| £ | s. | d. | |
| W. R. Anstice, Esq., Ironbridge | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| John Arthur Anstice, Esq., Madeley | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| George Anstice, Esq., Madeley | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Richard Edmund Anstice, Esq., Madeley | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Charles Pugh, Esq., | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Meets in one of the rooms of the Anstice Memorial Institute.
Loyal Royal Oak Lodge, No. 3665, of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, Friendly Society.—The place of business is the Royal Oak Inn. Number of members 159. Annual subscriptions £137 16s. 0d. Nett worth of the society £1267 1s. 9½d. Secretary Mr. Joseph Haynes; Treasurer Mr. Henry Ray.
Rose of the Vale Lodge.—This lodge is held at the Tontine Hotel, Ironbridge, and numbers 175 members, who pay into the funds on an average £360 per annum. They have standing to their credit the sum of £781 12s. 7d. Of this sum £400 has been lent on mortgage; £220 has been invested in the Building Society, and the remainder is in Lloyd’s Bank and the treasurer’s hands. Secretary Mr. E. Good; Treasurer Mr. William Skelton.
The Free Masons also meet at the Tontine; but as this does not strictly come under the head either of a sick or benefit society it does not come within the above category.
Ancient Order of Foresters, Pride of the District, No. 4345.—This lodge was founded in 1864, and meets in one of the rooms in the Anstice Memorial Institute on alternate Saturdays. Secretary Mr. T. Beddow, Bridge Street; Treasurer Mr. J. W. Fletcher. Number of members 265; average age 31; amount of funds £872. Annual Subscriptions £341 5s.
Ironbridge, Royal George, meets at the Robin Hood Inn, Madeley Wood, fortnightly. F. Johnson, Secretary; J. Page, Treasurer. It has 114 members of the average age of 34; and £444 in the court fund. Annual Subscriptions £143 2s.
Honourable Order of Modern Masons.—Meets at the Barley Mow Inn, Court Street, Madeley. Number of members 75; contributions per month 2s.; funeral levy per quarter 9d.; sick pay per week 8s.; member’s death £10; member’s wife £5; amount of sick funds £40 3s. 2d. William Instone, secretary.
In addition to these societies there is the United Brothers, but we did not obtain particulars. Also others in connection with the Coalbrookdale and Madeley Wood works. The object of the former society, as stated in the rules, is to secure to its members weekly allowance and medical aid in sickness, and an allowance at the decease of a member or member’s wife. The cashier of the company is treasurer, and Mr. John Hewitt is secretary. Each man and boy employed in the Company’s works at Coalbrookdale, is required to be a member of this society, and to pay his contribution through the work’s office. Every member above the age of eighteen pays one shilling per month; under the age of eighteen, sixpence per month; and any workman entering this society at the age of forty-five years, or upwards, one shilling and sixpence per month. Every workman is considered a member until he has a regular discharge from the Coalbrookdale Company or their agent, provided that he continues paying his contribution and resides in the neighbourhood. The number employed are from 700 to 800; and the income of the society is from £32 to £33 per month. About 440 of the members pay 9d. per quarter to the surgeon, Mr. James Proctor. One of the rules is that should the funds of the society at any time attain £200, the money shall be divided; such divisions of money took place at Christmas 1868, 1870, and 1872; since which dates the society has not been so fortunate in its surplus.
There is a similar society in connection with the Madeley Wood Company’s Works, from which we get no particulars, but the annual subscriptions to which may probably be put at about the same as those at Coalbrookdale.