The friendly society was a form of membership that provided members with a social network and financial peace of mind. There are only two surviving friendly societies in the world: the one in Borrowstounness on the Firth of Forth and the one in Newcastle on the east coast of England. Although there is no documentation of the earliest friendly societies, at least one still exists today, but it has since ceased to exist.

In the early years, friendlies provided members with health insurance against sickness, infirmity, and disability. The society also paid for medical expenses, burial and educational expenses for widows and orphans. In addition, friendlies built sanitariums and old-age homes for their members. Eventually, government action pushed friendly societies out of existence. But the social network of today continues to benefit members. Some people's lives have been made better by the friendly society than their own.

The friendly society was first formed in 1789 as a way to bring like-minded people together. It was meant to provide assistance in hard times. These organizations were not owned by any profit-making entity. Instead, they were regarded as mutuals. Even today, building societies, credit unions, and insurance companies are all mutuals. The purpose of the friendly society is to help its members. The benefits of the friendly society depend on the member's health and life contingencies. Some members may receive payments when they fall sick, reach certain ages, or die.

As membership of the friendly society continued to grow, the government was forced to make changes

The purpose of a friendly society was to help its members, not to profit from it. During the nineteenth century, most families were self-supporting, but it was still difficult for families to survive without a breadwinner. This harsh reality spurred the growth of mutual aid. By offering medical care, funeral benefits, and other services to their members, friendly societies became a popular form of social support for workers.

During the nineteenth century, most families took pride in being self-supporting. The death of a breadwinner would result in hardship and death. Because of this, mutual aid developed. This kind of society not only provided medical care but also provided support for funeral expenses. The term "friendly society" is an umbrella term for a group that covers a variety of social services. The word friendly refers to both the institution and the community.

In the United States, the friendly society is a voluntary association of individuals who work together to promote social and economic welfare. The friendly society is an organization that meets a wide range of needs and is open to everyone. As a member of a society, you can access services at a lower cost than if you were a member of a different organization. You can also get an idea of the nature of the friendly society in a number of different countries.

Before the advent of large-scale health insurance, friendly societies played an important role in the lives of many people. In some countries, they cover a majority of the population, and are still in existence in some countries. In other nations, however, they are now insurance companies and have been replaced by a more charitable function. In the United Kingdom, the police mutual Assurance Society serves as a friendly society for police officers. Its mission is to provide insurance to its members.

In Germany, the friendly society played an important role before the advent of large-scale health insurance. In some countries, it covered half of the population. As the number of people insured by large-scale health insurance has increased, the friendly society has lost much of its ceremonial aspect and now focuses more on the charitable side. In other countries, the friendly societies have remained an important part of the health insurance system. In many countries, a friendly association is a vital part of the economic life.

The friendly society was primarily a working-class institution. In some areas, it had a number of functions. For instance, some societies served as insurance companies while others acted as lodges. In addition to the financial benefits, friendly societies often organised local events and provided financial benefits for their members. In some areas, a friendly society served one occupation or type of benefit. These groups continued to grow and thrive even as governments were reformed and their functions expanded.