Philanthropic Trust Funds.—­That our predecessors forgot not charity is well proved, though some of the “Trusts” read strangely in these days.

Apprenticing Poor Boys.—­A favourite bequest in past days was the leaving of funds for apprenticing poor lads to useful trades, and when workmen were so scarce and valuable that the strong arm of the law was brought in to prevent their emigrating or removing, doubtless it was a useful charity enough.  Now-a-days the majority of masters do not care about the small premiums usually paid out of these trusts, and several such charities have been lost sight of or become amalgamated with others.  The funds, however, left by George Jackson, 1696, and by Richard Scott, 1634, are still in the hands of trustees, and to those whom it may concern, Messrs. Horton and Lee, Newhall street, solicitors to both trusts, will give all needful information.

Banner’s Charity.—­Richard and Samuel Banner, in 1716, left some land at Erdington, towards providing clothing for two old widows and half-a-dozen old men, the balance, if any, to be used in apprenticing poor boys in Birmingham,

Dudley Trust.—­Mr. William Dudley, at his decease in 1876 left L100,000 on trust for the purpose of assisting young tradesmen commencing business on their own account, to relieve aged tradesmen of the town who had not succeeded in life, and lastly to benefit the charities of the town.  The rules require that applicants must be under fifty years of age; that they must reside within the limits of the borough; that they must not have been set up in business more than three years; that they must give satisfactory proof of their honesty, sobriety, and industry; and that they must give satisfactory security to the Trustees, either personal, viz., by bond with two or more sureties [each surety must give two or three references], or upon freehold, copyhold, or leasehold properties.  All these conditions being satisfactorily met, the loans, which will be made free of cost, will bear interest at 2-1/2 per cent. per annum, payable half-yearly, and must be repaid within five years, and if the money is wanted for more than two years, repayments by instalments must then commence.  The benefactions to aged persons take the shape of grants, annual or otherwise, not exceeding L20 in any one year, in favour of persons who fulfil the following requirements:  They must be of the age of sixty years at least, they must have been tradesmen within the limits of the borough; and they must be able to show to the satisfaction of the Trustees that they are of good character and need assistance, and that they have not received any parochial relief.  The Trustees have made several large grants to charitable institutions.  Offices:  20, Temple Row.

Fentham’s Charity.—­In 1712 George Fentham left about one hundred acres of land in Handsworth and Erdington Parishes, in trust, to teach poor children to read, and to clothe poor widows.  The property, when devised, was worth L20 per year.  At the end of the century it was valued at L100 per year; and it now brings in nearly L460.  The twenty children receiving the benefits of this charity are admitted to the Blue Coat School, and are distinguished by their dress of dark green.  Some fifty widows yearly share in the clothing gifts.