PART II. 
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES NOT REGISTERED. 
[Russell Gurney’s Act, 31 & 32 Vict. Cap. 116.] 
The Friendly Societies Acts given at length in Pt. I., with 
the exception of sect. 7 of the Act of 1875, which has expired,, 
sect. 26, as to members in the militia, sect. 28, as to pay 
ments on the deaths of children, and sect 30, affect only such 
societies as obtain the privileges of the Acts by registration 
under their provisions. It may be worth while to consider 
the legal position of the members of those associations which 
do not comply with these statutory requirements. Such 
societies, having lawful objects in view, not being the acqui 
sition of gain by the society or its members, and not being 
the issue of policies of assurances on human life or the grant 
ing of annuities, do not become unlawful merely because 
they fail to acquire a statutory status. The committee 
of the House of Commons on friendly societies, in the year 
1825 (J), reported, that “ it is only in consideration of ad 
vantages conferred by law that any restrictive interference 
can be justified with voluntary associations established for 
lawful and innocent purposes. It is for the individuals 
themselves to determine whether to adopt the provisions 
°f the statute, which offers them at the same time regula 
tion and privilege, or to remain perfectly unfettered by 
anything but their own will, and the common or more 
ancient law against fraud or embezzlement. For your 
committee apprehend, that although the Act of 1793 appears 
to begin by rendering lawful the institution of friendly 
societies, there neither was at that time, nor is now, any 
law or statute which deprives the King’s subjects of the 
right of associating themselves for mutual support.” 
(5) Report, p. 5. Parly. Paper, H. C. 522,1825.