September 16. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
381 
j French Beans, as well as the long lists of bulbs and 
1 other flowers which lniglit be sent here to force in winter; 
while in summer, Melons might be grown to advantage; 
| or the whole pit might form one for pines, in which case 
: it would be required tho whole year round' or it might 
do to winter plants intended for tho flower-garden, and 
! when clear weather in March would allow of their being 
placed in frames, &c., it might be converted into a pro¬ 
pagating pit, and eventually have melons for a summer 
crop; such a structure is sure to be “ hard worked,” and 
I its utility at all seasons is so apparent, that we unhesi¬ 
tatingly recommend the amateur, if he has one built 
at all, to have it heated by hot water in the manner 
described; other modes may be adopted, but wo think 
[ them less efficient; nevertheless we will, at an early 
i period, explain our views on the common smoke-flue- 
heated-pit, as well as l’olmaise, and the still not-to-be- 
despised bark bed. J. Robson. 
ONE WORD MORE ABOUT BENEFIT CLUBS. 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers," Ac. 
I feel so strongly the advantage of Benefit Societies in 
rural districts, at least, where alone my observations are 
made, that for the information of those who cannot meet 
with the book, I will transcribe a few passages on this sub¬ 
ject from the memoir of the llev. Legh Richmond, written 
by the Rev. T. S. Grimshawe, which will confirm the fact of 
their usefulness, and prove that they can and ought to be 
conducted in a very different way to that in which they are 
sometimes managed. 
After meeting the objections which liavo been urged 
against these Societies, as making them less desirable for 
the poor than Savings Banks, and proving that these objec¬ 
tions need not exist, Mr. Grimshawe continues : “ The little 
tradesman, the domestic servant, the bailiff or overseer of a 
farm, and others in similar circumstances, may find in the 
banks a safe and profitable repository for their sayings ; but 
the labourer, especially if a married man, has no inclination 
to lay up the small sum he subscribes to a friendly society; 
and these sums, if deposited at the banks, would seldom 
meet his necessities in sickness and old age. A long illness 
would exhaust his deposits, and oblige him to throw himself 
on his friends, or the parish, for a maintenance. But the i 
Friendly Societies are strictly Insurance Companies; and if 
their funds be regulated by a just rate of insurance, without 
which, it is granted, no friendly society deserves support— 
and if they be wisely and properly managed—no institution 
is better calculated to afford the poor a comfortable and 
certain independence. Mr. Richmond, who was no mean 
financier, was fully competent to determine the scale of sub¬ 
scription ; and by his judicious arrangements, he prevented 
the above evils, and effectually secured to the poor the benefit 
of a Friendly Society. It is greatly to be desired that his 
plans were universally known, and that all benefit societies 
were formed or remodelled on similar principles. For the 
information of the public the following sketch of the 
Turvey Club is inserted. 
“ The Friendly Society of Turvey was composed of three 
divisions. First, A Club for Children of both sexes, from 
seven to sixteen years of age. Each member pays one i 
shilling entrance, and a penny per month ; and is allowed, 
in sickness, eighteen pence per week. From three to four 
pounds is the yearly expenditure on sick members. The 
Society has deposited £50 in the Savings’ Bank, after twenty- 
years duration. The number of its members has varied 
from twenty to foi*ty children. At sixteen years of age a 
member becomes eligible to the senior clubs, and is entitled 
to receive half the entrance fee required on admission. 
“ Secondly, The Club for Women, confined to persons from 
seventeen to thirty five years of age. The entrance fee is 
five shillings, the monthly subscription one shilling, or one 
shilling and eiglitpence, at the option of the members. 
Those who subscribe the large sum receive six shillings per 
week in illness; and to the lesser subscriber is paid four 
shillings weekly. The number of members has varied from 
thirty to forty. The average payments for the last twenty 
years havo been £20, and the Society has .£200 in the 
Savings’ Bank. 
“ Thirdly, The Mens' Club, also comprising two classes. The 
members of the one pay one shilling, and of the other one 
shilling and fourpence monthly ; and they respectively 
receive eight shillings and six shillings weekly in sickness. 
The entrance fee is seven shillings and sixpence. Their 
annual expenditure has been £35, and their present funds 
amount to nearly £400. These clubs have about twenty 
honorary members, who greatly contribute to the opulence 
and prosperity of the institutions ; and their bounty, joined 
to the subscriptions of a constant succession of young mem¬ 
bers, Mr. Richmond considered, on the calculation of the 
Northampton Tables, to be adequate to tho demands of the 
Club. The rules and regulations of the Turvey Club 
resemble, in most respects, those of other Friendly Socie¬ 
ties; but some additions and amendments were made by 
Mr. Richmond, which are too important to be omitted. 
“ First,—No persons of immoral character were admitted, 
. or such as were likely to disgrace the Society by habits of 
drinking, impurity, profane swearing, or notorious crimes. 
“ Secondly,—A careful superintendance was maintained 
over the members by Mr. Richmond and the officers of the 
society. Offenders were admonished; and after these 
admonitions, if not reclaimed, were excluded from the 
benefits of the society. 
“ Thirdly,—The practice of assembling the members of 
these Societies at public houses, and of spending a portion 
of their funds in liquor, was prohibited ; and their meetings 
were held in the vestry of the Church, at which Mr. Richmond 
constantly attended. By this arrangement nearly a fifth 
part of the funds were saved, and the temptation of the 
public house avoided. . . . Mr. Richmond’s Club, like other 
similar institutions, kept its anniversary; but in a different 
way, and with different effect. These feasts are usually held 
at the public house, and lead to much disorder. The feast 
of Turvey was not a revel of riot and drunkenness; but a 
generous hospitality, consistent with Christian principle. 
Mr. Richmond invited on these occasions, a number of his 
clerical brethren, and other respectable laches and gentlemen 
in the neighbourhood, who usually assembled at Turvey to 
the number of thirty or forty persons, and with a large 
concourse of villagers, accompanied the society to Church.’ 
In a letter written by a gentleman present at one of these 
anniversaries, but which is too long for insertion here, he 
says “ all these Clubs walk in procession to church, and hear 
a sermon, after which they dine together in the school-room,” 
and again: “ without entering into further detail, I would 
make this general remark—that so much cheerful sobriety, 
decorum and good feeling were every where visible, as to 
afford a lively illustration of St. Paul’s precept, “ using this 
world as not abusing it.” 
I wish I could transcribe the whole account given by 
Mr. Grimshawe. The effects of these religiously-conducted 
societies had a marked influence upon the morals of the 
parishioners, and the female character sensibly improved in 
a way which is very lightly considered among the humbler 
classes in the present day. In short, they became a means 
of extensive benefit to the parish in every way. 
The plan of the clubs might be altered to suit the circum¬ 
stances of different localities, but the religious regulations 
cannot be too strongly drawn up, or too strictly enforced. 
Upon them depends the blessing, and, according to the lift¬ 
ing up of hearts and hands to God, will good or evil prevail. 
Nothing earthly can be perfect, but religious Benefit Socie¬ 
ties hold out so much temporal and spiritual good, that they 
seem to be deserving of great attention from those who 
really seek to promote the comfort of the poor. There 
should be particular regard shown for the aged, in every 
case ; and, where assistance can be given to them, increased 
good will arise: for nothing is so sad as the prospects of a 
labourer if he lives till work is over, and infirmities and 
helplessness set in. To those who have means as well as 
hearts, I would again urge this interesting subject, and 
pray them “ to remember the poor,” and to use every 
possible exertion to provide for their sickness and old age in 
a way that keeps up their home enjoyments—independence, 
self-respect, and, above all, their moral and religious cha¬ 
racter; and I would entreat my poorer readers to make 
every effort to meet the monthly demands of these useful 
