The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-08-05 00:00:00

THE MODERN DRUIDS

Last evening the members of the Royal Oak Lodge of
Modern Druids held their annual festival at the Fleece
Inn, Scotland-road. On this occasion host Fazakerley
provided a most excellent and substantial dinner for the
members of the lodge and the guests invited, most of
whom were the district officers of other lodges of the
same order. The good things provided on the occasion
having been amply discussed, and the inner man satisfied,
Mr. Carlisle, a P.A. of the order, :vas unanimously called
upon to preside over the festivities of the evening, while
Mr. Ward, also a P.A. of the order, was selected to fill
the. Vice-chair.

The Chairman said the first toast he had to propose
was one which was dear to the heart of every Englishman,
Irishman, and Scot chman, and therefore needed no
pref,ce—it was the health of her Most Gracious Majesty
the Queen. (Applause.) Song, " Hearts of Oak," by the
Vice-chairman. The healths of his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal
family were drunk in succession, and warmly responded
to by the company.
The Chairman then rose and said. the next toast he had
to propose, he knew would he received with enthusiasm.
It was " Prosperity to the Royal Oak Lodge of Modern
Druids," which lodge had, through good and evil report,
fully developed itself, and with that toast he would beg to
connle the name of Mr. Joseph Shepherd. (Applause.)
The toast having been duly honoured by all present,
Mr. Shepherd rose to give his resnowe. In doing so,
he said—all who were then assembled were Druids, or
the friends of Druidism. But there was one matter upon
which he wished to set, not only the members, but
also the people out of doors right, • and that
was as to the name of the lodge. He wished
it :to lie understood that this Royal Oak Lodge had
nothing whatever to do with a society of the samo name,
which of late had come into rather an unenviable notoriety
—he meant the Royal Oak Burial Society. Let it be
distinctly understood that this lodge had no connection
with that society. He (lid not wish to say anything
against the name of the lodge for he believed it to be a
truly English name, but it was the doings of the persons
in connection with lodges of that name rather than
with the name itself. He expressed his sincere well
wighes for the particular lodge of which he had been a
member for no less than fourteen years, and during
which period he had always done his utmost, for the
interest of the order, and in promulgating, as far as he
could, the objects he had in view amongst the working
classes. The lodge was, he said, one delightful family
compact, and its organisation was such, that when one
member was considering the interest of one of the mem-
bers of his own particular lodge, he was consulting the
welfare of the entire body—for the interest of one member
was the interest of all—(applause)—therefore, it was that
the orgnisation of this society was perfect. The objact
of our. congregating here this evening is merely for the
purpose of celebrating the anniversary of this society.
Mr. Shepherd then at considerable length, and with great
animation, detailed the objects of the society, and the
numerous advantages which were to be derived from
persons becoMing members, which may he thus sum-
marised—for the payment of Is. 2d. per fortnie-'
ber of this society was entitled .to 12s. per wet
sickness, and a superannuation in old age, and that when
the member should be called to his account his widow
would be entitled *- "" "- • '

a. mem-

ek during

to she retained the name of
her late husband, and her representatives, by the payment
of 2s 6d per annum, will be entitled to .e 5 on her death.
He then stated that this was owing to the society being
managed by the members themselves. (A. Voice, "We
have no collectors.") He had been the trustee of the
funeral fund for upwards of eighteen years, and during
the whole of that time they had always been able to meet
the payments, which was more than could be said by many
societies. He next alluded to the facilities which were
afforded to persons becoming members and plrtieipatingt,
in the benefits of the society, besides affording harmony
and good feeling to all, and not allowing any squabb!es, by
introducing either religious or politicial subjects at their
meetings. Having pointed out the advisibility of the
working classes taking their own matters into their own
bands, he commented upon the conduct of some of the
officers of the Royal Oak Burial Society, and quoted the
words of the Judge of the County Court, when alluding to
that important point, and called upon all who took an
interest in that society, to attend the meeting on Thursday
ni'rbt, and show the present officers that they did take an
interest in the affairs.

The Vice-Chairnian then gave the healths of the guests
prPoent.
M-. Mellor, P.D.M., responded to the toast in the most
suitable manner.

Mr. M'Phillips proposed "The Press," which he did with
his nsu 1 hilarity and pointedness.
Mr. J. S. Harman, of the NORTHERN DAILY TIMES,
responded to the toast, after it had been most enthusiasti-
cally received.

The health of 'the District Officers was next proposed,
and heartily responded to.

Mr. Reddinzton, in acknowledging the compliment, took
the opportunity of aiimadvPrting on the conduct of some of
the boiy (members of the Royal otk Burial Society), who
had shown themselves as enemies to the interests of the
association.

The health of the Officers of the Funeral Fund was then
propooed, and most cordially drank.
Mr. Carlisle and Mr. Robson, two of the officers, responded,
and expressed a hope that by this time twelvemonths the
funds would exceed what they at. present amounted to, viz.,
£7OO, by twice that aminnt, which, they hail no doubt
would ba the cage provided the members acted on the
advice of Mr. Shepherd, and kept their own affairs in their
own hands.

The health of the Chairman, and Vice• Chairmen were
duly given and responded to. The health of Host F',.z tk-
erley, who had supplied such an abundant repast, was given
and responded ,o with enthusiasm.
Several other toasts were drank, and numerous sorws
sung, and after a most delightful evening the ruemburs
separated at an early hour.

MURDER OF TWO GIRLS

A donble murder was committed on Saturday morning, about
five miles from Dover, by a man named Serlet Redenies, a
Neapolitan. in the 4,11 company of the 2nd battalion 2nd
Regiment British Swiss Legion, now stationed at Shorncliffe.
Redenies, it appears, has for some time been paying his
addresses to a yourg girl of 18, named Caroline Back. On
Saturday evening he called at the house of her parents, who are
working people, residingin Albion-phico,Dover, and stayed there
rintikhree o'clack yesterday morning. The girl's sister, Maria
Backs was present during
thetime.. It appears that during the
evening Redenies quarelled with Caroline, and accused her
of carrying, on a correspondence with a sergeant of the
same regiinent. He, however, prevailed upon her to consent
to go with him to the camp to spend the day, accompanied
by her younger sister Maria. The bodies of both the girls

were found on Sunday morning about eight o',cleck in a
hollow Close by a footpath_ leading to Folkstone. The
elder sister' had received ' four stabs near the heart, and
was quite dead. The younger girl, Maria, anvared to
have
her _struggled hard with her assailant. S,ve!al of
fingers were severely cut. The discov---
made by a farm servant who obtained medical a,.
was of no avail.
The supposed murderer was seen runnin;
hrough the village of Capel shortly
after the occurrence. 'The
x are in pursuit of him. Aocording'to the rather
imperfect account which has reached us, the spot where the
bodies were found is situate about two miles from Folkestone,
between the Royal Oak public house and the Valiant Sailor
public house, at the top of Folkestone Lill.

stance,

Dover polic