The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-02-28 00:00:00

DOIASETStIrRENt BALT?.—Thio annual reunion
took place at the Townhall on Friday, and was
attended by a most gay and fashionable compank.
Through the exertions of Mr. Trevee, cabinet maker,
of Cornhill, the hall presented a moat charming
appearance, wreaths of artificial flowers, evergreens,
and flags being most artistically displayed. Coote
and Tteey's band, from London, was in attendance,
and their performances gave the greatest satisfaction,
to the inspiring strains of which dancing was kept
up with ghat animation until many of the "email
boars" had passed by. —Amongst those present we
noticed Lord and Lady Poltitnore, Sir John and
Lady Michel, Mrs. C. Michel, Miss Michel, Mr.
Schreiber, and Lady Charlotte Schreiber, Mrs. and
Miss Sheridan,Major-General Michel, Major-General
Shirley, Lieutenant Michel, Sir William Medlycott,
Bart., Miss biledlycott, Colonel Sullevan, Sir Ivor
Guest, Miss Blanche Guest, Major Henning, Mrs.
and Miss Henning, Major and Mrs. Paget, Captain
Pretor, Miss Arundel, Miss Farquharson, Captain
and Mrs. Den e, Mr. J. Farquharson, Miss Far-
quharson, Mr. H. Bower, Mrs. and Missgower,Mr.
and Mra. Fellowea, Major Astell, Mrs. Astell, Mr.
B. Littlehales, Mrs. Littlehales, Captain Calcraft,
Mr. Templer, Mr. Charles Fox, Miss Radclyffe (2),
Captain Smith,Messrs. Scott (2), Mr., Mrs.,and Miss
Torkington, Miss Fyler, Mr. , Mrs., and Miss Surrees,
Mr. Harding, Captain Sydney, Mr. T. Turner,
Mrs. and Miss Gunning, Mr. W, Calcraft,
Captain Cnrione, Mr*. and Miss Yeatman,
Mr. and Mrs. king, Miss Lethbridge, Rev. P.
Cambridge, Miss Scott, (2), Miss S. 11. St. Quintin,
(2), Mrs. Mitchell Henry, lilies Wilson, Mrs. G. T.
Bullock, Miss Lethbridge, Mrs. Montague, Mr.
R. Glyn, the Mayor of Dorchester, Mr. H.
Derenish, Mrs. Fyler, Mrs. and Mies Peek.
Mr. and Miss Hockin, Mr. G. Bishop, Mr. Fox,
Mr. Channel, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald FitsiOerald,
Mr. a,nd Miss Yea, Mr. Du Souls', Mr. Turnen
Mr. Garratt, Mrs. and Miss Grinning, Mr. Castleman,
Mrs. Fane, M. J. Hawkesworth, Miss Psyn, Miss
Hamilton, Miss Dawe, (2), Mr. and the Misses
Okedon, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. and Mrs.
Leggin, Miss Bergner, Mr. and Miss Du Boulay,
Mr. Le Merchant Thomas, Captain Gill, Colonel
Andrews, Aro.
Tux ItartWav Stsirtorr.—We tindefstand that the
lovers of thefine arts will soon have an opportunity of
inspecting the celebrated picture of " The Railway
Station," painted by Mr. Frith, as it is intended to
be exhibited in the TownhalL

CHURCH PASTORAL AID SOCIRTY.—The annual
meetings in aid of this society took place at the
Townhall on Monday. The afternoon meeting was
presided over by the Rev. C. W. Bingham, but the
attendance Waa not veiy nhmerbha. In opening the
proceedings of the meeting, the chairman said this
society was the means of ministering at the present
time to three millions and three quarters of our
home population. As an official of the Church
Missionary Society, he acknowledged the deep
debt of gratitude which that and other kindred
soeititiei fitted to the Diautob Peatotal Aid Society.
After some further iemarks he called dpod the
secretary, the Rev. Reginald Smith, to read the
report for the past year. From this it appeared
that the reoeipta had been £743 ss. Bd., which,after
deducting an expenditure of £l4 15s. 2d., a balance
of £728 10s. 61. had been remitted to the Parent
Society. He believed it was owing to the missionary
spirit for sending the
,gospel abroad, that had
pronipted
.fltif oten dotrydierl to ptorlde for
the temporal and spiritual good of their own souls.
So far as the Church on earth was concerned, the
county of Dorset and the Church Pastoral Aid
Society had lost some good friends; and he
alluded to, the „decease Of the qbuntead of
Fahtiodth, Leuly Portman, and the Rev. Robeft
Moore, on the latter of whom he passed a very high
eulogium. He also alluded to the shattered health
of the Rev. C. Bridges, remarking that he was
afraid his work on earth was finished. They must
not, however, be coat down by the loss of Christ's
servants, as God in His infinite mere, would still
continue to raise up faithful ministers. —The Rey.
W. Knipe, next addressed the meeting, after which
the Itev. J. Patteeoni the deputatioh; rector of
Spitalflelds, London; gere abide itiokt interesting
btatemenie reepeciting the opefatitine of the eodiety.
In commencing his address he alluded to the plea-
sure which it afforded him in visiting the county,
remarking that it was 18 years ago since he WAS in
it, and 21 years since he relinquished his duties
in Stalbridge. In 1844, when he left for London,
he was appointed to a very poor district in Chelsea,
where a church had been just erected, but where
there were no worphipers, And ,where lit ad the
hpiritual responsibility of n,OOO sduls. • He felt.
After a month's experience, that he could not combat
with the mass of ignorance and vice which there
existed, and desired a fellow worker, who would go
from house to house and inform him who were
churchgoing people and who were not. He wrote to
the Ch urek Pastoral Aid Gale ty; and they immediately
supplied him with • Scripture resider, Add After,
wards the London City Missionary Society supplied
him with another. Owing to this help, and from
assistance which God furnished him from without,
the gospel was brought home to the hearts of many
persona who before were ignorant of its blessed
truths. He was in this diatrict for 11 years, at the
end of Which time he *as thankful to lay,thilt there
wah a great iniprorerhent in the spiritual oonditlon
of the People. After this the Church Pastoral Aid
society solicited him to take the charge Of his present
district, Spitalfields, which he accepted, And he then
found that he was placed in charge of A pOpulation
of 21,000 people. There wds A very large church
there, but tinfbrtunately it was very empty, and
the spiritual condition of the inhabitants was very
sad. He appealed to the Church Pastoral Aid
Society for assistance, and within two years he had
four curates, besides seven city missions, who
were there when he entered upon his duties,
besides additional lay agents, and said that if every
one did their duty there was not a ht.use in the
parish which had been left unvisited. He said that
the counties of Devon and Dorset contributed more
largely towards the funds of this Society than
any other county, nearly £9OO a year, so
that they benefitted him by their gifts. He
spoke of the value of open-air services, remarking
that people were always willing to receive the
truths of Christ in this manner, whereas they would
not go to the House of God. The greatest amount
of assistance rendered by the society was not con-
fined to London, but to the northern counties
especially. He alluded to the enormous increase
which was taking place in the population of London
every year, and appealed for help in order to meet
the great amount of evil which was being centred
there. As • proof of the destitute spiritual con-
dition of the people of the metropolis, he said that
at the present time it was estimated that there
was • million—.as many as the population of
Devon, Dorset and Wilts—who had no
direct pastoral influence over them. He
adverted to the good work in which the i 1 of
Shaftesbury was engaged in in London, and con
-
eluded by remarking how God had blessed the
efforts of all his faithful servants. The Rev. E.
Freedland expressed the love he had for the Pastoral
Aid Society, and 'poke of the good results which
followed the labours of Scripture readers. The
meeting was brought to a ohne by the Benediction
being pronounced, and • collection being made.
Commirrzn TO THS DOZAWT COUNTY GAOL.—
Hard Labour : William Bond, vagrancy at Bland'
ford, 1 month; David Bradley, night poaching at