The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-01-10 00:00:00

HT. JOHNS PARENTS TEA.

That was indeed • large gathering which filled the
great Burden Hotel Assembly Room back to the pillars on
Thursday eight, and only left Jost room enough for the
attendant' to tamers the crockery behind. It 'winded
the lisreete end (deeds of the childven who attend St.
John. &hods, ead, Judging from the crowing and other
infantile mounds, the supply of tho scholars is in a very
fair way of Wag kept up. &motel pleats in pots
adorned the Cabbie, which were loaded with provision.,
and the consumption of the sweet eatables and hot tea
was by no means hurried, foe Mr. Jones's bind played
while it we. going on, and, trommenclue shoat six, or
after the weal "grace," the perfume of Coegou and
Young Hymen &lied the room even to eight o'clock. The
semis we. an animating our, and it did not terminate
with tea-time, foe platform we. t coupled by the pre.
tkU
foe • mimed, and, althou ag wun gh it wee
high etl egb, yet the singers and readers were heard fairly
well, even to the outskirts of the adhering. The first on
the programme wee Trona'. lively de.—" The Chafer.,"
sung by Yemen Karma, White, Brooks, and Hinglay.
Mr. Storey then read in approved Dorset dialect Barnes's
. laughable "Shoots. and was muck applauded.
The re-oppearanos of that well-known favourite, Mrs.
Stodolaul, .1" haled with eePlang., and atte gave with
artiefussy simulated Janne 'ace, followed by the flavour
of archness, Wakefield's "No, Sir." Everybody wog glad
to recognise the favourite contralth, and she was enthosi-
astlegly encored. Nor wee then to,. a /Were when Mr.
R. Oakley gen that hearty song 'Our Jack's come
Homo te-day," in which he shone. In the place of Miss
Stephenson, who we regretted to beer we. not well, Miss
Simpson joined Kr. Stoue in the "remittals" of Donets,
for piano and violin, and proved worthy to play • duet
with the eccompliabed organist of St. John'a, even though
he toadied his favourite instrumeut. the violin, and mode
people wonder how such tones c. it'd he drawn forth with
• liddi•-bow. The rut of the progr me ran ae follows:
—Reeding by the Rev. U. Yaudrey ; song by Mrs. O.
Donnell, who by this time is recogotted on the new and
fashionable amateur contralto; duet. "O'er the hill, o'er
the dale" (IL Glover),_ by Mrs. and Mow Steelman, in
which the younger lady made h.v debit with greet
somas ;}ong, "Sweet Mignionette, Timm) by Mr.
Moore; glee, "Peter Pipe (S. Jars's), by the it,, party.
AU were well received, and we really have not count of
the emeores, which cannot be encounter] when the Msror '
sad the Yloar have to follow with use' ghee.
The °KALMAN, the Rev. Cisme St •pheueon, called on
the Mayor_ to make a few remarks whet) His Wcutanly
said he had come down without tne r •rootest intention of
saying earthing, but on the It v. Mr. Stephenson had
asked him to any a few words in loin official caper ty, it
was impossible for him to say iii congratulated Mr.
Stephenson very snob on being V:e prime mover in
bringing that large gathering tog. thee that evening. It
was only another of that active, good, kind influent's which
he ever thowed toward, all with whom he oat brought
into contact, ever eines he (the M oth bad known Mr.
Stephenson, now many years. Ile took that opportuni"y
of congratulating him and also tit,.e present. because he
was sure they had spent, or would hthe spent before it
was near, • very pleasant riming ; it showed
that this world is not all we, not all troub)e,
but there are happy times It whi.th every man,
woman, and chill can enjoy them.. Ives, and this was 0,0
of these occasions. It was alao th • c onmeacement of the
year, and he hoped that, as they were commencing the
year by meeting together through the kindness thou
who bad brought them together, the year would be a
happy one, both for those who hut got up this entertain-
ment, and those who had partaken oft He wee one of
tbnee who believed that ewes and troables and joys are
very evenly divided, much more so than many people
think; we Ste all apt to ponder upon our little trouldes
and cares and make them great, but they might depend
upon it that was a great mistake. It put him in mind
o'l • permit who visit/if a very cheerful individual; but
that individual bed been laid up try • severe Illness.
When the visitor called. nothrithat in ling his eickness and
pains, he expressed his pleasure at hie friend calling upon
him as it cheered him up. An evening like this was b• 110.
Adel to them all bean.' to-morrow when they were
brought face to iced with the trials which every one has to
endure, • gatherlaslike that would lemon the forgo of the
cues and trials, and troubles of life, and help to pass them
away. fAppl.ueel
The Rev. Canon STiIIiENSO7C remarked there were a
number of Mlles present ; but they did not disturb him.
(Aoplatme). He warn much obliged to those friend, who
had helped In the arrangements 'hie evening. First of ail,
In. thanked Kn. Scudamore and Mist Roper, who had lent
the room; but, elan! ell things conic ton,, end, and this
wee the last meeting that would take plus in the room.
It had been an uncommonly good room forth.,., they had
spent many pleasant evening. there, and he only hoped
that when they had the new and marnificnt room, which
would be th 4 case before long, they would get in that
room es pleasant componies aa were here tonight, end
have it as well filled. If there were any crooked person
in that room be would be put threight before became out,
for there was nothing in the world like a good tas, aa that ,
was, for melting people down. It was • first-we thing for
in Altar and father, if there were any little ruffle in their
! hearts, to come there; it woul I b. certainly put straight,
so that year after year they came out of that place thor-
oughly united and thoroughly one. He thanked heartily
the ladies who had helped them in: he singing; there
were old friends and new friends—Mrs. Stedman, and
Min Stedman, who hid male, be believed, her first
eppearancs in pea!tlic to-night, and a very good one. He
deo thanked the ladles who had presided at the tables,
and after some more remarks alluded to the school, which
he waisted them to feel was theirs; they had imams.
interest in that school, gad perbapt h. might say some of
them had mon interest than he had, for they had children
in it; therefore be traded all felt thoroughly how very
glad they were to have the school proeperous. It was in
• prosperous condition; they had bed most satisfactory
report" from to. Government inspector, and he tailiavad
hottest work was being done in each, the boys', the girls',
and the Infants' school. They had concieutious
teachers : their old friend Mr. Pearce, and en*
who was scarcely lees an old friend, Miss Kemp,
deo Mtge Bledwell. It we. a good ached, with the best
possible teachers and assistant teacher'', and ono of the
assistant teacher' must not he forgotten—Yr. Fletcher,
who had done some admirable work, and helped them on
very much. Mr. Stephenson said he freqauthly
visited the school ; and being an old soldier at
the wort, having been lost time engaged et It,
he flattered himself much would not mope his
notice If anything were wrong. There wee nothing
Ilk, (dime's or neglecting duties on the part of the
teachers (and this could not be said of all echools), they
were hard-worklug and painstaking, he never found them
sleeping at their poet With regard to the Sunday schoola,
he also took great interest In them, and wanted those
Preen, to help; they had • fumes staff of Sunday
ethool teachers, but he wished for • larger on.; they
wccrasd more help, and he hoped to get it, there ought to
he most faithful earnest godly teachers in that work.
Sunday 'ch. &a he c "ne'tered yet In their infancy;
9.•rbeee emu., might think it was time they were some-
what • 11,11,4 ; bat there would he a greater advance
Ii fore long. Nothing guild be done without help, and he
h. yet that with God's blessing they wool I succeed. He
urged the parent% to &said as much as possible the tinaday
echoed teacher", by lay ir leaching at home, by which they
could greatly help the teschen in their work. But some
time. went' feel annoyed, go and make • disturbance,
and take away their children, thinking that they are ha-
lo ns the erhoel, and having their revenge upon the
t where where." the prianied hurt falls On the child
itself. He knew 6of would be with them in the school-
rorra and with the parents in their homes, If they tried to
train the little ones; they might rut perfectly sure that
under all their parental anxiety and prayer they might
have the most perfect conlldence in the great Lord and
Saviour Jesus aria.
The National Anthem and the Doxology were sung, and
the benediction peon oinee 1, after which the meeting
diepessed.