338 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
ing link may yet be supplied, which is missing, to the connected 
history of the English people. It is desired to show how the 
habit of association for purposes of mutual help, among the working 
classes especially, survived the destruction of the religious gilds 
(A.D. 1545-1547), and was finally developed under its modern 
form. 7 
Among the signs by which a hunt for such notices may be con- 
ducted are, the use of the word ‘‘ box,” as denoting the common 
fund; the custom of the annual “walk” to church, and the 
sermon; and the annual ‘‘ feast ;’’ which are all very ancient. Of 
the first an instance is noticed of the form “sea-box” and ‘ lands- 
men’s box,’ in a northern seaport, as early as 1634; and it would 
be interesting to know if such an institution can be traced among 
our western seamen of the same period. Since 1793 the Registrar’s 
office supplies a very full, though by no means a complete, view of 
the progress of these associations. Some curious records are there 
preserved of Friendly Societies founded previously to the first 
Enrolment Act. Extracts from the rules of these societies show 
that all the best known features of the Friendly Societies of the 
present day can be traced back to the infancy of their institution ; 
and that they are indebted to modern legislation, not so much for 
any great assistance, as for the gradual removal of disabilities, 
which had been imposed on them by the suspicion or heedlessness 
of former legislators. The Report of the Registrar for 1875, 
published in 1876 (the last obtainable), contains a summary from 
which it will be evident that the average solvency of the West- 
country societies is very much above the general standard; while, 
compared with the population returns of the last census, it will 
appear that the proportion of the population who are members of 
these societies is not so satisfactory. Some necessary corrections 
must be made, in consequence of the peculiar character of the 
return for Lancashire; and when this is effected, the result is in 
each case brought nearer the general average. 
All the usual forms of Friendly Societies are to be found in the 
West. The Affiliated Orders, especially the Manchester Unity of 
Odd Fellows, and Ancient Order of Foresters, stand first, as usual ; 
Cornwall affords some special developments of the affiliated prin- 
ciple. One of the great collecting societies, the Rational, has an 
extraordinary popularity among the Devonshire villages. The 
Western Provident is a favourable specimen of the ‘‘ patronized ”’ 
