BENEFIT SOCIETIES. THERE is no project of practical utility more deserving of attention than that of Benefit Societies; and perhaps there is not a class of the community more important to be interested in the subject than that of Teachers, not only as it respects the operations of such societies in schools, but in parishes and districts generally. We purpose, therefore, to bring the subject fully before our readers. We give in this number a detailed account of an admirably conducted Benefit Society in Birmingham. In our next number, we shall give the rules, &c. of another, better adapted, perhaps, for country parishes and small populations, and which we know to be in most satisfactory progress. To the Editor of the Teacher's Visitor. SIR,-Will you kindly find a place in your valuable publication for the following sketch of a safe plan for the formation of Provident Institutions. I am your obedient servant, W. E. H. There are few societies professedly established for the benefit of the working classes which are so universally supported by them as Benefit Clubs; and there are, in consequence of bad management, the meetings being held at public-houses, and the rules not being enrolled, few things which cause, in all directions, so much misery and disappointment to the poor. Provident Institutions, which aim at the same object as Public-house Clubs, but by far different machinery, are beginning to be established in many places, and generally in connection with the Church. From the rules and constitution of one of the most successful of these, namely, the Birmingham General Provident Institution, we draw the data for the following observations, which are earnestly commended to the attentive consideration of all our readers-this institution having been approved by J. T. Pratt, Esq., the Barrister, and by other high authorities-and we trust a good result will attend this notice of these valuable instruments of good, in exciting the clergy and conductors of schools to take up the subject throughout the country. The object of Provident Institutions should be to promote the general welfare of the working classes, by instructing them in the use and privileges of those laws of the realm which have been instituted for their especial benefit; teaching them to act on the principles of mutual assurance and support, now so generally adopted by the more opulent members of society, and guarding them against the many plausible but ruinous schemes, by which they are too frequently deceived; thus enabling them to practise those lessons of morality and religion which they are taught in the Church and the School, and to combine temperance, prudence, and justice, with charity and brotherly love; that while all are united "to bear each other's burdens," every one shall "provide for his own household,' and prepare against the natural evils and emergencies of time, more especially sickness, old age, and death, without endangering the far more important concerns of eternity. They may embrace a Medical Attendance Club; a Life Annuity, Sick Pay, and Funeral Society; a Saving Club; an Endowment Society; a Library; and a Benevolent Fund; every member being at liberty to subscribe to one or all, according to his ability or inclination, with the exception, that persons insuring pay in sickness, must also insure Medical Attendance. When it is considered that the working classes are generally dependent on their daily labour for support, and that if visited by sickness, and unable to work, they must of necessity resort to gratuitous assistance, unless they can in some manner provide against it during health, the advantage and necessity of such institutions must be evident. It is, however, to be regretted, that, from the mistaken calculations of some, from the mismanagement in others, and from the temptation of public-houses, in which the business of the majority is transacted, the good that might have been anticipated has been but seldom realized; in too many cases, the evil proposed to be avoided has been greatly increased; and, after paying for years to the support of others, the old members have been obliged in sickness to resort to the parish for aid for themselves and families. We will endeavour to explain the various branches of a good Provident Institution, under their several heads: 1. The Medical Attendance Club, for both sexes, and all ages, for insuring medical attendance, advice, and medicines in all cases, (midwifery excepted,) with the privilege of choosing from one or more surgeons, on paying twopence twice a month if above 14, and one penny twice a month if under 14 years of age: 2. The Life Annuity, Sick Pay, and Funeral Society, for both sexes, to enable persons, from the age of 6 to 55, to insure weekly pay in sickness for life; an annuity in old age; and a sum of money at death. The tables of payment must be graduated according to the age at the time of entering, and calculated upon equitable principles, from approved data, according to the probabilities of life and sickness. Three tables of payments to insure weekly pay in sickness may be adopted, each being divided into ten classes, by which persons would be enabled to insure from two to twenty shillings weekly in sickness; from one to ten shillings weekly for life after the age of 60 or 65; and from £3 to £30 at death, with the privilege of receiving one-third of the funeral money at the death of one wife or husband. Persons wishing to insure from £20 to £200 at death, and from £10 to £20 per annum for life after the age of 60, 65, or 70, may do so, unconnected with any pay in sickness. The institution should be divided into a male and female division, and each division into a junior and senior branch; the Sunday-school boys being the junior branch of the male, and the Sunday-school girls the junior branch of the female division. Both divisions are under the same government and laws, but the funds of each are kept entirely separate, and as two distinct societies. 3. Sunday-school Payments.-Children in Sunday-schools, between 6 and 14 years of age, only to insure two shillings weekly in sickness, £l at death, and medical attendance at all times, with the choice of surgeons, on paying one penny per week. Boys above 14, and girls above 16 years of age, may insure large sums by paying according to rules and tables provided for adults. 4. Adult Payments.-The following table is given as an example, and shews the payment to be made at different ages, TO INSURE 12s. WEEKLY IN SICKNESS AND £18 AT DEATH, with the privilege of having £6 of it at the death of one wife, and will give an idea of what is meant by a graduated scale: provision would be made to insure larger or smaller sums, according to a person's wages and age, tables being provided: 5. Further Examples of Graduated Payments. First.-A boy above 14, or a girl above 16 years of age, may insure 4s. weekly in sickness, and £6 at death, by paying 4d. twice a month; or a woman aged 22 may insure the same sums, with the privilege of receiving £2 on the death of one husband, on paying 4d. twice a month. Second.-A boy aged 16 or 17 may insure 6s. weekly in sickness, and £9 at death, on paying 6d. twice a month; or a man aged 21 may insure 20s. weekly in sickness, and £30 at death, with the privilege of receiving £10 of it at the death of one wife, on paying 1s. Ild. twice a month. Third.-A man aged 21 may insure 10s. weekly in sickness until the age of 65; 5s. weekly, for life, after 65; and £15 at death, with the privilege of receiving £5 of it at the death of one wife, by paying 1s. 4d. twice a month until the age of 65 only. Fourth.-A man or woman aged 21 may insure £20 at death, by paying 4d. twice a month, or £100 at death, by paying 1s. 6d. twice a month. Fifth. A person aged 21 may insure £20 per annum for life after the age of 60, by paying 1s. 2d. twice a month; after the age of 65, by paying 8d. twice a month; and after the age of 70, by paying 4d. twice a month. 6. Admission Fees will be at the rate of 6d. for every 2s. insured weekly in sickness; thus a member insuring 4s. weekly in sickness will pay an admission fee of 1s.; a person insuring 10s., a fee of 2s. 6d. ; a person insuring 12s., a fee of 3s., and so on. 7. Independent Fund.-This is a peculiar and distinguishing feature of Provident Institutions, which enables the Members, by extra payments for a few years, to become independent of their contributions; and by making which, when young, they have nothing to pay in old age, and leave a larger sum at death for the benefit of their widows and orphans, or friends. EXAMPLE. A young man, 19 years of age, may pay ls. 3d. twice a month, to insure 14s. weekly in sickness for life, and £21 at death. Should he live more than 14 years, he will pay more in than he will receive out at death; and should he live to the age of 65, he will have paid £69 out of his pocket; but by paying 2s. 6d. twice a month, for 18 years and 7 months only, he will continue to receive his 14s. weekly in sickness for life, without any further contribution, and will leave £61 AT DEATH TO HIS WIDOW AND CHILDREN, having only paid into the club £55 15s. Should he die before the end of the 18 years and 7 months, he will receive in proportion, but in every instance HE WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN HE HAS PAID, independently of his weekly allowance in sickness; this will arise from the interest of his money having more than paid his assurance and all expenses. 8. Saving Club.-The regulations of Saving Clubs are similar to those of Savings' Banks, and will be found useful to all who are unable to spare time in the middle of the day, or wish to save smaller sums than are received at the Savings' Bank. Thus money may be deposited every club night; and all money so deposited is the sole property of the person who deposits it, bearing the same rate of interest, and being withdrawn, in the same manner as money deposited in the Savings' Bank, with this difference, only in favour of Provident Institutions, that sums as small as one penny may be received, and interest given on all sums as soon as they amount to five shillings, while Savings' Banks receive no sum less than one shilling, and give interest on no sum under fifteen shillings. 9. Endowments, or sums of money from £5 to £200, to be received at the death of the depositor or at the end of any number of years, and which may be applied for the apprenticing of children, the setting up in business, or the endowment of widows, parents, or orphans, may be insured. This is an entirely new plan, by which neither principal or interest will be lost in the event of parties dying before the time, or being unable to continue their payments. 10. Annuities of £10 or £20 per annum may also be insured on the same plan, without loss of principal or interest, and are called by way of distinction, from those before mentioned, Independent Annuities, because they depend solely on individual accumulation, and are attended with no chance or risk. 11. A Library.-It is desirable that a Library should be established, and books supplied to the members at a small charge; so that intellectual enjoyment may be afforded to them at their own houses. 12. The Benevolent Fund is to help those who have shewn a disposition to assist themselves, and to supply relief to the really provident, in cases of unavoidable extremity; and is intended to aid in the purchasing of such surgical instruments as may be needful for afflicted members; in relieving the widows, educating the orphans, and otherwise assisting the members in unforeseen and unavoidable cases of distress. The members are not compelled to join this division: those who do, pay a small contribution, and the fund is chiefly to be supplied by donations and subscriptions from honorary members. We understand that the Birmingham General Provident Institu tion contains upwards of 1500 members, and has nearly £2000 vested in the funds. The rules, books, and printed forms used by the institution are sold by Messrs. B. Hurst and Sons, 75, High Street, Birmingham. HARVEST THOUGHTS. From the dusty heart of cities, where the sickle hath not stirred, Where the merry voice of reapers, morn or even, is not heard; From the lanes of tangled hedge-rows, where the corn-ear gone astray, Yellow, like a shred of day light, falls upon the gleamer's way; From the city, from the hamlet, we have seen the cloud depart— Come we then before our Father with a full thanksgiving heart! Bring ye hither trump and timbrel, yea the merry harp and luteHarvest clods should find them voices if the sons of men were mute: Was it not the bread of thousands passed but now the garner door? Is it not the bread of thousands heaped upon the garner floor? Good have been the sunbeams falling on the reaper's swarthy hands As the precious gold that shineth in the mines of fairer lands. There was many a heart that trembled, in its straightened city home, For the gloomy days of winter, and the famine that should come: Many an eye was darkly gazing, o'er the valleys thick with corn, When the silver rains were falling, eve by eve, and morn by morn; But thy tender love, O Father, lo! is writ in lines of gold, So that he who runs may read it, in the vale and on the wold. Through the sun-bright leagues of England, songs of praise are rising now; For Thy sure and tender mercy, men upon the threshold bow : Grant that these may not forget Thee, in thy worn and famished poor, When the noiseless snows of winter gather round the cotter's door; Where their noiseless feet are planted, not a bruised reed they break; weak. 'Neath the roof of cheerless hovels, these have heard and stilled the moan, That for weary hours unheeded, takes a deeper, fiercer tone. |
