SOCIETIES, ASSOCIATIONS. The great increase of Societies or knocks. bons for all kinds of purposes is chars°. teristie of the present condition of Euro peans in Europe and of Europeans who have settled in other parts of the world. Association for particular objects is analogous to the great associations of political societies, but with this difference, that their object is something particular, and that they are really established and exist by the consent of the individuals who compose them. [Social. CONTRACT.] Societies have been formed and exist for nearly every variety of object. There are societies for objects scientific and literary, sometimes called academies ; for objects religions and moral; and for objects which are directly material, but in their results are generally beneficial to the whole of mankind. There are societies for objects which the members consider useful, but which other people consider to be mischievous. Generally, in this coun try, it may be stated that any number of individuals are permitted to contribute their money and their personal exertions for any object which is not expressly for bidden by some statute, or which would not be declared illegal by some court of justice, if the legality of such association came in question before it. The objects for which persons may and do associate are accordingly as numerous as the ob jects which individuals may design to accomplish, but cannot accomplish with out uniting their efforts.
In some cases the State has aided in the formation of such associations, and has given them greater security for carrying their purposes into effect, as in the case of savings' banks and friendly societies.
Sometimes the State grants a charter of incorporation to associations, which in many respects enables the body to transact its matters of business more conveniently. Sometimes the State perceives that it can extract some revenue from persons who associate for particular purposes, as in the case of fire-insurance offices, for all persons who insure their property in them (except farming stock, &a) must pay the state 200 per cent. on the sum which they pay to secure their property the accidents of fire. [INsuaszcs, ] If a man should think it prudent to invest a part of his annual savings in a life insur ance, the state makes him a tax on the policy. A great many associations of in dividuals for benevolent, scientific, and such like purposes are left to direct their associations according to the common principles of law.
If lists were made of all the associations in Great Britain and Ireland, including those which are purely commercial, with an account of their objects, income, and applications of income, we should have the evidence of an amount of activity and combination that was never equalled be fore. How far it might be prudent to give to all associations for lawful pur poses greater facilities for the management of their property and the making of contracts, subject to certain regulations as toregistration of their rules and ap proval of their objects, is a matter well deserving of the attention of the legis lature.