Monday 19 March 2012

S.O.E.B.S.

Sons of England Benevolent Society
The Sons of England Benevolent (or Benefit) Society was founded in Toronto in 1874 
to assist needy Protestants of English extraction and to promote loyalty to the monarchy.  
As a mutual benefit society, members would pay their weekly subscriptions and in return they and their families could benefit in times of need, such as unemployment assistance, disability benefits, medical fees, funeral costs and burial plots.  Organized into local lodges, the Society served mainly ex-pat working class families in Canada and South Africa. Hamilton Lodges provided plots in the Hamilton Cemetary until it ceased operations in 1971.
for Taphophile Tragics
from the HamiltonCemetery

9 comments:

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

The Society members were looked after both in life and after death it seems! Nice shot with the dappled sunlight.

ArtandArchitecture-SF.com said...

Ah signs of a bygone era for sure. Benevolent Societies, were such a vital part of our culture, so sad to see their demise. This particular memorial is so graceful and elegant in it's simplicity. Nice shot!

Oakland Daily Photo said...

La Principessa makes a good point. Seems like we're in a period of every man for himself. We could use more benevolence.

hamilton said...

At least now we have social welfare and unemployment insurance that helps take care of some of our financial needs when trouble arises. However, now we expect the government to help whereas with these benevolent societies there was the sense of belonging and conforming to the rules and showing social discipline and some of that has been lost - so it is almost every one for him(her)self.

Julie said...

Important changes in society that you touch upon with your post, and especially in these comments. The guvt orta fix it! This is one of the signs of a decaying society. I feel it is a similar problem with aged care. If we returned to the model where all ages of family resided under the same roof, we would solve the problems of aged-care AND child-care. But this is a throny issue considering that the extended family was destroyed by the industrialised society and its requirement that employable individuals travel to where the jobs were.

Good post ...

Deb said...

Looking after the needy in life and death, a worthy aim, and operating until fairly recently too.

Sondra said...

could sure use an organization such as that these days!!

CaT said...

quite smart!
nothing is arranged in many countries when you work there as a foreigner. sometimes not even healthcare.
right now i am not saving for later, as thats not arranged for foreigners in the us...

Lowell said...

These benevolent societies were wonderful organizations for so many people in this country also...often keeping them out of the poor house and providing funds and dignity when they got caught up in the indignities and infirmities that are part of life.