b'The Ancient Order of ForestersThe National View: Mike Pratt with material from the late Kath NevensO f particular note in these extracts is the mention of the number of members of the Foresters there were nationally in 1871 - over 356 thousand. Also this order is variously called a brotherhood, a great co-operative savings bank, a sick insurance office and a benefit society.Friendly Societies such as the Ancient Order of Foresters played an important role in the life of the working man before the establishment of the Welfare State, providing support in times of hardship, illness and death from the monthly contributions paid by the members. The meetings also provided a unifying social life, with the annual celebration of the Feast being the culmination.The engraving above appeared in The Graphic for September 16th, 1871. It was entitled: A Foresters Fete - Under The Greenwood Tree. It commemorates the fete day that took place at Crystal Palace outside London. Extracts from the write-up that accompanied it are reproduced here before the implications for Bishop Wilton are explored.These extracts show how the Foresters as an order was perceived at the end of the 19th Century. They also give some idea of the size and significance of the order.BULLETIN 20 415'