The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-10-04 00:00:00

WIEBORNE ALINSTER CHURCH FESTIVAL
AND HARVEST THANKSGIVING
SERVICES.

Tin revival ef the maseisns practice of the Oburoh,
in devoting • aorta° patios of time fur spatial
thanksgiving to God fur harvest mercies, is one of
those hopeful signs of the time', which, amid much
dot is dismays', is calculated to cheer and en•
lounge the Christian minister. For many years the
joyous season of harvest came and went, without any
special Isaias being takes. Harvest home suppers
were given to the men by the farmer, and when well
misdated, tended to foster that fueling of mutual
train and goodwill so essential to the best interests
el both employer sad employed. But whilst this
aserrpasalsing west es, too often it is to he feared
the homiteous Giver of all good was forgotten, sod
His wissreies, if not abased, W.T. tholifrbi light ot
This apathetic feeling hes sow, we rejoice to say,
Plase ton hetieri sod iS redoes& gristly be

the credit of the clergy that they have takes
the initiative in this matter. This kind of caliber
tine was emomemoed for the art 6 fish in Wihbotti•
MA year, and the memos Which attended it indented
them geotlemen who took an motive part tken, via
to come forward' and promote itiledebratios.
this they were mast cordially 'wooded by die
fanners of the neighbourhood. sod the result was - •
that mercies. in *very way oak:slated
aiwtoulielleiLemrellieskrprelat.Ongtne,i.m.preressioodelcsisbemodwasoonwethiiinvedinTbaredaiasudsaogf
ene;fierusi
bellklay by the tradesmen of the town, mot of the
ehope being closed. From the t :eer of the Minster
waved the Union Jack, and during the day merry
peals were rung, with "firing at intervals. the •
pnocipil decoration was that of an arch, erected by
the men in the employ of Mr. Very, machinist, at
the entrance to the town from the station. This
had • pretty effect, sod consisted of wreaths of ever.
gnome and flowers, from which wee suspended •
beeper with the motto, " Frisadaleip, Love, Truth,"
surmounted with a crown, composed of wheat,
barley, and oats, and at intervals Chinese lanterns
were bung, the entraeos gates to the Minster-yard
were also demisted with evergreens, and the inside
of the leered building was ornamented in a very
suitable manner, the gas standards with wreathe
of ivy and wild bop, surmounted with corn. Armed
the lectern and pulpit were entwined some very
choice lowers, aod at the entriume to the chancel ea
either side were sheaves of barley and oats, and a
sheaf of wheat placed on the 001111121113i00 table.
The morning :orrice oonnoaccod ate quarter to 11,
She chanter -bei the Rev. G. Phillips, M.A., a
Holy Trinity Church, Weymouth. The service was
' as follows: Venite, Russell; Prnper Psalms, 65 and '
105, Dupuis • Tit Deem and Jubilate, Born in C; .
after 3rd eollsot, Psalm 100, old version; Sasusina
sad Kyrie, Aldrich in C; hymn before senacm,
"Come ye thankful people, owns," St. George
The sermon was preached by the Rev. C. 'F..
Procter, of All &Mita, Dorchester, who took for his -
teat Matthew xvni., part of 10 verse—" In beeves,
the Bagels go always 'behold the face of My Father,
which is Is heavies." —The rev, gentleman said he
had chosen the text as One in every way mash*
not only on which to ground sons useful lemons to
be leer* from the character of suede but also as
one especially applicable to the solenuf minim I.
which they were engaged- - the eel 'brewing the wreath
anniversary of the rehosning of the Minster, by
thaalogivieg and praise to God for the late bountiful
harvest. It. thee proceeded to dilate ape the
eh".°4lr
Christiansbust'inaahost, sad
employment.
oral w "Tao wan
dtisat' their i 0 0 0111:: ta
their ig"
rl
I a I of
Ma
dagt 0
alk" wgelaskiPtoi
in their unsellishoess ; Shad, in their interest in
God. At the onschnion of his dimmers, the
preacher stated that the collection made would se
woo& defraying the met of repairing the orgaa,
far which about £3OO would be needed, and
moulted ht. bearers, as they valued the privileged
worsbippimg.he that bointifal Minster. mid joining
in God's pewees, not to allow such an important =-
groove, so She organ, which so greatly assisted in
leading the sioring, to biomes of Httle see, remark-
ing that altitaafr we gave for the service of God's
booe ougbi to 0. et the beet. He also expressed
his delight that 0. emigre:lotion had the advantage
of • choral service, sea hoped the time would coma
when the coominutsiticie would also he chanted,
especially the meal anthem of Glory
be to God on high, ise earth prom, good.wiff
towards men."

---- --
Shortly before two o'clock • very large number
of aviculture] labourers, with their 'MAVIS
and fiunilies came into the town :he Iti'mon
of the neighbourhood hiving kindly gnintedl the.‘ •
holiday for the purpose of being mouth et HO
feetivaL About 2 o'clock the "assembly"
mounded, and shortly after a goodly muter of Wes
volunteers, under the command of their esteemedi
captain and officers, 'assembled in the Market.quare,.
the two excellent bands of the carp enlivening tbeo
proceedings with some favourite tunes. A prooeasios
was then formed, the bands leading the way, followed t
by the volunteers, (17 file) and then the labourers. •
In this way they proceeded to the Minster, every
available epees of which was speedily flied, the-
volunteers taking their places in the side, and the •
labourers in the save. The service was again intoned •
by the Rev. G. Phillips, who is evidently well •
qualified for this somewhat difficult task. The •
order of the service wa• as follows :—Proper Psalms •
144 and 145, Tune; Megnificat and Num
Arnold in A.—A hymn suitable to the occasion-
was sung after the third collect to the tune, Moak. -
land; and a thanksgiving prayer for the harvest -
followed the general thaakagiving. No. 149 Sabebury •
Hymn Book was sung before the pennon to the bine •
Benediction, and the way in which the swami
portions of the service were snag by the chair
reflected greet credit both on themselves and
the organist, who is also the conductor of the
rifle brass band. A most exoellent mid suitable
sermon was preached by the Rev. C. T. Procter,
who selected as his text Roman, xii. chap. let verse.
" I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living morifice, holy,
receidable unto God, which is your reasonano
service."—The rev. gentleman, in introdsong his
subject, said that tbe words they had listened to
was an old text, but often old tamp with like old
wine—the best. There was that in the Word of Ged
which the more we read and studied it the more we
loved it. Like many beautiful things we ISW around
us which gaped upon our impressions, the oftener
we looked upon them, as those of the beautiful
cathedral at Salisbury and that Hipster, which, at
first sight might imereis us by their grandeur, but
the fall beauty of which we could only realise
after repeatedly gazing epos thou. The text which
he had chosen was an example of this. The mere it
was studied and dwelt upon the clearer would its
bidden beauties shine forth. The rev. gentleman
then divided his subject into two general beads-Id.
The mercies of God; and wooed, the duty enjoins&
by the Apostle on his brethren in Christ from a con-
sideration of these mercies. Some men; and the.
preacher, are more moved by the mercies than the:
justice and judgments of the Almighty, but the •
preacher must net give up the use of arguments-
founded on the latter. He must declare the whole
cousin of God. The chief mercy contemplated by
the Apostle was that of redemption Tbst death of
Christ, like the light of the ens, was for all. They
had this mercy offered then, pardon sad reconcilia-
tion through the death of ; but thegteled,
moondly, the mercy or privilege to belong to •h
In which the gospel was faithfully preached, and that
without going mile after 50i1.,.. their brethren in
the Colonies often did to • piths of worship. They
had ministers and churches okee to their own hones.
Apia, they had the blemiago of education, sad they
had also special blaming" lobe thaakful for—not the
least of which was that God bed not out them off in
I their sins. Again, they had received God's mends.
as behalf of their bodies. They had never ecenally
wanted. Often, perhaps, had they fiend this • but
jest as they were about to doubt God's Word, and
God's goodness, He placed the lost on the
shelf, and now they were silted upon ia
meaner to return grateful thanks to God for His
mercies in giving them an abundant harvest, amid
crowning the year with His goodness. He now had
to ooesis what duties became them.. recipients
of inch nmreiem.—" Present your bodies • living
sacrifice." Though we cannot =rich God by any-
thing we can do, He will thoept oar gratitude.
lt Is the only offering we can make, and this.
' gratitude we must show by our lithe.
The prember then most faithfully warned
his hearers naiad excess, sad eepscially=
drunkeanem the chief eau of the working
aa • didionearing of God, sad a Nth by whisk their
bodies and souls were greatly lined ; and con-
cluded by showing how reasonabl, •••• • dedication
as the whole non to God was. The service con.
chided with singing the Gloria Piatri and the
Benediction. As soon as the procession could be
formed, the labourers and their friends, preceded as
before by the volatilise', marched through the town,
and from theme to • large milthousa, recently
erected by Mr. Webb, on the road to the dation
their arrival being signalled by anvil firing in a field
opposite by Mr. Warry's workmen. Then they
found a very excellent tea awaiting them, the roan'
being profusely decorated with everyone' and
fiend,. The trays were taken by the ladles of the
district, whose kindness and affability is waiting
upon their poorer brethren was plemiag to witness.
The US was provided at the expeoee of the farmers
of the neighbourhood, and was both banntifid in
qtholatv, and good in quality, and was heartily en-
jdyed by about 600 persons Jiresent. Al the
conclusion of the repast, the Rev. C. Onelaw, he
whose indefatigable exertions this happy gatheriag is
mainly to be ascribed, took his station as one of the
tables, and addenda( the company, first
proposed the health of 11r. Webb. thanking _him
for the use of the nuathouse ; then the health
of the kind friends who had given the use
of tables and forme, 'Lod lastly the health of
the Hasa, who had waited spots them, to all of
which • most enthusiastic response was given. The
rev goads:man then entreated the agricultural
labourers not to give any oconsics for fatilt•S•din
4 :4" did their masters would not he diepoZar
to let them come again. H. also reminded
them that they were in a better position than
formesly, that it seldom happened that their
masters broke faith with them; and concluded
his remarks by an anecdote characteristic
of that shrewdness which is often to be met with in
the Dorset labourer. A master, one cold morning,
not considering his mut had dose enough work, and
was nkiag it somewhat easy, said to hint—;o9:23k
Jaha, you don't work Hsi enough to keep
warm this cold morsing." To whisk John replied
—`• Tees, milder, but per should know that seem
Ghillie • week is not eauff to keep openlye warm
on." (Load Leaner.) Loud cheers were then
pivot for Mr. Onsdow, sad the company
all *tiring to their homes sober, pesoelsgratial,
=ly happy and onstented. During the He
of the Rifle Volunteers played selectionof made in an adjoining meadow, and by their
exeiPent performances contributed very mach to
the Vmeures of the day. 1.6 • total amount
collected was t 9 Oa 11d.