The City of London has many Livery Companies which have been in existence for hundreds of years.
These companies are intimately bound up with the civic affairs of the city.
Back into the mists of antiquity groups of men bound themselves together into gilds primarily for the purpose of supporting each other and looking to each other’s interests.
In all cases the cement which bound these people into a fraternity was their allegiance to their religion, their desire to assist each other in their work, their care for the sick, enfeebled and less favoured members, and a deep sense of responsibility to attend to the funerals of departed members and to say prayers for their souls.
And above all, in the fraternity, they regarded their feasts as of great importance.
Title
1971 - THE INFLUENCE OF THE GUILDS AND LIVERY COMPANIES - Bro. G.K. Neill.
