The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-02-09 00:00:00

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
WORKING MEN 'ti CLUB.

On Friday evening the annual meeting of the above
excellent institution was held at the Reading-room.
About 40 members were present, and the whole of
the proceedings were conducted in • business-like
manner. The sale of papers, periodicals, Xo, was
kindly undertaken by Mr. Park, and realised the
sum of £2 3e. Id. A oordial vote of thanks hawing
been given to that gentleman for his services, the
general business commenced by the electiou of Mr.
K B. Smith as chairman, who first called upon the
secretary, Mr. Furmage, to read his report, from
which we make the following extracts : —Chairman
and fellow members,—l have the great pleasure and
honour of delivering to you the ninth annual report
of this club, and my first as secretary. I entered
into the important °Moe with a lighter heart, so to
speak, than my predecessor, for be had • startling
debt of over £6 to battle with, whilst I had the ex-
cellent balance of £lO to work with. The past year
has, I am happy to say, been • prosperous one with
us, for we have been able to augment our previous
good balance. The total number of members now
belonging to this club amounts to 100, against 00 at
our last general meeting. This large increase may
easily be accounted for by two circumstances which
have occurred danag the past year, via., the
closing of the Illandfcnd Institution, and the forma-
tion of a discussion elan in connection with the club.
Amongst our 108 members there are but few of the
Claall we should so much like to see, and for whose
our doors are also opened,—the working men. The
report then proceeds to give as a room why
the working classes do not avail themselves of the
club, that they are contented with their cheap penny
paper, and points out some of the advantages they
would enjoy by becoming members of the club.
After giving • caution to the junior members not
to annoy by noisy gaines those members who are
met together for reading, the report goes on to state
that the discuasion class lives, and has every chasms
of growing, and there are good hearty debates
earned on in it every meeting night. A music class
has been formed owe more in connection with the
club for providing music for the club entertainments,
and is in • fair way of doing well. During the pest
year we have bad live lectures and two readings,
but at neither entertainments have good audience*
been found to repay the lecturers and readers for
.hoir trouble, nor to swell the club exchequer, in
fact we have been out of pocket by something like
£2 fie. The library has been well used,no less than
1,000 volumes have been issued to the members.
We bays had 43 new volumes added to our
library, amongst which number may be noticed 40
volumes of the " Church of England dagazitie,"

kindly presented to us by Mr. T. —. Park. Several
bound volumes of the "Leisure Hour,"
•• Chambers' Journal," kr., have also been added.
Unfortunately the report lias here one unpleasant
uteri; namely, that 14 volumes are missing, and
states that if the books thus disappear the committee
will be obliged to resort to the more stringent
system of cloang the library from week to week,
instead of the members having, as now, free atoms
at all times. The lon of honorary members by the
deaths of Sir J. J. Smith, and the Rev. W. Harte
is then adverted to, and a just tribute paid to the
worth of the latter gentleman, who was ever a
warm supporter of the institution. To the honorary
members list has hese added H. Rey Poynter, Req.,
M.P., G. Start, Req., ILL'., Sir William Marriott.
Fiaucis Start, Esq., and Mr. J. W. Clyde. —The
op .rt goes on to state that the oommitree have been
very anxiously looking out for a place more suitable
for the requirements of the club than their present
ouililiug, but unfortunately have not suoineded.
I' be election of • committee for the ensuing year was
then noticed, and the oeoemity of choosing each
lames to represent them as would be punctual in
tiisir attendance.and do their utmost to forward the
interest of the club,pointed out. A very just tribute
was paid to the manager and his wife for the very
exosUent manner in which the club-rooms have
been kept, and the report concludes with referring
to the loss the society sustained by the death of the
lets secretary, whine heart wail always in his work,
and with the present secretary's expressions of
satisfaction, the manner in which he had dis-
charged his dunce had contributed to the favourable
.irste of the balance.abeet, and thus meeting with the
approbatioo of the members. (Cheers) .
re. Cii•isomr then called upon Mr. Edgar,
the treasurer, to reed his report, which showed that
the receipts for the past year, including a balsam in
band of £l4 15s. ltkL, amounted to £77 13i., and
the expenditure to £59 154. leaving a balance
in band of Cl 7 17s. 60.
The elli1.11•14 congratulated the club on the
very favourable reports they bad listened to, and
made some suitable remarks on the various euhjects
alluded to in the secretary's report,expreming • hope
that soon they would have more oommodious
premises.
The adoption of both reports was carried sees. con.
On the proposition of Mr. Squibb, seconded by
Mr. Amey, Mr. Farmag• was unanimously re-
elected as secretery ; and Mr. Elgar, on the proPe •
sition of Mr. Menden, mounded by Mr. W. Linos,
re-elected treasurer for the ensuing year.
Upon the proposition of Mr. H. [lodged • vote of
thaaks was awarded ta the committee for their
labours during the pest year.
Tb. following gentlemen were sleeted on the
committee : Messrs. J. Domine, B. Meaden, Walter
Lanus,. James Payne, G. Fmk., Curtis, jaw..
Broecombe, Bartell, Marring, Robinson, and
Dudderidge.
Mr. C. Ron proposed • vote of thanks to the
founder of the club, Mr. T. H. Bastard. That
gentleman dad ever shown himself a frieod, and he
was sure if at any time they ebould unfortunately
tel into difficulties, be would do his utmost to help
them.
Mr. Ewan seconded the proposition, observ-
ing that he believed Mr. Beeterd bad the internee
of such clubs at heart, though some might
differ from his views. His interest in the muse of
education was shows in his having endowed with •
thosasad pounds an ezoallent school in Blandford.
crba vote was unaniesedy pined amidst load
arfblont4

The business part of the meeting having been ono-
chided. the Chaffin= invited diecu=on on any
eutiret.
- - .

15r. W. Lance suggested at as they had such a
good balance in han that
it would not be
advisable to invest It in the savings bank.
Mr. IT. ['ODOM was of opinion that it would not
he so well to invest the money in tbeeavings book as in
the other banks, as a longer notice would te-
roveseary before they °odd draw it out in the savings
bank.

Mr. B. ?Stapes proposed that the sum of Cl 2 be
invested to be set apart for assisting in securing to
the club more commodious premises He was full)
of opinion that it wee absolutely neceseuy if the)
wished to prosper that they shoeld see to this
matter at once. They could hardly call their club •
Working Man's Club," as its members were
chiefly from among the middle dames, and indeed
the working climate, such as labourers, would not
join them, as they felt they could not be at home
with them. What they wanted, therefore, was such
premise as would enable them to have several
apartment& one for restAinx. another for amusements
and clam-rooms for various studies. He for one
would very mach like to see a large number of work-
ing insi present.
Mr. ELGAR expressed his approval of placing the
money in the hank.
Mr. H. Howse proposed that each sum as the
committee might approve of should be invested in
the National Pr ivincial Bank. At the same time
he could not agree to tie up the committee to •
particular course of action, or prevent them if they
needed the money from having an opportunity of
withdrawing it.
Mr. C0RT111,.11111., seconded the proposition,
which was mini sees. cow.

Mr. MAKIIN said the subject of having a better
plain to bold their meetings was of great importance,
and be should be glad to lee • movement made,
whereby the members of the venous benefit
emirates in the town and the Working Men's Chili
could jointly bare such • building for bolding their
meetings in. Tbe erection of such a Owe would
coat perhaps something like from iWO to £l,OOO,
and oould be raised in charm He believed be oould
safely say that among working men be knew many
who would be disposed to take shares, and no doubt
IMMO of the gentlemen in the neighbourhood would
give them a helping hand. (Cheers.)
Mr. H. Elovoce said that to facilitate business he
would propose "That the committee appointed for
the ensuing year be requested to use their utmost
endeavours to secure more eligible premises for the
use of the club." This was, after being seconded,
earned unanimously.
The Caaiuma• them celled the attention of the
meeting to the derinadlity of having in connection
with the club some kind of festive gathering, such
as • couversesione, by which he believed the welfare
of the society would be greatly assisted. The
subject had been moved in the discussion class, the
members of which were most willing to join with
the committee of the club in anything they might
have to propose.
Mr. W. Lance said the subject bad been brought
forward in committee, and therefore had already
engaged their attention and he believed he :night
say that something of the kind would be awned
out.

Mr. Curris said he believed that Mr. Bartlett,
who brought forward the subject, oontemplitted
having • small museum exhibited, and that he under-
stood it was that gentleman's intention to isms
circulars to the inhabitants asking them to assist in
the matter.

After a short clorereation cc the subject,
Mr. Pm proposed • Tote of thanks to Mr. E. B.
Smith for his indiums in taking the chair. This
was ancbsily passed, and the meeting broke up.