MR. ROEBUCK, M.P., ON ODD-FELLOWSHIP.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 59, 15 October 1864, Page 5

MR. ROEBUCK, M.P., ON ODD-FELLOW-SHIP.

A large number of the members of the Nottinghairi; Order of Odd-fellows assembled at Sheffield. A sermon, was preached in the parish church by the Hon. and Eev. J". "Willoughby, after which a procession was formed in the Cattle Market, and marched through the town to the Botanical Garderia, where a grand " gala " was held. Between 45,000 and 50,000 people were present. At a dinner held in the large pavilion, fcho Provincial Grand Master, Dr. J. C. Hall, presided ; and he was supported by Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Mr. Jessop, the' Mayor, and Dr. Sale, the Vicar of Sheffield, and a number of the most influential gentlemen of the town. In reply to the toast of . the "Borough Members," Mr. Roebuck said — I have been lectured very severely for saying that I wished the people of England to take care of their own concerns (hear, hear). Now it appears to me thafc the person mosfc interested in the well-being of eTery working man is the working man himself (hear, hear). Very few people really understand the great sacrifice that is made by working men upon these occasions. Almost all virtue is aforegoing of present enjoyment for a greater future good (hear, hear). And when the working man has to lay by a small sum, which he does, weekly, upon a prorident institution like this, he makes a great sacrifice, he foregoes the immediate advantage that he might derive from that small sum of money which he takes, too out of a very small sum (hear, hear). Therefore I say that the working man who. i3 a member of a benefit society manifests a much larger meed of virture than the man of fortune who insures his life for so many thousands, and pays so many hundreds a year .upon that insurance. 1 hope you will allow me to take notice of a crotchet of mine, and one which I have very often alluded to when I have been talking to the artizan class, and thafc is, the sort of education I wish that they would acquire. ;It appears to me that they have by their earnings just as great a means as many other 1 classes in society, who are called the higher classes, to enjoy life, and really enjoy what whafcl call the amenities of life. If they would in all matters believe how much the happiness of themselves and their relations depends upon their .manner, each to each, we shouldhave working men as corteous and as polished as the greatest peer of the realm (hear, hear, and cheers). It appears to me when T look at the agricultural laborer, thafc he is surrounded' by incidents of life that ought to enable him to enlarge his mind rather more than any other clas3 of society. But we all know that the laboring man in agricultural districts is very inferior in point of education to the artisan ofthe town ■; r and why is that so ? Why, the artisan of town "comes iri contact withhis fellows, and dayby day, and hour by hour, he is learning something merely by "conversation. The working man in the field lives by huriself. He is a man far from companionship with his fellows, and therefore he is nofc so instructed as the artisan. Bufc I have Been, with great pain, within the last few weeks, a proof that the language I have held about many artisans has been perfectly true. They "don't pay that attention they ought to do to the amenities of life ; and, though 1 they'earn- thafc.which ;riiariy officers of our army have nOfc, yefc as you look upon them you would nofc fancy them to be members of the civilised community of which they form so important apart. Let me impress upon each in his circle to bear fehafc im mind, that there is notbingin then Hie of a 5 working man that should prohibit him , from being as civilised, as courteous, and as highminded a creature as exists in the highest circles in; the land (cheers).

CHABffING WITH THE BAYONET.— -It is • a general rule in the service of Her Maiesfcy, as well as throughout the armies of Europe, that troops before charging with the bayonet, Bhould firo a volley, in order to throw confusion into tho ranks of the enemy, as well as to cause a smoke for them to advance under. The advantage over the present system would be tenfold, were the rear rank alone to fire, the front rank remaining at the shoulder till the word to charge be given, and then firing from the hip as thoy crossed bayonets with the enemy. When tho men fire they would be able to act instantaneously after the volley, and therefore there would nofc be sufficient time for the gaps caused by tho firo to be filled up in the ranks of the enemy, ahd consequently .there would be a greater certainty of putting them to , confusion. At presont, from the smoke and.confusion likely to take place" at a'period immediately preceding a charge, the men are unable to take that accurate aim, without which the rifto is useless. The bayonet would be much moro effective when preceded by a fire as certain as it is deadly. — Army and Navy Gazette. Rejiembeb.— *Pack your cares in as small t> t Mmvc^AWA^ai^^mik "