The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-04-21 00:00:00

Cspitai in 1861

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Increase in 1862 626 111 S 4
"The results ere these—Three new branch dubs, 146
more mrmhess, inereare of death pay £l7. on nick pay
£231 12.. Id,. and £7 13a returned under Rule 37. A
decrease of £6 on endowmente, and on honorary eub-
acriptions, £3l 2s. There is an increase in members'
contributions, however, of £257 7s. 20. Though this
stint total of remiss is in many respects hardly eo thvoue
able as that of net year. it will not perhape he deemed
un-atiefectory, seeing that. after having afforded re-
lief in sicknere Lean unusually large number of inrmbers,
the capital of the society has been increased by the
gratifying amount of t 65114 lea flid. Th• two nimple
fuse that three new blanche. has been formed in the
counts of the year, and that 333 new members haul bees
enrolled, abundantly tem.fring that there is no abate-
ment in the general confidenes in it. principled and
management. All subjects of congratulation are, how-
ever, outweighed at the present moment by the irrepar-
able loss which the society he. sustained by the react
death of its valued and beloved honorary mcrelary,
Charles Forel:me, Esq. He nod, indeed, been for some
time compelled le withdraw, by lb. ?albino( his health,
from all public business. The Friendly Society, of
which he was the circulator, and bad no lons been the
isseterapirit, waa among the last of the many spheres
of usefulness from which he retired nor can it occa-
'don any surprine that be should somewhat reluctantly
abandon a position, wherein he had been instrumental
in conferring each unquestionable benset upon the
working climes of the county. It roust have been not
the least cheering reminiscence of his benevolent and
well-spent life that he had been permitted to take so
prominent • part in placing the poor man's insurance
societies noon • firmer basis, and didoonnecting them
frons the accompaniments of drunkenness and waste;
end we are con•inced that by endeavouring steadily to
maintain the institution in the course which has bees
marked out for it during his able superintendence, not
only will it. pronperity be meet effeertu.lly secured, but,
at the thine time, the most appropriate tribute will be
paid to Ida mentory, and the best acknowledgment made
of his eminent and unwearied services.
C. W. Blicsaar, Acting Hon. Sec.
"G. 11. Dana, becroary.

The CHAIRMAN said: 'Plain are 0n.., two Asce.
mints in the report to which I wish to call your special
attention. The first is, that which Ima sure, we all
deeply deplore, the great loss this society, and indeed
the whole oonntv has sustained, by she lamented death
of Charles Percher, Fag. *Man universally esteemed
for his kiednesn and liberality, and oral to whens the
wellsre of the Dorset Connty Friendly Society was ever
dear. Mr. Porcher was not, I believe. • native of this
county, bet when he settled hers, be identified himself
with its best intereets, aad showed far noire mincers
for its welfare than many who were natives of it. Not
only we, Mr. Poreber the originator of their society,
but he ever continued its warm supporter, indeed, his was
the muster -spirit which diffused Ide through the whole.
To him, it was indebted for those many boprovements
In its laws and constitution, which had made it so
admirably adapted to fulfil the end for which it was
designed—namely to afford • safe and sure investment
to the working dames, to which they could have re-
course in the day of sicknees. Haying referred to this
painful lON he (the chairman) was to • greet degree
relieved of anxiety on the society's amount by basing
to propose, as the boa. escretary, • gentlemen who, by
the active part he had taken as one of the trustees of
the society and its general working, was exceedingly
weU qualified for that oboe. He alluded to his evoel•
lent friend on his right head, the Bev. C. W. Bingham.
(This sanouncenient was received with great matidee-
tion.)—On looking over the report, he (the chairman)
IF. exceedingly pleased to and that the society stood ea
well in the oinfidence and esteem of the working.men
of the society, which was shown in the large inert... of
As member., and the opening of three new branches
during the present year. They must not, however,
mar pose that because that they had • large food, they
were no rich that they had no oeca-ion to be careful.
The period of trial had not yet arrived, but who. It
did come, he sinoerely hoped, through the excellent
basis on which the society was established, and a strict
attention to husband all the means at their disposal,
that period would find the society's funds no augmented
that all cells upon it. resources would beside to he met.
He held in his head a report issued by M. Tidd
Pratt, which shoeed the sad slate of many
of the friendly societies in the msnefeeturing
districis, 000mouent upon tbe want of euiployment.
We ought to be thankful that in this part of the
country we are free from those depreesing influenoes.
But what be wished especially to direct their attention
to, was the lavish expenditure for neenagemeat which
had characterised those societies. In ie. satiety in
Liverpool, 25 per cent of the total revenue, £30,000,
was expended in management; and in -nother,where the
yearly ineome was rather over CCM, 44 per cent. (or
nearly £2,080) was paid for expenses. Tbe eliairman
then read some very amusing questiouri put by members
of friendly societies to Mr. Tidd Pratt. One VIM that
of • moo who was required to pay 3d. per lodge night
for beer, which he ems, not only required to ray for bet
to drink, or elm be expelled the society. To such • law
(said the chairman) I do not wonder this inquirer (who
was an abstainer) objected to. I honour the man who,
finding intoxicating drinks • bane to him, reed-.a to
abstain from them altogether, and such • law as be was
required to submit to visa not only illegal, but shies.'
fully snjeat. Some of these societies almo were proved,
from the above•osused report—madis use of to compel •
man not to work for a master who would not 000 form
to trade regulations, • ajeteni be Abe chairman) was
greatly opposed to, for he held that every man ought
to have this liberty to make his own terms with his em-
ployer, sad not be bound by those who, generally
speaking, to gain • pecuniary &domino, caused the
working-elmees to be diseatielied with their wagea And
as ehowing how mach the opinion and advice of Mr.
lid.l Pratt was thought of, the chairman read a letter
to that gentleman from • man whole wife had forsaken
him, asking for Mr. Pratt's permission to marry again!
Now, (mid the chairman) from all the evils I have men-
tiorael, the Dorset Friendly Society is entirely free.
There Ls no reckless expenditure of its fends. The
whole amount subscribed by Its members is applied to
the purpose for which it is set apart, and the amount
subecrited by the honorary members has been hitherto
sufficient for defraying the cost of management. To
allow the evil of management expenses being taken from
the fund., he found that there wore in 128 moose (a
small proportion of the unions in England) no lea. them
1,1301 inmates, who, but for the breaking up of debt of
which they had been nomibers, would have been enabled
to spend their dr chning years in pear and comfort. As
regarded the felling off of honorary meusbers'
subscrip-
tions, that wits • robjett of very careful eoneideratioe,
and be traded acme gentlemen who now supported
them, would use their utmost endeavours to induce
their friends to join the society. With these remarks
he begged to move the adoption of the repots. (Cheers.)
Sir E. 11 BaKilli, Bart., seconded the motion.

The Clnisitall then prepared that the 1t... C. W.
Hingham be chosen as Looorary secretary in the plate
el Chaise Pomba'. Rm., deceased.
J. F. Hoven. Esq.. of Dorchester, in asconding the
nomination. said: He could not but reiterate the deep
feelings of regret expressed by the Memento, at the
great lo.e the society had seamined by the death of Yr.
Pureber, whose heart was ever eith them, and who, up
nearly the end of hie life, had seer manifested his eep
interest in their welfare. At the same time, he was
very lad to lad that a gentleman every-way an well
qualified as Mr. Bingham, was likely to be chosen es
their honorary secretary. 'The literates of the funds of
WI society, aad the increase of its members, was • cum
for great congratulation, ami the extract" mad by their
chairman, while affording eed instances of rectMis ex-
penditure in venom bonsai moieties, was se far inte-
resting, as tending to prove that the brie es whialt the
Damn County Fneadly Society was feuded was • sere
one, for DM one shOling of the exposes" of manscament
Dame out it We anthem' pocket'. He trnshal Mot his
brother menthen would um their utmost exertioss to
promote the apneas of the society, and it was with very
great pleuure he setandad the sominatios of Mr.
Bingham.
The eh-etlon was earned unanimously.
The Mow. C. W. BINGHAM ..id be malt heartily
thanked the,. for the tionner they had conferral upon
hint. He hardly base what be felt DO Mall its at this
moment. Though he had bees for DOW ales wall
sequainted with the society's operation., imd had aver
itn interests at heart, he meld not but I. ea how very
far Mort be was in point of ability and basins", wield-
°Mass to hls departed friend—Mr. Pardue. Perhaps
one reason why he had bop shown to the office was,
bemuse ninon Yr. Porch/or Itati been °Dispelled threiegh
failing health to relinguish the active duties of the
aloe, In (Mr. Bingham) had supplied his place, and ha
had by Do dying made Mandl aequalated with the
details of the working of Mit society. He
had also bun tb• steward of me of the
'Gaiety's breaches for some years, and thaw.
fore the duty he wee about to andestake -11111 DOI
altogether a new one to him. He hoped, Ismeirer,
they sitteld sot treat him as they did Mr. Pianism—
(latighter.) limy of Melanin& dehe seeded tee much
So their nevards and their aseretarias, and he weld

entirely advise them to take a part, at lout *hew IS
Mister to tire morgerseet of the society thereelve•
He had one comfort in fakir the oiler, that it wee an
honorary one—be could resign when he fated be wee
sot able to perform its duties, sad they cord turn
him out if they found him ineompeter. (Istellbtee.)
There was one thing be wished to bring before their
notice, and that sir the desirability of re-printing lie
rules. It had been suggested that several el the rake
requited revision, and the question was whether such
raisin) should be wade before they were re-orbited.
New or of their rules required that heferezi
alteration was made, a special general meeting eko
be called, of which not.* aboald be gives three weeks
previously; and the difilenity lir, se they were Miler,
out of copies of the rules, whether they should be
printed at ore without such revision. B. psimag
several rides which required amendment, saw-cask bad
in far been altered by the commireb
terror when Use triterreme before the. fee decision,
Or of tire, and • very important oesione lb. ere of
• man who having allowed hi arrears to rearin nn,
paid for more then • earth. falls sick, sad Is erred-
tag to the rule debarred Irma reervieg his ark pay.
71si committee decided that a man dor not become
penally in arrest until be bee been 13 weeks • defaulter,
and that his sick 'my should be gins him, if fora
shorter period, subject to tha deduetioe of his Mb-
seripron be was thee I. sneers. He (11r. Breast)
had now commenced the duties of his oar, sell be
heartily thanked them for the honour they had *in-
terred upon hint (Lead terra)
Aster coasiderable dieresis., in which several of the
stewards took part, it we. decided that u sorry copies
of the rules es were immediately required sherd be re-
printed, and in the mosntime the opi 13 ion of the reerunis
of the various branches should meet together le revise
the rules.

The CHAIRMAN said the next business was to re-okact
their secretary —Mr. Davis.
Mr. Davis, ow hoping sumnimosely no-seteled, mid he
thanked them sincerely for the tenet they reposed its
him, which was shown by his re-election for the tontb
year. It mould aver be his sins to do bis duty te the
society, end he In artily wished it every sworn.
_

H WILLIAMS, Heri. was then re-elookad as
treasurer. and the auditors all. past year. with timer
'option of G. J. Andrews, Esq., bAng appointed 1. the
place of Yr. Kinder.ley, were also reelected. Mr.
Hindersley beins appointed on the committee.
The nest annual meeting, on the proposition of ly.
Hodges, Esq., was appointed to be held at Code
Castle.
A vote of thanks was then unanimously amorded to
the Chairman.