Of some of the rules, which are also very general ly adopted, the reason is not so easily seen. One of them is, that none of the members shall belong to any other association of the kind. If a member complies with all the rules of one society, it can be of no detriment to that society, if he belongs to another. A man whose earnings place it in his power, may thus secure to himself a double benefit in sick ness, disablement, or old age. It would lead to the same end if a man was allowed to take more than one of what may be called the shares of one society, double, for instance, the monthly and other pay ments, on condition of receiving all the allowances double ; but his security, as long as clubs are on a precarious footing, would be somewhat increased by dividing the risk.
By another of these rules, the utility of which seems rather more than doubtful, a member, while receiving aid, is not allowed to work. The intention of this is sufficiently evident. It is prevent that sort of imposition to which the societies in ques tion are most exposed, receipt of bounty at seasons when it is not required. The question is,—whether if a man was allowed to earn, were it ever so little, as soon as he was capable, and even, when entitled to relief, to divide the produce with the club; de ducting, for example, from his allowance, a portion equal to one half of his earnings,—both parties would not find their account in it and whether mean* might not to be discovered of guarding against im position as effectually in that case as by the expedi ent which is now in use ? In the case of the superaa amnion Annuity, the member is, in general, at liberty to do any thing which he can for himself, provided his earnings go not beyond a particular amount.
Such, then, in a general point of view, is the end aimed at by these societies, and the means through which they endeavour to accomplish it.
We shall next consider the effects which they have a tendency to produce.
The effects which they have a tendency to pro duce, regard either the individuals themselves, who are the members of the societies, or the community at large.
1. The effects which they most immediately pro duce with regard to the individuals themselves, are two ; first, They deduct somewhat from the ordinary 'enjoyments; secondly, They diminish greatly certain occasional pains; and there can be no doubt that what is lost by the diminution of the ordinary en joyments, is much more than compensated by what is gained in the diminution of the extraordinary pains. The pains are either those of want, in times
of sickness and disablement, where no provision is made for the poor, or those of disgrace and aver sion, where relief may indeed be received, but in a -way inconsistent with all sense of independence, and in general various little habits from which the idea of happiness can no longer be disjoined.
Under this head, something may perhaps be allow ed on the score of temperance. Of the money paid by the members to the club, part, if not so paid, might have been spent upon intoxicating liquors, by which the health and strength would have been im paired.
2. The effects which Benefit Clubs produce in re gard to the public, are either pecuniary or moral. Whatever portion of money would otherwise have been spent by the public in maintaining, during sick ness, disablement, and old age, the persons who, in 'these circumstances, are maintained by the clubs, • this exactly is the pecuniary advantage which ac crues to the public.
The rooral effects are not so easy to define. But - circumstances present themselves in sufficient abun ••dance to prove that they are not inconsiderable. In whatever degree they contribute to diminish the use of intoxicating liquors, they weaken one of the grand - causes of the uselessness and mischievousness of -human beings. In whatever degree they contribute to keep alive the sensibility to disgrace, they pre serve one of the greatest of all incentives to useful conduct, and one of the greatest securities against a course of life, either mischievous or useless. That they contribute greatly to keep alive the sensibility to disgrace is not to be disputed. It follows that they contribute greatly to all that virtue and good conduct of which the labouring classes of this coup - try are day alter day displaying a greater and a greater share.
Since Frugality Banks -became the fashion, it has been customary to -allege, that • all the benefits ca ; pable of being derived from Benefit Clubs, and still higher benefits, may be .derived from the banks, and 'with the.avoidance of several evils. It-will not re - quire many words. to • enable us to effect a compare son. We • shall' follow that 'division of 'the effects, into those regarding the individuals, and Aimee -re garding the public, which was presented above.