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

ENTEETAiRMENT OF H. EDWARDS, FAQ
BY THE WORKING MEN'S CLUB.

The useful institution, which now oecuples corn.
fortable said even spacious quarters on the North
Quay, must now be regarded as having entirely emerged
from the chrysalis state, and became full winged. The
intone of EL Edward., Esq., our liberal member,
procured their remand from their former retired
quarters* High-street, and his well-known liberality
where matter, of charity are ooncerned provided the
means for adding an improved /*pumas to the new
club-room, which both externally and internally is
worthy of the honour of being one of those indite-
time so numerously sprung up of late, whereby the
comfort of working seen I. sought to be advanced, and
a healthy epithet sidivespeet fostered and increased.
The club numbers already more than 100 members, and,
thanks to the self.derolion of Mr. W. Page, who,
amidst bis many engagements, has "wade time to
attend to the many duties that dander* upon it
secretary, and the generous and kindly guidepost)/ the
president, G. E. Eliot, Esq., it has been the means of
I math improvement among the working men of Won.
month. "Th. other side of the water,' as the older part
of the town is gmerally caned, be tints provision for
bard.working mechanise 011 then own ground, without
messing the Bridge on perhaps • stormy evening, while
the nembers from the Mekombe Regis side who attend
show that the advantages found at the room have
been proved to be of such a solid character that
to obtain them the denizens of Meloombe do not mind
stepping over even to the neighbourhood of Chapelry
stairs, where the new porch at ones marks the room of
which they are In quest. There Is plenty et space in
trout of the Institution; but but any one jealous for
the public righte should see in the projection an
eneroechment, we beg to inform them that, with a
praiseworthy reopen for constituted authority, the
committee obMined permission from the Loom' Board
for it. creation, and pay as acknowledgment • nominal
ground rent. The completion of the adornments
socompliehed, on Thureley evening the club showed its
gratitude to Mr. Edwards by entertaining him at dinner
In their new room. It was nicely decorated, and a
capital spread was bod out by Mr. tune, of the Victoria
and Crown hotels. The whole affair waa marked by a
thorough Munn of that ostentation which might have
been unbecoming working men; but all that wu
attempted was done exceedingly well. The respected
president occupied the chair, supported on either hand
LEL. Edwards, Esq., and the Mayor of Weymouth (J.
Emq,), and eeveral of those gentlemen who have
deliver:led lectures or °them*, shown their friendship
for the (dub were present ineledinif Messrs. 'l'.
Anderson, G. R. Crekmay, W. B. Barrett, B. Ford,
and .1. pew, Dr. Moorhead, Menem BILD Norman,
Smith, J. Bunton. W. Page. scenery of the dab.
Mr. fivralee, Scripture reader, he.
At t. the removal of the cloth,

The " health of bar Majesty the Queen" wee given
by the CRAILIAII, who remarked that the sonatina-
sent in the paperd that Her Majesty wee about to
undertake those dutke which she do faithfully performed
had given the greatest pleasunito her peopie—(applarude,
the at.. UlllOll grnng the National Lahore).

•
Tbe CtuagilAg the rave " the Prince and Nauss
of Wake, and the rest of the Royal Family." We
Or. happy in baring an heir apparent in the throne who
possesses the qualities calculated to maks him a popular
prises ; the pauses is perfectly cbsrming.and the other
members of the royal family follow the °scaliest
example set by their illustrious pereuto--(eheers, and
"God bless the Prints uf Wallet')
The Cuaninamt next, in proposing the "health of
the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese, sad ministers of
all Denominations," remarked that the tout had moms-
what of gloom mounted with it bemuse they were
asked to drink the health ot a prolate wim is lying
dangerously IIL They would be hippy if the result
of that WINOS should be his restoration to health. As
to the ministers, whether of the establishment or other
denotninatioes, all would agree that they set • bright
example to those under their charg•—(cheers. Glee :
"The Red Cross Knight.")

The CHAIRMAN nut gave" the Army, Navy, and
Volunteers." It had been said that Englishmen I
possessed more of bull dog pupa/0y than skill in
military matter,; but a circumstance lately occurred I
which showed that was not quite true for the AbYminian
war showed that Engliah soldiers have the requisite
skill while military ,spiril has not declined, for when
,1
the wat berm the War Office was besieged by officers
who were tired of the tedium produced by long absence
from mPitary service. The navy of Britain is I
well employed, though not now in war, in edeetille
pursuits, in making discoveries, and in probastiag our
eminent'. As to the volunteers he must be atimeed
from saying much, being cos himaidf ; bet be believed I
there wee good studio them, and that they were I
British soldiers every one— (cheers). He was sorry
that for the Navy they had no present even such • '
reptesentative ea he once heard of—a gentleman who
returned thanks for the navy because be once had some
dons in a defunct dub ciompase--Gesteittorttidt
they had a gallant volunteer au his left, (Hr. ) !
and he should eaU on him to return thanks—(ohlters).
Lieutenant TIRAILD returned thinks, though he
thought their president had responded for the volunteers.
lie endorsed every word Kr. Eliot bad uid,and was sure
he Was a good volunteer himseU—(bear,heau)—and
when only • low days ago they saw him in
commend of the Portland Volunteer Artillery, all would
agree that a liner body of men scarcely existed in this
conntry—(bear). lie (Kr. Timed) would make ome
remark which he hoped • certain friend of Mails Would
take to heart. The volunteers resolve not a very large
graut--E3O a year—and this was hardly enough to keep
them aloat, end if their legislators would take into
einsount how many good strong tasty man are willing to
come forward aa volunteers, he thought they would
And some mune to Increase the capitation grant, and
he had no doubt if Kr. Edwards could put • spoke in
the wheel he would do so—(ebeers). Mr. Tigard had
additional pleasure in returning thanks that evenine
because he was in hi. native parish. The 'due no*
the property of Messrs. Bennton, mu belonged to his
fathers and Kr. Damian and Le had often played in the
loft above, so that it seemed to bring beak old times,
and he hoped it would Dot be the laat time be ahottid
have the, pleasure of using them there—(applause).
Glee 'Life's a hamper."
The Cgaingno said he had now to propose to them
the toast of the evening, "The health of their friend
Kr. Edwarda"—(lond arid prolonged epplenee). K.
fru sere that Me. Edwards', health would be resolved
with greet applause in this room. It was now two
piers slime he aseommoded Mr. Edwards into that
damp musty little room in which the Intent days of
their deb were pared, and that gentleman at ones
said, "What a miserable little room you have I" Nov
they who had got accustomed to it did het feel what •
EMU, damp, fusty hole it voia—ilenghter)—and when
Kr. Edwards bean to talk about another site, he
doubted Whether they ought to accept his offer or
encourage the idea. The principle they had gone on
was not to press the supply beyond the demand, —they
did not wish to cram the club down the throats of
people, and foree them to become menthoni and this
bethought, had been the source of mush of its pros.
purity. Bet Kr. Edwards no some ma* the present
site than, with great sagacity, be said he thonaht this
win the very plus fot the club. Be (Mr. Eliot) had
mom round to the sane idea, and they had to thank
Kr. Edwards in a substantial I orin fair the liberality
sad kind 'tuberosity with which he had helped them,
and which had added one more to them acts of Idndnass
for which in every place his name was so well received.
He congratulated Mr. Edwards on the happy thought
that had occurred Co him, and, perhaps with some
partOlity, be considered it one of the best things he had
done for Weymouth—(bear). He would also congratulate
the members upon having such • Oitee for them to Meet
—such • dry, warm mom, especially when KM ON'
treated it with the other means whteh the 70eng have
of musing themselves, It *as Mutely better than
be-muddling thereselves toe publiabouee, or, what was
still worse, Idling about the 'treats of the town on
irtntek evening.. Although there might be some who
would pass it with morn, yee If they would try it,
they would here a moot rational and pedal may el
Improving their leisure hours. Another cause of con-
gratulation was that they could look around sad see so
many members who had been there from the very first.
If they had foetid members imming and going. they
might think them was sometbieg in the slab tmat did
not meet that want.; but when the game um "gm'
there time rafter time It proved that It Mu the very
thing they required. He would at detain them longer,
but propose the health el their generous, liberal friend,
Kr. Id warde—(linmenes cheering).
H. EDWARDS, Esq.. H.P., said that one of the scat
difficult things thst amid fall to Haslet qf a Man—though
at the came dem a diffimity most Outside' to his feelings
to semounter—was that oi adequately expressing his
feelinp of thankfulness for a reseption so kind as that
they bad accorded to him that
Levielidne . He meet
sinserely thanked the chairmen for g his health
and them for the manner in wida been pleased
to receive it, and he Indeed regretted that he could not
ley claim to all thous good (polities with which his
friend Mr. Eliot would Invest him. But he ocinid ••••r•
them thet his shorteomings were more his misfortune
than his fault, for his earnest endeavour was to live a
life of usefulness, and to do all the good he could. It
was a Bourse of great gratification to him to meet them
that evening, and partake of their hospitality in their
club, and it was still more gratifying to find that they
were pleased with their quertem—ftPidettombt Working
Ken's Clubs had slims hu to e him wile of the
deepest "Memel, for he had always had the impression
em mita that mirth* they could do to medusa to
the comfort and welfare of the labouring dames would
' not only conduce to their welfare but to that of the
entire conunuoity. It was now about two years since
' hie worthy friend accompanied him to see their dub,
an he (Kr, Edwards) was at otos struck with
the fad that it was by so means equal to
the requirements of a piece like Weymouth;
but he was impressed and plowed with the evidence
that it was really what it represented Itself to be—a
working men's dub, supported by UN working mee
themselves, and it was that which prompted him to
come forward and Om them what sedistanoe he could
—(cheer.). The Arai oommeneseneet is a perilous
period, perilous to bodies hedividitd, hot he ihoPed they
had tided over that period, Lad there was every reason
to prognostlcat, • Meg life, and that the infant cradled
In Hlgb.etreet might grow into manhood here
(applause). Ile need not enter into particulars as to
bow they got titers, here they were, and, the prod-
deal mid, with plenty of room for more members -
(bur). If there was anything be could do to modem
to the beeelit, comfort, and -Hare of all thembers,
Is should only be too delighted to do it--(applanee).
His anxiety had boss, as his Mend bed said, that they
should obtain a prominent sitaation. and they Led
smile at him for having made it suds A stringent condi-
tion that they should have a portico over the door; but
be wanted the dub to be attractive not only to the few,
but to the many, to be attractive externally and men-
(ratable within, and he could not be sufficiently thank.
in! to the friends for the way in which they WA apengt•