The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-01-07 00:00:00

FRIENDLY SOIET(ES

The May, r 1.7,1

gave a chianti. 1,, t ty,.110.:- •

tieb u the T., Wt 3 liii. it,

3atur4ay eveeing, slid invis,. ie ei ere te. d I - , i
to the members and oEficere :.e. th . o:[01:s 1
:aagivtraoy, and tither reereseu.a ive, et :he text:.
Atnonget those unable to ait,.rei wan the vicar (the
Rev. S. Phillip.), who had received a telegram trete
einerice aunouncing the death of h's only brother.
LIB Town Hall was richly decorated for the occesiee,
ho walls being hung with tapestry and other
.11-apery, while tligs were prolively employed in
edditten. The orchestra was disguised with plants
no Chinese lanterns hung overhead had a very
pretty r sect. All the arrangements of the evening
•vore well orgatiised, end the vocal and instrumental
,iilvio provided added much to the pleasure of the
,3115 or's giteAs, who were about 240 in number._
l'he Mayor gave be toast of "The Queen," which
as perceived with the usual hououre.—Mr. J.
drinton proposed "The Bishop, Clergy, and
diets ers of Relieion," and in doing so said it was
a happy idea ef the Mayor to make that new
departure in the town, and invite the heads of the
• rienely seuieties of the town to he his guests on
the last day of a parting year —Ttie Rev. Cenou
Clanghtoa reopened is the toast, and exproised his
pleasure at beiaa able to be present, and wishing
~.em alt. tee hippiest and beat of new years, and
many of them.—The Mayor propos. d the toast of
• Success to the Friendly Societies of Kidder-
'limiter,' and said, if he hid ti :t already done se,
ict eiet give them a hearty welcome. He felt in-
iebted to his fiiends of the Corporation and the
tmuistr,:ey Wilo had cone to aedst him in giving
hem a welcome, and he was sure the Corporation
.viseed tee friendly societies the success wh,ch
aey so richly deserved. It was not his intention
r.O make a speech, but he should ask the borouga
•nember to speak in support
,pf the toast.—Mr.
leeeen, MX., s iid that great as hal bsen the
• access of friendly societies in tli past, they might
.oek forward to even greater success in Vie future.
Least 11.10i011 a bill urdentLy desired by the
i.teuilly settee:Ls vete; passed, awl Ite Wa.s perfectly
.3ertAtti if t-e meinbt.ire of their societies put their
k ulJer to the wh:eii, and insisted on having their
vantm attalid..d to, they would and the Goverment
F .nei.eis to assist twit in every way they coutd.
was obstruction, however, apart from
oliticel ebivuelion, aut.i„ tlionge the best men of
It ti - jog in Wit he anxious to see a good
comprehensive behquie of friendly society reforms
a .e., ,u.) :titldt ant be kill prided if sotneboie
oa a epee in tee wheel to p.-event it. But if
tbey. wi.tt the:r enormous power outside the ranee
11' podidet, ceded utile the (lover:intent to give
taten en Leprovement in the law regulating
e edeties, t hey would be supporzed by the leading
lieu of all pee ties in the HOLI6O. There were many
.°,ino w to e.pp-Are,l to de small in taiimaelves.
an .I yet hampered the good work they were ajuious
I . (1... au I he heped taey would do all they could,
W th the enonsoni ne mai power they possessed, to
•,.011dJaloCii114 hem; done for them in the

-Act session of Parli.ainent. lie should ha happy
i.o 43 ell he could to a,.-:aist any suggestions they
nate ac t the way in which legislation might h ip
r.ham.—Co3neiller Byth-way and Mr. S. Taylor
• esponded. —Mr. Bythe ay eaid the friendly
,cietiee Vely much appreciated the M3yor s
-tiininess on that occasion. end wishe.d him and the
,layoress and his family e very happy and
•.roperoes new year. (Cneers.) That was a most
tin; close to the jubilee year, for the su ,cfai of
rindly so.deties durinK her Majesty's reign hal
'men most marked. When .he asceaded the throes
yley had the prose an.t pulpit against them; but
.kaw these two p medal agencies did all they
uli to place tlf. benefit to 1i derived from friendly
c.,,ietiee before tie public generally. With
L•egard to any legislation on beholf of friendly
loch:Ha+. he hoped Parliament would let them ask
for what ther wanted, Lid not interfere too much
ith them. (Hear, hear.) Thy have too much
c'arliatnentary interference. They had progre-sed
Titheut Parliimentary assistance, and what
npravenkAaa they wanted they could better tell
le Houses of Parliament than the Houses of
-,.'arliament could tell them. (IL:tar, hear,)—Mr.
B. 13.atsh proposed the health- of the Mayor; ad
. knowle4ed the great kindness he had shown
a the representatives of the friendly societies on
.hat occasion. It was not merely becalm the
layer had asked them to come there to dioner
ciat they had to thank him, but b -cause. of his
,freat desire to do whatever: he could to promote
hose principles of fragaliti.aud thrift and fore-
lough which ffiendly sodeties. ,had at. heart.
to this happy Enetnd o:' theira, as many called it;.
here were many daik spote, but if it were not f,,r.
'tad p:inciples which frieod!y societies p omulgate4
:here would be many more dark spots in the
loautry. (Hear, hes.r.),--The toast was drunk
artth inudcal honoers; and the Meyer, in
aticuowledging • it, punted out the benefits of
:re idly soeitjee,anjd a man who had made
prevision for sickness- and other contingencies by
nheir means could lay his heal et. his pillow at
ight in a much happier state Of mind than the
man who h d done so. The new year Lwould bu
ap•m them in .a few hours, and he -boded. they
.ihould all try to live mont we-thy, more honositahle
and truer and butter livea. He reiterated his good
.ishee to them all for the new year The health
if the Mayoress and her family Was 46erwa..rils
eroposed:by Alderman Grosvenor, and acknow-
.e iged by the Mayor's eldest son