The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-07-15 00:00:00

THE ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTRY

(ILAND FETE AM) (ALA,

A grand denionstratiou of this order took
place on Monday, which was held (through Hs
aiuduess of Lord Ly Belton) in Bagley Park.
It may nut I,e uninteresting to tualiy of eui
readers to know somethiug ut the rise and kro-
loess of this ancient buoy in Stourbritige. We
believe that Mr. S. Broughton was the first to
introduce i uthstry into this town some twenty-
six years ago. Meetings were held, sod it 'VI AS
tLioitly uccitieu to open the first Court at the
Windmill I ui, I orcb. Ll,e et, then kept by Mr.
Iteuben ltoby ; but 'ruin bUlalt cause or auutbtx
this was not (wee. in 1646, however, the hist
Court Was witt,l:Va at the Foley Anus, High-
street, then kelt by Mr. J. Nickolls.
Court was afteiwaids removed to the Uld iiiog
lteaa, now kept ty Mr. Vale, where the Mother
Court is still he.u. Since the first uipthibg 01
that Court the Order has so flourished that there
are LOW in the Stourbridge Listriet 16 Courts,
and considerably over 1,000 !numbers. We be-
lieve we are right in stating that the Foresters
have :140 districts, 4,046 courts, and 400,000
members, holding their meetings throughout
the whole of the United Jiiugdoni, the ktritish
Colonies, aud the United States of America, Slid
possessing a capital of £1,604,000. The stun
paid for medical attendance alone during 157 d,
was £44,460 us Oil; assistahce to widows and
orphans, £i7,000 4s 24; sick allowance to meru•
bets for the saute year, £203,790 4s 4d; and the
funeral ditto, t 7-1,541 Os ad. During the cotton
famine in Lancashire the Order contributed £6OO
to the relief of the starving operatives. They
have also built and maintained two first-class
life-boats, which have saved many valuable
lives.

urestry is founded upon the broad basis of
benevolence and charity—fur the cultivation of
moral and social principles, its grand object
being to promote the happiness of mankind
generally, but of its own members in particular.
Aleetings urn held monthly for the purpose of
receiving initiation money and contributions,
which are Is lid per month; and its benefits to
members in return are while sick to receive In.;
per week, with medical attendance free. At the
ueath et u member £lO is paid, and 4:5 at the
death of a weniber's wife.

Forestry, as an institution, is like all similar
orders, ot modern date. The place of its origin
yet stands among us, mai will long battle the
siege of time. Its antiquity consists in its
principles, which were known and practised in
the earliest ages. They are founded on human
nature, supported by the world's experience;
essential concomitants of human happiness, anti
coeval in their duration with the moral and
social being of than.
The institution teaches its members to feel
the pleasure of doing good to others, and to
raise the drooping heads of poverty, to console
and comfort toe afflicted, to realise the last fund
hope of the widow, cud provide for the father-
less child, to walk upright hi society, to deal
with all persons or parties, whatever their rela-
tive condition, without fear or favour, to practise
charity, revere virtue, forgive injuries, and re-
dress grievances, to discharge the filial and par-
ental duties without fault and reproach, to
cherish the comforts at home, and to make the
domestic hearth the scene of happiness and
contentment. " Every man for every wan," is
the ruling principle, and justice and morality
the characteristics. Such then is a brief outline
of Forestry.

'1 HL FETE.-At an early hour on Monday last
the bells of St. Thomas's Church sent out their
merry tones, which denoted that something un-
usual was about to take place. Flags were
twisted out at several houses in the town, and
:it the King's Head a garland of flowers VIM
erected, extending from one side of the street
to the other, with suitable mottoes attached, and
he whole town presented a gay and animated
appearance. The various courts (numbering 17)
assembled on the cricket ground at Anablecote,
and there formed themselves in procession, wear-