The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-04-03 00:00:00

GOOD FRIDAY WITH THE ANWLEYANS
IN DORCHESTER

Was one of the to. trim-net:al and joyous days
ever experienced in mnection with Methodiem in the
county town .4 Derek. Alvat five. years air it WM I
decided to erect a new chapel, the old building in
Durngatekreet being far too email for the fast increas-
ing congregations. A suitable cite SIMn obtained, and
the noble edifice in Smith-street is elle of the gteateet
ornemente to the town—a building worthy of any
wet...hipper., and in which meeinble from Sunday to
Sunday large cengregatione. lint to secure such a
building a vast emu of y Wag raj:aired, atneunting
to several the:minds of ;allude, and to get thin the
friends were deters:tined. None know better hew to
"cilia the wind' than the Weeleyans, and none are
more persevering and self-sacrificing in their efferts.
So they net to work, and the fine meeting wan hell;
the Rev. J. Jackson Wray attended, and, although
the friends had expected a successful meeting and
promisee of subscriptions M the extent of several
hundreds of pounds, they were surprieed, yet grati-
fied, to find at the cloee that, under the able and
winning remarks of Mr. Wray, they had nearly
£1,200 promised. We well remember Mr. Wray
saying he wanted to make it a Haman.' pound meet-
ing, and experience has tanght its that what he deeires
In this respect he generally eucceeds in getting. Hem
pardon us we feel sure Mr Paying " lie's a capital
beggar !" But then he gave us something in return,
for, well pleased with the meeting on his first visit, he
agreed to give a lecture for the benefit of the chapel;
and many will remember the able manner in which :
"Huh Latimer'a Life" was brought before a crowded
room. Well, this fairly tasked the new Wesleyan
Chapel erojeet in Dorchester, an.l now the building
stands "in very (my ciremnetancee." The Wesleyan
Chapel Buildieg I 'efutnittee had promised a free grant
of kr* and a lean free 1.1 interest .4 £2OO on condi-
tbm all the remainder wan provided by Good Friday
last. A noble effort had been made, but the friends
were exhorted not to look at what they bad done in
the pant, but to look forward into the future and nee
what they had to do, and how much they could .lo
toward. it. An all are aware, at the tail end of a ;co-
-1 ject there is not generally no much interest evinced as
lat the beginning, but.this was net the case with the
Dorchester Circuit Weeleyans ; all seemed determined
to make the last meeting a thorough success, henoe
the fact that friend* from Whitechurch, Dere Heath,
Piddletrenthide, Sydling, and other distant parts of
the county assembled, and many showed their
sympathy in a practical manner with the Dorchester
friends. In order to secure the grant and loan from
the Conference, there remained a little over £lOO to
raise on Friday, an.l the (fiends were so sanguine of
success that in ailing Mr. Wray to attend they told
hint they. had made bp their minds to clear off the
sum required. Mr. Wray had confidence in Dorhes.
ter, and although, as the rev gentleman informed us
during the day, he had received no leas than 93 Repli-
cations for his services on Good Friday, dating as far
back as a twelvemonth previously, he decided to coins
to Dorchester, averring as his reason that the hearty
manner in which they had received hint lint time ",lid
his heart good." But we hal latter net say more
now lathe praise if the membero of the Church, jr
they hay be led to think .4 what they have dene,
rather (as they were exherted at the evening meet
ing) than of what the Great Head of the Church
has wreught in their mulct. To turn to the emceed-
Inge of Friday, the Rev. Jackson Wray was announced
to reach a sermon in the chapel at three o'clock, by
which time a good cengregation had amemble&
Wesley's beautiful hymn
"What shall we Mfr. emir fool lord,
Poor nothings for Ills boundless grace?"
commence.' the sm.', ice, and the lemon was the 79th
Psalm, after whieh the e7th Hymn was sung, and Mr.
Wray mlested as Ida text Zechariah xiv., 6 and 7 v.—
" And it shall come to in in that day that the light
shall tat la clear li.or ilark ; but it Mr dl be one glay
which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night
hut it shall come to pass that at evening time it shall
be light." The sermon was It masterpiece of eloquence,
awl, as a speaker in the evening described it, a rich
spiritual treat. Mr. Wray, after • brief introductien,
maid there wan no doubt that the prophecy in the text
referred to mine peril in the history of the Jewish
people, but scholars were divided in °einem AA to the
exact period. But te whatever time it referred in
their laikory, it referred alike to the Christian Church,
whorl) the .11esiish people repreeented. The experience
of the Chorch was alas sleecribed in the text —some-
times it wee kende, at others :outshine. It had heel
to paste throu-gh fleeces conflicts, through fires of
martynlone and its torn and bleeding feet hail had to
trayel over many thorns and briars. Si, ale.. Wasit in
the Christian's experience. There was not one but
had had ti lass through all thin, not one that had
had all green swarilaseleunshitte in his murnev.rot.one
that hail bad all clouds and darknem- sometimes it
wee one, and C the other. The preacher then
fully and ably reviewed the text in its various phases,
and in conclieling beautifully peurtrayed the end of
all the tears and eerrew—the haven of eternal rest,
where there will lie ne night, Ina %there the Christian
will be at rest for ever and ever, The oars-ice was
concluded by singing the well-known hymu--•
" Gal moves in a nu-sterna.. way
Ills woudera to perform."
At five o',-lock there wee a ;alai.. tea in the Corn
Exchange at which about :ea attended, and the fair
ladies at, the various " tray.," had a very bm.s. time.
As seen as tea was tier the maim Was cle:vred awl
preparathei made for the mere eeriono part of the pro-
gramme—the " 'melte..." meeting in the evening, for
the Weeleyans believe in doing the thing well, end a
crowded room was expected, and obtained. Mr. G.
Crocker, Pier., presided, and on the platform were :
The Rev. Jackson Wray, the Rev. W. Allen, tke Rev.
l'. I tamly, Mr. Crocker, Mr. Cole, Mr. Dane, Mr.
Wright, Mr. Riggs, Mr. Keats. Mr. Barter. and Mr.
G. Wright, .isitsr. Several speakers hail been
annonneed, lett Mr. Wray is a hint in himself, and he
very well filled up the time. for with the excepthin
a few remarks from the Rev. \V. Ahleii in introducing
the chairman, and a few from Mr. Crocker in 4opetting
the meeting, no one elm spoke.
The Cuefetvi Ai announced that he had receiv ad a
letter had pest off ce order Mr n guinea from Mr.
of Millaree Pert, who had been asked to pro-
tile, hut wise was preeented, by other engagements.
attending ; and also one from Mrs. A. Cox, of
Affpuddle, whose little child " would tiku to have a
stone in the new building," and enclosing a sovereign.
The Chairman then asked Mr. Wray to address the
meeting.

The Rec. J. Jacesoe WRAY spoke id the exceeding
pleasure he felt in joining in their futivitiee that day.
Ile well remembered their meeting about five years ago
•.d,i,e; 9,c expectatione of everybody were surpassed by
the voitinaary ,:tconie of offerings to the eatue of God.
It was an old S., were') which raid " Well begun
is half done,' and awl: a betekened a successful
termination at the einninn ts.nt. 11.: hoped they
will all make up their mimic that eaening
cessful termination of their efforts. He had met his
old friend Mr. Itudgett (who presided at their first
meeting) on the platform many times since, and be
had always ,Itoke with pleasure of their l)orchester
meeting. He (Mr. Wray) had, box ever, seen many such
meetings, which he thought augured well for the
fii•itre snare.; of the Ilethodiat Church. Mr. Wray
thgt.;:tx.k.: id another aspect of their work—not that of
building audt-,ls bid a great work underlying all the
rest —the noMe Wort, itT he!ping forward the great and
glorioue cause of winning !YAW for Christ—a wort
which they ili I not intend to brit e up. it. e,urted
them to stand by their old lanilmarke —they bade new
chapel, but not a new Gospel ; a new pulpit, but not
a new ministry : they might have as much improve-
ment sa they liked in their singing and praise. Mr.
Wray then referred, in rather severe terms, to the
FOI.Erj ritualism, and infidelity of the age, but Said
he did not bodeg that England was ever so religiously
and philanthropically gtrc.,7 for the world's benefit u
lat the prevent time. Much i.ad bc.gz nail about the
I indifference of the people, but he lielieveu that if
they were to build a chapel v.apai.h. of holding
10,000 persons in the very heart of feindon, and
eseed in the pulpit a man who wall preach the
aiming g Christ with a heart warmed with
love to Goa, :rho felt the power .4 that ....Tel in
his own aoul, be wont.; Kt! that chapel in feys than
twelvemonth. This was an at. cf literature, and
the mighty urea. WiA never no powerful in. own' but
with the exception id a certain class of literature none
. .

had so much circulatim a, thorough gospel sermons.
Mr. Wray referred to the immense circulati. n accorded
to Mr. Spurgeon's sermons, and then, passing on,
noticed the religious liberality of the age, remarking
that never was there such a strong stream of charitable
benevolence flowing as at the present time. The
works of prophecy were ably dealt with, and the rev.
speiser touched upon the aspect of affairs in the
remas;girg there seemed to be every reason to
expect th.:t God was about to fulfil his word by the
overthrow and ciiesi!ntson of the Turkish Empire—
the country of the fah.: prophets." Mr. Wray
remarked he hal omen hat travelled away from has
point, and he rensimksi his hearers tilat having
obtained • financial inccess they must now look for a
spiritual blessing, and he was sure they would get it.
for God always help those who help themselves.'
If they looked back upon the history of th.a Methodist
Church for the mut lifts- years they a ould find thsit in.
proportion to the tutu to G.r, caw, had been
restored the gift of souls. Dr. Punslsm had made
, some remarkable statements and statistics in regard
to this recently. They hod 4s-en, and they would
get, and now let them put the Lorct to the test for had
he not said "Prove me, and see if I will not open you
the windows .1 heaven, and pour you out a blessing.
:hat there shall not be room ennu4h to receive it."
The importance of earnest private prayer was en-
forced by the speaker, several instance.; recorded in
the Bible referred to, ant anecdotes given of cases in
which prayer had been answered- When Peter was
cast into prison, and whilst chained hand and foot
end guarded by soldiers inside and outside of his cell,
Bare sea a little company of faithful worshippers
who were engaged it earnest prayer in a little cottage
near, and roes, while they w.re vet crying " Lord,
save Peter." their !Reyes was; arisWered. and Pe:er
stood at the door of the cottage, the locks and boad
the prison doors had been burst asunder. and Peter ,wit
at liberty. Learn, said Mr. Wray, from this circum-
stance the mighty power concentrated in earnest,
believing irayer. That Church will prosper moat
which has ate motive power in the member's closets—if