THE LAWS OF NATIONAL PROGRESS. 339 
or ‘county ” society. Local clubs are to be met with in the usual 
numbers, and under many varieties, though the type is dying out. 
The opportunities afforded to the Assistant Commissioners of the 
late Friendly Societies Commission (of whom the lecturer was one) 
will have led to the preservation of some pictures of these, which 
may hereafter be interesting. Burial clubs have also received some 
peculiar developments in the West. It is rather the fashion at the 
present day with public writers and speakers to weight their 
remarks in commendation of thrift, or of some special institution 
for its promotion, with sweeping assertions as to the absence of it, 
or diminution of it, among the Englishmen of to-day. The fact 
remains, that England is the one country where an organized 
system of thrift has been for centuries possessed by the industrial 
classes, elaborated by themselves, suited to their needs, and resulting 
in the possession by the generation at present representing them of 
a vast accumulated capital, held by them in trust for themselves 
and for posterity, to be devoted to the relief of unavoidable 
misfortune. 
“THE LAWS OF NATIONAL PROGRESS.” 
ABSTRACT OF PAPER BY REY. J. ERSKINE RISK, M.A. 
(Read January 24th, 1878.) 
Evoturion a Greek idea; Bagehot’s application of the theory. 
Fuller explanation necessary of principles involved in the applica- 
tion of theory of evolution to political philosophy. True source 
of strength of nations. The two stages of civilization—custom 
and freedom. Social science possible or not? reasons for and 
against. Causes of error in social science, and means of counter- 
acting them. The mental discipline required. Light thrown on 
the study by biological and psychological facts. Bagehot’s and 
H. Spencer’s interpretation of the science practically evolution in 
its most complex form. 
