The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-04-21 00:00:00

\,

DORSET COUNTY FRIENDLY SOCIETY.
The anneal serting el this important sad useful
orminfericie, whisk has pow reached its majority, took
plies en Thursday at @terminator Newton, and as will
be seen frees the semetary's report, its capital has now
nearly rerbed SlOOOO. Looking beak to the time
whim through the wise forethought and judgment of its
first promoter, the late C. Poreber, Esq., this benefit
slab was focused, the treater, mermen, and stewards
of its several branches have just cease for thankfulases
that amidst stroug toleration by some, lukewarm ie.
Wirers ot ethers, sod through many difficulties, that
whir was eses only an infant, tenderly nur by a
fostering tread has now, after passing thrash a
vigorous misarity, attained its marrity. But while
such lithe case it ought alio to ber remembered that it
Is often the 11111041 with such societies as with mankind,
fresh trials and severer duties are imposed npon them,
and therefore every member, and especially those to
whom the redacting of the business is entrusted, will
do well seriously to redeet on the expellent advice given
them by the indefatigable alletiatatte Rev. C. W. ,
Bingitain,who, in earner and all teems pointed
oat the tufty the stewards ed seer of the branches,
and exhorted then to poster dillies°, end care in
keeping the areenta.
The arrangements of the day were wadded to Hr.
Norman, the steward of the Sturm/aster branch, sod
gave every eatisfaftion, and the !good people 01 the
town with • view el showier genie sympathy and
haterest in the society, profusely decked the front of
their bores with laurel boughs, and the town with flags
sad berme. Indeed, Starnalesler Primo"' gaite a
holiday appetiser.
The members of the brsaah, aecompanied by • fa* of
the stewards of other bruising, arembled at half.pael
ten in the yard attached to the National School, where
they were joined by the Rey. Whet Baker, who had
kindly consented to preside, Sir Wm. Modlyrutt, Bert.,
Rev. C. K. de P. rector of Unborn' Port, and
other gentlemen. A procession haring been formed, the
members proceeded to church. Prayers were read by
Ib°R••• 6. Broome, earate, and the sermon was p
by the Rey, R. Lowed's, rector of the pariah. The
rev. gentlemen *arta ea his tent the 1511 verse of the
Rah Team "0 rare me, that I may recover strength,
before Igo limos, and be no more seen. The percher,
In a eery solemn and earnest address, first pointed out
that the great end which the Almighty had in view in
'Misting mankind, WS/ to bring them to a state of re.
pentance and humiliatioe for sin. The great answer to
, each • prayer as was sootairsed in the words of the
, text wee the re,,,,enry of spiritual life and strength.
God rescued us Irma natural death that we might regain
, spiritual Ills Bat how few were there who thus
prayed. How few *ought whoa railed from a bed of
dekers spiritual arena Too often we boasted after
recovery from dearness that we were strong, without
considering bow feeble and weak, and poor, and blind
we were in spiritual things. Happy should we be if In
the time of weakness we learned that our only
a was to be found in God', strength;
ttresattk our weaker, we were made strong being
perfected by Rim who is all strength. The words
of the text were, he considered, Siting words for them
that day shed they were met together as mereberi of a
iamb to prides God for hie mender during the past year,
and to pray for his goodness to them for the future. The
preacher then spoke of the uncertainty of life and the
certainty of death, and proceeded to remark that men
too often looked upon the adman warnings brought
, before them in the word of God, and pressed home to
them by his ministers, as priestly tales to entrap people.
Men in general thought but little of such things. They
, were told that God gar them sush opportunities for
rasentres to draw them to a better life and to prepare
for another world, but in tbe greet majority of sear the
impreedoe, it made at aIL soon pared away, but he
exhofted them not to let jib. their ore, but so to live
, in the day of heath and strength as to show that the
day of afilietioo had been eartiSed to them, reminding
them that every day they were either becoming more
holy and pare, and thus prepared for happiness hereafter,
or else getting more and more hardened, and even by
, the afdietioes they had to suffer. They had all need to
ass the prayer of the Psalmist—." 0 ware me that I
, may recover strength," before the day of death come on,
and they were no more seen.
Al the conclusion of the service the procession of
members was reformed, and proceeded through the
r rector's grounds to Newton, returning shortly after to
the school-room, where the annual meeting was held.
, The chair was taken by the Rev. Talbot Barer, brother
,of the president, and there were also present Major
Kindersley, Rev. C. W. Bingham, Sir W. Medlyoott,
, IL Williams, Seq. K Pearce, req., Rev. E. Gillam, and
, several of the stewards.

The Chairman said his first duties wan tonal upon
the secretary to read the atonal report.
The Bev. C. W. Bingham said: My dear sir,—Whilst
I have great pleasure in teeing you in the *hair, yet I
am sure you will forgive we if I say that I had much
rather hey. seen your brother, our esteemed president,
there. But in his unavoidable &broom we desire to give
you a cordial weloome, and I have now the pleasure of
reeding the 21st annual report, so that you me the society
has now attained its majority
The 214
.annual report of the Dn.... County Frlindly

'7B.;"ci—c7io:en-di-tiliklst—De;ember,
" The number of members on the books at tbe close of the
year wee—Maim, 2,500 , feasakm lU—total, 2,685; being an
Mavens .1 61 members hom the last return Four endow-
ments, amounting to LSO, bare been paid off, and £ll 10.. lid
returned according to rule 37. £e2 bee been pald on account.
of deaths.

4 5. d.
Tb• contribution ol members In U • 2011 2
In IS . 2808 10
Increase In 1227 • 103 12 Il
Honorary sulawrlptionn, 1208 10 10
1007 201 0 0

Decrease in 1867 11 16 10
Capital in 1864 9813 8 10
1166.616618
Inagua in 1867 ..564 7 2}
" Sick pay has been allowed to 707 males for 6,168 weeks,
three days, amounting to £1,841 3.. lid.; and to 46 females
for 868 weeks. amounting to £1416 13*. 'id, being • total of
£1997 18e. 65., being an Wenner of £220 18.. 74d. on the
year 1866.
"The summary of results is as follows :-61 more member.;
Increase of sick mernbenV pay, £220 16. 2141,; decrease of
honorer, sutweriptions, LI i 16s. 104.; Increase of member.'
eontributions, £lO3 lb. 1141.; henna of cepind, £864 71.
"The sum-total of day.' Meknes. Is somewhat lees than It
mu last yeer. Two new branches, announced in the last
report, have been fully formed, namely, at Broulsay and
Milton Abbas. After much conskierstion nod enquiry the
tandem have fixed upon & Brown, Esq. actuary of the
Guardian Life Assurance Society. and president of the Institute
of Actuaries, to nuke the quinquennial examin lion of the
! accounts required by rule 43. The returns have now been for
I some Gene in his hand.; but snow considerable period must
clap., before the calculaUone are completed.
• For the soundness of the principle on which the society Is
bared, or for the stability of Its pnition, we have no fear. pro.
44.1 whiny. that the rules are strictly enforced, and that the
branches are not allowed to sink Into. loom and lazy mi.-
management. If such in the caw In any quarter we would
earnestly invite the member. b be firm and vigorous In their
endeavours to effect an Immediate reformation of whatever
they may know and believe to be amen Active superin•
tei.denos and • .trict adherence to the rules am absolutely
emential to the very existence of the Institntion."

The rev. gentlanan,alter reading the treaturers' report,
the prisepal items of which were the earns as those given
In the report, proceeded to remark that he was not aware
that he had anything specially to say on the report.
On ths whole be °moldered it • satisfactory one. The
iecreue of lie pay was somewhat larger, and the
number of new numbers not quite so large as the pre-
ceding year. The honorary subeeripUons had some-
what fallen off, and it wag very important that efforts
should be made to get new subscribers. Yet, with such
an iaeresee of capital forth. year am over £5OO, be con-
sidered the society was going on well, for though he
knew thtt wine of his friends differed from him, he
always felt satialUd that if they could increase their
capital by £5OO every year, they weld well afford to
Laugh at what anyone oould say against it. The capital
account had now increased to nearly £lO,OOO, and the
society this year had attained its majority, having been
eateblialied SI years. It should therefore be re.
membered that many of those who first joined would
soon begin to make • more aerious demand on their
funds than they had done, and it we. of the utmost
importance that no opportunity should be lost in pro-
curing young members, and in every way seeking to
promote the prosperity of the society. During the
time the society has been established, • great many
of the members had gone away from us, leaving, he
was going to may, their tails behind them— (laughter)
—butt. meant their contributions to the capital, which
they would
Another remark which be wished to make was upon
the appointment of an actuary. He hoped the trustees
had found a good man in Mr. Brown. Several gentle-
men had offered themselves, one asking as mush as £l3O
and another ESO. They had chosen Mr. Brown, who
was president of the society of admires, at £3O, as it
was important to have a gentleman of high standing as
an actuary to make their quinquennial returns. The
cost of naalc,ng thou returns had greatly increased,
be did not know why, but they were now obliged to
give four or five times as mush as they did to Mr.
Robinaon who had formerly made those returns for
them, lie trusted that this additional outlay, which
was absolutely necessary, would be met by increased
exertion on the part of every individual member, so
that their numbers might increase, and the society's
funds continue to prosper— (applause).
The Chairman said that he wished to nuke a few
remarks on the report reed. He considered it • very
sate/unary one, for it should be remembered that am
the amount of sick pay bas increased during the year,
no had also the benefits of this institution been exestded
—(hear). With regard to what Mr. Bingham had said,
they might Users he agreed with hiusind nothing would
have afforded him greater pleasure than if his brother bad
occupied the chair, bat, whatever might be said with
regard to that, he was etre tio pence prevent would like
to see any one in their sursitery'a place. He had ever
taken • deep hewed in the encees of the society, and
to his end Mr. Davis they were all under great °bli
tions. He therefore proposed that the Bev. C. W.
Bingham and Mr. O. Davis he re-eluded as asentary and
seristant secretary. Carried unanimously.
Mr. Bingham, in acknowledging the oomplimeet, said
that arienetinies he found the duties somewhat onerous,
and at time be almost felt inelised to sires& out ol it,
bat the great amistance he received from Mr. Davis,
n'indhim out of his difillealties. In Mr. Davis they
geatlemen, who, it might be said, was always
in a and to him they were greatly indebted,.
He Larskaaked Mg to KOMI his abeam on that
oeteidon

ILL IL WilHanle this proposed the re-thestion of Mx.
C. Cram, ami Yr. J. T. ahorto es auditors, which was
carried was me.
• vote of %sake to the Charism, proposed by Kr
W. thedlyoott, Bart., dosed the liminess part of the
day's prealedlam.
The dinner took plase at the Crown Hotel, the
esoobly room of obi& Lying bean Ailed up by the
Bothar memated • somewhat More gay ap-
pearance due nasal issuth imemioise. The prolamin=
roommate the old Midas over width the memben had
but • short time before mashed In prosendon. In
to those we ham masa' an Wee present at
the
„Dna the shainma wee amporbed by the
• R. Loomis. sad H. Broom, Yr. Lomb, and Kr.
• O. apoow. enzgeoso, and aaaer Matfecisa. About
100 eat down to dinner.
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dgthen,bi. :phithele.Cbajz.
sanded to she seethinned mem and Prosperity abkh h::
mad of havisa a Bthe withal would pruvai
feinelse ham beiaa mien, there might with propriety be
• contrary law p.m' to Foveae males from soverthea
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