The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-08-01 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

FCUILSTRT. —We understand that the members of the
Court " Golden Arrow," meeting at the Kings Arms
Hotel, have chosen as their medical officer Hector
Monro Spooner. Esq., in the room of G. W. Daniel,
Eq., who has resigned that office.

MISSIONS TO ROMAN CATHOLICS IN lIMAND.-011
Sunday morning a sermon on behalf of Church Missions
to Roman Catholics in Ireland, was preached by the
Rev. J. B. Owen, rector a St. Jude's, Chelsea. The
members of the Bth Dorset, to the number of between
80 and 90, under the command of Lieut. Johns, preceded
by their band marched to the church, which was crowded
to excess Morning prayers were read by the rector, the
preacher who took his text from Romans, vi., 23 ear.,
preacht d an admirable discourse.

STS DOIII3BT VOLUNTEERS—The monthly competition
for the gold challenge arose can off on Monday. The
weqher was very unfavourable, rain descending in
torrents. The honour of wearing the cross for the next
month was won by Sergeant Davis, with a score of 55.
On the morning of the same day Private T. Hunt, who
won the prise at the Crystal Palace competition for
solo on the fagle born' succeeded . in making 57 marks,
at 650, 700, 750, and 800 yards, five rounds at each
range, thus standing highest for the marksman's badge.

Unit:MAY ROBBERY WITS VIOLENCE.-00 Monday
afternoon a poor woman named Elizabeth White,
residins at Long Ash, in the parish of Milton Abbas,
was on her way to Blandford, and when passing along
that part of the road between Stickland and Blandford,
known by the name of "The Fair Mile," near the Down
House, a man suddenly sprang out of the hedge, and
placing himself before her demanded her money, at the
sine time taking a knife out of his pocket, and threaten-
ing to stab her if she did not comply with his request.
He then knock, d her down, and took from her pocket
a handkerchief in which she had tied her money con-
sisting of noire to the value of 30s. He then kicked
her, and made his escape towards Kite Hill Plantation.
Information was soon after given to the police, and
Superintendent Watts and two constables immediately
started in pursuit.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. The Mot
anniversary of the Blandford auxiliary of this society
was held in the Corn Exchange on Tuesday evening last.
Dr. Gill, lately returned from Canada, attended as a
deputation, and the Rev. J. B. Owen, renter of St. Jude's,
Chelsea, was ohm prs a •nt. The room was well filled,
most of those present being ladies. The chair was taken
by the Rev. J. R. Quirk, supported by Rev. C. J,
Glyn, Rev. B. Gray, Rev. J. B. Owen, and Dr. Gill.
&a. The meeting having been opened with prayer, the
chairmen made some intioductory remarks, and then
read the report, which showed that the auxiliary had
contributed E 135 to the Parent Society during the past
yew. The Rev. C. J. Glyn, after remarking on the
foot that the auxiliary had extended its operations, re-
ferred to the work of the society in Belgium, France,
and other places. He also observed that they were about
to build a new Bible Society house, which would cost
£30,000. The Rev. J. B. Owen, after some prefaratory
remarks, shows that the Catholicity of the Bible is its
greatest glory, and observed that they were bound to
circulate the Scriptures throughout the world. In
conclusion, he spoke of the glorious results which had
followed the labours of the society. The Rev. Dr. Gill
gave a detailed and very interesting account of the
operations of the society in various parts of the world,
and, after a few remarks from the chairman, the
doxology was sung, and the meeting separated.

SOUTHERN COUNTIES' XDUCATIONAL SOCIETY.
On Saturday evening the distribution of prizes
awarded by this society to the successful competitors
attending the night school during the last winter, took
place at the Working Men's Club-room. It redounds
grea.ly to tie credit of the young men of Blandford
hat out of 19 who competed tor prises 15 of that
number were sum ssful, and that out of about 80 prizes
awarded by the soc'ety for the four ciunties so large a
proportion shou'd be won by Blandford youths. It was
hoped that J. C. Memel, Esq., of Longthorns, a devoted
and earnest friend of education, would have been able
to attend and present the prizes, but we regret to state
that that gentleman's health is far from satisfactory,
and he was reluctantly obliged to decline. In his
absence the Rev. J. It. Quirk kindly undertook the
plea.ing duty. The various prizes, consisting for the
most part of Hazlett's Edition of Shakspeare in 4 vols.,
were the choice of the competitors themselves. Before
banding the awards, Mr. Quirk addressed the competi-
tors in the most kind and earnest manner. After con•
gratalatiog them on their success he remarded that the
ittainment of knowledge must be by patient persever.
mum. Very often the boy possessed of good abilities
sad of a bright intellect who was indolent and took
op pains, had to g.ve place to one of far inferior ability
Who plodded en, adding little by little to his store of
knowledge. The fable of the hare and the tortoise was
• true representation of the success or non-success of
students in the path of knowledge. He trusted that
the prizes about to be given, would act as • stimulus to
renewed exertion on their parte, that those who had
gained a 3rd class certifioate would next year be success-
el in gaining a second; and that those who had gained
• second would strive for, and obtain • first. He also
trusted that those who had not succeeded this year
would not be discouraged but try again, and that many
others would come forward, and by regularly attending
the night school next winter be qualified also to com-
pete. Very.often a first failure was useful inasmuch as
it incited to greater diligence than would otherwise have
been put forth. There was one thing he wished very
strongly to impress upon them, namely, that mere in-
tellect or the advantages of a good education would not
keep amen in the path of virtue. They had lately this
most painfully proved in the case of Dr. Pritchard, who
though endued with good abilities and a well-educated
man, so used his abilities as to prove his ruin, and
'enabled him in the most diabolical manner to take
the life of his wife and mother-in-law, and it
was to be feared also that of a poor girl, formerly in his
service. The mind or intellect, however well trained
by education, was not a safe guide, unless sanctified by
the grace of God. He trusted they would all earnestly
Seek •thitt grace, for though with it they could by
their lives and conversation shew forth God's glory as
much by a rightelischarge of their several duties in ifs
•• • minister of the e it they
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