484 Remarks on Friendly Societies. [May, 



and properties formed one common stock for the benefit of the whole. 

 Among the Jews was the sect of the Essenes (from whom the Mora- 

 vians are derived), who dwelt together, all labouring for the common 

 good of the society to which they immediately belonged, _and-' always 

 receiving and assisting the members of the same commmiity. ■')" 



The castes among the Hindoos have some affinity to them in that 

 particular point. Among the Athenians and other Grecian States, 

 associations were instituted having a common chest, into which a certain 

 monthly contribution, paid by each individual, was deposited ; that a 

 fund might be raised for relieving such members of that society, as 

 might in any manner have experienced adverse fortune.* 



Sir Frederick Eden in his " History of the Poor" has traced tlie 

 existence of societies or fraternities to a very early period, and quotes 

 from Hickes's Thesaurus, the ordinances of two Saxon gilds ; and points 

 out their coincidence with some of the modern Friendly Societies. The 

 first of these was established by noblemen at Cambridge : the other was 

 at Exeter, and appears to have embraced other orders of the community. 



The Gild of St. Catherine, founded in the reign of Edward HI, at 

 Coventry, has some wholesome rules, which the modern societies would 

 do well to imitate. The Earl and Countess of Northumberland and 

 their eldest son were members of St. Christopher's Gild at York. Next 

 to these, we have the Free-Masons, an old and valuable fraternity, who 

 supply, from a fund, or donations, their indigent brethren, and aid those 

 of their brotherhood in danger and adversity. Much curious informa- 

 tion on the subject of Friendly Societies, is to be gleaned from Hickes, 

 Dugdale, Bloomfield's, History of Norfolk, and Eden. These fraternities 

 apjiear to have existed, without the permission of the Legislature, 

 though sometimes licenses were obtained to enable them to purchase and 

 iiold lands. For a series of centuries their rules and regulations were 

 drawn up without reference to any general standard ; and it does not 

 seem that they had any knowledge of proportional payments and benefits. 

 In 1719, a Society of Shoemakers was founded at NeAvcastle on TjTie, 

 which we believe still exists. 



Associations for mutual support during sickness appear to have been 

 in existence as early as the middle of the last century. Mr. Mazeres, 

 the cursitor baron of the Exchequer, called the attention of the public 

 in 1772, to " a proposal for establishing life annuities in parishes, for 

 the benefit of the industrious poor." The celebrated Dr. Price assisted 

 Baron Mazeres, not only in calculating the tables, but in drawing up 

 the plans. In the following year 3Ir. Dowdswell, a chancellor of the 

 Exchequer, brought a bill before Parliament, to enable parishes to grant 

 to the poor, annuities for life, upon purchase, and under certain 

 restrictions. It passed the House of Commons without much opposition; 

 but was rejected in the House of Lords, as it was thought likely to 

 impose an unequal and unjust tax on the landed property. 



This bill was sanctioned and supported by Mr. Burke, Mr. Dunning, 

 Sir George Saville, Mr. Thomas Townsend, Mr. Rice, Sir Richard Sut- 

 ton, Lord John Cavendish, and others. In the year 1789, the same bill, 

 with amendments, was again brought forward, and passed the House of 

 Commons, and was again rejected by the House of Peers. The utility 



• Vide Becher's Observations, &c. — we have inserted the instance of the Athenians 

 since the Essay was composed, not being before aware of the existence of Mr. 

 Becher's last work. 



