18

INTRODUCTION.

3.  As  societies  having  a  custom  of  periodical
division  of  funds.
4.  As  societies  having  deposit  funds.
32.  A  branch  is  “  any  number  of  the  members
o'f  a  society,  under  the  control  of  a  central  body,
having  a  separate  fund,  administered  by  themselves, ­
  or  by  a  committee  or  officer  appointed  by
themselves  ■”  but  “  where  a  society  has  no  fund
under  the  control  of  a  central  body,  to  which
every  branch  is  bound  to  contribute,  every  branch
is  deemed  to  be,  and  must  be  registered  as  a
separate  societyA  society  which  answers  the
double  test  of  having  a  fund  administered  by
every  branch,  and  a  fund  administered  by  the
central  body,  to  which  every  branch  contributes,
may  be  dealt  with  as  a  single  society.  Such  are
the  societies  popularly  called  “  affiliated/-’  which
are  among  the  most  important  of  existing  Friendly
Societies  (a);  and,  under  these  provisions,  the  case
of  county  societies  also  may  be  met.
33.  A  society  having  branches,  desiring  to  be
registered  as  a  single  body,  must  accompany  the
application  for  registry  with  lists  of  its  branches
and  copies  of  their  rules,  where  they  differ.  Such
societies  must  register  iu  each  of  the  three
kingdoms  in  which  they  do  business,  but  the
Assistant-Registrar  for  Ireland  or  Scotland  is  not
to  decline  to  register  any  rules  which  have  been

(a)  The  Manchester  Unity  of  Odd  Fellows  has  3,611
lodges,  533,520  members,  and  £4,542,221  funds.  The  Ancient ­
  Order  of  Foresters  has  4,585  courts,  555,062  members, ­
  and  £2,933,571  funds.