The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-04-20 00:00:00

ANNULL DINTaII OF COURT "PLUME OF
71 tTHICRS,"

The members of this Court of tha Ancient Order of
Foresters celebrated their "coming of .v,-_tb.ir n.,
anniversary—on Tuesday evening, at Mr. Cooke's new
dining-room. Thorn waaa large attendance. The room
looked exceedingly handeomadind the tablas were bosun.
fonriaid, and folly sustained mr. Cooke's reputation S 4
public caterer.
Dr. Sinnott, the surgeon 01 the Court, occupied the
chair, and there were Prevent Mr. /1- times. Kr. A.
Graham. us, Hommel' (secretary). Yr. Oa, and many
others ;Mr. Purchase ailed the vioochatt
During the evening Jones's teed played at intervals.
The cloth having been cleared.
The 011611111.111 rose and, in proposing the first tout, said
there was always one toast which in all aramblies of
Englishmen. whether It be in the United Blandon. or
whether it be in the far dieter t colonies a this=
nation, was always received with respect and soasb
which he thought they would all say was dos to the name
of Her Majesty the ()seen. (Heer. hoer) Whether they
looked at Her Majesty in the tightof arraigning monarch, or
as a wife. and.l unfortunately, • widow, ore. • mother, or
sea good racism in which ever light they regarded her, she
shone as a resplendent star above all °them Altos a faw
other remarks the chairman gave the health of Her
Majesty the Queen, ant might she live long to reign over
• happy, prosperous, and sue:rueful people. (Loud
applause.)
Tbe toast was drunk with musical honours
Again rising,
'1 the tataloith
the
Royal
e4Prinainos
(loyal
Prince.
CHAlatuivgiopro,
and the
That was a toot which ought to commend itself to the
members of that Court perhaps more so than to the mem-
bers of any other In Ragland, because the Court which
they bed met to do honour to that night, had adopted 64
its emblem, the Plume of Feathers, which was theemblem
his Royal Highness the Primo. of Wales. Tlso Prince was of
• universal favourite, and his urbanity of manners,
his amiability of temper, and the businese-like way in
which be a,h.d whatever he bad to do, comm•nded
him to all of the monkey. He combined with his
eiosfient personal qualities, the fact of his being the
hardest-worked man In London, also of being the first
gentleman in Europe. That was an honour which had
fallen upon but few men. With reread to the Princess of
Wales, he was sure it nroded no weeds of his to enhance
the pleasure with which they always saw her aooonspany-
log her busload in every work of amity, or of entertain-
ment. (liaar, hear.) They mug remeutber the Prince of
weirs occupied in this country rather an socoeptional posi-
tion. for in consequence of the unfortunate widowhood
of Nu majesty, and her necessary retirement from public
It devolved upon the Prince to entertain all foreign
strain o little ta k, and besides that they all noticed
how made his mark in the centre of that great world in
Lusdon. And for the .ther members of the Royal Family,
he was quite rare they were all in their individual
capacities, whether es English country nentlomen, or
whether as moving in that great circle of society in so Loudon. source of pkraure and pricie to every Englishman. (Loud applause.)
This tout was eh* received with musical honours.
"no Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces" was next pro-
posed by Kr. Narrocit in an assonant speech. In the
course of his remarks he said there wee this one marked fist in connection with our army—they were volunkon in
pint of fact, not by conscription as in 'several foreign countries, and forced to serve their country whether they
were willies or not, but they were volunteers who came
forward to take the lead of our Reserve Force.. (Hear,
hear.) He was sure th-re wee no one who in reading of
the late small wars but moat remember with feelings of
gratitude the services of our men In such an heroic stand as
that of Rorke's Drift. (Hear, hear.) It must be patent
to everyone that there wee still the love of their country
and true patriotism in the breeste of our soldiers, and it
only needed the call of duty to bring %era to the front
(AtMlortas) As regarded the navy, they were all proud of
the finest navy in the world, end a navy which am.
minded the stlmiration of 'ivory country In the worm. No
doubt they all remembered tke (ashen in aostinental
countries when the Beet wee ordered luso the Dardanelles,
whers, under the very guns of the fort; the question
was put if they fired they would be annihilated.
That was not ing. our sailors had had their
orders and they must do their duty regardleof ss
conoquences. (Applause.) That was indicative of
the character of the navy in the present day. (Hear,
beat.) With regard to tile reserve forces, the cithien
soldiers he remembered sows fil) Years ofin, when the
volunteer movement in Lushes was first st sled. It was
generally stated it would prove an entire failure. It was
at the time the novelty of the day, and the young men
liked to he " nsade 'soldiers, and when dressed in their
new uniforms they looked very smart; but it proved
somethiag more than that. Tim volunteer force turned
out to be a be ly of mot may to defend with their life
their hearths and bosses and ready to die for the widows
and orphans, the women and the children of every class
and grade. With the toad he coupled the name of
Kr. G for the army and Ram awl Corporal Lush
for the reserve forces.
The teed we. cordially readved.