The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-11-03 00:00:00

THE POKSENTATION TO THE MAYOR.

The presentation to the Mayor (Mr. G. J. G. (Iregor))
followed. The testimonial, which cia,isted of an elegant
timepiece, had been concealed from view by curtains at
the back of the Chairman. They were now withdrawn,
and the present exposed placed on a temporary bracket.
There was great applause. The timepiece was taken down
for formal presentation to the Mayor. It is a handsome
cluck, with visible escapement, beautifully inlaid, and
surmounted by a figure of l'ents, eymboliaing harvest.
The inscription is as follows:—" Presented to G. .1.0.
Gregory, Fan., Mayor of Dorchester, at a banquet held in
the Coro Exchange, October, Si, 141, by the Dorchester
Friendly Societies, for the interest and laminas* he has
evinced toward.' them." It was supplied by Mews.
Saunders and Jacob, silversmiths.
Mr. Sniaooth, the Chairman of the testimonial COM-
mittee made the presentation. In doing so, he addressed
the Mayor saying, it was his pleasing duty to welcome
him, and assure him that they felt highly pleased and
honoured by his attendance. They also begged to thank
him for the very able manner in which he had fulfilled
the duties of a Town Councillor, and for the last two
years the office of Chief Magistrate of the Borough. The
majority of the members of Friendly Societies present
were burgesses of the borough, and desired to take that
opportunity of testifying their high appreciation of his
xervicea during his official career in the Corporation—
(applause). They would also congratulate him on the high
honour conferred upon him by his name being placed on
tier Majesty's Commission as • Justice of the Peace
(applause). They sincerely trusted that he would live
many years to occupy that proud distinction—(applause).
It was thought by them that this would be a suitable
opportunity for showing their appreciation of his conduct
by offering to him& little acknowledgement in the shape
of • testimonial; they hoped it would be accepted by his
worship with the same good feeling with which they
offered it, and that it would show his colleagues in the
Council that faithful and public-epirited fulfilment of the
duties of Mayor was very gratifying to the burgesses and
highly appreciated, and lead others to follow the course he
had taken--(applause). He now begged to present to his
worship, in the name and on behalf of the members of the
Fria Societies of Dorchester, the timepiece which was
now ore him, and an addreei, which be reedits follows :

-
" DO/WIN/Tag FLLIISDLT BOCINTIIIII.

" To 0. J. U 7regorfk=llayor ol the Borougb of

" We, the undersigned, being the committee of reenagement
and representatives of Ow meow friendly societies of Dor-
chester, desire to express to you in this address our high
appreciation of tbe personal Interest you have manifested in
our important and mach-valued Institutions for many years
pam, and the ecastant kindness you have sheen towards them
We math regret your retiring from the Mayoralty of our
ancient borough, which office you have tiled for the past two
years with universal secbtaffiloo : and we have thowyht this a
Siting opportunity for indicating to you the high estimation in
which you are personally held by the members of frieedly
societies who melds In or around Dorchester, is well as to
thank you In this united manner for the ready assistance you
have still times given to them. When • proposition was
made with the clew of presenting to you some slight token of
mknowledgement, the members renemiel with the heartiest
freedom and good will, thus showing that one and all were
animated by eentimente of the siocernst thankfulness towards
you. It is our pleasing duty to beg your acceptance of the
ineompanying testimonial, not for Its intrinsic value, but as •
spontanceue exprewom uf the gratitude of the members of the
Dorcbeeter friendly weietice ; JUNI we trust that you may live
I, a: many tans to continue your C.llitCtl4lll.% and aid to
tlelo, and to prianute the general welfare f the bororol. -We
hale the honour to subscribe ounaires, your wonthip-a
obedient 'errant*, W. J. W. Pike, P P. 0.11., G. Lenten,
Orion, lii, W Talbot, P.G., 0. Noble, P.C.H., G. iblee,
H. eliarlee. P.t.4 Cit., C. Old, P.P.G.M., 11. WWo, P.G., C.
Bruthett, IC, 4iWhltty, N. 0., T. Rogan, P. 0., W Walth,
0 F., Lawrence, 1'.N.(L1., J Harris, P.N.0.F.,
brver, N.O.F ,J. Phelpe, steward, W. Christapher, J. Hurst,
J *Foot, 8. Whitaker, Dauticey. J. P. Darer, jun., D. It ,C.
I-crone, C.lt , C tisecniug, Tcut sec., Jlllll/06 shergoki, P.C.R.
(chairmen), James 1133nge, P.N.O.F. (iiceeitairman), Henry
((mimes), William Chick, 3..0., (how
terrine:A Charles Limey. A.G. r (meet secretary),
Dat,utigb october, 1'4.,'.
There was iILITUVIMI applause at the rlose, the whole
company cheering with the greate,t heartinem; 031,1 it was
indeed a splendid ovation. The band played "The tine
old haizli.li gentleman."
The Illst oft, ou rising to respond, wiugreetdwitb lung-
continued applaii.e. Ile said: Gentletueu, and brethren
of the United Friendly Societaes of Dorcheiter. I have a
very difficult task to perform, this eveniug, for I feel
quite incapable of sufficiently thanking you for the high
honour you have conferred on um by making nle your
guett the evening, and presenting to toe this bamboos,.
testimonial and flattering address—(applaum). I assure
you I cannot find words to convey to you my thauka for
'Oda great mark of your kindueice, which I feel is as
undeserved as it wee unexpected—(' no, no 'and enplanes).
For many years I have taken a deep interest in the wel-
fare of the Friendly Societies of the town and neighbour-
hood, and have done my hest to promote their interests—
(applause). In so doing, however, I have felt that I was
only discharging my duty; and whether acting as Chief
agistrate of the borough's+ a member of the Town Council,
an employer of labour, or &private individual, I have felt it
incumbent on me to support your valuable institutions
(applause). 1 think it is the duty of every one who holds
any Positien in society to help those who endeavour
to help themselves, and the principles and
tendency of Friendly Societies largely ',remota
feelings of independence and ,elf-reliance. fisrded
another point of view they render good service to society
at large by reducing taxation. With the general objects
of Friendly Societies most of you are familiar. Their
main feature. are the providing of sick pay end medical
assistance in times of illness. Mr. Everett just now
sketched the cum of two men, one thrifty the other
Improvident ; hut Just compare for • inemest the different
cimumatanam of two men alike thrifty, save that one
belongs to a lriesidly Society but the other does not