Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

ACCOUNT OF THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. 123

The SECOND object of the Society is-The MORAL and RELIGIOUS improvement of the objects relieved. A word spoken in due season, (says the wise man,) how good is it! The hour of affliction, the bed of sickness, afford the most seasonable opportunities for usefulness; and it is hoped, that the heart may in a more peculiar manner be open to the best of impressions at such a season, and when under a sense of obligation for relief already administered.

In a Society like the present, all distinctions of sects and parties are lost in the one general design of DOING GOOD; and the success which has attended societies, nearly similar, in different parts of this kingdom, and more particularly in the metropolis, in relieving the distress and ameliorating the condition of thousands and tens of thousands of our fellow-creatures, affords reason to hope, that under the divine blessing, similar success will attend the Society established in this town.

RULES.

I. Any person of whatever denomination, age, or sex, disposed to assist this benevolent undertaking, may be admitted a Subscriber; each Subscriber, on admission, to pay not less than one shilling, and from two-pence per week to any sum such Subscriber may think proper.

II. That the business of the Society be managed by a Committee of fourteen persons, including the Treasurer and Secretary; five of whom shall be competent to transact business :—that the Committee be open to any member of the Society, who may think proper to attend. In case of any vacancy in the Committee, by death, or resignation, the remaining members of the Committee be empowered to fill up such vacancy.

III. That the Committee meet monthly, at each others' houses, to receive reports, consider of cases, appoint visitors, and audit their accounts.

IV. That there be an annual general meeting, of which due notice will be given, when the state of the Society shall be reported, and the Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee appointed, to manage the concerns thereof.

V. That the SICK and the AGED be esteemed the only objects of the compassion of this Society; and when the fund is reduced to the sum of five pounds, the cases of the sick alone shall be attended to.

VI. That no member be allowed to recommend a case, until three months after his or her subscription has commenced, nor, if four months in arrears, until such arrears be discharged, provided he or she has received notice of the same.

VII. That no case be received but from a Subscriber, who is expected to be well acquainted with the case recommended, and to report the particulars to one of the visitors.

VIII. That the Visitors be appointed to administer relief, and not the person who recommends the case.

IX. That no Subscribers, while they continue such, shall receive any relief from this Society, nor shall any of those who conduct the business thereof, receive any gratuity for their services.

The Committee consists of an equal number of Ladies and Gentlemen; and persons of both sexes are appointed as visitors in rotation.

Subscriptions and Donations are received by the Treasurer, Secretary, or any Member of the Committee.

At a General Meeting of the Society, held, agreeably to public notice, at Mr. Alderman IND's, on Monday, May 3, 1802-It was resolved, That when the Annual Subscriptions of the Society amount to Sixty Pounds, and the Fund to Thirty Pounds, the Committee be empowered to extend relief to other distressed objects besides the SICK and the AGEd.

[blocks in formation]

ADVERTISEMENT.

SOME apology is due to the public for this discourse appearing so long after it was preached. The fact is, the writer was engaged on an exchange of services for a month with his highly esteemed friend, the Rev. Mr. Lowell, of Bristol, author of an excellent volume of Sermons on Practical Subjects, at the time it was delivered, and had no opportunity of writing it till he returned. As it touches entirely on permanent topics, except what relates to the threatened invasion, still impending over us, he knows not but it may be as suitable now as if it had appeared earlier. As it is, he commits it to the candour of the public. He has only to add, that the allusion to the effects of the tragic muse* should have been marked as a quotation, though the author knows not with certainty to whom to ascribe it. He believes it fell from the elegant pen of an illustrious female, Mrs. More.

[ocr errors]

SHELFORD,

Nov. 30, 1803.

* Page 182.

« AnteriorContinuar »