Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

The first piece of legislation designed by the government for the purpose
of regulating clubs and societies was The Friendly Societies Act of 1793, which
allowed the government to monitor organizations in Britain. Under the
guidelines of the Act, clubs and societies would be registered as benefit and
philanthropic associations. Ostensibly, the government justified the Act as a
means to create a list of friendly societies. In practice, however, the Friendly
Societies Act prevented registered associations from being incorporated and
allowed the government to scrutinize the activities of the associations.
Membership lists submitted to the government provided personal information on
each affiliate, thus giving officials a wealth of personal information as the Pitt
administration waged its war against seditious activities.
The Friendly Societies Act was discussed in Aberdeen Lodge No. 1(3).
In a minute dated 6 December 1793, the lodge recorded the following extract
which was also advertised in the Aberdeen Journal:
158
The said day there was laid before the meeting by the Committee
Appointed by the Society for drawing up Rules and Regulations in terms
of the late Act of Parliament for the relief and protection of Friendly
Societies, a Report of said Committee with a copy of Rules, orders and
Regulations to be observed in future by this said Society And which
orders, Rules and regulations having been read over to the Meeting and
deliberately considered, were by a very great Majority Approven of And
the Lodge Did and do hereby make, ordain, and constitute the said Rules,
which are hereby appointed to be engrossed in this Sederint book as
Constitutional and Fundamental Laws, Orders, and Regulations of this
Society, to be observed in all time coming. Repealing hereby, and
Rescinding all former Rules, Orders, and Regulations made and
Established in this Society. 70
70 No. 1(3) Aberdeen Lodge Minutes, 6 December 1793