The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-02 00:00:00

ODD FELLOWS A.M.C., AT CBELTENHAM.

Yesterday the annual moveable committee, the
supreme governing body of the Manchester Unity of Odd
Fellow. commenced its deliberations at Cheltenham. The
Grand Master of the Order, Mr. George Walker, of
Durham, presided, and upward. of two hundred delegates
have been returned to the A.M.C. as the representative.
of the various districts. The Grand Master opened the
proceedings with an appropriate inaugural address. In
the course of his remarks hs said there bad been an in-
crease of 12,290 members during the year ; 200,000/. bad
been distributed in sick pay ; 68,000/. in funeral benefits ;
the revenue of the society had exceeded half a million
sterling, and 200,000/. bad been added to the accumulated
capital, which now amounted to 2,400,000/. He strongly
urged adherence to the present increased scale of ,
contributions, which . were essential for the sta-
bility and the future prosperity of the Unity ; and
alluding to the bill introduced into the Hons.
of Lords by the Earl of Lichfield, he said the directors
had an interview with his lordship, and regretted they
could not support the measure, as they were not prepared
to sacrifice the present position of the Manchester Carty,
with its manifold advantages, in order to assist hie lord-
ship in effecting some amount of good for other societies.
Now the bill wax withdrawn a royal commission would pro-
bably be appointed, but if any similar measure to Lord
Lichfield's was again introduced into parliament the
Unity would be able by its vast influence to ensure such
modification, as to leave untouched the vital principle of
self-government. The auditors for the past year reported
that the secretary's accounts had been examined carefully,
and found strictly accurate. The expenses of the Unity
had been 1,181/. 17s. BA., and as there was • Irma of 3161.
171. Bd. on the business in the goods' department, they
were reluctantly compelled to recommend that • levy of
a halfpenny per member should be made through the
Unity to defray these management expenses. The board
of directors for the past year also submitted • report. They
stated that the number of members on Tan. 1, 1868, was
417,422, being en increase of 12,290 during the year, and
35 per cent. of the number were young men under twenty-
one years of age. The financial returns bad not yet been
completed, but promised to be equally satisfactory. The
directors had paid over 620/. for the " Manchester Unity "
lifeboat, which was to be launched early in August, and
will be stationed at Cleetborpee, near Grimsby, on the
Lincolnshire coast. The question of whether the society
is one great unity, or merely • number of independent
lodges, had again arisen, in consequence of Mr. Tidl Pratt
having refused to register the resolution of the A. M. C.
at Plymouth last year, " that these rules shall be binding
upon every branch and member of this society." As di-
rected by the A. H. C. in the event of stash a con-
tingency occurring, the directors bad taken the opinion
of Sir N. Palmer and Sir B. Collier, who advised that an
application to the Court of Queen's Bench for a writ of
mandamus calling upon Mr. Tidd Pratt to review or alter
his deolaion would not be likely to be successful. The
directors, therefore, had not taken further steps in the
matter, but the case and opinion of counsel would be laid
before the A. H. C. This subject will, in all probability,
be one of the most important which will be discussed,
and, as suggested three or four years ago, the desirability
of the Unity applying for a charter of incorporation will
most likely be suggested. Some other formal business was
transacted, and the A.M.O. adjourned. In the evening a
grand fete took place in Pittville-gardens, and to-night
the annual banquet will be held.

THE TELIORAPH SYSTEMS. —A special meeting
of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, which was unu-
sually well attended by merchanta and others, was yes-
terday held at the offices, Brown's-buildings, Exchange,
Liverpool. Mr. Patterson presided, and after a number
of practical speeches had been delivered by Mr. David
McJiver (of the Cunard Company), Mr. Muspnt. Mr.
Campbell, Mr. Rawling, Mr. .thbone and others, it was
agreed to present a petition in favour of the present bill.
The principal arguments adduced were to the effect that the
post-office authorities should adopt the telegraph system
under purchase by government, in order that by so doing
they might benefit the whole community to an extent
almost equal to the penny postage ; and that a more wide
diffusion of telegraphy would greatly tend to benefit the
retail trades, without the eo-operstion of which the whole-
sale houses would speedily cease to exist. A petition in
favour of the government bill was placed in the Liverpool
Exchange News-rooms, and extensively and influentially
gigged-
SERICITE ACCIDENT ON TOOTING-COMNON.---A
field-day and review of several of the metropolitan volun-
teer regiments and • local corps was held yesterday, under
the direction and command of Lord Truro, enToodng-oom-
' mon, in the presence of some thousands of spectators. A
sad accident happened previous to the review taking Oboe.
It appears that as some of those who bad coins to see it
ware engaged in that very exciting (?) game of "Three
shies ape ," one of them, whose name could not be
ascertained, of throwing the stick at the cocoanut,
sent it wide of the baskets, and it caught • little fellow,
twelve years of age, at the back of the head, and knocked
him down. On being plead up be was found insensible,
and after being examined by Dr. Wright It was dis-
covered that so great was the force of the blow that the
back of the skull was smashed in. The ambulance wag-
gon of the 3rd Middlesex Artillery fortunately was on the
ground, and the little fellow was conveyed in it with al/
despatch to his home at Stresthein. It is stated he aassot
MOM'.

Hornimaa's tea is soldhlt= pound *IOW uu
the duty la reduced. this taes val. when tally
known, ern Wilier In the demand for these choice ten
Horalman's ere not sold lease, bat eaWle packets, dosed " nor-
ninsan and Co., Orlibtallasporteraot the Pare tic."—fAiirsells•
mesh I