Upon a view of all the materials we have been able to collect upon this subject, we recommend the following general cautions to the con sideration of such as are disposed to promote the formation of Friendly Societies, and to secure their permanence.

1st, That no person be admitted a member of a Friendly Society after the age of 50. Ingeneral, they are not admissible at so advanced an age.

2dly, That the scale of allowances set forth in Dr. Price's Tables be kept in view as a standard, to correct any propensity to profusion in allowance; and that it be constantly remembered, that the weekly payments ought to increase according to the age of the person at the time of admission.

3d, That, in order to prevent the income of the fund from suffering diminution or interruption, every disabled member should continue to pay his monthly contribution, though he be on the sick list.

4th, That, in adjusting the proportion be- . tween subscription and benefit, the expences attending the business of the institution be taken into consideration, as well as any additional aid that may be derived from the subscriptions of honorary members.

5th, That the sum to be expended in liquor at such meetings as may be fixed upon by the rules of the society (if any such expenditure is at all allowed) be ascertained; and that it be the special duty of some one or more officers of the society, to take care that this allowance shall, on no account, be exceeded; and that the expence attending this allowance, if it be paid out

of the general fund, be taken into consideration in the original estimate.

6th, That whenever allowances, on account of funerals, or any other post obit payments, constitute a part of the benefits held out by a Friendly Society, a subscription should be called for from the surviving members, in order to support such allowance.

7th, That whenever any sum of money is allowed towards defraying the expences of a fu neral, the mode of expenditure should be regulated by the rules of the society, and put under the controul of some officer of the club, with a view to preserve decency and order, and to pre- vent intoxication or riot, peculiarly disgraceful on so solemn an occasion..

8th, That the probabilities of life being lower in great towns than in the country, annuities may be afforded in them upon somewhat cheaper terms; but, on the other hand, there should be a greater degree of reserve in adjusting the allowances in sickness in towns than in the country.

9th, That where a Friendly Society is composed in the whole, or in part, of members exercising unhealthy or hazardous trades, a proportionable degree of caution should be exercised in adjusting the scale of subscriptions and allowances; and some previous enquiry as to the average number of sick and disabled members, should be instituted.

10th, That it be a standing rule of every Friendly Society, that no part of the fund be ever laid out in Lottery Tickets, or any other game of chance.

* 11th, That, in order to guard against the dissolution of the society, by the pressure of any extraordinary demand, it be an original article in its constitution, that whenever the funds shall be depressed below a certain point, to be fixed by the rules of the society, a fresh contribution, or a reduction of benefit shall take place; the amount of which contribution or reduction shall also be ascertained by the fundamental rules of the society, and continue till the funds are sufficiently recruited.

12th, It should be remembered, that the table of allowances for sickness is only calculated for the male sex: the sickness of women is so much more frequent, that the allowances above stated could not be afforded, upon the same subscription, to them.

13th, That whenever there is any sum in hand, over and above what is necessary to meet the ordinary expences of the society, it should be immediately laid out at interest; and a due attention to the regular application of this occasional surplus should be enforced by the rules of the society. The interest now payable on government securities, and the power of transferring any quantity of stock, however small, seems to give a decided preference to this mode of laying out the money of a society, above all others, except in the way of loans to the members, where good security can be had.

14th, It is observed by Mr. Cowes, in his treatise upon this subject (p. 66.) "That to "guard against frauds and idlenesss, it has been

An example of a provision of this kind will be found in Mr.Cowes's publication on Friendly Society (p. 112, sec. 56) -The precaution necessary has been adopted by the Friends of Industry at Donnybrook.

"found necessary, that the weekly allowance to sick members should be rather less than their usual earnings."

15th, Some period should elapse between the time of admission, before the subscriber is entitled to receive the benefits of the society, in order to allow time for the funds to accumulate. It is observed by Sir Frederick Eden (vol. 1. 603) "That if a premium were wanting for any purpose connected with Friendly Societies, it "might be ju liciously applied in forming a fund "for the relief of members during this interval; "the periods of prospective advantage, according "to the constitution of some societies, being too "remote to interest the general class of people "who are likely to become subscribers." How fir the subscriptions of honorary members might be usefully applied for such a purpose, we submit to general consideration.

It has been already observed, that the benefits of Friendly Societies consist in general of allowances to the sick, annuities to the aged, and mortuary or host obit payments, We do not find that the advantages of these institutions have been hitherto extended in a greater degree to such industrious poor persons as are oppressed by large families than to others. Such an extension of the benefits of these establishments, if practicable, would be no doubt highly desirable, and a considerable improvement in the system of Friendly Societies. But as we are not prepared to suggest any specific plan for the purpose, nor to exhibit any calculations which night serve as a guide to ascertain the terms upon which such additional benefits might he afforded, we must content ourselves with barely suggesting the possibility of such an improvement as a matter worthy of consideration, an! C

refer the reader whose curiosity may be excited on the subject, to a pamphlet published in the 6th vol. of the Bath Reports, p. 219, by Mr. Richard Par, Fellow of the Royal Society at Edinburgh.

SECTION III.

Of the Constitution of a Friendly Society. The several rules and regulations which compose the constitution of a Friendly Society, seem reduceable to three general heads:

1st, The rules that ascertain the rate of subscription or admission, and the proportion that is to subsist between subscription and benefit.

2dly, Those which regulate the admission of members, conduct of business, appointment of officers, and every thing else that relates to the orderly management of its internal concerns.

3dly, The provisions for enforcing regular payment of subscriptions; against innovations and abuse; against unpositions upon the society; and against peculation, embezzlement, and misapplication of its funds; and fraudulent dissolutions of the society.

The first of these heads has been the subject of the last section. A few observations seem necessary with respect to the two latter,

That some caution should be used in the admission of members, seems clear from two considerations.

1st, The impositions to which the society may he exposed from improper and fraudulent appli

cations.

2dly, The confusion, distraction, and discredit. to which it may be exposed by members of a turbulent, quarrelsome, or seditious disposition.