The Subscriptions of the Honorary Subscribers are applied to an Assurance of the Life of the Donors.
For instance,—The Right Honourable Benjamin Disraeli, Esq., sends a Donation of Twenty-five Pounds, which is immediately invested on an Assurance on his life, and will ultimately produce to the Institute an Endowment of 42l. Or to take another instance,—The Right Hon. Lord Viscount Goderich subscribes Two Guineas per year, which is invested in like manner on an Assurance on his life, and will ultimately Endow the Institute with 100l. And thus the Honorary Subscriptions, instead of being spent as soon as received, are made to form a Capital Fund, which will be ultimately available, as the Lives fall in, to the Provident Members and Participating Subscribers.
The application of the subscriptions of the Honorary Members to assuring their lives, has these advantages:—It tends to create a large capital fund—It enables the Honorary subscribers to see that the undertaking is successful, before their money is expended—It transforms such subscriptions from being an alms-giving for personal purposes, into an Endowment for the general benefit of Literature—It is not like most alms subscriptions to go in casual relief, but to produce a permanent result; such as the foundation of a Hall and chambers, and ultimately the complete organisation of Literature as a recognised profession; to endow permanent annuities, and otherwise aid Literature by succouring Authors.
By this arrangement a very strong inducement is given to the Working Literary Men to subscribe to this Institute and Society beyond all others: as they will not only have all the benefits and profits arising from their own subscriptions, but participate in the Capital Fund, which, there can be no doubt, will be augmented by Donations, Legacies, and Endowments. There is also the special advantage peculiar to such an Institution, of NOMINATING A WIFE OR CHILD to receive immediately the Amount ASSURED at decease IRRESPECTIVE OF ALL OTHER CLAIMS.
The Subscriptions of the Participating Class are as follows:—
One Guinea must be subscribed by every member, which goes towards the expenses of the Institute and the support of the Philanthropic Fund. For this he is entitled to be a candidate for assistance from the Philanthropic Fund; has a Vote at all the General Meetings of the Institute; and will be entitled to certain benefits from the Education and Protective Branches of the Institute when they are brought into operation.
Every Guinea subscribed annually beyond the first Guinea above mentioned, produces the Subscriber an Assurance on his life, according to the Tables specially calculated by the Consulting Actuary of the Institute, and which are in compliance with the Act of Parliament regulating such matters. The Policies are issued by the Institute under the Friendly Societies' Act, and which are legally guaranteed by the Athenæum Life Assurance Society, which, also appealing more particularly to Literary and Scientific Men, has made an arrangement that is liberal and advantageous to the Athenæum Institute.
By this arrangement every Provident Member is equally safe, whether the members of the Institute be few or many.
One Subscriber is thus rendered as secure as a thousand.
Annual Subscribers of Two Guineas or more are entitled to become Directors: and in awarding relief, regard will always be had to the amount subscribed.