The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-07-08 00:00:00

ODD FELLOWS' FESTIVAL.

No more cheerful or gladdening spectaole could be
witnessed than to see, as mieht be seen on Monday
last, some three hundred of the inhabitants of
Wareham and its immediate vicinity, bound together
by one mutual and voluntary law to aid o3e
another in age and poverty, in sickness and
distress—the fathers of all Odd Fellows' orphans, the
protectors of all Odd Fellows' widows, the mourners
at all Odd Fellows' graves—holding together their
annual festival. It is associations like that of the
Odd Fellows which constitute one of the elements of
strength, and purity, and good-will of English life.
The Manchester Unity at the present time numbers
nearly 340,000 members- a number equal to a great
tribe of the prairies, or of Tartary—a number which
more than one metropolis on the Contident, if
emptied of his inhabitants, could not contain.
England possesses other associations, kindred in
character and beneficial in their objects, but knowing
as we do what are the principles of Odd Fellowship
we dare venture to assert that they are excelled by
none in point of unity, expansive vigour, and sincere
fraternal friendship. They are among the very pick
of the tradesmen and artizans in the United King-
dom. They represent the sagacity, the fore-
thought, the conscience of the industrious orders;
they have assured themselves, by their own right-
mindedness and sagacity, against the evil chancsa of
the future, and we trust their ranks may swell
by hundreds of thousands in proportion as the
benefits attaching to their organization are more
universal understood.

It is many a year since the town of Wareham
was so full of visitors as it was on Monday.
Persons of all ranks and ages flocked in from all
quarters of the surrounding neighbourhood, the
railroads broug't hundreds from more distant parts,
and as the shops were closed in honour of the Coronation
of our beloved Sovereign, the day was observed as a
general holiday. The chureh bells rang several
merry peals, and in every direction might be seen
the msnifestation ofjoy. Following their usual prece-
dent the day's proceedings were commenced by the
members mainhing from their Lodge-house, dressed
in their regalia, and bearing the insignia of the
Order, in the following manner :

Wareham Band.
District New Banner.

Lytchett Officers and Brothers (30), with Dispensation.
Bere Officers and Brothere (50).
Poole Banner.—Design : Two Weeping Widows, sup-
ported by an Odd Fellow in full uniform.
Weymouth Officers and Brothers (30), with
Dispensation.
Dorchester Officers and Brothers (40.)
Union Jack.
BlAndford Officers and Brothers (45), with

Divensation.
Wimborne Otteera and Brothers (45).
B, era's Blandford Band.

Poole (80) and iVa.r!ball (100) Officers and Brothers

with Dispensaiion.

Accompanied by friends, neighbours, and visitor.
they proceeded to the house of God to return the
Giver of all Good thanks for his mercies, implore
forgiveness for part defects, and to listen to words
of exhortation as to future conduct. The sermon
was preached by the Rev. S. R. Capel, who took
for his text the last verse.d the 6th chapter of Gala-
tiona—.. Bear ye one another's burdens." The
church was well filled by a well-dressed and atten-
tive audience. The anthem was taken from the 22nd
Psalm, and was rendered in first-rate style. After
divine service, the members formed a procession
through the town, and visited the residences of
some of the principal gentry in the neighbourhood,
after which they returned to the field, kindly lent
for the occasion by Limit. Lacey, where nearly 400
eat down to an excellent dinner, served up by Mr.
W. Watt, of the Antelope Inn, and the chair was
taken by J. Penton, Esq. the Mayor of Wareham,
supported by T. Phippard, Esq., C. Filliter, Esq.,
W. Williams, Esq. surgeon, the Rev. Mr. Nutter,
Mr. rooks, Mr. Redman, Mr. Baggs, Mr. Spicer,
Mr. Trevennan, Mr. Groves, Mr. Randall, Mr.
Whittle, &c. .

The cloth being removed, the CRAIRMLN said that
one of the characteristics of Odd Fellows was their
unswerving loyalty, and he now appealed to their
warmest sympathiee to drink the toast he was about
propose. The Queen bad been called to drink
deeply of the bitter cup of sorrow and affliction, and
he was sure they would all join with him in the hope
that she would still have altirdeil her that christian
resignation which should bear her up under her
bereavements. Nor would it detract from their
loyalty to be reminded that at the time the sovereign
of these realms MSS drinking deepest of her earthly
cop of sorrow, she bad a heart that could sympn-
tense with those, who like herself, had'been bereft of
those who were their chief earthly stay, and whom
they loved most dear. He called on them to drink
The Health of the Queen," with the loyalty and
affection of true Odd Fellows.
-

Eyrea's iiind—"Chod save the Queen."
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, said that
be was painfully reminded that it had been mien for
them to connect with it the name of tie Prince Consort,
who was now no more. His death was a grist less, not
only to the Queen and the Royal Family, but also to
the country at large. A. however. the mantle of
Elijah fell on Mishit, so might they hope 'that the good
qualities which shone no conspicuously in the father be
inherited, not only by the Prince of Widen, but by all
the Royal children, so that the people of this country
might,for generations yet to come, have reason to thank
the Almighty for sending Prince Alliert among us to
train up the Royal family in good and virtuous princi-
ples. He proposed "Time Health of the Prince of
Wales and the rest of the Royal family."
The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The Health of the
Army and Nsyy, and the Rifle Volenteers," which was
briefly acknowledged by Corporal Uphill.
The CHAIRMAN said that as the day was BO fine, and as
many of them must desire to join in some of the athletic
amusements in the field, he would detain them only
for the purpose of proposing one more toast, and that
was • toast which must come home to the hearts and
sympathies of them all; it was, "Success to the
Manchester-linty of Odd Fellows." This society bad
its rainifi4tions in all parts of the country, and he
might say, in almost all parts of the world, He had
been a member a( the order great number of years,
and he was truly proud of having been so, as lie
believed it had been the means of doing a vast amount
of good,not only to the members themselves but to the
public at large. The principles of the Order were such
that the Society deserved the cordial and hearty support
of all classes in the country.
P.P.O.M. Witerreari from Poole returned thanks

He said the Blancliest4Unity in January lastnumbered
upwards of 335,000 meanhars ; thus they would observe
the society was increa,ing in numbers, and he flattered
himself in respectability. As they all knew,the Society
' • ' ' " . .

was established for the purpose of Jievioting distressed
members,and laying by a provision for the time of need,
as well as for the promotion of the principles of
"Friendship, Lose, and Truth" throughout the world.
They bad that day heard an excellent sermon from the
worthy cleegyinan who addressed them, and a short
time since lie had the pleasure of hearing a sermon at
Minion, in which the minister who addressed them,
in speaking of their society, said if all men were Odd
Fellows, and all acted up to their profession, there
would be bet little left for the clergy to do. He next
alluded to the rise and progress of Odd Fellowship in
the couoty of Dorset. It commenced by 13 humble
individuals at Poole uniting together and forming
themselves into a lodge, sad now Poole had become the
head of district, numbering 25 lodges and 2318
members in January lest. Be felt grstifled at their
meeting that day, and their procession looked remark-
ably well. He heard a bystander remark as they were
proceeding along, "Well, it looks very pretty, but it's
all rubbish, they had better by half keep the money it
costs in their pockets Now be held that if they chose
to have their decorations they were as much entitled to
them as noblemen and gentlemen to their various
insignia and badges of honour. TV for emample they
saw • person wearing the badge of the N.G. of a lodge
or of a district officer,they knew that he was • diligent.
hard-working man for his Order; they knew that he
had woo the honours he was entitled to wear. And as
for their displays, what were their effect upon the
public wind? They excited attention, caused people tc
enquire abont and examine into their objects an
principles, and thus it had the effect of
inducing hundreds and thousands of men,
who would otherwise have been ignorant
of Odd Fellowship, to enrol themselves under their
standard. Their procession was not therefore an
empty show, but they possessed an influence for good,
by inducieg many a man to make provision against the
hour of sickness and old age. A clergyman said to him
that day, after inquiring about their ohjeote, that Odd
F,llowship was established on the 11141110 principles..
their old local benefit societies: but their society wee
Out only what the old local benefit societies were, but
they were • good deal more. Wherever rug Odd
Fellow went, in whatever part of the eountry; he tong
In every other Odd Fellow a friend and • brother 11111
would assist him if necessity required. And th
society was extending itself in all directing*
throughout the .IjuitedOpugdoes lad in