The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-05-06 00:00:00

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

NATIONAL PROTESTANT SOCIETY. The annual
meeting of the members and supporters of the National
Protestant Society was held on Wednesday evening at
the Whittington Club. Mr. Joseph Somes, M.P.,
presided. Mr. Ormiston read an abstract of the report,
which detailed the proceedings of the society during the
year. The gross income had been £749 13s. 4d. ; and,
after meeting the necessary expenditure, a balance of
£2 9s. 7d. remained in the hands of the treasurer. On
the motion of Mr. Edward Harper, seconded by Mr.
Whalley, M.P., the report was unanimously adopted.
Other resolutions were agreed to, and the meeting
terminated.

THR BOOK SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING RELIGIOUS
KNOWLEDOR AMOIG THE Pooll.—The annual meeting
of the friends and patrons of the Book Society for
Promoting Religious Knowledge among the Poor was
held on Wednesday evening, at Radley's Hotel. Mr.
Joseph Payne occupied the chair. The report stated
that the receipts of the year had been £7,002 ss. 100.,
and, after meeting the necessary expenses, a balance of
£l6B Si. 3d. remained in the hands of the treasury.
The report was adopted, and addresses in advocacy of
the society's objects and claims were delivered by earl Alb
speakers.
SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN
FOREIGN PARTS.—The one hundred and sixty-first
anniversary meeting of the supporters of the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, was
held on Wednesday afternoon at St. James's Hall. In
the unavoidable absence of his Grace the Archbishop of
Canterbury, the chair Wail occupied by the Right Hon.
the Bishop of Lichfield ; and among his supporters on
the platform were Lord Stradford de Radcliffe, Earl
Nelson, Sir Stafford Nortcote, 31. P., the Bishop of
Bangor, the Bishop of St. Helena, the Dean of York,
the Dean of Westminster, Mr. Beresford Hope, &c.
From the report it appeared that the society maintained,
or assisted, 419 clergymen in foreign parts, together
with a numerous staff of catechists and schoolmasters,
The income of the year 1861 was given at £89,312.
Additional contributions, especially regular sub-
scriptions, were earnestly solicited. The claims of the
society were advocated by the Bishop of St. Helena, Sir
Stafford Nortlicote, the Dean of York, and other gentle-
men. The proceedings terminated with a prayer.
ADDITIONAL CURATES Soeirre.—The twenty-fifth
anniversary meeting of the friends and supporters of the
Additional Curates Society, was held on Tuesday after-
noon at Willis's Rooms, King-street. His Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury presided. The Rev. W.
Romer, cosers read the report, which was of con-
siderable length, and Contained much interesting matter
relating to the society's operations during the year.
The population benefited by the society was 3,350,46?.
The average to each pastor was reduced by the society's
aid to 3591. During the year 393 grants had been
renewed, and 22 new ones bad been admitted. The
receipts had been £23,197 9a. 611., being a decrease on
the previous yen- of £4096 Bs, 150. The population
increased at the rate of 200,000 a year, and funds were
urgently needed that the means of grace might be
increased in the same ratio, In London and Liverpool
there MRS only one clergyman to every 6000 of the
people. It was suggested If all persons paying income
tax would give one penny in time pound to the cause of
home missions, the sum available for that purpose would
be I:1,000,000. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
addressed the meeting at considerable length in advocacy
of the society's cause. In the evening a soiree, which
was numerously attended, was held at Willis's Rooms
when Vice. Chancellor Wood presided, and some interes
ting papers were read.

(A) Third class passengers leaving Dorchester (8.40 a.m
and Weymouth 8.20 a.m.), mirth London at 2.30 p.m.
The 4.50 train from Weymouth stops at Wool.= Saturdays
only.