The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-09-18 00:00:00

RIFLE CORPS PRIZE NIGHT.

About seven o'clock on Thursday night, according to
public announcement, the sth D.R.V. were called to
assemble at the Drill Hall, Maiden-street. and the follow-
ing answered to the call—Captain It. N. Cason. Lieut.
George. Quartermaster-Sergeant Lee, Colour-Sergeant
Roberti, Sergeants C. Jeffery. Crnei, Crocker, and Stevens,
and 17 file. The drum•and-fife band, under Mr. Cosh,
struck up lively music, and the gallant body marched
through the two principal streets, finishing their peram-
bulation at the Guildhall. Here was present the Mayor
(Mr. Lundie), and his worship was joined on the bench by
the officers of the corps, and by Staff-Surgeon Tigard and
Mr. Pelly Hooper, the excellent and successful hon.

secretary.
The Mayon in his introductory remark. said he thought
it must be a particularly happy contingency that be was
thus called upon again to perform the element duty of
distributing the prizes to the sth D.R. V., for it might be
in the recollection of those present that, in consequence
of the lateness of the distribution last veer, his pre-
decessor. Mr. Weloford, had pined from office before that
distribution took place. This year the event had taken
place a little earlier than usual in consequence of the
expected absence for • short time of Captain Gilson, so
that the duty of distributing the prizes now devolved
upon him (Mr. Lundie) again. He assured them it gave
him great pleasure to be present on this joyous, and to
some, no doubt, most important occasion; and he was
happy to Pee by the long list before him that there would
be a goodly number of recipients of the prizes which were
given for excellency in shooting at the last rifle competi-
tion. Last Year the question of filling up the vacancy in
the captaincy of the corps was under consideration, hut
to-night they had to congratulate Captain Cason on
having been appointed to that honourable position, and. his
Worship added' he now really thought the corps had the
right man in the right place, (Applause.) He came before
them nnt as a stranger, nor as an untried friend, and this
was all the stronger reason for his consenting to place
himself at the head of the corps. His Worship was sure
they were glad that Captain Cason had undertaken so
cheerfully, and he was pleased to say so readily, the
captaincy. (Applause.) His Worship also congratulated
them on the addition to their staff of officers by the
appointment of his esteemed friend Lieutenant George.
(Applause.) Ai long as the name of Mr. John Tizaril
remained, he was sure it would be associated in all their
memories with feelings of the highent esteem and respect.
(Hear, hear.) Lieutenant Henry Tizard George would, he
was sure, be a worthy 'successor of his departed uncle.
The Mayor having alluded to the absence of SuleLient.
Tigard, who was abroad, went on to conmtulate the corpe
on its increased strength. It now stands higher than at
any time since its formation as a separate corps, being
efficient both in offieers and men: so much so that he
believed it is as full as the regulations will perniit the
strength of the corps to be. Before proceeding to distribute
the prizes, he would jut observe how happy they ought to
consider themselves in this country for meeting am they
did under circumstances so pleasant as those of the present
time, while the eastern part of Europe, and he was going
to say, nearly the whole of Continental Europe, is, if not
in a state of aetual war, preparing for whatever eniergency
may arise. The conflicts abroad bring before us such
deotruction of human life and such note of property am
has not been seen since the desolating wars of the First
Napoleon. It is matter for great thankfulness that, should
occasion arise, we may fall lock on the strong mug and
willing heartaof the people of this country, and should ouch
an occasion unhappily arise—hut Coil grant it may lag be
deferent—be was sure they as the defenders of this
country, would be found, both officers and privet,, ready
to to their duty, remembering the words imrnortalioed
Nelson —"England expects every wan will do his duty.
The Mayor, however, observed it was the duty of soldiers
not to talk much but to fight, distributed the prizes.
The successful marksmen were much applauded by
their comrades, as they came up to receive their well-
earned rewards.

We have already published the prize list.
After the distribution, the MAYOR slit his pert of the
tininess had now terminated, and be rould only svisli that
future Mayors may have pleasure similar to what he had
enjoyed that evening, in being present aml seeing so
oinfangehltpiiri.rifiTslnweowrtohr this neighbourhood. wVes'iva*Zi;
very glad indeed to see Capt. Gason so well supported as
he was that evening.
. . . . . .

Capt. GASON proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the
Mayor for hi s great kindness in attending and distributing
the prizes. The corps MUM, feel very grateful to him, and
be hoped on a future occasion they might have the
pleasure of again seeing him so ably filling the chair.
Stsif-surgeon Tizzato seconded the proposition, remark-
ing that he Wa'4 certain the Mayor was always most
willing to do his best for the corm as well as the town at

large.
His WORRIIIP, returning thanks, expressed the pleasure
he felt in presiding, saying that so far as lay in his power,
the town might have the whole of his services, so long as
he had the honour of occupying the position in which it
had placed him.
Lieut. H. T. GEORGE proposed a hearty vote of thanks
to the bon. secretary, Mr. Pelly Hooper, whose valuable
services to the corps he most deservedly acknowledged.
The Mstait was sure be should not be out of place in
seconding the proposition. Mr. Hooper had most
admirably exerted himself at the late regatta, and the
town ought to consider itself worthily represented in Mr.
Hooper being the hon. secretary of the regatta and also
ot the rifle corps, and his Worship hoped that Mr. Hooper
would lag continue his services.
Mr. PELLY HOOPER, in responding, of 'served that he
was glad to find his services appeared to he appreciated,
and he assured the corps that he would still do his best to
promote its prosperity and interest. He trusted that
during the coining year its finances would increase, and he
should like it to be publicly known that the corps is
much in need of funds, having lately breast considerable
expense in providing clothing and other matters. The
members, he hoped, would pot their shoulders to the
wheel, so that at their next annual meeting he might
have the pleasure of showing as clear a balance sheet as
he had been able to do during the last two years.
Captain Casoff announced that a subscription had been
started by the corps for the relief of the suffering caused
by the famine in Indla. This he ventured to believe,
would be well supported, and the sth D.R.V. would have
the credit of being the first con a in England who had
commenced such a subscription. The object, he was
certain, would commend itself to all.
The MAYOR was very pleased to hear such an announce-
ment, and thought that next week they would be able to
originate the matter fairly in the town, and he should be
extremely pleased to add the list of the corps to the other
amounts contributed by Weymouth.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
The annual meetings in aid of this organisation were
held at the hegining of this week, the public gathering in
the Melrombe Regis National School on Monday evening,
when there was a very nutnerous assembly. The Rector,
Rev. T. Creaves, presided, and the first hytun sung
commenpii .

labour on, spend and be spent."
The RECTOR At once called upon Mr. RICHARD ELIOT.
treasurer, who read the report of the money gathered by
the auxiliary. Amount collected by ladies who kindly
undertook the work £l2 10; 10d. ; sermons at St Mary's
Church, £55 15s. 21: sermons at Christchurch, £lO Is. 3d.;
annual meeting, £l3 ; ;ale of work, .£3 les ; Juvenile
Association, £t 7s Id ; St. John's Association, .£l3B 15s bl ;
various village associations, £Ol 2s. Pd.; total, £348 10. aid;
The expenditure bail amounted to about £25, and to the
parent society had been remitted .CAti 13.. lid. Compared
with the year 1h75 there was a considerable falling off; but
in 1875 the largest amount from this auxiliary was sent
up, owing to two special legacies of £lOO each. Still the
amount of last year was the smallest amount sent from
Weymonth for the last 10 or 15 years.
Mr. PHILIP Smits, a member of the Parent Committee,
said they were sorry that a sudden attack had prevented
Mr. Moule from attending, amt give some account of the
work in China. He himself had, therefore, to give some
account of the work of the Lord in foreign lands. There
had been great discouragements, as in all times ; and he
had especially now to speak of the dispute between the
Society and its missionaries in Ceylon, and the Bishop of
Colombo. The question was not a new one, for in the 1
Urn, of Bishop Wilson, of Calcutta, the difficulty arose, '
and a document had been dmwn up, to show the
relations between the missionaries of the Society,
and the Bishops of the Church of England. That
relation was simply one of good understanding, and the
diffieulty would be sure to arise. It did arise with Bishop
Wilson, who was in sympathy with the Society, and
especially was it sure to arise between them and a Bishop,
like the Bishop of Colombo. The first difficulty arose
from the extreme youth of the Bishop, for he was
consecrated inimediately, on his attaining the canonical
age of 30 years. Then there is no Corresponding Com-
mittee in Ceylon, on which committee the Bishop of the
Diocese usually presides. A third peculiarity arose from
the minion being on a peculiar basis; there are three
distinct missions in Ceylon, one in the north, a very
flourishing one to the Cingalese, anti, besides, another
mission very peculiarly constituted, theroflee plantation;
among the coolies who come from Tinnevelly, and speak
the Tamil language. To the planters employing these
coolies, an appeal had been made to support the mission,
and although some of the planters are not member' of
the Church of England, yet in • spirit of charity they eon-
aentecl that it should he worked by members of that
Church. The advantages of this would be apparent to
those who believed that the Church is the better way,
and that the coolies are more benefltted by being brought
spas Baptists or Wesleyans. But the Bishop of Colombo,
who is one of the High Church, does not look upon
dissenters as brethren in the same light as the Church
Missionary Socisty, has tried to interfere with the
arrangement that nonconformists shall act on the com-
mittee, and also claimed that he had the right to appoint
at what time all services shall be held. With a stroke of
his pen, he cancelled the licences of some dozen of the
missionaries, so that church work, as marriages, burials,
Ate., watt suspended; but he has seen his way, on the
representation of the Bishop of Madras to restore the
lie nses, yet things are not quite settled in Ceylon, and
this question of the relations of the missionaries to the
Bishops in sure to come up again. When these Bishops
were appointed in India, there was no idea that they
would have to superintend missionaries of societies; but
only the chaplains, and this movement was part of a
dectded movement to take the direction of the minions
oat of the hands of the societies, which movement had
been also revealed at home by an attempt to take the
oolleothm of the mow alse, and pat them under diem=

arraagetuenti. The result of that would be, if sneessaful,
to place the whole contaol of the missions under the
power of one man, the Bishop. He feared that some may
think that by baring this dispnte with the Bishop, the
society had been unfaithful to its Episcopalian character:
hut it had been the means of amenting several Bishop.,
and was most anxious to appoint Bishops: dill it sloes not
favour an absolute and autocratic Episcopacy. Missions
he did not believe could be carried on without societies,
for even the Church of Rome used the advantage of such ,
wcaniention. He w. sorry that there had been a falling I
I off in the funds, and lie urged them to support a society
which strove to spread abroad the flosipel without those
peculiar rites and rereinonies which are to much like
those of idol worehip.—(Hear, and applause.)
The Rev. F. COMM, formerly missionary at Passy and
Naseick (India), spike of the difficulties which the
missionaries have to deal with in that land, mentioning
the devil-worshippers and their strange and horrifying
rites, the Mindoro and their complicated evatem, and the
Mohammedans, who are the most difficult to convert.
He acknowledged the assistance he had received from
godly officers in India, one of whom was the means of
bringing him a convert from among the Mohammedans.
The Parseee he next mentioned, these are true friemix of
the British Government, and almost the only friends of
the English except the native Christians : but they are to
be pitied for their worship of fire, and of the sun as a great
fire. Over all India are the Jews, who are getting by
means of the society their own S -riptures in Hebrew and
to all these different religionists, the missionaries have
only to offer one (;ospel. It was not till 1913 that official
sanction was given to the missionaries to preach the
Gospel in Hindustan ; hut of the good results he quoted
the testimonies of Sir Henn Laurenre, of Sir Bartle
Terre, of the Secretary of State, of Lord Northbrook,. who
subacribes £lOO a year to the society, and other emment
officials of the Government. There are now 3613.000 con-
verts, and 381 native pastors in India, and £15,912 was
contributed in the native churches, one of which churches
had sent ElOl.l to the Dean of Cashel for the poor
Irish Disestablished Church. The missionary from
Western India had but to speak of small things
in comparison with those in the South. In PIM
the speaker joined the Candeish mission, where are a
population of one million, twenty seven thousand. The
discourageruents were many, and the work scattered over
• vast roman.; hut in Issl4 he was nest to the Nassick
distrirt, having an area."( 8,000 square miles and 727,000
people. The capital town is the head-quarters of
Brahminism, and after 10 years' labour at the commence-
ment •f the mission there was only one convert; but
after ?a )ears' labour there were 50. and they were moved
a mile outside the town, and now there is a 4 laristian
village with a population of 4451, after twenty years'
labour more. Often they received presents of little girl*,
sometimes from famine districts • lett never hut the pre-
sent of a little hey. However. &little Brahmin boy came
and give himself when eight years of age to the Orphan
age: he grew up to he a valuable schoolmaster, and after.
wards a native pastor. (Applause). Among the persons
whom they received at Nassick were 150 Africans, who
were brought as rescued slaves to Bombay, and educated
in Nassick ; afterwards there came an opportunity for
these Africans to return with a free passage to their own
country when the whole of them volunteered to
go back. Some of the Nassick boys went with
Livingstone to Africa, and several of these joined
Stanley, while another organised the search for Living-
stone, and read the burial service over him, and embalmed
his body. (Applause.) The deputation concluded with
a fervid appeal in behalf of the Society.
The Reeron was quite sure that nine-tenths of the
supporters of the Church Missionary Society have not the
least intention that the missionaries shall he under the
control of the Pan-Anglican Synod, still less of the Salis-
bury Synod, and least of all under the control of either
boy or baby bishops, who seemed to him bent very much
upon showing the importance of the Scriptural injunction
—that they should not be novices, lest being puffed up
with pride, they fall into the condemnation of the deviL
(Sensation.) He trusted that the Church Missionary
Society would act upon those calm determined principles
which Mr. Smith had announced, and that God will over-
rule all these thin. for His own glory and the advance-
ment of His work. The tendency of such events would
, he to make the native churches self-sustaining, self.
propagating, and self-ministering. He did not say this
from any want of love to our national Church, but from
a deep conviction that it is impossible to transfer the
system of the Church of England to countries so different,
from our own, and that all attempt to force into the iron
moulds of our English church these native churches was
simply preposh•rons. He did not believe anyone loved
the Church of England more than Mr. Hugh Stowell: it
was through him that a negro bishop was appointed. God
had largely blessed the labours of Bishop Crowther, of
the Nicer, and he should thank God, and take roorage
whenever there shall be elected by the native churches
missionary 'Astons, whose work shall be entirely confined
to the niiasionry churches. He Outdo,' anti prayed we
may live to see take place to a very large extent the
establishment of a pure scriptural episcopacy, which
shall advance every way the interests of the native
churches—The rev. speaker followed with an eloquent
statement of the reasons for clinging to the Church of
Ragland, amid all her trials and difficulties, and his firm
belief in the immortal principles of Evangelical truth.
A collection was made at the doors, after the Doxology
huh been sung and the benediction pronounced.
, Other meetings in behalf of the Society have been held
I at St. John's.

(Ivo(Er.—A match was played on the Naval
Ground, on Saturday, between Mr. Ilare's Eleven and
the Portland Club, reigniting in another victory for the
latter.

PILLAR Box.—For the convenience of residents in
the lower part of the town, a pillar box for the recep-
tion of lettere, &e., is to be placed at the corner by
Mr. Ho&lon's hotel. . .

...
MORE BOYS FOR THE SAU.—A detachment of 21
more newly-raised boys for the Boscawen arrived on
Thursday from London, From the numbers which
have recently joined the ship, there appears to be no
lack of naval recruits.

INDIAN FAMINE RELIEF FrNn.—ln reapon.e to a
timely circular I.f the Rector, Rev. .1. A. Beazor.
meeting was held on Wedneaday afternoon, at the
Drill Hall, Easton, to take steps to raise a contribu-
tion to the above funds.

ACCIDENT.—On Monday afternoon a man, recently
engaged n the Weymouth and Portland Railway as
a packer, had one of his fingers severely crushed
through a trolly passing over it. He was taken up by
the 2.50 pin, train, and conveyed to Portland for
medical treatment

Ana grand field day and review on shore at Port-
land on Thursday, the whole of the naval brigade,
numbering six tied batteries and five hundred officers
and men, received the Commander-in-Chief with
a salute of fifteen guns and went through various
field evolutions in the presence of hundreds of epeta.
tors. _

_
THE CHANNEL SQUADRON.—Sin,m the arrival of the
squadron three courts-martial have been held, one on
hard the Warrior and two on board the Defence. The
Mimi iur having been ordered t Portsmouth, left
Portland on Saturday last. It is expected that she will
not rejoin the squadron until the admiral commanding,
Sir F. B. I'. Seymour, K. C. 8., is superseded, his term ot
three years expiring at the end of the inonth.
SVAPICIOUS OCCURRENCE.—On Thursday morning at five
o'clock a fisherman named Flavin saw a boat drifting
about in the West Bay, he and his son went oft and found
. . . .

it to bee boat belonging to the cove Inn, full 1 water
owing to the plug having been pulled out, the Oari were
shipped and in the stem was a quantity of blood,
two short sticks were also in the boat, it is supposed that
the boat had been taken by some military absentee at the
time and after, conveying themselves up the shore to
elude the police had landed and cast the boat adrift. .
Tile PRESENTATION To MRS. CLIFTON.—Amomot the
officers who had assembled to do honour to the Governor
on the 4th inst. were Mr. Gibbs. Mr. Cohen, Mr. Newman,
Mr. O'Donaghoe, and Mr. Hogger, of the Scholastic
Department, and Mr. W. Brooks, Chief Warder.