The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-01-31 00:00:00

SALISBURY DIOCESAN CFIURCH BUILDLNO
ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of this association took place at
the Townhall, Dorchester, on Tuesday afterneon.
There was a tolerably numerous assembly, amongst
whom were a large number of Clergymen. J. Floye,,
..espied the chair. The Right Rev, the
of the Diocese was expected to bare been
x was unable, owing to being confined through
ion at the residence of R. B. Sheridan, Esq.,
M.P.. at Frampton Park.
Prayer having been offered by the Rev. Arandeactin
Sanctuary, the CHAIRMAN said he belieeed the Arch•
deacon had something te commtlnicate respecting the
absence of the Bishop, and he would now call upon him
to do so,
The Van. Archdeacon SANCITUART stated that he WREI
Sorry to have to inform the meeting that the Bishop
was prevented from attending through indisposition.
He had been unwell for some days past, and wee now
under the medical care of Mr. Tudor, at Mr. Sheridan's
house. The Bishop desired. very rutiCh to take part in
the proceedings of the retching; but Mr. Tudor had in.
formed him that his doing so would be attended with
the greatest risk. The Bishop took a great interest in
the work of this society, and the restoration of many
Houses of God might be attributed to the pain, seal, and
the untiring care he took in thst direction. There was
no one who felt the necessity of due respect being paid
to the House of God more than the Bishop did. After
alluding to the pastoral letters which the Bishop issued
throughout his diooese, the secretary read his report.
The CHAIRMAN said, in opening the business of this
meeting, perhaps he might say (on occasions which
bronght them together, snob as thst for which they
were assembled that day) it was natural for them
to tttrn their thoughts, perhaps chiefly, in two dire.-
Sons—the one to the past proceedings of the society,
and the other what was lying before them in the
future, what their requirements would be, *hat was
still its store for them, and the means they would have
for meeting those demands Which might be made upon
them for assistance. It was always a gratifying thing
to • chairman when he was able to congratulate the
members of a society upon both these departments of
Its operation* and prospects. He was sorry to say that
though on many occasions he had been able to offer his
congratulations in both these respects, that that was
not the happy position in which he now stood. As fer
as the past went, he thought the members of the
society had every reason to be, he might say, more than
satisfied with the success with Which Divine Providence
had been pleased to bless their endeavours. The most
cursorily observer of the state of the churches
in this country could not fail, he thought,
to remark what a very great improvement bad
taken place in the condition and in the general
aspect in all the essentials, and even the lesser
reiniaites, of church worship which the churches of I
this county and country presented at the present day ea
compared to times gone bye. (Applante.) As • proof '
of this he alluded to the restorations which had been
effected at the beautiful ohurelms of Wineborne and
Shertorne, and said the way in which both the houses
of God had been restored to more than their pristine
beauty and splendour must be doubly gratifying to the
inhabitants of this county, and to all attached members
and well withers of their church, and to all who desired
to see the worship of Clod conducted in a house fit for
such sacred and solemn proceedings. The future peei.
tion of the society was not such as they could desire.
The liberality which upon Its foundation, and upon
many subsequent years, had accompanied and marked
its proceedings, and the large funds which from time to
time were subscribed for carrying on its works, had now
to a considerable extent, he was sorry to say, disap-
peared and diminished. Now he did not think there
WAS any reason for them to be surprised that such
should be the case. They must remember that in one
essential feature and characteristic, this society differed
widely from those religious end charitable associations,
whose objects were 'demisted from time to time in this
end with which many whom he was now addrea-
ing were well acquainted with. He then contrasted
the difference between this society and the Chalets
Missionary Societia, whose proceedings did not widely
differ one year from another, remarking that there was
the same need for exertion, the sante call for the
preaching of the Gospel, whether by the rnissienaries
'bead ore by the ministers at home, and alai the same
domed and claim upon the funds of these different
soeieties year after year. But with regard to the Church
I Badding Society the ease was somewhat different.
1 When • new °hatch was built, or an old one restored,
the work in that individual butane° Was eccomplished
In one or two years, and then, at any rate, the claimer
necessity for the assistance ot this society ceased. The
consequence of this was, he thought, that when the
society was first founded, when the attention of the
members of the church was first drawn to '-
went want and amenity foe additional ohm
la many instances, he feared, the very d,
elate of the old ones, the supporters of the 'society
thought when these great exertions which were
okifiensly sailed forth Ire" per, gild oat, the. neempfay.