The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1872-10-01 00:00:00

Loral anb District gabs.

DORCHESTER FORESTERS' ANNIVERSARY. 1.
The fonrkeenth anniversary of tenth "Progress" Of
the Ancient Order of Fenster* was celebrated by •
supper at the George Inn, lest Thursday evenioy„ under
the presidency of E.. Burnett, Eng., with Mr. Councillor
G. J. G. Gregory, iu the yin .-chair. There were presout
—Mr. Flame, insistent of the toadies! eflkor, Mr. T.
Walden, Mr. 0. Hodges, Mr. H. Read, Mr. Landsebett,
Mr. Medway, Mr. Robb& (*octet/di), Mr. Sttergold
(chief raeger), and betweet 30 and 40 memte re of the '
!Society. Tbe room had tuite a b ,wary appearance, am
became a Foresters festive hall, being plentifully
decorated with evergreeon studded with autumn flower*,
while oocupying • prominent place was the dispensation /
of the court, havieg emblems of the order on either I
side, and over it the motto of it. society "Unity, /
Benevolence, and Outward." Host Read provided aI
substantial and bountiful repast,and the only regret Wu
there were net more to enjoylit. After tbe supper
The CHAIIIIIIIIII in • few graceful sentences proposed
the loyal towie, which were heartily received.
The " Bishop and Clergy" was the next toast, the
ollailllkll remarking that the Iliabop was a meet learned
sad exoellent man ; he had been censured by some for t
establishing the D.ecesan Synod, but be (the Chairman) I
believed h was calculated to do a great deal of good.
The clergy tw a rule very conscitutiounly &it:barged
their duties, and were their best friends in time of need
—(applause).
Tbe 01•111MAII then gave "The Army, Navy, and
Auxiliary Fenno," enlarging on the credit won by the
army in lb. Autumn manotivren; the nary we had
lately bed in Poetised Roads and had every reason to
be proud of it ; of the militia he could venture to eay
that if the Dorset regiment .bat been present at the
recent maneuvres he WOA sure they wonld have done
their duty am willingly an any militia on the ground, end
would have stood second to none. With regard to the
volunteers he saw the much pest at Blandford, and he
never wished to sae anything better than the march
past of the Dorset battalion. They were as good an any
regiment on the field —(applante).
Coloureiergeant outuons, who WIPA called on to
respond, acknowledged the compliment on behalf of the
volunteer,, lie expressed his regret that oircumstanoes
prevented him 'haring in thn glories and hardships of
the campaign; but he Paw the marsh part at Beacoo
Hill, acid thought the Dorset volunteers did particularly
well —( applause).
The CHAIM' II then gave " Beene* to Forestry,"
remarking on the propene of the order and important
beoefite it affordeto its members and society at large. ,
Chief-Ranger SHIRGOLD returned thanks. Al their
worthy chairman said tbis was his first introduction to
Forestry he would state • few facts in regard to the
history of the order. They found from the general rn:en
that the odor was fireteetablished at Knaresboro'CastJe
In Yorkshire' in 1775, turf in 1834 • convention of
delegates met at Rochdale, and the,society wee founded
on its present basis. The last executive council was held
at York in August, that being the 38th annual meeting.
In the United Kingdom and the colonies there wore
247 districts, and 3,988 tweets, haring 396,214 members,
or an averse' of Si. There were 8.157 honorary mem.
bers, god the value of the courts is £1,371,200, and the
worth of the district funds £156,739. It must be very
gratifying to all to find so many men banded together
to help one another. United they were ainaz:ngly
strong, nowledays there was greet talk about Union.;
the Fort:then wan a very old Union, and their °bin*
was to support earth other in times of sickness, and give
r. lief when their members were overtaken by *widen!.
Forestry recommended itself to working men in various
aspeota. To mechanics, because they were not &Drays
sure of remaining in one town, and a Forester wherever
he went had the hand of fellowship held out to him, sad
was treated as • man and &brother. There were various
soaks of payment, by which members could secure 14a.
16e, 184.. or alt, a week in sickness, while • benevolent
fund enabled courts to give special help to members
who had sustained particular loss or distress. Forestry
existed wherever the English language is spoken. In
Turkey, the West Indies, South Attlee the United
Bletes,Austrelis,Canada, St. Helenteand in many of the
colonies and dependencies courts were established; and
men who were Foresters had grater facilities for getting
employment than others. Foresters subscribed £3,937
I tin 10d. to aid their distrereed Annexe during the cotton
famine in Lancashire; tied 1.900 for the relief of brothers
who had sustained loan by the great IA at Chicago. The
orders included 8,157 honorary members, among whom
were 13 peers, 6 eons of peers, 5 buonets, 4 judges, 11
knights, and 136 members of Parliament. He added
that the worthy vionchairman was already • Foreeer,
and intimated the gratification it would give him to
initiate Mr. Councillor Bureett—(applause). He con.
eluded by proposing the "Honorary Members," coupled
with the came of the Yiee-Cnainuan.

Mr. Gatcoar acknowledged the compliment, sod
thought if the benefits conferred by the order were
more generally knono, this court would attract more
honorary members--(applauso).
Tbe Cituatrao, to tel LA of worn coogrntulation,
proposed the tout o! the evening, "Success to Court
Progress' of the Aneirot Order of F.,ruten," which
wan received with cordial enthualurn.
_ _ _ _

Bro. Bonne, secretary of the Court, replied. Me
euten-d into • brief summary of the fends of the court
Into which its to•sl worth was divided. The sick fund
@mounted ti .£529 Si. 71., the manerrement fund to
£l2 0.. 11d.. aid the benevolent fond to £l2 Oi. 41., I
giving the sum total to £5.13 7s. 101., including the
amount In back and with treasurer, at the end of Juno,
at which their financial year &need. In comparing the
figures for the past year with those of the province year,
it most be admitted thov were most satisfactory,
affording much encouragement to stil persevere in the
future in meeting thole unfor.seen casualties to which
all men wore more or las liable, lie wool 1 now give
• few particolare rest@ stir, the eters, of them. funds.
The sick fond ehowed it. Juno last year • total of
£4BO that of the pr..sent, ending the same
month. was hi. 7c1., showing an increase of
£4O 16a. 11:11. As regarded the management fund, it I
likewise showed a balance is favour of the court, for Le
found last year it amounted to 1.9 4,. 40., and in the
present year to 1:12 Os. 11d, leaving a clear balance of
£2 16.. dd. over the expenditure. This fact was werthy
of mention, for it showed that • charge of extravagance
could cot be laid to the court es regarded the manage-
ment of the budneas, taking into eonsideratlon the small
✓um of id. per week set apart from members' ciontribut-
butions to meet the working expenses - (applause). Their
Benevolent Fund was likewise marked by satisfactory
progress, for In 1571 the total worth was £7 8.. 3
while that of the f. Vowing year was £l2 Os. 41., leaving
• surplus on the year of £4 12s. Id.—(applattee). This
fund was only established March, 1870, and the oontri-
button to It by each member was le. per annum. This
fund was founded with the intention of extending
sympathy to the members. It had for ha principle
objects the assistance of members when compelled to
travel in search of employment and also the granting
of temporary relief to keep in oomplienee, or lose
through any unforeseen eircurnatar cos. Mr. Noah'
thee said they had again experienced a large amount of
sickuesia In the year jost roamed, but still they bad clause
for congratulation in the fact that there had been a
gradual diminution during the past 18 months The
amount paid In tho past year bed been £lO5 3a 81.,
and for the previous year £l2B 16t. 81., showing • de-
crease of £23 Lis. Comparing the six months ending
June with the corresponding period of 1871, the con-
greet had been moat marked, for the decrease wee £37
3a. &I. Although the sick Bat was heavy they had to
noosed bet ono death in the year, that of • members
wife, lie might mention in connection with the court
that since it. formation there has been paid out in sick
relief no less a sum than £1333 Gs. During the same
time in respect of death payments through the district,
.£B2 had been claimed on behalf of seven members, and
£47 for the same nutober of members' wives, making •
total of £125 —(applause).
The remaining toasts were- "The Medical Officer "
(Dr. Fisher on to half of Dr. (l)ed, responding), "The
Chairman," "The VioaChairreao," 'The Borough
Member, Colonel Neuter Start."(propored by the Vie,—
Chairman, "Kindred S.oisties" (Kr. Barge end Mr. C.
Hodges replying), "The Mayor and Corporstion,".
"Town and Trade of Dorchester," kin