their funds;-evils which, sooner or later, never fail to issue in bankruptcy :-that a fifth part of the funds is regularly allowed for liquor, under the idea of encouraging the publican, at whose house the subscriptions are usually paid :-that the system is productive of much immorality; and associations and habits formed, which bring on a train of serious evils:-that, to the sum allowed from the club, the poor man often adds a large part of his weekly earnings; and, instead of exercising prudence and economy, he wastes this money in intemperate indulgence.” These abuses of Benefit Societies have disgusted many persons, and induced them to give a preference to Savings-banks, unaccompanied with annual dinners, and monthly resorts to the publican. Admitting, however, the existence of these evils, and without detracting from the great public good of the Savingsbanks, it ought to be remembered that the abuses here specified form no just grounds of exception to Friendly Societies conducted on better principles; and that the Savings-banks cannot accomplish the same benefits, or in an equal degree. Their character and use is widely different from those of Friendly Societies. 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 savings; but the labourer, especially if a married man, has no inclination to lay up the small sums he subscribes to a Friendly Society; and these sums, if deposited at the banks, would in few cases 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 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 independency.

Mr. Richmond, who was no mean financier, was fully competent to determine the scale of subscription; and by his judicious arrangements he prevented the above evils, and effectually secured to the poor the benefits of a Friendly Society. It is greatly to be desired that his plans were universally known; and that all Benefit Societies were formed, or re-modelled 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 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 50l. in the Savings-bank, after twenty year's duration. Its members have varied from twenty to forty children. At sixteen years of age a member becomes eligible to the senior clubs, and is entitled to receive half the entrance-fee paid for 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 eight-pence, at the option of the members. Those who subscribe the larger 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 are 201. and the society has 2001. in the Savings-bank.

Thirdly, The men's club, also comprises two classes. The members of one pay one shilling, and of the other one shilling and four-pence monthly; and they respectively receive eight shillings and six shillings weekly in sickness. The entrance-fee is seven shillings and six-pence. Their annual expenditure has been 351., and their present fund amounts to nearly 400l. 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 members, Mr. Richmond considered, on the calculation of the Northampton tables, to be adequate to the demands of the club. The rules and regulations of the Turvey club resemble, in most respects, those of other friendly societies; but some additions and amendments were made by Mr. Richmond too important to be omitted.

First.--No persons of immoral character were admissible, or such as were likely to disgrace the society by habits of drinking, impurity, profane swearing, or other notorious crimes.

Secondly. A careful superintendence was maintained over the members by Mr. Richmond and the officers of the society. Offenders were admonished; and after three admonitions, if unreclaimed, 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 was saved, and the temptations of the public-house prevented.*

In this, and indeed in all other plans of improvement, Mr. Richmond was the presiding genius. Every thing was conducted under his eye, and owed its success to his wisdom and example. He possessed the happy talent of exciting interest, conciliating regard, and meeting difficulties with calmness; he overcame impediments by a gentleness that disarmed opposition, a judg ment that corrected mistake, and a temper which diffused universal harmony. There was an openness in his manner, which impressed all with a conviction of his sincerity, and prevented a suspicion of his having any other motive than a wish to promote the welfare of his parishioners.

Where he met with opposition, he did not hazard the failure of his measures by indiscreetly urging them; but rather left his arguments silently and gradually to produce their effect. cumspection and caution marked every part of his conduct; his great aim being at all times to give no offence in any thing, that "the ministry might not be blamed." He was consistent throughout, in the public discharge of his duty, as well as in his general intercourse, and private and domestic habits; and thus, the energy of his zeal in the pulpit was known not to be the excitement of the moment," the sparks of his own kindling ;" .but · the steady flame of a Divine spirit, imparting to others the sacred glow which animated his own bosom.

To the character, example, and authority of Mr. Richmond, the members of these societies submitted their judgment; and yielded, for the most part, a ready acquiescence in his counsels.

Notwithstanding the acknowledged excellence of these plans, there appears to the writer of this memoir, one important defect. These societies were still of republican character; and it was competent to the members to injure their own interests by an overpowering majority. On one occasion, this defective government had nearly proved fatal to the Turvey club. The funds had increased beyond the expectation of the members, who, in a time of great pressure, resolved to appropriate a portion of them to the relief of their necessities; and they were with difficulty hindered from their purpose, by his firmness and personal influence. This defect is remedied in a society formed at Emberton, on Mr. Richmond's plan. One of the rules of which provides, that no proposition shall pass into a law, without the concurrence of the president and honorary members.

Mr.

*For the establishment of this club, Mr. Richmond obtained the annual prize "for the best regulated Benefit Society in the county of Bedford.”

Richmond acknowledged the improvement upon his principle, observing, with his usual frankness, "our good friend at Emberton has secured by law, what I have effected by personal influ

ence."

It is very desirable that the rules of these societies, after a time, should be enrolled according to act of parliament; by which they become legal corporations, and the evil attending the removal of such men as Mr. Richmond, is provided for, as far, at least, as it can be done, by bringing these societies under the sanction and protection of the law, and thus enabling the better informed of the poor themselves, to insure the proper application of their funds, and control the sudden impulse of popular feeling.

Mr. Richmond's club, like other similar institutions, kept their anniversary; but in a different way, and with different effects. These feasts are usually held at the public-house, and lead to much disorder. The feast at 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 ladies and gentlemen in the neighbourhood, who usually assembled at Turvey, to the number of thirty or forty persons, and with a large concourse of the villagers, accompanied the society to the church. The subjoined letter gives a pleasing account of the proceedings of the day.

"My dear Friend,-You wish me to give you some account of the anniversary of Mr. Richmond's Friendly Societies. This I shall do with pleasure, having attended several of them.

"He generally kept the anniversary in Whitsun-week. You already know that Mr. R. has three Friendly Societies; one for men, a second for women, and a third for young persons. Hence it frequently happens that the father is a member of the one, the mother of another, and the children of the third. Each club consists of the higher and middle classes of parishioners, as well as of the poor. The former contribute, but do not share in the benefit, while the latter are thus more liberally assisted.

"On the anniversary, all these clubs walk in procession to church and hear a sermon, after which they dine together in the school-room. As this is an important scene of action, you must indulge me with a moment of your time, while I shew you its interior. Imagine to yourself a fine, large, airy room, with a lofty ceiling, following the form of the roof of the building; the floor even, and the walls, as well as the top, beautifully white. Every

part of the room is ornamented with the staves of the different members, painted blue, and disposed upon the walls, somewhat like the swords and halberts in an armoury. These are surmounted with bouquets and festoons of flowers in rich profusion; for which the 'squires' gardens and shrubberies are laid under such heavy contributions, that it needs almost a year to replenish them. Think of the variety of flowers and shrubs that a village like Turvey would produce at Whitsuntide, and you may conclude that the choicest of them are to be found most tastefully arranged throughout the room. One garland is suspended from the centre, and which is carried before the clubs to the church, instead of any colours. In the centre of this garland, which is in the form of a sphere, there is a triangle, emblematical of the three clubs united in one; and in the centre of the top of the room hangs the triangle of Unity, which I shall have occasion to notice by-and-by. Four tables are placed round the room, so as to form one. That at the top for the honorary members, the clergy and gentry; on the right are placed the men, on the left the women, and at the lower table the children. I have been thus minute, because the order, as well as the elegance, displayed on the occasion, contribute much to the good effect of the whole. At eleven o'clock the 'squires of Turvey, Mr. and Mrs. Richmond with their friends, and some of the neighbouring clergy, assemble to meet the club, near the school-room. A long train of members of the different clubs proceed in order to the church, headed by the rector; the benefit members all carrying blue staves. The same order is observed on returning from the church to the school-room. A visitor generally preaches the sermon.

"We were disbanded at the school-room, and allowed an hour to ramble about; after which we were summoned to dinner by a bell. The members had taken their places when we entered the room. We were disposed at the chief table, and on a signal given all rose up, and Mr. Richmond said the grace. The covers were removed, and we enjoyed a very nice dinner, vario sermone. After dinner, the following grace was sung by the whole company, standing :—

'We thank thee, Lord, for this our food,

But most of all for Jesus' blood;

Let manna to our souls be given,

The bread of life sent down from heaven.'

"At this part of the day, as many of the villagers as can approach the doors and windows are allowed to gratify their curiosity in observing the proceedings. After a glass of wine at