and the Poor Law. 
99 
anguish of being parted is but keener in the female mind, then 
let us not continue, for the sake of a neat system of regulating 
the inmates of the union house, to augment the distress of the 
poor by such forced separation. And with regard to the per- 
mission given to infirm married people to live together in the 
workhouse, let us ask how often is it complied with? There 
may be unions in which rooms are assigned to one or more such 
couples, and the Poor Law Board might be requested to name 
them. The schedule of such a return would not, we think, be a 
lengthy one. How can we look for moral and social ad- 
vancement among the poor so long as the Creator's regulations 
for the comfort and happiness of mankind are thus invaded by 
those of the Poor Law ? The mischief extends far beyond the 
immediate victims ; it affects the mass of the labourers by 
degrading in their eyes the bond of matrimony, and impairing the 
influences of family affection and of reciprocal duties. 
We will now turn to the benefit societies in common request 
among the rural poor, which almost succetd in keeping at a dis- 
tance from them large and well-managed certified societies, or 
trustworthy branches of the great societies, such as the Man- 
chester Unity and the Foresters, and which will continue to main- 
tain their ground till alterations in the mode of dispensing relief 
from the rate are made. 
They are the sharing-out * or " brummagem " clubs, and 
divide their funds at the end of the year among the members, 
after which they form anew, and thus continue from year to 
year. 
The sharing-out club holds its meetings at the public-house, 
and is principally managed by the landlord. *' Sometimes," says 
Mr. Tidd Pratt, " the club is sold with the good-will of the 
house." It is contrived to secure a " connection " for the house, 
and at the same time to comprise the advantages of the provident 
society without abandoning the member's claim on the poor- 
rate. All the members pay the same weekly contribution, which 
is settled on the following rough and ready calculation. One 
halfpenny a week from each member is to secure Is. a week 
for every sick member for a term of three or six months (mark 
the indifference to the duration of the term) ; Q>d. for a fur- 
ther like term, after which, provided the claimant does not 
miss re-election, superannuation or old-age pay. Where wages 
run high, Qd. a week is no uncommon contribution. This will 
secure — 
* The number of these clubs is unknown. They have been estimated at 
100,000, which would seem too high. Mr. Stanhope fouad them in Kent to be in 
the proportion of three to two certified societies. They appear, however, to be in- 
creasing, and at present keep better societies off their ground. 
H 2 
