROM 50,000 TO 60,000 MEMBERS, 
 
 PRINCIPALLY OF THE WORKING CLASSES, 
 
 THESE PAGES ARE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 
 
\ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The past career of our Order has shown the lamentable fact that 
 numbers of its Lodges are continually dissolving, through an inability 
 to meet their sick and other payments in conformity with their rules. 
 Other extensive Friendly Societies have succeeded in placing themselves 
 upon a foundation by which such consequences may be averted; and 
 the question naturally arises, Why should our Order, excellent as its 
 constitution is in other respects, and progressive as it is in its 
 tendencies, be behind other kindred institutions in the adoption of a 
 principle which, above all others, affects its well-being and permanence, 
 namely, graduated contributions according to age. The object of 
 the present work (the publication of which has been authorised by the 
 A.M.D.) is not only to call the particular attention of Lodges and 
 Districts to this subject, but to other matters connected with management 
 which have an important bearing upon their prosperity ; our belief being 
 that the wrongs and misery endured by the bankruptcy of so many Lodges 
 clearly demonstrates that the time has arrived when a beacon should 
 be hoisted to warn our brethren from the dangerous shoals upon which 
 they are constantly becoming entire wrecks — to give them timely notice 
 of their perilous situation, and thereby enable them to reach their 
 destined haven in security, by being guided by the principles which 
 science has so fully developed, and placed within the reach of all who 
 think well to avail themselves of them. 
 

 
TEE ATISE 
 
 ON THE 
 
 FINANCIAL GOVERNMENT OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. 
 
 The great mistake which founders of Lodges and Districts are so apt 
 to make is in adopting the principle (if such it can he called) of all 
 paying equal contributions, whether joining at the age of 18 or 40 
 years. We do not attribute this to an intention on their parts to do 
 anything wrong. Usage has led them to believe that they were in the 
 right path; but, as years roll on, they find, to their disappointment, 
 that the fabric they had reared had become gradually weakened in its 
 foundation, and their hopes of being able to perpetuate their benefits 
 completely delusive. Hence inevitable dissolution. On this point a writer 
 in the second volume of “ Chambers’s Information for the People” (see 
 page 565) says — “It is to be regretted of this excellent class of institu- 
 tions that many of them are founded upon erroneous principles, or rather 
 upon no principle at all ; and it often happens, therefore, that those who 
 trust to them are disappointed, the funds falling short before all claims 
 are satisfied. This was, at one time, not to be wondered at, as no proper 
 calculations for Friendly Societies existed ; but such is no longer the case, 
 for sound calculations are now attainable. Nevertheless, there is a con- 
 siderable number of obscure Societies, scattered throughout the country, 
 proceeding altogether at random, and by which the industrious classes are 
 induced to spend large sums.” Further, “ One great mistake in the 
 formation of Friendly Societies is to assume that each member should 
 pay an equal sum, whatever his age may be. This is unjust, unwise, and 
 impolitic, and is the fertile source of nearly the whole of the disasters that 
 ultimately wreck so many of these Societies.” One or two other quota- 
 tions from qualified authorities may be of service as showing their opinions 
 
8 
 
 as to the social aspect of Friendly Societies, and the unstable manner in 
 which they have hitherto been conducted. Mr. Neison says, “ Under a 
 scientific and amply developed system, Friendly Societies would be cal- 
 culated in a short time to completely remove the cause of nearly all the 
 distress, poverty, and misery which haunt our manufacturing towns, and fill 
 the unions with the working classes of the country.’' Mr. Arthur Scratchley 
 observes, “ They promote habits of forethought and prudence ; they inculcate 
 the wholesome truth that self-reliance is after all the only real independence ; 
 they collect and might apply to the best purposes the earnings of the 
 industrious and the savings of the economical.” Mr. J. Tidd Pratt 
 says, “ Friendly Societies exercise a highly beneficial influence on the 
 industrious classes, and, through the industrious classes, they influence in 
 some degree the whole mass of society.” Again, he says, 4 4 Nothing, it is 
 obvious, can be more unexceptionable than the principle of these associa- 
 tions, saving as they do at the present time more than two millions per 
 year to the poor rates of this country.” Mr. New, referring to Friendly 
 Societies, says, “ Benevolent in the great principles of their constitution, 
 with a fraternal feeling they spread around that spirit of philanthropy which 
 sheds a glorious ray of hope into the homes of affliction, and gladdens the 
 hearts of the widow and orphan in the times of deepest sorrow and anguish. 
 Their origin, like that of the beautiful rivulet, was at first small, and the 
 soil over which they ran barren and unfruitful ; but follow their career, and 
 the rivulet becomes a stupendous river, with tributaries on each side carry 
 ing its fertilising influence, enriching the soil, and causing flowers to bloom 
 in every direction. Thus, that which was intended to serve one purpose, 
 has produced many other good results, and is certainly worth our approval 
 and earnest consideration.” Lord Lichfield, at a recent banquet at Wol- 
 verhampton, in connection with the High Court Meeting of the Foresters, 
 observed, in allusion to the graduated scale principle, “ that it ought to 
 be adopted by every Court of the Order. This was the great blot which 
 they knew attached to the management of a great many of the Courts of 
 their Order. Until the graduated scale of payment was adopted as a rule 
 by all Courts and all Societies, it was impossible that that amount of 
 confidence could be placed in them which everyone must desire to see 
 them enjoy.” 
 
 Since the year 1793, when the first Act of Parliament was passed, and 
 friendly Societies became an acknowledged institution amongst us, 40,000 
 
9 
 
 Societies have complied with the provisions of the various Acts, and have 
 been enrolled by the Registrar appointed for that purpose, out of which 
 18,000 have ceased to exist. That the great majority of this number have 
 become bankrupt through the inadequacy of the in-payments to meet their 
 liabilities, is but too true. Some persons, however, would have us believe 
 that it is either from this cause, or the cupidity and dishonesty amongst 
 themselves, that all this loss and misery has been inflicted. We wish 
 nothing to extenuate in this respect, but .to deal fairly and openly with this 
 important question. We, however, are prepared to show that some of 
 these failures are attributable to circumstances over which the members 
 had no control, such as epidemics of a virulent character — cholera, in- 
 fluenza, &c. — and the fearful colliery accident at Lundhill, where the 
 members were, in great numbers, in a moment, launched into eternity, and 
 the whole of the Lodge funds, with which they were connected, exhausted 
 at one fell swoop. Another class of societies have ceased to exist, merely from 
 some caprice or other reason, of what nature we are not informed ; a few out 
 of many such instances we shall quote. In referring to the annual reports of 
 Mr. John Tidd Pratt, we find that the same things occur year by year, that a 
 class of societies keep dissolving by mutual consent, of the particular cause of 
 which dissolution we are not informed ; but it certainly cannot be for want 
 of funds, as the following cases, taken from the report for 1867, which 
 will be sufficient for our purpose, will demonstrate : — 
 
 Edale Friendly Society, Edale. — Established, 1835. Dissolved by members, 
 June, 1866. Number of members, 81. Amount of funds, £884, or £28. 16s. per 
 member. 
 
 Union Pension Society, George Inn, Queen Street, Portsea. — Established, 1817 
 Dissolved by members, 1867. Number of members, 21. Amount of funds, £952, 
 or £45. 7s. per member. 
 
 Lovers of Unity Friendly Society, Red Lion Inn, Old Cavendish Street. — Dis- 
 solved by members, 1866. Number of members, 42. Amount of funds, £1,850, or 
 £44. 2 s. per member. 
 
 Whitby Marine Society, Whitby. — Established, 1796. Dissolved, May, 1867. 
 Number of members, 14. Amount of funds, £3,594, or £256. 10s. per member. 
 
 The above are extracted from one report, and clearly prove that it is not 
 reasonable or honest to set down the dissolution of these societies to either 
 their malformation, the ignorance of their founders, or the dishonesty of 
 their officers. In further illustration of the importance of Friendly 
 Societies, the reader will more readily acknowledge that when they are 
 being treated upon by any one professing to understand them, it is essen- 
 tial that every one should be made acquainted with the whole facts, that 
 
10 
 
 the obverse and reverse sides should be equally open to inspection. We 
 have shown the one, now let us show the other. To such an extent and 
 influence have these societies attained, that there is not a town in Eng- 
 land or Wales but has its Lodges in great numbers in proportion to its 
 size ; there is not a village or hamlet but has its Friendly Society. In 
 France, one in every 76 of the inhabitants is a member of a legalised 
 Friendly Society ; in Belgium, one in every 66 ; in England and Wales, 
 there is one in every nine. The computed number of members in Great 
 Britain alone, forming these societies in 1859, according to the records of 
 the Social Science Congress for that year, amounted to no less than 
 8,052,000 ; the amount of annual contributions were estimated at 
 £4,980,000, and their accumulated capital at £11,860,000. The report 
 of the Poor-Law Board for 1859-60 clearly proves that the greater portion 
 of the relief given to out-door paupers is on account of sickness ; of the 
 26,286 adult males, 24,505 were relieved on account of sickness, not one 
 of whom, had he been a member of one or more of these institutions, would 
 have needed parochial relief at all. 
 
 GRADUATED CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 With these preliminary remarks, we propose to lay before our readers 
 some calculations and illustrations of the principles upon which, in our 
 opinion, Lodges and Districts should be based with reference to graduated 
 payments, and elucidate them as plainly as possible, in order that they 
 may be understood and practically carried out by the most uninformed 
 or unskilled members of Lodges or Districts. We will try to present a Lodge 
 or Benefit Society in its simplest form. If we suppose 100 men, of exactly 
 82 years of age, were to join, and form themselves into a Society, in order 
 to mutually assist each other in case of sickness, we shall find that amongst 
 such a body of men, during each year, there would be an average of six 
 days’ sickness per member ; and suppose, further, that they arranged that 
 each member should receive 10s. per week when sick, or Is. 8d. per day, 
 which is the sum most frequently adopted. That would just require £50, 
 to meet the whole of the sick claims for the year. In this case each 
 member should pay an entrance fee of 10s., which would be the amount 
 required, the interest, at 8 per cent., meeting any expense of management. 
 
 A Society, composed of members of different ages, each paying a sum 
 which would in like manner be found proper to his age, and which we give 
 
11 
 
 in the annexed table, would be as sound in principle as the scheme we 
 have given: — 
 
 H 
 
 ►H 
 
 ft 
 
 H 
 
 For every additional £1 paid at the decease of a member’s wife, the 
 following contributions must be added to each of the foregoing tables, 
 according to the wife’s age: — 
 
 H} 
 
 P3 
 
 Age last 
 Birthday. 
 
 OOC50H(MCC^^)Ot>COCniOH(MM^»OOt>COC50H(M«^ 
 
 HHC<l<NCQ(N(N(NCQ(NC<liNWCOCCCCCOCOCOWCOCO^Tt(^rJI^ 
 
 H 
 
 X 
 
 W 
 
 Contribtn. 
 per Annin. 
 
 
 
 Benefits. 
 
 For a Sick Gift of 12s. per week during the first six months’ sickness, 
 and 6s. for any sickness after six months’ continuous sickness ; £12 at the 
 death of a member, and £6 at the death of a member’s wife. 
 
 > 
 
 Contribtn. 
 per Mnth. 
 
 rdCOCOQOOOOsOOHOHH^^COrtUOOINOOOOHOHfOVIO 
 
 i— t t*H rH rH rH 
 
 
 Age last 
 Birthday. 
 
 OOaOHNCC^lOCONOOfliOHlMeO^USOSOOClOHfNeO^ 
 
 HHNCT(M01(M01(MCQ(M<NC0C0C0MC0MC0C0C0CC'^^^^Ttl 
 
 
 Benefits . 
 
 For a Sick Gift of 10s. per week during the first six months’ sickness, 
 and 5s. for any sickness after six months’ continuous sickness ; £10 at the 
 death of a member, and £5 at the death of a member’s wife. 
 
 > 
 i— i 
 
 Contribtn. 
 per Mnth. 
 
 ^T*IU5U5l050C»©l>l>Q0C505OOHOHH(MMrtll050a)OOH 
 
 H H H H H 
 
 
 Age last 
 Birthday. 
 
 00C5OH0!|C0^V050l>C0C5OH(MC0^K5CCil>00CiOH(MC0^ 
 
 HHN(M(N(N(M(NCQ(M(M'MCOOOCOCOCOfOCCCCCOCO^TH^T!<Ttl 
 
 
 Benefits. 
 
 For a Sick Gift of 9s. per week during the first six months’ sickness, 
 and 4s. 6d. for any sickness after six months’ continuous sickness ; £9 at 
 the death of a member, and £4. 10s. at the death of a member’s wife. 
 
 t-H 
 1— 1 
 
 HH 
 
 Contribtn. 
 per Mnth. 
 
 rd(M(MCOm^TtnOOCOOI>l>COCOCiOOHOHH(NCOTfUOOt> 
 
 HHH 
 
 
 Age last 
 Birthday. 
 
 OOC50H(MCO^lO?Ot>a)jsOH(MMT}UO?Ot>OOC50H(MCO^ 
 
 
 Benefits. 
 
 For a Sick Gift of 8s. per week during the first six months’ sickness, 
 and 4s. for any sickness after a continued sickness of six months'; £8 at 
 the death of a member, and £4 at the death of a member’s wife. 
 
 (-H 
 
 (-H 
 
 Contribtn. 
 per Mnth. 
 
 rdHHHH(N(M<MC(5C(5^W»0«0<0l>N0000©OHHOH(NMT|( 
 
 HHH 
 
 CQHHHHHtHHHHHtHHHHHHHHHHHH<M(M(M<M<M 
 
 
 Age last 
 Birthday. 
 
 OOOiOHlMCOTtUOiOOOOCJOHWCCTHlOONODQOH^COH 
 
 
 Benefits. 
 
 For a Sick Gift of 7s. per week during the first six months, and 3s. 6d. 
 for any sickness after a continued six months’ sickness ; £7 at the death 
 of a member, and £3. 10s. at the death of a member’s wife. 
 
 l-H 
 
 Contribtn. 
 per Mnth. 
 
 i3 00000HHHHHflNMCCT}lW5iOCD®t'l>000050HO 
 
 rH rH 
 
 taHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHlN 
 
 
 Age last 
 Birthday. 
 
 C0CMDH(MC(5^U5C0I>00OOH(MfCT(fW5C0l>0005OH(NC0H< 
 
 rHrHCq<M<M(M<M(MCq<M<MC<ICOeOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCO'^'<^'^'^'rt* 
 
 A young man joining at 20 has an advantage over a member joining 
 at 80 of ten years’ guarantee for sick allowance, and pays, in all, supposing 
 both to live their full expectancy, a less gross amount of contributions by 
 
 Thirteen monthly payments per annum. 
 
12 
 
 £5. 7s. 6d. The man entering at 30 years of age pays less contribution 
 than the one at 40 by £3. 11s. 3d., and yet the Lodge gains more by him 
 than the one at 40. Thus, he at 20, dying at 61 years of age, receives in last 
 six years, in sick, 21 weeks 4 days 10 hours, or total sick, 60 weeks, £30 ; 
 he at 30, dying at 64 years, receives in last six years, 26 weeks 13 hours, 
 or total of 71 weeks, £35. 15s.; while he at 40, dying at 66 years, 
 receives in last six years, 30 weeks 3 hours, or total of 75 weeks, £37. 10s. 
 The object of these two calculations is to show how advantageous it is for 
 young men to join early, not only with regard to themselves, but to the 
 Lodge. Although he pays less per week or month in contributions, from 
 entrance to death, still both he and the Lodge are gainers thereby ; 20 only 
 paying 17s. 7d. per year, while 40 pays 32s. 6d. This we have fully 
 demonstrated, by following each through life until the expectancy is 
 exhausted, to be the positive result. 
 
 A question is often asked by those who are heedless about making 
 themselves acquainted with vital statistics, as to how many will die out of 
 a given number in one year, at a certain age. According to Mr. Neison, 
 Mr. Ratcliffe, and Mr. Finlaison, the following table will amply show the 
 way in which calculations of the rates of contributions for life assurance 
 are made : — 
 
 Age 
 
 20 
 
 30 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 60 
 
 70 
 
 Mr. Neison 
 
 148 
 
 132 
 
 106 
 
 70 
 
 40 
 
 18 
 
 Mr. Ratcliffe 
 
 166 
 
 120 
 
 95 
 
 57 
 
 28 
 
 15 
 
 Mr. Finlaison 
 
 135 
 
 130 
 
 97 
 
 67 
 
 38 
 
 • 18 
 
 Suppose, for example, that 100 persons aged 39 (which age we must take 
 to avoid fractions), agree to assure for £100 at death for each of their lives 
 for one year. According to Mr. Ratcliffe and Mr. Finlaison, it appears 
 that one of them will die in the year. It would, therefore, he necessary 
 for each to contribute £1, which would just furnish money enough to pay 
 the claim. Had these persons been 55 years of age, two of them would 
 have died in the year, and the contribution should have been twice as 
 much. Had they been 66 years of age, four of them would have died, 
 and the contributions should have been four times as much. Does not 
 this show the extreme ignorance and folly of charging persons of all ages 
 the same rate for what holds good for one year? And £100 would equally 
 apply to any number of years and any amount, however small or large. 
 The same law which applies to death equally applies to sickness ; in fact, 
 
18 
 
 sickness and mortality follow very closely in tlie same line of march. It 
 is true that the experience of no single individual may accord with these 
 calculations. One person may live a much shorter period, and the other 
 much longer ; one may have more sickness than another. However 
 careful a man may be of health and life, he cannot always protect himself 
 from pestilence, and inherited disease cannot be guarded against, nor can 
 accidents ; hut these seeming irregularities will not affect the Society, if 
 the numbers be sufficient, and the correct average rates have been ascer- 
 tained, inasmuch as the fluctuations on the favourable side balance those 
 of an opposite character, and thus secure an equalization. An inscrutable 
 Providence has thought proper to hide from us the particular time when 
 each shall render up his life, yet we have revealed to us the average 
 duration of life, by which we may make provision for ourselves in sickness, 
 and for those who are dear to us at the time of death. “ Mortality,” sa}~s 
 Dr. Southwood, “ is subject to a law, the operation of which is as regular 
 as that of gravitation.” 
 
 A point for consideration is also the rate at wffiich the funds — that is, 
 the accumulated capital — may be increased or improved. As a rule, we 
 should recommend Lodges or Districts to rest satisfied with taking 
 advantage of the privilege they enjoy, by Act of Parliament, of depositing 
 their funds in Savings Banks, in which case they are sure of obtaining 
 an interest of 8 per cent. There are other modes of investment, by 
 which a higher rate of interest may be realised, but they do not offer 
 the same security, or readiness in the withdrawal of money urgently 
 required. 
 
 We will now endeavour to show, by three decades of life, the position^ 
 financially, of members entering a Lodge at the ages of 20, 80, and 40 
 respectively, and follow them through the years of expectancy of life, 
 bringing forward their entrance, contributions, and interest gained thereon, 
 and then lay before the reader the results, which will be easily understood 
 by anyone desirous of making himself acquainted with the plainest rudi- 
 ments of statistical science. Take the case of a young man entering a 
 Lodge at 20 years of age; he pays an entrance fee of 5s., and contribu- 
 tions at the rate of Is. 5d. a month, or 17s. 7d. per year. His benefits 
 are 10s. per week for first six months’ sickness, 5s. per week during 
 remainder of sickness, and at death £10 for himself and £5 for his wife. 
 
14 
 
 Interest upon entrance fee and contributions, 8 per cent per annum. The 
 following table will show his financial position up to the time of death : — 
 
 Age next 
 
 Contributions 
 
 
 Received by 
 
 Deduct average 
 
 
 Balance in favou 
 
 Birthday. 
 
 . during year. 
 
 
 
 
 Lodge. 
 
 Sickness. 
 
 
 of Lodge. 
 
 
 £ s. 
 
 a. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 £ s. 
 
 a. 
 
 £ 
 
 8. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 21 
 
 ... 1 2 
 
 7* . 
 
 .. 
 
 ... 
 
 .. 
 
 . 1 2 
 
 7 . 
 
 „ 
 
 .. 
 
 . 
 
 ... 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 22 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 0 
 
 8 .. 
 
 . 2 0 
 
 10 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 • •• 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 7 
 
 23 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 0 
 
 Hi •• 
 
 . 2 19 
 
 44 • 
 
 .. 0 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 104 
 
 24 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 1 
 
 3i .. 
 
 . 3 18 
 
 2f • 
 
 .. 0 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 2 
 
 13 
 
 5f 
 
 25 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 1 
 
 74 •• 
 
 . 4 17 
 
 5 .. 
 
 .. 0 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 26 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 
 
 .. 0 
 
 1 
 
 11 .. 
 
 . 5 16 
 
 11 ., 
 
 .. 0 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 3 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 27 ■ 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 .. 0 
 
 1 
 
 8 .., 
 
 . 6 16 
 
 2 . 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 28 . 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 .. 0 
 
 2 
 
 74 •• 
 
 . 7 16 
 
 44 .. 
 
 .. 0 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 4 
 
 18 
 
 74 
 
 29 . 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 ,. 0 
 
 2 
 
 114 ... 
 
 . 8 16 
 
 104 .. 
 
 ,. 0 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 ... 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 104 
 
 30 . 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 ,. 0 
 
 3 
 
 4 ... 
 
 . 9 17 
 
 94 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 34 
 
 ... 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 64 
 
 31 . 
 
 ... 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 3 
 
 84 ... 
 
 . 10 19 
 
 1 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 44 
 
 ... 
 
 6 
 
 16 
 
 54 
 
 32 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 4 
 
 1 ... 
 
 , 12 0 
 
 9 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 H 
 
 ... 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 7f 
 
 33 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 4 
 
 4 ... 
 
 , 13 2 
 
 8 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 7f 
 
 ... 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 11 
 
 34 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 4 
 
 104 
 
 14 4 
 
 9f .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 ... 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 54 
 
 35 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 5 
 
 24 
 
 15 7 
 
 64 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 9 
 
 If 
 
 ... 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 Of 
 
 36 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 5 
 
 84 ... 
 
 16 10 
 
 lOf .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 9 
 
 54 
 
 ... 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 114 
 
 37 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 6 
 
 14 - 
 
 17 14 
 
 74 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 ... 
 
 10 
 
 17 
 
 10 
 
 38 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 6 
 
 5J ... 
 
 38 18 
 
 7f .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 10 
 
 24 
 
 ... 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 8 
 
 39 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 6 
 
 11 ... 
 
 20 15 
 
 If .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 10 
 
 7i 
 
 ... 
 
 12 
 
 7 
 
 6f 
 
 40 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 7 
 
 5 ... 
 
 21 10 
 
 If .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 0i 
 
 ... 
 
 13 
 
 1 
 
 64 
 
 41 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
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 7 
 
 9f ... 
 
 22 16 
 
 64 .. 
 
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 11 
 
 54 
 
 ... 
 
 13 
 
 15 
 
 54 
 
 42 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 2* ... 
 
 24 2 
 
 44 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 ... 
 
 14 
 
 9 
 
 44 
 
 43 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 8 ... 
 
 25 8 
 
 74 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 5 
 
 ... 
 
 15 
 
 3 
 
 24 
 
 44 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 9 
 
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 26 15 
 
 34 .., 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 11 
 
 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 114 
 
 45 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 9 
 
 5f 
 
 28 3 
 
 4 .., 
 
 . 0 
 
 13 
 
 6 
 
 ... 
 
 16 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 
 46 . 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 9 
 
 94 ... 
 
 29 11 
 
 8§ .., 
 
 . 0 
 
 14 
 
 H 
 
 ... 
 
 17 
 
 5 
 
 94 
 
 47 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 10 
 
 34 ... 
 
 30 19 
 
 6f ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 14 
 
 9 
 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 104 
 
 48 .. 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 > 0 
 
 10 
 
 8 ... 
 
 32 7 
 
 9f ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 15 
 
 64 
 
 ... 
 
 18 
 
 11 
 
 7 
 
 49 .. 
 
 ,. 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 U ... 
 
 33 16 
 
 6 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 16 
 
 44 
 
 ... 
 
 19 
 
 3 
 
 lOf 
 
 50 .. 
 
 ,. 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 5 ... 
 
 35 5 
 
 6 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 17 
 
 44 
 
 
 19 
 
 15 
 
 64 
 
 51 .. 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 10 ... 
 
 36 14 
 
 11 ... 
 
 , 0 
 
 18 
 
 5 
 
 
 20 
 
 6 
 
 64 
 
 52 .. 
 
 .. 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 24 
 
 38 4 
 
 84 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 19 
 
 74 
 
 ... 
 
 20 
 
 16 
 
 8 
 
 53 .. 
 
 ,. 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 H ... 
 
 39 14 
 
 8f ... 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 0 
 
 ... 
 
 21 
 
 5 
 
 84 
 
 54 .. 
 
 . 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 , 0 
 
 12 
 
 9 ... 
 
 41 6 
 
 Of ... 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 64 
 
 ... 
 
 21 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 55 .. 
 
 ,. 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 . 0 
 
 13 
 
 Of ... 
 
 42 16 
 
 84 ... 
 
 . 1 
 
 4 
 
 34 
 
 ... 
 
 22 
 
 0 : 
 
 104 
 
 56 .. 
 
 . 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 o : 
 
 L3 
 
 21 ... 
 
 44 7 
 
 6 ... 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 24 . 
 
 ... 
 
 22 
 
 5 
 
 54 
 
 57 .. 
 
 . 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 o : 
 
 13 
 
 44 ... 
 
 45 18 
 
 54 ... 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 34 . 
 
 ... 
 
 22 
 
 8 
 
 l£ 
 
 58 .. 
 
 . 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 o : 
 
 L3 
 
 5 ... 
 
 47 9 
 
 54 ... 
 
 1 10 
 
 8f • 
 
 ... 
 
 22 
 
 8 
 
 4A 
 
 59 .. 
 
 . 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 0 13 
 
 5 ... 
 
 49 0 
 
 54 ... 
 
 1 13 
 
 64 . 
 
 .. 
 
 22 
 
 5 104 
 
 60 .. 
 
 . 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 0 13 
 
 44 ... 
 
 50 12 
 
 3 ... 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 24 . 
 
 ... 
 
 21 : 
 
 L7 
 
 5f 
 
 61 .. 
 
 . 0 17 
 
 7 ... 
 
 0 13 
 
 If ... 
 
 52 2 Ilf ... 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 0 . 
 
 ... 
 
 21 
 
 4 
 
 24 
 
 
 Balance in 
 
 favour of Lodge 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 
 
 Deduct Funeral 
 
 Benefit .. 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 gain of Lodge. 
 
 
 
 4 2| 
 
 
 
 
 Let us now trace a member who enters at 40 years of age, and see 
 what results will follow. In this case he pays 20s. entrance fee, and con- 
 tribution every four weeks, 2s. 6d., or £ 1 . 12s. 6d. per year ; his benefits are 
 10s. per week in sickness, for 26 weeks, and 5s. for remainder of sickness ; 
 
 * Including an entrance lee of 5s. 
 
15 
 
 £10 at death of member, and £5 at death of member’s wife. Expectancy 
 of life, 26 years : — 
 
 Age next 
 
 Contributions 
 
 — • 
 
 Received 
 
 Deduct average 
 
 Balance in favour 
 
 Birthday. 
 
 during year. 
 
 Interest. 
 
 by Lodge. 
 
 Sickness. 
 
 of 
 
 Lodge. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 a. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 a. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 a. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 a. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 a. 
 
 41 ... 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 6* .. 
 
 
 ... 
 
 . 
 
 . 2 
 
 12 
 
 6 . 
 
 .. 
 
 ... 
 
 .. 
 
 . 2 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 
 42 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 6f .. 
 
 . 4 
 
 6 
 
 6| • 
 
 .. 0 
 
 11 
 
 11 ... 
 
 . 3 
 
 14 
 
 7* 
 
 43 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 2f . 
 
 . 6 
 
 1 
 
 3* . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 12 
 
 5 .., 
 
 . 4 
 
 16 
 
 114 
 
 44 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 0 
 
 2 
 
 11 . 
 
 . 7 
 
 16 
 
 84 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 12 
 
 Ill •• 
 
 . 5 
 
 19 
 
 54 
 
 45 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 0 
 
 3 
 
 6f • 
 
 . 9 
 
 12 
 
 91 • 
 
 .. 0 
 
 13 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 7 
 
 2 
 
 0 
 
 46 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 3 . 
 
 . 11 
 
 19 
 
 61 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 14 
 
 11 .. 
 
 . 8 
 
 4 
 
 7f 
 
 47 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 0 
 
 4 
 
 11* • 
 
 . 13 
 
 6 
 
 Ilf . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 14 
 
 9 .. 
 
 . 9 
 
 7 
 
 44 
 
 48 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 . 
 
 0 
 
 5 
 
 7* • 
 
 . 15 
 
 5 
 
 2 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 15 
 
 61 .., 
 
 . 10 
 
 9 
 
 114 
 
 49 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 5* • 
 
 . J7 
 
 6 
 
 01 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 16 
 
 44 .. 
 
 . 11 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 50 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 7 
 
 0| .. 
 
 .. 19 
 
 5 
 
 7 . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 17 
 
 41 ... 
 
 . 12 
 
 16 
 
 84 
 
 51 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 7 
 
 7* .. 
 
 .. 21 
 
 15 
 
 81 • 
 
 .. 0 
 
 18 
 
 54 ... 
 
 . 13 
 
 18 
 
 44 
 
 52 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 4 .. 
 
 ,. 23 
 
 16 
 
 6f . 
 
 .. 0 
 
 19 
 
 74 ... 
 
 . 14 
 
 19 
 
 6f 
 
 53 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 8 
 
 Ilf .. 
 
 .. 25 
 
 J8 
 
 0 . 
 
 .. 1 
 
 1 
 
 04 .. 
 
 . 16 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 54 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 9 
 
 7 .. 
 
 .. 28 
 
 0 
 
 0 . 
 
 .. 1 
 
 2 
 
 64 .. 
 
 . 16 
 
 19 
 
 64 
 
 55 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 10 
 
 7f .. 
 
 .. 30 
 
 1 
 
 8f ■ 
 
 .. 1 
 
 4 
 
 3f .. 
 
 . 17 
 
 16 
 
 104 
 
 56 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 10 
 
 8f ., 
 
 .. 32 
 
 4 
 
 11 . 
 
 .. 1 
 
 6 
 
 21 .. 
 
 . 18 
 
 13 
 
 104 
 
 57 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 1 ., 
 
 .. 34 
 
 8 
 
 6 . 
 
 .. 1 
 
 8 
 
 3f .. 
 
 . 19 
 
 9 
 
 If 
 
 58 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 8 ., 
 
 .. 36 
 
 12 
 
 8 . 
 
 .. 1 
 
 30 
 
 8f .. 
 
 . 20 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 59 .. 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 Of ., 
 
 .. 38 
 
 17 
 
 2f . 
 
 .. 1 
 
 13 
 
 61 .. 
 
 . 20 
 
 13 
 
 74 
 
 60 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 5* .. 
 
 .. 41 
 
 2 
 
 21 . 
 
 .. 1 
 
 16 
 
 8 .. 
 
 . 21 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 61 ... 
 
 , 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 7f - 
 
 .. 43 
 
 7 
 
 4 . 
 
 .. 2 
 
 2 
 
 01 .. 
 
 . 21 
 
 5 
 
 04 
 
 62 ... 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 9* • 
 
 .. 45 
 
 12 
 
 7§ - 
 
 .. 2 
 
 4 
 
 Of .. 
 
 . 21 
 
 6 
 
 3f 
 
 63 ... 
 
 , 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 10 ., 
 
 .. 47 
 
 17 
 
 114 . 
 
 .. 2 
 
 8 
 
 If .. 
 
 . 21 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 64 ... 
 
 , 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 9 . 
 
 .. 50 
 
 3 
 
 24 . 
 
 .. 2 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 20 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 65 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 12 
 
 6 . 
 
 .. 52 
 
 8 
 
 24 . 
 
 .. 2 
 
 17 
 
 1 .. 
 
 . 20 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 66 ... 
 
 , 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 .. 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 9 ., 
 
 .. 54 
 
 12 
 
 54 . 
 
 .. 3 
 
 2 
 
 0 .. 
 
 . 19 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 67 ... 
 
 . 1 
 
 12 
 
 6 . 
 
 . 0 
 
 11 
 
 5 . 
 
 .. 56 
 
 16 
 
 6 . 
 
 .. 3 
 
 7 
 
 If .. 
 
 . 18 
 
 3 
 
 24 
 
 Balance in favour of Lodge £18 8 24 
 
 Deduct Funeral Benefit 15 0 0 
 
 Balance in favour of Lodge £18 8 24 
 
 Deduct Funeral Benefit 15 0 0 
 
 Total gain of Lodge . . £8 8 21 
 
 We have now shown how the contributions will meet the accruing 
 liabilities, and leave a surplus towards covering the expense of manage- 
 ment, for which a small extra charge should be made, and a separate 
 account kept. We shall now show the results of calculations in another 
 simple form, for we think the foregoing will sufficiently illustrate (at 
 least for all practical purposes) the principle on which graduated pay- 
 ments are calculated.! 
 
 At age 20, the after-life term is 40*18 years; entrance fee , 5s.; annual 
 contribution , 17s. 7 d.; interest , 8 per cent, per annum. 
 
 By Initiation 
 
 By Contributions 
 By Interest 
 
 £ s. a. 
 0 5 0 
 35 6 3 
 15 13 6£ 
 
 Paid for Sick 
 
 Funerals 
 
 In the Funds 
 
 £ s. a. 
 30 0 7 
 15 0 0 
 6 4 2± 
 
 £ 51 4 94 
 
 Showing a gain to Lodge of £6. 4s. 2*d. 
 
 £51494 
 
 * Incluaing an entrance fee of £1. 
 
 f It mast not be understood that the sums here given are absolute profits, for the greater portion 
 of them will be require! for management expenses, perhaps more, unless a separate charge is made 
 for them; an aaditional id. per week will be found sufficient. 
 
16 
 
 At age 80, the after-life term is 84*15 years; entrance fee , 15s.; annual 
 contribution , £1. 8s. 10d.; interest , 8 'per cent, per annum. 
 
 Initiation Fee, 
 Contributions 
 Interest 
 
 £ s. d. 
 0 15 0 
 40 13 9 
 
 15 15 9 
 
 Paid Sick ... 
 
 Funerals 
 
 In the Funds 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 35 16 2 
 15 0 0 
 6 8 4 
 
 £57 4 6 
 
 £57 4 6 
 
 Showing a gain to Lodge of £6. 8s. 4d. 
 
 At age 40, the after-life term is 26*98 years ; entrance fee, 20s.; annual 
 contribution, £1. 12s. 6d. ; interest, 8 per cent, per annum. 
 
 Initiation Fee 
 Contributions 
 Interest 
 
 £ s. d. 
 10 0 
 43 16 0 
 
 11 1 4J 
 
 £55 17 4§ 
 
 Paid in Sick 
 Funerals .... 
 In Funds.... 
 
 £ s. d. 
 37 14 2 
 15 0 0 
 
 3 3 2 \ 
 
 £55 17 4* 
 
 Showing a gain to Lodge of £3. 3s. 2|d. 
 
 It will be seen by tbe above demonstrated facts that a man has a great 
 advantage in joining when young, and his Lodge also is a gainer in a 
 greater degree, for though he pays less than either the one joining at 80 
 or 40, he has more advantage in time and benefits. A member joining at 
 age 20 pays £5. 18s. 6d. less than age 80, and £9. 4s. 9d. less than age 
 40, and his Lodge gains £6. 4s. 2£d. by him ; age 30 pays £3. 11s. 3d. 
 less than age 40, and his Lodge gains £6. 8s. 4d. by him ; while the 
 Lodge only gains £3. 3s. 2jd. by age 40. 
 
 The following table showing the accumulated capital of each member 
 joining at 20, 80, and 40 respectively, at each particular decade, compiled 
 by Mr. George Cropper, D.G.M. of the Sheffield District of the Manchester 
 Unity of Oddfellows, to whom we feel highly obliged. It will be found to 
 differ a little from our previous statistics, but very slightly ; in fact, so 
 slight as rather to confirm than otherwise calculations of this description : — 
 
 Age. 
 
 20 at entrance, 
 after-life 
 40*18 years. 
 
 30 at entrance, 
 after-life 
 34*15 years. 
 
 40 at entrance, 
 after-life 
 26*93 years. 
 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 
 £ 8. d. 
 
 25 
 
 3 4 5. 
 
 
 
 30 
 
 6 4 2 
 
 
 
 35 
 
 9 11 0^ 
 
 5 6 6 
 
 
 40 
 
 13 0 7 
 
 9 15 9 
 
 
 45 
 
 16 9 5i 
 
 14 7 6 
 
 5 19 5 
 
 50 
 
 19 12 6£ 
 
 18 17 0 
 
 12 14 5 
 
 55 
 
 21 16 3 
 
 22 9 0 
 
 17 15 0 
 
 60 
 
 21 14 10 
 
 24 2 0 
 
 20 19 10 
 
 61 
 
 Dies this year. 
 
 23 16 6 
 
 21 4 9 
 
 62 
 
 
 23 6 6 
 
 21 5 11 
 
 63 
 
 
 22 11 10 
 
 21 3 0 
 
 64 
 
 
 21 12 1 
 
 20 15 8 
 
 65 
 
 
 Dies this year. 
 
 20 3 6 
 
 66 
 
 
 
 19 6 2 
 
 67 
 
 
 
 Dies this year. 
 
17 
 
 Tie foregoing table is very useful as showing how the funds to the credit 
 of each member keep accumulating, after paying the usual or average 
 amount of sickness in each instance, and clearly proves that any Lodge 
 using ordinary discretion in its management, and insisting on thorough 
 surgical examination , may keep themselves solvent, unless overtaken by 
 Circumstances which no human foresight could control. 
 
 The following is Dr. Farr’s table for each quinquennial year of life, and 
 will be of paramount importance to founders of Friendly Societies, if only 
 studied as it should be, and the facts it demonstrates made practical use 
 of in the formation of their tables of payments. It is calculated for 
 100,000 males and females, and the probable life, or the expectation of 
 life, of the survivors at each successive age 
 
 Age . 
 
 Living. 
 
 Dying next Year. 
 
 Expectation of Life. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 0 
 
 51,274 
 
 48,726 
 
 8170 
 
 6461 
 
 40-19 
 
 42-18 
 
 1 
 
 43,104 
 
 42,265 
 
 2716 
 
 2551 
 
 46-71 
 
 47-55 
 
 5 
 
 37,385 
 
 36,816 
 
 542 
 
 505 
 
 49-64 
 
 50-38 
 
 10 
 
 35,561 
 
 35,048 
 
 179 
 
 213 
 
 47-08 
 
 47*81 
 
 15 
 
 34,573 
 
 34,054 
 
 240 
 
 257 
 
 43 35 
 
 44-13 
 
 20 
 
 33,324 
 
 32,735 
 
 264 
 
 273 
 
 39-88 
 
 40-81 
 
 25 
 
 31,958 
 
 31,337 
 
 287 
 
 289 
 
 36-47 
 
 37-52 
 
 30 
 
 30,473 
 
 29,859 
 
 312 
 
 305 
 
 33-13 
 
 34*25 
 
 35 
 
 28,867 
 
 28,305 
 
 335 
 
 319 
 
 29-83 
 
 30-99 
 
 40 
 
 27,145 
 
 26,680 
 
 358 
 
 333 
 
 26-56 
 
 27-72 
 
 45 
 
 25,311 
 
 24,990 
 
 379 
 
 345 
 
 23-30 
 
 24-43 
 
 50 
 
 23,376 
 
 23,245 
 
 396 
 
 355 
 
 20 - 02 ' 
 
 21-07 
 
 55 
 
 21,355 
 
 21,441 
 
 449 
 
 400 
 
 16-68 
 
 17-63 
 
 60 
 
 18,808 
 
 19,188 
 
 592 
 
 530 
 
 13-59 
 
 14-40 
 
 65 
 
 15,589 
 
 16,263 
 
 717 
 
 666 
 
 10-86 
 
 11-52 
 
 70 
 
 11,832 
 
 12,709 
 
 792 
 
 768 
 
 8 51 
 
 9-03 
 
 75 
 
 7,867 
 
 8,797 
 
 764 
 
 780 
 
 6 53 
 
 6-92 
 
 80 
 
 4,316 
 
 5,082 
 
 604 
 
 658 
 
 4-92 
 
 5-20 
 
 85 
 
 1,780 
 
 2,241 
 
 355 
 
 419 
 
 3-64 
 
 3-83 
 
 90 
 
 481 
 
 659 
 
 171 
 
 218 
 
 2-68 
 
 2-77 
 
 95 
 
 69 
 
 105 
 
 25 
 
 39 
 
 2-22 
 
 2-06 
 
 100 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 105 
 
 0 
 
 1 
 
 ! 0 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 In reference to the foregoing table, Mr. Chambers remarks that it shows 
 many interesting points as to the variation of mortality at different ages. 
 While the births of males and females are as 105 to 100, the deaths are 
 in an opposite direction, female life being generally the longest. Great 
 mortality occurs in early life ; one in five children dies in the first year of 
 life, though the number of children now reared is double the ratio a hun- 
 dred years since. Above one-half of the children of the working classes, 
 and only one-fifth of those of the gentry, die before the age of five years. 
 A greater proportion of children are thus reared in the higher than in the 
 lower ranks in England. The mean lifetime of males is 40 years, and of 
 females 48 years. It ranges, for both sexes, from 45 years in Surrey, 
 and even higher in other districts, to 25 years in Liverpool and Manchester. 
 In London it is 27 years. The mean age of all males living in England 
 
18 
 
 Is 25 years, but it is 82 years if we correct for the ages living out of a 
 given number of births. To 100 persons living at ages under 20 there 
 are 69 living at the age of 20 ; 87 living at the age of 40 ; 15 living at 
 the age of 60 ; and one living at the age of 80 years. The great majority 
 of the population live only two-fifths of the years attained by those who 
 enjoy good conditions in life. The mean age at death is four years less 
 in America than in England. The expectancy of life at the age of 80 
 in Surrey is 85 years, whilst in Liverpool it is only 27 ; and at the age of 
 50 it is in Surrey 21 years, but in Liverpool only 16 years. Again, Mr. 
 Chambers says, in further illustration of the mortality in different ranks : 
 “ We remark that it was found in England (1889-41) that out of 25,000 
 deaths in certain towns and counties the ratio among gentry and profes- 
 sional persons, 1 in 8.5, 1 in 4, and 1 in 22 respectively ; among 
 farmers, tradesmen, &c., 1 in 2, 1 in 8.5, and 1 in 5 respectively; and 
 among agricultural labourers, artizans, and servants, 1 in 1.5, 1 in 4, and 
 1 in 8 respectively. The gentry and professional men and their families 
 died chiefly at ages from 52 to 84 ; the farmers, tradesmen, and families 
 died chiefly at ages from 48 to 22 ; and servants, labourers, artizans, and 
 families died chiefly at ages from 84 to 15 years. The comparative 
 healthiness of various occupations among the lower ranks in London is 
 given by Dr. Letheby for the years 1855-6. While the mortality of the 
 males of all ranks at and above the age of 20 was 1 in 44, that of but- 
 chers, fishmongers, poulterers, shopkeepers, and merchants was 1 in 66 to 
 1 in 62 ; of tailors, weavers, shoemakers, printers, and compositors, was 
 1 in 50 to 1 in 48 ; of wine dealers, publicans, waiters, porters, and 
 messengers, was 1 in 41 to 1 in 88 ; of blacksmiths, gasfitters, painters, 
 glaziers, dyers, bargemen, and watermen, 1 in 86 to 1 in 88 ; of cabmen, 
 draymen, hostlers, carmen, and stable-keepers, 1 in 32 ; of clerks and needle- 
 women, 1 in 29 to 1 in 28 ; of hard-working classes of carpenters, masons, 
 and labourers, 1 in 23 to 1 in 22. Thus mortality is in the direct ratio of 
 exposure to close confinement and the rough usages of life. Again, while 
 in London adult males in general die at the mean age of 51, the merchant, 
 shopkeeper, and domestic servant live to that of 57 ; the butcher, poul- 
 terer, and fishmonger to 53 ; the painter, dyer, costermonger, hawker, 
 bargeman, and waterman to 48 or 49 ; the printer and compositor to 45 ; 
 and the baker and confectioner to 42. Most adults of other classes live 
 to the age of 50, 51, or 52. The wives of these classes live to corresponding 
 ag es, except that the wives of labourers often live to great ages, in work- 
 houses, after the death of their husbands.’’ 
 
 In reference to the influence of season on the death rate, Dr. Stark 
 remarks : — “ It is a popular notion that a mild winter is most fatal to 
 life, but the reverse is the truth. Cold weather injuriously affects life, 
 especially in some diseases ; but cold must last some time before it 
 increases mortality to any great extent. In England (1838-55), the 
 average ratio of deaths in the four quarters ending March 31, June 
 30, September 30, and December 31, to 1,000 deaths in the average 
 quarter, was 1,280, 1,001, 816, 903 respectively. In 117 chief town 
 districts of England (1850-55), the average ratio of deaths in these 
 
19 
 
 quarters, to 1,000 deaths in the average quarter was 1,084, 954, 964, 
 998 ; and 1,122, 1,027, 898, 958 in 508 rural and small town districts. 
 In Scotland (1855-57), to 1,000 deaths in the average quarter, there 
 were 1,150, 995, 885, 960 in the four quarters respectively. Thus, in 
 Britain, deaths are fewest in the summer quarter or hot season, when 
 the mean temperature is highest ; and most numerous in the winter 
 or coldest quarter (January, February, and March). In these respects, 
 Britain differs from other countries, where the summer heats increase 
 the mortality. And even in this country, when the summer heats are 
 above the average, as in 1857, an increased mortality occurs, especially 
 if the weather be dry, giving rise to severe bowel complaints, as 
 dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera, &c. ; and of course the occurrence of an 
 epidemic, as cholera, typhus, may reverse the order. As the weather 
 improves, deaths decrease in number ; and when stationary for a time, 
 the mortality is also stationary. In England, 4 die in towns in 
 autumn for 8 in the country. Cold weather always increases disease 
 of the lungs/’ 
 
 Thus, by noticing causes and their effects, we become acquainted 
 with the changes in mortality at different periods and in different 
 localities, and thereby instructed how to arrange the income of any 
 society, wherever it may be situated, to be in proportion to the rate of 
 sickness or death, when spread over a term of years. 
 
 We have now, as briefly and as clearly as possible, elucidated the 
 principle upon which graduated payments are regulated ; and the urgent 
 necessity of their adoption in all Lodges and Districts of our Order must, 
 we think, be apparent. The only other point to which it may be neces- 
 sary to refer is as to the difference of bookkeeping between the graduated 
 system of payments ana what may be termed the old system. We 
 should not have touched upon this point were we not aware that many 
 conceive that the graduated system would entail upon secretaries too 
 much trouble in the keeping of their books. This is an erroneous im- 
 pression. The only difference is that an extra column will be required 
 in the contribution book immediately after the names of members, in 
 which should be entered the amount that each member contributes, 
 fortnightly or monthly, according to age. 
 
 EQUALIZATION OF BENEFITS. 
 
 As a connecting link to the immediate subject of our treatise, with a 
 view to giving still greater permanence to the objects of Friendly Societies, 
 may be regarded the system of equalizing all benefits ; and we may point with 
 pride to the Manchester and Salford Equalized District of our Order as an 
 example of its successful working. Other Districts, including those of 
 Sheffield and Longridge, have reaped considerable advantage from its 
 adoption ; the former District in particular, which has perhaps made more 
 real progress, financially and numerically, considering the time of its 
 
20 
 
 establishment, than any other District. We all know that for years longer 
 than any of us can remember the different Orders or Societies have paid 
 the funeral claims out of one general fund ; that is to say, each Lodge, 
 according to the number of its members, has contributed its proportionate 
 share towards the funeral fund. And for why ? Simply to save the 
 calamities falling too heavily on any particular Lodge or Lodges, entirely 
 prostrating their usefulness and absorbing all their funds, and by so contri- 
 buting preventing such unpleasant contingencies, and tending to make each 
 Lodge secure. The same principle applies to sick pay, and in every instance 
 where it is tried it works with equal satisfaction, providing the regulations 
 of the District are based upon a right footing. We see strange and pain- 
 ful anomalies in the working of the old system. We will just give one 
 instance, and any of our readers who have taken any notice of passing 
 events will be able to call to mind many — sadly too many — cases of a 
 similar nature . Here are two members of one District of our own Order 
 (and the same argument will equally apply to other Orders) ; one has 
 been a paying member to his Lodge for thirty years ;* the other has only 
 been paying one year. They are both taken ill, or, from some other cause 
 coming within the meaning of the rules, become eligible for sick pay. In 
 the former case, in consequence of heavy sickness or bad management — 
 nearly always the latter — he is unable to receive, or rather the Lodge is unable 
 to pay his claim, although he has been providing and expecting for thirty years ; 
 but in the other case he can and does receive the full amount due to him, not- 
 withstanding his having only paid one-thirtieth part of the contributions paid 
 by the old member ; yet they are both Druids, both members of the same great 
 fraternity, both members of the same District, both living in the same town, 
 and in perhaps the same street, the only difference being that the one can 
 receive that to which he is legally entitled, and the other cannot. But where 
 the funds are equalized, such an occurence could not happen, for no Lodge 
 ever becomes rich, nor can any Lodge, by any means, become poor. 
 Besides, we always (or should do) look upon the fact of a young man 
 joining one of our Lodges or Districts as entering into a civil contract, 
 in which the Lodge or District guarantees to pay him certain sums of 
 money in the shape of sick and funeral claims, according to certain rules 
 and conditions mutually agreed upon, and the candidate on his part agrees 
 to pay certain sums of money periodically through life, in order to entitle 
 him to the same. Now, if the individual member does not pay in a limited 
 time the required payments, he by his own act is expelled, and forfeits all 
 claims. Then we maintain that it is only just and equitable, so long as 
 he continues to contribute, that the Lodge should pay him the sum due 
 in all cases. But the question arises, how can they pay if they have no 
 funds ? And what is worse, perhaps the men who have been the cause of 
 the Lodge or District, as the case may be, being in this position have 
 seceded or take no active part in its management now, and the men at the 
 present time in office, who are struggling with their painful burthen, were 
 really nothing but passive members at that time, and in many cases deserve 
 more sympathy than censure for the manly way in which they persevere 
 
 * One of the Delegates at the Derby A.M.D., when the subject was under discussion, said he had paid 
 to his Lodge for thirty years, and if he were then to fall ill, he would receive one s h illi n g per week. 
 
21 
 
 and contribute their moneys under the circumstances. Still the one great 
 point remains the same — namely, that each and every member has as much 
 right to his full sick or funeral pay as he has to go to a Savings Bank and 
 ask for any portion of money he may have deposited. By adopting the 
 principle of equalization this will always be secured to him — a principle 
 which we regard as one of the greatest fiscal improvements that has been 
 introduced into Friendly Societies ; and we feel proud that our Institution 
 has been amongst the first, if not the very first, to put it into practical 
 operation. 
 
 In working a District on the equalized principle, it will be found to 
 promote and encourage harmonious feelings and actions, and stimulate 
 the members to overcome trifling differences of opinion, or even great 
 differences, because to secede or detach themselves would be suicidal on 
 their parts, as they would be entirely without funds. Thus we find from 
 experience that factious motives, whatever their cause or influence, are 
 checked, the members at once seeing their folly, and their reason and 
 better judgment is allowed to prevail. We have no doubt that, in adopting 
 the system here recommended, some Districts might have formidable 
 difficulties to overcome at the outset. For instance, in Districts that have 
 been long established the funds of some of the Lodges may be in a healthy 
 condition, whilst those of other Lodges have become almost exhausted ; 
 some may have an excess of old members, and others a preponderance of 
 young ones. Insurmountable, however, as these obstacles may appear, 
 they will all vanish if they are only attacked with determination ; and the 
 way to meet them is to bring into practice the graduated principle, and by 
 this means secure a just mode of in-payments and an equal amount of 
 benefits. 
 
 RESERVE FUNDS. 
 
 We would also recommend every District to establish a reserve fund, 
 so as to be prepared for any eventuality that might occur, such as epidemics 
 or a sudden or unforeseen death-rate. The policy of such a step must be 
 self-evident to any reflective mind, if we only for one moment consider the 
 events of this nature that this country has passed through. That fearful 
 scourge, the cholera, in its last visitation, prostrated on beds of sickness 
 more than half a million of people, and carried thousands to an untimely 
 grave. No less than 848,185 lives have been destroyed in England and 
 Wales, during the ten years 1857 to 1866, by eight epidemic diseases 
 alone ; 48,029 by small-pox, 7,684 deaths occurring from this disease in 
 one year ; 92,874 by measles, as many as 11,849 deaths occurring in one 
 year ; 280,564 by scarletina and diptheria, 86,982 deaths occurring in 
 a single year; 108,154 by whooping cough, of which number, 15,764 
 deaths occurred in 1866 ; 182,210 by typhus, the maximum annual num- 
 ber being reached in 1865, when 28,084 deaths were registered ; 165,000 
 by diarrhoea, 28,581 deaths occurring in a single year; and 21,795 by 
 cholera. As these diseases so frequently make their appearance in our 
 midst, we hope the leading members in our different Districts and Lodges 
 
22 
 
 will take particular notice of the direful effects they produce, and 
 provide for such contingencies to the utmost of their power. To meet 
 exigencies of this nature, how essential it is that timely action should be 
 taken. It is astonishing how soon a sum of money — say £1,000 — can 
 be raised, and almost without an effort, so easy may the modes of pay- 
 ment be made, where numbers are concerned. In the Sheffield District, it 
 has just recently been decided to raise that amount for this special purpose, 
 by simply adopting a plan of each member paying threepence per quarter 
 extra contribution. It is calculated that the amount will be accumulated 
 in twelve years ; and the following resolution, passed at their quarterly 
 meeting, will convey a practical idea of their ultimate object, in case the 
 money, when at command, is not required to meet excessive death claims : — 
 
 Any member of this District who has been a contributing member of this Fund for 
 fifteen years (if there has been no demand upon it for excessive death claims, and the 
 sum of £1,000 stock is accumulated), then any such member shall be entitled to a 
 gift of not less than 15s., and not more than £5 ; the member must be either in the 
 receipt of sick pay or so enfeebled by natural decay or otherwise as not to be able to 
 earn a living : and that all grants from this fund must be applied for, and granted 
 by a regular District Meeting. Members may receive more than one gift if the fund 
 will allow it, and the District Meeting, to which such application or applications are 
 made, is convinced that it is a deserving case. The District Meeting shall also 
 have power to grant to any member who is now contributing to this fund, and who is 
 of the required age, any such sum out of the interest as they may think advisable 
 and deserving (in conformity with this rule), the amount not to exceed £2. All 
 members to become eligible to the gift on attaining the age of 55. All grants to 
 be paid out of interest, except death claims, which are to be paid out of stock. 
 Members claiming under this rule, to make application to the District Officers at their 
 weekly meeting, whose duty it shall be to bring the case before District Meeting at its 
 next sitting; then all such applications shall appear in the printed minutes, con- 
 taining the name of applicant, the name of the Lodge, and the nature of the grounds 
 of application, in order that enquiry may be made as to the justness of the claims, 
 and the award or awards to be made at the next regular District Meeting. 
 
 By making a provision of this kind we shall not only be acting the part 
 of intelligent men, but performing a social duty. No man is justified in 
 requiring others to support him in illness, or to provide for his family at 
 death, when, by a little self-denial, he might have provided for both these 
 contingencies. It is true that in some instances members may not require 
 aid themselves, but the great bulk of our less fortunate brethren may 
 require it ; and a consciousness of independence must always be a pleasing 
 reflection to every member, flowing from a knowledge that he has made a 
 provision securing him against want or charity. 
 
 MEDICAL ATTENDANCE. 
 
 This is a subject of great importance, and an essential requisite in 
 well-conducted Lodges. The officers should be very careful in the selection 
 of their surgeon. In most Districts there are plenty of well- qualified 
 practitioners who are able and willing to undertake the duties of surgeon 
 to a Lodge for a very reasonable remuneration. 
 
 In the first place, it is very necessary that the surgical examination of 
 candidates for admission should be of a thorough practical nature, so as 
 
23 
 
 to protect the Lodge from admitting members with disease in their 
 systems. This subject has been too lightly treated ; in fact, we sometimes 
 hear of Lodges who have no regular surgeon. How can we wonder at 
 such Lodges being imposed upon, and finding out, when too late, that they 
 have done wrong ? In some cases, it has been found that a member has 
 only paid contributions just long enough to entitle him to benefit when he 
 becomes chargeable on the sick funds, and continues so until death, when 
 his representatives receive a legacy. Many Lodges have become bankrupt 
 from this cause alone. We have known many cases of this description in 
 Lodges where they had a special surgeon, but the examination had been 
 superficial. A case has come under our notice where a man having 
 received a certificate of examination by the Lodge surgeon in the ordinary 
 way, at the end of six months declared on the sick fund, and remained 
 on for nearly two years, when he died, and his widow received a legacy of 
 £10. In this case the Lodge lost £80 by one member alone, and there 
 is no doubt that if the surgeon had made a proper examination he would 
 have detected that this man’s constitution was not sound or healthy. If 
 Lodges who have special surgeons are thus liable to be imposed upon, 
 what must be the risk of those who have no such officer ? Some may 
 argue from the above case that a Lodge might as well be without a 
 surgeon, and save the fees ; but this is not the whole question, for if the 
 Lodge finds the surgeon careless or unskilful they will at once remove him, 
 and appoint a successor. 
 
 Another reason why Lodges should retain a special surgeon is that such 
 officer generally feels more than ordinary interest in the Lodge, and the 
 health of its members, and when a member is necessitated to seek his 
 assistance he will use his utmost endeavours to restore him speedily to 
 health, and thereby save the funds of the Lodge. Again, suppose a 
 member laid on a bed of sickness, for a long or short period ; if he has a 
 surgeon to pay it may involve him in a debt that will require great priva- 
 tion and difficulty to overcome, and he is compelled to debar himself the 
 necessaries requisite to re-invigorate him for his daily toil. Some men argue 
 against the appointment of a Lodge surgeon, because, being sure of his 
 pay, he is indifferent as to whether the members are properly administered 
 to or not, especially in cases of great danger or emergency. In reply to 
 these objections, we will not deny that such occurrences may happen in 
 isolated cases ; but, as a general rule, we believe the medical gentlemen 
 are both courteous and attentive to our members, in many instances 
 having secured the gratitude and admiration of the Lodge for which they 
 officiated for their noble and magnanimous conduct. 
 
 MANAGEMENT, PLACES OF MEETING, &c. 
 
 The management of a Friendly Society is a most important question in 
 respect to its stability. There is sadly too much apathy displayed by 
 many members in not attending their Lodge, and taking a fair share in 
 the transaction of business. The majority seem to think that when they 
 
24 
 
 have paid their contributions they have done all that is required from 
 them. It never enters their minds — or, if so, with little effect — that there 
 is a deal of work to be done of a very onerous nature, and that it is dan- 
 gerous to place too much confidence, especially in monetary matters, in 
 the hands of a few. Friendly Societies, in the aggregate, have had to 
 suffer severely through this very cause. If a Lodge is worth joining it is 
 worth attending, and looking after. If it is no disgrace to belong to a 
 good, sound, respectable Lodge, it is surely worth while bestowing some 
 attention upon its management, in order that its welfare and progress may 
 be ensured ; and the main point to be looked after is its financial position. 
 The questions — and very proper ones, too — now frequently asked before 
 joining a Lodge are — “ What are your in-payments, and what benefits do 
 you offer?” “ Is any of your money spent in drink?” “Are your 
 officers overpaid, or are they allowed to pay themselves ?” “Can I be 
 assured that the whole of the money paid by the members is devoted 
 solely for the purposes for which it is subscribed?” “ Is the overplus 
 well secured, and in trustworthy hands ?” “ Can you give me a guarantee 
 
 that -when the time may come, sooner or later, the Society will be enabled 
 to fulfil the promises now held out?” “Are you enrolled under the 
 Friendly Societies Acts ?” On these questions we shall presently learn a 
 great deal, as our readers will be aware, from what has appeared in our 
 own Journal, and the press generally, that the financial government ol 
 Friendly Societies is about to be tested by a Commission of Inquiry, 
 arising out of the bill brought into the House of Lords by the Earl of 
 Lichfield. In the meantime, then, let the members of every Lodge of our 
 Order see to their financial position, so that they may be brought out of 
 the crucible untarnished. 
 
 In the management of Districts the following regulations should be 
 carefully studied and scrupulously carried out : — 1st, that each Lodge 
 he composed of an adequate number of members ; 2nd, that the pay- 
 ments in all cases be in accordance with age ; 3rd, a careful investment 
 ot the funds ; 4th, to keep two separate and distinct accounts, one of the 
 sick and funeral and the other of the incidental or working expenses 
 of the Society ; 5tli, to adopt the jmnciple of equalization wherever it 
 is possible ; 6 th, to take stock every four or five years, collecting the 
 respective ages of each member in the Lodge or District, thereby 
 ascertaining the amount of liability for both sick and funeral claims ; 
 7 th, to examine the capital account and income, and thus balancing a debtor 
 and creditor account periodically, and adapting the in-payments to the 
 liabilities. By adopting this plan a Lodge will always be progressive, 
 always solvent, always confident in its stable position, and will reflect 
 honour on the members and blessings on those who require and are 
 entitled to its aid. In our opinion, which is founded on experience, 
 any Friendly Society conducted on these principles is as safe, and an 
 infinitely better investment than a savings bank, or even in the hands 
 of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt. Mr. 
 Chambers, in his remarks on this subject, says : “ Savings, instead of 
 being stored up in a bank, to be there constantly at command, may be 
 
25 
 
 invested by a working man in a well-constituted Friendly Society, as a 
 means of insuring for himself certain contingent and fixed benefits. 
 Friendly Societies generally embrace several objects, as the securing 
 of a weekly sum during sickness, and a pension after a certain age ; 
 they are based on the principle of mutual insurance.” The principle 
 on which these institutions mainly rests is one which it has been left 
 for modern science to discover, namely, that while the duration of the 
 life of a single person is of all things the most uncertain, it is possible 
 to ascertain with tolerable accuracy how many of a given number of 
 persons of a particular age will die within the next year, how many in 
 the third, and so on, the medium or average giving what is called the 
 expectation of life for each person. A certainty, in short, is attained 
 on this proverbially uncertain subject, when we take a great number 
 of persons and consider them with regard to the circumstances in 
 which they live. Members make payments in small periodical sums, 
 and thus constitute a fund, out of which to assist such as happen to 
 fall sick. In some respects, and for some cases, joining a Friendly 
 Society may be better than becoming a depositor in a savings’ bank ; 
 sickness may come before the savings are considerable, or, if consider- 
 able, may be melted away by a long-continued sickness. It is possible, 
 on the other hand, that a difficulty may be experienced in certain 
 circumstances in keeping up the weekly or other payments required to 
 secure the benefits. Here, however, it may be said there is no more 
 than the usual uncertainty attached to all things. Assuredly the 
 arrangements of a rightly-constituted Friendly Society furnish a very 
 considerable degree of security against some of the uncertainties of 
 life. Another excellent feature in these institutions is that the member, 
 when sick, or otherwise in the receipt of the benefits of his Lodge, 
 does not feel himself pauperised thereby, but knows that it is a 
 legal right, to which his prudence and forethought have justly entitled 
 him, and is paid with as much pleasure as it is received ; in fact, it is 
 his bank, from whose funds he can draw under certain contingencies, 
 and his interest therein is unimpaired. The man who is a member of 
 two Friendly Societies (and many are) may be said to be independent; 
 at least, he is so far as to be beyond the reach of want, especially in old 
 age ; nor has the workhouse to be dreaded by him, manly ami erect in 
 the full dignity and consciousness of honest pride in himself that, 
 though he may, perhaps, be prostrated on a bed of sickness, his family 
 are secured against want or distress. 
 
 At the present time, much discusssion is going on with respect to 
 our Lodges being held at inns and public-houses. The objections to 
 the places lose all their force by merely glancing at the present state 
 of society — its habits and customs. Some would make it appear that 
 Friendly Societies, because held at houses where intoxicating d ;uks 
 are sold, must of necessity be seminaries for the cultiv non of i bits 
 of drunkenness; but we are happy to state that such is not tf ase, 
 drunkenness being strictly prohibited. But the whole hr* the 
 people must be changed before these societies can progress ; tb y now 
 
26 
 
 do away from public-houses. The thing has been tried, and tried 
 fairly, by the advocates of temperance, and what is the result ? At 
 first, and for a few years, the Bechabite Tents, being founded on the 
 same principles as Friendly Societies generally are, the only difference 
 consisting in the one being held at temperance houses and the other at 
 inns or public-houses, bid fair to supplant the ordinary Lodges ; their 
 progress was rapid, and cheering to the promoters. But what are their 
 positions now ? In 1844 the Bechabites numbered 1,000 tents, and have 
 now dwindled down to about 100, whilst the leading Friendly Societies 
 have doubled and trebled their members in the same time, and spread 
 their healthy influence throughout the length and breadth of the land. 
 We do not argue that it might not be still better for our members and 
 society at large if the minds of the working-classes were cultivated, and 
 by education brought up to a standard of moral rectitude sufficient for 
 the purpose ; but whilst we have to deal with society in its present 
 form, the members of Friendly Societies, in many instances, are under 
 many obligations to the innkeepers for the accommodation and support 
 they receive at their hands. Again, in answer to those of our oppo- 
 nents who advocate that all societies should be conducted apart from 
 inns or public-houses, we would ask — Why is it that Mechanics’ In- 
 stitutes, People’s Colleges, Working Men’s Clubs, and Societies of Art 
 have only partially succeeded in their laudable endeavours? Why 
 have men whose minds are full of benevolence and philanthropy to 
 mourn over the failure of so many institutions that have been founded 
 for the express purpose of instructing and amusing the working-classes 
 of this country, and bringing their minds into a train of thought and 
 action more in accordance with civilised life ? In treating a question 
 like this, every intelligent man, whether he be a professor of temper- 
 ance principles or not, must acknowledge that one idea forces itself 
 upon us ; that is, the great transition from low habits and associa- 
 tions to those of well-regulated and intellectual minds. When the 
 hitherto improvident and uneducated man finds himself amongst 
 such company he sees his own inferiority, and is, consequently, ill at 
 ease in his own mind, feeling and knowing that he has to acquire the 
 very alphabet of good society before he can enjoy himself or feel at 
 home under the circumstances. This, at least, Friendly Societies are 
 calculated to instruct him in, besides rendering the material aid he will 
 receive in time of need. At the same time, we highly estimate the 
 advantage of Friendly Societies being conducted in working-men’s 
 reading-rooms, schools, &c., wherever practicable; and would earnestly 
 impress upon our readers the importance of such a subject. 
 
 TONTINE OB DIVIDING SOCIETIES. 
 
 Mr. New says, “ No sketch of the wrongs of Benefit or Friendly 
 Societies w T ould be complete without a few words upon Tontine or Yearly 
 Dividing Societies, or, as they are sometimes called, ‘Birmingham 
 Societies,’ or ‘ Briefs.’ The latter title is, we think, the most appro- 
 priate one ; for they certainly are brief in their existence, and extremely 
 
27 
 
 brief in the benefits they bestow.” Their peculiarity consists in divid- 
 ing the funds every year, down to the lowest possible amount, often as 
 low as 2s. 6d. per member. We have known some to divide down to 
 Is. They thus ignore the natural laws of sickness and mortality, which 
 prove that sickness and mortality increase with age, and take for 
 granted that the present members will never be more liable to sickness 
 than when they are young, and will never grow old. The expenses of 
 the year are met by the contributions, and the funds which ought to 
 be put aside to meet future liabilities are divided among the members ; 
 thus destroying the very foundation of a Benefit Society, which is not 
 to provide daily for the needs of its members only, but to provide, in 
 the years of youth and strength, such a fund as shall support the 
 expense of that time of increased sickness and weakness which old 
 age is sure to produce, and when the promised aid will be most urgently 
 required. While the members remain young, these Societies are 
 supposed to be in a prosperous condition ; but when the members are 
 getting old and sickly, and young ones will not enter to bolster up the 
 club for the sake of the old, then the box has to be reformed, or, in 
 other words, the Society has to be re-constructed, so as to exclude the 
 unfortunate invalids. The parties to this injustice never appear to 
 think that the same fate may come to them hereafter, when they grow 
 old. We should like to be able to subject them to the same process as 
 the Chinese do their gods, who, after a long period of wet weather, 
 when they have prayed vainly for relief, put their idols out in the 
 rain to see how they like it. Out of fifty of these Societies, which 
 were established in London during the last twenty years, Mr. J. Tidd 
 Pratt, the Registrar, found, by special enquiry, that only ten were still 
 in existence. They are destructive of the real purposes for which 
 Benefit Societies were originally intended, inasmuch as the old and 
 infirm, for whom provident institutions are most destined to do good, 
 cannot avail themselves of them, and they certainly stand in the way 
 of persons entering better constituted Societies, for they draft off the 
 members in the vigour of life, and only retain them until such time as 
 when, from advanced age, the necessarily high scale of contributions 
 practically excludes them from admission into the best class of Friendly 
 Societies; they are, in fact, a cruel swindle of the property of the 
 people. They are often obliged to close the box for some months, 
 as, having no surplus funds in hand, the current contributions 
 are insufficient to meet the calls, if there be one or two members on 
 the funds ; a sudden epidemic in any neighbourhood invariably breaks 
 them up. The Registrar has at last discovered that the Act of 
 Parliament, 18 and 19 Vic., chap. 68, sec. 13, gives him power 
 to refuse to certify these Societies, unless they insert a rule providing 
 for the following clause of the said Act : “ That it shall not be 
 lawful for any Society to direct the division or appropriation of any 
 part of the stock thereof, except for the purpose of carrying into effect 
 the general interest and objects declared in the rules as originally 
 certified ; unless the claim of every member is first fully satisfied, or 
 adequate provision be made for satisfying such claims.” This certainly 
 
28 
 
 will have the effect of preventing these Societies from being formed 
 under the garb of legality. We are sorry to think that any such 
 clubs have any connection with our Order, and sincerely hope the 
 good sense the members may possess will lead them at once to act a 
 more manly and judicious part, by re-constructing them on really honest 
 and just principles, for such Societies are, we consider, a disgrace to 
 all parties connected with them. To plead that they are the rule in 
 any particular town or locality is a weakness and sophistry contemptible 
 in the sight of all thinking men. The signal disapprobation which the 
 subject received at the hands of the Delegates at Derby, when intro- 
 duced, inspires a hope that the time is not far distant when our Order 
 shall take its place in the foremost rank of Friendly Societies, in 
 soundness and stability of constitution, if not in numbers. 
 
 SOCIAL INFLUENCE— CONCLUSION. 
 
 Benefit or Friendly Societies, like all other great institutions, sprang 
 out of the necessity of the times. It is amusing to hear how some 
 men will wander about to find an origin of these Societies. Some say 
 they were first formed amongst the legions that Titus led to storm 
 and sack Jerusalem; others that they originated in the guilds which 
 sprang into existence under the Norman Conquest, by which they pro- 
 tected each other from the rigorous laws then imposed on the people 
 of this country. We rather think* with Mr. New that it was reserved 
 for that celebrated writer, Daniel Defoe, first to suggest the formation 
 of modern Friendly Societies. Defoe had the greatest abhorence of 
 pauperising the people by giving them charitable relief. Hence he wrote 
 a work entitled “ Giving Alms no Charity/’ in which he proves the 
 best way of aiding men is to place within their reach the means of 
 helping themselves. In the year 1695, he produced a book bearing 
 the title of “ Essays on Projects,” in which he advocates a plan for the 
 formation of Societies, by mutual assurance, for the relief of members 
 in seasons of distress, out of which methods might merge that would 
 prevent the general misery and poverty of mankind, and at once secure 
 them “ against beggars, parish poor, almshouses, and hospitals,” and by 
 which there would not be “ a creature so miserable or so poor but 
 should claim subsistence as their due, and not ask it as charity.” 
 This, to us, is the very essence of Friendly Societies ; and, although 
 the thought seems to have taken firm hold upon the practical mind of 
 Defoe, nearly 200 years ago, yet no Societies of this description were 
 then in existence, or we should have been made acquainted with the 
 fact. Were Defoe to be permitted to look upon the scene now, what 
 would be his pleasure and astonishment to see the thousands of 
 Societies in existence — their members counted by millions, spreading 
 the principles of mutual support and their blessings and comforts 
 over the length and breadth of the land; carrying consolation and 
 assistance to the bereaved, the sick, and the orphan ; helping to 
 restore happiness to the domestic hearth; and fulfilling one of the 
 
29 
 
 noblest missions the human mind can conceive. The collected records 
 of events inform us of the fact, that in the United Kingdom, in one 
 year, two millions of our fellow-creatures are rendered incapable of 
 earning a livelihood through accidents of a more or less serious nature. 
 Of these, 10,000 die from the direct effects of such accidents, and 
 1,999,000 have broken bones or are in other ways more or less injured. 
 From these facts, it must be self-evident to every working man how 
 essentially necessary it is that he should provide against these con- 
 tingencies. Mr. New, addressing those who are not members of these 
 noble institutions, remarks : “If you are not members of any Society, 
 then we would impress upon you the importance of connecting your- 
 selves with some institution. When trade is flourishing and labour in 
 demand, and you are in good health, you may be indifferent, but a 
 lingering illness may drive you in the full spring-time of life, 
 with the last week’s wages exhausted, to poverty and want.” Again 
 he says: “Have you not seen the miserable pittance that is awarded 
 to old age ? or liave you not heard of the old couple, unable any longer, 
 by honourable industry, to provide for themselves, sent to the union to 
 associate with the disreputable by day, and be separated from each 
 other at night?” This subject should claim the most serious con- 
 templation of our sons of toil, because we believe it to be not only to 
 their own interest, but a social duty they owe to themselves and families, 
 for every man to provide against old age, accident, sickness, and death ; 
 and we know of no method by which he can make such provision out 
 of the means available to him from his earnings, only by becoming a 
 member of a sound and well-constituted Friendly Society. 
 
 From the wisdom and necessity of these Institutions, and the action 
 that is being taken by the labouring portion of society, it must be 
 apparent that they are gaining a practical knowledge and keen appre- 
 ciation of those provisions best suited for their own and families’ 
 interests, and conclusively evince a wide-spread and honest desire to 
 place themselves in such a position as will enable them to rely upon 
 their own individual and collective prudence and forethought to with- 
 stand the most adverse circumstances incident to the “battle of life.’* 
 Their intelligent and judicious codes of rules now and about to be 
 brought in operation amongst us ; the understanding of the wisdom 
 and necessity of occasionally taking stock of their income and ex- 
 penditure ; the revision and re-construction of their rules as experience 
 and circumstances require, have a tendency to give confidence and 
 stability to their Institutions, and prove, beyond the shadow of a doubt, 
 what can neither be mistaken nor denied, that the moving principle 
 which actuates the brain portion of those who are the founders mid 
 supporters of these Societies is prudence and economy, — teaching them 
 to be self-reliant, and inspiring them with an honest consciousness 
 that they walk erect in maniy independence, prepared to do battle with 
 adversity when health gives way, or accident overtakes them. The 
 proper management of Friendly Societies has a very beneficial effect 
 in teaching us the true value of money, making us practically acquainted 
 
30 
 
 with what great results may be accomplished by small means when 
 united and judiciously applied. It must be peculiarly gratifying to 
 all who are interested in the social progress and moral welfare of the 
 industrious classes to witness how men of position, intelligence, and 
 influence are studying and persevering to make themselves thoroughly 
 acquainted with the aspirations and desires of the working classes — 
 what difficulties they are labouring under — how they may be best 
 removed — how their labour may be made productive to themselves and 
 the public with the least possible wear and tear upon themselves — how 
 their mental faculties may be developed — how they may be trained and 
 educated in the most fitting manner to take their place in society, and 
 qualify them to perform those functions they will ultimately be called upon 
 to exercise. We are, however, hopeful that the time is not far distant 
 when our own and kindred institutions will meet with still more general 
 patronage and support from the middle and higher classes of society. 
 Already many of the nobility and gentry who have obtained a know- 
 ledge of our aims and purposes have identified themselves with us, and 
 their names are enrolled amongst our members ; but as yet such 
 instances are the exception, and not the rule. We are anxious that the 
 reverse should be the case, and the exception amongst the classes to 
 which we are referring will be in not becoming honorary members of 
 Friendly Societies. We are inclined to think that one of the reasons 
 of our not having more support from this source is consequent upon 
 too much secrecy and reserve amongst ourselves ; but experience has 
 taught us the folly of such a course, and we have now thrown to the winds 
 those gaudy trappings, those grotesque paraphernalia, and ignorant 
 mummeries, and are applying ourselves to the study of the real business 
 and objects for which we are bound together in the bonds of union and 
 mutual aid ; and we shall ultimately find that this common-sense view 
 will give us a higher claim for support from those above us in social 
 position, as they become acquainted with our laws and the modes of 
 carrying them into practice — when they see the benefits they confer 
 upon the members and the good they are calculated to effect, and we 
 may reasonably expect to see them coming amongst us with a heartiness 
 and goodwill that will give an additional impetus to our benign objects. 
 Whatever the future may have in store, whatever the fertile brain of 
 man may invent, whatever new combinations may come into existence. 
 Friendly Societies must go on, prosper, and increase. They are the 
 offspring of thought and intelligence, not the result of accident, but an 
 effect produced by a sure and inevitable cause. Thousands have 
 already, in sickness and in nature's trying hour, received succour and 
 aid from them ; the widow and orphans’ tears have been subdued by 
 their sympathy; thousands, while we are penning the fact at this 
 moment, are being administered to by them ; and unborn millions will 
 avail themselves of their privileges, and find relief in their support. 
 May it be the high distinction of the Order of Druids to perpetuate a 
 principle so just, so philanthropic, so honourable, and so great and 
 good ! 
 
 From the facts we have laid before our readers they will be prepared 
 
81 
 
 to acknowledge that a Friendly Society, whose promoters wish to 
 answer the purpose for which it was established, whose motives are 
 purely honest, and whose desire is to be just and equitable to each 
 other, have nothing to fear from inquiry, but everything to gain. If 
 they are and have been in ignorance as to the proper method of work- 
 ing their society, they need not longer remain so ; and we would ask 
 them at once to proceed to amend their rules in accordance with the 
 principles laid down. But, some will say, it is inexpedient to do it 
 now. This, to us, is perfectly unintelligible. Inexpedient to do 
 what — to do right — to be honest — to be just, and do justice to yourself 
 and those with whom you are connected ? Inexpedient to turn back 
 when you are thoroughly convinced you are on the wrong track, beset 
 with dangers on every hand, and inevitable ruin in the end ? Away 
 with the doctrine of expediency; set yourselves to work manfully, 
 and at once determine to be honest and true to your own interest, and 
 you will be true to each other. If your Lodge is in a state of insol- 
 vency, ascertain the cause, and at once apply the remedy. If your 
 number of members is too small, amalgamate with some other Lodge. 
 As we have said before, no Lodge ought to be composed of less than 100 
 members, and even that number is not a guarantee of its stability or 
 durability, unless its payments in and out are on the best known princi- 
 ples ; but if affiliated on the equalised plan, as we have already shown, 
 numbers are immaterial if the tables of payments are sound. We know 
 there are exceptions to all general rules, and, in some few instances, 
 isolated Lodges have become very rich in funds ; but in 19 cases out of 
 20 this is the result of accident, not of judgment, for whilst one has pros- 
 pered, and ultimately attained a financial position of which it has reason 
 to be both thankful and proud, how many, commenced under equally 
 favourable circumstances, have closed their box and ceased to exist, 
 after passing through a miserable existence, and inflicting misery and 
 disappointment around them ? Some may say, influenced by antiquated 
 notions, handed down by their predecessors, “ Can’t you let well alone ; 
 it has done so far ; the result of your meddling now may, perhaps, 
 turn out quite different to what you expect.” Error or falsehood, 
 however specious in its externals, never did otherwise than propagate 
 error. Consequently, the sooner the members of our Order are brought 
 to frankly acknowledge that working men’s Friendly Societies are not 
 things encrusted with the hoary frost of antiquity, healthy or other- 
 wise, the sooner they will truly appreciate their vast social importance ; 
 the sooner they will see to the purification of their infantile and 
 adolescent shortcomings ; and thus render our self-reliant institution, 
 the offspring of their own noble efforts for the achievement of inde- 
 pendence in the truest sense of the word, worthy of a place on the 
 highest platform on which modern progress has stood during this 
 remarkable nineteenth century of our Christian civilisation. 
 
 H. Snape & Son, Steam Printers, Market Street and Blackfriars Street, Manchester.