The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-09-18 00:00:00

SYMONDSBURY HARVEST HOME.

This festival took place on Thursday lest, 00 which
I ocemient the village WWI gaily decorated with arches at
various porta. One in front of Mr. Pope's boom was
eomposed of evergreens and flower., another at Hr.
Pittleld's gateway was formed of laurel and dahlia.,
with ears of wheat and oats, haying on one side "Glory
to God on high," and on the other "Alleluia," with •
sickle above and • ecythe beneath, swathed pendant, to
show that their labours were over for this year, tee
arch being surmounted with ears of wheat. There was
another arch in front of the church, of evergreens and
flowern interspersed with wheat and barley, and one at
the gateway of the church, the work of the Rev. H.
Rawlinson's gardener, which was composed of laurels,
German asters, and hydrangea.. There wee also an
elegant green floral arch at Mrs. Pitfield's, Higher
gype, interspersed with corn, hydrangeas, and Prince's
feather. The bells rang out merrily and • flag floated
on the tower of the perish church, at which • special
thanksgiving antes was held at 3.30 p.m. The
prayers were rid by the Rev. H. Rewlinson, the
rector, the first lesson being read by the Rev. J. L. L
Fulford, and the second by the Rev. G. F. Brown,
curate of Bridport The hymns sung were appropriate
to the occasion, 196, 197, and be from the Sarum Hymn
Book. The sermon was preached by the Rev. J.
Stevenson, incumbent of Se John't Weymouth. from
Jeremiah v. 24—'Neither nay they in their heart, let
no now fear the Lord our God, that ;Petah rain, both
the former and the latter in hi. wawa : he reeeeyeth
unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest" Jeremiah
remarked of the Israelites that they did not recognise
the hand of God in what wa, going on around thorn,
they looked on what "ma about them, they received
the rain in its season when it was wanted, and they had
the appointed weeks of harvest, but had no thought of
Him, the cause of it all. A harvest time suggests thoughts
we should not let slip, when after the anxiety of the
past year the grain is stored in, it is • remembrance to
as of the time of the flood after which when the earth
came forth God said that it should not happen agate
and that seed time and harvest, summer and winter
should not °ease. The Lord smelt the sweet savour
and promised that He would not destroy the earth again.
Seed time and b t mine round unfailingly because
blessed bs 0-id, his mercy has not failed which blesses
guilty man : which sets the rainbow of hope in the dark
aloud., of that hope which tells of grace, sparing, bless-
ing, comforting, even when the clouds of chastisement
are gathering round us. What biasing. these
yellow fields will be if they teach people to lean
on Go I, and look to him for support. Very little
may fall to Lis lot, but how full to over-flowing is
his portion, what • harvest of joy he gathers in
who thinks of the Father in heaven in all this, and puts
his trust in iiihn that looks on the evil and the good,
and sends His rain alike on the just and unjust. The
blindness that abuts its eye to all this may well provoke
the judgment of God, and bring down punishment on •
nation. On such • day as this we ought to' look back
and see how beautifully everything has been ordered to
benefit and enrich the fields of the earth. God had
been over all, the elements this year had seemed to
unite to benefit this earth. He had directed them,
what ought oar thoughts to be therefore towards Him
The glowing sky am: teeming earth declared the glory
of the Creator, and should man make no effort, ehould
he be alone silent in the work of praise? We ought to
recognise that power in whom our very breath is. our
Father and Saviour, and strive that all we have, body,
soul, and all, join creation in ooe thanksgiving service.
He then allailed to the alms to he collected that day,
which lie said would be given to the pretty little church
of St. Pants, Hroadosk, an object specially commending
itself on them on a day like that; be hoped they would
render not a mere cold profeston of the lips, but a deep
heartfelt service, to prove they were not unmindful of
what was going on aroun4 them. The Church awaited
a great harvest festival after the final overthrow of its
enemy ; oh I what • gathering it would be of all the
fsithful servants of God ta worship and rejoice before
Him in one never ending thanksgiving. God grant us
all gram that we may no at, pray, and work, as those
who are speeding on to participate in that greet work
in its glorious maturity. The collection at the close of
the sermon amounted to £3. The church was we
prettily decorated for the oetweion. Around the waU
at the beck of the altar was a wreathing of yew, inter-
spersed with apples, ears of barley, and Wherries, on
the wall being triangles ef scarlet geraniums and wheat
woe, the whole surmounted by a large cross of white
hollyhocks embedded in moss, underneath which hum'
clusters of rich purrle grapes. At each side of the Gross
was • miniature wheat sheaf, and on the altar were
platted two larger sheaves of wheat with omelet
geraniums twined round them. Along the altar rails
was • wreathing of try Interspersed with mita and cap-
sicums. The two arches over the central aisle had vety
pretty wreaths of laurels, studded with German aster,
and tufts of bearded wheat at the top. The pulpit and
reading desk were both decorated with wreaths of
clematis and bop. In the centre of the singing gallery
WWI a handsome Maltese cress of moss with scarlet
geraniums in the centre, enclosed in • circle of yellow
oaleeolaries and ferns, on each side of which were three
circles interlaced, composed of scarlet geraniums, wheat
ears, and leaves ef the silver -lined geranium with
cherries in the centre. Along the gallery ran • wreath-
ing of ivy, dotted with eel hollyhocks and oats. On
the foot was a smaller arms of white immortelles on
mom, with a bordering of silver geranium leaves and
ferns. The effect of the d.eoeaüoos allottliber sees
very chaste and goal. The four sheave of wheat were
given away on Sunday after Divine service to the oldett
men and women In the parish, vie.: Joseph Parrott,
aged gl, Joeeph Kingman, aged 79, Hannah Cousins,
aged 87, and Betty Snook, aged 87.
•

. _
After the service in the Church on Thursday, the
labourers on the estate of J. Pope, RN., were Provided
with • substantial supper consisting of • bountiful supply
of roast beef, meat pies, vegetables, plum pudding. and
plenty of beer, in • granary near Mr. Pope's house.
, After supper was over those present adjourned to an
adjoining lien where the ancient automat the labourers
standing round in • circle and singing several time.
"we Wen" was serried out. The custom is • most
singular one, the labourers standing in • erste stoop
' down and er,uocienee longing, gradually raising them•
selves as they do no. and repeat the ceremony several
times, giving loud cheers between, and at the oonelu-
sloe. We were given to unclerstiand that the women
ought to" whoop" as the ceremony is called by them-
selves, forming a separate ring, but on this occasion
however, the men and women joined together forming
one large ring. This having been done the °mousey
returned to the supper room, end the heaths of Her
Majesty and the Royal Family Imre drunk.
Mr. BinoLgcoung then propoesd the health of Mr.
Pope "the founder of the feast," which having been
drunk with musical honours and loud sheen.

Yr. POPI returned thanks and said he was sure he
was speaking the feelinp which were uppermost in
their breast, of gratitude to nod for the beautiful
season they had had. They had been able to aware the
fruits of the earth in first rate 000dition. He could not
recollect a more fay arable mason than the peat one
they had hadj cot enough raio to make them anxious
but taken altogether nothing of any importance had
been spoilt, and he hoped the crop would yield more
than had been expected. There might he • denciency
In ears, but he believed there would be •
great, r weight. He thanked them all for the
way in which they had discharged the duties
of the season, which had bees passed through most
I creditably by them, without say row or disturbance.
The corn had yielded to the 'treks of the reaper in first
rate order, and they were all thankful fork. He hoped
all there would celebrate "harvest home" in • Christian,
sober, and happy manner.
Yr. Pcilwrraa (of the Indian army) proposed the
health of Yrs. Pope, their worthy mistresa, for whom
every one that knew her had a great respect, and he was
sure they would receive the toast with great pleasure.
Yr. POPO returned thanks on behalf of Yrs. Pope,
and said she was always happy to be meted. He had
been married to her 41 years, and living together as they
had all that time, he could speak from experience most
heartily in praise of matrimony.

Mr. POP. then proposed the health of Hr. Fissoptre,
erSo since the last time he was at their harvest home
hal been to India, and was now come home to recruit
u. health, intending to go out sad serve his country
ypia if health permitted him. He was with than in
his youth and manhood, and had always felt great in.
terest in that locality.
Mr. Pingrru returned thanks and said, after an
absents, of It years he wee glad to be there ones more,
many of them no doubt remembered him, but so many
years bad passed since he was last there that others. of
course, could not. His happiest and brightest hays had
hevn spent in Symondabury, and when in India he had
often looked back and thought of it.
. _

- . .
Mr. PLUMPTIIII again TOZ and proposed the health of
the lt,v. W. Pope, be said he need not enlarge on his
merit., as they all knew him. It was the last time they
would be able to drink hii health as • bachelor.
Mr. Pore returned thanks on behalf of his son the Rev.
W.. Pope, and said his son's earlirt impressions were
received,in fiymondsbary and neighbourhood, and where-
ever he went he would feel • great regard towards
tilymondsbuiy. He had not followed the calling of his
fathers but had taken more sacred duties on him and he
boned that by God's blesaing he would do everything to
the glory of God and the benefit of those entrusted to
his charge.
Mr. G. BIDDLIOOMBII proposed the health of Mrs.
Plomptre and said it was the first time he had had the
pleasure of doing so.
Mr. PiAlnerng returned thanks and said he remem-
bered the last time be was there he had to return thanks
for the ladies in general, now it was for one in par-
ticular. The proposer mid it was the first time he had
proposed the health ; this was the second time he him-
self had returned thanks for it, the first being on his
wedding day. He had not the long experience of ma-
triuiony Mr. Pope had, he had only bad about one third
of it but hi* riperienoe fully confirmed him in what
Mr. Pope had said respectiny it.
Mr. PLUMPTRI than proposed the health of their
absent friends Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gond'', and Miss
Pope. for which Mr. Pope returned thanks.
Other toasts followed, including the health of Me.
Holmwood who returned thank,. All the toasts were
drunk with musical honours. . . . .

A great wetly songs were sung between the toasts by
Messrs. Williams, HoLinwood, G. Biddlecombe, 13al1ard,
and others. Some a the young women present also
sang different songs very nicely together. After spend-
ing a very pleasant evening the party broke up about
10 o'clock.

-
There was 'leo a harvest home supper at Mn. Pit
-
field's, Higher Eype, iu the same pariah.