The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-03-18 00:00:00

CHURCH PABTORAL AID 80CIETY.

The claims of this noble society were advocated on
Sunday last by the Rev. H. Theolore Carlll (rector ,
of at. Paul's, Poole), who preached at All Salute'
Church in the miming, Welt Staff ird in the afternoon.
and hiartiostoon in time evening.
On Monday afternoon • well-attended meeting was
held In the Town Hall, presided over by Mr. J.
Firer, M.P., and on the platform were—Rev. Canon
Reginald Smith, Rev. E. Ludlow, Rev. E. W.
Calliper, Rae. C. F. Powys, Rev. J. Lee Warner,
Mr. George Floyer, and the it... H. Trotter (rect
of Trowbridge), who attended as deputation.
Prayer having been offered by the Rev. Canon
811117.
The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting ou the society's
report.. The statement of Orr, most be considered
r satisfactory, for, if ho red it aright, during last
par the number of clerical and lay agnate employed
by the sorry in spreading the 0 spa in this c motry
had been lncr.easd by no fewer than 28—• very con-
siderable addition to make in or year. There
woe, it was true, cause for a little misgiving
Is looking at the very great and Important addition
i.ils increase would involve in their espeoditure,
because he was afraid they had not very much la
hand beyood their ordinary Income. The society had
bees fortunate in having a *pardonable amount left
ha legacies (something like £5.000), and this he had no
doubt encouraged the committee to undertake so large
an addition to the working sta. He (the chair-
man) only hoped the committee would not
God they had ma le a mistake in them enlarging
the number of the society's clerical and lay agent .
Referring at moms lerigth to the question of localization,
which was • subject Freed In the report—localisation
ea against a wider and broader conduct of the special
week of the society—he said he wee one of those who
thought of late years they had rather too mach bet
*let of their diocesan position, and he for one should
✓ways be glad, when within retro limits.
and according to the circumstances, any Chris-
Ur work could be carried oo advantageously
and consistently with their diocesan obligations and
ets. Whether It mould be so carried on with
ea= 17 this society was of mimes, • question for Its
members to decide and 'epochally for those who were
most reversent with its admissistratios and working.
But it was remarkable, he thought, and one of the
barren of the time, that there wee this tendency to
localise charitable religions work. A remarkable
Instance of it was to be seen in the different sorra. ,
liens whir had been set on foot by the great public
school., by the Universities, and others for the perch.
lug of the gospel and other encouraging religious work
In special localities. He dared say they were Inver
art with tuataras of this kind. Only a day or two
ego ha read with greet interest an account of
the work of the son of his excellent rector
(Rev. ()anon Smith) in the Marlborough Mission
at Tottenham. This was a special organisation
for carryiog on a similar work to that of this society.
And this tendency to localization not only affected
work at home, bet also reread. At the instance of
kind friends, who were members of the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parte, he
was or of the representatives of this roar open the
Bred in London, and during the last two or three
pan they had repeatedly had this grottoes arising in
the administration of the affairs of that society. There
was • tendency t localize the efforts t spread the
Gospel, and the committee bad bad considerable dis-
cussion as to what extent am society should undertake
respo.elbiilties for these separate end local pallor as
dtsngulebed from Its femoral work all over the world.
No doubt there warn • special interest attaching to
particular localities, arising from' variety of circum-
stances, end these certainly feasted support, t the
damage of the parent society. This had been the case
with the society to which he had alluded, and although
be could not speak so positively of the Church
Mbuicubrl Society, yet he knew that owing to
peculiar circumstances with which they were all
acquainted in connection with • family whose memory 1
word ever be dear to the Inhabitants of Dorchester
and the neighbourhood, in connection with their excel.
lent Mead Bishop Houle (rpple:ter—a special
interest wail takeo In his particular work as dkitic•
erred from the larger wort of the Church Missionary
Society. He was not going to advocate that this
society, which had done such a great work, should be
divided into diocesan ad tolektratlon, but it was a subject
of interest, because they did fiod that while they were
modally anxious for the spread of Christianity
toughont the world, still. when they did localise
their eff sets. a particular Interest attli&ed to a par
Wolfer locality and brought out sprat egotism
to promote the spread of Christianity to that
'ratty. Passing on to refer to the grimace of
the hoaxing of the poor in large towns. It was a
subject. he mild, which was at the present time men.
pyre a large share of public attention, and Lad done
so for a long time, but, from some cause or another,
It new particularly pressed, and was now demanding,
snot only public attention, but Public exertion mei
motion should be addressed to it. It was a question
surrounded by many difficulties, but it was an
excellent object. He would not say it was the highest
object they could have. but it was as high se any.
There weee resat difficulties attaching to it, and In a
wear way in such great aggregations of huntealty at
existed In tondos and the great manufacturing
tows.. The difficulties in thee* line oontree almost
a:elusively rose on the question "Who are respon-
sible r They could isot sttals responsibility
without Use possession of the property being
=sly shorn It was so difficult In the
cities owing to the Peculiar Minn"
In which house property was held, and the vary-
ing mode of property In different parts
of the same city. war the landlord, or the
lease holder, or the Immediate receiver of the rent
from the oersteds/a of them houses, and between them
it was so difficult to briag the remporibility boor to
the Ant shoakiset. But this sight be overcome, and
IS woe osioNsd ft mold bp. Usable to tbs dlfflusity

that the "outcast poor" did not like good dwelllnlis,
the hon. gentleman coatinued there Wall no doubt the
more wretched &tat miserable inhabitants were
accustomed loth' 81th sad dirt &sid lisiog in wretched
places, and they were told on the hest authority they
would not, U they could possibly avoid it, exchange
their old, nalserabhs dwellings for those more comfort.
able, more healthy, and in every way preferable
dwellicp that now, by societies and in many other
way& were erec'ed for them. He did not mean to say
they would cot be filled ; he did not mean to say for
a moment that these new, good, mo !el 1.4 W-houses
would not Sod occupants, but they clici out get the
people in that they epecially wanted to get. They
got those who were goo 1 working men who
already have been housed well, or totoPete•
tively well ; for these would come in because
they knew and appreciated the advantages of comfor-
table dwellings. Still without say with to check this
tendency to a higher stratum of pour s ociety, there
was no doubt that the lowest of the people, those
whom they wart od especially to raise, and those who
were in the meet miserable plight, they were the last
people who Wen, ready to come and take
advantage of these new dwelling' provided for them.
What, then, was to be done? The remedy, and the
only remedy be knew of. was in the work of the
Church Pastoral Aid Bict.ty. (Applaues.) The
only hope and the only remedy was to raise these
pose people, and the way to raise them was to bring
borne to them I. all the fulmar the blereel gospel of
our Lord and Saelour. (Applause.) That wth the
only remedy. He did not mean ts see there were no
eubsidinry ways of work, bat that nal the leading one,
and if they wanted to do it thoroughly and ellicieutly
they must bring them to recognise those dots«, that
rested, must rest, sod could only rest upon Christianity.
(Applsorma.) This brought him back to the object for
which they were met together, vu, t promote by
every news' Is their power the work of the Church
Pastoral Aid Society, and although be could out thy
that wee • large meeting, yet he believed, however,
that it might be there were large numbers, ea the
amoutt of sobscriptiona received that year showed, who
took an interest in the work. In o onolusion Mr.
Floyer expressed the pleasure he felt, which he woe
sure WU joined in by all members of the society, that
! their president. Earl ~1 Shaftesbury, who founded the
society nearly 50 years ago, and who still took an
interest in it, was to remise a recognition of his
services, and that, at n idietan date, he wee to reodre
the freedom of the city of London io token of their
approval of all the work, of mercy, guotioese, and
benevolence he Lad accomplished in the country.
(Applatera
The Rev. J. Laa-WAiutot read the following report
for the year =dug Marsh filet, 1883 :

" The total Income ot the Church Pastoral Aid Society lael
year emanated to £00,307. Tele Is exclude. of mow locally
cootrabuted to met Its 'meta The eons remitted front Dm
satalOre atone wee tell. of which our Dorceester end For-
&wino branch rented Add ead the Donot Central Assordatiors
MO The society snakes els crania la Ma chooses of Masao y ;
but Its ohmil also is to relieve the spiritual dealtulans of oar
large warm, In pacer of which, to take ooly 'ea Instance, It
Is wall to bear In mod that in our great toettopolb slom—to
which such deep Interest attaches at the present Utose-11
supports no less than 70 mate* nod lay asenta
Lbnndp-
tto are now don and 111. earnestly hoped that new Mende
will he found to supply the place once in well filled by Mrs.
Distry, of dberrOarne (UM*, and the late Mrs
andth,"

He explained the figures he had just laid before them
related to the year which closed on the last 31st of
March, and they were now, of course, prsctically
approaching what he might cell the Ides of March
again, which in this instance *odd be on the 31st of
the present mouth. Their anxiety therefore should be
mom •Imat the future than about the past, but he was
happy to say, snaking from his own experience, which
related to the Dorset Central Association, of which he
was the tremors, and also from his experience of his
own branch at Sandford. It augured well at the
present time. He bad written something like 100
letters, and, with five or six exception., had received
favourable replies in every case. Of course, the pent
of the county which they felt most anxious about at
the present time was that which had been so ably
fi ied for a long series of years by Mrs. Wingfield
Digby, whom lose they had all had occasion to deplore
daring the past year, and they did send forth on this
000ssion their wormiest sympathies with her on that
loss. It was a loss from which he woe afraid the
society would find it difficult to mover in
that part of Dorset. (Applause.) He had von-
tared in the report to refer to mother
still, when he came to think of how even that loes
had not proved so irretrievable as they at one tins.
feared It would be, when he was able to point ti the
fact, for in.tance--that in the past year their income
had been £664, whereas in the year 1874 it was only
£2l higher, £685, though he must admit in the
interval the figures in this county on one occasion
reached £BOO, and on several other occasions £7O0—
with these subject. of consolation before him, end the
way In which one lose had been better retrieved than
could have been expected at first, he was hopeful even
in the case of Shoehorn. their friends would come for.
ward to fill up the void which had taken place there,
and that the Peet real All Society in Dorset might
look forward to maintain an average income of about
£3lOO a year. It teemed to him the best way to work
their society was to find some active person within
the radius of each market town, and to ask him to do,
and &mist him in doing, his very beet In that district
to raise all the money he could. At the present
moment nothing could be more satisfactory than the
working of the *misty in the Tedium of the capital
t rens of D Reheats ; they had • lady there who was
able to obtain numerous subscriptions in the town
itself, and not only that, but there were a number of
satellites all clusering round this central star of
1) rrcharter—such village* as Broadmayne, the Reedy;
Martinstown, Woodsford, and several others. All these
villages had an association melding in their friends
through little sesame into this great central stream.
At Weymouth the society was missiles tly supported,the
Darns was the cam at Methuen., the same had long
been the case at Shoehorn.. and If he might venture to
make any remark by way of stimulating places where
the society had not hitherto so well prospered, be might
say they lived in hops. the day would come wheu the
&atria, centering round Shaftesbury and Wareham
would he able to follow the example so well set them
by other towns of which he had just been speaking.
( Hear, hear.) Passing on to the work of the society,
the rev, gentleman said it was a great comfort to feel
that by the efforts of title society such a large number
of agents were enabled to be employed through the
means of this society as 70 curates and 36 lay agents.
When they considered further that these were
ministering to the population of not less thee 800,000
persons they had the comfort of booting the society
was ministering to something like one.fifth part of the
huge metropolis. The London Diocesan Conference
had been called upon to select six of its members to
act upon the Central Council of Diocesan Conferemoss,
and whom did they select? Canon Cadman, who In
the year 1833 preached the anniversary sermon of the
Church Pastoral Aid Society. There were ten
candidate. for this position, and six were elected.
Who did they think stood at the bottom of the poll?
Mr. Charles Wood, president of the Eoglbh Church
Union. It wee, of course, necessary somebody should
be at the bottom, but he thought it • fact of some
iiignificeace, and he commended It to his many
friends, who viewed with such disfavour the
fact that this diocese bad formed • synod.
He deprecated anything being said which °mild divers
subscriptions from the Church Pectoral Aid Society
during the 30 days which had yet to ran before they
closed their account for the year 1884. He was afraid
other societies had not found it io easy to reels the
very obvious temptation of trying to make their
figures look as well as possible, but when he turned to
the balance sliest of the Church Pastoral Aid Society
he found the working expenses were not more than 12
per cent of its income. (Hear, heat.) This, he need
hardly say, c ,mpareri favourably with many other
imbibee which found it neossary to spend something
like 20 to 25 per cent, upon their expenditure in
oosnection with the working details of their
organisation. And yet once more let him gay, while
be should always deprecate anything inquisitorial
on the part of this or any other society
as to the views held by those whom it employed,
he should like hboself to be brought before •
board of loquisitors, sod what be should not like him.
self be deprecated foe othen • but, while he mad• this
admiesion, on the other hand he was very much in
favour of the frowsiest"e which the committee of
the society afforded him for the efficiency of its
curates and lay agents. Ho did not, he could
hold the view that any curate wes good enough for
any rector. He would rather like to feel those who
were supported by the funds of • public society were
men worth their salt. He liked to feel a clergyman
sent into the midst of this vast population would not
be careless about the house-to-house visitation, of
, which it had been said a house-gning minister made •
church-going people. Ho feared many of Isis clerical
brethren were not quit* so alive to the impottanoe of
houne-to-houss vi•ltation in their country parishes,
and the temttation was still greater in largo towns.
Then, again, he liked to have a guarantee the services
of the Church wouli always be cosh' tod with
reverenos by those who were sent forth by the
Church Pastoral Aid Society. (Applause.)
The DucrAnoi delivered • lengthy and interestbg
address on the work .1 the society. Speaking
generally first as to the work of thie society, the rev,
gentleman remarked it was • standing protest against
all forms of evil and wickedness in our land. He
first spoke of the kind of men this society sent forth.
He had NMI II Mai many Pastoral Aid curates, for
he was working in Sheffield, which was largely aided
by thie society, and he could truly bear testimony to
the fart that all thooe who were supported by this
society were really and truly men of Gal—they were,
indeed, es the lest speaker said, worth their salt; they
were not men who took their stipend* imd spent a
great deal of their time in plsying lswn tennis and
such things, which were, ale, I too prevalent in the
present day, but they were men who spent their time
down in the alums and back streets of that large chy—
me, who w:re not afraid t i stand in the c rimers and
courts of the town. and proclalbt the glad ti logs of
the Gospel to the most degraded people in the place.
The fact of the society giving vicars the help of
carat.. enabled them to do work they could not
otherwise touch and which had been blamed by God
In bringing poor wanderers to Christ. With the midst-
boos of Pastoral Aid curates he had himself been
enabled to undertake • most interesting work in cm.
section with a Ref agelfor Fallen Women, and he could
thank God for numbers of young women who had not
only been mooed, but were now true and earnest
Christian communicants and were working for the
rescue of others. Alluding to the self- ienying labours
of the agents of this society, the rev, gentleman mid he
wished there were 01011 of this in the Church of Eng-
land. He was thankful to Isar Dorset had con-
tributed £6OO, for he knew it was to re than many
other counties gave, but it might do more. Ile hoped
h ;
I p bright
would
amudltohyseeearfulthers"creviewtarlof thwe°puiSitbethaablit sent
, be filled up, and sew workers come forward
to carry
on the work.

On the motion of the Rev. E. W. Cocuireo,.
wooded by tbe Row. E. LUDLOW. • cordial vote el
thanks to the Chairman was pared.
Mr. PLOTS. having briefly rep Lied, the reomenllnee
terminated In the =nil manner.

At tbe sysokag esesting there was a scasli attend-
ance. Addressee on tb• society's work were eras by
the Rev. Caeca Bad* Bee. C. F. Powys aid the
Drurito, 0.1
UN day IT Os. U. Pam ocikotad.

WITILOUTR.
W 171100171 Antirix Seoars.—We understand the
coasmituse of the Weymouth Crickst Clob have fixed
upon Bonk H.4liucy, Atu,nat Sth, as the day lur their
next anneal ethic lo sport..
Wa are viewed to ere Mr. A. Ferris Damon. St.
amoGre'll sPitstl, Loudon, had She honour of being
elected it•Ilow of the Chrtnicil liccittry at their lsat
meeting. at the societies roonui, Burlington House'
Piccadilly.
GOOD l'xigrusa' EniarAnillENT.—On Tneedny
evening the members of the " Flower of the West"
L Klee of Good Templars gave a capital aotertalonient
at the ('off a T , 1141 h-street, under the resi-
dency of Bro. I inffell, W.C.T., iii order to rai-e fon 'a
to provide new regalia, when than was a large atten-
dance. _

Correa SUPPER. —On Wednesday evening' Caxton "
Lodge, 1.0.t1.T., gave their last e lies supper for the
w won at the Temperance Hall, Parketreet. when
there was ago 4 attendepce. • genital programme
of song., recttaeione, and dialogn.a, was gone through.
Bro. Trevett, %V.C.T. presided.
Tug Peones or rue Haernuie PITS--According
to a statement just published, the large number of
3:11,0110 tenons visited Heating' Pier during the last
six in .oths. A dividend of nine per cent. has been
declared at a meeting of the shareholders of the Pier
Company.
EITTIATAISAIIXT AT lion CHATTL—On Wednesday
evening a service if song entitled " Daniel," was
given in the Hope Congregational Schoolroom before
a large audience. During the evening a dietribatlou
of prizes to the most regular scholars at the Sabbath
school took place. Toe pastor, the Rev. W. Lewis
presided.
Idtcruni.—On Tuesday evening Mr. J. Matson. of
Poole (district agent uf the Dorset and South of
England Temperuice Society) delivered his popular
lecture. entitled " Under the Gaslight," at the
Glonoester-strest Congregational fiLhoolroorn to the
members and friend, of the Diotioester-4,eet Tem.
peruses Soci.ty. There was a good attendance, and
the able and interesting lecture was much enj •yed.
PUMIXTATI uf these plowing events took
place at St. John's Schoolrooms on Monday, when the
Bev. Coo'.. Stephenson presented on behalf of the
members of the Si. John's Branch of the Church of
England Temperer.). Society the Sosiety's gold medal
to Miss E. Havenhill 64 a mark of their sppreciation
for her %liking efforts in behalf of that Branch.
There were 100 utherwilurs._

E COMPANY, D.R.17.--70u Tuesday evening the
membare i,f E C .tnpaoy, D.R.V., had a march oat,
there being peseta' on cerade--Lieut. Howard Bowen,
In o ennead, Lieut. Grove., Sergeant•liej it Street,
Quarto inaat.r-Seir:es • t 1.... 001u,Sergeant Roberts
Nereeanis J•liery, Russell, sod Warren, lt2 rsnk mid
file, sod two berme.
ON Tuesday afternoon Sir Daniel Goosh and Lady
Gooch, ameompanied by Sir George, Elliott, Captain
Aplia, sad a party of friends, arrive I in Weymouth
from London, and immediately embarked on Um
screw able-nouns, Boons, • magnifisent amen of
between 2,000 sad 3,000 tons which arrived in the
Bay IN the mania. The 400 Lia weighed anchor
about firs o'clock or Madeira, where Sir Daniel
Gooch ill going for • stay of six weeks to recruit his
health.

Dtcxxxxxssa.—William Elliott was etuninonerd
at the (.7Ellldt:rail on Tuesday, helms Alderman
Robertson (in the chair), J. E. Rodeos, Req., B.
Boykin', Erg., and T. Abbott, Req., for being drunk
and riotous ou the 28th of February.—P.C. Day
stated that he maw defendant in Brunewiolt.court on
the lay in (loathe drunk and making use of bad
laminar,. He was • Daemon to the Inhabitants of
the Court, andlwitness had received immoral complaint.
—Defendant owcmd that he WS4 drunk, sod might
have aged bad language.—Fined 10r. or seven days'
imprisonment, and allowed until Saturday to Pay in.
SHIPPING —Arrivals: Cygnur (s). Fall-, Jere.y,
general; Great Western (e), Blampied, Cnerbourg,
general; Brighton (.1. Flieber, Cherbearg, general;
Vulture (.), Mae., Cherb rurg, I; Sapphire,
I t E xmou th, also u r e; Vulture (..), Moo e,Ply mou lb,
nil; Julia A Merrit. William., Alberdame, ;
Little By Bob, R.ll, Brighton, usta.—Sailiogs:
Brighton (s), Flisher. Cherbourg, goner.!; Great
Western (e), Blampled,Oho boorg,general ; Valtitre (a),
Mac*, Cherbourg, general; Cygnus (a), Fella, J..r•ey,
general; Elisabeth Mary, llaboy, S ruthatupton. tar;
Almwell, Barraclough, Portland, nil ; Feather, B icier,
Lyme, ballast; "Etolle de la Mar," Dorier, bennion,
ballast; Empress LI, C... 0., Southampton, ;
Q.v.,— (1, 111,111. Southampton, nil.
Scow-arm Seocass.—The result of the local
examination held in Desember last ha. Just been
published. The following is the Het of the eucceesful
candidates at the Weymouth cestre : Seniors
Otonours)—Clam 1., W. B, Ayling, distinguished in
Latin; Clegg 111., E. C. Seaman, dietirguished In
mathematics; certificate, A. W. Dennis, di.tinguished
in Latin. Junlore—Cises L, E. A. Bremner, dis-
tinguished in mathematics; A, II ornyhrey ; certifi-
cate., B. Heave, A. Roberta, If. William., and H.
Dennis. The above candidate. are all from the
bfela tote Regis School. R. Tis ird, of tichrone
College, also obtained • certificate. T. L. Nicholas,
of the Melcombe Regis School, also paused the
examination for candidat-e between the ages of 16 and
17 years. Girls : Seniors—Csrlifio .1 r, C. G. Wheeler,
Weymouth High School for Girls. Juniora—F.
(larch, L. A. A. Hatchard, A. M. L•mbert, A. M.
filleopen, A. B. Clark, from Miss Parker's School,
LAsWar.
SCHOOL BOARD Cotot—At the Petty Semi .ne on
Tuesday, before Aldermen Roberts xi (in the chair),
J. E. Bohan., Esq., B. Hopkins, Esq., and T.
Abbott, Esq., James Brown, hatter, was eummoned
at the instance of the School Attendanoe Committee
for neglecting to send his .on to School—Mr. Pelly
Hooper, who repreeented the Board, said the com-
mittee had thought it advisable t bring only the mr st
flagrant cries before the Bench, ant had picked oat
the two worst clues. They were veal had oases, and
he must ask that the full penalty or illair4Sl In bOl2
cane In the ease of James Brown, be had been
summoned for thie offer..e eve time. yr...rowdy,
and had paid 22e. 61. in fines.—Mr. Pickard,
School Atteadasee Officer, stated that defen lint's
son was &home from school on the 13th of February.
He had only made 23 attendances out of a tr-nsible
40—Defendant said this wag the first lime hie boy
had been anoint for four year.. De was suffering
Iron. • bad font. The filoer had • eple against him
because he spoke his Pelly Ho per said
he must press for the full penalty in this case.—
Defendant : As for paying any more I es, I shan't
do it, —Alderman Robertson : You will be fined 51.
Defendant : I shan't pay it.—Aldermen Roberto:xi
Theo you will have to go to prison for moon days.—
Defendant: The parish will have to support my wife
and family whilst I am them—Mary Ellis Was
summoned for a similar offeno..—Mr. Polly Hooper
said this we. a most flagrant case. This was the
lab time she had been summoned, and she had paid
40s, in &res.—Alderman Robertson: I am sure we
often hew of the improvidence of the pow; this must
be a specimen of it.—Mr. Pickard said the bey wan
absent from school on the 11th .4 February, sad had
made only 20 attendences out of • possible 40.—Fined
lie.

BERIOUB FIRE IN QUEEN-BTREET.
A TOBACCONIST'S AND BASSIN'S SHOP BURNT OUT.
Shortly after half-pest one a.m. on Sunday morn-
ing, whilst Police-Sergeant Harvey was proceeding up
King-street, he detected • strong smell of fire. He
Immediately celled Police. Constables Carter and
Stickland from the au j doing beats, and made a close
search throughout the neighbourhood, which
resulted in the disc overy that the shop and premises
of Mr. Lever, tobacconist and hairdresser, Queen-
street, and which adjoins the Somerset Hotrl, were
on firs. Sergeant Harvey at once despatched P.O.
Stickland to the police-station for the real and how,
and in the meantime be and P.C. Carter broke open
On door, and, assisted by the neighbours, threw
buckets of water on the burning mw, thua tending to
keep the fire down until the return of P.C. Stiokland
with the reel, accompanied by Police-Sergeant
Delamont and Polloe•Constable Bullet). The hose
was at co" got to work, and there being a copious
supply of water front the mains, after about 20
minutes' bard work they managed to get the fire
under. On examining the home and shop It was
found that on the ground floor the partitions were
burnt and the goods in the shop, together with the
fittings, almost entirely destroyed, as was also the
flooring. The doors of the wood and third Boors,
and the staircase and rails were burnt, as were also
the cnntrnts of the barber's shop, which is situated
iumnedi,tely above the tobacconist's shop. The
damage I' stock aid fittings alone is estimated at
from £l5O to EIBO, this covered by insurance In
the County Office. of which Messrs. Slilledge are
agent.. The preudees, which are the property of Sheers.
Eldri,le and Pop., Dorchester, are also considerably
damaged, end it will take a large sum to place h • house
In proper repair. It apPears that Sir. 1. who. the
proprietor of the White H. •IVO, St. Story-street,
carries on the hostesses if tobaccoodit and lo.irdresarr
on the premises in Queen-street, and is enlisted by a
young man name,' lidward D'Arcy. On Saturday
night, shortly after eleven, they locked up the house
In Queenetreet (in which no one lives by night) when
everything was to all appearances aide. 0 Saturday
morning a box containing stook cense in, and the
IltaPti nate, containing • quantity of straw, was de-
posited at the foot of the stairs. On examining the
premises on Sunday morning Supt. Vickery came to
the conclaSon that some pain,. when leasing the
barber's shop on Sattuday night must have vebsst •
pipe oomingdown the stair., and inadvertently dr .pped
the match or hove into the box of straw, which
smouldered and broke out into a fire. 'here being
no fires In the house, and the ow being fottnd
entire. The pollee, and especially Sergeant Harvey
and P.O. Carter, are to be complimented on the
manner in which they actsd on the nonasioa. They
are deserving of every praiss, for lisd the fire obtained
anything like a strong hold, the coomtpuences would
have been most serious, this house being surrounds I
by courts, stables. end blocks nf buildings, in which
lives very large number of people.

THE RELIOIOUB TRACT SOCIETY.
The annual meeting of the Weymouth Branch of the
Religious Tract Society took place la St. Mere'
filhools on Monday seeming, when there war a fairly
good attendance. The Rev. J. If. Scott, M.A. (rector
of St. Mary'e), ooeupled the chair, and was supported
on the plrttorm by the Rev. 13. (lithos. t, DAL
(deputation ,) Rev. J. Kewo•dri Rev. Commin4s-Ince,
Rev. J. Wood (Congregational), Rev. W. Lewis
(Congregational), Rev. J. Pickles (Primitive
Methodwt), and the Rev. J. Trafford (Baptist.)
The meeting haying beenopeced with singing and
prayer. the Cnalititan called upon the secretaiT to
read his report.
Mr. Grow* ANNUM then reed the report for this
district, which showed that the subscriptions for the
peat year amounted to BM 9r., amount collected by
card SI lls. ; total receipts 06, and after du:luting
112 13i. 61. for espouses the balsam had been paid
over to the society. Mr. George Andrews referred
with satisfaction to the fact that there bad
been an improvement in the receipts se cunt:wed with
former years, and hoped it would continua. He also
mentioned that title was the lint year any collecting
cards Lad been given out, and trusted this was only
the beginning of what they might expect in the f uteri.
Auyose who would nodertake to take ous of these
wards sad collect lg.. would be entitled to the same
privileges as a subscriber of that amount, namely, •
queried) packet of treats. Ha was sure they would
saes with Itha that that was a very liberal offer as
the pert of the sodat7. LI any eascrthes had any

tracts lying about, he should be glad if they would
give them to him, or he would furnish them with the
names of those who would be very pleated to have
them—Scripture reader, and others, to whom they
were of great service.
The ellittlift II nest addres-ed the meeting. Zightr
four ) ete• this society tied been carrying oo its awful
and necessary work, which was never more necessary
than in the present day, owing to the spread of edocse
lion and the thirst for knowledge. The obj.ct of the
society was well known ,• the object wee the ciroularion
of religion. books and tracts all over the land—
books which th•-y could most heartily commend.
There were two branches of this society's work, one.
the diseemloation 1 religious literature, the other of
missionary, a fact which cancoeuded the society to
their support. The society published literature in 166
different language*, and had an annual circulation of
ninety-three inillior.. He referred to the fact that
this society was purely undetionlinati nil, and carried
out Its work on solely Protestant lilies. He therefore
commended it heartily to the sympathy and support
of
all chrietians._ . .

The Rev, W. Lewis, in supporting the claims of
this society, said it (assigned pririodioals and tracts
Use all clews, and ouroprehentii-d woskoof the highest
"rier—scienttfic as well am religious. It descended t
the lowest in the family—ths latent, aud to do
liiwest in society—the cottages. He thought this
spoke for itself. The Rev geoCealan then spoke of
the great help the esodety afforded him as the pastor
of • II cc, Lod also testified to the good results of tb•
society'. publication,. In these Jays of Romaniem,
hitualism. and Scepticism, a society su.ilt as this was
of incalculable worth. It was doiog a vast work
becsuld it was so thoroughly Evangelical and an-
sectarian. He pleaded that this socicty should be
suppin t ti by them, with their prayers and cootribtoi
Liao, imolai, they owed it much to it.
Toe Rev. S. S. CATHCART then addressoti the
mesolog at length in a most intoreeting speech, giviug
details of the society's work at home and abroad, and
relating iostanom of TIO wonderful blessings which
baa attended the distribution of tracts and religious
periodicals. In conclusion, he made an earnest soweal
to those present for increased help, In order that the
Religious Trot Society might continue it. isceol work.
The meeting terminated with the usual votes of
thanks and a collectioo.