The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-07-03 00:00:00

SPETTISBURY.

DORSET COUNTY FRIENDLY SOCIETY.
The anniversary of the Spettisbury and Charlton
branch of this society was held on Coronation Day.
The members met at the Drax's Arms lon, and attar
forming into procession proceeded to church. —The
service was conducted by the Rev. H. B. Visard,
who also preached an excellent sermon from lit Car.
12th chap., 12th veres.—"Now are there many
members, but one body." After showing the
mutual relation and dependenoe which the various
parte of the body had one with the other, the rev.
pattern= remarked that the chief hindranos to
unity and lore was the spirit of sel6ihnees inherent
in the human mind; to counteract this God had in-
terposed in various ways. The evil of such •
went was very forcibly pointed out, and the
noressity for all, especially members of Friendly
Societies to cherish a desire to help each other in
their trials not merely from mere moral motives,
but from Christian principles. We should seek not
only to do good to our brethren with whom we were
united, bat also by each conduct induce others also
to follow in the same path. The musical portion of
ths service was sweetly sung, Mr. Cuff presiding at
the organ.
At the annual meeting the various officers for the
ensuing year were appointed as follows: stew-
arda, Mr. T. Harvey and John Knight; surgeon,
Mr. E. M. Spooner; committee, John Knight, jun.,
8. Randle, E. R. Meloroth, Win. Rabbita, Henry
Knight. ten., Henry Hillier, and William Knight.
From the annual statement of the funds of the
society se Bad that the contributions were
£4B hon. subscription; £3 I Is. ; total,
£6l 12a. Old. Sick pay, £2O ; surgeon's and
steward's salary, £lO Os. d.;e sundry other ex.
peons, 16a. ; total, £3l 6s. 6d.; leaving • balaoce
of £2O S.. 61d. in favour of the society, and EEO
has been paid during the year to the general fund.
The number of members is 43. Although there is
a belief)* in favour of the branch, yet it will be seen
that the amount paid for sickness has been very
heavy during the year.

The dinner took place in • marquee in • field
kindly granted by Mr. Rawlins, it wee supplied by
Mr. Rabbits, and gave great satisfaction. About 50
sat down, presided over by the Rev. H. B. Vizard,
supported by Mr. R. M. Spooner, mirgeen of the I
breach, Mr. R. R. Groves, Mr. T. Harvey, &c. !
On the removal of the cloaks, the Chairman gave
"the health of Her Majesty," remarking that the
present warn a most anxious time to her, what with
the war which bad broken out on the Continent,
and the resignation of her Ministers, which had
missed her to return home, coupled with being but
in middling health, it was • time in which, if ever,
Englishmen would feel for their Sovereign, and most
anxiously pray that she might be supported and pre-
served for many years to reign over • prosperous
and happy people--(obeer).
In proposing "lb. Prince and Prince's of Wales
and the rest of the Royal Family," the OHL:axis
mid it was usual in this to mean the Duke and
Dachas of Osaihridge and the Princess Mary who
had lately been married, but on the present occasion
he would mention the two sons of the Prince of
Wales, Priam Albert Vence and Prime George.
He thee referred to the imereet which the Prime of
Wales had shown in the various charitable and be
nevolent societies of the country, and the noble
sentiments which he had lately given utterance to
when laying the foondat:on stone of an infirmary in
the North. From such • man they had every reason
to hope the beet results whenever was celled upon
in the providence of God to reign—Road obeenq.

_ - -
Mr. basest then proposed the Bishop sad Clew
of the Diocese. With raped to the Bishop,.thosgh
he heed s dielsoos off, yet from the greet esterase
be ever showed la the welfare et the disease sad the

late visit to their village, when he •11•11" d his
great satisfaction with the seediest way in whisk MO
church and churchyard was kept, be we lea t•
believe that he felt great intend is all that fondled
to the welfare of those over whom he was Owed.
He believed be was endeavouring to do his high
duty ass servant of Jesus Christ. Hs had great
pleasure in meeting with Mr. Visaed =that ocsainon
and the kind and friendly feeling they bad shown
wouihewae.uretoendearhilutotbem. With the
toast he therefore begged to Pimple his nasse—(hnici
cheers).
The Rev. CHAIRMAN. in responding said that
Groves had never spoken a truer word than be
had said of the Bishop
_who was ever ready to bold
out the hand of friendship to all with whom he was
connected. Nothing gave him greater pismire this
in promoting the moose' of such moieties as She
Dorset County Friendly Society. As to his clerical
brethrea he had only to ask diem to read the various
reports of meetings of the society in the Trimness
in proof of the interest which they took lathe
County Club. It had always afforded him the
greatest pleasure in meeting with members of such
societies, and he exceedingly regretted when dream-
donor prevented him front sittesdias. H. "liked
them also for the very kind way in which they had
drunk tb• health of Mrs. Vmardi ouwbois WWI
he returned sincere thanks —(cheer.).
The CHAIRMAN tbINI gave the Army and Nary
and Volunteer." It ought to be said that at this
present time their thoughts were chiefly directed to
the great blessings we now enjoyed through penis at
home, but it was STIR' beet to be prepared, for it had
been rightly said that to be forewarned wraa to be
forearmed. When they thought of the fearful wit
now raging on the oontioent, and the
which might arise of England being forced istre
*outlier., it was satisfsotoiy to knew that our army
and navy were ready an either aide to maintain die
honour of England, but this was net all, for should
they have to be so employed we had that gallant
band of volunteers which had been raised as it were
in a moment, well trained and well armed to defend
our hearths and honses—(obeers). He wee happy
to ray that they had two gentlemen present, one who
had belonged to the regular army, and one who was
now a member of the volunteer foroe—Mr. Rabbits
of the rifle brigade, and Mr. Groves—Bind and lung
continued cheering).
Mr. Gamma and be WWI greatly obliged to them
for the kind way they had drunk hi. health. He
was proud to belong to the volunteer fond, and as
one of the tith Dorset be returned most sincere
thanks. Though their work bad been chiefly that
of pleasure, and though the volunteer force was
looked on as having done nothing, be ono-
iidered he might justlysa
y that if had been the
means of keeping en enemy from our they bad
a right to think well of the volunteers—(obeers). At
the name time the praise oontained in the toast was
chiefly due to Mr. Rab'ita, who had acitnally served
his country, rather than to himself—(clusers).
The CH•IRM•N, proposing the health of the
Medical Officer, said that the company had jest
shown their unqualified satisfaction with his past
services by unanimously re-electing him, and it was
hardly necessary for him to make any remarks in
that gentleman's prone. They had only to consider
the important services rendered by the medical man,
to induce them to set a right estimate on those
services. There were very few who had not been
called %suffer, and such could rightly estimate the
kind attendance of the medical man. For his own
part he oonsidered if they rightly did their duty they
deserved the highest honour for their work's sake—
(bear, hear and Mend.
. . .

• Mr. H. M. firoosen.flrst thanked the members for
again electing bim as their sorption, and then for the
cordial way they bad drank his health. Whenever
they might require his services it would be his
earnest endeavour to alleviate their sufferings and
restore them to health. He looked upon • club as a
most excellent thing, but a club without a doctor
was like bread without cheese, a look without • key,
or a man without a wife—(Langhter). He trusted
that the club would rapidly increase, and prove of
great benefit to them— (cheers).

..
The CHAIRMAN then gave the health of the
Stewards, se those who had not only enrolled the
members, but kept them together, kept them from
kicking over the traces. It showed that they had
confidenos in them by re-electing them. As to Mr.
seor7 Harvey, their hon. , he wee known all over
Dorset, everybody ap to like the look of him,
and be must sorely be a very friendly man. But
whilst they acknowledged his services as one who
took an interest in the general working of the society,
they must not forget their working steward, Mr.
Koight—(obeers).
.. . . . . _ .

returned thanks. It pre him
at all times great pleasure in meeting with his friends
at Spettisbury, bat it was with especial pleasure be
attended the social gatherings of the County Club.
The Spettisbury branch, be was glad to say, was In
• prosperous state, though perhaps not quite so
flourishing as some other branches. Mr. Harvey
then alluded to the position of the old club, and ez•
premed his opinion that it would be to its advantage
if the members sought amalgamation with the county
club. He also alluded to the opposition which the
mme suggestion from Mr. Spooner elicited at the
club meeting, and to • paragraph which appeared in
the papers commenting on such • proposal. All
these be considered as very foolish, when according
to the rate they were drawing from the funds, the
society must in • few years come to naught. One
of the grandest features of the County Club was the
provision for old age according to the rate of pay•
meat made. Others were beginning to gee the ad-
vantages of it, and he had great pleasure in stating
that Mr. Bastard, of Charltoo, had become • donor ,
of fZ. The only thing which had kept that gentle-
man from becoming a subscriber before wag that he
did not wish to injure the old club, but he now maw
that there was very little hope of it. continuing massy
yearel He trusted the members themselves would
endeavour to get others to join—if every one got one
they would soon have • good branch. There was
one thing which he wished mrproially to allude to.
Through the operations of the Union Changeability
Bill a man would be able to carry his work to the
best market, or rather be would be able to
go where he was best paid, and he had great
pleasure in stating that a scheme was in con-
templation by which the members of the Dorset
County Club would be 'Me, if they left the county
and went into Wilt. or Hants, to have the basalt of
medical adrift. As they were aware, this question,
after being warmly taken up, wns abandoned for •
time, but he was glad to my that from • paragraph
which he had just seen in the newspapers there
appeared every reason to hope that such an anialga•
mation would be formed between the county clubs
as would have the desired result. The paragraph
was as follows :—At a meeting lately held at Salis-
bury the importance of friendly union and an inter-
national change of privileges between the members
of the Rants, Wilts, and Dorset County Friendly
Societies was discussed, and the principle was
adopted as the basis of the association, It was
recommended that steps should be taken to procure
the interchange of the privilege of medical attendance,
and a scheme presented was ordered to be submitted
to the societies. A sub-committee was appointed to
report on the means of assimilating the table' of the
different societies, with a view to the interchange of
privileges and transfer of members. The Rev. R. G.
Bwayne and the Hon. and Rev. S. Best were ap-
pointed eserietariee'—(olteen.)
The CHAIRMAN then gave "Th. healths of the
newly-elected committee," remarking that it was
very essential to have as • committee, man who felt
an interest in, and had brains so as to be able rightly
to carry on the business of the society, but he would
advise them when they had chosen their committee
not to interfere with them; for it WU of no use to
elect • man to such an Aim, and then my "you
must only do eo and so."
Mr. J. KNIGHT and Mr. Ream' returned thanks.

The heaths of Masora Rabbits and Iddrooth, as
caterers, were then given and responded to,—as also
" Musical sooosse to the East !homer band." whoa.
performanose elioited warm commendations from the
chairman, sod gave universal latiafection.

The oompany then adjourned to the open where
cricket, quoits, and other games were enjoyed, and
later in the evening dancing was elso participated in
by a happy and very orderly company.