Crossroads and Characters
39. HELPING OUT.
In most Scottish villages runs a tradition of benefit groups: people getting together to help themselves and others. Members of the early church, usually without the help of the landowning gentry, made collections for the welfare of the poor: an entry in the 1716 parish records states 5 pounds 8 shillings were given 'to a well inclin'd person in straits whose name is not thought fitt to mention', then less delicately goes on to mention other poor recipients by name. In the late 18th century masons, weavers and gardeners forged separate mutual help societies (the local start of the Freemasons shown here in the 1920's) Another self-help group was the Dunning Baking Society which lasted until the 1930's: this co-operative provided dividends to customers depending on the amount of baked goods purchased.
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