260 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 22. 
&c., flowed with au increased supply, While, of course, 
brooks, streams, ponds, &c., were all filled to the brim; 
and towards the end of the month, reports got abroad 
that the ground was chilly, cold—crops late—potato dis¬ 
ease, like a pestilence, spreading —beans blighted — 
wheat mildewed—and I do not know how many other 
diseases appearing. However, by-and-by, the monarch 
of the day asserted his supremacy, and for a time, 
dividing his authority with the clouds which impeded 
his track, he quickly shook off those necessary yet 
troublesome opponents, and towards the end of the first 
week in July shone forth in all his glory, looking almost 
as if his brightness had increased with his concealment, 
and warming the earth by his powerful influence, soon 
began to call up from below some of that moisture which 
lies in store to replace the loss of that near the surface, 
which is carried off by evaporation, the requirements of 
plants, and other causes. So well, and so continued has 
this been going on, that we apprehend shortly to hear 
of plants suffering whose roots do not extend so deep as 
to reach the store of moisture beyond the sun’s imme¬ 
diate action. Now, though like the rest of mankind, we 
are at times inclined to find fault with the caprice of the 
season, in so far as affects the welfare or otherwise of 
certain things, more especially our hobbies, yet we must 
all admit that the present one, though somewhat 
singular, has been on the whole favourable to the growth 
of most things. But we must defer further details on 
this head until another week. J. Robson. 
BENEFIT CLUBS. 
By the Editor of “ The Cottage Lamp." 
I am now going to write alittle upon the subject.of Benefit 
Clubs, which have appeared to me, since I have had some 
insight into the wants of the poor, to be most valuable 
means of assisting the industrious part of the population, 
and of providing for their sickness and old age. It seems 
to me, that by establishing and property managing these 
clubs, we should do much towards forming the “ model 
parish,” which I have seen suggested, and which must be so 
difficult to effect even with the best and most zealous inten¬ 
tions. 
In the beautiful memoir of that man of God, the late 
I!ev. Legh Richmond, there is along and interesting account 
of the three clubs he formed in his parish, which took in all 
the population, and were most beneficial in their effects. 
There was a club for men, one for women, and a third for 
young persons of both sexes below the age at which they 
could enter either of the other two. They were, of course, 
regulated by a system of rules drawn up by Mr. Richmond, 
who conducted them, and presided over them with holy 
watchfulness and care. This, let me strongly assert, is the 
grand cause of all good in a parish, for where the clergyman 
goes before Iris flock, leading, directing, instructing, and 
guarding them, all its institutions will flourish ; because all 
are conducted, or should he so, with a single eye to the glory 
of God, and the good of souls; and when God is regarded 
in all we do, we have the only sure warrant for expecting 
that our works shall be blessed and established. The 
description Mr. Richmond’s biographer gives of the meet¬ 
ings of these clubs is delightful indeed, and would form a 
valuable model for other parishes where such clubs are 
desired. 
When a man has worked all his life for the support of his 
family, what can he lay by for sickness and old age ? Sup¬ 
posing he could set apart one guinea in the year, what 
would that be when many years of helplessness, sickness, 
and want came upon him ? It would soon be gone, when others 
were dependant upon him, and when a doctor’s bill came to 
be discharged ? No ! I am persuaded, that with the very 
best endeavours, a poor labourer can do nothing for himself 
or family, when age or sickness comes. But when he is the 
member of a Benefit Club, his monthly payment is a little 
store for the days of trial. We know “ how good and how 
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity; ” and, 
even in a worldly sense, we may see the advantages arising 
to all from banding together for mutual support and assist¬ 
ance. The subscriptions form a fund, frequently aided by 
honorary members, which enables all who need to receive 
far more, and for a longer time, than they could possibly 
do by their own single-handed endeavours. The subscrip¬ 
tion monthly is small—the benefit eventually is great. 
In our own parish, where things are managed any how, I 
have clearly seen the good of benefit clubs. Two have been 
established for a great many years. One is a life club ; the 
other is only for a sort of running lease of seven years. 
This kind should never be permitted for an instant. Every 
seven years it breaks up, the funds are divided equally, the 
members most frequently eat and drink away their share; 
they then form again for another seven years, and any aged, 
or confirmed sick member is rejected. This is altogether 
bad ; and I hope ours is the only club of this kind in Eng¬ 
land. 
The Life Club is a great blessing indeed to all who belong 
to it, although it is very differently managed to those in 
Mr. Richmond’s happy parish. The annual meeting takes 
place at a public house ; it is not presided over by the shep¬ 
herd of the sheep, and of course, under such circumstances, 
sobriety and religious observances are very little indeed con¬ 
sidered. Yet even so, the members reap worldly advantage 
from it. The monthly subscription is one shilling and four- 
pence ; this intitles each member, in case of sickness, to 
medical advice ; and an allowance of seven shillings a week 
for nine months, if illness continues so long. Should the 
member continue ill beyond that time, the allowance is 
reduced to three and sixpence a week, as long as the illness 
lasts. Now what a provision this is, and how cheaply bought 
by the care and self-denial needed to lay by the monthly 
payment! 
I remember being particularly struck by the good effects 
of this club, in the case of one poor man, in whom we all 
took great interest, from the steadiness of his character, 
and his having worked for us for many years. Consumption 
was God’s appointed means of calling him to judgment, and 
he lingered for many months, when he could no longer 
fight with disease, and struggle to earn his own bread. 
“ What should I do without my club money ? ” he often 
said, during his long decline; “parish pay would do little 
for me now; but I thank God, He enabled me to pay up re¬ 
gularly, and now I find the good of it. Many people 
grumble at having to pay, pay, pay, every month, without 
getting any good; but when they do come to be sick like me, 
they’ll never grumble again.” 
The want and distress that many endure, who belong to 
no club, makes one very anxious to promote, as far as 
possible, such parochial institutions; and where gentlemen 
have the heart and the purse, they might do more to lessen 
the poor-rates, thin the union, and benefit their humble 
neighbours in this way, than by the strictest economy in the 
management of the parish funds. I know that in many, 
very many cases, labourers have not the power of putting by 
even the small sum required for this fund ; where wages are 
low, and children numerous, it cannot, very frequently, be 
done; but there are, in most parishes, persons whose means 
might do much, if tlieir hearts were set aright, and some of 
the industrious, but very poor, might be assisted by them, 
according to their ability, to belong to a club, and thereby 
provide for them when help is of greater consequence than 
now. 
I would strongly impress upon my readers the immense 
importance of having these parochial institutions conducted 
in a godly manner; nothing else can give them strength 
and blessing, and they may, by this means, be made to 
promote brotherly love, close union, and holiness, as well as 
worldly prosperity. 
I should be very thankful if my feeble pen could at once 
rouse attention to this subject among those who love to 
benefit the poor. Do what we will for the labourer, we 
cannot otherwise provide for his decrepitude. The union, 
or a miserable pittance, is his certain portion, because no 
poor man can lay by enough for years, perhaps, of suffering; 
and if every clergyman would set on foot one or more clubs, 
according to the state of his flock, and obtain the assistance 
of his richer parishioners in their behalf, with the blessing 
