PETERSFIELD.
ODD FELLOWS’ ANNIVERSARY.—The loyal Pride of the Valley Lodge of Odd Fellows, intend celebrating their annual festival on Monday, the 27th of June. The dinner will take place at the ‟Dolphin Hotel,” at two o’clock, J. Bonham Carter, Esq., M.P. in the chair. There will be the usual parade of the members with their band and banners through the town in the morning, and at seven o’clock in the evening dancing will commence in a spacious booth to be erected adjoining the hotel.
Chichester Express & West Sussex Journal — Tuesday 05 July 1864
PETERSFIELD
The annual festival of the Pride of the Valley Lodge of Odd Fellows was held at the Dolphin hotel on Monday last. The members assembled at nine o’clock at their lodge room, where the flags and banners of the order were unfurled, a procession formed, and they proceeded through the town, headed by the Hants Militia Band. Upon returning the band played some spirited airs opposite the hotel, and the party sat down in the large market-room to one of those bountiful and excellent spreads for which Mr. and Mrs. Crafts are celebrated, and which we need scarcely add gave great satisfaction. J. Bonham Carter, Esq., M.P., being prevented from taking the chair (as intended) R. S. Cross, Esq., was called upon to officiate, which he did with his usual ability, supported on his right by the rector, the Rev. J. M. Sumner, &c., and on his left by E. Blackman, Esq., &c. R. G. Minty, Esq., filled the vice chair in capital style. About 100 sat down, and the usual loyal, patriotic, and other toasts in connection with the order, &c., were given, and upon the chairman’s health being proposed he was presented with a handsome gold pencil-case, as a token of respect for his services as surgeon for the long period of 17 years, and which was appropriately acknowledged. Dancing followed at seven o’clock in a spacious booth erected in an adjoining meadow, and the party separated evidently delighted. The lodge numbers 97 members, and its general fund is £600, and its widow’s and orphan’s fund, £200.