The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-11-03 00:00:00

OPENING OF A NEW READING AND
LECTURE ROOM AT WHITCRURCH.

At the present day none will, we believe, be found
to deny that in this country the cause of temperance
and the education A the people are intimately connected.
In the sum proportion as we get a sober, we also get
• reading and reflective people. Temperance is the fair
handmaid, whose tanner ii ever unfurled as the ensign
of peace, progress, and civilisation. Unhappily,
Cheesed+ in this country care little for self-improve-
ment. Through the habitual and excessive use of
intoxicating drinks their moral and intellectual feelings
and faculties are either partially or wholly destroyed,
and they neither care for, and when provided, do not
appreciate the blessings consequent on education.
Before thereat mese( tho people will be induced to value
and use those great aids to melt-improvement, —Mutual
Improvement Societies, Working Men's Clubs, Literary
and Mechanics Institutes, Reading Rooms and no forth,
the temperance pioneer must go forth and pave the
:rfac .i,h'Thenorilniin,f.oovfesa new rewititngwerocvein:Ate.vilagies
correct. Here the temperance reformers have for
several years been up and doing, and the result have been
that many have beomne sober and tbonghful, who before
werethe victims°, intemperance. To aid and encourage the
good work, the beloved lady of the manor, Mrs. Michel.
Ise at her sole coat built a very neat and comfortable
reading-room, which she presents to the Villagers for
their use, and which will be furnished with the papers
and pamphlets of the day. These, however, will
have to be furnished from a fend ruined by voluntary
subicript ions, and the nape en ta A the members. We trust
that the means will be s liberally provided as that the
Institution may be self-sepporting. To mark their
sees of the kindness of their kind benefactor, the
opening day WAS set sport for public rejoicing. Unfor
tunately the friends were deprived of the atmpany of
one to whom with Mrs. Michel, they are no much
indebted, C. Mantel. Esq. On Monday, October
20th, the committee of the reading room, the Temper-
ance omninittee, and their friends met at the reading
rom, and forming in provision, marched to Whatmeinbe
House in the following order :
Whiteburch Temperance Beam Itard.
Members of Temperance Society.
Committee of Reading Room.
Band of Hope Children.
Several of the members carried banners and flags, on one
of which was inscribed the hearty thanks of the villagers
Ito Mrs. Michel for her kindness. On arriving at the
I boos, they were most kindly received by their highly.
I esteemed friend. The young people sang two Temper-
ance Melodies, and the baud performed in excellent
atjle • selection of music, after which Mrs. Michel
delivered. in • clesr voice, the following address :
" I am much pleased tit having this opportunity of
expreiesing the gratification I ezperienee in seeing Salem-
bled together so large number of frionds,unlteel,as I have
every reason to believe, in the bond of good fellowship am!
Christian love. That such meetings may long continue
to take place in this passb, under the same happy influ-
ence, is my sincere desire. I feel thankful that I have
been permitted thus Inc to promote what I believe will
be for the advantage of the inhabitants of Whitchureh.
I trust that nothing Will be wanting on your part to
effect and terry out the object it has been my desire to
socomplish. By the accommodation thus provided for
yon, you will have an opportunity of meeting in social
intercourse. Book* and pamphlets of a suitable and
pleasant nature will be misted for you, by which know-
ledge and information, as well as amusement, may be
obtained, and much improvement ensured; but while
these sources of benefit are placed within your reach.
let ins entreat you to remember that there is one book
which no work or publicatioe of any kind ought to or
indeed can stand before. I mean the Bible—the Word of
God—the light and lamp of troth. Other books may
be read, and all the information they can afford may
soon be obtained, not no with the Holy Bible, that is a
book in which the student may read and daily find a
something which he did not know before • it is an inex-
haustible fountain of knowledge and SSA-action. The
more it Is perused the more itlis loved and appreciated,
and new and precious tenths are ever unfolding to the
view, both as a histnry of the world, and a guide to a
future newer-ending life. It is an infraluable treasure,
and I will make it my care that • Dopy of do.
cred
Scriptures ehell find a place in the library of your
society. Much is combined in tbis village for the further-
anee of peace and good order; and I am sure you will
be induced to act in concert with Mr. Maisel and myself
in endeavouring to effect this good end. I will only
further expels my sincere and hearty wishes for your
future and IsMing prosperity."
Enthusiastic cheers followed the delivery of this
admirable address, and the procession being re-
foimed, visited the houses of the Rev. G. Maxwell
and the neighbouring fanners. The children of
the Band of Hope were liberally supplied with
an exeellent tea at the reading-ronm, at four o'clock,.
and at half-pest five the adults, to the number of about
200, also partook of the same refreshing beverage. The
as add cake were supplied by Mrs. Shave, and were of
most expellent duality. As the rsdingeoom was found
inadequate for the evening meeting, an adjournment
was made to the school-room, kindly granted for the
occasion; but even this was not found large enough,
many being compelled to Sand. A shred platform was
erected for the speakers at one end of the room, and the
Temperance Bond occupied the other.
On the motion of Mr. Meaner, seconded by Mr.
JACKSON, Mr. Gstebouse, of Shaftesbury, occupied the

chair.
The CHAlRtfalf said be wu glad this position was
offered him, as having had along journey he was not
to
well ',sewed to make • speech as he eould wish. He
visa glad to ace en many happy faces present, and he
hoped they would go away as happy as a lot of kings.
He was glad to be pusent, and to congratulate them on
the opening of their Reading Room, which be trusted
would be Use means of drawing away from the public-
house many • young man. lie hoped to come and s e
them again, and bring with him their excellent friend,
Jackfon, who though not now • Shaftesbury man,
but a sidipolf man, was ever anxious to further the
c.g.e of temperance. On the list for the evening's
Proceedings came Ant—A temperance melody by the
Rand of Hope, and lie trusted all would join in the

chorus.
Thia was sung, and than followed a Recitation. " The
Wine Cup,"—by Dinah Snook, which was very fairly
given.
. Tamperanoe Melody by Mr. R. Blanchard of Bland-

ford.
The Cuelsweer then called en Yr. Stout, master of
the illilborne Reformatory, who said that he had great
demure in addreasing them from two eausee,—lst,
because their meeting together was to celebrate the
opening of the Whiteburch Temperance Reading-room,
which, be believed, would not only help forward the
cause of temperance, bat also prove a great blowing
to the village. The formation of such a society might
be compared to the birth of a child. Both were, now-a-
days, of frequent occurrence. Scarcely could we take
up a newspaper but we met with an amount of the for-
mation of such moieties as Working hen's clubs, kc.;
but like the new-bore infant, much anxiety was felt
whether it would live. The father or mother naturally
pondered over the future of their child, and the founders
of reading•rooms, clubs, Itc., had the some feeling. as
regarded them. Now, he felt particularly anxious Ta.
specting the one just opened, as some of the wise ram
had prophesied it would not succeed. Be traded they
would be found to be wrong. But if they wished it to
stiocoed they must have a workingonen's committee.
The work must be done by themselves. If they wished
the oew-born institution to live they must combine to-
gether and manage it themselvefl lie earnestly ap-
pealed to the young men preempt not to neglect the
opportunity thus offered for intellectual improvement,
and mentioned the awes of Novena be was acquainted
with, wl.o by unwavering study, and the help afforded
by such institution,, bad raised themselves in the social
scale of society, and were now occupying situations of
trust, and large salaries. He remembered eases of young
teen at Blundford, who, by study and making use of
their spare thee. eameeded in securing prises. Now
they bad the opportunity, be begged of them to show
that they vapid His Iticbcd's kindnees. reVzSelil
the temperance eases, his whole heart was thrown into
the work. The speaker then proceeded to read several
extract. from works, one of which wee signed by SD
medical men twenty years ago, which bore full tecti-
many to the truth of the principles they advocated, and
elated that the use d intoxicating drinks by persons is