The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-12-10 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

Sintrieintie Cane—On Monday, two men, named
Kellam end Cali, were brought up in onalody before Or
Mayor and J. E. Demi, 11, Hoe.. charged,the former with
stetting • watch, the property of Mr. It. Hood, deliaboiy-
street, Blandforo, and the latter with receiving the
same, knowing It to have been stolen. The particular,
of the cue were these. About 15 months ago, on the
day of the Blandford horticultural chow, a man raiding
at Itu.hton, took a watch to be repaired at Mr. Hood's,
and but-owed another while' it was being done. The
same evening the barrage.) watch MU either stolen
Iron him or he lost it whilst in it pub ic,house in the
town, and noth!ng more wee beard of it till bot
Saturday, when • man named Collins presented a watch
at Mr. Hood's shop, and asked what was about Ito value.
Mr. Hood at ono, identified the watch as the one whit*
he had lent, and on emmining his book, found that the
numbers tallied. Collins, on being questioned, at ones
said that he bad the offer of it front Cog, and Co. on
being Interrogated said he bad it from Hallam. After
beanag the evidence, the magistrates dismissed the
ease, there Witt; De proof brought forward to contradict
Rellam's statement that he had found the watah, or to
show that he h.d been in the some houses. the man
who loot it. The watch was returned to the owner.

OPENING OF THE INDEPENDENT CHAPEL
The puhlia Nervier* In oonnection with the opening of
the new Independent Chapel, Blandford, took plum on
Tuesday Wit, The building, which is in the Venetian
Gothic) style of ambito:oore, from a design by Mr
Sten!, of Warminster, present. • very handsome
appetuanee as men from the principal entr.nce in
Salisburyoitreet, and Goo work which was contracted for
by Mr. Walden of Christchurch, has not only been
most satisfactchily etecuted, but completed three weeks
prior to the appointed time, noneitlistanding that several
additions have been made to the original pl.n. The
building occupies the 1111108 .it• as the old chapel, hut
having at the back • large-deed Assembly•rnom is some
few feet longer. It is of white brick, with red brick
binds and B.th stone dresein" The prineipal entrance
is by open porches, very prettily relieved with carved
decorations. On eitherable are staircases which lead to
the galleries, shut net at the top by • (lased vestibule.
One of the principal features of the place is • very
neatly designed stained glees window over the front
entrance, presented by Mr. W. Vernon. of Dorchester.
in memorial of his brother. The side windows are of
tinted cathedral glass, but oeriainiy do not harmouist
with the other parts of the Molding, haring a rough
and unfinished appearance. The interior is very neatly
fitted up with open seat, of stained wood. The pewee.
are laid with enmuntie tiles of a eery neat pattern. The
galleries may he said to encircle the whole of the interior,
and appear to contain the most comfortable sittings
both for seeing and hearing. The front part is of open
: iron Mork, The pulpit, Warred on • raised stone
platform, is at the west end of the chapel. facing the
entrance, and at the batik is the organ and choir gallery.
The artificial lighta eonaist of five gas pendants from
the roof, which is of open timber, varnished, and of •
very neat appearance. At the back of the chapel and
entering into it by folding doors is • large Amenably.
room on the ground floor, above which is • school-room
capable of accommodating from 100 to Ift) chil
I The chapel is heated with Hayden's hot air apparatus,
and in sest,d for about 450 wor.hippers. The cost of
I erection, which in:lu les ou4officee, Ito, is about £2OOO.

The morning service commenced at • quarter pert
11 o'clock. The chapel was well and comfortably filled
without crowding ; a goodly party of friends horn a
distance were present, for whose accimodatim the
Somerset and Dorset Railway Company granted return
ticket+ at tingle fares. The service was beam by the
Rev. B. Gray, minister of the chapel, giving out the
218 hymn, of the New Congregational Hymn Book
commencing. 'Arise. 0 King offrace, arise." A short
prayer, in which Mr. Gray earnestly implored the Lid of
the Holy Spirit on the services of itie dsy,followed, and
the congregation, led by an efficient choir, then sang
hymn TM, of the same Hymn Book. "LO, God is here,
let us ad ire." The Rev. Mr. Beckley, of Sherborne,
after reading suitable portions of Scripture, offered the
dedicatory prayer, And the third hymn. No. 441—i
Congregational Hymn B ek, was sung—" Spirit Divine,
attend ont prayers." The Rev. D. Thomas, of Bristol,
then ascended the pulpit, and took as him text I
Act xi 23. "Who when he "lame had seen the grace'
of God, was glad, and echorted them all that with
pupae of heart they would cleave unto the Lori."
The rev, gentleman mommenced his excellent and dieply
searching sermon by contrasting the condition of the
Christian Church in the present day with that of the
Aural' of whom the words of the text were spoken, and
proceeded to show that the great danger to Christians
now was • falling into • half-hearted and merely out-
ward profession of Chvistianity. He then proceeded
to give four ',seen" why Christians should be eerniet
and sincere in the curse of Christ. Ist. Became, of the
tremendous and vital truths which Christians profess
2nd. Because earnestness in religion is absolutely
necessary to the advancement of Divine life in the
soul. 3rd. Because balf.heart.dn. In religion is
productive of greet evil to the Church. 4th. Be-
came want of earnestnem in religion is a great injury
to the world. The preacher concluded by imploring
those present in all that related to the welfare of their
own souls, the souls of their children and domestics, and
their fellow-townsmen to be increasingly in earnest,
so would that church shed around it a holy and benign
influenoe, and many yet unborn would bless God for a
preached Gospel in that place.
After the morning service, the friends present
repaired to the Corn Exchange, where a cold collation
wes provided, of which abiiut 150 partook. The tables
were very prettily ornamented with evergreens in pots
sad bouquets, and everything that 'maid tend to the
comfort end pleasure of the party was provided. The
chair was taken by Mr. Jape, of More. supported by the
Rev. B. Gray (Bland ford), Mr. IL Govenia (Dorchester),
Rev. W. Aveling(London),Rev. J. Keynes (Wituborne)r
Rev. Mr. Beckley (Sherborne), Mr. Maher, Mr. H. F.
Fisher, Mr. Steak jun. (Warm(nster), be.
, ko.
After the rogue, the Chairman rose and add he eon-
sidered it was • duty, which he felt confident all would
acknowledge with the greatest pleasure at such •
gathering as that, to propose the health of Her most
gracious Majesty. He could not ask them to drink her
health, for jib, did sobs most respond to it bp drink-
ing that whieh probably some might be unwilling to
take—(lond laughter and cheers). But whilst he did
not ask them to drink her health, he would ank them
to join in the most hearty way in wishing her long life
and happine.., and would call upon them to join in
singing the National Anthem—(applause).
The National A nthem having been spiritedly sung,
Toe Chairman said that in occupying the post which ,
he had been asked to do, he felt very great pleasure in I
taking pert in the very important duties of the day. I
He thought that in meeting as they had done they were
eimbled to feel that they were engaged in a good work,
arid one which to them was both delightful and plea-
sant, but whilst he said this, and Glt it • soave of
happiness to be with them, he trusted that the earnest ,
and solemn address which their excellent brother had I
given them, would hays it. weight on all the engage-1
ments of the day and also on their after life —(hear,
hear). He had asked them to join in singing the
National Anthem, and be eonsidered it wash eir privilege
—he would not say their duty as Nonconformists—to
do so. In former times their position was very different
from what it was now. In the present day he considered
It was right for them, not to glory, but to be thankful
that they were Nonoonformiste—(elisera)—or rather he
would say that they belonged to a free church. For
this was the distinguishing character of their principles,
that each cherish was free to do as it seemed best for
the glory of God, and the welfare of souls. And
It wee • matter of deep thankfulness that God had
spared their beloved pastor to see the completion of •
wort in which he felt such ieterest—(applame). He
earnestly hoped that he might long be spared to preach
the word of life in the newly erected building, and thatl
his labours would be abundantly blessed by God-1
(applause). The church in Flhandford had a somewhat '
remarkable history: three of its ministers had seen as I
many generations pam away whilst fulfilling their
'ministry, and in (animation with that share!" there
were other branches formed, whose influence was being
felt all around—(bear, hear). The happy circumstance"
under which they met was very different from those
of even 40 or 50 years age, when they worshipped in
what some called the "old barns." He did not like
' that name, but at any rate, when they considered what
their fordathers had to encounter and endure, they
had great cause to be thankful. He thought that their
rung People should be well informed on these matters
rid he believed that they were working to this end'
their principles were being better understood'
sad the preju lice. against them were fast giving'
erey—fapPlanse). He trusted the very earnest exhortation
they bad listened to would be deeply impressed on their
minds, and he could not see why when a sermon like
that was preached the friends should not acgsge the
Nervier of • reporter, the sans,r as he saw at M
anrli•"'s ohlellelr so that irithla week the peopie.
I Illeht reed me epla the *du they had listened to.