The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-10-09 00:00:00

FORESTERS' FRIENDLY AOCIETY.

The mouton of Court Progress, No. 3038, Ancient
Order of Foresters, celebrated their twelfth anniversary
on Thurday night, at the George Inn. The Dorchester
Court, •ith many others in this c •tinty, belunga to the
tionth•Western diatrict, whole meetings are held at
Southampton half yearly, and are attended by a delegate
from each court, the expense being met by a levy of
abour 6,1. on each member. This di.trict, by t. returns
made up for 1865, eon-Sated of 66 courta, detaining
74.; the bers:trasiet Fe
cod
having
then a capital of 1:26,121
34. the Di .il Fund ainounte I last April
to £4,191 14.. 6.1., accumulsted principally by 14. pr
week being taken out of each member's contributions.
Another district iitore, payment of whisk in, however,
not is •missliserl, sailed the Widows' and 0: /Mans'
Fund, and amounts to £1,016 14s. 51. Besides these
rations providons a daily allowance is granted to a
useusher unavoiilably thrxwn out of employment and
travelling in search of work, This is given at first by
the local court, and either paid from its management
fund or by • small levy on the members, and it may be
explained that id. per week is allotted to 'management
eapetvesi id. to the 947,
and 4d. • week to
payment of sick claims How Court " Prngreas" has
succeedid under the-si arrangements will be manifest
from the following report for the half-year ending Sept.
10, 1886 :-84cit and Funeral Account : Dr. To amount
in Savings' Bank last audit, 1.284 3e, fhl.; balance bran
ditto, £2204. Oid.• members' sick and funeral contriba-
tines, £5B Its, ditto entrance fees, El 17s. &I.;
widows' and orphans' account, 60. 64-: one member's
wife's district funeral allowance, £6-total, £383 3a. 9I-
Cr. By amount in Savings' Bank, a 294 31.9.1.; deposits
in ditto this balf.year, 2100 • levies to district fusers'
fund, £ll la.; ditto on widows' and orphaes' account,
6s. 6d.• sick pay, C 23 Ila 4d.; district funeral allowance,
ES • balance with treasurer, £lB Is. -
Oltit 3s. 9id.-Managenneitt Account: Dr. To Want*,
last audit, El 104. lied. members' contributions,
£l7 18a. 4id.• district management levies, £2 11.. 61. ;
fines. 6a; goods, Is. 6d.; loan of banner, 17s. 6:1 pro-
positions, kg., 6. did.; goods in court, 6s. 9c11.; amount
of other conrta, &i. 94.-total, £2B 16.. Std.-Cr. BY
surgeon's aoeonnt, ; seeretarice' salaries, £4 Be.;
district management levies, SI 16e. 84.; printing and
atationery, £2 6s. 84.; postages and parcels, 9s. 5t1.;
goods, Is; rent, CI ; goods in court, 6s. 94.; 'amount of
other courts, £2 13s 3.1.; Wanes with treasurer,
£2 7s. Ilid.-total, £26 16s id. The total worth of court
funds is £344 12a. Ild. The anniversary proceedings
were cosignenced by an excellent dinner well served, to
auto, abOnt 00 sat down, under the presidency of the
Mayor of Dor. cheater (Dr. Aldridge), with Hr. Councillor
O. J. 0. Gregory in the vice-chair. The room wsa nicely
decorated with greenery interspersed with dahlias, and on
the east wall was placed • scroll having a white field and
an edging of evergreens, on which wan inscribed in large
, colored letters " &mores to Forestry," and underneath
! It was arranged the Court dispensation and emblems of
the order. Th, tables were decorated with vases filled
with handsome autumn flowers.

An esoelleut little hand, under Mr. Henry Welltpring,
played • nell•telected programme during the evening.
On the removal of the cloth,
The CRAIIIMAII prommed "The queen."
Band The National Anthem.

" and Printing of Wake and the rest of
the Royal Family," was the neat toast proposed from
the chair.
Band: "God bless the Prlnoe of Wales."
The CHAIIIYAN then gave "The Bishop and Clergy of
the Diocese" Having commented on the many excel-
leneies of our own diocesan and the usefulness of the
clergy prierally, his worship spoke of the great assist-
ance which heal been rendered by the clergy of the
inetropoli, in the districts where cholera has appeared.
Had it not been for their visitations, numbers more
would have died than bad done, and many would have
mimed away without the consolations of religion but
nothing seemed to daunt them. In seasons of trial and
sMiction, the clergy were always found endeavouring to
alleviate the distresses and comfort the hearts of those
around them. All of them were as cognisant of their
devotion aud usefulness MI he was, and would, he was
sure, cordially join with him I. drinking the toast—
(applame).
Mind : "Sweet Spirit, bear my prayer."
In proposing "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers
(including the yeomanry cavalry, militia, rifles, and
artillery)" the CIIAIRILUI observed that the character
of our army and wavy bad always heen thoroughly
appreciated both by °antlers and foreign nations, and
tins country was greatly indebted to their valour and
skill for the graxd position she now occupied. Those
vortices sontinued as efficient as in time past. The navy
had never been in so good a date as it was now, and the
discipline of the army was rapidly improving. and the
whole of that force would 'combo in pomessiot of a breech-
loading gun, superior to the eelebrakd needle-gun of the
Prussians, and then be believed we should be in a posi-
tion to core with any power that should have the
temerity to attack us. As to the auliliary forces—the
volunteers—they would be an immense assistance in
ease of an invasion of this island. Their origin was
attributable to an idea that our shores would be attacked
by the formed our continental neighbours, jealous of
our position, and, being prepared for war, we hoped to
prevent it. That woo now the policy of the counter,
and it was atly to be hoped that the end sought would
be —(applause).

CoL•Sergeni 'Gsgu'idtr of the 3r4 IhN".R , said he
trusted the day was far distant when the active services of
the volunteers would be required, but should elicit..
dances arise to call them int., action, be believed titre they
would be found ready almort to. man. lie hiel always
thou.:lit well of the voluntesr movement, and he hoped
that the Government would continue to countcnar.ce
*nil support it ; if they did, aul the forces of the country
were supplied with the breech-loading rill'', he thought
there was so reason to apprehend danger (ruin any
other eountry—teepletoel.
Surgeon Goon, of the Q.0.R.Y.C.. on the pert tithe
ciohnel, officers, an I men of that regiment, said the
limpliment of eoul.lln4 their name with the tout woo
.ppreeiated, and sboul I their services be renegades an
%urinary fon* to the regular army he trusted that they
would not be found wanting, but that they would do,
as England expected every man, their duty -(applause)
Band : "TI. Ltritieli Grenadiers."

The CHAIRMAN next propined "Semmes to Forestry."
Ali present were Foreders, or well wishers ts the
Order, and it was one of thew grand domestic restitu-
tions of our times of which all ought to be prowl.
Double's friendly societies had arisen from inereaeed
ivilisation &mooed us, they were found to be • went
of the times, and that want was well supplied by such
excellent organization. IA the Forestess. Yeas ago
in Dorchester they had the old society of Fordington,
walking up and down the streets, and though that (dub
was • mistake because of the rules by which it eras
guided, the principle was light. As men advanced
In intelligence and sew clearly their wants and how to
compass them, they would make the requisite provision
to thst end. Every man of education would seek first
to provide for the exigencies to which he was liable, and
' nothing but frugality and temperate habits would
enable him to do so. Every member of the great
friendly societies of the land must from the very fact of
hi, nienibership be a valuable and useful member of
society, because unless they had been provident they
could never have become connected with such institu-
ti as ; on that membership of such societies became a
guarantee of • man's respectability, that he wee doing
his duty in the sphere of life in which he was placed,
and that ho was an ornament to that grade of society to
which he belonged. If he we. an employer of labour,
the end queetion be should ask a man who came for
work would be "Do you belong to • friendly society?'
aid if he replied "No," he should black-ball him at
nace—(laughter). Ile regarded that as • means where-
by they could judge with tolerable correctness the
character of artisans. There were a great many not
connected with any such society, and what was very
often the consequence when the first ache or pain
came upon them they were thrown on the relief of the
Parish. But, if friendly societies progressed as they
were now doing, in a few years nesrly every working
man would be associated with one or other of them, and
the new Poor law wield almost become an unnecessary
institution in this country, and it would be a glorious
day when such an event occurred—(applause). A few
rears ego there used to be about 200 persons in the
Dorchester Unlon•hourse, and now there were not more
than from 73 to 33. How was it to be accounted for?
The industrial classes were becoming more intelligent,
• ,d were led to put something by for a rainy day, by
joining themselves to souse institution of this kind, in
which they could mfely invest their money and get the
benefit of it when sickness and death came—hear, hear.)
lie congratulated them upon the success of Fotestsy,
and every society whose rules were in accordance with
those laid down by entinent setuariee. He believed that
the rule. by which friendly societies were governed were
heeoming more and more correct; of course, they were
AM open to improvement, but the great thing was to
make them thoroughly safe, and all were bottoming more
and more so. The principles upon which they ought to
he founded were now better understood etetaties were
now obtained o! the amount of sickness and death whieh
occurred in the eonntry, and guided by the law of
averages, actuaries were enabled exactly to apportion
their payments to the nutonnt they were to receive.
Without Ruch a basis, friendly societies were always
faulty and unsound, hut with it they were mit.,
inertias!, and offioient, and would increasingly extend
themselves in the country. He much wished to see the
benefits of such friendly societies brought within the
reach albs Labouring claws —men earning ea or 95. a
week. He thought that persons of that class might oun-
tinne to have medical attendance and other relief f-om
the parochial authorities, hut for a small c,ntribution
to • society receive sick pay when unable to work. Such
a scheme would induce provident habits, and would
certainly promote temperance, for it would ensure to
men substantial benefit* for laying by their spare pence.
lie concluded by proposing "Hamm to Forestry, and
prosperity to Court Progress"—(spplause).
Band : "Bold Robin Hood."

Mr. O. Utica, P.C.R., secretary, responded. Sill*,
he had been elected to the °Mee of secretary, he had
lost no time in carefully examining the books • the re-
sult was very satisfactory, and be congratulaed them
on the suc.oses the Court had hitherto attained. The
members of the Court looked forward to their anniver-
sary with • good deal of pleasure, as it enabled them to
spend so evening with brethren residing at • distance
who they did not see for • year, and it glen the officers
an opportunity of making known to the members the
progress of the Court, and through the Press, to tell it
abroad. Ho thanked the Chairman for the kind manner
In Which he had acknowledged the benefits of this and
similar 110eilftleP, and also, with the vice-chairman, and
the visitorn. for attendance on that occasion. He like-
wise acknowledged the help of gentlemen of the town
when tl.e, had tie desnonatnoion last year. There were
now 130 members on the hooks of the Court, and the
baboon sheet up to September last presented • balance
.4 £344 1$ 11d, in the Ravings' Bank and in the
treasurer's hands in favour of the Court, and thst was
solely for sick purposes, The aokness during the pag
year had been exceedingly heavy; 29 member. were ill
threhaw:U 71411 liltifitur=a:ll74"prf:l2l7.7t.:
They hod to regret the death f the wives of two
members, but the payments on that •0001111, did not
tomb the Court funds, as each member was insured to
the amount of 1:12 at death, and each member's wife 1.33
by the district fond. Re concluded by propoeing "
health of the Chairman," which WY drunk with musical
honours.

The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the eomplinsent, and
proposed "The health of the Vice-Chairman," making
special mention a his efficiency as a Tifia.. The
tout wee drank with musical honours.

Yr. OttooaT . aod rid he Ina slimy.
regdY to give ony he p in his power to such excelleut
gavial les as the Foro.tars.
twAknpiin.torm.esvtizing
tort.
port...kb:tat:iv:on evening's phr.ocewid.inegstni.o:
piece to the late Secretary, Mr. Nobbe, P.C.R., in
recognition of his kind sorrows ninon the foraiation of
the
_Court. .

_
Mr. P.C.R., was deputed to make the pre-
seotation, on behalf of the Court, and in do3ig so, said
it had been the what of the members for some months
past to pay some :nark of respect to their late secretary,
13ro, 0. Hobbs, for his unwearied labours and the
integrity with which be bad discharged the duties of
his office. Mr. Hebb. was one of the first members in
founding the Court, and its present eflieienc7 nod sau-
ce's was greatly owing to his Find sor•ices. He, there-
fore, begged his acoeptanee of the testimonial on the part
of the Court—(applause).
Mr. NußllB, in viknowledging the present, mid he
accepted it with heartfelf tbanks as aa indieatiou of
their apreciatioa of his pest humble services to the
Court. But what he had done bad not been with the
hope or elpectation of such • reward; be only sated ac-
cording to the true principles of their order, "Every
man for every man, himself included." He considered
it his bounden duty when in office to do his utmost to
promote the welfare and prosperity of the Court. The
commencement of the Court was attended with many
diseouragements, but the few members who then joined
determined to use every means to overcome them, and
success had crowned their efforts, and the present
members had now such • field open to them that if they
were true to their motto. "Unity, benevolence, and
concord" the Court would still attain to a prouder
position than it now held. He again thanked them,
and mid that it would continue to be his beet endea-
vour to promote the progression of this Court, and of
the Order—(epplause.)
The CHAIRMAN nest proposed " the health of the
Chief Ranger and past officers of the Court".
Mr. F. J. Awn, CR. , responded. The duties of the
officers were various, bat he had great pleasure in
assuring them that sinoe he had been in offloci--now two
yea's—they had all worked harmoniously together, and
they had felt pleasure in doing their best for the Court
and the Order. Himself he should 'do as he would
be done by" while seeking to carry out the rules imps:-
Maly. and he booed still to mvit the appreciation of
the Court for his humble services.

The CRAIRMAX then gave "the health of Mr. Good,
the surgeon of the Court", which was very heartily
received.
Band: "Fine old English gentleman".
Mr. noon, in respondlog, said it was gratifying to And
that after the lopes of so many year., hia services were
still sprecieted by the society. He had endeavoured
to the best of his ability, to diaborie his duties to their
satisfaction—Guar, hear)—and although some little
difficulties might occasionally arise, he hoped and
believed that on the whole his duties bad been discharged
efficiently and in a manner meriting their approval
—(applause).
Bond "AU &move the barley."
Mr. GOOD briefly proposed "The health of the Mayor
sod Corporation of Dorchester."
The MATOR said that as chief magistrate of the
borough he had always felt to be thoroughly in pleat
when presiding at any institution in the town having
for its object the extension of such benefita as this society
afforded—(hear, bear). He thought it was especially the
duty of persons placed in such an honourable position
so he had been placed for nearly two years through
their suffrages and the kinder., of the town, to en•
courage by every mains in their power societies of *het
character, and he believed that ultimately everrb.af
would feel that to be their duty. The Corporation bed
endeavoured to do the best for the municipality over
which the burgesses had placed them as trustees. They
might not always agree with their en pressions of opinions
in the Conacilroom, but they all had • etake in the
town and an interest in its welfare, and individually and
collectively were anxious to promote its prosperity and
happiness. If their deeisiona were sometimes adverse
to the lodgment of many oat of doors, he assured them
they were arrived at conscientiously and after onnsider•
able discussion, and, he hoped and trusted, with the
interest of the town at heart alone. Ho hoped that if
his life waa spared for another year he should have the
privilego of attending their next anniversary festivities,
though rots, chief megistrate. and of assisting them in
the pleasant and &anal manner they bad gone on to. '
other that evening—(ebeerel.
"Kindred Societies" was the next toast proposed by
the CHAIRM 4N.

Mr. Bakagrr responded on behalf of the "014
Fri-nds." lie was the first "Old Friend" in Dor-
chester, sod elites then the society had made rapid
progress ; 112 members had been added in two years
and nine months. 'Suring the pant year they had had
several cases of sickness, one death, and two fires. A
man named Dawn, at Wolvelon Lodge, had his goods
burnt, and got ; and another named Christopher,
who occupied one of the 17 houses burnt et
Eversbot, received £lO. The funds of the society
had increase.' LW), notwithstanding the great mortality
in the past few months in London, where the greater
part of the members resided. There were Bor 10 more
to join the society shortly, and be hog s I soon they weuld
be as strong as any other friendly society in the town,
with all of which he desiredtss cooperate for mutual
good.
Mr. LANDSCIIIIT responded Is an honorary member
of the " Fland-in-Hand " lost,te of o.l.llellown, and Mr.
BIAS ANT see member of the "hod of Hope" lodge.
The CUAIII/1 AN next proposed, "Socoess to the town
and trade of Dorchester." It was • toast they were all
egoeetingly interests d in; and he did anticipate • great
increases in the prosperity of the town, for he believed
the day Ifni not far distant when the great field arum.'
the borough, which had wrapped them up as in • wet
blanket, would he enclosed, and made in solne measure
available for buildings, forming a suburb to Dorcheater,
and rendering it not simply a mannty tn.., in asmine, hos
in reality as tar al population and wealth is concerned
—(amlause).
llfr Rummy responded.
ee "Ye spotted snakes."....
• '

The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Press," remarking
that it ought not to have been plawd at nearly the
uottom of the lot, and expatiating on the great induenc,
it possesses. He thought that we should not be content
with merely reporting the proc.eilings of atoll socirtics,
but should direct attention to their advantages, and ail•
vacate their olalms on She support of all claasaa of
society.
. . . . .

The tout was duly acknowledged.
" The hoot and hostess," who thoroushly deserved
all the handunts things the Chairman mid about their
catering, brought the 114. 01 toasts to a ontielosion.
meeting ems genial and happy in the extreme.
In addition to the pet formanoes of the band, who played
after the speeches " Down among the dead men" and a
selection from Lot line, several songs were sung, and a
very social and agreeable evening was spent.