The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-05-31 00:00:00

BLANDFORD ST. MARY
FEIENDLY AND BENEFIT SOCIETY.

The anniversary festival of this society wee held on
Wednesday Last, but the attendancoof members, arising
as was stated at the meeting, from the masters refacing
to pay them their day's wages if they stayed away from
work, was very limited. only 49 out of • society of 142
being present. It really seems a very hard ease that
men who are front year +0 year, without•intermisaion
at work from early morn till late at night, should be
thus debarred from their one day's enjoyment during a
whole twelvemonths. The coat of the dinner ticket is
:ie., and when to thus is added the loss of a day's work,
nor readers will have some idea of the samiftee required
oilers& man has only 9s. or 10a. a week to keep his
family. Trusting that by bringing this prominently
before them they may be induced to give such societies
!all the substance they can, and enoonrage those in their
employ, by giving them a free holiday, we now
premed to give a short outline of the proceedings. The
great attraction of the day was the music, Mr. Ryan's
band being in attendance, and performing a selection of
mimic in trot-rate style. The member. met at the
cilnlrhoum about ten o'clock, and having paid compli-
mentary visits at the trustees, treasurer, and honorary
members, residencies, proceeded to church, where
they arrived shortly alter twelve o'olock. The
service for the evening *agreed by the Rey. .1,
mumfield, who, we are sorry to say, is suffering
from illness. The lessons were read by the Rev.
D'Oyley Snow, rector of Hilton. An efficient choir,
with Miss Mansfield as leader on the harmonium, sang
the musical portion of the service. Hymn 212, Ancient
and Modern, was sting after the third collect, and No.
188, before the sermon. The Rev. D'Opley Snow
selected as his text Mark xs, 18, "Jesus said why
tallest thou me good, there is none good bat one, that
is God."

_
reterning from church the members proceeded to
Mr. Mookton's field, where a capital dinner sus served
up by him under a large tent. Only three honorary
members were present, another striking proof of the
little interest those who, it might naturally be expected
would be foremost to uphold each an excellent society,
take in promoting the enjoyment of their men.
The chair was ably filled by Mr. B. Oekloy, as the
upreeentative of Mr. Hector, who through age and
isegwasing infinities was unable to take his customary
r. HMr. Mansfield, inn., represented his father. and
yers attended u an honorary member and visitor.
Mr. Monkton's very excellent dinner having been done
full justice to, the usual loyal toasts were given by the
chairman and heartily received.
The Army, and Navy, and Volunteers was acknow
hedged he Mr. Myers, as a member of the 1.1.0.1).Y.C*
and the Bth Dorset

---The--Ciia-la-ilatTlheo proposed the Bishop and Clergy
and Mioisters of all DenosniaaLiona
Kr. Itamisinno briefly responded on behalf of his
father the Rector.

.....
The Health o f Sir William Marriot, Bait, the patron
of the club was given.
Mr: STRIN, U one of Sir William's tenants,
responded. Re very much regretted that not a eingle
fanner, the employers' of those present, wee present to
give their assistanse and support to that meeting.
The health of the three trustees Sir W. Marriott, Mr.
Fleeter , and Mr. Porter, vu then proposed by Mr.
Mansfield.
The CHAIRMAN. in returning (thanks, said their
society had been like • good ship, she had helped them
through, notwithstanding the very larva amount of
sicknese, so that notwithstanding the strain upon her
they bad • small balance of about Ci on the year. The
statement showed a deficiency of £.12 which they had
been obliged to take out of the funds, but this was more
than met by the interest due on the capital invested
L'22 on that in National Debt Oilloe, and Pl 3 on the
sum invested in the Post-offiee Savings Hank. Thus
showing that their good ship,had weathered the dorm,
and he trusted that ahe might sustain many atrial and
buffeting for years to some, and that nest year they
would be able to add • larger sum to their espital—
(sheers). lie held in his hand the receipt from the
National Oebt-offioe and Kat-offioe Savings Bank for
their money, which they were all heartily welcome to
inspect.
The health of Mr. Oakley, as chairman, Mu then pro-
posed by Mr. liyers and very warmly received.
Mr. OALLIT returned thanks.
The health of the Seeretary having been proposed by
Mr. MAMIFIRLD and very enthusiastically received,
Mr. F. Sum( in responding said that he wiahed to I
call particular attention to the fact that they had now •
capital of £l7OO in the funds, and be wanted to impress
upon thf members the neorietity of making this known
to the ling men of the village.
The lalth. of the honorary members and visitors
was responded to by Mr EYIIO4.
"Success to the Press," coupled with the name of our
representative, Mr. Millard, AM then given and
responded to.
_ _

The Wm. and especially lady Marriott, wu then
proposed by the CHAIRMAN.
Mr. Msgeriux returned thanks on behalf of the
the ladies, and Um health of the benefit members was
then proposed by Mr. ETIRR, to which one of the
members, Mr. JOHN GILLAHD responded, and threw
out a valuable suggatioa, that instead of the members
being sailed upon on their festival day to pay down 3s.
at one, for their dinner, each member should pay an
additional sizpoaca qaartarly, the plaa adopted by the