The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-10-10 00:00:00

THE ORDER OF DRUIDS.

, The sttrrnal anniv'ersary dinner of the Royal Arch
Lodge' (2118) of tile Onler of Druids, took plebe on
Monday eVenin'g, the'B'th instant, at the Castle Inn,
; Scotland-road. Ab'otit s'eVenty of the niambers, with
their wives, and (41'6 ind•Mdlials of theilf families
Attended. The dinner', *bit& wac.ex`oellent, Was served
up i id ,ltst-rate style by gr. //Maker, the worthy
host of tI4 ,pastle Inn, and full peke Was done
to the goes! things provided. The dining-room.
was tastefully deemated with banners, &c., which
bore suitable inscripeibtk.7-The chair was occupied,
by Mr. L. Lloyd, and tte vice-chair by Mr. Wm..
Croft, and among the gentlemen present were Mr.
Swarbrick, district master ; Messrs. 34'11, Holland,
Bristow, Coventry, Kirson, Brindle, abirr Davis,
Price, M'Ewen, &c., &c.—After the removal of the
cloth, the. Chairman rose and said it afforded him 110'
' small gratification to see the members of the Lodge
enjoying themselves so much on the occasion. It was by
reunions such as this that the stability of the society
would be secured, while they would also tend to unite in
the bonds of friendship every member• of the order.
(Cheers.) Union was strength ; and a more united
community than that of Lodge 218 of the Grand Order
AT Druids, it would be difficult to find. (Applause.)—
The Chairman next proposed the health of the host
and hostess, which met with applause, and was responded
to in a " neat little speech"' by Mrs. Linaker.—The
Chairman then called upon the Secretary to read the
annual report.—Mr. Swarbrick, the secretary, said
it gave him great.pleasure to' be able to lay before
the members of the lodge a Very satisfactory report.
(Cheers.) It was always a matter of great gratifica-
tion to him, when it was in his power to be able to
report progress ; and, on the present occasion, the
members of the lodge would see that a great improve-
nieut was taking place in the condition of their
Circler: The income of this lodge for the present year
amounted ea £lB3 18s. 10d., and the expenditure was
£157 14s. 7d., leeurg,a balance in favour of the lodge for
the year of £26 4s. ad. The money in bank amounted
to £lO2 19s. 2d., and in the treasurer's hands there
remained £24 11s. Bd., making the total worth of the
sick fund £127 10a. 10d. (Cheers.) Thev had also a
distinct fund from the sick fund, the object of which
was to make provision in cases of death, and the sem
in bank which came under this head amounted to
£309 12s. ld.—(cheers)—while the sum in the trea-
surer's bands was £73 2s. 4d., making the total worth
of the lodge £5lO ss. 3d. (Applause.) Mr. Swar-
lbriek stated that during the year they had initiated
fvienty members. Since the amalgamation of all the
lodges of the Druids, the society had made great
progfeti. At the first annual meeting after the amal-
gamation, flo' Member of Parliament far Hull, the
Mayor of Ifulif anki five of the Town Council of Hull,
were enrolled members of the order, and since that time
there had been opened sere* new lodges, all of which
were in a prosperous condition. Mr. Swarbrick remarked
that it was a very pleasing feature to, see the higher
classes take an interest in those societies with which the
working men were connected, as it tended in a great
measure to ensure their permanency. In coutiusion
Swarbrick regretted the absence of Thomas Lamb,
Esq., a gentleman who had taken a great interest in the
society for the past twenty years, and who was unavoi-
dably absent in consequence of the illness of a member
of his fantily..--,-The Chairman moved the adoption
of the report, wliitlt was carried unanimously. This
having :closed the business part of the proceedings,
dancing then commenced, and was kept up till an
advanced hour; and during the night many excellent
songs were sung. At the conclusion of the festivities
the company separated, highly delighted with the night's
enjoyment. We are happy to find this society in se
prosperous a state. Its condition reflects the highest
credit on all connected with it, and the members were
unanimons in their commendation of the indefatigable
secretary, Mr. Swarbrick, who is unremitting in his
exertions for the benefit of the association.