The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-02-28 00:00:00

BLAN D FORD.

Tam Somerset and Dorset Railway Bill, which a
short time since was stated to have not complied with
the standing orders, has, it seems, got over the
impediment which threatened to arrest its progress,
and it will sow be heard upon it. merits before a com-
mittee of the Houma of Commons.
PRTITIONS in favour of legalizing marriage with a
deceased wife's sister, have been circulated and signed by both
males and females In this tows. The petition from the male
population wail headed by the Mayor and the greater part of
the Town Council, and that from the Mice by between 140 and
160 of the principal tradesmen's wives, • wrong impression
baying gone abroad as to the general feeling of the inhabit-
ants on thisquestion, we may mate that the petitions for en
against an alteration of the law on this matter have received
fire times the number of aignatures.
BOROUGH PoLICE, Friday.—Before the Mayor (H.
Gill, Req.), and 0, W. Das:dell, Sm.
Prank Paddock, butcher, Faidestreet, Bland ford , wan charged
with a violent assault on a boy named Joneph Carter, by beat-
ing him with a atick. —The bey mid be was playing near
defendeata shop with another boy, wben Mr. Paddock came
out of Ids tilde door, took him by the arm, and struck him
nine times. The bruises were still viableon his ann and lack.
Ile ••• confirmed in his statement by Walter Paul and Peter
Corrie.—Defendant admitted striking the lad, but pleaded
that he wee much provoked by his conduct.—Fined lOs, and
costa.—The Mayor cautioned the boy and all others, that
if they were brought up for annoying people in the town,
they would be severely punished.
COUNTY rOl.lOl, detunffity. —At the magistrates
clerks office, before Lord Portman, Elizabeth Dibben, Hannah
Pitman, Joanna Had, and /mesa Burl, all of 'landlord,
were charged with stealing a quantity of swedes, value is., on
the 18th inst., the property of J. J. Farquharson, Esq.—The
offence was clearly proved by John Harem, Mr. Farquharson'e
head keeper.—They were severally fined, including costs and
value, Dibben be. 6d., Pitman es., Kali nth, and !lett 5,.
Butt and Dibben bad been previously convicted.
Elizabeth Dibben, Hannah Pa ntan, Jernnna dad, and
Ketia Dear, were then charged with stealing a quantity of
swedes frOlll • heap in a field near " Two Gate,," On the
Wimbonie Road, the property of J. J. Farquharson, Ray, of
the value of fic, on the 210. inst.—P.C. Ilmaard mut the
women on the Wimborne read, each carrying. ,ack-bag con-
taining invade% which he took from them—Fined, including
mete and value --Dibben, 4t, Gd.; Pitman, 4i. ; Nail, is. ;
end Dear, 2s. Gil.
WITITCHURCH CANONICORU/L

AN UNZIPECTED SNAKE IN THZ GRASS.— A few mor
nings sinoe Mr. John Snook and Mr. John Louring
killed a largo adder which they found curled up upon
a bank on Great Combs farin, enjoying the sun thus
early in the year.

VIE GREAT EITUALLBII CASE.
PROTLSTAST PRACTICZ UPHILD.

In the Judicial committee of the Privy Council, pre
cant—the Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of York, Bishop
of London, awl Lord Chelmsford, Re thrte EC v.Parchas.
lodgment let the suit of Mr. Herbert, formerly • Colw
against the Bev. James Parches, in-
cumbent of St. Jusies'ii, Brighton, was delivered on
Thursday. The conclusion come to by their Lordships
was that they inu.t. advise Her Majesty that Mr.
Parches had °Untied against ecclesiastical law by wear.
log the chasuble, alb, and tanicle during the Cots.
motion service; by using wine mixed with water and
wafer bread in the administration of the Communion;
and by standiug with his back to the people, between
the Communion table and the congregation, during the
consecration of ths elements. The charges of wearing
• biretto and of tuing holy water were not suffiziently
proved, their Lsrdehips held, so enable them to come
to • decision ; and on Uses., points, therefore, the
appeal must bo disallowed. As all the charges, except
two, and those less considerable ones, had been proved
against Mr. Purchu, he must pay the costs in IsJth
Coates.

The TOWS says it would be impossible for the
Ritualists to have been more decisively defeated on
every one of their most significant practices; and we
do not ooneeal from ourselves that the Judgment will
be unwelcome even to members of the High Church
party who have abstained from the extravaganses of
Mr. Parches or Mr. filackonochie. The prohibition of
stauding with the back to the people will have a wider
application than any part of the Judgment—perhaps
than may Judgment of recent yearii. Nevertheless we
do not hesitate to say the decision is eminently satis-
factory, and that we trust conformity to it will either
:be loyally so:lorded or duly enforced. This judgment
opportunely vindicates for the Chinch an interpretation
of its laws in harmony with the undoubted spirit of the
English people from the days of the Reformation- It
is of no avail blinking the fost that a spirit has of late
beeu at work in the Church which is utterly alien from
a Reformed, a Protestant, • reasonable, and an English
rligion ; and this judgment may possibly be the moans '
of bringing the antagonism to • head. For our part, I
we welcome the conolusioo of a wearisome controversy.
NO men of 1101110 mud sound piety will be aggrieved by
being forbidden to dress himself up in obsolete gsrmenui
or to resume mediseval attitudes in the most solemn
Ordinance ofnieligion. Coupled with the recent decipion
In the case of 'Mr. Voysey, this judgment shows that
the law of the Church is still strong and moderate
enough to restrain extremes in both direction 4. From
that point of view it claims additional respect from
Churchmen, and it will add to the confidence felt by
the people in the character of their National Church.
This judgment shows how thoroughly justified were
the Church Association in the action they took, and
must be eminently satisfactory to the Council and all
its members throughout the country.