For the Secession of the "Rose and Thistle" Lodge of Odd
Fellows from the Manchester Unity.
1.--That the present system of management is extravagant,
vexatious, and unnecessary, and consumes 29 per cent, or
_nearly one-third_ of the Income arising from the Contributions.
2.--That the Scales of Payment are not based upon the actual
rates of Sickness and Mortality, as shown by the Reports of the
Registrar General, and other practical Actuaries. For instance,
the M.U., in the Dudley District, proposes to assure to its
members, on the payment of 6d. per week contribution, and an
entrance fee of £1 1s. 0d., the following:--
At the death of a Member, £8 from Lodge fund; £6 from District
fund; £1 from Widows' and Orphans' fund. At the death of a
Member's wife, £4 from Lodge fund; £3 from District fund;
making a total of £22; besides 8s. a week during sickness, and
5s. per quarter allowance to Widows, and some small payment to
Children; whereas, to assure all these benefits, taking the
average ages of the members at thirty-two years, 8¼d. weekly
contribution should be paid instead of 6d.
See Mr. Nelson's Observations on the Insolvency of the
Manchester Unity. (Page 22, 23, 24).
3.--That the M.U., not being protected by Law, is subject to
fraud, robbery, and imposition, without any redress against the
offending parties, as lately witnessed in the wholesale fraud
committed by the late Corresponding Secretary of the Order, at
Manchester.
4.--That the uniformity which exists in this District, in the
payments of Tradesmen's and Miners' Lodges to the district
fund, is contrary to all well-recognised principles of justice;
because the Miners' Lodges are subject to a much greater
percentage of Sickness and Death than the other Lodges, and
only pay in the same ratio.
5.--That the members of the M.U. do not pay according to their
respective ages, for a member at thirty five years of age pays
no more contribution than a young member at eighteen years of
age, with the exception of an increased initiation fee on his
entrance.
6.--That the M.U. _makes no real provision for the infirmities
of old age_; because, as long as a member (it matters not how
aged) is not under medical treatment, he is not entitled to
lodge pay: thus a member may live to old age, and not receive
any benefit from the Lodge, except at death.
7.--That the present general system adopted throughout the
Unity is delusive, and incapable of fulfilling perpetually
its professed engagements, which justifies the adoption of
a sounder principle of assurance for the Working Classes,
according to the actual returns of Sickness and Death, as
furnished by scientific and practical Actuaries.
See Mr. Nelson's Pamphlet. Page 40.
By Order of the Committee,
GEORGE DEELEY, CHAIRMAN.
Rose and Thistle Lodge,
Hope Tavern.
_February 14th, 1849_.
Died Feb. 18th, 1849, Mrs. Dixon, the beloved wife of Edward Dixon,
Esq., Banker, formerly of this town. Aged 67 years.
Two numerously attended lectures were given in the Lancasterian School
Room, on the 26th and 27th February, by J. Kingsley, Esquire, of
London, on "No Church Rates," and "Separation of Church and State!!!"
The members of the "New Dudley Provident Society," which emanated from
the secession of the late "Rose and Thistle Lodge of Odd Fellows,
M.U.," issued their new rules and scales of payment in sickness and at
death.--JOHN FINCH, President; JOHN BAGOTT, Secretary.
Feb. 27th, 1849. The druggist's shop of Mrs. Lydia Morris, High Street,
took fire this evening, but was soon got under. Damage about £50.
Feb. 27th, 1849. The Postmaster General having intimated his intention
to discontinue the Birmingham and Ludlow morning mail coach, and
intending to substitute a mail cart to convey the letters and parcels,
a public town's meeting was convened by Mr. Edward Terry, the mayor, to
petition against the same.