The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-06-20 00:00:00

YEIENDLY SOCIETY ANNP7ZEIIARY.

Club anniversaries are the joyous days to which the
labouring men look forward with delight. It is almost
their only holiday in the year; the only day in which
with wife or sweetheart they can join, in the broad
sunshine, in the festive danoe and trip it merrily—no,
courteous reader, not on the light fantastic toe. Our
country artisans dance, but not lightly, there is vigour
and animationi n their movements; it is no mere moving
gaily along, but a most energetic exercise, a jumping in
fact to the merry strains of the country bands. And do
they not enjoy it? Is nnt pleasure depicted in every
feature? Ay ! all their cares and anxieties are left at
home, and they really feel for onoe a happiness. And
who would deny the sons of toil their festal day?
Although some will say drunkenness and excess are too
oft the attendants of these meetings, yet, it is only
amongst the few who choose to ruin their own
happiness that these may be seen; the multitude ex-
perience a pleasure in their innocent pastime, and the
day's recreation gives them a fresh impetus to an
energetic pursuit of their daily life.

Beaminster was all gaiety on Friday; the streets
were decked with trees, fiowere, and shrub,; banners
.vere displayed, and the inhabitants universally seemed
determined that the town' like the people, should be
decked to the best advantage. The fine peal of belle
were joyously rung, and the day was beautifully serene
—scaroely • cloud appearing. The first business after
the muster of the members was to call the roll, and
then, preceded by the band of the 3rd Dorset Artillery,
they proceeded to church. The service was intoned by
the Rev. A. Codd, who also preached the sermon
from St. Matthew v. 34, 35, 36. In little more than
ten minutes the preacher gave a sound eloquent dis-
course against the too common practice of swearing.
His remarks were heard with profound attention, and
the brevity of the sermon renders it more probable that
few of them will be forgotten by the hearers. We
must not forget to mention that the anthem —"Praise
the Lord, 0 Jerusalem," (Scott), was exceedingly well
sung. Mr. Dunn presided at the organ with much
ability. After service the principal streets were peram-
bulated, and we were not sorry to adjoure to the mar-
quee! where Host Mendel', of the New Inn, had
provided an excellent dinner. " Hot work to dine with
upwards of three hundred thin weather" you will ray ;
and so it vas; but the viands were good, and moat
present appeared to have keen appetite., so that we
may say, all that the most fastidious could desire was
obtained.

T. Russell, Esq. occupied the chair, and J. Farmedge,
and P. Cox, &qrs. the vice-chairs. Around the festive
board we notioed Messrs. G. Cox, Toby, N. M. Loggin,
C. Fox, J. Gilbert, W. Cox, T. Daniel, J. Fussell, R.
Knight, Gardiner, Coombs (2), J. Dunn, Byrnes, Knight,
Samson (2), D. Hann. Meech, Toleman (2), J. Paul,
Holland, Newman. W. T. Cox, Gaipm, Elliott., R.
Swatridge, R. Warr, &a., &o.
The cloth having been removed, the usual loyal
and pall:foie Waste *ere pirolieded by the aludrnan and

duly honoured. Lieut. Loggia responded to "The
Army, Navy, and Volunteers."
The CHAIRMAN next gave "The Bishop and clergy of
the diocese," coupling with it the names of the Rev. A.
Cold and the Rev. Mr. Lush, He was of the same
opinion as Mr. Pope, of Symondsbury, he thonght the
clergy oug.it to be present at such ineeiegs in goodly
numbers, and give them as much assistance as they
possibly could. He knew Mr. Cold wished well for
&ammeter. (Cheers.)
"Prosperity to the Beaminster Friendly Society,"
was the next toast given by the Creamier/. Re hoped
the society would long coutinue to prosper. The funds
were increasing, and everything looked promising for
the society under the auspices of Mr. Coombs, the able
secretary.
Mr. COOMBS felt very happy at the present state of
the society. He hoped that those who hail lately come
amongst them would be of more good to the society than
those who now had the management. For some years
they had ben trying to make an important change in
the society, and they were now glad to say it had been
effected. The society used to dissolve every 10 years,
but now such would not be the ease. They had made
it a permanent society. Instead of having three per cent.,
now, they would have five. He had always tried to
keep the society well together. Some who professed to
stick to the society had fsleefi, d their statements, and
were dining elsewhere to-day. He begged them to
remember the Wile of the bundle of sticks, " you
could not break the bundle, but you cauld break the
single stiek !" That was just the case with him, he
could do nothing for them unless they stuck to him, and
that was the only way to make the society answer.
Dr. GILBERT proposed "The healthe of T. Russell,
Esq., J. Furmedge, Esq. and Colonel Cox the
treueuter. and trustees of the society." (Cheers.)
The worthy CHAIRMAN returned thmks for himself.
He had always been very fond of the society, and so his
forefathers had been. He would rather have his head
chopped off than the society ehoul.l suffer one penny,
J. FUNMEDGE, Ese , in returning thanks, said their
Principal object was to take care of the poor man and
his money.
The CHAIRMAN then gave "The Committee,"
coupling with it the name of Mr. P. Cox, who had
always done all he could to promote the interests of the
society.
P. Cox, Esq., thanked them sincerely for the manner
in which the toast had been received. He hoped
another year they shoul I dine altogether.
G. Cox, Egg referring, we presume to the report of
the vestry meeting in the "Bridport News" last week,
thought that what was said at a vestry ineetieg ought
never to he curried to the" Bridport Cesmool." (Cheers.)
P. Cox, Esq., beved to prop ,se "The health of Mr.
T,by," a gentleman who had lately come to reside
among them.
Mr. ToBY returned thanks. Had the club been a
breaking one, he should not have been present. He
hoped, before the winter was over, he should have begun
works in Beaminster that would greatly benefit the
town. (eh, ere.)
The CHAIRMAN, then gave "The health of Mr. J.
Daniel. treasurer of the society."
Mr F. DANIEL, in the absence of his cousin returned
thanks.

J. FURNEDGE, Eq., gave "The Arbitrators of the
society," Dr. Keddle, Mr. Eawlings, Mr. Dowdeswell,
and Mr. Loggin.
N. M. LOGIGIN, Esq., returned thanks. They had no
arbitration now to °Win their attention, and he hoped
they never should have.
The \MEAN then gave. "The health of Mr.
Knight and Mr. Gardiner, the auditors of the society."
Mr. GARDINER briefly returned thanks.
J. FORIISIXIE, Esq., propnsed "The health of the
worthy *perk tary, Mr. E Coombs."
Mr. E. COOMBS, in a lengrhy and appropriate speech,
responded.

_
The health of Mr. R. Warr was also drunk, and that
Rent'eman r.-turned thanks.

Mr. COOMBS gave "The ViAtors, eouplmg with it
Mr. W Cox.

Mr. W. COX responded. u also did Mr. T. PAYNE,
the secretary of the COI sonmhe club,
G. Cox, E.g., then gave " The Press," ooupling with
It the name of our paper. The toast was responded to
by our representative

-This finished the toasts, and most of the company
adjourned to the field, where various sports w.-re
engaged in by the clubites end tivir friends till the
shades of evening fell, when the Artillery band played
the "National Anthem," and most of the company
wended their way homewards, highly satisfied with the
anniversary Me of the Bestuinster Friendly Society.