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scruple to ask me as head of the more general Christian society of the parish, to bring the matter before our neighbours to which our neighbours very willingly responded. I call such acts as these acts of the Church as much as public worship or preaching. I am persuaded also that if the conception I am here putting before you of the national Church (and its subdivision the parochial Church), as a great comprehensive brotherhood existing for the sake of mutual well-doing, were generally recognised by its administrators, this conception would exercise the most salutary, conciliating and quickening influence over the whole Christianity of our country. I must repeat, that I say this not by any means to prejudge the discussion of any proposed changes, but to produce if I can the conviction that in any such changes regard should be had to the preservation of this most important object, the binding together of those who in God's Providence live side by side in the brotherhood of a common Christian life.

'I admit, of course, that this is only an aim, not a thing realised. But we do aim at it constantly, and in some degree accomplish it. Our visitors (including in this term the lady visitors and the Mission-women) visit every poor family. The aim of the assistant clergy is first to make acquaintance with every poor family and then to pay special visits when illness or any other cause calls for it. I endeavour myself to keep up some personal relation with all the families residing in the larger streets and squares, as may be seen by the fact that we have contributions to our charities from some two hundred and twenty of these wealthier families. The tradesmen, of whom I regret to say we see least, are yet very ready in many cases to aid us; and there is none of our Social Gatherings in the autumn more fully attended than that from **** Street, the special abode of tradesmen. Our Magazine, of which nearly one thousand copies. are bought every month, spreads the intelligence of our various institutions to all parts of the Parish. Our Almanack finds its way to the home of every poor family, and it is also welcomed by the servants in our larger houses, among whom I have personally taken part each year in its distribution. Thus we

endeavour to realise as far as circumstances will permit the object of the parochial ministry as described in the Ordination Service of our Church, "to use public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as to the whole, within our cure, to maintain and set forward, as much as in us lies, quietness, peace, and love among all Christian people, especially among them that are committed to our charge."

'I have confessed in previous addresses how impossible it is to be satisfied with the comparatively little we are able to accomplish, and the yearning, which I suppose every Christian pastor feels, which Dr. Chalmers expressed in the words, "O that I could bring myself fairly alongside of the souls of my parishioners." But as I look down any of the streets in which I know most of the families, I am not altogether without a pastor's satisfaction. There is a considerable number of families who worship with us or who take part in our work, and whose members I can feel to be directly under the influence of our ministry. There are others whom, though in no way connected with our organisation, I know to be under the influence of other ministries, or interested in other good works in which I have no reason to doubt they are receiving and doing good. There are, no doubt, some who are living a vain and worldly life; but I trust and believe they are quite the smaller number. There are few whom I cannot hopefully recognise as belonging to the Christian brotherhood of which I have spoken, wishing to live the Christian life and to grow in goodness and usefulness. And if there are some whom the sceptical spirit of the age has caused to feel some mistrust of Christian teaching and ordinances, I am often able in such cases still to feel that the heart and intention is sound and that there is a readiness to take pains for the good of others which is one of the best marks of true discipleship.

'I feel, therefore, that what is called the theory of a national church, and of the parochial system, is by no means unreal with us. We wish to include every one who resides within our boundaries, leaving out none, and to treat them as members of a Christian brotherhood, to help them to rise to this position themselves and to call upon them to help others. We wish that the natural

NOTE XXVI.] Co-operative industry as a religious power.433

relations which exist between neighbours should be cemented and sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, and that thus the process should go continually on amongst us by which the kingdom of the world will at last become the kingdom of God.

'I ask all who read this to keep this high object in view, as I hope to keep it in view myself; and in their individual life, in the family, and in all their social and public relations, to remember that they belong to Christ and to his mystical body, "which is the blessed company of all faithful people."'

NOTE XXVI.

THE MAISON LECLAIRE AT PARIS, AN EXAMPLE OF SUCCESSFUL CO-OPERATIVE INDUSTRY IN A FIRM OF DECORATORS; FROM A PAMPHLET BY MISS HART, GIVING A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE SCHEME. (Decorative Co-operators' Association, 405 Oxford-street.)

The final scheme proposed by Leclaire, which was based upon the recommendations of a committee, received the approval of the workmen assembled in general meeting, and on January 6th, 1869, became the binding Charter of the firm. The working capital was now fixed at £16,000, of which Leclaire contributed £4,000, M. Defournaux £4,000, and the Mutual Aid Society, representing the workmen's interest, £8,000.

There was also a Reserve Fund of £4,000, which could be drawn upon in case of emergency. The firm became by this Charter a Société en Comandite,' i.e. a partnership in which the acting partners are responsible without limitation, and the dormant ones to the extent of their capital only. From this date Leclaire ceased to appropriate any part of the profits-only 5 per cent. interest on his invested capital.

At the present time the two managing partners draw a salary of £240 each for superintendence. Interest at 5 per cent. is paid to them and to the Mutual Aid Society on their respective capital. Of the net profits, one quarter goes to the two managing partners jointly, the senior partner taking two-thirds, the junior one-third; one quarter goes to the Mutual Aid Society: the

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434 Co-operative industry as a religious power. [APP.

remaining half is divided among the workmen and others employed by the firm in exact proportion to wages earned. During the last five years these bonuses have averaged 18 per cent.

The Mutual Aid Society confers the following advantages, besides performing all the functions of an ordinary benefit club-it bestows a retiring life pension of £48 per annum on every member who has attained the age of fifty, and has worked twenty years for the firm, and it continues the payment of half this annuity to the widow of such pensioner during her life. Previous to 1875 these life pensions were £32 per annum, they were then raised to £40, and again in 1880 increased to £48 per annum.

It insures the life of every member for the sum of £40, to be handed over to his family at his death: and further, if a worker, though he be neither a member of the society or on the list of those permanently employed by the firm, meet, whilst engaged in its service, with a disabling accident, he becomes at once entitled to the full retiring life pension of £48, and if the accident terminate fatally, the widow retains half the pension.

But the principle of 'participation' with Leclaire had for its end a great deal more than 'sharing profits;' it meant likewise sharing responsibilities;' it meant, besides material welfare, the moral and social 'uplifting' of the wage-earning class, and he brought the principle into operation in such a manner as to constitute the education of all who came into contact with it.

To attain this end, Leclaire instituted a governing body, which he called the 'Noyau,' i.e. the nucleus or kernel, which has now become the moving spirit of the whole body. To be eligible for admission, a workman must be in the prime of life, between the age of twenty-five and forty, of unblemished moral character, and a skilled workman.

Applications for admission are addressed to the 'Court of Conciliation,' and reported on by this committee to the general assembly of the 'Noyau.'

The Court of Conciliation' is elected by the general assembly of the 'Noyau.' It consists of five workmen and three clerks, under the presidency of one of the managing partners. This

committee constitutes a moral tribunal; before it are brought cases of misconduct or insubordination; the offenders receive advice and warning in the first instance, and if these are neglected, the committee is empowered to sentence them to suspension from employment by the firm for one, two or three months, or even dismissal.

At the Annual Meeting of the General Assembly of the 'Noyau,' the foremen are elected, and to show the complete confidence Leclaire reposed in the good sense of the men, on the death or resignation of a partner his successor is elected by this body of workmen.

The Members of the Firm who constitute the 'Noyau' now number nearly 300.

In reply to inquiries which I made of M. Robert concerning the number of unworthy appearances in the course of a year before the Court of Conciliation,' I was furnished with the following facts:-From the 21st February, 1879, to July 23rd, 1880, there were but six cases of delinquency; two grave offences were punished with dismissal, and of the remaining four cases, one received a warning, two were suspended respectively for five and fifteen days, and the fourth for eighteen months. Appended to the report is the following note: We have had no cases of drunkenness for several years.' This, be it borne in mind, in a firm which employs over 1100 workers.

These are the chief points of the Charter signed by Leclaire, Defournaux, and M. Chas. Robert, as president of the Mutual Aid Society, in the presence of the assembled workmen, January 6th, 1869. On this occasion Leclaire recalled the advice he had given the desires and hopes that had animated him in 1864: adding-To-day, I may say, on all sides there is agitation; everywhere people are busy with social improvements. Turn a deaf ear-let us occupy ourselves with activity and perseverance in perfecting our organisation: it has received the baptism of time; it rests upon a sure foundation. The growth and development of our work has become an object of public attention both at home and abroad; it has received the approbation of illustrious personages. This approbation imposes on all of us heavier duties.

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