"If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." PAUL.
NEWCASTLE PRINTED BY J. MARSHALL
In the Old Flesh-Market, 1817
ARTICLES
ARTICLE I.
THAT any person becoming a member of this Society, shall not, after his admission, become a member of any other Society of this hind, or otherwise be excluded; as we, a body of people, having joined our-. selves together for the support of ourselves and families, when it shall please God to afflict us, or any of us, with sickness, decay of strength, or inability to follow our own, or other employments, callings, or occupations.
II
Having formed ourselves into a Society for the above purpose, we are resolved that all, and every of us, who are, or may become members thereof, shall in all respects be conformable, and yield due obedience to the Articles, Rules, Orders, and Regulations herein prescribed, to which, we have respectively consented, and declare we will severally observe and conform, in every respect.
III.
That the Society shall have power to remove the Box to any other place of meeting, whenever the majority shall think proper.
A q
IV.
That the said Society shall not break up so long as any six members shall continue in the same; and that due regard be had, to admit only such as are healthful, and of a good character; and that the names of all such as desire, and are qualified to enter, with their money, may be taken on any meeting-day. If any member know any such unqualified, and concealeth it, if it can be proved, he shall forfeit five shillings; and whoever doth not let the Clerk know, six days before he removes into another place of residence, he shall forfeit sixpence.
V
A box shall be made and prepared with three different locks, the Stewards to keep each a key, and the Landlord of the house one, where such Society is held; proper security must be given for the same, and the box never shall be opened but when such master or mistress is present; and that each member, upon his entrance, to pay three shillings; and that no man be admitted a member of this Society, above the age of thirty years, and none under the age of sixteen; and he who does miss paying two meetings, to have no benefit for the third; and if lie does not pay at the third, to be excluded. If any member swears, talks obscenely or profanely, proposes any wagers, or keeps not silence when demanded by the Stewards, he shall forfeit sixpence.
VI
If any member upbraids another with receiving from the box, he shall forfeit five shillings; except he can prove that he received it Unworthily, in which case, the unworthy receiver shall be excluded. If any member strikes another, he shall forfeit two shillings and sixpence ; but, if it can be proved that the member struck at, gave the first insult, provoking the other with threats, abusive language, or otherwise ill using him, he shall also be fined two shillings and sixpence. If any member say another is finable, and cannot prove it, lie shall pay the fine himself. If any member say another ought to be excluded, and cannot make it appear, he shall be excluded himself. All such fines heretofore mentioned, or hereafter to be mentioned, shall be levied on the testimony of two witnesses; but in case of the testimony of one only, it shall be left to the majority of the members whether he be a sufficient witness or not. No strangers to be admitted in club hours, but such as are desirous of becoming members; and, if they should not be approved of, they shall go out when demanded.
All members shall meet at the Society's room, on Saturday evening, every six-weeks at four o'clock, and part at seven ; and he who does not come at five, shall be fined twopence ; and every member shall pay one shilling and sixpence into the box, and A threepence to be spent, whether absent or present. No member to go away before business be over, without leave from the Stewards, or forfeit twopence; and if any member appears in liquor at any meeting, he shall be fined sixpence.
VII
Two Stewards shall be chosen every half year; and whoever refuses to act as Steward, or Assistant, shall forfeit one shilling. The Stewards an(I Assistants shall observe and keep all and singular the Articles, Rules, and Orders of this Society; and if' ever absent at four o'clock, without sending an approved deputy to the club-room every meeting, where this Society is held, each Steward so offending shall forfeit one shilling. All arrears and fines must be paid each half-year's day, or the party offending shall be excluded. The half-year's day will be on the 24th. of June.
VIII
A head-meeting shall be held yearly, at the house where the Society is held, on the 24th. Of December. Upon this day, a Clerk shall be chosen, and the Society shall pay him one pound one shilling for keeping all accounts. He shall attend the Society at each meeting at four o'clock, or send a proper deputy, or forfeit one shilling. The Stewards shall visit the sick and lame, week and week about, at Newcastle and places adjacent, where such members reside; that they may judge how long such are entitled to their allowance; and if any Steward finds a patient at unlawful, or unsuitable exercise, when he is thus receiving the benefit of the fund, such Stewards evidence shall be sufficient in that case to the other members, and they shall judge upon it; but no fines shall be laid on the Steward for declaring his opinion, unless it can be proved a spiteful accusation, when such Steward shall be fined one shilling. If any Steward neglect to visit as above, he shall be fined sixpence; but notice shall be given to the Steward on the third, and lie shall receive his money on the eighth day; but if not ill eight days, he shall not have any allowance from the said fund.
IX.
A Committee may be chosen (if the majority of the members shall deem it necessary) for the due care of the Society's cash, to let out, or call in money, who shall officiate for one year, and shall be warned by the Stewards to meet as often as they think it expedient: and whoever doth net come within all hour of the time proposed, shall forfeit sixpence, for the use of the other members of the Committee; but notice shall be given of such meeting the night before, and each shall be allowed twopence out of the box. Whoever refuses to act when chosen into any office shall forfeit one shilling.
X.
If any member, after the first year from the date of his admission, and who has not been convicted of theft, or murder, shall happen, by the will of God, to be sick, lame, or blind, (except from irregularity, fighting, or unlawful practice) or is past his business through old age, infirmity, or misfortune, he shall be allowed from the fund seven shillings per week, till perfectly recovered, if his illness continues not above thirty weeks; but if -above thirty weeks, the weekly allowance to be three shillings and sixpence from the fund per week. If any member die, (not having laid violent hands on himself) there shall be paid out of the said fund the sum of two pounds, towards his funeral expenses, if he has been one year in the fund; and if three years, to have four pounds; and if five years or upwards, to have the sum of five pounds towards defraying the funeral expense. If any member's wife die, who bath been one year in the Society, he shall receive the sum of three pounds, to defray her funeral expenses; and each member shall pay sixpence into the fund in both cases. No member shall receive for more than two wives, and must be married one year to the second wife, before he can receive any benefit from the fund, towards defraying her funeral expense. If a member has belonged to the Society six months, and he or his wife die, the sum of sixpence shall be paid by each member, towards defraying his or her funeral expenses. If' any member's child should die, who was born in wedlock, and born with life, and does not exceed sixteen years of age, he shall receive fourpence from each member towards defraying the funeral expense, if he has been one year or upwards in the Society. If the widow of any member die, she not having been again married, and having lived his decent and chaste widow, keeping free from all church scandal and dishonesty, and demeaning herself properly towards this Society, and the members thereof, shall be allowed three pounds towards her funeral expenses. If any member be sick, who lives above three miles from Newcastle, such member shall signify the same to the Society, by a certificate, signed by the Clergyman, Churchwardens, or two creditable neighbours, from the first day of his illness to the time of his recovery: if the member lives above three miles from Newcastle, the Stewards are not to visit him at all.
XI.
During the time any member is receiving sick-benefit, he is not to be out of his house or lodging, in the morning before six o'clock, nor after nine at night; and if found doing any work he shall be excluded. If at any time lie finds himself better, he may demand, and the Stewards may, without advice of the Society, allow hint one day or two, to try if he is able to work, without taking from him the sick-money ; and members may declare off at any time, and be ' paid for odd days after the first week; and if any suspicion appears to any Steward, of any member receiving sick-money, contrary to the true intent of these Articles, such Steward shall have power to appoint a Surgeon to visit such sick member, as often as necessary, at the expense of the Society ; and if he be thought an impostor, the Steward may stop his pay, and deliver the Surgeon's opinion to the Society the first stated meeting; and if it is proved he has deceived the Society, lie shall be excluded. The Stewards for receiving sick-money, shall have a quart of beer for each man's weeks money, and a quart for a funeral legacy. The Stewards are, at all meetings, to demand, take in, and faithfully to account for, all dues, and make up all losses, that the Society may sustain by their neglect, or be excluded.
XII.
If any member refuse to pay one penny a week, or more, if necessary, if the box be reduced; if any member be found unqualified as above, when first admitted, and bath concealed it from the Society, or any who bath counterfeited his age, when admitted, by declaring himself younger or older than lie really was at the time, and the same be proved, he shall be excluded, The landlord, though a member, shall have no vote.
XIII.
Those persons to be for ever excluded from this Society, viz: All such as have theft proved against them, or are guilty of any immoral, lewd, or disloyal practices, -whereby they may be liable to punishment from Church or State; all factious, contentious, ungovernable persons, who do not peaceably and orderly submit to the rules of this Society; any who embezzle the Society's cash, or who endeavour to take unjust advantage of the fund; or any who seize, or attempt to seize, by violence, the cash, box, or books belonging to the Society.
XIV.
Any member divulging or exposing the secrets of this Society, to,, any person not a member thereof, shall," on proof being made, to the satisfaction of a majority, forfeit and pay two shillings and sixpence, or be excluded. Every member that is found putting bad silver into the Stewards hands in order to pass the same, shall for every such offence, be fined sixpence. If any member has an opportunity of fining his brother, and does not, he shall be liable to the fine himself; or any member putting his brother upon a fine, and cannot make his assertion good, shall be liable to the fine himself.
XV.
Lastly, all and every the Articles, Regulations, Rules, or Orders, herein specified, we hereby promise to allow, agree to, and abide by, severally and separately, and not one for the other, as witness our hands, the day and year, on and in which, we respectively signed them.
And whereas it may be found expedient, as circumstances may require, to alter, amend, or make void any of the foregoing Articles, or to make new ones, it is hereby resolved and agreed, that when such alterations are made and authenticated, they shall be of the same effect and force as the foregoing Articles, provided always that no new Rules, Orders, or Alterations, of this Society, shall be altered, rescinded, or repealed, or any new rule made, - unless at a general meeting of the members of this Society, convened by public notice in writing, signed by the Clerk or Secretary, in pursuance of a requisition by three or more members, and publicly read at the two usual- meetings of this Society, held next before such general meeting, for that purpose; unless a Committee shall be appointed for that purpose, in which case, such Committee shall be convened in like manner; and unless such alteration, or repeal, or new rule shall be made, with the approbation of three-fourths of the members then present, car by the like proportion of such Committee as aforesaid; and such alteration, or repeal, or new rule, shall be subject to the review of the Justices at the Sessions, and -hall not be binding until agreed to, and confirmed by such Justices, and filed as directed by law. And any member, who shall pro. pose to make any alteration in the Rules of this Society, or propose any new Rule or Rules, except in manner aforesaid, shall be fined five shillings.