The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-11-01 00:00:00

W3YXOI7TII.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WORKING YEN'S
CLUB.

Yet another annual meeting of this invaluable testi-
tatinn WM bald on Friday evening last The club seems
now to hare'arrived at that stage of ImlioMese in work.
when Its history drops the sensational, but could the
donor, Yr. Edwards, have looked in on the members that
overtime, or, indeed, any other in these winter-heralding
times, he most have beets something like satisfied that the
club has permed its babyhood, and begun to walk alone
The preddin Yr. George Eliot, we regret to find, was too
unwell to attend. bat Yr. J. Robertson was in his place,
and was stirred bra?* rood report in speech longer than
I. usual with Yr. Robertson, whose Grit love is for da,rgs.
Yr. $OlllllllOll, having taken the chair, said ha re.
gritted that our esteemed Freeldent, Kr. George Eliot;
who takes so deep an interest In this good work, was
unable to be present to-night; hut he had asked him (the
speaker), to take the chair in his absence. Ile first called
on the secretary
_to read the report for Ike past year.
Mr. K B. Item the honorary secretary, reed as
folio ws :
" In preunting this report and balance sheet for your
consideration It will be found our expenditure Ls gradually
on the Increase, there bling a deficleacy in the balance in
our favour of 1:2 4s. Id. against that presented at our
teat annual meeting, the committee having found it
unwary to renovate and repair our reeding-room
"Tb• committ• desire to thank thou gentlemen who
have kindly supplied the club with various papers, and
hooks (via). G.E Eliot Esq., for the Deily Felegreyk, R.
Edwards, Zoo., K.?., for the Skipping Gamete daily, and
Or. Rhodes, lot the Orepitie raper. also •Sir Thome
Braise,' for the handsome volume called "Suninhine and
Storm In the But," also from Kr. Venour toe life„of
President Garfield, and various other friends for the Aft
of local and other periodical'.
"Our Lecture-rooms I am pleased to slate are continued
let for various purposes, and as it appears by the balance
sheet, bring in a very good income.
"I em requested by the committee to kindly thank the
honorary subscribers for their continued sathti§noe and
moppet
The number of annual members has been 111, quarterly
members 167, ylsittat members 17, meting a total of 10$
enehert Ile In the previous year.
"IDWAIIII FfiviVy
Secretary.'
October 1881.
. The statement of amounts was ohm red which showed
that the reeelpts for the part year amounted to £139 9a
This included £3B 11a 91. beano* from the previous
year, honorary euher-riptions £l5 lla , annual members'
subscriptions, £ll ; quarterly members. ditto,
£1611.. 81., and for the hire of room about LC. The
expenditure was £lO7 fit. 11d., lesivlllf • Welles of
LEM& Id. in favour of the institution.
The Catzistar called ter sorturme to move the report,
end wee answered by Kr Local, ea whom melten.
eseeseled by Mr. Timm the mart vas 2400"

The 011•111gla1111 then esagratalated the members on this
favourable sheet, although the secretary had said it was
hardly so satisfactory as that of last year, be had over.
looked the fact that a considerable amount has been ex-
pended in renovating the place, and it was • good sign
that, alter doing this, there is still • balance. Tee
speaker was one of those at, stsocated with
the club 90 yeers ago, in Hieh-street, and than they could
not bays believed it would attain ite present proportions
It sea credit to the town, and he hope I it would so on and
prosper. All working men shoull aye I themeilves of this
valuable institution; we are llvio.t in • day when
knowledge is power: holy is supposed to read tee
newetap,r, we are in a lime very different from that
when knowledge was confined to. limited class, when
the mimes of locomotion were so linuted ; now we live in
the days of the electric telegraph, and knowledge is attain-
able to AIL He would say to them all—Working men of
Weymouth, avail yourselves of this serf valuable institu-
tion. His esperience in Weymouth, for institutions, was
that it is • vary good thing to be in debt; you have some-
thing to hold by, for people say, if you have a balance in
hand, however small, you do not want anything. (Hear,
hear, and laughter.) He did not know if there was any I
more business before the meeting.
The Hos. flecitraie asked if any of the members had
any complains.
The Camisole said if any gentleman had any susiges
Mons to offer Inc the inter ,reinent of the club, they would
be very glad to hear them; he was quite sure there was
no complaint.
No response came to this, and the CHAIRAIAN took the
silence as • vote of oonedence in the committee, and as a
sign that things are going on sa lit act Idly.
The Committee desired the Press t meaden that Mr.
J. A. Venour had presented the club with the Lde of
President Garfield.
Said the CHAIRMAN, the life of Prominent Garfield is a
noble study of industry, pa since, and perseverance ; how
that man, living in • cabin hut, became an educated man,
and afterwards the President of tile American republic,
through his own industry. Mr. Robarisin th ingot they
should not cl,se this annual meeting without offering our
warm thanksta Mr. Mace. (Hear. hear.) The seems, of
this insulation depended very mach upon the secretary,
who takes lin interest ln it, and he was sure Mr. Mace was
the right man in tee right place. Hs had much plessu: e
in movuog • vote of thsnke to the secretary.—(Cordially
received.)
Mr. Meal thanked them all very kindly for this mark of
respect. Of course, he only tried to do the beet be could,
and if that little pleased them, he rested perfectly
sati.fied,
Mr. DArgo, said they most continne the gratuity to
Mrs. Rolls, as usual, and Mr. Lucas acknowledged the
courtesy shown to the member, by the custodian and bit
wile, while the place was kept as clean as any one could
wish.—Agreed.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the
meeting.