RULES
OF A
FRIENDLY SOCIETY,
OF
TRADESMEN, ARTIFICERS. HUSBANDMEN, HANDICRAFTSMEN AND OTHERS.
IN THE VILLAGE OF EVERSHOLT, BEDFORDSHIRE, AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.
for Supporting the Sick and Burying the Dead;
Reorganized 29th June, 1893.
CALLED
” The Eversholt Friendly Society”
WOBURN : PRINTED BY J. SERGEANT, BOOKSELLER.
1896.
AMENDED NEW RULES-
1.—That the Rector of Eversholt for the time being be President of this Society.
2. —That there be Two Trustees and Treasurers, whose appointment shall rest with the whole Club.
3.—That at the General Annual Meeting, ten members shall be yearly chosen, who, or the survivors of them, together with the President, the Honorary Members, the Trustees, and the Stewards for the time being, shall form a Committee to order, manage, and regulate all claims and matters belonging to this Society, which shall in all respects and at all times be ruled and governed by them ; and that the President, Stewards or Secretary on any urgent occasion may call the Committee or body together, and if any Committeeman, or any member, after having been summoned, shall refuse or neglect (provided he live within four miles of the School Room, in the Parish of Eversholt,) to attend, or attending, shall leave the room before the business is over, unless in case of sickness or giving satisfactory reason to the Committee or body present, he shall forfeit the sum of one shilling.
4.—That no person be admitted into this Society under fourteen years of age. Every member upon admission to pay sixpence for a copy of these rules ; all entering between the age of 18 and 20 to pay one shilling as entrance fee ; between 20 and 25 years of age, two shillings ; between 25 and 30 years of age, three shillings; between 30 and 35 years of age, five shillings ; and that no person be admitted above 35 years of age, and all persons desiring admission shall present their papers duly signed, to the Stewards at any meeting, and shall be elected or rejected at the monthly meeting next ensuing.
5.—That a book shall be kept by the Secretary of this Society, wherein shall be entered an account of all monies received and paid on account of this Society, and that each member shall pay the sum of one shilling and twopence every four-week month, and if any member shall neglect payment for two consecutive months, he shall forfeit twopence over and above his monthly payment, and if any member shall neglect payment for three consecutive months, he shall be excluded ; but he may be re-elected as a new member at any time subject to approval of the committee. And if any member shall neglect his payments for two months, and any affliction, sickness, or misfortune befall him after such neglect, he shall not be entitled to any benefit or pay from this society, until he shall have paid all his arrears and forfeitures. Arid when any member shall have omitted to pay for any two consecutive months a notice shall be sent to him by the Stewards informing him that he is two months in arrear, and that if his full monthly payments together with fines etc. be not paid on the next pay night (date mentioned) he will cease to be a member of the Club. Every member receiving such notice shall pay an additional fine of twopence, making his total fines for nonpayments under this Rule fourpence.
6.—That when a member shall die, the next akin of the deceased member shall be entitled to one shilling from every member, for his burial; and that on the death of a member’s wife he shall be entitled to sixpence from every member for her funeral, but no member shall receive funeral money for more than two wives. And that nothing shall be paid for the funeral of any member or member’s wife who shall have caused the death of the other.
Every member who has not paid his funeral money to the stewards on the second monthly meeting after the death of a member or member’s wife shall be liable to a fine of sixpence. Every member who has not paid his funeral money to the Stewards on the third monthly meeting after each death shall cease to be a member of the club. The funeral money in all cases shall be advanced from the Club Funds to the next of kin on the earliest opportunity after the death.
7.—That no person having been afflicted with gout or other chronic disease, or any accustomed malady, shall be admitted a member of this society who can have proved to have had at or before the time of their admission, any or either of the above disqualifications, shall be excluded : and forfeit all payments made ; and that any member recommending any such new member knowing him to be disqualified, whereby he is chosen a member, shall forfeit the sum of five shillings.
8.—That there be two stewards, each of whom shall serve four months ; one to be appointed at every alternate monthly meeting in place of one to go out by rotation, and all members shall perform that office in rotation as they stand on the member’s list in the Club Book, and the two stewards or their deputies shall attend every meeting to receive the payments of members, from half-past seven until nine o’clock in the evening in the summer; and from half-past six to eight in the winter, after which time no money will be received.
9.—That if the two stewards or their deputies shall not attend at the time above-mentioned, every steward not attending shall forfeit the sum of one shilling each. That the stewards shall visit such of the sick members as shall reside in or within two miles of the village of Eversholt, not less than once a week, or forfeit the sum of sixpence for every neglect thereof ; and that every member of this society when it shall come to his turn by rotation, to do the office of steward shall pay the sum of one shilling to this society, if unwilling to serve.
10.—That every member in receipt of sick pay shall, if not at home when the steward calls, leave word where he is to be found, that the steward may see him if he wishes, or in default shall forfeit the sum of two shillings, and that every member who shall be found frequenting the public house, or in any way intoxicated or gambling while in the receipt of sick pay shall forfeit the sum of five shillings.
11.—That each member of this society after having paid into the same one year, who shall be afflicted by sickness, of mind or body through the visitation of Almighty God, or be disabled by any unforeseen or unavoidable accident or misfortune from working at his labour, and not through his own wilfulness, intoxication, or folly, shall, subject to the limitation hereafter mentioned receive out of the common stock of this society during the continuance of such his sickness or disability to work, the sum of nine shillings per week. No member to receive more than twenty-two week’s full sick pay in any twelve calendar months; nor more than eleven week’s full sick pay or thirty week’s half sick pay in the next twelve calendar months ; and then his pay will cease, unless he should recover, and become a sound member for the space of one year and that two or more of the nearest members do visit him and make their reports to the stewards. And in any case of sickness were the member shall have received twenty-two week’s sick pay within any twelve calendar months, and then still remain sick, he may continue to receive nine shillings per week, but such sick pay must be reckoned as received in the second twelve calendar months. Any member however who has received twenty-two week’s full sick pay within any twelve calendar months and still remains sick, may, if he please in the second twelve calendar months receive four shillings and sixpence instead of nine shilling a week. In which case he shall be entitled to receive thirty week’s half-pay instead of eleven week’s full pay in the second twelve calendar months. All members both in village and country, to give notice by the surgeon stating the nature of the complaint. The pay to be carried to the sick member once a week if confined to his bed or room, and living in or within two miles of the village of Eversholt, by the steward ; but if not so confined, then such member, if capable, shall visit the steward of his district every other day, or if not capable, shall send to the steward for it once a week; but if any member live above the distance of two miles from the said village, his pay shall be remitted to him, on his sending a certificate of the time and manner of his being confined, signed by a surgeon; and that such member residing above two miles from the village aforesaid shall send notice in writing, to the steward, free of expence to the society, of his being ill, within three days of his being confined or attacked, or otherwise he shall not be entitled to any benefit or advantage from this society, for such illness : and if any member send a false certificate, or false notice in writing, a last mentioned, or be found out of his house after sunset or before sunrise, or any fraud or imposition appear in such certificate or statement, he shall pay back all money he has so fraudulently received, and forfeit the sum of five shillings.
No member can receive sick pay until he has paid into the club for twelve calendar months; he may however, if he require it, have the benefit of the club Doctor from the date of admission.
12.—That no member receive sick pay from the club funds who has not been sick three days.
13 —That the club looks to the medical man to decide how long it is absolutely necessary that any member should continue in the receipt of sick pay.
14.—That the medical man be expected to attend members resident within a distance of four miles from the School Room, in the parish of Eversholt.
15.—That no member residing within a distance of four miles from the School room of Eversholt can be admitted to the receipt of sick pay unless he bring a certificate signed by the Doctor of the club, and that no certificate signed by any medical man in the case of members residing at a distance further than four miles, shall be in force more than four weeks.
16.—That if any member shall be confined to his bed or room by sickness or accident for any time, he shall be entitled to receive one week’s pay after he gets abroad for fear of a relapse; and if any member that shall have received pay, shall have laboured at any work during that time, then such member shall be excluded from this society. And each member shall continue his monthly payment as well in sickness as in health.
17.—That if any member of this society shall at any meeting curse, swear, or strike another member in the society room, he shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum of five shillings ; or shall quarrel with, abuse, or call any member out of his name, or make any disturbance, or behave indecently in the society room, or shall not behave soberly, or shall stay at the steward’s table after being warned to depart therefrom, or be intoxicated at any meeting, he shall for every such offence pay the sum of one shilling ; or if any member shall charge either of the stewards or secretary with injustice, and fail in proof thereof he shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum of two shillings and sixpence.
18,—That any member of this society known to be living in any disreputable way or be a drunkard, swearer, gambler, or in any other way wilfully and deliberately taking up or practising evil courses, thereby rendering himself liable to the just judgment of Almighty God provided it can be satisfactorily proved to the majority of the committee, shall be excluded from this society.
19 —That if either of the stewards or secretary shall be proved before the committee, or at a general meeting, guilty of having knowingly and wilfully embezzled, concealed, misspent, or misused any money or other things belonging to this society, or shall otherwise defraud it, then the person so convicted, shall pay back and return all the money or other things so embezzled, concealed, misspent and misused and be expelled from the society.
20.—That if any member of this society shall be drawn by ballot to serve in the militia, and shall serve therein, he shall be continued a member of this society on fulfilling these articles, but shall only be entitled to half of the benefits and advantages of the other members, during the period of embodiment; in which all certificates of illness shall be signed by the surgeon of the regiment, in which he shall serve, and if any member enter into her majesty’s service by sea or land, he shall not be entitled to any benefit from this society while in actual service, but if he continue his pay and return a sound member, he shall from the time of his return be taken as a member in all respects as though he had not been absent.
21.—That there be held annually a general meeting of this society on Whit-Tuesday, when all the members except such as are exempt under the Bye-Laws of the committee shall appear at the place of meeting, which is the School Room, Eversholt, at the call of the roll, or forfeit sixpence ; that the club do attend the Parish Church, for Divine Service ; that a proper dinner be provided for the members, for which each member shall pay as the committee think fit; that the committee shall attend at nine o’clock in the morning of such meeting, and continue until the business of the day shall have been gone through ; and that no part of the expenses shall come out of either the Ordinary or the Honorary Fund, with the exception of the amount of fines paid by the members during the year.
22.—That on the day of the Annual Dinner no member shall remain at the place of meeting, after nine o’clock p.m., and that if any member shall on that day be found intoxicated or otherwise misbehaving himself by offering to fight, by swearing, or in any way, to the annoyance of the members, shall be fined five shillings.
23.—That if any member of this society shall be convicted of felony, he shall from the time of such conviction be excluded from this society and no person be admitted a member that has been convicted of felony or has been found guilty of fraud or dishonesty in any other society.
24.—That if any sick member of this society can have the benefit of a hospital, infirmary, or lunatic asylum, he shall be allowed the sum of four shillings and sixpence per week, for so long a time as he shall continue therein, or might have continued if he had availed himself of the order in lieu of sick pay before provided and subject to the limitation of rule 11.
25.—That all fines, forfeitures and arrears shall be paid at the third monthly meeting at farthest, after the same shall have been incurred, if not hereby directed to be paid sooner,and every member who shall refuse or neglect to pay the same within the time aforesaid, shall no longer be a member of this society.
26.—That five of the committee whom they may think proper, shall be named a visiting committee, that is to visit a doubtful case, they shall be empowered to visit at all seasonable hours when they think proper, and make their reports to the general committee, who will take such steps as the case requires, and one or more of the five shall upon orders given him or them from the whole committee, visit at any distance, if there is any suspicion or notice given them of any member feigning illness ; and to be paid at the rate of threepence a mile,
27.—That every member shall pay up all his arrears and forfeitures at the meeting next before the general meeting, or he shall cease to be a member of the club.
28.—That the day of the general annual meeting may be altered at any time by the committee, as also may be the place of meeting, and the place where the Club have their annual dinner.
29.—That an Honorary Fund be solicited :—to be formed by the annual subscriptions of honorary mem-bere, all of whom shall be members of committee, to be applied to defray the expenses of management, and for payment of Doctor, but not for payment of sick members, the balance of the Honorary Fund is not to be applied to the purposes of the Feast nor to be divided among the members, but is to remain in the hands of the Treasurers and committee, and to be added to the honorary subscriptions of the succeeding year.
30 —That a Secretary shall be appointed by the society, at a salary of one guinea per year, or such other sum as the committee think fit; who shall keep all the accounts and also make an entry in the minute book, of all the proceedings of this society.
31.—That the accounts of this Society be made up and audited by the Committee every year, on some evening (to be fixed by them) during the week before Whitsuntide, and a Statement of the year’s accounts be distributed among the members on Whit-Tuesday.
32.—That £6. out of the Permanent Fund of the Club shall remain in the hands of the stewards for the purpose of sick pay; that Ten Pounds out of the Permanent Fund shall be placed in the Club Box one key of which shall be kept by the President or Secretary and one by each of the two Stewards for the purpose of Sick pay whenever it amounts to more than the monthly payments ; and whenever any of the £10 is so used it shall be replaced at the earliest opportunity from the monthly payments of members so that the £10 may be kept as part of the permanent fund of the Club. That the remainder of the Permanent Fund now amounting to £145. and to be increased from time to time as hereafter directed, shall be invested by the Trustees for the benefit of the Club ; the interest of the same to be added every year to the Honorary Fund. And when there is an overplus of the Ordinary Fund, after the payment of all the sick pay for the year, and the replacement of whatever part of the £10 may have been at any time used, and also after payment of the amount of Fines for the year towards the expenses of the Feast it shall every year be added to the Honorary Fund And whenever at any time the balance in hand of theHonorary Fund, after defraying necessary expenses connected with the Management of the Club, shall amount to Two Pounds, it shall be at once placed in the Savings Bank in the name of the Trustees and be thereby added to the Permanent Fund of the Club.
33 —That the Committee hold a quarterly meeting on the the first Monday after every quarter-day, at half-past seven o’clock in the evening, for the purpose of comparing the amount of money in the box, with the Secretary’s book, and for the consideration of any matter affecting the interest of the club or any member of it; seven members shall form a quorum for the transation of business, and if there be not a quorum present and consequently no business done, then every member of the committee chosen at the annual meeting and every steward who shall be absent, except on account of illness, shall forfeit the sum of one shilling—but when there is a quorum present and business is done there shall be no forfeit in any case; and when the quorum is not present every member of the committee present shall be free from any fine or forfeit even though no business can be done. And if any dispute or doubt arise with reference to the meaning of any expression in the Society’s rules, the decision of a majority of a quarterly meeting of the committee shall be final; the President having a casting vote in all cases of equality. When however the meaning of rule is clear and does not admit of doubt the committee shall have no power to alter it.
34.—That every person desiring admission to this society, be furnished with the following forms, which he shall deliver to one of the Stewards, properly filled in and signed, together with proof of his age, if required.
Forms required on admission to the Eversholt Friendly Society.
I certify that I have examined _____________
and as far as I am able to judge, he is a proper person to be admitted a member of the Eversholt Friendly Society.
Dated this _______ day of ___________ 18 ____
Signed, __________________________________ Surgeon.
Incumbent of the Parish in which the said resides.
We, the undersigned, believing ______________________ to be a sober and industrious person, do recommend him for admittance into our Society. Signed,
_________________________________
Members of the Eversholt Friendly Society.
35.—That the Committee may from time to time make, alter and repeal Bye-laws for the due and proper management of the club, provided such Bye-laws be not inconsistent with the General Rules ; which General Rules may not be altered, added to, or repealed whithout the consent of at least three-fourths of the members enrolled on the books of the Club at the time.
The above General Rules were read and passed at a General Meeting of the Club convened for the purpose, on the 29th June, 1863. They were amended at a General Meeting conveyed for the purpose on the 14th Dec , 1863, and were revised at a General Meeting convened for the purpose on the 19th June, 1871. They were again renewed at the General Annual Meeting on Whit-Tuesday, 1879, and were amended by bringing them into accordance with the General Practice of the Club, on the 13th January, 1896
WILLIAM S. BAKER, President.
J. Sergeant, Printer, etc., Woburn.