Extract from an account of a female benefit club, at Tottenham
​By Mrs. Wakefield. 

At Tottenham High Cross, a friendly society for the benefit of women and children was established on the 22nd of October 1798, under the respectable patronage of a number of ladies, who promised to support it with personal attendance, as well as pecuniary assistance. Combined with the main design of this institution are two other objects; viz.
         - a fund for loans, to prevent the use of pawnbroker's shops, and
         - a bank for the earnings of poor children.

The principal rules are as follow :
— The honorary members pay five shillings for entrance, and twelve shillings annually.
— The benefited members pay two shillings on entrance:
     they are divided into three classes, according to their age.
     —The first class, which consists of those between twenty and thirty, pay sixpence monthly.
     —Those of the second class are between thirty and forty, and pay nine-pence monthly.
     —Those of the third class are between forty and fifty, and pay one shilling monthly.
No one is to contribute after sixty.
    — From sixty-five to seventy, each member is to receive a pension of one shilling weekly ; and
        from seventy to the end of their lives, two shillings weekly,
even should they be obliged to retire into a workhouse.
    — In case of sickness, four shillings weekly are allowed for four months in one year, and two shillings afterwards.
And if a member dies, after having subscribed six years, thirty shillings are allowed for the funeral.

The honorary members, thinking them selves entitled to risk part of their own contributions, have authorised the stewardesses, at their discretion, to lend small sums, from five shillings to thirty, to the benefited members on such occasions as they may approve. These loans are directed particularly to the enabling of them to purchase necessaries at the wholesale price: or to supply, themselves with articles for sale, materials for work, a pig, or any other thing, likely to produce a profit. These loans are repaid in small monthly payments.

Children of either sex, or whatever age, whether belonging to a member or not, are permitted to bring any sum above one penny, to the monthly meeting of the stewardesses, to be laid up in the fund of the society, where their small earnings may accumulate in security, till wanted for an apprentice fee, clothing on going to service, or some such important purpose, and in case of death, the sum laid up is returned to the parents of the child.

The business of the society is managed by six stewardesses and a treasurer, who meet monthly. Four of the stewardesses are chosen from the honorary members, and two from the benefited members. These offices are filled in alphabetical order at the annual meeting of the whole society. It should be added that, great attention is paid to the moral character of those who are admitted members ; and a notorious irregularity of conduct incurs expulsion.

OBSERVATIONS.
In the formation of all charitable institutions, the increase of virtue and happiness to society at large, should be considered as the great object of attainment, and the fundamental principle of action: an end which, it is presumed, the establishment in question is particularly adapted to promote, by the reciprocal advantages of rendering the affluent acquainted with the character, and the moral conduct, the wants, and the resources, of the indigent ; whence they become better qualified to afford them judicious relief, and to distinguish between the deserving and the worthless; The economy and the industry of the poor are encouraged by judicious loans, which enable them to buy articles of domestic consumption, and coals especially, on the most advantageous terms; or to provide materials for increasing their means of subsistence; as it is well known to those who are conversant with the affairs of the labouring classes, that it is much easier for them to spare a small sum at stated periods, than to lay down what is sufficient for either purpose at once.

Tho the children receive no addition to the pittance they deposit in the fund, yet it answers several purposes.
 -  It stimulates them to earn and to save that, which would probably be idly spent, as of too small importance for care ;
 -  it often encourages their parents to lay by a little store for them, which they would not have thought of doing, had they not been invited by this opportunity of placing it in safety.
 -  It habituates the children to industry, frugality, and foresight; and, by introducing them to notice,
 -  it teaches them the value of character, and of the esteem of those who, by the dispensation of providence, are placed above them; and, in many instances,
 -  it may supply a resource, when it is essentially requisite. 
...
The success has already exceeded expectation. Above sixty children bring their little treasure monthly; the benefited members repay their loans with great regularity: and there is a visible emulation to establish a good character by respectable conduct, and by a regard to propriety on the part of the poor ; whilst kind attention, and active sympathy, are exerted on the part of the opulent.
April, 1801.

Reports of the Society for Bettering the Condition and Increasing the Comforts of the Poor Vol.III 1802 No. LXXXIV 

​Download Reports of the Society .. Vol.III  here pdf (16.2 MB)

* Some of the text in her diary is illegible