The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-05-24 00:00:00

FOR ESTERS' DEMONSTRATION.

would

In ages gone by Foresters or Oddfellows' demon-
atrations used to be considered events of rare
occurrence, but in these latter times they are of
c..snmet frequency, yet,
.notwitumanding, 'bey
are looked forward to With as much interest
and anxiety as if they were very rem events.
Almost on ivory 000ssion of ?abbe holiday,

these deseoestratioas ere got aIN and bra
one of the mat pleasing &Wootton' of the day. It
bs =dem to attempt to vestilato the quagga
of the advantages • hich these sod similar socialise
afford to tkoir members; as the basalts amnia(
from them are patent to every owe who feel" at all
dispossd to inquire into the NOW, and the qoastiou
has been so often ventilated that it is almost wore
thresdbere. Tbe visit of the Yeomanry to this
town, has recently afforded the Foresters' courts
here aa opportunity of having their anima
demonstratioo. The week lb. Quota's Own
aro in the iOlllll ii the gayest through-
out the mem there being a ea:cession of sports
and aninseineate for them and the public. The day
selected by tho Foresters for their demonetnitiou
was Whit-Tuesday, anda brighter and =ors cheerful
day could not have been chosen. The glorious
ray of light and beat diffused its cheering influence
annual from sunrise to must, whilst tie wind
gently fanned the foos of nature, reviving ev•l7•
Wog it came in coutoot with. People from
adjacent villages flocked into tho town in various
sorts of ootiveyawee—on horse and foot—whilst the
ordinary trains brought heavy freights of
from various towns Our beautiful watrages7=
was crowded with strangers throughout the day,
and the licensed eictualkare must kayo reaped
good hornet.
The promotion was announced to issue from the
lecture room of the Literary Institullon, and as the
morning wore on people began to take up positions,
from which they could obtain a pod view of. all that
passed. About half-past eleven the mammon com-
menced forming, and shortly bdore 12 o'clock perms•
billeted the upon in something like the following
order :

--- •
Mounted Foresters.
Arctic Traveller.
Weymouth RAM Band in Uniform.
Forester carrying Bible.
Dispensation of Court Plums of Feathers.
Banner of the Court.
Officers and Brethren of the Conn.
Car, draws by a pair of horses, containing children,
Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tack, and foresten.
Jooes's Band.
Dispensation of Court Bailers' Hope.
Banner of the Court.
Officers end Brethren of the Court.

Bann-er—c.rt-e7u; ogrs—
Oiliness and Members of. the Court, end Visiting

Brethren. -
Carriage eontaloing Foresters.
The cortege proceeded as far as St. John's Church.
shin it retread its steps, and then made a thorough
p ',ambulation of the town. Handrida of people fol.
lowed it, Maiming in number till at last some of 11,*
streets become almost hapassable. The procession eon
tainly was on a more attessive scale than the mai list
year, sad the regalia and baschicams puspbensalia of the
Order looked exemdbigly well. Antis traveller eroded
quite • seumtko &ammo the juvenile portion of the
crowd, be tieing dressed from head to foot in • mit of
for, which, however, might not be so uncomfortable to
the wearer during this warm weather as might
be auppneed, perhaps combining the desideratum
of keeping out heat as well as cold. The ear
containing Robin Hood and his suild aboattrasted much
attention, being gaily decorated with dowers sad ever-
greens. In the front a stuffed stag showed very con•
apienoosly, whilst inside the ear was the wooklbe Robin
Hood, with bow in hand and quiver fall of arrows,
quietly evincing on a couch supported by his " weak"
followers, dreamed in Lincoln green, whilst the requiem-
tative of Friar Tuck, arrayed in his black dram bed
cowl, armed with • huge staff, bad the °onkel of two
hounds, who seemed to be ill at ease in their exalted
position. After • thorough perambulation of the town
the procession wended its way to felfleld Park,
where • sebstenbial dinner web provided for the
Forester: and friends by Brother Sheppard, of the
Military Arms, in a marque, to which about 130 sal
down. The chair was imanpicid by R. N. Howard. Ikq.
After ample justice had been done to the bountiful
spread provided, the chairman gave the usual loyal
toasts, which were enthusiastically received.
CH•IRMAN gave " The Anay and Navy," re-
marking that he was sure that at this period of the
year, when there was so moth military feeling in the
town, he need not couple with the toast the Volunteers,
but would make that a distinct one. As far as the
Army was oonaerned, he saw many belonging to that
branch present. In connection with the toad he
coupled the names of Sapper Lewis and Sergeant
King. (Cheers.)
Sergeant Kiwi briefly responded, stating that he
had been in the army for 21 years, and contending that
they would always be friend ready should their services
be required.
The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Volunteers." He
said that they had beard a great deal about the
army and navy, bat at tbe smile time they ought to
feel proud at havieg so many Koch/hi:len ramie,
forward to join the Volnahrers, reedy to do their duty
whenever called upon to do on. (Hear, hear.) In
referring to the Yeomanry, be said he hoped they
would meet in the town for many years, and make It
their besd quarters. (Cheers.) In connection with the
Ride Corps be coupled the name of Brother Jeffery,
s ho, he said, had taken an active part in It ever since
its commencement. .

Corporal 'leerier respoeded eatable terms.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the day,
said that they bad seen the number of persons who
had marched through the streets of this town belonging
to the Ancient Order of Foresters. They might have
observed SOMA peculiarities in their dress, and some
strange things in that procession, and naturally
wondered at them, and their walking through the
, streets with the symbols of the Order. The nano of
that was to show that there was such • body of men,
and to let them know that there were romans, weighty
reasons, why they had joined themselves together, and
called themselves the Ancient Order of Foresters.
(Hoar) Although perhaps now-a-day—in the days of
railways and progress it might be wondered
why they should hare mach as old name.
There was a reason for that, because however
Hever they might think themselves, they ought
never to forget that old age and experience taught them
more. In former days men in a certain position ii, society
found it adventageous to form themselves into sour
panics for their own defence, and perhaps those ballads
which they had often read with no mush interest cue.
Seined the noble principles that them Men were driven
into the wools in order to defend their f reedom and rights.
Foresters had united for a similar purpose • they had
eutobined thenoelves;to defendithat onsontoo 'foe, which
neither Ire nor them could keep of. However well
they might be to-day. treaorrow they might be on a
bed of sickness, bringing poverty in its wake, and eons.-
spently Foresters had united themselves into • hod,
that the greater Dutcher might support the few in each
au evil hour. (Hear. hear.) The principles of the
I rder were in for spread that they ware well-known
throughout the world. The time lord now gone by when
a few men had to seek the woods, and there explain the
advantages of melt a society; at the present time they
could epees With forward sod proclaim the prineiples
of the Order. When by sickness one of their members
could not be &mania them, when be was absent from '
his club roam and demonstrations, then the Order did
not forget. him, and those depsedent upset him;
and on his death bed be aims that the widow and
fatherless would not be forgotten. (Cheers.) la eon.
elts:oo he called oral all those pampas who had not
joined the Order to join it, and proposed
." Seeress to
the Ancient Order of Foresters," coupling enth the
tout the mime of Brother Sleet. (Chews
' Ronan Start? ',speeded. He *Boded to the rapid
•preed r,f Protein, thrrerguout the counter, rating that
re eleven months 21,000 iersoos had enrolled them-
' salvo ureter tl • banner of the Order. He oonteoded
that r he pro-mans instead of ler lug got up for mere
I show awl pleasure were fro teed remises, the profits
arising from them being devoted towards the Widowand
' Orphan Fund.
The CHAIRMAN egein MSS and proposed "Seems to
• the Courts of Weymouth." After a few preliminary
I olmervatiotre he said he meld riot sea why other towns
nomad ei.j.,y !dryings which Woyesnaeb hiLd sot once.
' Acting under this hies some parties united themselves
I t %ether and Mir-ducal Forestry into the than, and
" the reeelt was that Coma bad been established, and
I their number of members bed increased. The dicers
of the Courts were toot zealous on their behalf, hut
• Inns would not be the mo if the toadyism, of the Order
• which they reeomnienried were not go .d. eaumetion
with the toast in. coupled the name of Brother Morgan.
(Cheerv.)
' In responding, Mr. ?dowse said : The,. was a time
• when Forestry w s but little known in the town. It
did not extend to this part of the country, and the
I common ty acre deprived of It. blessings • but no
sooner had the more been planted than it lisok root,
I and perhaps no town couldwboase t of basing made such
m u:h. (Fir ar, bear).
fie :‘sthoughtFtl.tri:lntrtyrosistletionj of the Order in many
respects was fevountble for its progress and prosperity;
and this showed that it was not only their degas to
benefit themselves but the public, by glebes them
demonstrations, thee adding to Oar plesare and
recreation. He stated that the Deigbbooeigi towns
were jealous of the enemas which att tided Fp in
this place, and that r. moth prosperity was by
the Order in having them demon-tretions e hoped
the lacono which attended the Courts in thc town
would stimulate other ones to make increased exertions.
(Cheers.) He alluded to the fact that Weymouth was
in a position to Gerry out her own Forestay' demonstra-
tions without requiring the lookstanor of any other
I Courts, which, when asked for,was sel tom granted ; but
the order in this town were always willing to gin, any
, assistance in their power to other Courts. Steps were
being taken to form Weymouth into • district, and
I should that be the case the demonarrations would be
' on a grander scale than had hitherto been the Noe.
' (Cheer.)
Tee CiLinteeoel proposed "The Kindred Societies.,"
; coupling with the toot the name of Mr. Reilly, when
that gentleman appropriately returned thanks.
' The next toast which emanated from the char was
..rbo Manbziag Committee," the CHAIRMAN remark*
that that y deserved meth praise for the maser la
r which they had earned out the arrangements of the day.
(Cheers.)
I Brother Howlett acknowledged the toast. Thecae-
' m ittee,he said. had left nothing undone which they thought
I would afford the public pleasure, and he hoped maids,-
tion bad been given to them and to the members of the
Order. (Hear, hear.) In eonelusion be alluded to the
benefits aocroieut from belonging to the Order.
r The Osamu se husnourosale Proposed 'The ladies,"
ceiling upon Mr. Boren to respond.
i Mr. BARRETT acknowledged the compliment, and is
suitable tones proposed the health of the Chairman.
(Loud sheers.)
' The CHAIRM•II said it gave him great pleasure to he
I present, as it had indeed always afforded has es
I similar demonstrations, sad he hoped to be pressed ea
many future ones. He was not ewe of them
who thought that this week was a w roma,
which persons were ecreepelled to go through in dark.
no., but thas there were bright spots in it for aerial
and *meat getherings, where the man of bruisiere
might itemise fe speeding a few pleasant boon. (Chem)
After some other remarks he eonalsded by promis-
ing "the Health of Brother Sheppard." with thanks
forth, admirable mousse in which he had catered for
them
Other toasts were then given and rooraod to,
after which an adjournment leek place the dad,
where • variety of ammemeate wok provided. Ti..
bead at the llogiseets kiodl Yoluntesredtheir services,
sad Played en admirable s4etless of mails, is did else

tho Me Corps sad James's flazhorn bead& Ma I
prierdpel festure of altratias was some astonishing
sword feats performed by fierpeant Corday, of tba
Yrontedy, easoist log of adds' ban of lead, broad, sad
s swop es Ivo with &Nagle blow, 'blob wise u
from polo. He alao tour some potatoes Is twuleact
boy'. bead sad bud. The leas were very dem*
performed, sad showed moat skill sad Magna sad
Yr. Camay was warmly apphmgeg. Naga&
in-thirrag, Asa 8417, sad otbsr aseassmaste went
exismaively parodied, there brag award tbonserads Si
people lithe gad.