The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-04-29 00:00:00

THE LATE MR. MATTHEW DEVENISH.

Ths remains of this estmared sad Isaieuted gentle-
man were Whirred oa rriday, arid tho revs' of lb,
friliabiteats, of all Masses sad all shade. of political sad
rellgious theg, was expressed in various ways As the
fermi orrextmed to the osseetscy essay lb.
shops were eked. All the gram-aids um(
was • large amours. of perms', imploding army of
the lessobscs of the deosamd greatlearea's own cow
eszioe. A *rola( feature was the promos of •
Migmlatioe from the Ocogragatioesi Ameciatioe which
hat feet bald its nettlag al Weymouth, ocedetiag of
Ma Rm. J. Wood sad Rev. W. Leiria (Weymouth),
arid the Rev. Mr. Gray (Blaadford). The Rs,. T.
N•avii (peda') °redacted the masks, mistrid by the
Res. W. Lewis sad the iler. Mr. Gray. The ooftle,
yid& was of biauitliully polished oak, with someire
beam /Mho, was prold.d by Maws. Hannah arid
Os., at Garahel, the farreral armegamiets Wag le the
bands of Kamm Gage, Dixon, mid Jameson, of High
Wereeterst.

311:711111LL MUM.
Saba Bev. T. Nears preached aa improper* sermon
▪ ssis posiyagadopel Chapel cer Elssadar sorsalag_
lousdieg the diseowse cs these words Lard
mid sato him well dome thou good aed faithful
wreak thou heat bees Willful over a few Ukle
will woke thee ruler over seamy thisere ; eau., h'os
into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25th a., 214 e.
What. hope arid Joy, said the preacher, them words
geggik to us, or we Mak of those who on sonond

from us, and who have lived amongst us as the true
and faithful servants of the Lwd Teems Christ. for
Dub, therefore, we do not mourn, but 'tidied, es
their belied, we rejoice. We rejoice to think that
basing ended their earthly this a• good and faithfol
servants, they have heard the "Well dome"
announced, and have been welcomed into the j of
their Lord. What a hope is this to cluriah of our
beloved and honoured friends who have been removal
from us. To-day we think of one wbo has just been
takes, and whose life has been indeed • life of service
to God. Those of us who have been lug associated
with hlnx in Christian work and fellowship know how
true his heart was to the servios of God. We know
how be ever sought to promote the interest of God's
kingdom, and how his heart was set In doloc good
aocording to the ability which God rave him. Amongst
oureelses we have had many tokens of his sincere
lihwwii.q In the cease of God ; we know how liberally
and willingly be has supported the ordinsues of
religion amongst us, and how, as • people we arei
indebted 1. him for hie menus and extensive help
In the erection of this eanctuarv, sod which will
always be • testimony to hie Christian zeal and
liberality. In more ware than I can mention, his
heart and hand b.,th were open to do good. Nor
were his efforts oonfined to his own denomination. He
had large sympathise with all good mee, and was
delighted to hear of the proxrese of the cause of Got
by whomsoever promoted. There was nothing narrow
or exclusive in WS religious feelings. His home was
always open to all good men who came smoriget us to
promote God's cause. He delighted to show hospi-
tality to the Lord's servant., and many have been
the expressions of regard and 'Sect' in whicill I have
hared from the fervent@ of Christ who have eoj iurned
under hie roof. And now that his life is closed, let
us give thanks to God for all the grace which w
manifest In his life; for his faith in Jeans; for his un-
obtrusive efforts for the promotion of the Gospel
and the best interests of his fellow.toweemen, the
intense' of whom in all respects, social, religious, and
educational were vary dear to him. (He was one
of the promotan, and continued to be one of the
largest supporters, of the Bridsh School in the town.)
He has lived an honoured and weird life. He
believed sincerely In the Gospel of Jeans Christ for
his own personal salvation and he was graciously
sustained by his faith lo the hone of death as well as
in the time of health ; and he believed that Gospel
was the ooly power by which any of us could be led
to live • godi and medal life. He 'ought to be guided
by that Gospel in all his life, and whether in his
home, or in the church, or In the community, hie life
was always directed and governed by his faith in God,
and by the deep sense of responsibility which his
faith awakened. His is • great toe', • low to his
earthly relatives, to the Church of Christ bete, sod to
the town, in which he has so long dwelt. But God
has spared him through • lug Me, which has been
usefully emoloyed, and much of it spent in the servioe
of God. We, therefore, ought to be thankful that his
days hays been so lengthened out, ant now that God
has removed him let us onegoily the grace of God
which was in him ; let us rejoice to know that be has
ended life well and success' ally, and 1.4 us believe that
he lus heard from the Master " Well dose, enter
into the joy of thy Lord." Let us pray that we may
have a double portion of his 'OM, that we may look
to have the same love for all that is good, and the
same desire to promote It; let us emulate his iotegrity
and uprightness • and let us look forward to life's
close irith the same calm and hopeful trust and assur-
ance which he evinced. His death was like his life,
calm and peaceful. He felt the Gospel to be all
rullcient, and we may well be encouraged by his
example and triumph, to trust that Gospel for our-
selves, as the,* widish sloes will help os to live and help
no to die. Of MM. We may truly and surely say—
Well dons, good and faithful servant." Let us seek
that such may be said of us when our life service shall
sod also.