The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-05-26 00:00:00

STIOKL &ND.

FRIENDLY AID Bitegierr Somerr.—On Thursday
lest, the members of the above society celebrated their
anniversary feetival. They met it the Crown Inn,
where a procession was formed, and headed by the
Whatechureh band. proceeded to Houghton and from
thence returned tosiburch, where an excellent sermon
was preached by the Rev. W. Churchill, who selected
as his text, Mark iv., 24, "Take heed what ye hear."
A very marked attention was given by throe present to
the practical dietiourse of the esteemed rector. At the
conclusion of the service, the members paid a visit to
Hedge-end, and then sat down to dinner. The chair
was taken by the Rev. W. Churchill, supported by the
Rev. W. Lloyd Janice, Mr. Spritke, and others, bet the
&Menden.* of visitors way less than on previous occasions,
on account of several being at Weymouth. After the
usual loyal and patriotic toasts bad been given and
heartily responded to' the Clerk read the annual
report, which was a most satisfactory one. The benefit
members subscriptions had increased EN, and the
interest On deposits £2. The amount expended in sick
psy was kse by £3 13s. than last year, and nearly
470 had been added to the funds during the year- the
total amount standing to the credit of the club being
£822 is, 6d. The Clerk called special attention to the
fact that although the club was established in 1641
only four deaths had occurred, and as proof that the
health of the members bad been most satisfactory, that
only £34 lds. had been expended in sick pay for 109
membera—The health of the Clerk was proposed by
the Chairman, who spoke in the highest terms of the
ettentioe he had given to his duties and the interest he
had ever shown in the welfare of the club, as well as of
every other object tending to promote the well-being of
those among whom be had resided, and after alluding
in terms of regret that they were about to lose so
effloient a clerk, expressed his hope that the services of
a fit person to succeed him would be secured. The
heelths of the chairman, honorary members, and the
treasurer were also given and heartily received. After
dinner the customary visits to the honorary members
was made, and everything weed off in a peaceable,
happy, and oiderly manner.

LYME REGIS.

PROPOSED Thariancenessierr or rye Bottoenn.—
Ilia is one of the ten boroughs which the instruction
to the committee agreed to on Mr. Baxter's motion, on
Monday night, proposes to distnunthise.

FIIIPERNE.
Tex members of the Pimperne Branch of the 'Corset
County Friendly Society celebrated their &adversary
festival on Tuesday last by a public procession and
dinner. The members attended divine service in the
parish church, where the sermon was preached by the
Rev. W. Bury, the rector. They afterwards rrocrealed
to the residences of the honorary members, and then
returned to dinner, which was provided and served up
by Br. Bishop in his barn, and to whom the thanks of
the society are justly due. We were very much
surprised that a branch of the county society number-
ing 143 members should not be more efficiently upheld
by the honorary nismbers.not one of whom were present
at the dinner, and the whole of the duties of manage.
meat and presiding fell to the lot of Mr. W. James,
the steward of the branch. From his statement it
appeared th it during the past year one member had
died, nine had left the district, twelve new members
had joined, and the present number is 143. The sick
pay during 1866 amounted to £B3 10s. &1., and for
1867 to £9O 13s, being an increase of £93. 6d. The
receipts for 1866 was £159 2a. 3id., and for 1867
£1778.. 41.1, being an increase of £lB res. lot& The
capital at the end of the year 1866 was £33 15.. 2k1..
and at the end of 1867 £44 16a. 1.1., being Ell Os. d.
more than in 1866. This was made up of LIO paid y
the steward to the general fund, and £lO in endow-
ments. The successful state of the branch appeared to
give considerable satisfaction to those precept, and a
hearty vote of thanks were *worded to the steward,
and also to the provider of the feast. In the evening
the young people enjoyed the pleasure of a dance on
the green sward, to the strains of the Illonkton band.