The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-10-10 00:00:00

CIIARMINSTE.R.

ANNIVERs CRT Scif Yr. TREAT.—On Toesday, October
2ad, Mr. J. Davis, of Charinioster, gave his eighth
anniversary tea treat to the children attending hi. day
school, in the Free Methodist Schoolroom (kindly lent
for the ocuarrion), at four o'clock. There were from 50
to 63 preaent, who, judging from their happy faoes and
their rr tidiness in demolishing the piles of plum cake
and bread-and-butter, we should imagine enj iyed the
treat immensely. After tea they seranibUd for apples.
presented by a friend, and the littl3 ones appr..ciatql
this kindness most heartily. At five &clerk a public
tea was provide I for friends mai the par. nts of the
children in the chapel adjoining the schoolovid,consider-
ing the many tea meetings there have been in the
neighbourhood, wa must say it was pretty well atten-
ded. On its conclusion, the friends took • short
promenade while the tea tables woo being cleared, and
met again at 631) to hear addres.es from the many kind
frieods who an willingly (looked around Mr. Davie to
give him a little help on thistles:anon, and for RO praise-
worthy an objut. Mr. F. Mills, of Dorchester, took
tha chair, and, after a hymn, Mr. Christopher offered
an o.rnest prayer for the progress of the good workund
, a blessing to rest on all present end on each speaker,
that Goi's gl,rl may be promoted. Mr. Davis then
gave some account of his school, lie said : —lt gives
me groat and heartfelt pleasure to meet you on this the
eighth anniversary of my school treat. I was afraid
that we had enjeye 1 our last together. I thank my
friends for corning hero to the tea, and also ler being
present no w,though I bad hoped to see more still ; but we
must feel that we have our share when we remember
our Methodist friends have a tea here to-morrow.
WI:, n I entare 1 this village, some eight years ago,
number, of children never went anywhere at all, but
ran about the streets. It was the Lord pot it Into me
heart to open • room in my house for a school
for these poor little ones. At first we had about
16, then :10, and so on till we Rot to 80. the average
nuwbr hAng GO children. We are obli,r,l to divide
them into two rooms. There are teeny home comforte
we were ecaustomed to, which, of course, we are now
deprived df ; and many would say "give it up ;" but,
my friende, I ryedd not give up the sch rot. I open
the acle.o: at tonic o'clock; we sing a hymn, read •
chapter from the Bible, then together bow the knee
at our Divivino Master's footstool, to imp ere his mercy
auri aid; and we trust this otinmencenwnt is not in
yain. NV,, have not all the children that first 011:1110 to
our echo. 1. • Where are the,? We hive reason to
believe they are among that countless muliitude before
Ito throne, priierng God in a sweeter song than we
taught them here. I then leave them in the sore of
my wife mad draughts'", to train them in the studies
that I think moat fitting and necessary for them—boys
to write, c'pher, and real ,• girls to knit, sew, and
mewl. Now, as to Vie fun& Well, I (menet speak
in very wished...try terms of these—they are very small,
end were it not for the anniversary meetings, I
should to out of pocket each year. Kind friends are
always ready though to help me whenever I need it,
and lam relying on having a little to-night. Now a word
to the pan:rats: from you much is required, as so much
depends on your example 'St home. Prayer at home
has such an i.floeme or, the minds of the dear infants.
Barents expect so much to bo done at school, bat shil-
demi are prone to follow that which is evil ; therefore,
beg you wile are parents to set • good example before
your little ones —(.pplause).—The Chairman then said:
Friend Drawls, we know the good and laudable work
your wife and self are slimed in, and I cannot speak
in too exalted • manner of your effmia. It is • dis-
grace that yea should have to complain of the funds
being so low; hut come to me at any time, and I willtle
what I can du to solicit from friends for the furtherance
I of your school.—The Rey. 'l'. Nuevo next address.d
the meeting. His remarks were principally on the
education question, and showed much liberality of
tie (unrested his great surprise at being
asked to attend the present meeting, beicg unaware
that Mr. David bat a day so h 00l ; but it was an invite-
tion he mould not refuse, far the education of the yowl"(
ought to iutelest all, and was a moat necessary thing
whether regarded as to its inflate:toe in this world or
the life hereafter. Charmiuster must be nearly the
only village without a school, aud he thought it a dis-
grace to the county, such an approximation to IlaUli•
barbarism. He did not think though that Mr. Davis
would give up his school willingly—he wants 1 a little
more of Mat:inconvenience and hard work yet—(laughter).
But he was sure Mr. Davis would have hie reward, if
he had not it already, in the gratitude of the Amts.
and the plesoure of instructing those youthful minds,