Licence: In copyright
Credit: Poverty : a study of town life / by B. Seebohm Rowntree. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
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![all the Friendly Societies in the above list are branches of national Societies.' These branches, in their turn, are divided into smaller branches, usually called lodges, or courts. Thus the 914 members belong- ino- to the York Branch of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows belong to seven different lodges. Subject to certain general rules, which apply to all the lodges belonging to an Order, each lodge is allowed complete control of its own business, and is responsible for its financial condition. A lodge which is in financial difficulties may, however, apply for assistance to headquarters. Before this is granted, the lodge applying must clearly prove that its financial embarrassment is due to unavoidable cir- cumstances, e.g. an epidemic, long-continued strike, etc., and not to any want of care or adequate super- vision on the part of the lodge officers. In all registered Friendly Societies the scales 1 The following statement of tlie total membership of Registered Friendly Societies in Great Britain and Ireland shows how important a place they occupy in the lives of the industrial classes. Summary of Registered Provident Societies in Great Britain AND Ireland, 31st December 1898 Friendly Societies. Number of Members. Funds. Ordinary Friendly Societies Branches of Registered Orders . Collecting Friendly Societies Medical Societies .... Benevolent Societies .... 2,72.5,533 2,555,736 5,555,827 293,477 21,583 £13,170,214 ]8,506,183 4,833,573 68,278 291,383 Total 11,152,156 £36,868,631 1 See Report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for year ending December 31, 1899, Part A, p. 36.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21359246_0385.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
