Account of the Benevolent Society for the Relief of the Sick and Aged Poor, Instituted at Cambridge

Blessed is he that consifkreth the Poor. Psalm xli. 1. fnasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matt. xxv. 40.

IX HAT benevolence is an habitual duty, arising out of our constitution as rational and social creatures, and enforced upon us by the most powerful motives as Christians, no one will deny. The various exertions of the humane and the pious, in private circles and in public institutions, are so many proofs of the truth of this sentiment; but notwithstanding those exertions, there is still ample room for enlargement. Tlio&e persons who are in the habit of visiting the cottages, or the chambers of the poor, arc too frequently the melancholy witnesses of that extreme poverty, pining sickness, and poignant distress, which energetically call for relief.

With the design of administering, in some degree, such relief, a number of persons, have formed themselves into a Society, the nature and objects of which are such, that it may with the greatest truth be said, to deserve and it can scarcely be doubted but it will meet with such encouragement as may render it a blessing to the poor of the town of Cambridge. It is likewise ardently hoped, that the Society will meet with such farther encouragement, that its benevolent exertions may not be confined to the town, but extended to the neighbouring villages.

Theirs, object of the Society is to afford pecuniary assistance to the sicJc and the aged poor. To select proper objects, and guard against the abuses attending indiscriminate relief, visitors will be ap-^ pointed to examine, and judge of the nature of every case, and to report the same to a Committee of the Society.

The second object of the Society is — The moral and religious improvement of the objects relieved. Awordsjmken in due season (says the Wise Man) how good is it! The hour of affliction, the bed of sickness, afford the most seasonable opportunities for usefulness; and it is hoped, that the heart may in a more peculiar manner be open to the best of impressions at such a season, and when under a sense of obligation for relief already administered.

In a Society like the present, all distinctions of sects and parties are lost in the one general design of doing good; and the success which has attended JBocieties, nearly similar, in different parts of this kingdom, and more particularly in the metropolis, in relieving the distress and ameliorating the condition of thousands and tens of thousands of our fellow creatuics, affords reason to hope, that under the divine blessing, similar success will attend the So ciety established in this town.

RULES OF THE SOCIETY.

I. Any person, of whatever denomination, age, or sex, disposed to assist this benevolent undertaking, may be admitted a subscriber; each subscriber, on admission, to pay not less than one shilling, and from two pence per week to any sum such subscriber may think proper.

II. That the business of this Society be managed by a Committee of fourteen persons, including the Treasurer and Secretary; five of whom shall be competent to transact business: — that the Committee be open to any member of the Society, who may think proper to attend. In case of any vacancy in the Committee, by death, or resignation, the remaining members of the Committee be empowered to fill up such vacancy.

III. That the Committee meet monthly, at each others houses, to receive reports, consider of cases, appoint visitors, and audit their accounts.

IV. That there be an annual general meeting, of which due notice will be given, when the state of the Society shall be reported, and the Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee appointed, to manage the concerns thereof.

V. That the sick and the aged be esteemed the only objects of the compassion of this Society, and when the fund is reduced to the sum of five pounds, the cases of the sick alone shall be attended to,

VI. That no member be allowed to recommend a. case, until three months after his or her subscription hath commenced, nor if four months in arrears, until such arrears be discharged, provided they have received notice of the same.

VII. That no case be received but from a subscriber, w ho is expected to be well acquainted with the case recommended, and to report the particulars to one of the visitors.

VIII. That the visitors be appointed to administer relief, and not the person who recommends the case.

IX. That no subscribers, while they continuft such, shall receive any relief from this Society, nor shall any of those who conduct the business thereof receive any gratuity for their services.

The Committee consists of an equal number of Ladies and Gentlemen; and persons of both sexes are appointed as visitors, in rotation.

Ifl Subscriptions and Donations are received by the Treasurer, Secretary, or any member of the Committee.

St a Geyieral Meeting of the Society, held agreeably to public notice, at Mr. Alderman Ind’s, on Monday, May 3d, 180,2 — It was

Resolved, That when the annual subscriptions of the Society amount to sixty pounds, and the fund to thirty pounds, the Committee be empowered to extend relief to other distressed objects besides the sick and the aged.