The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-02-23 00:00:00

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Indic Th, dinn-r, which rifle 104 grit credit on the
new landlord (Mr. Borden) oho teli, • member of the
society. gave great eatirfaction,beieg fully equal to those
provided in boat...ldea of greater pretentious*.
After dinner, the meal loyal tease haring bees pro-
po.ni ao4 heartily responded tc,
The CHAIRMAN veld the next toast he had to prorode
was that of a body of ,nn, who by the character of
, thsir office woe always ent.tled to their regard, .01 em,
moi attacbment._ That char.,cter ens th•t of Ambales.•

ors from the King of kize. Tb,ir deties were to
call their attention to the claims of anothvr world, and
mach being the case be trusted that their healths would
user be received with that respect to which the) .•Tra
justly estitled—(bear, hear). 0, nroposed "Th.
Bishop and Olergy, and Ministerial all denominations"

—(app'lmae).
The next toaiit he (the CHAIRMAN) had to peciocwo
always • popular one. For though the English were •
peaceful people, and it had even been used ea • taunt
that tmy were a nation of atiopkeepers, yet it had
been during the last few years shown by that rxcellent
supplementary force which had been ralowel, the
volunteer'', that no peonle were more in earnest to
defend their own than the Englieh—(cheers). Both
branch's of the service were equally entitled to their
warmest support. With regard to the former, nothing
bat tended of late yews so much to raise it in the
eatim•t ion of the people of this country as the expedii
ton in Abyuinia, and probable nothing had tended so
much to raise the character of the English people in the
eyes of foreigner' an the way in which that expedition
was ciiried out. And be considered that they had cause
for &just pride that in the engagements which had taken
plane Dorset men bell so high said prominent a position.
Whdet they bad such names. Greathead. Strangways,
and Kinglake in the Russian NVar, Colonel Parke and
Lieutenant Salkeld in the Indian Mutiny, (the former
of whom made the most rapid match ever on record); ,
and C.iptain Watts and Lieutenant Staines Daniell,
bolding high position,. in the Abyssinian campaign, it
must be acknowledged that Doreetshire men were
among tie foremost in serving their Queen and county
—(loud cheers). With the toast be would courle the
name of Sergeant Wareham, of the Bth Dorset
Volunteers,
Sergeant WAREHAM briefly responded, it:priming his
convict on that if ever the time should arrive when
their rervicen would ha required, an event whist' he
trusted would never happen, the Volunteers of England
would be foun4 ready at the post of duty -(cheer").
The CHAt am Am ui I the neat toast he had to propose
was "Prosperity to the Friendly Societiea of Blan4-
ford"—theite included the Blandford Cub, the Odd
Fellows, Foresters, Building Operatives, and Patriots
Socistioi. The whole of these sosi-ties bad one common
object, and be (the Chairmen) was exeeedingly pleated
to find that a good feeling existed between them. He
eerie:loly cameo mason why any *does rivalry should
exist, and the only rivalry which should influence them
was to vie with each other in conferring on their
members the greatest amount of beuellt at the lowest
"id. He believed. as Harry Clifton said in his song—

Do to Pah Other the thing that la right
There I room In Oh world fore.

Should be the motto of every benefit society. Trusting
that harmony and good feeling would ever prevail
between the members of the various friendly societies in
the town, he would ask one of the members of each of
the societies he had named to respond.
No member of the Blandf,rd Club being present, Mr.
JAIIIIS responded on behalf of the Odd Fellows and
Fordtere Societies. He stand that the Loyal Blganundefoord.
Trteigsets breadduirrugmtheme h"lasTfolirthoraficialoPilriearsofhfds°. The
wondesiully well, having a capital of £450, cud number-
ing 120 members. He was pleosed to meet with the
Patriots in that friendly manner, and wished them and
' every kindred institution every success
Mr. WI LLS rs.ponded for the Building Operatives,
and staled that the society, though small when ecoup.ired
with others, had been productive of much good. The
payments were only 2J. per week, and thealek allowance
ss, per week. The funds were divided every sev n
years, a plan which he acknowledged wan generally
objected to in the present day; but with them it hod
worked well. They had now a capital of CIO, and had
paid out for doknesta 1:50. The number of members was
150. One gre4 advseta,:e of the eociety •1,41 this, th4t
young lads, who were apprenticed in the town, were
eligible a. members, and a large proportion of those
belonging to the Building Operatives Society belonged
also to one of the other societies in the town. It woe,
therefore, something of • training society, inducing in
the young lads of the town provident and thoughtful
habits, and up to that time bad been very mimes-NI—
(cheers).
The CHAMMLIS then gave the frost of the evening,
"Prosperity to the United Patriots Benefit Society."
If it was our duty to do what we could towards the
welfare of our country, be would ask, in what way
can we do th,s better than iu combining together for
mutual asaistanee in the time of sickness and distress.
and securing for those who belong to us a provision
when we are unable to procure it by our work? He
, supposed that the greater part of those present were
I Inewlscrs of the aomety, and knew more of its working
than he (Hi. but there was a gentleman present with
them that evening, Mr. Wheeler, the chief clerk of the
society, who be (the Chairman) was sure they would all
gladly listen to, and with whose name be would couple
the toast—(loud cheering).
• •

.
Mr. WasEhea, who was enthetiastically received,
asi.l that. in endeavouring to respond to the toast, he
wi,hed in the first place to say that in any remark
which he might make respecting their society, it would
be far from his intention to wish to disparage any of
those exoellent societies which hod been established it,
Hiandford— (hear, hear). He fully eoincided with the
Chairman's remarks when lie raid there was room
enough for all, and be trusted that the most kindly
feelings would ever animate the breasts of the members
of such societies towards each other. There was cer-
tainly no cause for jealousy or rivalry. To all they
could give the right hand of fellowship. and wish them
Godepeed—(applauise). With respect to the Patriotic
Society, ha should have to enter into some particulars.
An they were aware, the able °Mee wan In Loudon,
and the business was conducted by • Weed of Directors
@began by the members themselves. This year witethe
26th anniversary of the society. The cause of its
establishment was that other societies then in operation
were felt to be rather too exclusive in the way they
dealt with their members. The management of each
branch wen left pretty mneh to the members them-
selves, and if any dispute arose between a member and
the officers of the breach, the matter was laid before the
Board, whose decision was generally in aecordance with
the views expressed by the members themselves. There
were six separate divisions or classes of payments, ant
one of the most important provisions in the roles was
this, that if a member, through ill-health or misfortune,
found he could not keep up his payments in the class
which he joined, he could join a lower class, and thus
maintain Isis union with the society. This was an
advantage which he believed no other society of the
kind offered to it. members. It having been ascertained
what was the neoemary sum to be paid by members to
secure to them the payment of • certain sam in nick.
Dee, the tables were framed on the moot liberal
principles consistent with the safety and security of the
society, and the Directors had from time ts time
endeavoured to increase such advantages. Mr. Wheeler
then gave • summary of the rate. of payment and sick
ellowanees, and announced amidst loud cheers that the
Directors hail in contemplation the raising of the sick
allowance to members paying in the second division from
1.1-.. to 12.. Thin would, he remarked, cause an
additional outlay of the funds of about £250 per year,
which the Board hoped to be able to apply for that
purpose by • saving in the expenditure of management
Another advantage connected with the society was this,
that by a provision in the rules • member who lemon'
insane was entitled to the same relief as if bodily afflicted.
This was not the ease in other friendly societiee, and it
bat been tided by the judges thet where bodily disorders
only were mentioned in the rules, the funds of the
tiered
dobedyndt:setwandlhaitimoh:;:ourmosiwyadatisdi
ahnulathrntetp earnest
hhr e
eb'ei cheering).
society could not be applied to the support of those
mentally incapacitated from following their ordinary
employment. This, without wishing at all to disparage
other societies, was he considered, • decided advantage,
which they, as Patriot,. gained. But this was not all.
One of the divi.ions was for insurance in case of are,
by which members without reference to place, could
insure their furniture, or a workman his boats, from £5
to C5O by the payment of a small sum weekly. In this
they differed from the general insurance societies which
required that • certain place shall be named ; even if •
m. miler borrowed tools to work with, and they were
accidentally destroyed by fire, the claim for compensa-
Cron' was granted. Another important feature in our rules
is that relating to the funeral fund. In other societies
a young unmarried mien pays the same towards the
burial fees lie • iu•rried one, without Iwo/irks the same
advantage, for if the wife of the former dies he receives
• sum to assist in burying her, but the young man gets
no such advantage. In this society the male of payments
is 60 arranged as ts meet this, the Angle men paying
leas in proportion than the married. Another feature
of this society is that it may be considered • national
sooiety. We find when our annual report is made up
that some branches have not made that progress, either
on account of the fault of the agent or the members, that
they might reasonably have been expected to have done,
but the Directors taking the society as a whole, fini that
what is defective in one belongs. is merits up for in
another; and therefore they judge that env lose sustained
by one portion of the society is eompeasated for, and so
that the whole goes on increasing in prosperity they
give to each and ever) branch the same encouragement
and assistance. Having shown how the affairs of the
aocoty were managed, Mr. Wheeler proceeded to speak
of the success it bad achieved during the 26 years it had
been established. The sum pald out to sick members
enseiCBoooo; it had now 60 branches and 65,000 members,
and an invested capital of £9,000. With regard to the
latter, he remarked that probably many persons would
consider it too small a sum for so large a number of
members, but the Directors felt that they would sooner
rely upon the increasing sucoess and prosperity of the
sooiety,kban tax their members for acontingeney which
might never take place. Before he (Mr. Wheeler) sat
down they would permit him to advert for • abort time
to the great and increasing importance of such societies.
When they considered that connected with them
there were between 2.1 and 2) millions of members,
and that they had • capital of eight millions
sterling, he waa sure they would agree with him that
there was no room for petty jealousy, but • cause for
unity, peace, (moored, and goodwill—(loud applause).
As member. of the Blandford Branch he entreated
them to do their part in promoting, not
only the welfare of the Patriots Society, but
also of all other societies of a like nature,
giving to them the right hand of fellow-
ship, and esteeming tack other as forming part of
the great brotherhood if man. They could materially
aid not only the Patriots but other benefit anxieties by
bringing their claims before the young men of the town,
those who were not members of any benefit even as some he raw before him had done. And to
ld
all
should such
enetypro:::behnbetd::.:luo.n:in.toenviehedjero:yrbisniiit.ainil:tibdtultei:
ossumsildsminset:Yilti
and learn the advantages, (he would not say of the
ta.Phtedtirrijolvtli.ebnwswitile.ttuhtenhioet
ynme.j o which
din ai,b commended
but u
ot i fw anyi
h i
po,ti ri:ierl f chiefly
t°
iit
could
aday.
rate belong to some society of a like nature. Iset_ittioubed
wrisaagtiinfbarremtbmart.thwhasestaierteimeninutt whbait
t that the rules and regale-
"nteronlrdtcrietbav:daiTigollibteeb;
ctttanAiThredutMy,co:
imt
on g
ti
ilt,
re:
gwoya:nhi
Lb their thief dark, bat also a body of moo to on

that the affairs of the society were properly carried no.
He had therefore the plessure of proposing "The
health of the 'dose! of Director.," o Ilinx upon Mr.
Tucker, one of tint body, to respood--(oheor4
Mr. TeCata remarked that eft or the able way in
whirsh his Mend had explained the rules of the society,
he would timely 'confine bins oelf to giving • Avert oal.
line of whet their duty as Directors was. From the
GO lonoi-dies of which the enietv wee oonsgmeml, the
whole of the money sobsertsed we. sent to Mr.
Wheeler. and the payments to sick members was roe mend
ler
slumber—met once every week to insp:oct the books,
inbytolecoa.. Tblie.okuuneryberewa,i;edrd we. papiidrech Mr.
in
wy
ri_eisWhee
bt
and at e. rine tilUes invest the money on the Nati .nal
Debt office. The Directors were paid 2.. per night for
their servicne. The Chairman on • Tuesday night nit t
with the clerk to see what money bad been received,
week. There were one Or two point. on which, 41
.• ndoth.te
ivicet.-ichzhittirberaaas.idmteht wereitwhehriemthorn.a.Fr.eidtianysiuth,t,
h
Wheeler had not spoken of, ho wished to say a few
word.; the first was the volee of the super onnuation
fund, which he, as !clouting to a rather long.lived
thought he iniAlit some day make use of. Ho
most be•rtily commended the advantag-• to be derived
from that fund to all present—(oheers). The otter
matter we. this—to all their members who suotteelod
in getting six persons to join the society, • silver med..l
wog awarded. He saw that two members in the room
had such, and he now had the pleasure of preoenting
one to • very young member of the society, Mr.
Charles Roe. jun.—(cherr.).
The medal, weighing Iles& if sileer,was then prestented„
lo b ire on one side the following insert intion -"Preseni
he the Dir armee to Charles Roe, No. 714, February 18th,
1869, as a taken of respect for the inteeest taken by
him in the prosperity of the soociety," and on the
reverse aide the Arms of the Order.
Mr. C. Rog, haring suitably acknowledged the
prevent, the CHAIRMAN next gave "The health of the
medical officer, Mr. C. Ingrate. who in acknowledging
the eest said that he had been connected with the
society for '..e) years, during which time a very consider-
able amount of merely had ben paid to sick meinbenr,
and he rejoiced to find that under the excellent
management of Mr. Wills, of whole earnestness and
upright dealing be spoke in very high terms, the society
wee in such &prosperous state. It would ever afford
him great pleasure to do all he weld towards its success
—(cheers).
The CHAIRMAN then proposed "Success to the Bland.
ford Branch of the United Patriots Society," coupled
with the Damao( Mr. Wills.
In responding, Mr. Wit.be said he was only • young
offie rat present, but that since he commented the
dutiea he had endeavoured to the utmost of his power
to lei e the society to that position, as regarded the
number of members, which he conceived it ought to
o espy in the town. When be took office there were
68 members, and he made up his mind if parable to
no LI that number to 100. Some laughed at the idea,
but happily he had succeeded during 18 mouths to mud
up 44 forms of new members to the head olOce—(obeerel.
He should not, however, bssariolled with that but go in
for lti) by the end of the two years, end believing that
there was room enough for all in Blandford, he
trusted that every society in the town would have 200
members. They were all striving for one good object,
and he was of opinion that the day had arrived when a
man was hardly worth calling • man who did not
belong to some benefit society. There was, it was true--
a provision made for th em the great poor-law Bastille
staring them in the face at the top ot the town—and if
they did not make someother provision, that Wee their
shatreiboubcevash..od, iindbaiattliFtel7elbrnyttfootwretb":isi,nei.Fiitedgriii,istgtes.hrembre,uyi.ectmheawciben:dt:oll,l:,:a
tiadfsttrthr.sianoeulti:drseh7,:torut,erh;:dmii.wvi:fiod:uo:d*lllmdd
they mast fall—(cheers).
" The health of the visitors," proposed by the
CHAIRMAN. WM responded to by Mr. HARNSS, who
expremed great satisfaction that the Patriots had roecured
eg.:aedp,olatdhbidy:;.rf.bmtuyhurpnriliCghltai: aur;:un I:
E.
ga ivenitslitapakrninedpog
their present secretory.
thee gracefully
: hlc eTrir°li h:neelti nti e dch:.
AMY respended to the toaot of the Vice-
itt(3ll.3sevnimto that of the Press ; the
form,r stating that he had been connected with the
oociety over 311) year and ever took a deep interest to
its success ;and the latter calling attsation to the value
of Ben-fit Societies in relieving the ratepayers of a vast
amount of toxation to which they would otherwise be
subjected.
The remain ler of the evening we. most happily spent
by the company. Mr. Will., and Mr. C. Moe sear.,
favouring 'hose present by singing Souse original verse,
appropriate to the occasion, Mr. Dike and Mr. C. Keel
jour., by singing very nicely a duet, and Mr. Miller,
by recitieg one vf Barnes' poems in the Dorset dialect.