The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-01-02 00:00:00

THE CHURCHES AT CHRISTMAS.

St. John'. Church WWI decorated not quite Po
elaborately as in former years, in consequence of .he
death of the late Primate. Under the chancel window
was • lattice of evergreens; the lectern and the ; ulpit
were adorned with ivy and holly with red berries ; uori
the ailhi of the windows covered with mon ; the front of
the gallery also was decked with evergreens. a moor
the decora•ors were Mrs. McLean, Mrs. Ash, Mr. F.
Reynolds, Nliss Barnes, Mies Trotter, Mr. A. Combeo,
the organist, and Mr. S. Smith, the clerk.
St. George's Church has been very nicely cleane
up during the summer, and the friends did not wieh
to int-Here with the walls and wood work, se that
the dec rations here also were less elaborate than has
often been the rase. Among the helpers in the labour
of love were Mrs. Bessor. Mr. and Mr. Wood, Mr.
F. Pewee, Mr. W. Dine, Miss Pitt, Miss Lan°, the
Ml.. Hansfords, and other friends. The pulpit and
reading der were panelled in crimson and frosted
silver, with trellis work and wreathing of box an t ivy ;
the galleries hod the text "In the fulness of time Gun
Pent forth his S en," in very pretty erase letters on a
crime 'n ground. The panels at the east end were
611 ed with t..xt, appropriate to Christmas, such as
"Glory t God in the Highest ;" in the chancel were
also displayed banners, bearing eight appropriate
legends, such as "Prince of Peace," '• Glory tt G rd,"
" Glory to our Saviour King.' After the service on
Sunday night, there wee • carol service, when the
following were rag from the Child's New Church
Hymn Benk.-404, 413, 416, 402, and the Withey
carol.—" While Shepherds watched their flocks by
right; also another carol called 'The Anniversary of
Christmas." Between the carols there were two rind
readings, that respecting the Birth of Jeer from St.
Matthews I, 18 to 23,and that about the visit if the
Shepherds, Sc. Luke IL, 7 to 20. The carols wer
exceedingly well sung.
At the Avaleasehe Memorial Church the services on
Christmas Day were attended by • large congregation.
After a shortened form of prayer, the choir sang eon,
carols immediately before the recessional -hymn.
They included "While Shepherds Watched their
Flocks by Night," "in Es I. Gloria," and "See
Amid the Winter'. Snow," and were very prettily
rendered.
The Rector, Rev. J. A. Beazor, preached in the
morning at St. Geore's Church from " Unto us a Child
Is born, unto us a Soo is given," and the Rev. Mr.
Palmer at the Avalanche Church from the text—
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of
whom lam chief." A large congregation areembled
at the Avalanche Church. where the glo m of the
weather outeide wise so great that the chandelier. were
lir/free in the choch with very p city effect, and, with
the pleasing singing by the cook the congregation
will reckon the services at the little mission church
one of their charming experiences on Christmas Day.
St. Peter's Church we. very elaborately decor red
by willing heal., ant so beautiful was the effect in
this charming church that we are tempted to g into
detail. On entering the noble building you pas. under
a large text—" Peace on Barth," displase I in very
artistic letters on a white ground. bordered with ever-
greens; this was the work of Mr. Winter. At the
right hand the font immediately attracts attention,
and here MPS Driver, who always displays • wonderful
amount of taste, bad even ouroared her usual
suoceeses. The bar was reminded with moot, and
the same was let into the carvings, so ea to bring out
the designs into prominence, pretty little wreaths
artistically made adorning the bowl outside. Fr m
the four corners of doe font sprang arches
crossing each other, and at the top was an
elaborate design, resembling • crone with circles
round the int trisection ; this was made in white
cotton wool, frosted and precisely reeembling snow.
On the surface of the inside rested a quantity of the
same, irking as if snow had fallen there, and had
begin slightly to melt, the illusion being mist natural.
The win tow sills in the nave were covered with
crimson bordered with evergreens, and on them were
I Placed Christian deafens in g .14 on • white ground,
such as crosses of different churches, A. and 0., and
embires of the Holy Trinity' above the dodges was
a ridge of white as if snow had been blown in through
tip window chinks, and stoma elated in brad her
thla was cleverly mseased by Mies Annie Gobs.. The
windows in the transepts were decorated by Mrs.
Appleford and Mrs. Johnson, in • sty le similar to those
in the nave, the deelens being vane t. In front of the
lectern stand was a broad crow bearing on the lower
part the sacred monogram LH S. in letters broadly
and very attractively covered with yellow immortelles
on • red ground: this design 'notary. and visible from
a long distance. it was the work of Meeers.:Brady and
Weetbeare. Above this Was the very hand...me silk
banner-cloth worked with keys of St. Peter and
passion flower in silk of the natural colours, and
presented by Mrs. Webster. Misses Agnes an I M try
Clifton adorned the pulpit with evergree. s a id ferns
rowing around the base, there being dotted over a. if
with snow flakes. The design of the whole appeared
to be that of a pulpit decorated with rec. boughs and
ferns, te.c.. and afterward. partly concealed by a fall of
snow, a d the idea was manned with good effect • MI
the front panel of the pulpit was • Latin cr... of holly
andel peeping out from snow ; on the side panels we
Greek crosses and other designs, and on the book Feat
was &eyeteeth of yew sprigs, on which had fallen snow.
The whnle of the pulpit Is a pretty work, and the
carvings lend much aid to the decorators who on
their part chow up everything of beauty by their
additions. It may be remembered that through the
kindness of !Major Peck. ft 8., &chancel screen wa. put
tip about twelvemonths ago, and it remained until the
occasion of Miss Atopleford'e welding, and the Parr
roe of the Major has now been rendered in having it
again erected in all the beauty of its five web.., covered
with evergreen,, the middle and highs t remounted
by a crow The two large pillars supporting the
noble arch of the chattel were enwreathed with
broad bands of ivy leaves, and the gas atanderds and
brackets adorned with evergreen wreaths. The aix
windows of the well.lighted chancel were adore 1
by Mr. Wmtern : funeral wreaths were placed under
the coloured windows erected t the memory of the late
Chi.f.Warder Brooks, and on the 'ills of the other
windows were Placed Russian and Latin crosses, the
colours of them and the gronnitwork being crimson
and white. Mrs Appletonl plat, on the fur panels
of the reredos, golden designs of the ASUUS Del. latin
crow, A. 0., and 1.H.&, and above was bung a ye y
handsome legend in permanent matedal—" I am the
Bread of Life," the capitals Illuminated,
and the other
letters of Church text. This will probably be or of
the standing adornments of the chancel. Among the
united effort
decorators not elready named were t—Miss Ada
wacc.bea.ummAtipfuplic...tiwi-dd
Winter, Mir Hanenck, the Mitre Gibbs. Roo.
anleadighhotiduirnhorwwito.—Tlzleeir.eioserhien
Hardy, Surffeet. 'lmes, and Barnes, Meson,
the effet was quite uniqne in this
tghwiteheanthjOadvilducresshintricintione
tlohoofekccoeh.lu:stt.rfiako.ringly
admin. Hardy, Dimond, and Barnet, who were good
enough to arid la various ways, and the remelt of
Rothey.chuvirc.h
swhireitoi:
anther being Dr. stainer's— Oh thou that tringest
retached in the morning, and in the evening the Rev.
day.

In the Convict Church &Ivo the matrices were im•
prewively rendered. a Chrintsnas carol berg sons, the.
music and words of which were onmpos.d by nee of
the prisoners. The Ray. W. Appleford preached
.on
the mornieg, and the Rev. J. Meigh seamen's chap' day
ha the afternoon.

CHRISTMAS riscouTion AT TM TRRIIE CITADIEL.

On account of so many of the West Surrey Regiment
leaving for India, the decorations at Christmas were
lees attractive than usual—in fact, only two COmP.SIIO
of the Stith Regiment (Second Battalion, King's Light
Infantry) attempted to adorn their quarter.. The A
Company ha' scheesfol appearance; the ceiling was
festooned with long chains of coloured paper and boughs
of bright holly ; over the fireplace warn an arch very
neatly painted by Private Culver; on each aide were
the bonanza of the regiment—Ni,,, Afghanistan.
Bladenburg, Feunter d'Onor, &c. —and the mitt',
" Aucto splendors venires." During the Christmas
dinner, which was abundant and greatly eujovedi
Lieut. Wilbraham visited the men, and after briefly
addressing them, drank to the health of the men
the company. The men returned the compliment by
drinking to the health of the irritant lieutenant 3,14
fvinArm hearty cheers. In the evening there were
an eta singing, and • very pleasant evening was
spent. The Z Company also decorated for the Christ-
mas dinner; there were pretty coloured paper chains
and other festoons, which g..ve the pl.ce a cheerful
appearance. Lieut. Collet, looked in doing dinner,
and drank to the health of hie brave men and they
cheered him in return most heartily. The West Sum/
Regiment dined in two ro-ims. After dinner, Colonel
Watson, Major Tupper, Cart do Mott, Lieutenants
B", R"bridger. Adams, and other officers visited the
men, and wished them • Merry Christmas and a
H,PPY brhw Year. Hearty cheers were given for the
~flf cern.

CHRISTWAT WITH THE PRISON orritten4.
The committee of management of the Portitna
Prison Officers' Mess, which bas now been establisbed
for several months, with so much eatkfaction to the
whole staff, resolved to commemorate ChristntraDel
in • very gessrous and particularly pleasing way I'7 inviting the wife and children of every offiorr to we the
decorations and to partake of their hospitality in Ow
shape of cake, wine, pudding, and fruit. Over rha
entnutce to the mess-room warn a pawn
deleaei. bearing the really good old Foglish word
" Welcome," surmounted by • large raised crown,
around which was a nautically devised Rota':
encircling the monogram of the mess tt p.p.o.ii, '
ornatneuted with numerous rosettes. Over the door
inside was "God Speed," very prettily dose; at the
left band side on another screen la gold letters fee
they ought to be) and over the band of fellowship
"United we ste %a divided WS fall." Opposite wire
two ve approptiais • wl Witted de'ficek"rn '

parity to the Director, Gore..tor, and Staff,'' and
" Compliment. of the demon." At the extreme end
was another device also beautifully executed. viz,
" A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.'
Above the door leading to the officers' kitchen was a
novelty emanating from the caterer, Mr. Riclrird
Noac,r, a full rigged ship in 'treading sail, cleverly
rut out of tinfoil, whether the said ship was
~,,,geirive of the medium by which we receive our
bountiful supplies from other lauds, or the happy days
spent on the ocean IT the happy designer, we do
not know, but, it is plain he has no desire to
forget that. days, the mark of which is Po
unmistakably stamped upon his visage at all
times—the look of a "Jolly Tar." In a smaller room,
up stairs, set &plot for the principal we 'den, was an
..nly but very approjriate device to the occasion,
Go i Save tee Queen," for be it remembered that
amidst the arduous duties performed by a prison
officer, from the highest to the lowest all are loyal, and
rirldly no, for many of theme men were in her Majesty'.
s.rvi s, etcher navel or military, for many years bef.,ra
entering on their present rphere of duty, a great
number of whom wear medal. for actions on era cr land
or for long service", such men as three, it most he
allowed deserve every pipsilde comfort when off duty 'in
t siting .4 their meals. For thin purpose the Portland
Pr POO Officers Meei has bevn established. The rooms
were bonnttfu4y aupplie I with the Carve evergreen.
11,war,14 of 000 per. n. scoepted t'ie kind iueit-itnn
grarioludy allowed by t Governor, ikons Cott in.
Esq., who with Mrs. Clifton and family, Captain and
Mrs. Oak., Deputydloveri.or, Captain Johnson, and
family, Captain and Meter r..musid Rev. W. and Mrs.
Appleford, Ray. 111. C. Shelton, Rev. J. M. If rtthou a,
Dr. Rovnolda, E. I'. Omer, Kai.. Chief War ler,
Mr. White, made an iuspecti n. An interesting
feature was the curing of a large cake by Mrs,
&lithe at the notnnt of the gruinuttee ; this weighed
over 50 tumid., sod was mad., by Mr. Dunkley, our
renowned local tradesman; I.,ud applause greeted ibis
iocidetit, and hearty cheers weir) given for Mrs.
Cake, on whose behulf Mr.Cliftou 'churned thanks,
and congratulated the Aiken, upon their success, which
he raid wee due to Captrin Johanna for the share he
had taken in arranging the mead The genre'
preddrnt of the grmunt em, principal warier, Mr.
Charles Fisher suitabiy responded, thanking the
Gomnur for kiedly:permittrng the families entrancah