Aliment 1848;
With the publication and registration ( Friendly Institutions ) of the 1848 by-laws, and the new Parameters laid down as to the distribution of Aliment, and those legible to receive it, draft or template examples of the appropriate type of form, were printed in an appendage, immediatly after the page where the signitories to the by-Laws were listed. These are now reproduced below in the exact order that they appear in the By-Laws;
Forms of Application for Aliment, Funeral Money, and Annuities.__ The Schedules to be Annually sent to the secretary from those on the fund previous to the Settling Committee: -
Form of Aliment
[ Here insert the Date and Place ]
Sir and Brother,
Being unable to work for my support for ___ days, and clear of all arrears previous to the last Settling Committee, and a full member of St Johns Lodge Muthill, I declare myself on the Aliment Fund, per the certificate herein enclosed. I am Sir and Brother, Your most Humble Servant.
_____________________________
This is to Certify that A__B__, a Member of St Johns Lodge Muthill, has lived in the Parish of _____ for the space of ___ , during which time he has boen a respectable character, but by reason of [ here mention the Ailment ] he has been totally incapable of doing any work for his support, and that the trouble he is now afflicted with, did not proceed from Drinking, Quarrelling, or any other improper conduct, is attested by us at __ the __ day of ___.
___ Minister ___Elder ___ Elder
_____________________________
Members going of the Aliment List to address a copy of the following to the Treasurer; -----
[ Here insert the Place and date]
Sir and Brother,
Being about to resume work, I hereby declare myself off the sick list of the Society's fund, from this date ___. I am , Sir and Brother, Your Most Humble Servant.
________________________
Form of Certificate for Funeral Money.
This is to Certify that C___ Z___ died at___ this___ day of ___ 18__, and that his trouble and death, did not proceed from any irregular or improper conduct. Is attested by us at ___the___day of ___.
____ Minister ____ Elder ___Elder
_____________________________
Form of Application for Widows Annuity, to be sent to the settling Committee Annually: -
This is to Certify that X.H. is the Widow of ___ who was a member of the Society, who presently resides in the Parish of ___ that she still continues as his widow, and is of a virtuous and sober character, is attested by us at ___this___day of 18___years.
____Minister ___Elder ___Elder
____________________
Form for Orphans
[ If the Committee suspects their annuity is not properly applied for their good, the Society empowers the Committee to provide clothing or food with it as they may think Proper ]
This is to Certify that the Children of ___ live in the Parish of _____, that they are honest, the youngest under ten years of age, and that the Annuity to be paid by the Society shall be applied wholly and judiciously for their Support, is attested by us at ___ this ___day of ___ years.
_______________________________
The Lodge retains a large amount of completed vouchers which can be veiwed in the lodge Museum. The commitee books in the Lodges museum have many instancies of cases where the requests for aliment were questioned as to there legality.especially cases of those claiming the old age annuity [ 66 years old ] which was probably due to the lack of birth records as we know it today, and that the petitioner would indeed believe that he was the qualifying age. Widows virtue were also questioned as it was common practice at the time to take in family and lodgers to suppliment their meagre income. And we have numerous cases of people reporting seeing Brethren working or walking about, who are professedly claiming Aliment. Latter day Benefit cheats????? I wonder
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