_For providing Child-bed Linen and other suitable Articles of Clothing_,
_for the use of poor Married Women during the month of their
Confinement_.
At a meeting of the Friends of this Society on the 6th of December, 1848,
the following Rules were agreed to:—
I. That this Society shall be called the Kensington (St. Mary Abbott’s,)
Maternal Society.
II. That its affairs shall be managed by a Committee, Treasurer, and
Secretary.
III. That the Ladies taking charge of the Bags of Linen shall form an
Honorary Committee, to meet twice a year, viz.;—the first Wednesday in
March, and the last in November, after Morning service, at the National
School, or oftener in case of necessity.
IV. That the Committee shall appoint a Treasurer to make the necessary
purchases on behalf of the Society, and to superintend the disposal of
the same.
V. That the Treasurer’s Account shall be submitted to the Committee at
the Half-yearly Meetings.
VI. That the Lady Visitors of the Kensington District Society shall be
requested to support this Charity, to visit Persons in their respective
Districts assisted by the same, and to afford them relief, as in other
cases, at their own discretion.
VII. That the Meetings of the Committee shall begin and end with Prayer,
and shall be open to receive any Lady Subscriber or Donor who may wish to
attend.
VIII. That no woman shall be considered eligible for this Charity who
has not resided in the Parish for one year. No woman to be assisted with
her first Child, or the first by her second husband.
IX. Applicants to bring a recommendation from a Subscriber, and also, in
consequence of recent frauds, a Card from their District Visitor.
X. The Bag of Linen to contain the usual Articles, and to be lent for
four weeks; if returned in good order, a roll of Baby Linen given as an
encouragement.
XI. The Bag of Linen not to be kept because bespoken, if required by
another Person; the first applicant to be recommended to some other lady
for a Bag.
XII. Applicants to receive suitable tracts sanctioned by the Archdeacon;
a new Testament lent with the Bag; and an account kept of the number of
Persons assisted by the Society during the Year.