Foresters.—­In 1745 a few Yorkshire-men started “The Ancient Order of Royal Foresters,” under which title the associated Courts remained until 1834, when a split took place.  The secessionists, who gave the name of “Honour” to their No. 1 Court (at Ashton-under-Lyne), declined the honour of calling themselves “Royal,” but still adhered to the antique part of their cognomen.  The new “Ancient Order of foresters” throve well, and, leaving their “Royal” friends far away in the background, now number 560,000 members, who meet in nearly 7,000 Courts.  In the Birmingham Midland District them are 62 courts, with about 6,200 members, the Court funds amounting to L29,900, and the District funds to L2,200.  The oldest Court in this town is the “Child of the Forest,” meeting at the Gem Vaults, Steelhouse Lane, which was instituted in 1839.  The other Courts meet at the Crown and Anchor, Gem Street; Roebuck, Lower Hurst Street; Queen’s Arms, Easy Row; White Swan, Church Street; Red Cow, Horse Fair; Crown, Broad Street; White Hart, Warstone Lane; Rose and Crown, Summer Row; Red Lion, Suffolk Street; Old Crown, Deritend; Hope and Anchor, Coleshill Street; Black Horse, Ashted Row; Colemore Arms, Latimer Street South; Anchor, Bradford Street; Army and Navy Inn, Great Brook Street; Red Lion, Smallbrook Street; Union Mill Inn, Holt Street; Vine, Lichfield Road; Wellington, Holliday Street; Ryland Arms, Ryland Street; Star and Garter, Great Hampton Row; Oak Tree, Selly Oak; Station Inn, Saltley Road; Drovers’ Arms, Bradford Street; Old Nelson, Great Lister Street; Ivy Green, Edward Street; Iron House, Moor Street; Green Man, Harborne; Fountain, Wrentham Street; King’s Arms, Sherlock Street; Shareholders’ Arms, Park Lane; Shakespeare’s Head, Livery Street; Criterion, Hurst Street; Acorn, Friston Street; Hen and Chickens, Graham Street; Albion, Aston Road; Dog and Partridge, Tindal Street; White Horse, Great Colmore Street; Carpenters’ Arms, Adelaide Street; Small Arms Inn, Muntz Street; Weymouth Arms, Gerrard Street; General Hotel, Tonk Street; Railway Tavern, Hockley; Noah’s Ark, Montague Street; Sportsman, Warwick Road; Roebuck, Monument Road; Bull’s Head, Moseley; Swan Inn, Coleshill; Hare and Hounds, King’s Heath; Roebuck, Erdington; Fox and Grapes, Pensnett; Hazelwell Tavern, Stirchley Street; Round Oak and New Inn, Brierley Hill; The Stores, Oldbury; and at the Crosswells Inn, Five Ways, Langley.

General Provident and Benevolent Institution was at first (1833) an amalgamation of several Sunday School societies.  It has a number of branches, and appears to be in a flourishing condition, the assets, at end of 1883, amounting to over L48,000, with a yearly increment of about L1,400; the number of members in the medical fund being 5,112.

Grocers.—­These gentlemen organised a Benevolent Society, in 1872.

Independent Order of Rechabites.—­Dwellers in tents, and drinkers of no wine, were the original Rechabites, and there are about a score of “tents” in this district, the oldest being pitched in this town in 1839, and, as friendly societies, they appear to be doing, in their way, good service, like their friends who meet in “courts” and “lodges,” the original “tent’s” cashbox having L675 in hand for cases of sickness, while the combined camp holds L1,600 wherewith to bury their dead.