The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-11-25 00:00:00

TIM BUD OF HOPE LODGE OF ODD FELLOWS.

We think it will readily be admitted that the ma-
jority of sensible men, blessed with a sound constitu-
tion, capable of enjoying moderately the physical
enjoyments of life, and, at the same time, able to
command them, find one of the most pleasant periods
of the day to be that when they sit dotal to dinner.
Supposing the appetite to be good, and that it has been
eharpened by honest bodily or mental exercise; the
viands, (solid and liquid,) abundant and pleasant and
the family well qualified for social enjoyment, and the
home circle with two or three friends with cultivated
minds and the gift of conversation, the dinner hour and
the hours that succeed it constitute a season of physi-
cal enjoyment which fairly compensates for the labour,
the fret, and the worry one's business, whatever it
may be, may have caused during the business part of
the day. There are people, of coarse, who despise good
eating and drinking, but they are rare, and • consider-
able number of those who do preach down these vani-
ties are, practically, by no means averse to the things
which they despise when they happen to come m
their way. We have heard gentlemen descanting with
eat eloquence which, in other circumstances, they could
net have commanded, on the duty of living, what they
were pleased to term, • "natural life"—that is, upon
the herbs and the water supplied by the univerea
mother—over their seoond bottle of port I We may,
therefore, take it for granted that the majority of Man-
kind are partial to • good dinner, and that, while
reverencing all other branches of art as intelligent men
might, they hold in special veneration the ancient and 1
henourable art of cookery I It is because a good dinner
is so universally regarded in this country as being one
of the very best of good things, that the oustom has,
no doubt, amen of commemorating great events, of
honoaring public benefactors, of initiating great under-
takiags, and of celebrating anniversaries, by a put&
dining ,pertorsitanes. If thou everybody else thinks',
annivereary dinner so desirable and so necessary, Why.
should not the members of an Odd Fellows Society?
Well, the members of the Bud of Hope Lodge of this
honourable fraternity have just commemorated their
fourth anniversary by a public festival—a festival that
was indeed lit for kings and princes to sit down to.
The tables almose groaned beneath the weight of the
good things provided for the occasion, served up, ties,
in the moat aristocratic style. We are somewhat °kiln
journalism, and we have attended many scores ci
Friendly Society and other festivities, but never do we
recollect of a single instance where the good thingief
this hie were placed upon the table in so admiraMie a
style, as they were by mine host Pette—the reel Patti,
mind—of the White Hart Inn, on Tuesday evening
last. There was—speaking of course relatively—
all that the mind could conceive or the heart
desire, and as for the waiting, why if every man
bad had a footman at his elbow purposely to wait
upon him, he could not have been better served.
We congratulate, therefore, the members of the
Bud of Hope Lodge in their choice of • purveyor,
and can ware them that if they transact the whole of
the business connected with their lodge with equal
judgment, they need not fear of being one of the most
prosperous lodges in the Manchester community. We
need hardly say that ample justice was done to the
solid and hqinalaced before the assembled company,
so pleating • beginning produced a happy effect upon
the after preceedings of the evening. Such things are
sure to be almost as • matter of necessity. Every
available space at the two tables was occupied, and the
chair was taken by Dr. Aldridge, and the vies-chair by
Mr. Fraud.
On the Moth being removed, the CHAIRMAN gave as
the toast, which he was sure the company would
receive, not only as • duty, but in affection, sympathy,
esteem, and love, the "Health of our most Sovereign
Lady the Queen." (Cheers.)
the next toast proposed was one which the Cnameraw
was sure would draw forth their hearty response, it
being the "Health of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales,
and the rest of the Roysl Family." The Prinoe of
Wales, as they all knew, had just arrived at his ma-
jority. He had now enkered upon the responsibilities
of manhood, and though lie trusted it might be long
before he was called to the throne of this country, he
believed that from the exempla he had had set him,
the education he had received, and the care that had
been bestowed upon him by informing his mind by
travel end other means, that when he should be called
upon to sustain the high position for which lie had
been prepared, he would fill it with honour to the
country and benefit to the world at large. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave the Army, Navy, and
our gallant Volunteers," who, at the time they sup-
reed England had need of them, patriotically came
forward to defend our homes and firesides. With this
• toast, be begged to couple the name of the Sergeant-
Major of the Royal Artillery. (Cheers.)
Sergeant-Major GBOOK returned thanks. He un
before him some fine old faces, the owners of which
had seen much more experience than himself, and the
only reason that he could conceive why be had beet
selected to return thanks, was on amount of the part
the Artillery took at Sebastopol, to which reference had
so ably been made by the Chairman. The Army was
not now composed of better meu than formerly, but they
were better armed, better fed, better clothed, better
• cesed•fer, beeter taught, and they had More advantages
hissany respects than the 'soldiers had in older &ye.
aa4 Ow had ek, doubt they would
"Val tlia aPrallair
,g2el
. •

, _

tr

for these thhigs if at any time they should be
called to protect the shores, or defend the honour of
their native land. As for the Navy, there had, tOO.
been • great reform in that braneh of the service,
They had now ironeased ships, and he eottld ware the
company their hearts were as firm Oa the vessels in
which they sailed. What they would be able to do—
whether soldiers or sailors—at any future time, with
their improved material of modern warfare, they nor
any one elm amid tell; but he could guarantee this,
that they would do their duty. (Applause.)
The Castanet, next, in some appreptiate remarks,
gave the "Bishop, Clergy, and Ministers of all denomi-
nations," (Applause.)
The Vice-CrimanAtt preposed fleocess to the Loyal
Bud of Hope lodge," (Creaerai
Mr. T. Raubam.,, the N.G., m returning thanks, said
he believed the past and present officers hactever done
their best to promote the prosperity of their lodge in
particular, and of Odd Fellowship in general. Ile
alluded to the time—five years ago—when he and a fe*
others were initiated into the order and became the
necleus of the Bud of Hope Lodge, which now numbered
upwards of 100 members, since which • Foresters'
Omit bad been established in Dorchester, ends second
Odd Fellows' lodge, numbering In the whole some 300
members; but there was still room for • large increase,
and he hoped the time would soon arrive when each
lodge wouldhe doubled as to numbers and trebled in
the amount of their fends. (Applause.)
bihr. Pitts, the lodge secretary, Whose name was also
included In the toast, said that since the lodge had been
established, 164 members had bees ihitiated, 41 of whom
had left from various causese-sech as removing from
this part of the conntry and other circumstances, 5 had
died, and there Were now 118 members, good on the
books, and two names had been proposed for initiation
During the five years of the lodge's existent's
£162 18s. 44. had been paid in relief, and the tenth ulf
the lodge now in the bank and in bend aMohnted to
065 13s. During the present year sickness bad been
more mevalent than lest year, and the amount of
relief granted had been about £4O, being nearly
'double the *mount on the former year. Altogether he
considered the funds were in a prosperous condition,
bet he hoped to live C.) see the day when they would
have £lOOO in hand. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave "The Health ot the Pest
and Prevent Officers." Although they were of Out
much obliged to the present officers fot,the heal cud
ability with whieh they conducted tlfe hiititaesa, they
must remember that a, great north% of their stability
depended ninon those *ho had none before. He bore
his testitirony to the odgtnent and earnestness which
had eharecterieed their former officers, as well as to the
present. and concluded by proposing the toast he had
named. (Cheers.)
MR. Bowtcs, P. 0., and Ma. WARLAND„t.G.
severally acknowledged the compliment, the hitter
gentleman concluding his remarks by nednetilig "The
Health of their very excellent ehtl greatly respected
medical officer, Dr. Alcirldire."
The Crartttau returned thanks for the kindness
they bad done him. He had been connected with
that lodge from its eommnoement, and he felt a deep
interest in its welfare, as he looked upon societies of this
description a means to an end, conducive to the hest
interests of the class who became their members,. It
was in consideration of this that he Was Inclueed to loffi
them. The offiee he held was altipOrtsht bed
responsible one, but he tortld ageire Mt % bothing
gave him floors o heartfelt leffisfartlob than to promote
the welfare to the best el Ifis ability of his fellow-men.
The society, smell as it was in the beginning, was the
naciews of it large circle, and had, to his especial knowledr, been the means of immense good, erMffilh*them
to be independent of the dole of 'charity In the hour of
affliction, and implanting „Pt their breasts a noble
spirit of self-dependeteas The very hearty reception
' the toast had reeelVed at their hands would be a further
' stimulus to persevere, not only for the promotion of
tida, but of every kindred institution_ (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then gave "Prosperity to the Man-
chester Unity of Odd Fellows," with which teait he
amocdated the name of Mr. Bowles, (Vheeit.)
kt BOWLER, in acknofiledging the compliment,
entered at some length into the history of bene-
fit eindettera the projector of which, so far as
• they had thy knowledge, was the celebrated
Defoe, in 1696. In 1773 and 1789, a Bill
pool the House of Commons for legislating
benefit societies, but this was thrown out by the Lords
'on both occaaiona In 1793, however. an Act was passed
'in their favour by both Houses. The first friendly
society in connection with the Odd rellows of which
they had sqy knowledge we. in 181.2, but it was not
till about the year 18.51 that their fends Were placed en
a sufficiently sure foundation to gnat-antes Atoms&
Now, however, it was so, and their nninhers were
consequently some 335,1100, with • capital of three
millions of matey. (Ittylause.)
Mr. ritebte gate " Mows& to the Foresters and other
kindred societies," which wee acknowledged by Mr,
(APplause.)
Mr. Pigs, secretary, gave "The Health of Absent
Friends."

coonseq. neir

fir7l3owias next proposed "The Health of Dr.
Aldridge as the Chairman of that meeting," a toast
which weiii drank with musical honours.

The CHAIRMAN returned thanks and proposed "The
Err.," which was briefly acknowledged by Mr. Brooks.
• The Host, Hostess, and ?amity followed," after
which "The Ladies." "Our nest merry meeting,"
and other toasts followed, the hilarity of the evening
being kept up till "The wee short honrsayant the noon"
were ushered in. We bad forgotten to state that the
town band was present, and tended greatly to pkornote
the harmony of tire proceedings, which altogether were
truly pleasing in their character.