Notes from Previous Meetings

Since the year 1830, assistance has been annually granted from the Benevolent Fund to the families of deceased members, and has been gratefully accepted by those to whom it has been dispensed.
 
Notwithstanding this constant expenditure for the main purpose of the Society, the Benevolent Fund has regularly and rapidly increased, and now nearly approaches the amount of four thousand pounds.
 
This sum has been raised mainly by a subscription so small, that it cannot prove burdensome to members, and has been aided by a few non-professional individuals, to whose kind and charitable feeling the Benevolent Fund has been indebted for valuable assistance.
 
It must however be borne in mind, that it is highly desirable still further to increase the Fund, so as to render it adequate to all demands which may be made on it; and it is hoped that members will avail themselves of opportunities which may occur, to promote an object of so much importance.
 
Reigate,
1st August, 1843.
 
Since the former edition of the Rules was printed in August 1843, the Society has been enabled to conclude a satisfactory  arrangement with the Royal Medical Benevolent College, sanctioned by legislative enactment, by which, in consideration of a donation of two thousand pounds to the endowment fund, and five hundred to the building fund of the College, the Society is entitled in perpetuity to nominate four boys, sons of members of the medical profession, as exhibitioners, to have the privilege of the first-rate education of the College, at a charge to the parents of fifteen pounds per annum.  This arrangement hitherto has been satisfactory to both parents and pupils.
 
In 1862, the Society, having attained its fiftieth year, presented the two widowed pensioners on its funds with an additional donation of five pounds each, and the exhibitioners at the College with donations of valuable books, handsomely bound.
 
Last year, after due discussion and deliberation, it was resolved to raise the terms of admission to membership; and also that the pensions and allowances to widows and orphans be no longer discretionary, according to the circumstances of each individual case, but that they be entitled to fixed rates of benefit.  These alterations have received the sanction of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, and will be manifest on perusal of this edition of the Laws.
 
To render the Codex more complete, a list of the names of gentlemen who have been elected members from the beginning of the Society is appended; also a tabular statement of the sums to be paid at given periods to complete the payment of life membership, and a list of benefactors to the fund. Members will rely with confidence on the continuance of that harmonious co-operation which has distinguished this Society from its commencement; and that for all time to come the same cordial sentiments of friendship will prevail and be ever felt with mutual satisfaction.
 
May, 1863.
                                                                                                                                                                  
 
A new edition of the Rules of the Society being now called for, it is to be remarked that though the number of members remains about the same there has been a large increase in the invested funds of the Society, which amount to nearly twelve thousand pounds in addition to the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, invested in the purchase of four Scholarships at Epsom College.
 
A third Female Scholarship was founded in 1877.
 
An extra Scholarship at Epsom College was founded in 1884.
 
In 1894, the Female Scholarships were made available at any Public High School approved of by the Trustees, instead of at the High School, Notting Hill, only, as was previously the case.
 
It is believed that the advantages to be derived from joining the Society - both educationally and as a provision for old age for members, and for their widows and orphans - have only to be more generally known to lead to a large increase in the number of members.
May, 1896.
In the present edition the Rules of the Society have been rearranged and modified so as to facilitate the working, and to bring them in accordance with present times.
 
No important alteration has been made, and as far as possible the original text of the Rules has been preserved.
 
The edition of the Rules in its present form has received the sanction of the registrar of Friendly Societies.
 
The list of Scholars, Members and Benefactors, have been brought up to date.
 
In 1903 the Society received the handsome legacy of £1000 from the late Mr. James Wallace, of Carshalton, a son of Mr. Edward Wallace, who was one of the original members, and for some time a Trustee and Vice-President of the Society.
 
November, 1909.
 
In this new edition of the Rules many alterations will be found, the result of an actuarial examination of the funds of the Society.
 
 
The important alterations are to increase the benefits to the Pensioners and Widows of Members of the Society. This edition will be submitted in its present form to the Registrar of Friendly Societies for his sanction, prior to publication.
 
 
The lists of Members, Scholars and Benefactors have been brought up to date.
 
REIGATE,
August, 1930.
 
A new edition of the Rules has been necessitated by the fact that alterations have been made and approved by the Registrar of Friendly Societies.  The most important change is in the method of election of Members.
 
Opportunity is taken to bring the list of Members and Scholars up to date.
 
January, 1934.
 
Since 1934, alterations to rules 3 and 4 relating to the election of new members, have been approved by the Registrar of Friendly Societies.
 
During the second World War, an amendment to rule 8, relating to the Annual Subscription, was similarly adopted and approved.
 
Rule 35 has been altered to allow the Society to give immediate assistance of £50 instead of £20 as formerly.
 
A History of the Society was compiled by Dr. A.R. Walters in 1944.
 
 
The Mackenzie Scholarship of £50 a year for five years, for either a boy or a girl, was founded in 1946 in memory of Dr. S. Morton Mackenzie, who had been Treasurer of the Society for 14 years.
 
In 1951 the Society took steps to formulate a rule authorising further gifts to Epsom College
 
The lists of members and scholars have been brought up to date.
 
October, 1951
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
This edition of the Rules of the Society marks the 150th year of its existence but is also necessitated by the many changes in the rules during the past ten years.
 
Owing to the change in the value of money since the end of the Second World War alteration was needed in the terms for the award of annuities to widows and grants to children. Significant changes have been made in the award of scholar­ships which, with the part exception of those at Epsom College, will now be made only in cases of proved financial need.  In such cases the value of the scholarship may be increased.
 
A new award was instituted in 1960 for grants towards any approved form of higher education.
 
The Centenary of Epsom College in 1955 was marked by the Society donating a further sum of £2,500.
 
The various lists of past members, scholars, etc. have been brought up to date and a few corrections, in accordance with the entries in the old Minutes, have been made.  The list of Epsom Scholars has also been corrected from the new Register of Epsom College; this has also allowed the insertion of the subsequent occupation of many of the Scholars.
 
The present membership of the Society is 123 and the market value of the investments is just under £15,090.
 
DORKING,
May 1962.
 
Since the previous edition of the Rules of the Society in 1962, rules 29 & 30 have been amended, the address of the registered office of the Society has changed, and the Table under Rule 5 has been altered to take into account the decimalisation of the currency.
 
In 1965, £500 was donated to the building fund of Epsom College, and in 1972 a further £500 was donated in response to an appeal from the College for help towards building a swimming pool and music centre.
 
The opportunity has been taken to bring up to date the various lists of Officers, Members, and Scholars of the Society.
 
 
 
 
The present membership of the Society is 136, and the value of investments is just over £33,250.
 
CROYDON,
February, 1979.
 
At the Annual General Meeting of the Society on May 15th 1986, a resolution was passed, without dissent, that the Rules of the Society be changed to allow women doctors to be nominated for membership of the Society.  It was also resolved to raise the fine of admission to fifteen pounds, to increase the annual subscription to fifteen pounds, and that the subscription for Life Membership should be increased to two hundred and twenty five pounds.
 
The necessary changes to the Rules have been registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies, and the new edition of the Rules has been printed and distributed to members.  The lists of Officers, Members, and Scholars have been brought up to date.
 
The present membership of the Society is 146, and the value of investments is a little over £170,000.
 
CROYDON,
February, 1987.
 
At the Annual Meeting of May 18th 1994 the four Trustees retired. A resolution was passed unanimously to change Rule 12 to enable the Society to elect only two Trustees.   Unanimous votes were given to change of Rule 20 to levy a reasonable fee for a copy of the Rule Book;  of Rule 35 to provide urgent aid up to £l,000 (limited to £50 since 1934); of Rule 36 to incorporate the John Brice Scholarship;   of Rule 43 to include the John Brice Scholarship;  of Rule 50 as recommended by the Registrar of Friendly Societies; and to delete Rule 44.
 
The necessary changes to the Rules have been registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies. and this new edition of the Rule Book has been printed and distributed to members.   The lists of Officers, Members, and Scholars have been brought up to date.
 
Since the previous issue of the Rules of the Society, the John Brice Scholarship was instituted in 1988, a donation of £2,500 was made to Epsom College in 1989, a contribution of £3,000 was granted to the Royal Medical Foundation in 1991, a further £3,000 was donated to the Foundation in 1992, and  £3,000 donated to Epsom College in 1993.
 
The present membership of the Society is 172 and the value of investments is  £428,200.
 
CROYDON
November 1994
 
At the Annual Meeting in 1997, Dr Gerald Clementson retired from the post of Secretary which he had held continuously from 1970.   The Annual Meeting of 1998 saw a rule change passed to allow the Epsom Scholarships to be open to girls as well as boys and the girls’ scholarships were re-named the Gerald Clementson Scholarships in recognition of Gerald Clementson’s outstanding contribution to the Society in his time as Secretary.   These scholarships were also made open to boys as well.
 
The present membership of the Society is 190 and the value of the investments is £590,000.
 
Merstham 1998
 
 
Due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the AGM took place online for the first time on 20th May 2020. The committee felt this was appropriate in the current climate and over 30 members were able to attend virtually. Voting took place with a electronic show of hands members were able to contact the Secretary privately.

ONLINE 2020
 
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the AGM took place online again on 19th May 2021. During the meeting the Committee sought permission to review the rules of the society to be more inclusive and gender appropriate. The Committee will present proposed changes at the next AGM. 

ONLINE 2021