WILLIAM SIEMENS, F.K.S. 263 



REMARKS AT THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE IRON, 

 HARDWARE AND METAL TRADES PENSION SOCIETY, 



Held on the 1st June, 1881, 

 BY DR. C. W. SIEMENS, Chairman. 



THE CHAIRMAN rose and said : The toast which I have to propose 

 to you is " Success to the Iron, Hardware, and Metal Trades Pension 

 Society." The old proverb says " Charity begins at home," but 

 this is not saying that charity should end at home, but only begin 

 there. Speaking of charity, I may, perhaps, mention that this 

 word seems to have been rejected from the Scriptures in the newly 

 revised version, but I hope the sentiment has not been taken 

 away because they have substituted a word which perhaps more 

 completely represents what is meant. The word substituted is 

 love. Love we know commences at home. There is no love more 

 el1ic;icious than that shown by one member of a family towards 

 another. It not only benefits a family, but benefits a country at 

 large, perhaps more than any other form of charity. When a 

 family is thus constituted one member will not allow another to 

 fall low, but will endeavour to keep, not only one member, but all 

 the members, above water in a way that would appear marvellous to 

 those who have not tried it. The next form of love is that bestowed 

 between members of workmen's associations. Perhaps the most inti- 

 mate association of love was that found in the workshops between 

 master (or employer) and employed. Unfortunately, and, I say 

 very unfortunately, that spirit which has existed in olden has 

 been lost sight of in modern times ; but I hope the time is 

 not far distant when it will be reinstated in all its former efficacy. 

 At the time of the ancient guilds the members of a trade were 

 like one family : the master met the men, not on terms of equality, 

 he was the master, but he took a deep interest in the welfare of 

 his workmen, and he would not allow a man to go astray without 

 making a strong effort to bring him back to his duty ; and, if he 

 would not do so, he would call on the guild to bring him back to a 

 sense of his duty. This custom is impossible at the present time. 

 It is now impossible for a master to exercise that supervision over 

 an employe which was possible formerly ; but, notwithstanding, 



