The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-07-21 00:00:00

ODDIELLOWS FETE AT STURIIINSTER
NEWTON.

dThe " Friend in o 0 dfellows, ILU., held
a fete at Sturmiuster Newton .n Timplay, which supeared
to have been regarded as an event of some import-ace by
the townspeople. At an early hour in the morning the
bells rang merry peals, awl people were astir bony in beau-
tifying their houses, while in the streets willing hands
were at work in making the thoroughfares gay with flag,
of all colours and designs, with innumerable inottees
appropriate to the oera..itin, and other novel deeerations of
local ingenuity and desini ;oalvom of iiui.iovine.t artillery
were fired. which bestirred many an 01,1 ',lumberer to
whom such sounds in their "last sleep " nown
danger. By 19 o'clock everything was completed, awl the
town gave itself up to pleasure and recreation. lit the
High-street, faring the County l'olire station, nan one of
Mr. Skinner's mottoes, "Welcome to Stunnin 'ter ;" from
the Swan to Mr. Paviour's (Groves') opposite, "IriendshiN
Love, and Truth;" from the Crown—the front of which
had been prettily decorated by Mr. Skinner—to the Wilts
and Dorset Bank, string of lonobsune flags : next "Love
in strong in Death." At the National Provincial Bank
Rags were displayed ,and across the street to Mr. Mcbuoth's
"Faith, Hope, and Charity at Mr. Adams' corner,
"Faith the root of all good works." In Bridge.street,
The Manchester rnity embraces the whole world ;
" True Fnendship never swerves "Charity is the scope
of all (1 01's command..; each of which extended across
the road. In Church.street were two others—"
the Society "nod "Truth Divine for ever stands secure."
All these were extremely well executed, awl the dee,.
tions throughout, though simpie, were exceedingly pretty
awl effective ; even the Town l'urup had been made to
"lend enchantment to the view."
. . . . .

The first 1111,it1.. .if Die day was the proceshien, which
was conspicuous Cur the 11.111.1531110 regalia of the brethren
and the equally hatelholue emblems and banners of the
Order. The brethren, headed by Mr. Boanl'a Weymouth
Rifle Town Band, perambulate,' the principal htnets, fol.
lowed ley a large crowd, mei wendol their way to St,
Mary's Church, front the tine obi tower of which the bells
rang right Merrily. Ilion there W3S• shirt service, the
Rev. Ur. Washes: reading the priyer.s and lessons, andi
the Rev. It. Lowieles ',reaching the sermon. Mr. Ihtwniles
took for his text the 11. Peter. i., lit : "Wherefore the
rather brethren. give diligence to make your veiling and
election hunt" Tito reverend gentleman habl, —" Speaking
of the things which emeern this world telly. I may, per-
haps, with gem' reason, suppese that there is at this time
no question .d greater itnporttnce in the eyes of such
Persons as form toy present congregation than the
tenpin!, between the 'steering dames and their employers.
The joining or not joining what are calks' Union.; the
terms or, which work should be accepted ; the hours over
which the daily Labour shall extend—these and other
matters arising out of these lerticulare are the points of
&Hem:Tossing interest. Now I have no imtentiou of
enlarging on this matter, th; nigh I would make thi., one
passing observation by the way. A thtators who have been
going through the (smeary—sew, ileildle•s. honest Turn
whose hearts are really in the canoe which they are advs.
rating; others who would seem to have some polit led object
in the background, mid whose singleness of mitt.' is not quite
so Is-erten). and to whims, therefore, if I were an
agricultural labourer, I should be somewhat unwilling
to entrust use cause these persona have thonght
it right and fair and straight forward to denounce
the clergy because they have (as a holy) taken no actual
and decided part on either one Aisle or the other in the
existing ilihpitte. Now to my mind there is neither right,
nor fairness, nor straightforwardness in these acensations.
My fixed persuasion is that hail the clergy generally
thrown thetnselves into the movement and beeeme par-
tizans they would have been condemned (perhaps rightly
so) as medilleetne interferers in matters beynnil their
province. I think, indeed, that we have not been left,
without some actual imitruction about mesh a matter ;
OUT [Ante own words stands out a beaeon light t guide
tis in this way. When one appeded unto the Saviour,
sayinc, "Master, speak to toy brother. that he divide the
iuherttance with me," the answer of Divine wi•l was,
" Man, who melt, me a judge and a divider over you r
Warned by theso won's, I think we In wisely to hold
ourselves aloof from the angry passions which may arise
out of this question, and which would prolehly ere losig
resent any alike which we could give. Surely the offiee
of the clergy is rather that of healers rif iliviaions than
judges between One and another at of disputants. When
any strive their iltaty is lettersrfortned by ieldressing all
in the spirit of these words, ',e Sirs, ye are my brethren,
why do ye wrong one to another r —than in any attempt
to determine the matter in the temper or attitude of par-
tizans. Let ins ask, too. is it not above all else neeeshary
that we should he thoroughly aoinainted with the cir-
cumstances of a case before we can with any pretence of
right or justice decide betwom two cretten,ling
But what real a...quaint:once with this matter have the
clergy ; what special mean, ef information are they pos-
sessed of I Si, far from their being thommghly informed
on the points in dispete, the result that I has., snivel at,
after • careful watching of thih all important alibis:et for
many months past, In that very few personh indeed. if tiny,
are (sills acquainted with the matter In all its inniesteite.
Anil if suspect this --as I do—on one other most essen•
tial point I entertain no doubt whatever. Weighing the
matter carefully, I ant convi tool that the right -the full,
perfect, absolute right -lies neither on "Ile vile nor on
the other. (Mt each side there are evident and palpable
faults ; and I apprehend that any one who has an yet
sided unconditionally with either party, will live to see,
if not to arknowlolge, himself to have been in ern,r.
Being fully persuaded if this, I claim at your bawls my
brethren id you amongst whom my lot PS Chris( n
Minister has been cast -a fairer, a minter, and re dig-
passionate judgment about your clergy, than is
generally admitted at the gatherings of thehe agitators."
paehing on to draw a practical 'ousels as reg:ll,ll4
spiritual things (rose what wan passing in the
world, ll.'. Lowndes proceeded —" The cry ia every.
where at
try:sent, " A fair ilay's wage for a fair
day's work. I alit semetimes tenn,ted to regret the
setting up this hard an .1 fast line, this harsh principle of
an exact and undeviating adjustment of the wages to the
work. It may hound just, and yet in fact tit net tend
to shut out of sight those gentler principles of kindness
and consideration by which the relation.; of the emoloyers
and the employed have !tithed:, been seljusted. " fair
days' wage for a fair ,lay'h work !" Yes, it may tempi
well in the airs of the young, and strong, and nettle, Bet
are all such t Are none infirm and of weakly constitu.
tion I Are none a„-eil and passes' their prime of labour t
Anil how will thesc *tau,' beneath the iron ode, which
discarding gentleness and charity, makes 'simple lustier,
in an its poshilde severity, the only inesaure of Its pay-
ment ! Ile wever this is the accepted cry—" a fair day's
wage (or a fair day's work." Now notiee the two sides
here—the one balancing, the other. The employes' may,
"Increase our wages." The employer wive, " Increase
the value of your work." Anil this evidently must he the
tease( all agreements for the future. Many who demand
higher wage must give labour if a better and more
remunerative quality. If the entoloyer is to be more
literal, the labourer intot 1.6 mon: aetive, careful and
diligent in his work. YeA, 11., must show more diligenee,
more energy, mons heartirevis,—more " diligence ! "
The rev gentleman then went on to aptly the word
diligence—" was it nealful for this world only t May we
he active, eeriest, careful aleut things temporal: and
and hlothf oh, indolent, ansi indiffentnt about thins?
eternal?" Let them apply their princiele—" a fair ;lay s
wage for a fair day 'a work." tout just reward in heaven
for a devoted service to God on melt. Woe bo to theta if
they were diligent for the things of this life, and not
diligent to make their calling and election, AM Deis
children, sure ! What fully th, groan over the hardness of
this life, the difficulty of making our way here, and to
' pretend the while that henven, with all its eternity of
' blessedness. may be won without an effort--ti the eon.
elusion of the heroism, the members reformed, awl with
the band niarrl,e.l (0 file vicar s listen anti played ; loan
thence priseeedine through the streos of the town. New-
ton, (cc., to the field, which had been kindly lent be the
occasion by Mr. W. I.

t..nt ere.-teil in the held,
and WY supplied by Maur, id the /*rows' Hotel.
Sir T. F. Grove, Bart, presided. Amon?.
were—The Rev. It. Lowteles. the Rev. Mr. Wihhere. Ntr.
K. R. Harvey, Mr. If. ('. Dashwuoil, Ur. J. Cisttes, Mr. J.
C. Leech, Mr. W. 11. MarAhallsay, Mr. W. If. .ttkinson„
Mr. .1. T. Swyer. Mr. A. IL I re,eh. Mr. Jaintai Parker,
Mr. W. Hunt, Mr. T. Butt, Mr. J. Athuus, Mr. It...titer,
. . .

—..—
On the removal of the cloth the wontl loyal buatv were
drunk. the Natienal .Inthein and " Gel Mem the Price.
of Wales" being aunt by the company lot by Mr.
MarahallsaY.

......._,.
The (esierx in proposing the " Army, Navy, and
Reserved Forces," said • great deal hail been talked about
the inefficiency of the army and the uselessness of the
navy ; but he thought it would he admitted, comparing
the cost of the Ashantee war wi:h that of Abysinnia, that
there was a great improvement in the management and
organisation of our forte..; while to to the Volunteers they
continued to rival each other in which should ilo their duty
best--Qiear. hear).
Mr. DOH WOOD reswinded. Ito the Ztli of this month
he hoped to join the Dorset Battalion at Al,lershot for
eight days. The Volunteers were already pn.pared to do
their duty, and invariably did it in such • way as to merit
The Cdainnot gave the " Bishop and clergy, and
the commendation of the authorities—tap:4.mM
Ministers of all Christian ilcnoininations," width was
ow
acknledged br the
Bee, R, Lowatien, who believed the Bishop to be nee of
the wisest men on the Bench. The rev. gentleman
touched upon the labour question, to reganlal the demand
for higher wages and shorter I re; mil he e„,hed
whether shorter work in reality did not mean "shorter
r There were many features in the agitation which
.. ,ig,!eeettev;elthuepaiAtt the
.iii,lupirirnetnittott oLluilmiii.l.att:ern,ii
too. Van a good point, especiallv. if a, man went with a
which
4„.0,3 ~, wort. Re 1,111111 111 Lila% spirit they would no
doubt make men of tiluilmfthe... AY 44 the redistnbittion
a the hind, he hoped he alimaldn't live to fau that, for it
~,Id Ineyttalily load to thine being starved. But there
—4,.., Ilepo,ul,l like to see added to their charter
ww:e. one
he would have 11111! in w
cai.l. el cry man shoubl blase three suits of
. -and that was
clo.ies :, A. ,
~.. ,
..._., ,
1111tra 1111 u bend his ...AV*, 11111. ca.. of leaning
to come t^ c
shout when. speakinit to the great Matesty
d lounfling
r God. im. fear of
.spoiling the Sunday clothes. Mite
.eet of Mr. Lowndes s speech created much aumeetnent ;
.1. for then Prolfal'll
w,-,,,, are eempuilled to summarise.)

-- -
The Oisinnit't pro"posed the "Lord-Lieutenant and
Magistraey of Dorset,whi•th responded to by
Mr. It. k. lIARIMY in a maiden magisterial speach.
The re.• •plion of the toast testified to the estimation in
which the iiimistr.des were held by the public in dis-
charging the ditties they had to perform. 113 hoped they
would continue to discharge theta in such • way as to
maintain that resp,ct—(applause).
The 1:11&11011•71 then propomd the toast of the day—
" S.IeCeSS to the Mancha:4er Unity, anti Lodge Friend in
Need." Ile was not aware of their actual condition, but
was info:Med they were flourishing. They had Pill mem-
Mrs. and It-el only been established 12 years, and that, lie
thought, was very satisfactory. The Order had something
near 1.3..tte,011 turestml, and that represented • largo
sum He himself was an honorary member, and naturally
tailt great interest in it, and was always glad to hear a
satisfactory aceount of the Order. He should ask Mr.
Secretary Doubt to give them a statistical account of their

Progress.
The Secretary not being present, the toast was drunk
but not acknowledged.
The Itev. It. LOWNDIS4 proposed the "health of the
Cliainuul," who WM a right good fellow,
and had t souse
inconvenience come from a distance to preside over
a
them. The toast AVM receive,' with three times three.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the toast, said he saw
reporters from is distance present, who, no doubt, expected
him to say something npon affairs in general, and Parlia-
ment in particular. Ile was, however, for the present a
" ineinter unattached," and therefore could not be said
to he a 'ratty man. He would, however, refer to one
matter which waist present before Parliament, via, the
Bill of the Archbisholi of Canterbury for conferring on
the Bishops greater power to preser,e law and order in
their diereses ; a meastire that was highly neecharY in
enabling the bishops to ston the "little guises" that were
practised in Senile 'karts by p owns who were really
enunciating and plops:rating the doctrines of the ReMeR
Catholic Chnrsli ; but which hitherto the Bishops were
unable to interfere with unless involving themselves in
itnmense expense. It Wet unite time is cheek was put
upon thee.; practices in the church, or disestablishment
must ensne, for the laity, instead of being the strong sup-
porters of the establishment, would leave it Sir Thhmas
then spoke of the Licensing roll; the publicans had b
very badly treated, and he must confess he felt a little
"malicious pleasure" in seeing it. Ile advised every
publican t, buy a copy of Punch with the cartoon of the
" witlarh allowanee,' which represented exactly bow the
publican (the clown of the circus) Ishl been treated by the
epiestri in Disraeli soil his "Master of the ring," Cross
—(laughter). . .

The coin iimy then separated, and tha following sports
occupied thu rein :tinder of the afternoon. until it o'clock.
They were entirely br-al in rha.-acter. The first the
1b,.1e?, antspetiluni, olotailled 30 entries. There were
three flights of hiirllo iuil each ham carried 12 stone.
Pirit prize. 1: I. and an 004 mi-silver goblet ; 2nd, ;
3rd, Li. The following ran:
Mr. H. Barnes's (Lblfellow (Dowling) ... 1
Mr. T. Coates' Rol, Roy (owner) 2
Mr. I.suiliert::i Belermilion (Munk) ... :I
Mr. (.1. Harding, e J ping Jack • Mr. T. Coates Spiro,
Mr. IL Cross's Allow Me, Mr. it Robert's Mr.
V. Hunt's Peacock, Mr. E. Ilarrie's Topsail, and Mr. H.
Green's Little Nell.
The pleasure of the competition was considerably
marred by an unfortunate accident to Mr. T. Coates,
whore horse in clearing the second hurdle fell with his
rider; Mr. Coates, we :ire sorry to say, dislocating his
collar bone.

The great drawback to a sueceseful competition by the
horses was the persistent shouting of the bystanders
just RS the hunters were about to clear the fences ; and we
heard it objectvl that the hurdles were not well placed,
some of the competitors having a " half abide" which was
an inevitably baulk.

-iii7i;',..Z.7i7.117;;Ti by some ;Allelic sports. A half-mile
race, open to all, was won by fl. (todwin, (West
0w Stower),
1; Preeoll4l. Lane. (Thorniemillie). se. Two hundred
yard mom for I tlilfellows only, Brown (Ham[Miry). silver
awl glom sugar bowl: second, Sharp (Marnhitll). Fold
lorea.it pin. One hun.lrat 301 d ram loPon to all) G.
Godwin is. 111. Keech.(lllthil(erd) 3s. lid. _
. _ . . .

Alava Conapeaton.— For ponies under 1.1.2, over three
Ilight.s of hurdles. First, £2; second, new bridle and
riding whip ; third, Timepiece. For thLs there were seven
entries.

Mr. K. Itowes Weatel (Q. Hardy)
Mr. Ilarding's Grayling (owner)
Mr. llonso's l'eggy (ll:defier)
Mr. Nat. Day's TO I 1111 l y Hill
Mr. .1. V. Leach's Black Bess
Mr. .1. W. Iforrell's Knight of the !laminar
Mr. H. Creech', Itar One.

.1

::: 5

This wee* very geed competition. Mr. I.cach's fell out
after the first liht Some disappointment was expressed
at the award of the thinl prim which uiany thought
mr.tht to have gone to Peggy, Grayling having stood to the
bonne in the first flight Mr. Q. Hardy's riding warn
admirable, and he wee warmly cheered.
:time other sport; followed : and dancing aucceeded,
which was kept up till the shades of evening had fairly net

The disy wa thoroughly enjoyed hy a large number of
sptvloturs. Mr. V. It. Watts and Mr. J. Sprake were the
judge: of the horr.e conmetition ; Mr. J. •. Leach superin-
tendivg the foot nwing. Mr. hlaraltallsay wan the
trwtsurer of the fete ; and Mr. It. 11. Newman, secretary.
!hiring the Inds the hand playedsemte capital selections;
but they were almovt too far reuvwed front the went) of
the spurts to he thoroughly appreciated. Nevertheless
they everted themselves to the uttuovt and played
admirably.