The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-04-12 00:00:00

OPENING OF A FORESTERS' COURT AT

WAREHAM.

A court, in wane:ion with the Ancient Order
of Foresters, was opened in this town on Monday
night. The inauguration ceremony was performed
by visiikoofficers from Southampton and Poole,
and 11 bars were admitted into the rites and
ceremonies of the Order, whilst three more were
proposed. After the court had been opened, an
inauguration supper took place at the Bleak Bear
Hotel, which was provided by Mr. Pieta in his well.
known and exciellent style, and to which about 30
members and their friends oat down. The chair
was occupied by Chief Bangor F. G. Bessuinster, of
Southampton, of the South• Western district • and
the vice-chair by Sab-clistriet Chief Banger
Kinsman. After the removal of the cloth 'the
chairman appropriately gave the usual loyal toasts,
which were entbusiestieelly resolved.
Brother W MI proposed "Success to the Ancient
Order of Foresters of the South-Western district,
and prosperity to the Widows' and Orphans'
Fund."
The Custamsn, after thanking Mr. Weeks for
the manner in which he had proposed the
I toast, and to the company for the way in which
they had received it, said the Ancient Order of
Foresters, as many of them were aware, was corn-
' poised of • large body of members, the Order being
I about 260,000 strong. They were blended together
for one purpose and one common brotherhood and
their desire was to aid the weak and sick, sad also
to comfort the distressed. Thee, were the great
principles of the Order, and their watch-words were
" unity, benevolence,and concord; "and when to such
words was added that of sympathy, nothieg could
inali• a man a better member of society, ot a bettor
member of his family. The Order was composed
of a large body of men, and they were not all re-
fined to one place, but were scattered all over the
globe. Forestry had taken such • stand that mow it
was known in every part of the world which they
could mention. They had done their part of their
duty as Englishmen, in coming and opening • court
in this town for the good of mankind in this locality.
Many thanks were due to those members who had
worked so hard in endeavouring to obtain a mend
here, and many thanks were also due to those
who had become members of it that night.
persons who
pleased that there were insult this locality
who were making preparation for the hour of sick.
new lie then alluded to the difference between
the provident and improvident man, remark-
ing that the iimprovideat man—the man who cared
nothing at all about society —or his wife and
children, when on his death-bed had no owe to com-
fort and console him; but the provident man, when
similarly situated, was visited by his brethren, con.
soled in the hour of sickness, had medical _tae',
and every bleary brought to him, and friends
gathered around his bedsid, to cheer and alleviate
bit sufferings; and should he leave this world, be did
so with the conviction that, although he was com-
pelled to leave his family behind, they would be
well eared and provided for. If, therefore, they
contrasted theme two men together, they would see
the dire nerieseity of hemming members of the
Ancient Order of Foresters. As regarded their die.
they had greatly increased in numbers. In the
year 1843 Forestry was established in Southampton,
and it was from that pier that the district
g Southampton was the head quarters
orette Order of the South•Wastern district.
He then dwelt upon the formation of the society
in that town,stating thet the first oourt composed only
of nine members, and that the father of the Order
was now Beim, and it must be s source of eridae-
ties to him to know that there were 6,000 or 7,000
members in the district. There were 61 courts in
the district, and two more were in view of being
opened, and the chairman expressed • hope that
there would be more soon. In alluding to the last
part of the tort he said it wu not the kar, forth.
Widows' and Orphans' Fund required their deep
concern and consideration. He pointed out the
advantages accruing from this fund,and expressed •
hope that not only the Foresters present, but those
throughout the district, would come forward and
join the fund.
The Vics-Cmatawsw proposed "Success to Court
Alexandra." He hoped the small score which had
been planted that night would flourish and berme
• great tree. Of Gus he bad no doubt, for be had
newer 'see • court started under more anepioioes
circumstances. He expressed a hope that the
members of the new court would put their shoulders
to the wheel, as the propsrity of the Order rested
with them.

-.GThi;f Banger Win returned thanks, remarking
that all he oould ray on behalf of the members of
the Dow court was, that they would support and
encourage what had been darted that night • and
for his own part he would do all he could to
forward the designs of the Ancient Order of
Foresters.

—ill' &MAMAS proposed "Th. Members of
Court Unity," the opening Ledge of Court
Alexandra, and in doing so said they were carrying
out their name in a true Forester's spirit They
we re united, and showed their unity by coming
amongst them to carry out the greed principles of
the Order.

The Vics-Camiue•sr laid as Bth-Chief Hanger
the duty devolved upon him of returning theaks.
He was mach pleased that his Lodge had arrived
at that state of maturity to become the mother of
a new court. It was only four years ago that his
&conunenoed mistime, and washalosed. es
s was, nadir dieleoltioa They strong
opposition—if he might me snob • (inn---and an
uphill gems to fight, sad so in a great measure had
Court Alexandra. In Poole, at the starting of their
court, there were four Oddfellowe Lodges, and one
Forester's Court. The Oddfellow* numbered about
NO, sad the Foresters 100; but nevertheless, in
the fees of these diffirattfra, Court Mut, had
thrived sad growl' to the good estate of miit•Al7-
Court Alexandra hid in uphill peas to fight, as
there was an old-established as' Lodge in
the town, having about 250 members; but he
thought that need not discourage them, and he
hoped that before Court Alexandra arrived at the
'age of his Lodge, it would be the mother of • court
or wart He then alluded to the jealousy which
existed in mine towns in which he had been in be-
tween Oddlellowe' and Foresters' Soastias, and
people imagined that the two societies were
endeavouring to do each other an injury. He
maintained that the Odelfellows were not
antagonistic to diem, and in support ol this said
, that is 1843 the lint members of the
I Booth • Western district of the Amami
Order of Foresters were Oddhllow• The

_
anti- Foresher's Court we. opined by Oddfallow
offlows, and they premed on cued they biomes •
district. Forestry had gam oe increasing ever since
the setablishmicat of the district had been
olleered by Oddlellows, sad it was • singular
at that et the time the whets of
the allows of uallfloalli- Western faistrict
of Foreeters were °dainties. If, therefore,
the Misers of that society ao well °Deducted the
aides et the Foresters, he walled they would feel
that there we. o antagonism between them. and
=they would have the same feeling, for Odd.
as they had for the member@ of their own
Order. He than proseeded to Mega that, although
the Oddtellews were about 300,000 stream these had
been no society which had iamessed co feat Is point
of annthere of h*l yes... the Forsakes bad dove.
Taking Post.. ea inetanoe, be mid that formerly
Oddlellows increased much more than Foreakers,
and, at he had stated, when his court we. opened
there were only 100 Foresters In the town, but now
there were 400. The most extraordinary increase
had been during the past HI months. Within that
time two Sinceoaries of the Order of Shepherds had
been *paced, the second degree of Forego, of
which they would know mere about by. and bye,
and sines that time the moms of the Order
in Poole bad been unparalleled is any
pert of the world. The name of this was,
, that the bemedte from this source were.. striking
, that the Oddfalloors mild not approeoh them.
The speaker dilated epos the advantages of the
Societise, Mating that for the trifling sum of
3d. extra per week, 18s. a.week was secured ice...
of sickness by jolning the Shepherds, instead of
10s. as in the Oddisifow.. He expnesed a hope
that in a short time Caul Alexandra would get •
Senalciary. and he was then ossiaia that if eneh was
themes, they would axle be as drift as the Odd.
fellows, sad esealaded by hoping that the °cart
would ass their b ergaes to remote the
welfare of the Angriest Order if Forester..
The ONAIIINAX mid be veld endorse all the
Na whisk hid beam made by the Vice-Okair-
MIL There wm, however, use scree which be
glto owe& The Vice-Cliairman had mid
the trosth-Weelene &drier if Pereeiees wee
by all Odellellows Sash wee wet 1b.....
Them were three Oddiellows, but he was aol aire.

However, to show that there was no antagonistic
feeling existing between the officers of his wart
towards the kindred society, it was their intention
to become members of that body.
The evening was most agreeably sad harmosiossly
spent, the merry song and tenet passing freely
around the jovial and convivial compass, who did
not separate before several of the " small hears" had
away.