PETERSFIELD.
CORONATION DAY.—The members of the ‟Loyal Pride of the Valley” Lodge of Odd fellows will hold their anniversary on Friday, the 28th instant, when they will meet at their Lodge room at 9 a.m., and, after transacting business, will form a procession to the parish church. At the conclusion of the service the procession will reform and return to the Dolphin Hotel, where a dinner will be provided at one o’clock. The Rev. J. M. Sumner will take the chair. A variety of amusements are also announced to take place in a meadow, at the back of the Red Lion Hotel, where also tea will be provided upon a large scale. A large attendance is anticipated.
Chichester Express and West Sussex Journal — Tuesday 02 July 1867
ODD FELLOWS’ ANNIVERSARY—CORONATION DAY.—The members of the ‟Loyal Pride of the Valley Lodge,” No. 4180, M.U., held their annual festival on Friday last, being the happy anniversary of Her Majesty’s coronation. The bells ran a merry peal, and the musical strains of the Havant Volunteer Band ushered in the day. A procession was formed at the Dolphin, the splendid banners of the Order unfurled and the members with full regalia, proceeded up the High-street to the church, which they entered at eleven o’clock, previous to which the ‟National Anthem” was played at the entrance from the square. The Rev.J. M. Sumner preached an impressive and appropriate sermon, taking for his text the 12th chapter of Luke and the 35th verse—‟Let your loins be girded about and your lamps burning.” At the conclusion of the service the procession reformed in the square, and the band struck up a cheerful step when they returned by a different route to the Dolphin, where an excellent dinner, ‟fit for a king,‟ was provided by the worthy host, Mr. Crafts. Amongst the company present were the Rev. Henry Haigh, the Rev. R. E. Coles, R.S. Cross, Esq. (medical officer to the lodge), and many gentlemen and tradesmen of the town and neighbourhood, numbering together 110. The Rev. Chairman said grace, and Non Nobis was sung by Caplin, Pocock, and Gardiner. The Chairman, in proposing ‟the Queen,” observed that it was unnecessary to speak of Her Majesty’s good qualities, as they were so well known to and lived in the hearts of her people, since the day of her coronation, and who had during that long period rejoiced in her joys and sympathised in her sorrows, and concluded by expressing a hope that he and many of them would again have the pleasure of seeing Her Majesty in the early part of next month at the grand review at Spithead.—The toast was loyally responded to, the band playing the ‟National Anthem.” The Chairman then gave the ‟Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family,” the band playing ‟God Bless the Prince of Wales.” The Chairman then gave ‟the Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” Mr. Grattan Cooke responding for the army, and Lieutenant Minty for the Volunteers, the band playing ‟The British Grenadiers.” R.S. Cross, Esq., proposed ‟The Bishop and Clergy,” and contrasted favourably the advantages possessed by this diocese over many others in having so good a bishop (applause). The Chairman returned thanks. Trio (by Messrs. Caplin, Pocock, and Gardiner). ‟England the land of the free.” The Rev. R. E. Coles, in proposing ‟the Borough Members,‟ humorously alluded to the tree stars, ‟politics to be excluded,” at the foot of the programme, which, although he thought very proper, yet in some way placed him in a difficulty, inasmuch as last year he proposed the then borough member (now Lord Hylton), and the same toast devolved upon him of proposing the present member (Mr. Nicholson), who sat on the opposite side of the House. The rev. gentleman, however, concluded by speaking well of the good rendered within the borough by the hon. member. The Chairman proposed the toast of the day, viz. the ‟Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows,” with continued success to the Loyal Pride of the Valley Lodge. He entered at some length into the rise and progress of the lodge in members, funds, &c. Brothers C.S.H. Bridger and P.G.M. Bailey clearly and statistically responded. ‟The health of the Chairman” was proposed by Joseph Soames, Esq., who took the opportunity of remarking upon the good and kind qualities of the Chairman, and the high estimation in which he was held (cheers). The rev. gentleman returned thanks. Trio ‟March of the Men of Harlech” (Caplin, Pocock, and Gardiner). We are reluctantly obliged, from want of time and space, simply to note the following toasts and responses, thereby omitting some well-delivered speeches. Mr. Bridger proposed ”The Trade of Petersfield.” Mr. Small returned thanks. Song, ‟The Bloom is on the Rye” (Mr. W. Caplin). The Chairman gave ‟the health of the Vice-Chairman.” Mr. Soames responded. ‟The Lodge Surgeon‟ was proposed by the Rev. H. Haigh. Mr. cross returned thanks. Mr. R. S. Cross proposed ‟the Visitors.” Mr. W. Adams responded. The Chairman gave the toast of ‟the Ladies.” Mr. Privett responded. The Vice-Chairman proposed ‟the Press.” Mr. J. J. Powell responded on behalf of the Sussex Express, Surrey Standard, and Petersfield Express. The Chairman having left the chair, the visitors and members proceeded, headed by the band, to the meadow at the back of the Red Lion Hotel, where two spacious booths were erected, bedecked with green, one for tea parties, and the other set apart for those more spiritually inclined—with the barley brew, and to puff away sorrow with the fumes of the weed. Various amusements were also provided, the most elevated being the greasy pole, on the top of which a leg of mutton was suspended,&c. In conclusion, we may add there was room enough for all, and all passed off satisfactory to the finish.