SOCIETIES,  Eeligious.  The  religious
societies  which  were  started  in  London  in
1678  owe  their  establishment  mainly  to  the
preaching  of  Anthony  Horneck  of  the  Savoy
Church,  Beveridge  (afterwards  Bishop  of
St.  Asaph),  and  Smythies  of  St.  Michael's
Cornhill.  Several  young  men,  powerfully
attracted  by  the  sermons  of  these  preachers,
agreed  to  meet  together  every  week  for  re-
ligious purposes.  These  societies  were  prob-
ably in  imitation  of  various  Socinian  and
atheistical  clubs  which  were  then  flourishing
in  London.  Horneck  became  patron  and
director,  and  drew  up  the  constitution  of
the  first  Religious  Societies,  which  was  the
model  for  the  regulation  of  such  organisations
for  more  than  seventy  years.  Members  were
to  meet  every  week,  under  pain  of  a  fine  of
threepence  for  absence,  to  contribute  six-
pence weekly  to  some  charitable  design,  and
to  be  directed  and  controlled  by  English
clergy.  Stewards  were  elected  to  administer
the  funds,  and  an  annual  dinner,  preceded  by
a  sermon,  was  arranged.  The  Societies  were
cautiously  co-optive,  and  the  last  chapter  of
the  constitution  forms  a  comprehensive  rule
of  life,  pledging  them  to  loyalty  to  the  Church
and  the  cultivation  of  a  humble  Christian
spirit.  Soon  after  their  foundation  regular
monthly  Communion  was  enjoined  on  all
members.
