their lives have been striving to make provision for old age and infirmity, and who have neither time nor strength to begin again. There is scarcely a town or a village in England which cannot furnish unfortunate instances of what is here asserted; and there is even great danger amongst ourselves. Mr. Tidd Pratt, in the lecture which I have referred to, sounded a loud note of warning. He told us that not only was the condition of Benefit Societies in general bad, but that some of our own in particular, were incapable, without most important alterations of answering the ends for which they were formed. I took the liberty on that occasion of recommending to members of such societies in Hastings an honest and manly examination of their own condition, and the unsparing application of such remedies as Mr. Tidd Pratt might propose. The suggestion was kindly received at the time, and I have waited patiently ever since to see if any good would come of it. It is too soon yet to ask what has been done? – Whether the old clubs have been so reformed and strengthend(sic) as to justify the entrance of young members who wish to ensure something better than a disappointment? There are people in this place who, though not in a position to become beneficial members, are yet deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of such institutions to the comfort and independence of working men, and most anxious to help either to repair existing societies or to form a new one for the borough upon sound principles. They have waited long and anxiously to see what would be done. At the time of Mr. Tidd Pratt’s lectures, the members and managers of existing societies seemed to be thoroughly awake to the dangers and difficulties of their position. There was a talk of meetings and consultations, but we have yet to learn what practical good resulted from them. I, for one, would much rather help to reform the old societies than to construct a new one. It is a cruel thing to turn adrift old members who have not only made their payments with laudable and sometimes painful regularity, but have also helped to support many a brother in the time of sickness, and to impart some comfort to the widow, the fatherless and the orphan. And yet it is whispered about that the old members make all the difficulty; that if these could be got rid of, the club would be strong again. But this is as if a tradesman should say he could keep his shop well stocked if his customers would pay for articles without having them. Of course he could; and so could Benefit Societies go on and prosper if they could throw all their troublesome customers overboard. But this ought not to be; the old members are worthy of all consideration. -
