14

INTRODUCTION.

advise  with  the  secretary  or  other  officer,  if  required, ­
  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  whether
such  rules  were  calculated  to  carry  into  effect  the
intentions  and  object  of  the  persons  who  desired
to  form  the  society;  and  if  he  found  such  rules
to  he  in  conformity  with  law  and  with  the  provisions ­
  of  the  Act,  to  give  a  certificate  to  that
effect.  Societies  granting  annuities  were,  before
registration,  to  obtain  the  certificate  of  a  qualified
actuary.  All  fees  for  registry  were  abolished.
20.  In  other  respects,  the  Act  of  1855  gave
new  privileges  and  facilities  to  societies;  for
example,  it  provided  :—
1st.  That  a  society  might  transfer  its  engagements  to  any
other  society,  upon  such  terms  as  the  trustees  and  committee ­
  of  management,  or  a  majority  of  the  members  of
each  society,  should  agree  upon.
2nd.  That  buildings  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  meetings ­
  of  the  society  might  be  purchased,  built,  or  taken
upon  lease;  and  also  adapted  and  furnished;  that  land
not  exceeding  one  acre  might  also  be  taken  for  the  purpose
of  erecting  such  a  building,  and  such  premises  might  be
mortgaged,  sold,  exchanged,  or  let;  provided  that  the
money  required  for  such  purpose  was  to  be  raised  “  according ­
  to  the  rules  of  the  society  on  such  behalf  inserted.”
3rd.  That  whenever  on  the  death  of  a  member  a  sum
not  exceeding  ,£50  became  payable,  the  same  might,  without ­
  talcing  out  letters  of  administration,  be  paid  to  the
person  mentioned  in  the  rules,  or  to  the  widow  or  relative
of  the  deceased,  nominated  by  him  by  any  writing  deposited
with  the  secretary,  or  in  default  of  there  being  any  such
nominee,  then  to  the  person  appearing  to  the  trustees  to  be
entitled  under  the  Statute  of  Distributions.
21.  By  tbe  21  &  22  Viet.  c.  101  (1858),  the  Act
of  1855  was  amended  by  making  further  provision
against  undue  assurance  on  the  lives  of  children,