The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-04-14 00:00:00

Zomersetobirt.

YEOVIL—The usual monthly meeting of the
Band of He was held at the Hall of the Institution
on Wednesday. There was • large number of young
people of both sexes, who gave numerous recitations,
and sang several pieces in • very creditable manner.
Mr. Seward presided at the piano. At the close of
the proceedings, • petition to parliament received
numerous signatures in favour of the Bill for closing
public homy* on Sundays.
VI:BTR Y MILTING. —The usual Easter Vestry for
the appointment of churchwardens was held at St.
John's Vestry-room on Thursday last. The attend-
ance was not numerous. The Rev. H. J. F. Thomas
presided, and announced that as the present church-
wardens were willing to stand again, he should be
happy to nominate Mr. Manning for re-election as
minister's churchwarden. Mr. /lensing asked
whether it was not usual to elect fresh church•
wardens every year. Mr. Lyon replied that each
was formerly the case, but that the committee had
resolved that if the churchwardens worked harmoni•
(roily together, and efficiently, they should be
eligible for re-election The work of the church
and ehurch-yard had been at • standstill for want of
funds, but the chancel was now about to be repaired,
through the kindness of Mr. Ifessiter, and be
trusted the work of the church.yard would he re-
commenced soon, under the direction of Mr. Vining,
who had thus far carried out tbe alterations very
satisfactorily—After some further discussion, no
the tropositien of Mr. Mayo, seconded Ey Mr.
Curtis, Messrs. Manning and Vining were re-eleoted
unanimously. Mr. Curtis then complained of the
great cost for keeping the church bells in repair, and
ingested that a charge should be made to the
ringers for ringing on occasions of private rejoicings.
He thought the charge should be 10a for a day's
ringing, and fis. for a peal, the money to be
applied towards keeping the hells in repair.
Mr. Mayo remarked that within his reed-
lection, the bells had cost £6O ayear for repair.
Mr. Hill said that at that time the expense was de-
frayed by subscription.—Mr. Cox objected to the
charge. There were now only two or three ringers,
and if the men had to pay for ringing, no one would
be induced to prig:Aims in order to learn to ring
them, and they would have no ringing at all—unless'
incase of more than common urgency, and then they
would have to send ten or twelve miles for ringers. I
—Mr. Hill suggested that in no case should the I
charge be more than 10a. and that it should be left
to the discretion of the churchwardens to charge less.
—Mr. Cox did not think • charge was at all justi-
Gable, and that if they did make one they might as
well take off the ropes at once. —Mr. Manning said
he bad "sounded" the ringers on the subject, and
they had offered no objection. —The Chairman said ,
if the money was not thus applied, the ringers would
spend it in beer. They now often made a practice
of carrying large quantities of beer into the belfry.
fle thought if they wanted beer they should go out
and drink it—Mr. Curtis then moved, Mr. Hill
seconded, and it was carried unanimously, "That a
sum not exceeding 10a be paid to the churchwardens
for ringing the bells ire private occasions, before per-
mission be given them to ring, such 1110007 to be
applied to repair tho bells." The proceedings than
terminated.