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Home » Sport and Leisure » Clubs and societies » Lodges

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  • In this letter, William Chambers suggests that the Board of Oddfellows should issue an order to all the lodges in the counties of Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan and Glamorgan, expressing their disapproval at the recent unlawful acts committed in these areas. Description by Evan D. Jones: 'The existing state of that part of the principality was probably not unknown to them. The writer, as a magistrate, had taken such steps as had put some check to the nightly excesses that disgraced it. Under the name of Rebeccaism the fomentors of disorder had succeeded in setting the law almost at defiance. The whole country was in a perfect state of terror. A turnpike woman had been murdered. Five fires which he had the previous week destroyed the produce of three farms, and in one case the house was entirely consumed, more was threatened; a horse shot; his own life threatened in a variety of ways. Except in the town itself, under the influence of the military, they were in a state almost bordering on civil war. His object in writing was to suggest the propriety of the board issuing an order to all the lodges in the counties of Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, and Glamorgan to discountenance, by their example and by all other means consistent with their duties to their country, and to their Queen, as oddfellows, such breaches of the law, and a reminder that their duty to a brother was to warn him of approaching danger and to assist him when it arrived. This would enable him to find a number of brothers whou would not desert him in an hour of need and might through the blessing of God become the means of restoring order in that hitherto tranquil country.' Source: Evan D. Jones, 'A File of
Letter (draft) from William Chambers to the Independent Order of Oddfellows, September 1843 [page 1 of 4]
  • Sash which belonged to a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters 'Court Powys', one of a number of Friendly Societies which existed in Wales from the late 18th century. It is known that the Ancient Order of Foresters 'Court Powys' met in Welshpool. Since the middle of the 18th century the situation for poor people was close to desperate with low wages, hunger, bad health and high prices. To fight this poverty, people in England and Wales set up Friendly Societies. Their aim was to help the poor in cases of illness and death. Each member would contribute a monthly fee, the money would accumulate and be paid out to members in need. A specified sum would be given to a worker who was unable to work because of illness or to a family, who had problems surviving the death of a husband. The Friendly Societies would also pay pensions to retired workers and travelling relief, for workers seeking jobs outside their home areas. There were very strict rules as to who could benefit from the Societies, the most important being a pledge of non-drinking. Initially, the Friendly Societies were illegal, and in order to counteract this many Friendly Societies used special passwords and secret signs. The Societies were legalised in the late 19th century and some are still in existence today, working more or less as insurance companies and building societies, helping their members with sickness benefit, insurances and mortgages. Description: Powysland Museum and Montgomery Canal Centre
Sash of the Ancient Order of Foresters 'Court Powys'
  • Sash which belonged to a member of the Order of Druids 'Llewelyn Lodge', one of a number of Friendly Societies which existed in Wales from the late 18th century. It is known that the Order of Druids 'Llewelyn Lodge' met in Welshpool. Since the middle of the 18th century the situation for poor people was close to desperate with low wages, hunger, bad health and high prices. To fight this poverty, people in England and Wales set up Friendly Societies. Their aim was to help the poor in cases of illness and death. Each member would pay a monthly fee, the money would accumulate and be paid out to members in need. A specified sum would be given to a worker who was unable to work because of illness or to a family, who had problems surviving the death of a husband. The Friendly Societies would also pay pensions to retired workers and travelling relief, for workers seeking jobs outside their home areas. There were very strict rules as to who could benefit from the Societies, the most important being a pledge of non-drinking. Initially, the Friendly Societies were illegal, and in order to counteract this many Friendly Societies used special passwords and secret signs. The Societies were legalised in the late 19th century and some are still in existence today, working more or less as insurance companies and building societies, helping their members with sickness benefit, insurances and mortgages. Description: Powysland Museum and Montgomery Canal Centre
Sash of the Order of Druids 'Llewelyn Lodge'
  • Sash which belonged to a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters 'Powys Court', one of a number of Friendly Societies which existed in Wales from the late 18th century. It is known that the Ancient Order of Foresters 'Court Powys' met in Welshpool. Since the middle of the 18th century the situation for poor people was close to desparate with low wages, hunger, bad health and high prices. To fight this poverty, people in England and Wales set up Friendly Societies. Their aim was to help the poor in cases of illness and death. Each member would be a monthly fee, the money would accumulate and be paid out to members in need. A specified sum would be given to a worker who was unable to work because of illness or to a family, who had problems surviving the death of a husband. The Friendly Societies would also pay pensions to retired workers and travelling relief, for workers seeking jobs outside their home areas. There were very strict rules as to who could benefit from the Societies, the most important being a pledge of non-drinking. Initially, the Friendly Societies were illegal, and in order to counteract this many Friendly Societies used special passwords and secret signs. The Societies were legalised in the late 19th century and some are still in existence today, working more or less as insurance companies and building societies, helping their members with sickness benefit, insurances and mortgages. Description: Powysland Museum and Montgomery Canal Centre
Sash of the Ancient Order of Foresters 'Court Powys'