Oddfellows' Soiree - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Oddfellows' Soiree

                       ODDFELLOWS' SOIREE
                       ___________^__________

The members of the Carlisle District of the Independent Order of Oddfellows,
Manchester Unity, held a soiree and ball on Monday night, in the Mechanics
Hall, for the benefit of the Widow and Orphan Fund. the attendance was
numerous, and there was no scarcity of the female element to which such
festivities owe many of their attractions. The decorations had been
entrusted to Mr. John SEWELL, whose taste and skill in such matters is now
well recognised, and by a judicious arrangement of flags, banners and
flowers the room was made to present a very elegant appearance. At the
end of the room, above the platform, was placed a banner upon which the
royal
arms were emblazoned in variegated tinsel, and around which was hung a
device of flags. Similar devices were placed upon the walls all round the
hall, and two or three small engravings of Oddfellows' emblems showed the
special character of the evenings's festivities. The tea and cakes were
provided by Mr. T. HOLSTEAD.
    The chair was occupied by W. N. HODGSON, Esq., M. P., who was
accompanied upon the platform by Charles HARDWICK, Esq., of Preston , P.G.M.
of the Order; W. BROWNE, Esq., Victoria Place; Dr. ELLIOT; Mr. PERRING;
Dr. EVANS; Dr. GUY, and Quarter -master BULL, of the 3rd West York Militia;
Mr. KEATING, C.S. of the District; Mr. GIBSON, P.P.G.M. of Wigton district;
and Mr. D. LATIMER, Prov. G.M.
    The services of the stringed band of the 3rd West York Militia had been
secured for the occasion. Mr. KEATING and Mr. Andrew MASON acted as M.C.'s.
The stewards were Messrs. PATTERSON, ARTHUR, BEWLEY, and WITHAM. It is
needless to say they carried out the arrangements with perfect success.
    The tea things having been removed,

THE CHAIRMAN, who was received with loud cheers, said - Before commencing
the proceedings of the evening, I think I had better at this time announce
to you that a number of letters have been received from various gentlemen
who
were invited to attend upon this occasion, but some from one cause, some
from another - absence from home, illness, indisposition, and various other
causes - have been prevented attending. But the following gentlemen, I
think it right to inform you, in declining the honour of the invitaition you
sent them, have each forwarded a donation towards the object you have in
view this evening; Joseph FERGUSON, Esq., Morton £5;
Richard FERGUSON, Esq., £2; George DIXON, Esq., £1; Henry HOWARD, Eq.,
Greystoke, £1; Thomas SALKELD, Esq., £1; Robert FERGUSON, Esq., £1; G. H.
HEAD, Esq., £1; Robert NORMAN, Esq., 5s. (Cheers) I think it will be
unnecessary to read these letters, because it will be only taking up the
time of this meeting. I need only, therefore, inform you that the
invitations have been politely declined from indisposition and other causes.
    And now, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour to be here on this
occasion as president of this assembly, by the kindness of those gentlemen
who have undertaken to watch over the proceedings of this evening, and I
regret on your account that they have not made selection of some other
gentleman better qualified than myself to delineate or point out to you the
objects of the Oddfellows' Association. But as I always have great pleasure
in meeting my fellow-citizens on all occasions, when I found that this was
an
object of charity, I gladly accepted the offer which was offered to me.
(Cheers). Gentlemen, I am much delighted indeed to observe so large an
assemblage of the inhabitants of this city met together on such an occasion
as this. You are assembled to hold out the right hand to help those who in
a great measure cannot help themselves, - (Cheers) - to tender your
assistance to the widow, who, by one of those inscrutable decrees of
Providence which we can give no reason for, is deprived of him who she
expected would be her protector during her life - you are called on and do
readily come forward to assist the orphan who is deprived of his or her
natural protector and instructor. It is in earnest to me, and to the
country at large, that the Christian spirit of charity burns brightly in the
bosoms of the inhabitants of this town; for, in addition to the many
charitable institutions which already exist, it gives me the greatest
pleasure and satisfaction to see you come forward on this occasion to render
assistance where I am sure it is due.
    Ladies and gentlemen, in thus coming forward you are fulfilling, I take
leave to tell you, one of your Christian duties. Other sects and
philosophers have laid their theories before their followers, but none
except our own Lord and Master has ventured to found his religion in a great
measure upon charity. He had said "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself," and he has also said "If ye love one another, by this will I know
that ye are my disciples" ; and I am glad to find that that charity which
is enjoined by our divine Lord and Master is responded to by my own fellow
citizens of Carlisle. (Cheers).
    Now Ladies and gentlemen I would say a few words with regard to this
particular society; for, although I have not the honour of being an
oddfellow - at least I don't know that I am, though you will be better
able to judge of that than myself - (laughter) - I think Oddfellows and
other kindred societies are a great advantage to the community at large, and
so much extended have they become of late years that they almost form one of
the Institutions of the country. (Hear, hear). I believe the Manchester
Unity numbers among its members something like from 80,000 or 100,000
individuals; and although it is very difficult to get an accurate return of
the members of each benefit society in this country - for such societies
exist under various nomenclatures, such as the Druids, the Foresters, the
Shepherds, and the Oddfellows - yet there is some authority on the
subject. Lord BEAUMONT in a debate in the House of Lords on this very
subject, stated that the number of members of the various friendly societies
in Great Britain is 3,520,000; the amount of contributions to the revenues
of these societies is £4,980,000; and the total amount of the accumulated
capital of these societies is £11,360,000.
    Now, I venture to believe that this is very nearly an accurate return of
the members and capital belonging to the several institutions throughout
Great Britain, and I think nothing can be shown stronger that that to point
out the hold these societies have obtained on the people of this country,
and
the benefit that will probably be received from them. (Hear, hear).

Man is endowed by nature with a strong principle for saving, during the
period when he has his animal strength, that which may be a resource to him
in the hour of sickness, or when by the decay of nature and advancing years
he is less capable of supporting himself. This is exemplified also in some
of the lower animals of creation. We see that the bee and the ant labour
assiduously during the summer months to lay up for themselves a store which
may be a provision for them during the severe months of winter, when they
may be unable to gather the food necessary to support life. So it is with
man. He labours during the period of his youth in order that he may be
enabled to accumulate for himself a resource on whch he can rely when
oppressed by sickness, or when by the decaying powers of his body he is less
able to work for himself. Now, if this be so, can it be possible that the
working classes can have a more fitting opportunity, or a better mode of
investing their money than is presented by such societies as I have
mentioned.       (Cheers)

THE CHAIRMAN continud..............

Any of these societies I believe to be formed on sure foundations and on
safe principles - not, I regret to say, like a great many societies which
existed in this country, and existed only for a time, but which were
unfortunately formed upon a wrong basis, on wrong calculations, and which in
a very short time found their funds insufficient to answer the calls made on
them. These societies involved the members in trouble and distress; but
that has passed away, and I believe such societies as I have already
mentioned and alluded to are founded on a sure and safe foundation, and the
working man who invests his money in them during the period of his youth,
when he has health and strength to labour for his daily bread, will find his
resource in them when the hour of affliction shall come upon him. And not
only himself, but if it please the Almighty to make that sickness mortal,
and he passes "to that bourne whence no traveller returns," he would have
the Society of Oddfellows present with him even at his grave, and afterwards
administering consolation and solace to his weeping widow. (Cheers.) There
never was a period, so far as we know, when the condition of society
occupied so much of the time or the attention of the most eminent men as at
present; and I was most gratified the other day by that meeting which was
held at Liverpool, where we saw men of the highest position in the country,
and gentlemen of the highest scientific attainments, present there, giving
their talents and attention to ameliorate the condition of the working
classes of this country.
    I hope and trust their efforts will not be without effect. We see in
many of our large commercial cities that good has been already effected. We
see more substantial and convenient dwelling houses
raised for the habitation of the working classes. And so much is this the
case, that I was told by an Englishman who was abroad for many years and
returned to this country, that he thought it must have become more
pestilential in his absence, so much did he hear of the building of
hospitals and the making of water works. He thought something had happened
which made this scarcely a habitable land; but I am sure it reflects the
highest credit on those who come forward in the way we have witnessed them,
and devote their talents and their abilities to ameliorate and improve the
condition of the people of this country; and whether it be by extending the
benefits of education, the fostering and cherishing, by their support, of
such societies as I have now the honour of addressing. I think they are
entitled to the best thanks of the people of this country. (Cheers).
    It was said, ladies and gentlemen, by a traveller of great note that in
looking over the vast and extensive ruins of Rome, and surveying the ruins
of her palaces and her theatres, of her Circus and of her Colosseum, that
there is no stone, no vestige remaining that would lead any one to suppose
that in that city there was any building which had been raised for a
dispensary or a hospital, or any other building such as we raise to
alleviate the condition of the poor. (Hear, hear).
    Let it never be said - indeed it cannot be said, for we know the
contrary - let it never be said, when the future historian shall come to
write the history of England, when the greatness of this country shall have
faded, as I fear there is reason to think, that, like all sublunary things,
it may some day fade - but may that day be far distant - but when the
historian shall come to write its history, and to depict it as a nation
great in war, great in science, great in arts, great in everything that
makes a powerful and mighty people, let him also have to record that it did
not forget and did not neglect the poor. (Loud Cheers).

The Chairman then called upon

MR. DAVID LATIMER.........

MR. DAVID LATIMER, who read the following report:-

"Nine years since a similar demonstration was held in this city, for the
benefit of the Widow and Orphans' fund, in connection with the Carlisle
District of Independent Order of Oddfellows. At that time that branch of
the society had been in existence upwards of eight years, and had been the
means of establishing seven widows, having twenty-five children, in some
respectable way of business, thus affording them the means of gaining an
honest livelihood for themselves and fatherless children, leaving a surplus
in the hands of the treasurer of £72 9s. 6d. Since the last demonstration
the amount received for entrance fees, subscriptions, donations, and
interest, has been £117 17s. 11d. The expenditure during the same period
has been : - For printing, stationery, and certifying rules, £1 15s.
8d.; paid to widows and children of nine deceased members, £55 10s.;
leaving a balance of £133 1s. 9d. to meet further contingencies.

In no instance that the committee are aware of, have the recipients been
obliged to make application for parochial relief, which must be as highly
gratifying to the contributors as it is to the receivers. The cry of the
orphan and the prayer of the widow have claims upon us as Christians, as
husbands, and as fathers, but how much more are those claims strengthened
when we reflect that the widows and orphans, whose cause we are met to
advocate, are own own, linked with us in the common bond which unite us as
men and brethren, and who bind themsleves to respect each other's interests
and promote each other's good.

The committee of the Widow and Orphans' Fund cannot let this opportunity
pass without expressing their greatful acknowledgments to the various
gentlemen who have sent donations on this occasion. It is unnecessary to
enter into a detailed account of the benefits to be derived from
Oddfellowship, as our friend Mr. HARDWICK will address you at considerable
length on that subject, but a few remarks about Oddfellowship in Carlisle
may not be out of place.

The Carlisle district was established upwards of 22 years ago, with only
seven members, and a capital of £7 7s. It has gradually increased and
prospered, both in members and in funds, and at the present time consists of
548 members, and has dispensed in sick gifts and funeral donations upwards
of £4,530; one member alone having received the sum of £187. After paying
all our just dues and demands, we have an accumulated capital of £3,427.
With these facts before us there is a sufficient guarantee that
Oddfellowship has been a great boon to the working classes of this city.

In conclusion, the committee return their best thanks to the worthy
chairman, for his kindness in presiding over this assembly; likewise to the
genlemen who have honoured us with their presence this evening."

MR. HARDWICK then addressed the meeting. He said that at the request of the
Carlisle Directors of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, he appeared there
for the purpose of explaining the objects and social advantages to be
derived from its operations, and as on all occasions, when he spoke on the
great friendly society principle, he did not come before them simply to
extol his own society at the expense of any other. A vast amount of error
had obtained in the country respecting the origin of Oddfellowship and other
friendly societies, and as he had devoted a considerable portion of his
time to the study of the subject he was in a position to give the true
version of their history.
    In tracing their origin he said that although by so doing he might strip
from it some of the weeds of antiquity, to his mind it would not be
objectionable, and would do great honour to them The Oddfellows were fond
of saying they were descended from Adam, and the Foresters said the same.
Alfred the Great was a great Forester; so was James I. All these titles
have been adopted by societies for the last hundred years. Our own
ancestors, the Anglo Saxons, had their Guilds, which to some extent
resembled modern friendly societies, but when he told that until the end of
last century it was impossible that the working classes, without being
guilty of treason, could have formed such societies, they would see their
institution could have had no such origin. They were impossible during
serfdom, and they found that even the emancipation of the serfs was but a
gradual act.
    MACAULEY said they could see it gradually disappearing, and more liberty
innoculated into the system. It was not until the time of Charles II., when
the laws were passed abolishing serfdom. Other laws were passed from the
time of Edward III, to the reign of George III which regulated the very
wages that working men were to receive for the work performed. And was it
possible that under these circumstances their institution could have been
designed?   Their modern societies had much better objects, much holier
objects, than some of the older ones, although the older societies were
patronised by, and conducted to the benefit of, the higher and middle
classes.
    In these old societies one rule was passed whereby each member paid a
certain sum per annum or otherwise, that he might, in case he killed another
man, have his fine redeemed, for in those days murder was punished by
pecuniary penalties. He was happy to say that modern friendly societies had
different objects from that. (Hear).
    He found on careful examination that these institutions had really a
high and a noble origin, and he thought that it exhibited that for which the
Anglo-Saxon race was pre-eminent - a manly spirit of self-dependence.
(Cheers) He found no other country had presented phenomena like this. When
the serfs of England became partly emancipated, they found they could not
secure the assistance of their masters during sickness. When they were
serfs, their masters were compelled to maintain them, in health or in
sickness; but when they were emancipated, the owner of the soil was not
bound by such conditions. They found that a vast amount of mendicancy was
the consequence.
    Some other provision was necessary, and thus they saw the origin of the
poor-laws of Elizabeth. It was only in the last century, and to the credit
of William PITT be it spoken, that the old laws were repealed, whereby the
British workman was obliged to sell his work at certain prices, and he was
made free to sell his work as he thought fit, and he was a free man in a
free country.
    From this noble spirit of independence sprung their societies. (Cheers)

As those laws were abolished their societies sprung into existence, and they
found a record of them; and it was much more to their honour and credit
that they had such an origin (Cheers). As their chairman had said, LORD
BEAUMONT stated in the House of Lords some years ago that he computed the
members of friendly societies throught the kingdom at three millions, and
Mr. Tidd PRATT said he had reason to believe that there were in existence
20,000 societies registered, besides many who had not availed themselves of
the Act of Parliament; that they had nine millions of men among the
societies he had registered, and besides these were several unregistered;
and forty-two millions of money belonging to the industrious population was
thus invested in these societies. (Cheers)

MR. HARDWICK continued.............

It was quite true that this was done by men at public houses. They had met
to smoke their pipes and drink their beer, and hold social conversation;
but
they could not meet in social converse long before their hearts would tell
them that they have better and holier things to do than smoke their pipes
and sing their songs and drink their beer. (hear, hear) He was proud to say
that from his own experience he was satisfied that the success of the
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows had been more effective for the establishment
of temperance than even the Temperance Society itself. (Loud Cheers).
Therefore the fact that these societies meet at public houses, instead of
being a dishonour, was one of their greatest glories. They taught drunken
and semi drunken men habits of providence, and he contended that it was
impossible that they could do anything but progress in temperance. (Cheers).
Mr. HARDWICK then proceeded to show that the middle and upper classes were
directly benefited by these institutions. Mr. Tidd PRATT stated that there
were two millions saved to the poor rates through these institutions, and
that fact should, he thought, secure the patronage and support of the upper
classes. Again, extreme poverty was always a strong temptation to crime,
and the most skilful working man might be thrown by some accident into
extreme indigence.
    An Englishman abhorred being called a pauper. These societies prevented
working men from going to the parish for relief; they prevented crime.
Therefore, they saved both the parish rates and the county rates. If they
prevented crime they were entitled to the respect of philanthropists, of
the judges of the land, nay, of the Queen herself. (Loud Cheers). But
these institutions were now being regarded by the upper classes not as toys,
not as "free and easies", but as part and parcel of a great national
institution, which embodied a great national principle, and they would
receive the support of all classes. (Cheers).

Referring to the remarks of the Chairman that these societies were all now
established on true principles, Mr. HARDWICK regretted that he could not
exactly say that yet, but he was glad to say a great amount of progress had
been made, and the Manchester Unity, if not perfect itself, had set a good
example, worthy of imitation. Alluding to the difficulty of having perfect
rules, he said, the working men must be like Columbus, and get ships and set
sail over the unknown ocean, and find what ought to be the rules of such
societies. Although they were not quite right, yet they were making
themselves right - the result of the experience. (Cheers).
    The Speaker then passed on to refer to the more special object of the
meeting by the Widow and Orphan Fund, which he said they might call a
supplementary insurance. The Manchester Unity had thought it would be well
to extend their object, and at their last meeting instructed their committee
to draw up a plan by which the members could insure up to £200 by paying to
their own secretaries, and thus saving an immense amount of expense incurred
in other insurance societies. At the next meeting the question would be
debated. He would now wish to say to the younger members that although they
were not compelled to join the Widow and Orphan Fund, they must remember
that their great principle was not simply insurance, but benevolence and
brotherhood. For his own part, he did not believe that he put money into
any fund with greater pleasure than into the Widow and Orphan Fund, although
he did not expect it would ever be of any direct benefit to him or his.
(Cheers).

In conclusion, Mr. HARDWICK called on every member of the society to support
the fund for the benefit of the Widows and Orphans, not for the profit, but
for the honour of the deed and the good of his fellow creature.
(Loud Applause.)

DR. ELLIOTT, who next addressed the meeting, said the Society reminded him
of a large cartoon in 'Punch' the other week, representing a working man
lecturing to his superiors. It was virtually composed of working men,
although it included many who were not strictly working men. It was an
example set to the world at large of the working classes putting their own
shoulders to the wheel, and working for their own worldly elevation - in
fact, teaching the best possible lesson to their neighbours, even by those
who are usually looked upon as standing at the foot of the tree. (Applause).
But they were not so low as that. The working classes of this country had
too frequently been represented as being made up of the destitute, the
depraved, and the dangerous. From such a charge the working classes must be
entirely freed. (Applause). The working classes of England were as honest,
stalwart, and true-hearted a class of men as any other class in the country;
and taking into account the greater proportion they bore to any other class,
they afforded more illustrations of peculiarities than any other class. He
remembered that on one occasion he visited the Working Men's Reading Rooms
of Carlisle along with two or three other gentlemen; and when they came
out, one of the visitors, a clergyman, actually told him that unless he (Dr.
ELLIOT) or some one else acquainted with them, had gone along with him, he
should not have dared to go himself. (Laughter.) The fact was, this worthy,
kind-hearted gentleman was in utter ignorance of the working classes.
(Hear, hear). Such feelings were not uncommon. It was for societies such
as this to do away with all these kinds of feelings, and to make each class
understand the other better and love it more than it had done. (Applause.)
    But if it be well for us to love those of the same family, the same
household, the same town and country, it is infinitely more to our honour -
and it is a far higher proof of our state of civilisation - to find us
casting to the winds the wicked notion of him who asked "What has posterity
ever done for me?" Nothing could be more awful to the mind of him who,
feeling the cold hand of death upon him, knew that he had made no provision
for his widow and orphan children. (Applause). He (Dr. ELLIOT) looked upon
the provision made by a man, either by life insurance or a widow and
orphans' fund, as one of the highest certificates of that man's goodness of
heart an clearness of head. the speaker then went on to compare the system
of life insurance with that of friendly societies, and said that prior to
the introduction of the Widow and Orphans' Fund, friendly societies were
defective inasmuch as, after relieving a member during sickness and paying
trumpery funeral expenses, the benefit ceased, and the widow and fatherless
children were left unprovided for. He recommended this new feature to the
consideration of members. There were three millions of members enrolled in
the various friendly societies of the country - which was ten times as many
as all the life insurance societies in England possessed together.
(Cheers).

MR. WILKS next addressed the meeting. He said - If he might venture to put
in an impromptu sentence, his fixed opinion about friendly societies, it
would be to the effect that they not only taught men to be provident, but to
be provident without being selfish. (Hear, hear) They could not too highly
extol the virtues of thrift and foresight. Without them, a man had not only
no fortune, but no right to the enjoyment of the present. The industry
which provided him with daily bread left him totally unsecured against the
sickenss or other accident which might to-morrow lay him prostrate,
powerless, and breadless. Nor was it enough to be saving. Habits of thrift
ought to be formed on some principle and calculation. Mere accumulation was
but a wasteful mode of providing against calamity. Societies like these
taught a man not only to save, but to save on a sound principle of social
economy. They had also this great and peculiar moral advantage, that they
gave a man no encouragement to be stingy as well as thrifty. (Hear, hear.)
    Some men were very saving, but it was only for and by themselves. They
buttoned up the broadcloth of a selfish security - warmed themselves at the
fireside of their own virtue - and had no thought of the greater blessedness
of that fraternal fellowship which enabled every man to help at once himself
and his brother. (Cheers) It was not intended men should be virtuous only -
they should also be gracious.
    They should add to that which is just and honourable, that which is
lively and of good report - even as He who made the heavens to drop down
plenty also clothed them with beauty. It was sometimes objected, and
perhaps with some truth, that these societies lead men to prefer their club
parlour to their own firesides. An assemblage like this showed that the
Oddfellows of Carlisle at any rate were not insensible to the charms of the
society of their wives and sisters. He hoped they would make it an annual
and even frequent entertainment. (Cheers).
    He desired nothing more than that working men should thoroughly
appreciate the social meetings in which the presence of the fair blended
gaiety with thorough gladness, and made the very air beam with kindliness
and
intelligence. Might the day soon come when not only every soldier in the
great host of labour would be armed by habits of providence against those
shafts of sudden calamity which might strike the stoutest to the very
heart - but when no wife or sister of working men could justly complain of
neglected, deserted homes. (Cheers)

MR. LATIMER then moved a vote of thanks to the ladies, which, being
seconded by Mr. J. P. ARTHUR, was carried with acclamation.

MR. HARDWICK moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman. (Applause). But a
very few years ago, these societies had to contend against the influence of
gentlemen in the position of their worthy Chairman, but now he was happy to
say they were all working in the same direction. (Applause)

MR. W. BROWNE seconded the motion, observing that he had come there to hear,
not to speak, and he had learnt, as he hoped others had, much that he should
be better of.

The motion was carried with applause.

THE CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and expressed the great pleasure he felt in
attending the meeting. It was not the first time he had attended an
Oddfellows' gathering, for some years ago he had done so. (Applause) He
hoped the meeting would conduce to the prosperity and welfare of the
society. He believed such societies were eminently calculated to raise the
working classes. They tended to foster and cherish that noble spirit of
self reliance and independence which had been the characteristic of the
Anglo-Saxon race, and which had contributed so much to raise this country in
the scale of nations, and make it what it now is,

               GREAT, GLORIOUS, AND FREE !!!

(Loud applause). The chairman then announced that Dr. ELLIOT had
contributed £1 to the fund. (Applause) He hoped they would enjoy
themselves in the dance, and that they would receive the pleasure he used to
feel in his dancing days. (Laughter and Applause) He was afraid, however,
that no lady would now take him as a partner. (Renewed Laughter).

The room was then cleared for the dance, the music for which was supplied in
an able manner by the band of the West York Militia, whose services were as
usual cheerfully granted by COLONEL LOFTUS, with that kindness which has
marked that gallant officer's conduct since he came to this city. Dancing
was kept up with the accustomed good spirit till an early hour in the
morning.

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