SOCIETIES, ASSOCIATIONS. The great increase of Societies or Associations for all kinds of purposes is characteristic of the present condition of Europeans in Europe and of Europeans who have settled in other parts of the world. Association for particular objects is ana logous 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.
Societies have been formed and exist for nearly every variety of object. There are societies for objects scientific and literary, some times called academies ; for objects religious 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 country, 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 forbidden by genie 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 persona may and do associate are accordingly as numerous as the objects which individuals may design to accomplish, but cannot accomplish without uniting their efforts.
In sonic cases the State has aided in the formation of such associa tions, 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 persona who associate for particular purposes, as in the case of fare-insurance offices, for all persons who insure their property in them (except farming stock, &c.) must pay the State 200 per cent. on the sum which they pay to secure their property against the accidents of fire. [Ixsunascs, Etas.] If a man should think it prudent to invest a part of hia annual savings in a life insur ance, the State makes him pay a tax on the policy. A great many associations of individuals for benevolent, scientific, and such like pur poem' 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 evi dence of an amount of activity and combination that was never equalled before. How far it might be prudent to give to all associations for lawful purposes greater facilities for the managetnent of their property and the making of contracts, subject to certain regulations as to regis tration of their rules and approval of their objects, is a matter well deserving of the attention of the legislature: