No. 76 DEAR SIR,-I called on B. the other day, and he was regretting, through blindness, he could not aoknowledge the receipt of the late J. Wild's Christmas gift to his aged brethren. He requested me to do it for him. Our brother is now over 80 years of age, and has been a local preacher near 60 years. The gift is very seasonable, for he has a sister now blind living with him who is partly dependent upen him for her support, she having only a blind pension of £10 per annum; and they require some one to attend to them. He is very grateful for the gift, and also to the Mutual-Aid Association for the help afforded him. GENERAL COMMITTEE. MINUTES of Committee Meeting, held at Bro. Wright's, Frimley Villa, Plumstead, on Wednesday evening, February 9th, 1881. Present: the President in the chair. Bros. Aldom, Amphlett, Clapham, J. Carter, Wright, Rose, Harding, Johnson, and Sims. Also Rev. J. D. Tetley, Bros. Coldwell and Runnecus. The meeting was opened by singing hymn 327, and after reading 1 John first chapter, by the President, Rev. J. D. Tetley engaged in prayer. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The monthly abstract was read, showing since the audit in May receipts from branches, £2,439 15s.; payments to branches, £2,072 4s. 6d.; receipts for the month, £506 15s. 8d.; payments, (including bills, £12 1s. 6d.) £442 2s. 5d. New members added during the month, 18; deaths, 5 members and 3 wives; sick, 130; annuitants, 160; total on the funds, 290. Bills amounting to £42 0s, 6d., were ordered to be paid. CASES FROM BRANCHES. Brother W. M., of B., aged 74, local preacher forty years, applied for superannuation. His wife is dead, has five children, with one of whom he lives, but none can help him. He was a small farmer, but owing to bad seasons has been quite ruined. He is earning nothing, and has no source of income. Wife Resolved-that he have 5s. a week. Brother W. H., of Y., aged 81, a local preacher fifty-two years. dead, has one son. Originally a tailor, but latterly cultivated about thirty acres of land. Owing to bad seasons, has lost all his savings which amounted to about £200. Is now quite destitute. Resolved-That he have 6s. a week. Brother J. N., of D., aged 64, a local preacher seventeen years, wife aged 66, Has received from our funds since January 1880, 4s. a week. Now asks for more. Was a twist hand or bobbin worker. Is suffering from asthma. He has seven children, but none can help him. Resolved-That he have in future 58. a week. Brother R. H., of S., aged 75, a local preacher forty-seven years. His wife aged 78, is quite helpless. Has three children, but they can render no assistance. Works a little on the road when able. Since July, 1878, has received from us, 3s. a week, now asks for more. Resolved-That he have 5s. a week in future. A letter was read respecting a brother, who in October last was ill, and was then voted 5s. per week annuity, but was now earning 16s. per week. Resolved the annuity forthwith cease. A letter was read suggesting an alteration of procedure at the annual meeting, but the committee did not consider it advisable. In consequence of the absence of the editors, the minute respecting the contents of magazine, was carried forward to the next meeting. It was reported by the president and secretary, that arrangements were in progress for meetings at Rochester, Leicester, Louth, Oxford, Huntingdon, &c. The Treasurer kindly offered £100 on conditions that a further sum of £1000 be raised in augmentation of the fund created by the late Mr. Wild, so that all the annuitants might receive 10s. at Christmas. The next meeting to be held at Bro. Candler's, 1, Chatham Houses, Brixton Hill, on Monday, March 14. The meeting was closed with prayer by Dr. Aldom. DEATHS. Jan. 12, 1881. Susanna Mawer, Louth Branch, aged 62 years. After a few days illness she fell asleep. No claim. Jan. 13, 1881. William Cole, Rochester Branch, aged 71 years. He had been a member from 1850, and was for many years secretary of the branch. The last fifteen months were months of suffering, borne with patience. Now he is at rest. No claim. Jan. 18, 1881. William Woodhead, Driffield Branch, aged 91 years. His end was peace. He had been an annuitant 704 weeks, and received £151 1s. Claim £2. Jan. 22, 1881. John Handby, Settle Branch, aged 79 years. His end was peace. He had been an annuitant 37 weeks, and received £9 5s. Claim £4. Jan. 24, 1881. James Green, Kineton Branch, aged 59 years. His long affliction was borne with Christian fortitude and resignation, and he died happy in the Lord. Claim £6. Feb. 2, 1881. Mary Ann Edmonds, Rochester Branch, aged 37 years. Having lost her reason, she was unconscious at the time of her death. Claim £4. Feb. 2, 1881. Samuel Hallam, Lincoln Branch, aged 44 years. As he lived, so he died, calmly trusting in Jesus. Claim £8. Feb. 11, 1881. Philip Holbrook, Midsomer Norton Branch, aged 80 years. For several days his sufferings were great. Now he is freed from them all. Claim £8. CASH RECEIVED BY THE GENERAL TREASURER TO FEB. 15TH, 1881 Congleton-Mr. J. Steele, don. £5 Liskeard 1st Barnsley ... ... ... ... ... Reading-Mr. J. J. Beecroft, hm. £11s; Mr. J. D. Brown, ... ... ... Wisbech-Mr. J. Crabtree, hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Pollard, hc. Derby-Rev. W. Griffith, 58; Mr. Hoult, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. 3 0 0 1 10 0 10 15 0 600 2 16 6 Oxford-Mr. G. G. Banbury, hm. £1 £1 1s; Mr. F. Dew, hm. £1 18; £1 1s; Mr. J. Nix, hm. £1 1s Shotley Bridge ... ... ... ... ... 1s; Mrs. Cox, hm. 4 36 ... North Shields-Mr. J. Green, hm. £1 St. Just-Mr. W. Chenhalls, hm. £1 1s; Mr. N. T. Tremewan, hm. £1 18 6 5 240 ... Marlborough Blackburn-Collection at Wesley Chapel, £3 10s; Ditto 2 20 1 19 0 1 12 0 2 10 0 0 13 6 1 13 0 0 12 0 0 12 0 ... 0 13 0 ... ... ... ... ... ... Matlock-Mr. J. Hodgkinson, hc. 10s; Mr. H. Marsden, hm. £1 Grantham Kingswood Halifax-Anon, 10s 6d; Mr. G. B. Brown, hc. 10s 6d; Mr. J. Dodgson, hm. £1 1s; Mr. W. Garrett, hm. £1 1s; Ditto, Penny Preaching at Boothtown, 178; Mrs. J. Horsfall, hc. 10s; Mrs. D. Shaw, hc. 10s; Mr. W. Smith, hm. £1 18; Mrs. J. Thorpe, hc. 10s; Mr. E. M. Wavell, hm. £1 18 Louth-Mrs. Coates, 2s 6d; Mrs. Oldham, qly. 3s; Mr. S. ... Southport ... Sowerby Bridge Isle of Wight Glossop-Mr. J. Clayton, qly. 3s Bath-Mr. J. Bladwell, hm. £1 1s; Rev. J. Chees wright, 0 30 0 15 0 ... ... Free Subscriptions. £ s. d. Benefit Members. £ s. d. 110 0 18 0 2 13 0 220 300 Leicester 1st ... Hawes Mr. J. W. Smith, hm. (2 years) £2 ... Lincoln Oundle-Mr. J. D. Baxter, hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Holdich, hm. Kineton-Mr. W. Gardner, hm. £1 Stafford-Mr. Everett, 2s 6d; Mrs. Talbot, hc. 10s Frome-Mr. J Brimson, hm. £1 1s; Mr. W. Fussell, hm. 0 15 9 1 12 0 200 4 14 6 ... 2 5 0 2 17 0 220 13 9 9 3 19 6 ... Chesterfield-Mr. G. H. Wells, hm. £1 1s TT ... ... 17 16 6 060 ... Great Queen Street-Mrs. Horton, hm. £1 10s; Rev. S. 1 1 0 £155 13 3 165 16 8 THE LATE MR. WILD'S GIFT. On the 18th September, 1865, the late James Wild, Esq., purchased £948 19s. 7d. of India 5 per cent. stock, costing £1,000, in the names of James Wild, John Carter, G. W. Treasure, and Thomas Chamberlain. The purpose of the investment was, in his own words, dated October 19, 1865, that, "The interest every year be given in 10s. extra to the most advanced in years of my brethren in Jesus to provide them extra cheer for every Christmas day, but not in any way to lessen their receipts from the Mutual-Aid Fund. Should the Committee see fit in trying cases to exceed 10s., they are at liberty so to act, provided they do not exceed in any case £2 sterling." In May, 1866, the venerable and generous donor passed to his reward, and since that time the fund has been administered by the other gentlemen in whose names the original Stock was purchased. For several years the interest was adequate, or was made so, to meet the cost of the annual sum of 10s. to all the annuitants (never in any case has that amount been exceeded). But, owing to the growth of our Association, and the increased number of annuitants, the interest became inadequate to meet the demands, and in the year 1875, at the Annual Meeting in City Road Chapel, a gentleman from Louth offered £20 on condition of £300 being raised to permanently augment the original sum. This was responded to, and £316 14s. was contributed. £300 was invested in the India 4 per Cents. But still the claims were greater than the fund could meet, though in 1878, 118 of the annuitants received their half-sovereign. It was then resolved that until the fund righted itself, no new annuitant should receive the amount, but only those who had previously received the Christmas gift should participate in future; and, consequently, at Christmas, 1879, only about one hundred received the sum. But at the close of that year the Treasurer was £33 in advance. Last year, moreover, the India 5 per Cents. were paid off, and the original Stock had to be transferred to the 4 per Cents., thus entailing a future permanent loss of £10 per annum. Last Christmas ninety-five annuitants received the 10s., and still the Treasurer is £10 19s. 10d. in advance. Looking, therefore, at the fact that we have at present, at least, sixty annuitants non-recipients, the majority, if not all of whom are just as necessitous as those who have hitherto received this annual Christmas gift; looking, again, at the fact that the present Stock only produces £52 per annum, less income-tax, it is not only desirable but really necessary that, to place the fund on a satisfactory foundation, a further sum of £1,000 be raised. By so doing, all our aged brethren will be placed on an equality in this matter. If this is not done, it is apparent that next Christmas only about eighty of the brethren can participate; APRIL, 1881. H |