ESTABLISHING A FORESTER'S COURT—On Saturday evening last a deputation of members of Courts No. 1298, 3132, and 4105, Wellingborough, including D.S.C.R. Mason, P.C.R. Thompson, Bros. W. Abbott (district trustee), T. Coombs, G. Plowman, J. Felpts, D.S. G. Bayes, Garrod, J. Hornsey, E. Hornsey, W. Watts, J. Mason, &c., attended at the Wheat Sheaf Inn, Rushden, with a view of establishing a court of the Ancient Order of Foresters, at that place. The District Sub-Chief Ranger, Bro. H. Mason, occupied the chair, and remarked that although Rushden had increased greatly of late years, yet the Foresters had not attempted to open a new branch there, although they had several Courts in the neighbourhood, viz. Higham Ferrers, Irchester, Riseley, and Wollaston. He believed there was a good opening for a Court and that if once established it would prove a thorough success. He then called upon Bro. W. Abbott, the District Trustee, to state to the meeting the course to be pursued. Bro. Abbott said the object of opening branches in connection with the district was for the purpose of consolidating the Courts by spreading the funeral claims over a wide area, and mutually assisting each other in cases where the funds of any Court, through excessive sickness, become temporarily exhausted. The District Secretary, Bro. G. Bayes, reviewed the progress of the district and Order during the past few years, and stated that at the formation of the district in 1841 only six Courts were in connection with it, whereas at the present time there were 56 Courts with a membership of 8,529, and an accumulated capital of £47,638. At the close of the proceedings 19 candidates came forward to form the nucleus of a new Court, and it was arranged that they should attend at the Bee's Wing Inn, Wellingborough, on an early date, to be initiated in Court 4105, preparatory to application being made to the Executive Council for a dispensation for a new Court.

Wellingborough News, 9th September 1882, transcribed by Kay Collins

Forestry— On Wednesday evening a preliminary meeting in connection with the opening of a Court of Foresters was held in the New Hall, Rushden. Mr. Felps, C.R., of No. 3 Court, Wellingborough, presided, the minutes being taken by Mr. H. Mason, secretary to the above Court. The forms prescribed by the laws of the Ancient Older of Foresters for the application for dispensation to open a new Court were duly passed, and application was made to open a Court at the Coffee Tavern, to be called the "Alexandria." The necessary eight names of the founders of the Court were duly sent in, and an early date to open the Court was decided upon.

Opening of A Forester's Court At Rushden
On Saturday evening the Court "Alexandria" was opened at the New Inn by the officers of Court 4,105. The initiatory ceremony was read by Bro. J. Felpts, C.R., and also the dispensation, (which is framed in maple, as well as the address,) by Bro. Felpts, after which the officers of the new Court were appointed as follows:—D.C.R., Bro. Hester; S.C.R., Bro. Whitney; secretary, Bro. H. King; treasurer, Bro. J. Minney; S.W., Bro. T. Bird; J.W., Bro. J. Bird; S.B., Bro. G. Bird; J.B., C. Desboro. Having elected the officers the Court proceeded to the making of new members, and at the close of the Court the number of new members was 15, and we were informed that several others intended to be made after the Court was closed, having mistaken the time, and these will be initiated at the ordinary Court meeting. The business having been transacted, a capital supper was served by Host E. Cox, to which 30 sat down. The cloth being drawn, Bro. H. Mason, D.C.R., was voted to the chair, and Bro. Hester, C.R., to the vice-chair. There were also present Bro. W. Abbott, P.D.C.R., Bro. Hinman, P.D.C.R., Bro. E. Hornsey, P.C.R.. Bro. J. Hornsey, P.C.R., Bro. C. Thompson, P.C.R., Bro. W. Garrod, C.S., Bros. W. Watts, Z. Forscutt, C. Clayson, B. Daverson, Bennett, Belsher, &c. The Chairman, in opening the meeting, proposed "The Ancient Order of Foresters," coupling the toast with the name of Bro. W. Abbott. The latter, in responding, said he did not intend to make a speech, as he was out of office, and an antiquated, fossilized old fellow, but he was always proud to belong to the Order, which was the largest in the world, numbering as it did upwards of 500,000 members, with an accumulated capital of over £3,000,000, and although not so much per head as the Manchester Order, yet they had made good progress, seeing they were behind the Manchester Order in starting. In looking through the Order they found many of the oldest branches the poorest, and that was due to the inaccurate tables they had to guide them at that time, but now they had some valuable tables prepared by their own actuary, and which had been prepared at great trouble from statistics compiled by their secretaries, and if they carried out those tables, the Court in 40 years time would be in a prosperous and sound condition. The reason of many societies failing was their starting on too low tables, but if they adhered to the tables they had started on he was sure in five years time they would have a good Court. He concluded by wishing success to the Court "Alexandria." The next toast given from the chair was the "Northampton, Wellingborough, and Higham Ferrers District," to which Bro. G Hinman responded. He said that he had never been at the opening of a new Court before, and the proceedings therefore had a peculiar interest to him. He had for some years thought a Court should be opened in Rushden, and he was glad that this was now an accomplished fact. He was pleased to belong to a society that had for its object the benefit of mankind, and that, he took it, the Ancient Order of Foresters did. He regarded the Order as one of the noblest in the land, which was doing good to numbers that no other society touched. Referring to this District, he said it was as had been said by Bro. Abbott one of the largest in the Order, only being about sixth or seventh down the list numerically, as there were about 9,600 members in the District, with a capital of over £7,000, invested at 5 per cent. The average worth of the Courts per member was about £5 11s., and there were 55 Courts in the District. The Order was established so that the members might help, sympathise, and do good to one another, and he prophesied a good court in Rushden, as they had a growing population of working men, and it was the working men the Order was composed of. He hoped they would be united, as unity meant success. The health of the Court Surgeons was next given, coupled with the name of Dr. Freeman, who responded, and promised as far as he was concerned to do all in his power to further the interest of the Court, and he wished them every success. Several other toasts were given and responded to, and songs were sung by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Bro. Garrod, and others. The evening concluded with several hearty volleys of the Forester's fire.

FORESTERS' SUPPER—On Saturday evening the Court Alexandra, 6968, celebrated their first anniversary, at the New Inn, by a supper, well served by Mr. Ebenezer Cox, to which about 50 sat down. The cloth being drawn, Bro. C. Groome was elected to the chair, and in a short speech opened the meeting, and was supported by Bro. W. Abbott, P.D.C.R., Bro. Felpts, P.C.R., C. Geary, P.C.R., G. E. Hornsey, P.C.R., Bro. King, secretary, and about forty others. The meeting was started by the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, Bro. Bird responding in a short pointed speech. This was followed by a song by Bro. H. King, after which the toast of "The Ancient Foresters" was given from the chair, coupled with the name of Bro. W. Abbott, who, on responding, said he had for several years been connected with Bro. Knight, the secretary of that Court, and they had worked together in the Order. He knew that it had been said that the Ancient Order of Foresters was second in order among Friendly Societies, and perhaps it was in the matter of finances; but he thought this might well be a matter of congratulation, as the tables in some societies were so high that it was impracticable for labouring men to pay the contributions, which in some cases amounted to £1 10s. per annum, while the Ancient Order of Foresters amounted to only £1. Perhaps this had caused a lower stratum of members, but when they found that the Society had between two or three millions of money he thought this showed that the Order had not lost the confidence of the people. After acknowledging the services rendered by the honorary surgeon of their court, 'Live and Let Live', he advised them to keep the control of their funds well in hand, and to procure the assistance of some experienced member of the Order to help them get out their first balance sheet. Bro. C. Geary next proposed, "Success to the Wellingborough, Higham Ferrers, and Northampton District", and coupled with the toast the name of Bro. J. Felpts. The latter, in responding, said he was pleased to belong to the Ancient Order of Foresters, composed, as it was, of 288 districts, and half-a-million of members, with between two and three millions of money. Looking down the list, he was always proud of their own district, occupying, as it did, the sixth position of the districts of the Order. The district now numbered 57 courts and 8,590 members, and these were all paying to one common fund. In the six months between October 1882, and April 1883, there were 30 members and 32 wives of members and their widows received from the fund a total of £447, and in addition to this they had a benevolent fund to assist members in temporary distress, but in the half-year there was a saving of £377 11s. 1d. making a grand total of reserve fund of £7,400. He concluded by moving, "Success to Court Alexandra," which was ably responded to by H. King, secretary, who stated that the club had started in Oct., 1882, with 12 members; now they had 46 on the books, and the amount of subscriptions received during the year amounted to a total of £34 8s., and but for the rather heavy item of initiations into the district, that amount had been very little drawn upon. He wished to thank H. Felpts for the assistance he had rendered the "The Host," "The Chairman," "The Visitors," &c., having been given and responded to, the evening was given up to harmony.

Forestry:- Yesterday the annual picnic of the Rushden Foresters was held at Turvey, to which place 15 members drove in a brake provided by Mr. Sargent. Luncheon was served in a marquee on the lawn of the Three Cranes. The afternoon was spent in fishing; and tea with strawberries and cream was partaken of by the riverside. The anglers caught a fairly good number of fish but the day was too sunny for heavy takes. An exceedingly pleasant time was spent and the return journey was finished by 11.30pm.

Bro. G. W. Coles, H.C.S.W., D.C.R.

A Rushden Forester Honoured
Complimentary Banquet to Bro. G. W. Coles
On His Appointment to the Executive Council
Speeches by Sir Arthur Brooke, The Chief Ranger, and Others
The Permanent Secretary on Old Age Pensions

Honours Forestric are falling fast and thick upon Bro. G. W. Coles, of Rushden, the secretary of Court Alexandria (Rushden), who, on Saturday last was entertained to a complimentary banquet.......

...Mr. Newell was one of the leading members of the Rushden Court of Foresters. He joined the Court in 1885. In 1893 he was elected Sub Chief Ranger, and for two years—1894 and 1895—he was the Chief Ranger, receiving a framed certificate on his retirement from that position. In 1893 he was elected Treasurer of the Court, a position he held at the time of his death.

...The burial ritual of the Ancient Order of Foresters was read at the graveside by Bro. G. W. Coles, secretary of the Rushden Court A.O.F.

...There also followed the officers of the Rushden Court Alexandra A.O.F. wearing their regalia, and four stood on either side of the church approach as the coffin was borne into the sacred edifice.