DISTRICT SOCIETY OF BRIGHTON

Among the numerous benevolent schemes and institutions formed by the wealthy to assist their poorer brethren, many may no doubt be found, which instead of being beneficial are pernicious in their effects—palsying the hand of industry, and destroying the sense of independence by mere almsgiving. All those societies, however, which give motives for industry, and which tend to create a sympathy and union between the two classes of those who have abundance and those who want, must be of moral benefit to both parties, and few can doubt their practical utility.

The following is a slight sketch of a Society which appears eminently to combine the above advantages.

About five or six years back “The District Society” was formed at Brighton, in consequence of the suggestions of that benevolent lady, Mrs. Fry. The purport of this association was, that its members should visit the poor at their own houses—affording them assistance where required, and encouraging in them habits of industry and frugality. The idea was eagerly seized by those of the inhabitants whose activity and influence were best able to promote this object, and in a very short time the society was established.

This society is divided into three departments—the mendicity department—the relief department—and the department for the encouragement of frugality and saving. It is not our intention at present to touch upon the first or second of these, but to confine ourselves solely to the latter object.

The town is divided into six districts, and each district into about twelve divisions. To each of these divisions a visitor is appointed, and this office is voluntarily undertaken by some benevolent individual. The number of ladies who devote themselves to this duty considerably exceeds that of the gentlemen. The recommendation most urged by the visitors is the exercise of frugality. The industrious poor are exhorted to save, at a time when they have the power of doing so—thus reserving to themselves the means of obtaining the enjoyment of such comforts as they could not otherwise procure, at periods when their exertions produce to them less profit. As an inducement to prefer the future good to the present gratification, a small addition from the funds of the society is made to the savings of individuals.

The visitors receive deposits, however small—enter these sums in a book—and pay them over to the treasurer. The depositors feel that they may have their money at any moment they think proper to call for it, unchecked in their demand, save by the moral restraint which would prevent them from requiring it for vicious or wasteful occasions. Deposits are returned either in money or in such articles as are wanted by those receiving them, the small gratuity already noticed being always duly added. The number of depositors, and the sums deposited, have been gradually increasing. Many of these depositors have, at various times, candidly confessed to the visitors, that but for their interference and the facility thus afforded to them for saving, their money would have been spent on things useless in comparison with those comforts which frugality has enabled them to procure.

Here then was a sum of money distributed among those who had a right to it—who were under no obligation to any one, farther than that which is incurred when others interest themselves in our welfare. While the depositors enjoy the comforts thus obtained, they feel, with a proud satisfaction, that these are not doled out to them by means of the poors’ rates, nor administered to them by the hand of charity, but are derived from their own savings, and result from their own industry, prudence, and forbearance.

This feeling of independence thus called forth, raises man in the scale of being; and an institution which fosters or awakens this ennobling sentiment, offers, besides all other claims to merit, a sufficient proof of its great value.

The above outline has been given in the hope that its consideration may prove of general utility.

That class of labourers whose earnings are the least profitable, generally earn more in the summer than in the winter, while their expenses during the latter season are always the greatest. It is then during the former period that the prudent labourer would lay by to meet the increased demands at the latter time. If a person can only get twelve shillings per week during the winter months, and fourteen shillings per week during the summer, since he can live much better on twelve shillings per week in summer than on fourteen shillings per week in winter, he would act wisely to lay by two or three shillings weekly at the one time, and thus provide for the deficiencies of the other. But he may ask, how is this to be effected?—he has no “district society” in his neighbourhood—no kind visiting friend to remind him of the propriety of saving, and to receive his small deposits. The savings’ bank is at some distance—it is inconvenient to send there—it requires time, and is therefore expensive to be constantly going there himself—in short, a thousand reasons will always suggest themselves as excuses for not doing at all what is not done with hearty good will. But to save money it must be put as much beyond our reach as possible—it will burn in our pockets, and will be got rid of somehow or other. What then is to be done? We remember when we were young possessing a small earthenware pot with only a slit in it for an opening, and so constructed that whatever was put in could not be got out again without destroying 152the pot. This was the receptacle for our spare money, and whenever any temptation was felt to spend the little savings, the circumstance of being obliged to break the jar previously to appropriating its contents, always induced us to pause for reflection. The result of such deliberation generally showed that the money was about to have been expended uselessly, and that it would be much better to leave the pot whole, and to go on putting in instead of taking out. The benefit of this prudent determination was ultimately reaped, at a time when it was most acceptable. We would recommend a plan somewhat similar to this to those who are desirous of constantly making small savings. A tin box might be made at a very small cost, with a lock and key to it, and a slit at the top, large enough to put any sized piece of money into it, and a piece of cloth so placed in the inside as to act like a valve, affording ingress, but not egress, to the coins. This box should be locked, and the key intrusted to some one to whom the possessor would not like to apply on trivial occasions. It should be put in a safe place, but where it might often meet the eye, and should be looked upon as a friend who will furnish a supply of extra comforts during winter time. But as it is not Fortunatus’ purse, which we read of in fairy tales as abounding with an exhaustless fund, it must receive its supply from the practice of self-denial, by withholding from oneself any unnecessary gratifications when the means of procuring them are at hand, and slipping the money that was to purchase these in the slit of the box.

This box then may stand in lieu of a visitor of the District Society; and every time anything is put into it, it may be considered as a friend ready to afford its assistance in the time of sickness, in the hour of distress, or during those periods when expenses are greatest and wages least.