A benefit society is an organization or voluntary association formed for mutual aid, benefit or insurance to provide for mutual relief.

Examples of benefit societies include trade unions, friendly societies, Fraternal organizations such as Freemasons and Oddfellows and many others.

A benefit society is characterized by

• each member having equivalent opportunity for a say in the organisation
• each member having potentially equivalent benefits.
• aid would go to those in need (strong helping the weak)
• collection fund for payment of benefits

Benefit societies can be organized around a shared ethnic background, religion, occupation, geographical region or other basis.

Benefits may include money or assistance for sickness, retirement, education, birth of a baby, funeral and medical expenses, unemployment.

Often benefit societies provide a social or educational framework for members and their families to support each other and contribute to the wider community.

History of benefit societies

Medieval guilds were an early basis for benefit societies.

A guild charter document from 1200 states:

"To become a gildsman,..it was necessary to pay certain initiation fees,..(and to take) an oath of fealty to the fraternity, swearing to observe its laws, to uphold its privileges, not to divulge its counsels, to obey its officers, and not to aid any non-gildsman under cover of the newly-acquired 'freedom.'" (C Gross, The Gild Merchant, (1927))

This charter shows the importance of 'brotherhood', and the principles of discipline, conviviality and benevolence. The structure of fraternity in the guild forms the basis for orders such as Freemasons, friendly societies, fraternal orders and modern trade unions. Joining such an organisation a member gained the 'freedom' of the craft; and the exclusive benefits that the organisation could confer on members.

Historically, benefit societies have emphasised the importance of social discipline, in conforming to the rules of the organisation and society, and acting in a morally uplifting and ethical manner. Conviviality and benevolence are important principles.

Oaths, secret signs and knowledge, and regalia were historically an important part of all these organisations, but have all declined in use during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries benefit societies in the form of friendly societies and trade unions were essential in providing social assistance for sickness and unemployment, and improving social conditions for a large part of the working population. With the introduction in the early twentieth century of state social welfare programs, and industrial, health and welfare regulation, the influence and membership of benefit societies have declined in importance.

External References

• Freemasons, Friendly Societies and Trade Unions