legement of obligation on the one hand, nor pays an act of gratitude on the other. He takes, weekly, what is, in fact, his own, and what brings with it a double pleasure; because he reflects that had he not belonged to a Friendly Society-instead of, carefully, laying up what would have entitled him, in a state of sickness, to receive, it may be, in some cases, nearly as much as he could have earned by his industry; he might, and, too probably, would, have, prodigally, squandered it in intemperance, and thereby, have been led both to neglect his business, and to injure his health; that, instead of being despised by the good, and distrusted by all, through his love of liquor and habits of idleness, he lives, not merely without reproach, but with esteem, and with reputation; and that, although in the wisdom of Providence, he is placed in the lower classes of life; yet always remembering that he could not both indulge in excesses, contribute his monthly, and occasional, support to his Society, and, at the same time, maintain his fa mily, he, prudently, preferred the credit of a good name, the comfort of his wife, and the welfare of his children, to all the worthless conversation, and riotous mirth, which idleness suggests, and intemperance produces. If it be so; and I am persuaded that a knowlege of your own heart tells you that it is great, unspeakably great, are the advantages of these Societies, as tending to preserve health, to ward off poverty, and to establish the greatest good on this side the grave, reputation. But there is another advantage accruing from these institutions, such as must administer the most substantial satisfaction to every reflecting mind. One One of the rules of each Society enjoins, that, when any person shall die, there shall be allowed to his widow and his family, a certain sum sufficient to defray the expences of his funeral; and afterwards, a still greater sum to extricate them out of any difficulties which his illness may, unavoidably, have occasioned. The pillow of sickness is often planted with thorns by the reflection, that the prop of the family, "now that "he lieth, should he rise up no more," will leave those in whom all his cares centered, without a friend, without a protector. But when the king of terrors is about to pierce you with his dart, you will have the comfort of reflecting, that your family will, most probably, be relieved from those embarrassments, which your sickness may have produced; and that their claims, so far from being disputed by a malicious officer, or withheld by an unprincipled oppressor, will be, punctually, and instantly, discharged. I might produce many more instances of the great, and general, utility arising from Friendly Societies; but I cannot, perhaps, in this part of my discourse, more usefully engage your attention, than by stating, in plain and simple language, some of the benefits ari sing from an Act of the Legislature, whose express object it was, if not to grant absolute relief, yet to hold out encouragement to them. The first thing, which attracts our notice, is, that the rules of each Society are permitted to be such, as are conceived to be the best calculated to ascertain its use, and declare its intentions. Another circumstance which affords, in the reflection, a mighty comfort, is, that a due application of the See 33d. G. 3. c. 54 VOL, III, Cc funds funds of every Society is secured, in order that the members may not, by the artifices of fraud, or the baseness of collusion, be deprived of their reasonable expectations, and equitable claims, in the season of sickness, and under the pressure of infirmity. A third consideration I would suggest to you which the Act wisely embraces, is, that the rules of each Society, being first subject to the approbation of magistrates, shall direct in what manner, and to what uses, the money subscribed shall be applied. Of the expedience of such a clause every person cannot but be convinced; it being obvious that, in a large body of men, there will be, more especially concerning the distribution of money, various sentiments, and irreconcilable proposals. Instances may, perhaps, occur to the minds of some, that, where a Society could not agree respecting the disposal of its property, when it had amounted to an unexpected sum, so inflammatory has been the language, and so violent the enmity arising from this disagreement of opinion, that, forgetting the future advantages resulting from the institution, a majority have, most unwisely, agreed to divide the property among the several members, and to dissolve the Society. Thus, for the sake of gratifying their malignity, nurtured by violence, and enflamed by opposition, they have bereaved themselves of that support, and comfort, to which, in their cooler moments, they had, fondly, looked forward, as a refuge from the storm, sometimes unexpectedly arising, although the sky might be clear, and the air serene. The application of the funds, therefore, to any other purposes, than to the relief of indigent members, is, wisely, forbidden; as also also the dissolution of the Society-except with the consent of five sixths of those who compose it—whilst they posses the power of encreasing the relief of their distressed brethren, should their stock warrant a deviation from their usual practice. Before Friendly Societies had received the sanction and protection of the Legislature, it was a frequent cause of lamentation, that, when their members were refractory, the Society had not within itself the power of inflicting an adequate punishment; whereas, it is now enabled to impose such fines and forfeitures as shall be necessary to compel a due obedience to its laws. Many Societies have been, materially, injured by the want of moral principle in the officers to whom their money has been entrusted, not being able to enforce the payment of it. Against this inconvenience, the Legislature has, wisely, provided; requiring, moreover, that, in case of the demise, or insolvency, of such officers, their executors, or assigns, shall, within forty days after demand is made, deliver over all things belonging to the Society to the persons appointed, and shall pay the money due to it before any of their other debts. An advantage derived from this Act not to be passed over in silence, is, that the inabilities and incapacities to prosecute, and to be prosecuted, in the courts of justice, attendant upon numerous bodies of men, having one common interest in the object of prosecution, are removed; the trustee, or treasurer, of the Society being enabled to institute, and carry on, all suits, respecting the property of the Society, in his own name: and, should he be removed from his office, the action shall not, on that account, be discontinued. I might enumerate many other advantages which the Legislature has attached to Friendly Societies; but I have, I presume, said enough already, to render all of you, who, severally, belong to them, satisfied, and happy, with your peculiar privileges; and to induce those who have not yet considered the benefits conferred by these institutions, not to delay to posses themselves of them. Should any man object that, if he enter into a Society at an early period, and during the course of a long life, receive little or nothing from it, he is impoverishing his family: instead of repining, and making such unjust reflections, let him be-as one might conclude he would be-thankful to Almighty God, for the health and strength with which he has been blessed, and of which others have been deprived. Let him contemplate the afflictions of one of his brethren who is disabled by infirmity from earning his bread-let him enquire how many painful days, and weary nights, the unhappy creature has passed-let him observe how his strength is wasted, and his spirits are depressed: and then let him say, whether, instead of discontent, he does not feel a satisfaction, in having been, together with his fellow members, instrumental in contributing towards the support of the unfortunate being, and of having enabled him to live, though not, perhaps, with comfort, yet with quiet, in his own little dwelling-instead of being dragged to a poorhouse, where he might have been distracted with noise his spirits could ill sustain, and overcome with melancholy, to which-from the recollection of happier days |