The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-11-13 00:00:00

DORCH k2sTER.
OD DFELLO WB' ANNIVER4A RY.

The anniversary dinner of the " Hand•in-Hand "
Lodge of Oddfellows, No. 4,822, sir.v. took place at
the Dorchester Arm., Dorchester. on Tl;sraday evening.
The msjority of the members residing in the surround-
ing out-districts, the very unpropitious state of the
eeather, prevented so large an attendance so ou former
ocaudons. Mr. J. Barrett very ably presided on the
occasion, supported by the present and past °Beers of
the society. Mr. G. Watford occupied the vice-o air. and
• goodly number of the representatives of the kindred
societies in the town were ',mint. An excellent spread
consisting of three oourses was provided by Host Lands-
cheit.

After the removal of the cloth, the "Queen," and the
" Prince and Primmer: of Wales and the reel of the
Royal Family" were proposed by the CHAIRMAN, and
received by the company with "three times three."
The CHAIRMAN next gave "The Army, Navy, and
Volunteers," coma rating upon their necessity as a
means of protection, and the prowess which they had
always displayed.
Mr. BATLT, of the Royal Dorm Artillery, responded
on behalf of the army, and the Vias-Cii•imus, whose
name was cioapled with that of the Volunteers, was
warmly received on rlsiog to acknowledge that honour,
which he did in an eppropriate speeeh, wherein he
alluded to the pleasure that he bad expo/Mimed as •
volunteer dating his connection with the 3rd Dorset
Rifles.

The CHAIRMLN proposed the " Manchester Unity,"
coupled with the name of P.O. M. Pike.
P.O.M. PIKS Was warmly cheered on rising to reapood.
He thanked them for than kind feelings towards him-
self, end also for their expremion of goodwill towards
the Unity of which that society formed e part. He
would not inflict upon them a very lengthened statistical
statement, but would mention a few out of many facts
that would show the peat progress Oddfaillowship was
making among the people. In January of last year
they had on the books, as good members, no less than
388,000, and .adulating that the lowans) the pass year
had been in • on: responding retie with the preeednig year, ,
they must now number upwards of 400,000 members in
Great Britain alone, including Ireland and the Channel
Islands, without mertioning the Colonise, where the
order was also making great program.. The nature of
the progress that had been made mieht be seen on con-
trasting the figures in the yearn 1832, 1852, and 1865.
In 1832 the order consisted of 82 districts, 561 lodges,
and 20,855 members, or an average of 65 members to
ash lodge. The avenge number of members to each
:ridge last year was 151. In 1852, during 20 years, they
had increased 356,938. The capital for the past year was
shown to have been £2,271,429, and the amount paid by
charges on the sick fund to 005,176 us. 2.L; funeral
fund, £58,550 Si. 10.1.• and funeral benefit fund,
£47,440 10s. 104. The kinds in hand at the close of
the financial year was no leas than £115,185 18s. Id.
after all expenses had been paid—(heitr, bear, and
applause). The order now numbered 448 districts and
:$7l lodges. One passing feature of late years had
been the ready Femmes which had been made by
the se ambers at the time of the Lancashire distress
on beheld of their brethren suffering under
that calamity by which £5,213 was oontributed to their
help. The initiations during the peat year numbered
29,444—the majority being between the Mell of 18 and
25—(applaum).—He thought with such facie before
them, scrimmaging at they were, they had only to
Persevere, and the amount of itsineuence would be
Improved, the advantages of the unity extended,
and the good of their fellow men promoted. The large
annual sums paid by the Unity for the alleviation of
distress and sickness could sot but lessen the amount of
Poverty, and if they could but increase it. Influence and
that of kindred societies fourfold, he thought that they
should scarcely ever bear of such a thing as a poor rate,
and he thought these societies had already dope much to
lower this heavy tax upon the ratepayers pockets, and
be thought that such being the cam, it was the duty of
the rich and affluent to seek to help forward the move-
neat, and by becoming honorary men-hers omelet the
objects they had in view by their contributions—(ea-,
hear, and applause).
The CHAIRMAN next proposed " &mesa to the Hand.
in-Hand Lodge," coupled with the name of their
secretary P. 0.11. Old.
P.O.M. C. 1.01.0 was well received—He thanked
the member' for their mark of appreciation, and also
thine present who ware not members, for their presence
on that animal mouton. With regard to the prospects
of the lodge he was happy to inform them that it was in
• progressive state. Be the amounts which had been
made up to Dee. 31st, 1865, wee shown a balthoe in band
of £204 le. 10jd.; receipts for the past year 1:80 Gs. 41c1.,
making a total of £2848.. Si. The expenditure for the
year had amounted to £53 12e. 104., the amonot of sick-
liest having been heavy. The capital in hand was
£930 15e. bd., and the balance in their favour for the
year wee £26 13e. 6jd. The number of members was
between 70 and 80. The affairs of the society were
well conducted, and though they were the junior lodge
In the town he thought they were gradually making
head way, aodjwbile the older lodge was fulfilling its
mission, they were also fulfilling their's— aped
applause).
The Vicre-Caenixew,' in a highly complimentary
speech, proposed "The health of the Chairmen." They
had all known him for malty year*, and as a tradesman
he might be regarded as one of themselves, and they
always foiled him ready to do his beet to further the
Interests of such mobil gatherings, by hie presence and
support—(load applause). The tom{ was drunk with
inimical honours. . _

C;;;;11-'•;W. ID acknowledging the compliment,
said be felt that ea that occasion they had not got the
right man in the right place—(lo, no). He had no
thoughts of being called to take the 'heir, bet as it was
their wish, and his motto was "that every man should
put his shoulder to the wheel," he had ebeerfully
accepted the task, and hoped that occasion might not be
the last of their meeting tonitber—(e.Plaute).
Mr. J. H. Kiln., said he bad the next toast put into
his hand to propose, and be did so with very great
pleasure. They were all of them, be felt sure, attached
to their constitution, and were advocates for self govern-
ment. The load which be bad intrusted to him was
that of a body of men who exemplified the principle of
self government Ia their midst, "Th. Mayor, Aldermen,
and Town Conseil of the Borough of Dorchester" -
(applause). As a body they were their nepreeeetativea,
and though sometimes they might not altogether agree
with the imliay pursued by Joined them, yet be believed
them to be a body of gentlemen who gave up their tins*
for the tittered end good of the town, and were entitled
to all due honours and reimed,—(bear, hear, and cheers).
With respect to their outgoing Mayor—Dr. Aldridge—
for tea sosorsesive years he had, with honour to himself,
and *read to the town, filled the bosourable parities' al
their chief magistrate. They bad bell; been
accustomed to meet him at their social g_ end
be had sought in every poseible way to klastaly omit
with the people, and by his publle acts to maks their
sense his own- (clumwe). It wee with great Pitman
that he pv. the health of the members of the monism
WO. apd regretted that there was not a sammbir mewl
to respond, which doubtless wools' set have hese the
case bad It sot him bees for the 1■0111611.101 weather--
f•PPlewee).