The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-10-30 00:00:00

THE NEW 11188I0N HALL.

WINO TEM 100/IDATIOI MIL

Wednesday afternoon was fixed as the day on
which the foundation storm of the New Mission Hall
iu Wiitetreet should be laid. Ltelf.past three srm
the time app &it'd, and by that boor a Large number
of persona bad gathered at the building, the approach
to which had been gaily decorated with a profusion
of bunting :—Amoopt those present Were the Rector
(Rer J. H. SOolVoi R4ll. 0114011 StetlooSO4, Rev. J.
Kennedy, Rev. . Hind, Rev. W. Burrows, Dr.
Smith, Mr. Barrett, Dr. Moorhead, Mr. G. E. Eliot,
Mr. Robertson, Mr. Vineent, Mr. Z. Millet's. Mr.
H. Nang* J
Mr. Gregory, Mr. Ryan, Mr. J. 0.
Bartlett, (oontractor) &a A special form of service
had been prepared, the first portion of which wee
conducted by the Rm. J. H. Boon, and a second
portion by the Rey. Canon Stophenson. Tim
proceeding. commenced by singing the hymn
oommencing " Christ Is our corner Mine "
followed by the 24-1 Psalm, collect., Lord's Prayer,
Apostles' Creed. and a special prayer, invoking the
blessing of the Almighty upon tbe work which had
been taken in hand to the glory of His great name
and the edifice.tion of His Church In that parish and

tTerght;or;iiOOC-1;
Mr, Braun, on behalf of the committee, asked
Dr. Smith to lay the stone. The little building which
wee to be *rooted was the outoorne of a litde effort
made about . oommr of • ('usury ago by a committee
to provide for the better religious instruction of the
classes. They engage@ a mall room in th•
Mrairer Workhonse, on the opposite side of the street
where classes and meetings had been held by their
esteemed scripture reader, Mr. Oliver, occasionally
assisted by the local clergy. It was now thought
time to erect a suitable building. Tbe committee
were able to get • freehold site, and upon that site
they were going to build a plain hut substantial
building, which would cost *boat £485, but by the
kindness of their friends they had already £355,
and be had no doubt by the time the building was fin.
lobed they would be able to hand it over free from debt.
Dr. Smith then laid the stone, titer which he said
the text of what he we. going to say had been
given by Mr. Barrett,
Dr. Sava said: The ceremony in which we are now
engaged is °maths important/a of which it is impossible
o estimate too highly. The foundation stone of the
landing which is about to be erected in this plus has
Aid dedicated to the glory of God in words which are
repeat with the most solemn thoughts which our
ainjaage is capable of conveying. or very many
rearsarast alums have been held andanloue instruc-
tion given to the poorer clause in a room form.
lug part of the old Workhouse. The meetings held in
that room have been most enoosodtil and well attended.
Owing to the large number of persons who have availed
themselves of the instruction given here the premises
at preempt in use have been found altogether inadequate
to their wants, and it has become to proms
• plus suitable to the acooinmodas increased
body of worshippers. The Haase Mission Committee
have succeeded in obtaining an excellent freehold site
in the old 10l with a frontage of @Oft, to the
street and ade of 35ft, A plain Mission Room
(the plans of which have ban prepared by Messrs.
Criakmay sod Sc.) will be built for the use of the poor
in connection with the pariah church. The cost a the
site and of the building will be about £486; £356 has
been already saboaribed (including liberal donations of
£25 from each of our members). £l3Ol. still required,
and I have no doubt that sufficient funds will be
forthcoming to complete the work. The church
has always been willing and anxious to enlarge
bar boundaries and extend her aids and consolations
to all classes of society. oes of the chaucteristice of
Olarieduity. wherein it differs from other forme of
gollgjong faith, is that • To the poor the Gospel is
foundation of our C religion, which for I:Varies has been purifying and regenerating the
world, was laid by Divine wisdom among men whose
lives and labours lay in a sphere considersbly
removed from the higher orders of social life. Through
all the stormy changes which the world has sun, those
imperishable troths taught in the Synagogue of
Jeewssiemn and by the GI adieu shore, lave radiated
to all part, of the habit %hie globe, and enlightened
every civilised community in every period of our era.
In our own country we have seen how the Pagan
and the Druid shrine" melted away before the
glorious presence of the 0 noel. It has warned good
to the Almighty, who rule. Hie universe with the
Infinite wisdom which our minds try to comprehend,
to suffer the mist, of sophistry and delusion for a time
to obscure the lightness of thou truth, which are all
the dearer to us because they have ben maintained
by our forefathers amid per and perseoutions, the
enormity of which we of the present day can scarcely
estimate. living in the resurrection of tU light which
emerged althea ref ormation,and emancipated the minds
of men, we are willing to forget (not tU suffering of
th,se who were born "to bear witness ') but the
history of human error, exemplified in the zeal of those
who walked in the darkness of a perverted faith. The
nightmare of the past has vanished with the night of
Ignorance, which gave the dead delusions birth. But
though our land emerged triumphantly from a
struggle in which other nations have been
less fortunate, the work does not end here. It is not
enough that the spiritual life of a people has been
restored. It is also necessary that the health and
purity of the soul be maintained, and the business in
which we are engaged today shows that if there are
formidable enemies of good with which we may con.
tend, there exists sUll more formidable and more
determined enemies to evil. It is one of the great
mysteries of creation that evil is permitted to exit.
With our limited capacity we cannot comprehend why
this should be. But we know it is here, and we know
that it is always subordinate to virtue, and that the
command tousle to ficht against this enemy in what.
ever form we may find it. The building which is
about to arise on the place where we now sun ii. one
more effort in the direction in which our ('birch has
ever gone. It is right that every aid should be
extended to those whose object is to make the path
of virtue more easy, and the progress of evil, if not
impomible, at least more difficult. During the put
year we have seen • wave of religious thought pan
th
arootru:he minds of some who um not accustomed
redactions on matters beyond the business
cancers@ of life. The locality around us has already
been fruitful in happy result', showing that the wide
of truth have not fallen in dopy please. That the
goo i effects of the mission work done in this place
should be preserved, that the hearts of those who have
been seriously awakened to the recognition of dan-
gerous things, and who have ebtoerely sought to
attain to the moral excellence which ha, bun
exhibited in our pulpits and religions gatherings, it
has been thought right that • permanent building,
appropriated to the use of those who have not cared
ti come to our churches, should be established. Is
the hearts of those for whom this building is intended
there are feelings more sensitive than most of as
imagine, feeling. which are honourable and worthy
of our respect. The laity have seldom an opportunity
of rightly unierst wiling the reasons of many things
which we think of with regret and pity. It is reserved
for those who minister in holy thlnge to probe the
trews remiss of the heart, and paths are open to

business