The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-04-09 00:00:00

for

DORSET FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this society was held on
Thursday last, ati n Lymegl Regis, when a goodly
number of the and having"
formed in procession, accompanied the First
Dorset Artillery drum and fife band, proceeded to
attend Divine service at the church, Where prayers
were read by the curate, an appropriate sermon being
by the view, the Bev. Dr. Hodges, who
preached
r his text St. John rill., 38 verse:—" By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
, if ye have love one to another;" after which the
procession reformed and proceeed to the room
appointed for the meeting. H. Her fleymer, Req.,
MX., having taken the chair, opened the
by calling upon the assistant-secretary, Trtnt
Davis, to read the report, which was as follows
"It appears that we have an addition of two Branch
Clubs ; 0(729 members ; of /607 3e. 10d. in capital ; of
£2ll se. 10ed. in members' contributions of £42 Is.
in honorary subscriptions, with a decrease on sick
pay of £7O 13e. 7d., and a decrease on death
pay of /3 ; whilst the only item, though un-
doubtedly a heavy one, which presents an unfavourable
comparison with the preceding year, is the payment of
£7B ss. 10d. in advance under the bead if endowments.
"On the whole there are manifestly grounds for much
thankfulness that the put year, notwithstanding Its
trews wetness, and the general failure of garden-
produce,—both of which muses must have seriously
affected the incomes of the labouring classes—has been
marked, nevertheless, as far as our society is concerned,
by no relaxation la their foresight and economy. On
the contrary, its progressive and improved condition
most be the result of a considerable amount of prudent
aelf-deniaL . _

—"lire can never impress too strongly upon the Breach
Committees the importance of maintaining a strict,
though forbearing vigilance within their respective
spheres, in order to protect the upright from deception
and impostors. Regular meetings and systematic habits
ot businees, though too apt in a Club like this to be
Liat..et are especially recommended as our surest
—.l47;r—cams worthy of notice, or involving peculiar
diflicalt , have claimed the attention of • Committee
of Trustees. and this is the more gratifying, beside,
during mud* of the year, they have been &paved of
the counsel and antase of their dear and valued
friend, the Honorary Secretary; whilst ell who
know him Or who comewithin the rarsenet
his indoenoe, mut needs regret his
from England. No body of persons has stronger reason
than the members of this society to cherish a fervent
hope that it may please God to bring him home in
renewed health and strength, and to enable hint,
through many a coining year, to watch over their in-
terests with the same energy, wisdom, and kindness
which he has hitherto constantly devoted to them."
The report having been read and adopted, on the
flr.ogittion of H. K. Beymer, Bitch 11. P., seconded by
, Req., the usual appointment of odious were
made without any alteration from the past year. A
vote of than lq was proposed by J. Moyer, Req.
seconded by air Eliot, Beg., to the Chairman, which
terminated the proceedings of the annual meeting.
The dinner took place at half-past three at the Red
Lion Inn where an excellent and sumptuous spread
was provided. A large nomber assembled, among
whom we noticed H. K. Berner,Esq.. in the chair, sup-
ported by John Moyer, Esq., the Bishop of Victoria,
the Rev. Dr. Hodges, Major Edward's, the Rd. Pre-
beedary Fans Captain Homy, Hussy, Esiiliev.
R. T. Hutch.. ' IL Pearce, Esq., G. ~
Mader, Jun., Esq., , he. Hr. .H.
Davis occuSed the vid-obalr.
c u4bthi: removal of the cloth, the usual loyal and
toasts having been ditwosed of in an
wisaner,
l'he CllallUtati proposed "The Bishop and Clergy of
the Diocese," °alpha( with it the Bishop of Victoria,
who acknowledged the compliment in an dedient
vioeh, in which he related some of his travels, and said
that he had been among thejgold diggers and deny emi-
grants, who always their strong regard for this
country. Hs also said that the dimwitted in &Woad,
dassieeed by the report of high wages abroad, would
vanish if the facts were known for be had mid with a
carpenter who got 10e. per day, and yet he weld not
live itomfortabli, prodsioas being so deer. Having
wished the society many sath annual gatherings, he
resumed his mat amidst load applause.
The next toad was that of the ' Army and Navy, and
Volunters.'• The Casuists' remerk,d that the dale.
ration of war with Austria by the French took our
nation by surprise, and that the same thing might
happen any day with England, but be believed that
a eamdry was savor in a baler Mete et dames than
at present. large emu were voted forth. army, while
Me voinnteere met the Goveenment onsperaltvely

nothing. He begged to give them the "Army arid Navy
and Volunteers."
Maier EDWARDS, in & neat and appropriate speech,
returned thanks for the honour done to the army.
Several other Waste were drank, among which was
the " Health of the Chainnan," proposed by the Rev.
Prebendary Pane, who in a very humorous speech, said
that the chairman was the most" unhumbuggine mem-
ber of the House ot Commons he knew.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks in an elaborate speech,
and the evening was spent in a very convivial and
pleasant manner.