The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-09-26 00:00:00

HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICES.

The Primitive Methodist Chapel was most tastefully
daorated on Sunday last by wheat, barley, fruit,
evergreens, &c., on the occasion of the harvest timinkes
giving sereices, when special sermons were preached.
morning and evening, by the Bev. H. -roans&
Teme were large and appreciative congregations at
both services, especially in the evening, when every'
available seat was occupied.
The rev. gentleman took for his text in the morning,
Si. Matthew ail., 7.3-30, and in the evening, Exodus
xxxiv., 22, " And thou shalt observe the feasts of weeks,
of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of
Watering at the year's end." After brief introduc-
tion, the preacher said the harvest-field was the plan
for deep thought and keen observation, with special
Indication of the Divine presence, and showed the
special goodness of His mercy; it also revealed the
unchangeableness and the boundless eternity of
Jehovah. The harvest-field should especially lea
us from nature's darkness to nature'e God. The
seed, when sown, dies away, then takes root, the
stalk then appears, next the ear, and Lastly the full
corn in the ear. This the 'reacher compared spirit.
and remarked that Jehovah would, at the
resurrection, give the and a body as it pleases Him.
The saint's resurrection is a house eternal in the
heavens, • bugding not made with bands; what that
body will be we do not know fully, for it does not yet
appear what we shall be, but we know that when He
shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see
Him as He is. They were ca-workers with God, and
God with them, therefore they ehould labour with God
in the salvation of precious souls, ever remembering
the words of the Lord—" Without My spirit ye can
do nothing, but by Me all things shall be accom-
plished." ' Not by might nor by power, but by My
spirit," saith the Lord. "He that gi eth forth weeping,
bearing precious seed, shall doubtlee come again with
joy bringing his sheaves with him." Everything around
ius s progressing towards maturity, and towards its
harvest, even those present were ripening fast; but
without repentance and faith in our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, they would ripen into a harvest of
eternal death. But the righteous shall be gathered
into the harvest of everlasting joy and pleasure. The
rev, gentleman then went on to explain that the Great
Harvest was the Judgment Day, and, in conclusion,
earnestly exhorted all present to give their undivided
selves to God, and then at lest they would hear the
Master's " Well done thou good atd faithful servant,
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord; thou hut been
faithful over few things, I will make thee ruler over
many."
The collections, which were for the reduction of the
chapel debt, amounted to X 1 ls. Gd.
A public tea meeting was held in th. &aped on the
following Wednesday evening, provided by Mn H.
Foot and Mr. W. B. Davis, of High West-street, of
which • goodly number partook, including the Rev.
H. and Mrs. Portnall and Mrs. Durrant, of London.
The weather was extremely unfavourable, which
doubtless prevented many from being present.
Later in the evening a public meeting was convened
in the same place of worship, when the chair was
taken by Mr. Hayne, of Cliarminster, and suitable
addresses delivered by Messrs. R. Bailey, J. Bellinger,
W. B. Davis, A. Danielle, H. Mills, and the Rev. H.
Portnall, the latter gentleman being highly interesting,
having taken for the basis of his address the word
"Harvest." This the rev, gentleman most cleverly
worked out, his starting point being =cultivation,
which he compared to the human heart in its sinful
state. He then proceeded with cultivation in all its
stages, then germination, next fruit-bearing, and
flashing with the harvest. The stheadance was very
good.
The total proceeds of these services, we are pleased
to note, were about LI 154.