Mr. Spens on tlie Formation of a Friendly Society. 101 



I am well aware that there is very great diflSculty in defining per- 

 manent sickness, and that many will say that the scheme is imprac- 

 ticable on this account. But if it cannot be otherwise satisfactorily 

 ascertained, it may, by appointing a tribunal, whose decision upon a case 

 is to be decisive, and upon the whole I think that this would be the 

 best arrangement, and would eflfectually prevent any questions. The 

 cases would be very rare, but perhaps when they did occur, the judges 

 might consist of the directors for the time, with a medical gentleman 

 appointed by each director, or there might be a permanent appoint- 

 ment, besides an ordinary medical officer, of a number of medical 

 gentlemen to be united with the directors in deliberating on such 

 cases as might occur. Dependence on the honour and judgment of 

 such a board would, I think, be preferable to an attempt at special 

 definition, which might lead to litigation. 



The widows' scheme of the ministers and professors of Scotland, 

 confers most important advantages on their families after their death. 

 Its early formation, and on principles which have, I believe, been found 

 practically most correct, is a great honour to the body, but I am sur- 

 prised that no such scheme as is here suggested, has been brought 

 within their reach. The service to the public, and the comfort to 

 themselves of such an institution, would be indeed very great. At 

 present, if a case of permanent sickness occurs, a usual proceeding 

 is, that a helper be appointed, who receives a portion of the emolu- 

 ments, and a similar arrangement is made where a party is disabled 

 by infirmity of years. The sacrifice of income these arrangements 

 make to both parties, often prevents them being entered into so early 

 as they should be, narrows the field for choice of a successor, and, by 

 materially affecting the status of the latter, tends to impair his use- 

 fulness. These disadvantages are indeed felt and acknowledged, and 

 can only be satisfactorily prevented, by making it compulsory for 

 every one, on their appointment, to join such a society as is hero 

 proposed. 



Many other instances of the applicability of a Professional and 

 Mercantile Friendly Society, sucli as we have suggested, might be 

 given. I am glad to see the benefits of insurance spreading usefully 

 in diflferent directions, and I doubt not that, sooner or later, the 

 extension — in some sense modification — of the principles of friendly 

 societies here proposed, will be introduced witli advantage to the 

 community. " Wherever," says the Report of the Committee of the 

 House of Commons on Friendly Societies in 1827, " there is a con- 

 tingency, the cheapest way of providing against it is by uniting with 

 others, so that each man may subject himself to a small deprivation, 

 in order that no man may be subjected to a great loss. He upon 

 whom the contingency does not fall, does not get his money back 

 again, nor does he get for it any visible or tangible benefit, but he 

 obtains security against ruin, and consequent peace of mind. Ho 



No. 9. 2 



