The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-09-05 00:00:00

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE.

By the invitation of the Dorchester Branch of this
invaluable institution • Conference of Associations
wag held on Friday last, and the proceedings througb.
out the day were full of interest. Unfortunately the
weather was most unfavourable, and many from •
distance were prevented from attending.
A prayer-meeting was first held in the room of the
Y.11.C.A., In Du:nate-street, oondacted by the
President, after which the visitors and the odious of

._,
the Dorchester Brandi were entertained at Mr.

Curme's house to • capital lunch•on.
The Conference was than held in the Council

Chamber at the Town Hail, which was well filled.
G. Williams, Esq., of Lindon, presided. Mr. Mod
Smith, of London read • very practical and interest-
ng paper on "Whet are the best means to
adopt to enable Y.M.C.A. to fulfil their mission?"
Mr. Walter Ponncy added some useful suggestions,
and the following gentlemen took part in the dia-
._ .

cusion s—Rev. J. Barrington, Rev, J. Davie, Rile.
E. Francis, Rev. J. Trafford, Rev. Burrows, Rev.
J. Butcher, Re.. S. Hobbs, and Messrs. Swatridge,
Diaon, Clarke, Peaty, Cosh. Salley, &c.
Through the kindness and liberality of Mr. and Mn.
Steele, a capital tea bed been provided at Wollastoo
House, when about 100 eat down. The discussion was
continued after tea as to the advisability of starting
Auociations in parishes around Dorchester by G.
Williams, Req., Hind Smith, Req., Rev. S. Hobbs,
Rev. J. Butcher, Rev. J. Davis, Rev. R. Portnell,
Mr. Goodchild (Wareham), Mr. Clarke (town

represen"tat—to-ae.
'!hrist were mi

missionary), dn.
A hearty vote of thanks was paned for the
generous hospitality shown.
The evening meeting at the Town Hall was public,
and there was • large attendance, which, considering
the inclemency of the weisther, was most gratifying.
G. Williams. Esq., occupied the chair, supported on
the platform by Alderman Curme, Rev. R. W. Collie
-
son, Rev. Burrows (Weymoutbd, Rev. J. Trafford
(Weymouth) Rev. E. Trends Bridport), Rev. .1.
Harrington (Boscomhs), Rev. H. Portnell, Rev. J.
Butcher (Upwey), Mr. J. Robertson (Weymouth),
Mr. Hind Smith, and Mr. Dixm (hon. sec., Dor-
chester.)
A hymn having been rung, and prayer offered by the
Rev. E. collinson,
The Coalanan said the Young Men's Christian
Association sought to lift up the character of the
young men of the nation. The future of • nation's
grottoes', it had been said, must depend upon the
character of its young men. If that character be
demoralised, drunken, debased, worldly, the nation
would fall to pieces, and would not be able to contend
with the enemy in the gate; but if it was eel( restrained,
godly, iotelleztual, vigorous, it would hot 1 ha own,
with God's blessing, against all the powersof the earth.
Now the object of the Y.M.O.A. 11114 in the first place
to benefit the young men, and to provide a home for
them sway from home, as much as possible—a place
of res,rt where they could go and get their hearts
cheered and comforted, and nourished and strengthened
in that which would do them goo I. As a shrewd
business man Once said in London, " I quite under.
stand what it is—it is the pulpit brought into
business—the teaching of the pulpit brought into
htuinwee and into daily life. It is reducing the great
teachings of the pulpit to the peseta...le of the
daily life, in the ordinary business and
commerce of life." Yee, this Y.111.C.A. had
peculiarly one object—via, to elevate, to lift up,
to preserve, to purify, to strengthen. In some place'
they had the educational process, in others the
muscular, combined with the religious, more fully
developed; but in this town ot Dorchester they had
kept to the teachings of the blamed Old Book. (Ap-
plause.) They had delidited here to find their joy in
diving deep. One of the delegates today said be
thought perhaps the subjects were too deeply con.
sidered to be popular. Now he could not help
thinking of what they say in America and in California
that the best gold is the deepest down, and he was also
told that the salt that was on the surface was nothing
like so good as that a long way down; and those of
them who knew something of studying the Word knew
there were depths and riches in that Word inex-
haustible. (Hew, hear.) Yes, that Word was • limn.°
of joy and delight ii all who studied it awl strove to
get c =fort from it. Now look at the possibilities
open to the young man. He could undermine his
constitution, cold destroy his moral character, and
could debase himself by I ic ntirois conduct; he could lose
his situation, and could break his mother's heart. He
could bring shame up in his father, sisters, and family.
How many had done so? A young man could
surround himself to all eternity with lost spirit; who
should accuse him of being the means of their
perdition. But he could do something else—he could
join the Y.ILC.A. Thank God for that. He could
repent of his sins, become a true Christian, and have
all his sins forgiven—he could become a comfort to
his father and mother, the pride and joy of his sisters
and family, and by-sod-bye he could bec one a husb ind
and the head of a happy home; by-an 1-bye ha could
enter upon some profession or business, and be a credit
to his town and become an ornament to society. By his
example he could encourage others, and become a
force for good in the Lord Jesus Chit; he could help
the missionary cause, sod help to promote everything
good, pure, end honourable, and could grow in wisdom
sod knowledge, and in favour towards God and man.
Mat a difference between throe two young men—the
one receiving Christ early, growing in graess,and happy
In the love, end fear, and service ,d God, and the
other in the service of the evil one. He knew two such
young men. There were three of them together in his
(the speaker's) apprenticeship as a tradesman; two
of them decided for Christ and one did not. This one
took the downward coarse, and the last thing he heard
of him was his sending to him from Newgate asking
him to come sad speak for him I Satan often did
great mischief to young men of undecided principle
and chalacter in our great cities and towns, hence
the immense importance in towns of the magnitude of
Dorchester, and the villages all about us, that there
should be those good principles inculcated which could
stand the test of the temptations of the groat cities ,•
because he was told everywhere our young men did
not stay In the villages and the small towns,
but in the larger cities and towns, and if they
went there, the temptations were so great, the
allurements and the enswirements were so mani-
fold, that the probabilities were that unless God
in His infinite mercy intervened, these dear
young fellows might be led down and down, as
in the case of a young fellow who went home
to die. His father grid 'Oh ! my dear boy,
only twelve months you have been in London, what
brought you here!" "I went to see a theatre, to see
what sort of people were there; I thought I might go
as far as that. I was always told it was a bad thing,
and that I must not go, but I thought 1 shsuld like to
go and KM what sort of people west; awl, as I looked.
they appeared to be • wonderfully nicely dressed and
fascinating sort of people, so I thought I would like
to go, and inside I went and got • ticket. It MU that
gicket I There I became enan•red and led away, and
now, after • short twelvemonth, I am come home to
die." What the young men wanted was principle
and a heart renewed, and they wanted the Y.M.C. A.
is the towns and villages to do the work God in the
heart. It was those alone who are now ascending the
scale, who were quickened by God's Holy Spirit
into a new and • spiritual life, and In the
various associations that was the special thing they
looked for that God might quicken men from
the death of sin into the life of Christ our Blessed Lord.
What a joy it was to serve Christ One could envy
the clergy and ministers who were separated to the
work of the ministry; but dm all of them, even in the
cemmercial life, have a ministry to carry out, and
there were so many ways in which work was to be
dons that they thanked God He had called them to
that. (Applause.)
Mr. Dade (Hon. Secretary) said in Cllne anyone
should be disappointed at the absence of the Rev. J.
H. Scott, of Melcombe Regis, who bad been announced
to address them, he would read a letter, in which Mr.
Scott said be was unwell, and was ordered to keep
quiet, or he would have been with them met willingly
to give his promised address. In his place, however,
be had sent Mr. Burrows to speak on the subject
allotted to him.
The Rev, Mr. BURROWS, on behalf of Mr. Scott,
expressed regret at his unadvoidable absence. He
(Mr. Burrows) had very great interest in the subject
for which they were gathered together—that of the
Y.M.C.A. It was, he thought, • very great work
indeed in the country, and be did not think they could
exaggerate it, it was essentially a work for our Lord,
for how did He look upon young Men Be tlinintlit the).
i had en answer in thews touching words n the Gospel of
St. /dark, where our Lord SIM the Yottlig then coming to
Him, and when He saw that young rich man
ll= :teri
loved him." Jesus loved young men, He sympt
with their troubles, and Ile was the only one who could
guide them through the temptations that beat young
men in starting in life. The object of the .4... iodation
was to bring young men to the knowledge of the
Saviour. The rev, gentleman then addressed the
meeting on the subject of "Decision," instancing the
character and life of Nicodemns as a Rood example of
decision for Jesus Christ. The Lord would suable
every young man to go on from strength to strength if
only lzrould decide to serve Wm. God's service wee
one, and what a blaming it brings. A Young
men joining se Amoolatket mob am We galebi be tbe

might _
holy in His justness, and they n. forgot to
bring forward the love of God the Father while they
spoke of the love of the Lord Jeeus. They immetim.s
looked at Jesus as the pers .nification of love, and at
the Father as the personificatio ,of justice. Let them
remember that the Three Persons made ono God.
God the Father hated our sins, but he loved the sinner,
and when they spoke of the justice of God, they meant
the justice of the Three Persona in the Deity as much
as One. The whole Three Persons loved the sinner,
but hated the sins. They looked around and PAW
the beauties of the world, an I thanked God for it, but
it was not there they saw the essence of the love of
God—they saw that only as th-y saw God in Christ.
It was not so much in the action of the Lord Jesus
that they saw His love se to His sufferings. The rev.
gentleman then proceeded to found his remarks on the
text "Charity (love) eoffereth long, and is kind." Not
only did our Lord suffer physically, but endured
fearful mental agony from His continual
contact with sin. How bard was it when kindly
actions were attributed to an opposing principle, yet
it was continuolly so with the Lord Jesus. He
suffered long and was kind. Then that was not all.
There was the awful suffering when banging on the
Cross: not the mere physical pain, acute se it was, but
the fearful reviling, the wagging of the head of those
who passed by. The speaker went on to speak of the
struggle between justice and mercy which was going
on, the almost unbounded sin and evil of the world,
and still the voice of mercy pleading. Referring to
the special object of the association, Mr. Collinson
said the temptations of a young man were legion,
meeting him at every c irner of the street, and, worse
than all, they met him iu the wiekedoess of his own
heart, from which temptations first of all sprang ; and
they must think God for such an wociation.—The
address was an excellent one, and tivetted the attention
of the audience throughout.
The Rev. E. Feascut (of Bridport), then
addressed the meeting on "Daily Life and
Work." Work, he said, was no curse, and that
man was the happiest who was the boniest. It
was an ennobling thing and Christ had sanctified it for
ever. Whatever was to be dour, let it be done to the
best of their ability, and if a no in c insiders' he had
mistaken his v. cation, don't let him spend the time in
useless grumbling, but do the best he could. The
speaker also spoke on the use and abuse of leisure,
alluding to the fashinnoble foible+ of the present thy,
not forgetting even bicycling. La duty sway them in
everything they did, for duty meant right.
Mr. HIND Siena was the next speaker. If he
could say anything to-night that would lead one
young man to realise practically what the grand
object of the T.ILC.A. wan he was sure he should he
delighted that they came here to-day. He
believed, and he VII sure their dear chairman
believed. in practical remit,. He was quite
sure there had been g nel oils that Altera sin.
There ha I been a Divine influence pervading their
gathering': there had been a spirit of enquiry and of
interest shown such as had gladdened their hearts.
Questions had been propounded, the answering of
which would be the opening up of • new sphere of
Christian service in connection with their Young Men's
Christian Amociation—(applaum)—and he doubted not
that after prayerfully considering the subjects brought
before them that 'afternoon they would be enabled to
set to work ere long in the direction they had been
speaking 'about, and that this would be rec irded as •
red-letter day in Pm history of the Young Men's
Christian Aesociation as starting that object
(Applause.) If they could have the grand object of
the association accomplished, one definite case, *what a
good thing it was I What was the main object, the
primary object, that which should be the all-absorb.
leg object ,if the Young Men's Christian Associati in
It was nothing less than the conversion to God of
young men. (Applause.) Whatever agency might be
employed, whatever they might attempt t udo, ri"rhiee
would satisfy them unless that object be accoe
Their °Wert was to bring young men to see NM as
their mil, present, and living Saviour. It warn the
grandest of all objects compared with which every-
thing else sank into insignificance. The salvation of
young men, and their deliverance from the bondage of
min, from the galling power and bondage of sin, Into the
glorious liberty, and light, and joy, and image of the
Son of God—that was their work. Another of their
principles was that young men, having hoc one
disciples for Christ should be His diligent disciple, and
carryon the work far and wide. They had been dis-
cussing the way of extending the Y.M.C. A. to the
villages by such an agency—young men for young men.
The testimony of a young man to • young min was a
powerful agency for good. They would like to see a
vigorous work done, but thank God for what had been
done already in the extension of Christ's kingdom. The
speaker referred to the work in America, in which the
Inscription " Y.M.C.A." was to be found all over the
country. Not only did it Ino the Young Men's
Christian Association, but " ou may come again."
and solo "You may companions aid." Don't look
at it from a selfish point of view, asking what
it wield do for one's self, but see what good it will do
others he joining. Among the many interpretations
of the" Y.M.O. A." was this, which must press upon
each member—" You roust oonse:rata all." There
was never greater need for whole-heartednese than in
the present day, and he prayed that each one should
give tneir heart to the work. Mr. Hind Smith's
address was full of interest and most impressive.
Mr. Alderman Coasts, President of the Dorchester
Branch, said whilst they must feel thankful to
Almighty God for every blessing, he IVY sure they
wished to express their thanks to the instruments
through which they received the ble.sing. He pro-
poseda vote of heartiest thanks to all those good
eods who had come to address them. (Applause.)
Mr. DIXON gave a cordial invitation to any young
man who had not attended their meeting., or any who
might be anxious to find out he was a sinner in the
sight of God, and that he is saved in Christ who loved
him ; it was that such an one should know the joy of
eine forgiven, of iniquities covers I, the My
and peace of boring his sine laid on Xing, that
he might know that their Lord had laid on Hint
the iniquities of us all—it was for this reason
he made this invitation. It was for this that he
asked them, an a young man to young men, to go
with them to their meeting(' and easooiations. It was
but a humble room. but they had found it blessed.
There were many present that night wh if time per-
mitted, could stand op and testify to the good
they had received there; and it was that more
good might be done that be asked them to come
with them for reading and prayer on their Thurs-
day evenings cad their Sunday afternoons. If
they had any burden of sin, or any one whom they
might want to be prayed for, they would be glad to
bear them in prayer before God at their Saturday or
Sunday evening prayer meetings. Therefore, as •
young man, he did offer them • hearty welcome, and
he thanked God for the privilege of ierit4ell
them. Hs begin I to second the vote of
thanks to Mr. Williams and to Mr. Hind
Smith for coming and speaking to them. He
little thought they would come so soon. lie heard
Mr. Williams was going to be in the neighbourhood,
and he WU not always to be found &cress this part of
the country ; but as he was at Bridgwater he thought
he might pay them • Agit at Dorchester. And he was
mire everyone present, and many more if they had
been able to woe, and had not the btoleolutoy of the

yliabod.

means of the greatest good to the young men around weather prevented them, would be united in thanking
him. He might mar to others—" C4.me with us and Mr. Williams and Mr. Hind Smith for coming an
we will do you good.
" That was what wee wanted. speaking not only u they had that night, i.ut •no in
When one young man felt he had got that precious the afternoon. It would, he Moe sure, give fresh
treasure, the gift of eternal life, ant felt he had &hope impetus to their Dorchester Assmiation, and to every
for heaven, the object and aim of this life, it was then Aesociation in the country. (Apolause.)
he wanted to lead other young men to now of the The CHAIRMAN thanked them for the compliment.
Saviour, and feel that same joy. Therefore he thought Ile had hal a thoroughly eioj 'yable day. lie briefly
they needed to heartily praise God for such • work as touched on the Young Women', Christian As,ociation,
these Associations were doing; they
needed to praise humorously reworking oo the very groat responsibility
Him and pray that the work may increase, that many that rested with the young ladies of Dorchester. He
' more young men might cme out boldly, and that understood they had an excellent missionary connected
,there might be &Artist army in the country of those with their society. They hal been discussing in their
, wbo were true soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Age , Contereoce the advisability of their missionary giving
gientie.) some portion of his time to order to start a work in
Tbe Ftev. J. 'Marrow M. A.. next spoke on t the villages. It c mild not be done, however, without
n Influence." He first expre.sed his exceeding ' • little c ,st —now, who was willing to help,
=gure at bang. present at the various meetings in order to extend the blessing to the young
the da. In the course of his address the rev, men in the villages, who were wanting to
gentleman sail. It waa sometimes a•ked—Who are hear about Christ? It would cost, he was told, about
Men of influence? Again and again they heard one £l2 a year. They thought nothing of that in London;
and another referred to as • man of great influence. , it it was £1,200 they might think something of it.
But allot as had influence. and we are exerting it, and Why not make it EU • year ?
We are receiving It. Alluding to the various influences ii r. Hilton said he should be glad to receive the
which each and all exert through life, even the names of any contributors
important influence which our very birth was capable This meting, which had been full of interest
of exerting, he said there was nothing that might not throughout, then cloned with the Doxology. Appro.
be a made • source of action on other minds, and priate hymns were sung during the evening.
towards the formation of other men's characters. Then Mr. Curtis presided at the harmonium.
there was the influence which was exerted designedly, --e.
and that exerted unconsciously. There was a great WEYMOUTH.
deal said about the active influence of Christian men, m
AIM A m ILICTOTAL OAMPAIUN is being opened for the
but not eo much about the unconscious influence autumn and winter seu,n. Gloucester-street school.
which they were continually exerting. They had 5.,,,,as was the scene on Wednesday last of • gathering
heard that day of the won&rful influence of • few to hear Mr. Raius, of London, wad • few friends, rem-
words or of • single sentence. Man, it was der a short programme at the beginning, as follow.
said, was sometimes converted by bearing, it ltecitatio, "'rho Robin's New Year, Miss Lettie
might be, • single sentence. Nw, he thought there King ; song, "A Warrior 111 d," Mr. Crocker ; song.
was a great deal that was misleading In all the" " The Englishmen," Mr. Howard. Mr. H. J. Rogers
representations. The influeccee that bring a man to accompanied on the harmonium.—Alderman Thomas
Christ were manifold, and they were exerted upoa provided, and stated that, having s-en the terriblo
him from all Christian source., from the verY heifi'!' effects of strong drink (he being an old member of the
suing of his life. (Hear, hear.) The influences of his Board of Gua.diens), he had bec me at dal abstainer,
boom remained with him, and would remain with him hoping to lend a helping baud to any who hod f Alen
till his dying day, as would the influences of the school into the sin of intemperance.—Mr. aline then made
and the instruction be might have rec.ived there, an excellent speech, and "God Save the Queen"
And when es ample' were put to, want of a man coming closed the proeeedings.
to Christ through • single sentence uttered in his WASTING WATKIL—At the Borough Petty Sessions
hearing, he would ask—What made that sentence on Friray, b -fore the Mayor (R. N. Howard, Esq.),
intelligible to him, and what made that impression Dr. Drew, B. ilophi..a, F.sq., and J. Loathe. Esq.,
upon his mind? (Hear, hear.) Were there not Francis William Frampton, who occupies No. 1,
Influences before that prepared his mind for it? H l--e I enning place, Dorchester-road, was summoned for
bad lived in • heathen fond, and seamiest people who wilt ully wasting water, belonging to the Weymouth
bad not had those Christian influences that TUGS con- wmar Company.—Mr. pally Keener appeared
on
tinnally 'tontine about soeety amongst us, and behalf of the Company, and stated there was • cistern
gradually preparing the way for the preacher, or the at this house, supplying • water closer, and the waste
missionary, or the tract; but he did not find in the was so great that it amounted to 4,000 gallons a day,
heathen land, where there had not been that previous which would take the unqmoy's steam engine 18
preparation these wonderful effects of single sentences. minutes to replace by mimping. The company had
Christians must not be discouraged by hearing from never before prosecuted any one in Weymouth for
one and another that God gave one • blessing there wasting water; but it had gone on to such an extent
, and helped to convert another here. But all were that they had put on additional labour to discover
' labouring, and if one gathered—well, "he that eoweth
st
„ where the waste was. He reel the section of the Act,
, and be that respeth rejoice together." (Applause.' ai which imposed • heavy floe upon people wasting
we had not been markedont as thehappy reaper., on't water, but the defendant admitting the offence, Mr.
neglect the sowing, for in due time "we shill reap if Hooper suggested that it might be met by a fine of
we faint not." (Applause.) Only take cue that the 54., and the costs of the Court; he did not ask for the
direct influence which was sought to be exerted was &deo:era's fee.—Delendant admitted the waste, but
not counteracted by the indirect and silent influences, did not know it was so much.—Tue Mayor told him
Let them take cure that their lives should be uniform the Water Company were acting very fairly by him,
in all their bearings, and towards the achievement of
and imposed the fine of ss. and outs, as suggested by
that one great object of Christian men—the advance- mi. H.apar.
runt of Christ's kingdom in the hearts of our fellows. Dating AND LARILEIB.—John Bilke, who had not
The Rev- E. W. COLUMN/N. M.A., delivered • long ago been brought up for another offence, NMI
stirring address on "The Love of God." lie cull
chuired on Friday with he drunk and riotous and
not but feel it • privilege be hol been asked to take refusing to quit the &menet Hotel, when directed to
part in this grand institution, tho Y.M.C.A. He wee h iv', also with plying for hire without a licence, and
quite sure the young men of this town knew how fu, ater with driving furiously through the streets of the
heartily he sympathised in the work. The subjoct borough. —At three o'clock on the afternoon of the
that had been given to hint he conceived to be one of 26th, P.C. Barrett saw prisoner in charge of • cab
very great difficulty on account of its length, breadth, with three or four in it he was galloping up the hill on
depth, and height. One hardly knew where Ii begin, the Dorchester.road, mid directly he saw witness he
or what topic to take which would interest one most. pulled up, but immediately after he went as fast as
The love of God I They could not measure it, they
ever. He was not whipping but it was &thoroughbred
could not fathom it, and they never could really horse, and defendant encouraged it to go last—The
understand it. They had A finite intelligence, but landlady of the Somerset Hotel, Mrs. Woodland,
when through the grace of God their intelligence was
stated the defendant was labor house on the 26th, and
infinite then they would b- ale to understand it. He because he hal enough to drink already, she refused to
was glad of an opportunity to speak on this subject serve him, when he became abusive.—lt was also
for one reason, because he thmight there was a matter proved that defendant had no linear:ie.—The Mayor toll
about which they as cle.gy aid ministers were at defendant he was liable for three offences, the most
times (he thought very often not willingly, not serious of which was the furious driving.—Defendant
intentionally) liable to be misunderstood. They stated the horse ran away, and he could not stop it.—
" '--t be led to represent God as a ju.-t God, and
-- . In answer to the Bench. Sergt. Harvey stated that
- some ' - - - - • . . .... , . . . -

Mr. Beweey bad had 'a
ctig ki1:01‘ by defend-
ant, and Mr. Eliot, geeing the danger from
defendant's driving, had had to turn out of
the way.—Mr. John liewsey, who WY in Court,
offered to give evidence at the request of the magis-
trates, and he spoke to seeing defen lant driving
furiously, • carriage was drawn up to be out a the
way, and witness tried to get his dog out ~f the way
also ; hut whether it was the noise of the carriage
confused the dog, he could not tell; the animal did
not get clear, and was driven over and killed,
and defendant went on without stopping; in fact, he
male no effort to etop the horse.—Defendant said he
could not help himself, he c buldu't stop to save him-
self, leaving out fo a dog. Mayor toll
defendant it was a very serious ca-e, and at would
have been much more serious if the furious driving
hal been within the borough. That cue wee
dismissed; but the defendant was going on very badly;
only a short time ago he had been eninm no t and
fined, and now other offences were proved ag
him. For the two latter ones he was fined L 5, or II
days' bard labour for each offence. He asked for
time to pay ; but this was refused.