Page 37 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

A Memorable Tea Party.

conjunction with other societies. He pointed out that by uniting
with other stores the Rochdale Society had akeady been enabled to
carry on a corn mill, in full working order; and he reminded the
meeting that the Pioneers' dividend for the last quarter " would
have been 3d. in the £ less if we had had no mill." The Rochdale
co-operators did not approve Cooper's suggestion ; nevertheless, old
members like Howarth, Smithies, Greenwood, and others could not
remain inactive. Everywhere societies were multiplying, and the
time for a new advance had come. And this was felt not only in
Rochdale but round about, also, by men equally keen. William
Marcroft, of Oldham ("Owd Billy Marcroft, a long-headed 'un"),
Edward Ingham, of Oldham, John Hilton, of Middleton, and J. C.
Edwards and James Dyson, of Manchester, are the names of a
prominent few among several such co-operators.
In August, 1860 (that is to say, about six weeks before Mr.
Pitman and the correspondents of the Co-operator began to suggest
a conference for founding a wholesale agency), a number of these
experienced founders of stores met at the co-operative farm.
Jumbo, near Middleton. "On the third Sunday in August," said
William Nuttall in describing the meeting to the first of the present
co-operative congresses. " On Sunday, August 12th," says Mr. Albert
Marcroft. And according to the Oldham Chronicle (Saturday,
August 18th, 1862) a tea party was held on the farm on the 12th.
But, to judge from the short report, the only serious topic of
discussion was the formation of a profit-sharing cotton-spinning mill
at Oldham. Under William Marcroft's leadership such a mill was
being promoted, and its corner stone, as the Sun Mill, was laid early
in May, 1861. However, in all probability, it was at this meeting,
perhaps over tea, that " the necessity for a general depot was again
discussed " by " a few friends from Rochdale, Oldham, and
Middleton." Mr. Noah Briggs, of Prestwich, recollects walking
over to such a gathering, and still recalls the fragrance of its
environment—of new-mown hay—the hay harvest being late in East
Lancashire. Mr. Albert Marcroft, of Oldham, just remembers going
there with his father. Mrs. Manock, of Rochdale, William Cooper's
daughter, was also present, and her eyes still brighten at the
remembrance of the girlish joy occasioned by this tea party at a
farm. Also, in the Oldham Chronicle for June 26th, 1895, some
reminiscences of the meeting at Lowbands Farm were furnished by
an Oldham co-operator, Edward Ingham. He recollected the
names of four Oldham co-operators present; and quoted William
19