The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-08-28 00:00:00

ADDITIONAL CURATES SOCIETY.

Special efforts in behalf of the Society for Promoting
the Employment of Additional Curates in Populous
PlareeS were male at the beginning of this week, for ser-
mons were preached at St. John's and at Trinity churches
on Sunday ; „CP) wan collected at St. John's, and
I 19. i. *.tl. at Holy Trinity church.
The public meeting was held on Monday evening at the
Mission room, Chapelhay ; but the attendance wIVI
however, it mostly ronsbite.l of tulle+. Prayers having
been read, they sang the hymn "Torn us, 0 God our
Saviour." . . -

...... .
The Rev. V. F. Winsome was supported by the 11ev..1.
Stephenson.
Mr. RANSOVE rens:lrked that the special object of the
meeting woe to hear alsiut Home Mission Work, specially
that done by the Society for Promoting Additional Curates
in Populous Places. In the large centres of population
sometimes a clergyman found himself a ith the charge of
10,0e0 or 15,000 people, while hix stipend was not large
enough to enable him to procure help, so that he applied
to the aociety. One amietant curate out of seven in
England was provided by this society, and in this p wish '
they had received 4.:50 a year for some years. At present
they had no successor to Mr. Berry ; but that was not the
society's fault ; the money was still offered to them ; but
it must be for the salary of an assistant citrate.
The Rev. Mr. Distr. deputation, said the society was no
stranger to this parish, no that his task was easy. all
could, in Weymouth. me the necessity for additional home
mission work, and it was more especially the case in
larger places. The society's object was note,' much to pro-
vide funds as to help those parishes; who had already pro-
vided part of the funds. There were two kinds oh work
carried on by the society, first, among the large parishes,
where the majority of people, had heard the Word of
God, and the Missionary curate would not have so much
to break new ground, no to help forward work already
begun. Had they ever thought how it raise about that
each parish had at least its one parish church. and some
provision for the preaching of the gospel? These were
gifts from our ancestors, who provided for the spiritual
wants of the population around them in their times. But
they did not provide for England it 4 it is. now that it has
grown to be one of the great countries of the world.
During the sixty years which formed the reign of Cessege
111, the population doubled itself, and it has been
increasing in a marvellous degree ever since. Our ancest sr
had left on this capital system of parishes, awl we most
take it up and improve upon it. Our country is now as a
loan six feet high compared with a small boy sir five yeani
sill, when it is compared with England as it was when the
system of parishes was established. Let him speak
of the advantages of the clergy having an additional
fellow-labourer in their midst. When the clergyman
has ti look after a population of over 5,000 he finds that
he cannot do the work properly, and gradually the people
begin to find it cannot be done atoll; and here the society
steps in, and, with the help of the people infthe parish,
provides the necessary help. He went on to speak of the
other branch of the aociety's work, where new ground had
to be broken. A clergyman had xtated in response to a
challenge in a newspaper that in some of the lowest
districts in a manufacturing town he had found many
people totally ignorant of the existence of God and of
having souls. He instanced a man who had been taken
by lii, father when quite a child into a coalpit, where he
was employed all day long at opening and *Mating doors,
and came home weary late at night So it was with many
others before the passing of the Factory Acts. They saw
that their work was dangerous, that life was very un-
certain, and so, in order to get all the pleasure they could,
they threw themselves with all their energy into the
pleasures of the village fairs, of the public-house, and
others accessible to them, and grew up quite ignorant of
religion and of God. In one place they had a church and
schools, and were going on pretty well till it was chosen as
the place for large shipbuilding works. There the iron
was worked up until it sailed out in the stately shape
going to all parts of the world. In that place a town of
40,0111 inhabitants sprang up: but such a town I It looks
as if all the worst houses had been taken out of the worst
towns and put together anyhow. In such • place as that
the clergyman, when he had done the mechanical work of
the marriages, the funerals, .tc., found that he had no
time to do more. In that town the houses were rim up
quickly, with scarcely any regard to whether they were
wind and water-tight ; but such good wages were found
there that the people went into the houses even before the
sashes were put in the frames or even the doors to the
houses. Really no homes were there at all; the father's
home was at the public-house, the mother's either in the
street or at some other public-house, and the children in
the street. We may have heard a great deal about the
unbelief abroad into, country, but it is produ:ed, not by
the arguments men use or men read, but by what they
see; they know what Christianity promises, and how
little Christians do, and put down to the fault of
Christianity what is really the faults of Christians.
At that town he spoke of you see nothing for
miles down the river but forests of meets of ships, while
over the town hangs a vast cloud of grey awoke, the
ground for miles is black with cinders, and there is no
season there, but one dull perpetual winter. If we read
of the cruelties and the crimes they commit we should
not lay it to their charge, foi they are not worse than
other people. We profit by their labours—labour that
makes the country rich, and they ought to profit by onr
Christian benevolence. When into such a people •
missionary curate comes, he finds himself without •
church or any help, his heart sinks; but he begins by
taking a cottage kitchen for service, which is quite large
enough, next he goes out and speaks to the people. He
himself got on a chair in such a place, a few children
gathered round him, he told the story of the angels and of
the birth of Our Lord, a few people came also and
listened quietly because it was new. And some after-
wards went to his service; then he had to make
the people feel he was their friend, the work
got beyond his power, and then he found the benefit of
some who helped by being missiotaries in turn. A poor
woman converted Isy means of the missionary saw there
were many whom the cleriyman could not reach; she
spoke to him and obtained his consent, went round to the
poor wherever trouble was, read a few verses from the
Ilible, and brought very many to the mission church.
Having spoken of the society's work in its two forms—
that of making the best use of what is left us by our
ancestors, and secondly of breaking up new ground, he
recommended as one means of helping to provide funds
for the work, that of keeping a box, and putting stuns in
from time to time. This society has prospered by God's
blessing, through people making continuous efforts to give
small SUMS to it, and he asked them to appeal for God's
blessing on the society, and for their help.
The Rev. .1. STEPREYSON remarked that the instances
Mr. Day had given them, of poor people working as
missionaries showed what Christain people could do. It
VMS well to remember that in the very darkest places, the
poor people are ready to receive the messenger of Jesus
Christ. It was not true, he believed, that a minister
dared not go into some places ; but • minister who knows
how to do his work can go anywhere. Let them think of
the privileges bestowed tutees us, and may the effect of
the meetings be to give fresh impetus to the Home Manion
Work.
The Rev. V. F. Itursoke said there always had been
found in the offertory dish after meetings of the Home
Missionaries society, a packet containing niany
and bearing the words ' The proceeds of, Hive of Bees."
The kind donor, he hoped, would be able to make his or
her offering as privately as In former time. As to the
society the income of the past year was £72,000 as
compared with the £67,000 of the former year, it provides
stipends for 650 curates, hut there were 400 applications
which it was unable to answer, from lack of funds.
The doxology weaning, the benediction pronounced, and
s • collection made at the doors.

These were undoubtedly the greatest attraction to the
thousando of people who had come from all the neighbour-
ing towns and villages to Weymouth, and who thronged
the Esplanade on Friday afternoon in column many
individuals deep, and reaching continuously from opposite
Augusta Place, all along in front of the New South
Gardens, to the very end of the Pile Pier. The committee
barge was moored rather nearer to the New Quay End
than in some former years, and thus the poorer of the
visitors, who might he disposed to save their pence, by
not going on the Pier, were afforded an equal opportunity
of seeing the sports. It wee estimated that this arrange-
ment in the end made a difference of a thousand leu
people on the Pier in one day. This may perhaps be a
good opportunity to acknowledge the great accommosla-
tion which the Weymouth and Portland steamer Company,
who are also lessees of the Pier, afforded to the committee.
for they not only sent the Prince steamer to convey them
on board the cutter Skylark in the morning, hut also
placed at their disposal a steam launch during all the
afternoon. besides lending and placing the barge from
which the "shore sports" were started. The rating and
other sports were to have commenced at three o'clock,
and the coastguard boats, especially the Wyke boat, were
all ready, their crews in eager expectation of the race,
while Mr. Merrifield, chief officer, Wyke, Mr. Watty„
chief officer, Weymouth, and other officers watched with
pride their fine crew, (rote the barge. There also came
Mr. H. Nangle, who very kindly undertook the starting
of the races, and managed It with that business-like
promptitude and urbanity which characterises him,
Captain !Inbar, who ably officiated as judge, Captain
Mace, harbourmaster, and others accustomed to aquatic
sports. A. good deal of interest and not a Idle hurriding
marked the progress of the following race...—
COASTS/CARD 130A111.—Six sovereigns for hosts belonging
to H.M. coastguard stations. In heats : First, .C 1 10e.,
second, XI too., third, .£1 ; four to start ; entrance fee is,
Four boats pulled in • row to get in line at the start, bat
there sesa a good deal of manteuvring, especially by the
boat that carries! the tricolour, to get a few yards start of
the rest. When they got off, Portland seemed to have a
lead, in spite of all the shouting and waiting; and went
first round the mark. Here there was a geed chance of a
foul, more particularly as sonic silly fellow sailed •
pleasure boat almost across the consist, However, they
skilfully managed to get clear, and then was a pretty
race home, Portland winning by about three lengths, and
Wyke the second boat, being about a length beforeOstnington; the Weymouth men took the best position
for seeing the race—ln the second heat, about half way
up, two of the boats varied the entertainment by • foul,
and Portland was the first boot up to mark, roondini
about a length before Wyke ; in the race home the Wyke
men bent to their oars with a will, and came in after a
clipping race, three lengths in front, amid great cheers.
Osmington and Weymouth held their old position, the
Weymouthians explaining their course by jestingly saying
they were short of fire-wood, and wanted to pick up any
broken oars. In the final heat, there was a very smart
contest, the Wyke rowers again laid themselves into their
work, and, in spite of a respected officers faith in Portland,
the Wyke colours were brought to the front by several
lengths. The results therefore stood thus :
SI:ACM s. ES BOY'S Race:—Six sovereign were offered for
first cites boys of H.M. Naval service. It had been
intended to give these in prizes of LA At gad LI ; but
the officer in charge explained that there were such
marked differences between the beaks a,nd their crews,
that if they raced on even terms, he reuid tell with
certainty the place of each before hand. They were there-
fore divided into pairs, and • prize cf was offered for
the winning boat in each pair. The boys looked just snch
tine stout fellows as would be able, when they got under
way, to cut down anything they met on the water, Yet
did several pleasure boats, including Dome pulled by
watennen, paddle about in front, dangerously near to the
racing boats. Although the boys possessed abundant
strength, it was clear that they had not all of thew been
long used to pull together, for the coxswains had to put
out • good deal of energy in regulating the stroke.
The first pair wore Leopard and Tiger, and after • smart
THE REGATTA race up, Leopard could not keep up the pace on coming
home, Tiger won almost anyhow, and her crew tossed
Commenced on Thursday under favourable circtun• their oars in triumph.
stances ;we say on Thursday, because, although the Second pair: Lily and Daisy then went: but only a few
yachts started from Cowes, yet the finish at Wer yards on they fouled, and bade fair to finish off by a fight.
month wee in reality the inauguration of our Regatta
When they got clear, it was not for long
The following race wee sailed on Thursday for prizes Daisy.
for Lily fouled
,r
In the end Daisy won by about h es lengths.
Third pairs: Hawk and Dove. The Hawk appeared to
presented by the club : —Channel Match from Cowes
be stronger than the Doves; but the latter proved thet
to Weymouth. Prizes: £3O to first yacht of any rig, were birds of prey, too at least, if "catching a crab
within the time of her rig • for find yacht of rig; would entitle them to that name. The Hawk actually ran
different to the above; '220 for first yacht tit' rig away from the Dove, and got home six lengths in front.
different from the above. Starters :—Anstralia, Each winning crew received £2, and then went
schooner, 207 tone, W. Hughes, Ewi. ; Corinne, back to the ship.
pje tone, N. Wood; Eat,ona, ygwl, leo tong, A. D. About this time a party of gentlemen who had been on
Rowley' Florinda, yawl, 148 tons, W. Jessop ; Raven boar! the Skylark, seeing the yacht racing, arrived and
boarded the barge, among them being the Mayor (Mr.
yawl, 61 ton!, Colonel Ste ; Jullanar, 128 Lundie), Dr. Scriven. &,, &c,, and Mr. Graham ably
tons' D. ni'LenY ; Surf, yawl. 54 txes• 1. „ ; catered for creature comforts during the evening, for in
Ada, yawl, 147 tons, H. F. Barclay; Kriemnuaa, truth it became rather chilly Si time wore ea, thimgh the
cutter, 106 tone, Count Batthyany ; Vol-an-Vent, crowds of parole on the Her aad thel Herr QOM Esti were