THE 



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July, I860. 



LORICTTLTURAL SOCIETIES are subject to the 

 same mishaps that befall other associations for 

 mutual improvement, and it is not always that 

 a scrupulous secretary or trusty treasurer, and a 

 compact committee, can insure success to the 

 undertaking. Circumstances will arise to try the 

 temper and thwart the working of the best -con- 

 sidered plans, and the only consolation will sometimes 

 be that, though we could not insure success, we en- 

 deavoured to deserve it. To place a society on the 

 surest foundation, let there be every possible care bestowed in the pre- 

 paration of the rules. It is not necessary they should be lengthy or ver- 

 bose, but they ought to provide for all contingencies which ordinary fore- 

 sight is capable of predicting, and be framed in a thoroughly liberal spirit, 

 so that all classes may find themselves cared for, from the noble or reverend 

 patron to the humblest cottager. "VVe would, in the first place, warn the 

 promoters of such societies against attempting to do too much : a little, 

 well done, gives more satisfaction than much attempted and but half 

 accomplished. This caution is suggested to us by a perusal of some copies 

 of rules which lie before us, but we forbear to specify them by name, at 

 this moment, because we would not appear to cast discredit on them by 

 invidious criticism. Eor instance, one society is connected by name most 

 distinctly with a certain place, but invites persons to join without any 

 reference to the place of their habitation. Now, a local society open to 

 all the world, is a local society in name only, and we cannot conceive a 

 man coming from Land's End to join a society in the neighbourhood of Lon- 

 don, unless he hopes to gain some special personal advantage thereby. We 

 believe in localization, and would rather see the inhabitants of a single 

 parish bound together in good neighbourship than a gathering from all 

 corners of the kingdom, unless the object were of such a decidedly general 

 character as to warrant it. "VVe advise the founders of new societies to 

 consider this point with attention, and, unless there are special reasons for 



VOL. III. — NO. VII. n 



