Appendix IV: Savings' Banks in Connexion with the Deaconship

I have adverted to the important service which deacons, in the exercise of their appropriate calling, might render to the humbler classes, by the encouragement of provident institutions. The prevention of poverty surely falls as distinctly within the range of their duties as its relief? In Manchester, I understand that there is a society of young men, who may be said to act as pioneers and assistants to the savings’ bank. They weekly go through their districts, and collect from the families what they can spare, however small, and deposit it in their name in the bank. In this way a kind interest is shewn by a higher in behalf of a humbler class of the community, money is saved which might have been squandered or lost, and habits of forethought are formed. In short, the territorial principle is applied to the savings’ bank. The facilities which are afforded in a kind way for directing their resources, encourage families to become depositors in the savings’ bank, who would never otherwise have dreamed of it themselves; and where good habits are created, the parties are soon able to walk alone. I am persuaded that deacons in the Christian Church, consisting chiefly of young men of an active turn of mind, of intelligence and religious character, and whose very office, with its responsibilities, points out the care and welfare of the poor, would often, and that with the greatest ease and advantage, discharge the duties which are accomplished by a general association at Manchester. It is probable that the agents of the Association only contribute in part to the success of the “Manchester and Salford Bank for Savings," but the prosperity of the institution should form an argument for calling in the aid of such Christian agents in other cases. It appears, from the last report, that there are about 15,000 depositors,—that the whole sum due them is about £400,000,—that from the commencement, in 1818, to the present time, the deposits under £5, indicating the poorer classes, have amounted to about 200,000,—and that last year they constituted three-fourths of the entire deposits, the greatest number of them being between 5s. and 10s. 6d. It is interesting to notice among the depositors 1280 widows, and 5540 minors, which in many cases is probably another name for orphans. How could a faithful deacon more usefully occupy himself than as the encourager of such excellent institutions, whether as in some districts himself a receiver, or in others as an active agent, diffusing information and collecting sums?