The Friendly Society Movement and the Respectability of the Rural Working Class

Abstract

In the introduction to his practical manual on the organisation of friendly societies published in 1851 J.H. James writes:The character of a nation may be pretty well ascertained from the general features of its public institutions. When these are directed to the morals, social and intellectual training of the human mind, and to the privilege of a cultivation of religious principles we may be sure of the existence of that high degree of buoyancy and healthiness of mental vigour, accompanied by great physical energy not to be found in any other condition of society.