The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-06-18 00:00:00

COVNYY FRIENDLY SOCILTY.

The annual meeting lied testi. al of the I werne
Ouirtney and lwerne II jester branch ef this mocity was
hell on Thursday last at Shroton. This branch, which
ranks meow' on the list in importance, hae 210 enrolled
members. and in addition to expending the sum of
V 144 Os. trd. in sick pay, 1:2010 Grilowmente, and 1:14
for deeths, has contributed to the general fund about
('5O during the put year. In no part of the county is
the society more ably sustained by honorary subscrip-
tions, which amount to the noble sum of 121, and
whilst the society is under the supervision of it. able
awl indefatigable steward. Mr. T. Harvey, who has
hell that office for r) years, there is every reason to
hope that its present prosperity will not only be
maintained but increased. The proceedings ot the
day commenced with attending divine service at the
perish church. The service was read by the Rev.
Acton of lwerne, and and an excellent extempore
sermon preached by the Rev. F. W. nauneell from
1 Timothy iv., it verse :—"For bodily exercise profited)
little ; but goilinese is profitable unto all things, having
promise of the life that now is, and of that which is
t. come "
Ti
the ensuing ye r'
srn%'el in tbeSchooleioom, under the
presidency of H. S. Bower. Fag. Ur. EM. Spooner
was reelected medical officer for the Stourpavne portion
of the branch. and Sr. Decimus Curnie, for that portion
formerly under the care of Dr. Willa After sonic
conversation, the committee was re.electch Mr. Acton
was re-elected honorary, and Mr Harvey actingstewanl
Sr Harvey. in returning thanks on his re-election,
said the club was specially adapted to meet the wants
of the working classes, and provision was =de in the
rules that whenever a man wait p•rtially disabled from
work IND should have • portion of the weekly allowance,
and make whatever else he could. Thi, was a very
good rule, not only for the !umbers but for the
society, but it was a rule which hat! been Aimed by
two or three of the members, who whilst having half-
pay from the society, were found to be at the same
time receiving full wages. Members must take care
that they did not do full work when receiving pay.
This concluded the business part of the day a pro-
-1 ceedinga and the members then paid • visit to the
honorary members, and afterwards sat down to an
excellent dinner in the schoolroom, supplied by Mr.
Croak of the White Hart Inn. The chair was taken
by H. S. Rower. Esq., of Shroton, supported by
Colonel Fendall, Revs. F. W. Mailmen and .T. Acton.
Decimus Comte, Esq.. E. H. Spooner, EN. Mr. Bliss,
Mr. Goodfellow, Mr. Short, &c.,
On the removal ..f the cloth, the Chairman proposed
"the health of the Queen."
He next give "the health of the Prince and
Princess of Wales" - (cheers).
The Chairman then proposed "the Bishop and
Clergy of the Diocese." Ife firmly believed that no
one deserved their esteem more than the Bishop of
Salisbury for his zealous devotion to duty his benevo
lence awl amiability of character, and with regard to
the clergy though he esteemed them all very highly
yet they were especially under obligation to his friend,
Sr. Maureen, for he was sure no man worked harder
in his parish than Mr. Maenad', and he traded that
when the '(oth anniversary of his induction to that
living came round both himself and Mrs. Maunseli
would be alive and well, blessed with 50 litttle
slsunsells —(loud laughter)—and that he (the chairman)
would then be alive, and if he could not walk down to
congratulate them, he would come on crutches -
(laughter and cheers).
The Rev. F. W. Maimed] responded.
The Chairman then proposed • The Army and Navy,
Yeomanry, Militia, and Volunteers," speaking in high
terms of each branch of the service. Colonel Fendall
for the regular forces, and Private Bartlett, of the Stb
Dorset, for the Volunteers, responded.
Colonel Fended then proposed "The health of the
Lord Lieutenant and Magistrates of the eountv,"
coupled with the name of their respected chairman--
(loud cheers).
Mr. Rower .aid that whilst thanking them for the
honour they did him in joining his name with the toast
he felt sonic degree of diffidence in responding on behalf
of so justly esteemed • gentleman as Lord Shaftesbury,
who had always been the friend of the working classes,
and especially of the poor neellewomen of London -
(loud cheers). With respect to the magistracy, it
would not be expected of him to say much, as he was
only a young magistrate yet. They sometimes had hard
knocks by the radical press of the country, but he
thought no better proof could be given that the
imigisterial decisions were generally satisfactory than
the fact that when an accused person was brought
before them, he generally elected to be tried by them,
rather than j
sent before • jury.—(loud cheers).
The Chairman, in proposing the next toast, called for
• bumper to the honour of a gentleman of whose kind.
nese most of those present had been the recipients, of
whom it could be truly remarked "he never said an
unkind thing, and never had • selfish thought." The
toast he had to propose was "The health of Sir E
. . . .

Itak;e7 the p-r-eariderrit of the soci;t-;.-(1oUil. andlong
continued cheering).
"The health of the Medical Officers of the branch.'
Mr. Curme and .dr. Spooner, was then proposed by the
Chairman, who said that with the exception of the
clergy, he knew of no class to whom the public were
more indebted than to gentlemen of the medical
pruf mien.
Mr. Curate and Mr. Spooner responded.
The Chairman then gave "Health, long life, awl
strength to the Stewards," coupled with the names of
the Rev. J. Acton, and Mr. Harvey. He could not but
look upon Mr. Harvey as a man of great perseverance,
and the admirable manner in which he perforated his
multifarious duties was somewhat astonishing —(hear,
hear). He considered that the great success of the
branch was mainly due to his exertions—(loud cheers).
The Rev. J. Acton having briefly respond&i.
Mr. Harvey said that he was very pleased indeed to
report the club in such a satisfactory state, though the
number of members was certainly loot than last year.
He had hoped to have seen more honorary members
present, but several had been prevented He then
read letters of apology from the Rev. C. Tufnell. and
Mr. Thomas Fry. He then referred to the expenditure
of the branch during the past year, and drew attention
to the feet that over 120 had been expended in endow.
!mental, awl that nearly the whole of the incomy dis-
bursed by the Portland branch was for sickness. Port-
land stook first in point of numbers, but not as regarded
its support to the general fund. Stewards could testify
tothegreat good which such clubs did among the working
classes in tunes of aickneas, and he knew that very
many among them would have been obliged to have had
recourse to parish relief, during the lost year had it out
been for the club. When they went into the house of
one not a member of a benefit society, and into the
house of one who was they could not but bee the
difference--(cheers). There were some who said
"What's the use of joining • club, when we are unable
to work the parish must keep us, and when sick it will
find us • doctor," but the members of the Dorset
Friendly Society were animated with a nobler spirit
than that they preferred to be independent, by pro-
yid* who la bed& for the day of skimps. He
entreated these present to do all they could to get new

whereas

members, and referred he the fact that
In Shroton several new remnben had joined during ti,.
:drile but little proven had been made is
Minster, which he attribute Its the forinstv,,,
an Oildfellows Lodge in that place, he then coati sod
the rates of payment and the benefits recei,ed
pointing out that in some respects the Dorset Frier,
goeiety offcre I greater advantages than the Oddlellow.
He concluded by proposing the health of the honorary.
' members, coupled with the num of Mr. Short, of cm.
berwell—Llond cheers).
Mr. Short responds&
"The health of the Visitors" was then proposed ily
I Mr. Harvey, and responded to by Mr lflim, pip,
I "The Press- MLA given and acknowledged.
"The Leslie," was responded to by Mr. f'
. " Prosperity to the Shroton and !seine
Branch,' WU then proposed by the Chairman, who ex.
pressed his gratification that the club at its Lith anni•
versau was in so flourishing a state.
" The health of the Chairman" was then proposed by
Mr. Mauusell.
The Chairman acknowledged the compliment. ff,
then pVe 'The health of the host and beaten."
Mr. Harvey then proposed "The health ef Mr.
Clench," which was, cordially received, and mom Otte
the members paid a visit to Ranston House, when they
were kindly entertained. Dancing and other Mts.!.
ments took place in the evening in the fair-field, by
nlibliOn Of MI. Godwin.