The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-27 00:00:00

PRESENTATION OF A CHIEF RANGER'S
CHAIR TO COURT FOLEY.
A special meeting of the Foresters connected
with Court Foley, was held on Monday evening
last, in the spacious Assembly Room, at the Vine
Hotel, in this town, for the purpose of the Court
receiving a presentation of a Chief Ranger's chair
from the honorary members. Amongst the hono-
rary memders present were Bro. W. C. Collis, Bro.
E. Stringer, Bro. F. Stringer, jun., Bro. F. JO3OO-
- Bro. S. Field, Bro. J.Edwa,rds, &c., and there
was a very large assemblage of financial and visit-
ing members.
The proceedings were opened by Chief Ranger
George Sewell, who stated that the meeting was
a speeial one to enable the Court to receive a gift
from its honorary members and subscribers. He
should not -delay the proceedings by a lengthy
speech, but should at once call upon Bro. Charles
William Collis, who was to make the presentation,
to address those present.
Brother W. C. Collis then rose and said that ever
since he had been an honorary member of that
Court he had always taken a great interest in
everything connected with the Ancient Order of
Foresters and it was with great interest that he
heard it,Was intended to present the Court with a
chair in 'which the Chief Ranger might preside—
(applause). It was an important event in the his-
tory of the Court—(hear, hear). It showed that
those men who had at different times filled the
office of Chief Ranger were very much respected
both inside and outside the Court--(cheers). It
was right that those who conducted the business
of that Court should do their best to officiate in a
proper manner. He had no doubt that the fact of
that chair being presented to the Court would act
as an inducement to many of the members to con-
duct themselves in such a way as to command the
respect of all who gained that seat, and he did not
think the young members could entertain a more
laudable ambition than that of hoping some day
to have the honour of occupying that seat—(ap-
plause). And if they lived and acted in such a
a manner as to be worthy of occupying that chair,
they would have gained a great object in life—
(cheers). He was glad to see from the accounts
that Past Chief Ranger Perkin had furnished him
with that the affairs of that Court and of the other
Courts in the district, were in a flourishing condi-
tion. The accounts were admirably kept, and he
saw they had a considerable increase—financially
and numerically—in this Court and also in the
'surrounding Courts, and the total number of for-
esters in the United Kingdom was something like
100,000 members. The benefits of foresters were
not confined to themselvesalone. They subscribed
a sum of no less than £4,000 to the Lancashire
Relief Fund, and £3,000 to tha Chicago Relief
Funds, showing that they were both able and wil-
ling to assist those in distress even outside of their
own circle—(applause). The present Government
had brought in a bill for the improvement of
Friendly Societies, and he believed it would have
a beneficial influence upon their operations. Mr.
George Potter, a gentleman whose name was known
to most of them as being an earnest advocate of
the rights of working men and the editor of the
Beehive newspaper, defined it to be a good bill, and
the only exception he took to it was the 27th
clause which reduced the insurance upon chil-
dren's lives from £6 to £3. He (the speaker)
thought that in the present day £3 ought to be
sufficient for the burial of a child—(hear, hear).
It now became his pleasing duty to present that
chair in the names of the honorary members who
took very great pleasure in making that pre-
sentation to that Court, in whose welfare they were
so much interested. He sincerely trusted they
would deem it worthy of their expectations—(loud
applause). He hoped that Court would be always
distinguished by unity, benevolence, and concord,
which was the translaticn of the Latin motto
which was very properly carved on the back of the
chair. He congratulated the Chief Ranger on
being the first person to sit in that chair, and he
was sure he would set a good example to those
who should succeed him in that position—(great
cheering).
Mr. Collis said he should have mentioned to
them a circumstance which was very gratifying to
himself and would be so to all of them, and that
was to find among the names of those who had
subscribed that of Baron Amphlett. He responded
at once when asked to subscribe to the fund for
purchasing that chair. From what he had seen in
the papers that morning, his lordship was suffer-
ing from illness which he (the speaker) hoped
would not be of long deration—(hear, hear).
Mr. Hunt next rose, and said he was going to
propose a toast which he knew would be received
with enthusiasm. It was the health of their hon-
orary members—(great cheering). He thought a
few facts relative to the honorary members be-
longing to the Order, ;would be very interesting.
They had 16 peers of the realm, amongst whom
were the Dukes of Rutland and Cleveland. They
had 12 sons of peers, six barons, and six judges.