The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-07-03 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

ODDFELLOWS' PROCESSION AND DINNER.
There is no one feature of our times more socially
promising than the many organizationsof the working
Classes for the purpose of making a wise proviaion for
the future. Twenty years since, physical demonstra-
tion, more or less, characterized combinations of
working men, and the social alarmists of that period
seized the favourable opportunity to propagate the
non-education cry, and painted in startling colours
terrible pictures of future social mischief to be
brought about by the educational weapon. The
working man now rejoices in the "little education '
that was said to la: such a "dangerous thing," and,
in tead of knowledge having become a power to pull
down and destroy, it is building up those social
kbrics in our midst by which class antagonism is
beiog subverted, and the dangerous elements of a
r 'platy developing great social power are being
tunics' into healthy channels of individual and !
national good. Though education has not worked
out the evils our social soothsayers prognosticated,
but which our inure sagacious thinkers ridiculed, its I
beneficial influence in relat- to the organized I
movements of the working classes has not a little
depended on that influential aid lent to it by the
highly•positioned and discerning few. Friendly
Societies, penny clubs, mechanics' institutes, and tile
many other schemes of mutual advantage, though
they are principally depending on the better educated
working maw for their practical development, yet
owe a great debt of gratitude to those enlightened
men . who have conic forward and proniinently
assumed such a position in relation to them, as to i
make the influence of their wealth and station all
but prophetic of their success. Such societies in this
place, whether literary or otherwise, have especially
rejoiced in a patronage afforded by the socially great,
which has at all times lwen characterized by those
kindly and enlightened views by which imparted
good is made to assume its most attractive character.
And whether, as on Thursday last, the 0.1.1 Fellows
have wanted a chairman, and on other ocean the
-W.oking Man's Club a lecturer, or the Mechanics'
Institute a helping hand in personal effort or
pecuniary aid, the want has not only been efficiently
supplied. buts sympathy continued to be shown with
the objects sought to be effected, potently influential
in establishing and securing the longevity of our
many mutest benefit societies. The danger always
has been, and still is, that the doings of societies,
such as we are about to chronicle, will directly con-
travene the fundamental principles of saving and
economy, upon which such societies can alone be
soundly based; and, as on Thursday last, that
animal festival expenses will entail upon the
mechanic, it may be a self-imposed tax, but is cer-
tainly one which will unnecessarily lessen his
pecuniary means, aad therefore most probably add
to his social discomfort. We are convinced that the
prevention of such unnecessary expense must be
brought about by external influence, and therefore
we look to those in our neighbourhood who have
done s much for these societies in the past, to cor-
rect this evil in the future.
The double announcement of a holiday, and a first
public demonstration of our Odd Fellows and their
brethren from other Oita*, together with the anni-
versary of Her Majesty's coronation on Thursday,
led us to expect a gatherinif in Our town of an un-
precedented description. Fortunately the drench.
ing rain of many previous days was happily ex•
changed for occasional sunshine, something more
than a cool breeze and a dry atmosphere ; and when
the first scene opened in the Crown meadow, and
the dramatis personae began to assemble, weather
forebodings gave place to active movements and
hustling arrangements. At this time be-scarfed and
brocaded persons of our odd-looking friends formed
into groups, or moving to and fro on diplomatic
missions, combined to give, with the odds and ends
of human life, an animated and singular appearance,
and called into temporary activity a novel expression
of character to the crowd that had collect-4d in
trout and beyond the Assembly-rooms to witness
their proceedings. All attention was now, however,
attracted towards the park, as our decorated friends
had withdrawn from the crowd, passed through the
strictly kept gate into the fenced-off and newly•
mown portion of the grounds, and assembled in front
of a marquee or temporary reception room. The two
or three hundred Odd Fellows thus massed together
formed a distinctive feature in the foreground of the
landscape, relieved by a belt of the darkest hoed
foliage in the background ; and when the more richly
brocaded and many-coloured Grand Masters, Noble
Masters, Deputy Grand Masters, Past Grands, and
other officials moved authoritatively about, the scene
became both lively and attractive. Band and ban•
ners--as essentially necessary to club walking as 111011
in armour to a Lord Mayor's show—having arrived,
the members were soon arranged in processional
order, the officials, bearing aloft the glittering &yob
lads of the Order, falling in, and the beat of the drum
announcing the time to "move on." The Poole band,
.hreanal in rifle uniform, and preceded by a banner,
headed the pmcesa- , followed by the Blandford
Lodge, their rear being brought up by the officials.
A break in the hue dirsingubdied the Illandford (ruin
the l'uole laalge, which immediately followed, a
banner being borne in their front, and the officials
closing up. Another break in the line divided the
Wareham from the Poole Lodge, which advanced in
similar order, and the procession was closed by
Mr. Eyers' excellent town, rifle, and general pur-
pose band, which gave a musical finish to the walk-
ing arrangement. Each benefit member was distin-
guished by a silver bnasuleil star on the left breast,
embroidered coloured narf.and a small leather apron,
and thus curiously caparisoned, awl relieved at in-
tervals by their golden-bodied officials, conspiciously
carrying mystic and masonic-like symbols. hundreds
of yards of human life were marched forward by
bands playing at the extreme front and rear.
After the village of Blantlford St. Mary had been
honoured by a first visit, the procession returne I,
entered the two, and advanced through the market-
place towards the church. 'l'he weather now assumed
a more settled ant cheering appearance; and when
the procession became stationary,—its extreme front
reaching to the church, and its extreme rear extend-
ing beyond the Crown Lotel,—the peopled windows
and cn.wded streets gave to the heart of our shop.
shut town, a holiday throbbing with excitement.
which "God save the Queen," played simultaneously
by both bands, tended of course to augment. In a
line of couples the Odd Fellows now passed, un-
covered, from the market-place into the church,
followed by many of the respectably dressed visitors
from the neighbouring villages and the 'lmre distant
towns; whilst others spread themselves over the
town, giving an appearance of hustle and gaiety to
its most retired quarters. The Rev. Robert Farqu-
harson preached a forcible and practical sermon from
the text, "No man liveth himself,"—the words
chosen as a motto for one of the banners. The ten
or twelve hundred persons present listened atten-
tively to the truths earnestly enforced by the rev.
gentleman ; and as the service was not unnecessarily
prolonged, the attention of the congregation was
sustained to its close.
The procession then re-formed and returned to the
park, where our 0111 Fellows refreshed themselves
like ordinary mortals' previous to a walking through
and round the town. The Revs, It. Farquharson,
and J. O'Neil, J. C. tlansel. Ext., and a few other
honorary subscribers now joined them, and linked
finger in finger as emblematic of brotherly union—
the procession as previously arranged—defiled

through our streets and marched round the tow,
bOUlitlarir), with the usual English accompaniment r.f
bells and music, running anti hanoing boys, aud
heated and promiscuous crowd of" unattaidieds
friends, active pedestrians, and lovingeouom ne,
walking exercise was again brought to • close in the
park ; and aisthe "snug little party" did nut wine
"too late for dinner," Mr. Eyere s arrangements fur
, their reception under the tent was a peva,t4
appropriate welcome for the time of (lay
to which the Odd Fellows and their friend;
er
gave a "ready" response in a (mains of
spirit characteristic of the brotherly association, a
the day. More than 300 persons, at 3s. each. eat
down to dinner, and though anxious misgivings had,
been entertained as to weather and comfort, neith
meadow dampness nor a cool breeze kept away con
really "(lining out" friends on this occasion. J. i••
Maned, Esq., occupied the poet of honour, supported
oh his right and left by a large gathering of lan.
eutial persons from the town and neighbourhood. The
aftei -dinner oratory, though mainly of a complimen,
tary character, was more than usually characterized
by freshness of thought and practical remarks. The
chairman's observations elicited the warn appeoeni
aril! present, the nay geuized atmosphere, or the
novelty of the occasion, drawing from him a move
than usually well digested budget of information,
happily expressed and fluently delivered. The
dinner-table pr ceding did not terminate till the
Poole band had musically marshalled a multitude of
heated c iuples through the mazes of the dance ; and
I though the turf, in sporting language, was in bed
condition for the " turtites,, hundreds of yards a
!Moped-out muslin evolutionized before the recap
tared "toe-and-heel" gentlemen, and Oman*
occupied the attention of the many lookersain„
revival of the old and goneaiut game of "kissing in
the ring." though odd enough on an Odd Fellows'
day, made twos out of wies in too public a manna
to meet the approval of English taste in 140, thusgh
practised under the licensing act of "liberty av
Kissing and dancing were, however, brought to an
outaloor close by an atmosphere uncongenial, and at
Ipresent too familiar. But, though the continuum
; taking of sixpences at the gate was brought to a
speedy and lamentable end, the exchange from thy
sticky turf to the springy floor of the Corn Exchange
ain't have favourably aided the sliding and shut.
ing of our dancing friends. One shilling each and
, eighteenpente for • cociple'soon tilled the noble room
with an agreeable and somewhat select compane.
and when the un-English airs of the German band
were exchanged for our own very proper quadrille
music, advancing, crossing over, and turning your
partner became and continued the order of the even.
lag till cerporation propriety announced the tune to
"shut up." Thu entire proceedings of the day pused
off without aught to mar its anticipated enjoyment;
but, if the counting the cost is a part of aid Fellow.
ship as well as professional eche/. then we fear from
information that has reached us about the 4 a. d.
question, that more than £5O for festival expeases,
and 14s. each member for personal adornments, will
somewhat lessen the pleasure of reviewing the past
The sixpences taken at the gate will no doubt aunt
in meeting the great expense, and the public will
rejoice to -know that a trifling addition from the funds
of the society will wholly liquidate it, and that thus
, the future real usefulness of the society will not be
lessened by the day's festivities.