So much for removing the causes of dislike. More is necessary to create a positive, and still more to raise an ardent attachment.' The springs of human nature must be skilfully touched. Mr Duncan knew where to find them, and he looked to the means. which the circumstances of the case afforded for placing them in action. " It may be observed in general," he says, " that in all those situations, where it is practicable to assimilate the mode of manage ment to the scheme of Friendly Societies, the ad vantage to be derived from such a circumstance ' ought not to be overlooked." If there were nothing in the case but the actual existence of these societies, and the favour with which the people regard them, the importance of this advice would still be more than considerable. But, says Mr Duncan, " On this subject, it may be proper to attend to the following remarks : Those who are at all acquainted with the history of friendly societies, must be aware, that they owe much of their popularity to the interest excited among the lower orders, by the share to which each of the members is admitted in the management of the institution. The love of power is inherent in the hu man mind, and the constitution of friendly societies is calculated to gratify this natural feeling. The members find, in the exercise of their functions, a certain increase of personal consequence, which in terests their self-love in the prosperity of the esta blishment. Besides, by thus having constantly be fore their eyes the operation of the scheme, in all its details, they are more forcibly reminded of its advan tages ; and not only induced to make greater efforts for obtaining these advantages, but also to persuade others to follow their example. Hence it happens, that a great number of active and zealous supporters of the institution are always to be found amongst the members of a friendly society, who do more for the success of the establishment than can possibly be effected by the benevolent exertions of individuals in a higher station." For these reasons Mr Duncan held it expedient to give the themselves a share in the management of the institution ; and that share was well chosen. The contributors in a body were not fit to be the acting parties ; but they were At to choose those who should act for them. A general meeting is held once a-year, consisting of all the members who have made payments for six months, and whose deposits amount to L.1. By this meet ing are chosen the court of directors, the committee, the ,treasurer, and the trustee, the functionaries to whom the executive operations are confined: by this- also are reviewed and controlled the trans actions of the past year, with power to reverse the decisions of the committee and court of directors ; lo make new laws and regulations, or alter those already made ; and, in other respects, to provide for the welfare of the institution.
The power of choice is somewhat limited by the qualifications required. The society consists of two sorts of members, the ordinary, and the extraordina ry, and honorary. The general meetings have alone the power of electing honorary members; but the Bank Trustee, the Lord-Lieutenant and Vice .Lieute nant of the county, the Sheriff-depute and his substi tute, the members of Parliament for the county and burgh, the ministers of the parish, with certain , magistrates of the town, . are honorary members ex officio; and there are certain regulated subscriptions or donations, of no great amount, which constitute the • person paying them, ipso facto, an extraordinary or honorary member. Now, it is from this list of honorary, and extraordinary members that the choice of func tionaries by the general meeting is annually to be made, provided a sufficient number of them should be disposed to accept of the offices designed ' • if not, from such of the ordinary members as make deposits to the amount of not less than L.2, 128. in the year.
It is not fitting here to enter into the details of the , organization, or those of the executive arrangement. It is sufficient to state, that deposits are received in sums of is., bear interest at the amount of L.1; and are
always payable, with compound interest, on a week's notice.
It seems not to have been till 1814 that the pro ject of savings banks made any farther progress in Scotland. In that year, " the Edinburgh Bank for Savings was instituted," says Mr Duncan, " by a so ciety of gentlemen, of the first influence and respec tability; who, from their enlightened labours in the suppression of mendicity, and in the establishment of a permanent provision for the poor, had already ac quired no trifling claim to the confidence and affec tion of the public, and particularly of the lower or ders." In the constitution of this bank, the interfer ence was rejected of the depositers themselves ; who were simply required to confide their money in the hands of the gentlemen who undertook the manage ment of the institution. " This circumstance," says Mr Duncan, " has operated as a powerful obstruc tion to the success of the plan. The truth of this will appear in a very striking point of view, if we contrast the progress of the scheme in Edinburgh with that of the Ruthwell parish bank, or of those institutions which are formed on a similar plan." . And he then presents a statement of facts, which fully support the position, and strongly illustrate the importance of the principle on which the Ruth well institution was founded.
Mr Duncan, from deference to the gentlemen who made the decision for the Edinburgh bank, seems willing to allow that a general meeting of all the con tributors, and a reservation to that meeting of cer tain appropriate powers, useful and important as it is, may, in great cities, such as Edinburgh, be attended with inconveniences which outweigh its advantages. May not this, however, be a concession too easillir,, made ? It would, at least, be desirable to have good reasons presented for the sacrifice of so great an ad vantage, before we consent to its being made. There is an obvious inconvenience in assemblages of people, of any description, when too large. And if one bank were to serve for the whole of a great city, and the contributors should amount to any considerable part of the population, the assemblage would un doubtedly be too large. But this, under the circum stances in contemplation, would not be the case. To accommodate the customers, there ought to be a bank in every parish, or similar district. There would be no greater inconvenience in calling toge ther the moderate number of contributors to such a bank in a city, than in the country. The fact is proved by the ample experience of friendly societies; the members of which do actually meet much oftener than once a-year, and devoid of many advantages which the mixture of persons of the upper classes wouid afford to the association of a savings bank, If any or general institution, to give unity and combination to the operations of the different banks of a great city, were found to be useful, it might be formed of delegates chosen by the committees of the ieveral district or parochial banks ; and thus, without any inconvenience that can be rationally contemplated, all that fervent interest which is the natural effect of giving the contributors themselves a part to act in the formation and conduct of savings banks, would be provided for and secured. Li London itself, 5 _ • r there are various institutions, wholly dependent up on voluntary contributions, the subscribers to which though extremely numerous, are annually called to. gether for the election of committees and other ma. nagers. The society of Schools for All may be ad. duced as a conspicuous example. And where it the inconvenience that is ever found to result? In the meantime, efforts were begun for the exten. sion of the system in England. In the year 1813, a judicious and successful attempt was made by Di Haygarth for the establishment of a bank for savings at Bath, where, sometime before, an institution, un der the name of a servant's fund, been formed on nearly similar principles, at the suggestion of Lady Isabella Douglas, sister of the Earl of Selkirk.