THE BENEFITS OF LIFE ASSURANCE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 109, 14 February 1872, Page 3

THE BENEFITS OF LIFE ASSURANCE.

Of all the ingenious arrangements and plans invented by man in a state of civilization, with a view to mutual protection, mutual henelit, ormutual improvement,not one has cifectcd so much for the solid lasting welfare of the entire community as <the system termed Life Assurance. 15y it the clients resulting from the natural precariousness of life have been greatly mitigated. The painful dread of the future, common to all, has been removed ; careful habits have been fostered and encouraged; and the natural affections nourished and enlarged. More than this, the occasion it gives for the mind to dwell not in fear and trepedation, but calmly and meditatively—on the close of our career, has served in many cases as the stepping-stone to a religious life, and aim, so that whether looked at from that point of view, or merely as a social and moral obligation. Life Assurance occupies one of the chief places on the roll of our duties.

It is feared that the above fact will bring many a married man in guilty of neglect, not in omitting to make a provision, but of failing to cboose the most economical means at his disposal. Franklyn said—“lf with my present means I am unable to make provision for my family what would he their position in the event of my death ?” The object of most married men is to provide for his family and to watch over them—what if death should suddenly come and cut short this object. The reflection of a man in this position should at once induce him to guard against such a contingency by Life Assurance. The institutions which have been established for affording facilities 1o the public for the assurance of life are of three classes—lst. The proprietary, the capital of which is subscribed by shareholders who receive all the profits of the business. ’2nd. The mixed, a proprietary oflice with a proviso for distribution of a smaller moiety of the profits to the policy holders. Lastly, but of paramount importance, Tim Mutual, where every contributor stands upon an equal footing, and pm rata bis proportion of the realised protit, which is the inalienable right of and belong exclusively to the members. Co-operation, ormutual combination, has developed Life Assurance to mimli advantage to the policy holder, and if this system was anp’.ivd to many or our colonial industries it migi i he the means of developing them, for many can help the few when ties few cannot help help the many. Pc Morgan, the giant actuary, recently (lend, gave the world some valuable statistics with regard to life assurance. Thus, cut of every 1000 persons of the same age living at the commencement of any year, we find the

following number will die during the year: over 5 and under 10 years of age, 8 males and 8 females; over 10 and under 10 years of age, 4 males and 5 females ; over 15 and under 25 years of age, 7 males ami 10 females; 35 and under 45, 13 males and 12 females ; 55 and under 65, 31 males and 28 females; 85 and under 95, 309 males and 283 females. He further says the longest age from which life may he expected is 7 ; for we may bet. an even wager of 1 to 1 that a child of 7 years will sec 42 years and 7 months. Mr W. A. Thomson, travelling agent and lecturer to the Australian Mutual Provident Society, is to give his lecture on the subject this evening at St. George’s Hall. We rcccommend all to go and hear him.