United Albany Brethren benefit society.

Abstract

• Opsomming: In die vorige eeu het die sogenaamde "friendly societies" aan mans 'n vorm van versekering gebied deur die stigting van 'n gemeenskapsfonds waaruit hulle gehelp kon word in geval van siekte en nood. Die verenigings het ook gesorg vir vermaak en kameraadskap tydens byeenkomste. Die United Albany Brethren Benefit Society van Grahamstad was 'n voorbeeld van so 'n vereniging. Dit is in 1828 deur Britse Setlaars gestig en as een van die eerste plaaslike organisasies in Grahamstad en omgewing het dit 'n belangrike plek beklee en is sterk met die geskiedenis van Grahamstad en die Albany-nedersetting geassosieer. Hoewel lede hoofsaaklik geskoolde vakmanne was, het van bulle later hoë poste beklee. Die vereniging het al die teenslae van die 19e eeu deurstaan, maar die omwenteling wat die Anglo-Boereoorlog van 1899 - 1902 teweeggebring het, het hom die finale nekslag toegedien.

• Summary: In the last century friendly "societies" offered men a form of insurance by the establishment of common funds from which payments could be made to members in time of sickness or other troubles; they also offered convivial activity and good fellowship at meetings. The United Albany Brethren Benefit Society was a Grahamstown example of these societies. It was founded by British settlers in 1828, and came to occupy a special position in the city and surrounding areas as one of the earliest local institutions and one closely identified with the history of Grahamstown and the Albany settlement. Skilled artisans made up the bulk of the membership, though some went on to positions of considerable importance. The Society survived all the problems of the 19th century but seems to have succumbed finally to the upheavals of the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 - 1902.