Friendly Societies - Annual Church Parade

Rushden District Friendly Societies

The Annual Church Parade – Striking Address by the Rev. Percy Robson

The annual church parade of the whole of the Friendly Societies of Rushden and district was held at Rushden on Sunday, and the various societies were well represented, although the heavy thunder showers which fell during the morning created some trepidation in the minds of the organizer as to whether or not there would be a good muster. These doubts were, however, dispelled shortly after midday by a glorious burst of sunshine, and this satisfactory condition of the elements continued throughout the remainder of the day. The representatives of the various societies assembled at 2.15 p.m. in Spencer Park-road, when they were marshaled into processional order by Insp. Bailey and Mr. H. H. Hobbs.

Headed by the Rushden Rifle Silver Prize Band, they then marched via High-street to St. Mary’s Parish Church in the following order:- The marshals; the police, comprising Sergeants Brumby and Beale and P.C.s Pollard and Norton; the Rushden Urban District Council, represented by Messrs. J. S. Clipson, J.P. (chairman), T. Willmott, J. Claridge, J.P., C.C., C. Bates, G. H. Skinner, and W. Bazeley; the Rushden Fire Brigade, under Capt. F. Knight, J.P., and Second Officer G. R. Turner; the Rushden Division of the St. John Ambulance Corps, under Supt. T. Swindall (Rushden) and accompanied by Supt. Eatley (Irthlingborough) and the president, Mr. C. A. K. Green; the Rushden Corps of the St. John Ambulance Nursing Sisters under Lady Supt. Mrs. Tomlinson and First Officer Miss Gent; the Wellingborough Nursing Sisters, under Lady Supt. Miss Smith and First Officer and Secretary, Miss Hodges; the Ancient Order of Foresters, the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows; the Independent Order of Good Templars; the Church Lads’ Brigade, under Capt. A. T. Nichols and Lieut. S. Bailey; the Training Corps C.L.B., under Sergt. Bailey; the Rechabites; the Rushden and District Trades and Labour Council; the Rushden Higham Ferrers and District Branch of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives; the Free Gardeners; and the National Deposit Friendly Society.

All the societies were in

Full Dress and Regalia

and the crowds which lined the pavements and thronged the windows on either side of the route were rewarded with what may be aptly described as a brilliant and interesting spectacle. The proceeds of the collection taken en route and in Church are to be devoted to benevolent purposes.

A large congregation assembled in St. Mary’s Church, where the service was conducted throughout by the Rev. Percy Robson, M.A. (Rector), who based a most appropriate discourse on Esther iv., 2, and Romans xv., 1—"None might enter into the King’s gate clothed in sackcloth" and "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves". The two texts, said the rev. Gentleman, could be said to represent two contrasting attitudes in the relation of the strong and the weak, the successful and the unsuccessful. The first text represented a frantic, pagan, non-Christian attitude, and the second a Christian attitude. None could enter the King’s gate clothed in sackcloth, because sackcloth represented sorrow, the misery that lurked in the street. The King was trying to abut his eyes to the reality of things to shut his eyes to the reality of life. He only thought of his own pleasure and enjoyment. "None might enter into the King’s gate clothed in sackcloth". That was the law of the Persian court come 25 centuries ago, and he sometimes found himself questioning whether that same un-king-like spirit was not to be found amongst then 25 centuries later. There were still some living at the present day who refused to face the hard facts of life, who deliberately shut their eyes to the sufferings of those around them. They would not see the misery that prevailed and did not care to think about it. Was it not that that the Socialist hated, that fact that brought people to the

Very Brink of Revolution?

Was it not that spirit which in the past had brought reproach upon the Church, the Christian life that showed no reality, no care for the trials of those around? Thank God, the Church was clean of that today. One of the greatest blessings that Jesus Christ brought into the world was the dawn of a new spirit. Jesus Christ came to open the barred gates. He never refused to be deeply concerned with the cry of a needy brother, or to look upon the dark side of life. He, the King of kings and Lord of lords, opened His heart to all the joy of life, but also to all the sackcloth. He held out his hand to the needy, suffering, and oppressed. Christ’s hand was the hand of love, the hand of brotherhood, the hand of One Who loved His fellowmen. It was because St. Paul lived his life in fellowship with Jesus that he said "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves". That ought not to be a question of sentiment, not a mere sprinkling of philanthropic people, but a duty. Everyone of them was a member of one common brotherhood. Whether they recognised the fact or not, he was convinced that the secret of the success of the firndly society movement lay in the fact that in the very heart of it, moving it and impeling it, lay the Christian principle embodied in St. Paul’s words. If the friendly society movement had been a purely selfish one it would have died as quickly as it arose. Thank God, no selfish spirit had ever actuated that movement. The first charter granted to a friendly society was in 1793, a very significant date. That was a time of a

Great Industrial Crisis

a time that marked the first beginnings of machinery and factory life, which gave rise to great distress amongst the unskilled. They met their trouble by joining hand in hand, which was a magnificent Christian way of meeting it. It sprang out of the spirit of brotherhood, the love of man for man. The first great friendly society was, however, formed in England more than a century before that, when the Huguenots, driven from their country by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and for love of a common faith came to England and settled in Spittlefields, where they banded themselves into the first great friendly society. From the beginning of the movement to the present day there had been the desire of the strong to help the weak, and thank God, the same spirit still lived in the societies and must never be allowed to die out. There were perhaps some of them who were not members of what were recognised as friendly societies, but as Christians they were members of the greatest of friendly societies that the world had ever known. Might they all carry out their great Creator’s command and love one another.

In conclusion, the Rector said that it was a very happy thought that they should on that festival day be extending a helping hand to those who were suffering and weak. He appealed for a liberal response to the offertory, which was to be devoted to benevolent purposes.

The hymns were "Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost", "Fight the good Fight", and "Through the night of doubt and sorrow". Mr. J. E. Smith presided at the organ.

After the service the company were again formed into procession and, headed by the band, marched to College-street where, after Bro. Oliver Thompson, of the Ancient Order of Foresters, on behalf of the Friendly Societies’ Council which had organised the parade—had expressed thanks to all the organisations which had taken part, to the Rev. P. Robson for his splendid address and to the Rushden Rifle Band, the National Anthem was played, and Capt. F. Knight then gave the order to dismiss.

Roll of Honour