The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-04-10 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

RE-OPENING OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

The parish church of St. John's was, according to
announcement, re-opened after renovation and enlarge-
ment on Friday last. The Von. T. Sanctuary, M. A.,
archdeacon of Dorset, preached a the morning
service, the services being performed by the Rev. J.
A. linteor (St. George a), Rev. Arthur Hill (St.
Peter's) and Rev. T. A. (Alley (vicar of St. John's.).
An efficient choir led the singing of suitable hymns.
The enlargement has been well carried out, under the
direction of Mr. G. R. Crickmay, architect, by our
local builder, Mr. Patten, who has well succeeded in
carrying out the intentions of the vicar. The seats
are now all fresh, consisting of comfortably low.backed
stalls of pine and varnished, and they have a neat
and very clean appearance. This is the general effect
of the look of the interior —there is nothing mere-
tricious or gaudy—in fact, some pentane mtlit .lesire
a little more wannth of colour insteel of the light
tint which 110 M prevails. A warming apparatus is
pr. .vided is one of Poi ritt's stoves, emstieg CM, and
the clutrell felt comfortable at the re-opening services.
The .rgan has been removed from the gallery and is
now in a chamber at the side of the chancel, thus
th; owing ;emu; the north.wetut window. The front of
the gallery, however, seems rather hare without a
clock ; but this will doubtless Im supplied. Looking
from under the former organ gallery the eye takes in
without obstruction the length of the church, Mehl&
ing the chancel, and the effect is very meet ; the
acoustic properties; of the building would also, we
should think, be improved by the alteration.
on to the chancel, there are six steps of Portland
stone to be ascended into the added part ; around
the Communion table is laid with benitiful tesselated
pavement, and over the I 'ommunion table is a handsome
rose window, with partly opaque Jam. The old Corn.
mullion table, which is of cedar, in re-polished ; the
reading desk is of pitch pine ; but the pulpit is only
temporary, consisting of a part of the old ono, covered
with re! cloth. Mrs. Lan', has muntheiently give,, a
large block of Portland stone for a new pulpit, and the
Vicar will he glad to receive funds for having it worked
and carried. However, as the Rector of Meleonibe
Regis seemed to observe in his xermon on Friday night,
it is not so much the beauty or fitness of the rellovati.
that are of importance as to the actual life of the
minister and church. The Rev. T. A. (Kiley may he
expects I always to preach good evangelical doctrine,
and the sermon by Mr. Greaves was excellent as a
specimen .4 firm Churchmanship combined with
anxiety for gospel life. May such always s sund front
the pulpit of St. John's ! We note also that the good
hymns of the ' .ental church are ming here, such as
breathe the Master thmughout The slinging is fairly
efficient and gas!; but to our fancy, more life and
tuneftilnese were desirable. The ;;rgaii is well placed
to support the singing, and it hoe been renovated by
Mes-ox. Custlar and Son, organ builders, of Isleworth.
Mid;ll;wex. 'ollections were made after both services,
the amount sxpended on the alterations; having been
nearly £1,009, and only E 750 being yet promised ;but
we hope the en) will mon be raised. The Vicar is to
be fsmgratulated on the improvements he has been the
means of effecting, and we hope he will continue to be
blessed in the gmel work. Mr. Frank Wines, we nosy
note, is treasurer of the fund.

PIDDLET RENT HIDE.
ON Monday, April the 2nd, the Baptista held their first
anniversary services in the Baptist chapel. At three
n'olack &sermon was preached by the Bev. E. B. Cage, of
Bristol, from the 27th chapter of Matthew, and a part of
the 12n.1 verse—" Ile saved others, himself He cannot
save." The preacher endeavoured to show how Christ
lalVtal others, and to some length he showed hew I brist
could not WM. Himself, because his love was sei great to
sinners, and he knew that withent shedding id Mood
there was no reinission of sin. There were a large number I
of friends from Bere Regis, Pieldletown, Dorchester,
Wititerberise Abbas, Bradford, Stratton, Cerno Abbas,
and Bert:land Newt,,,, and Codmanstone flockml to hear
U,,, above preacher, for which we believe they were richly
pail for their laissur, to hear such an eloquent sermon,
wit often preached in our villages. At five o'clock
there WAS a siublic tea provided in a barn kindly lent for
the occasion_ by Mr. J. Rimer, to which upwards of 201
sat slows. At CI, meeting was held in the above
chapel, ever which Mr. J. Pitman, of Sherburne, pressided.
Prayer was offered by Mr. J. Derrisnan, Cerue Abbas.
The. Chairman said lie hal great pleasure in meeting them
again on sorb a isle:sant ...abet. It was a twelvemonth
ago that this heasitiful house was opened for prayer, and,
he said, how many changes had taken place is the year.
Seine were called away to their rest, whilst others that
this time last year hail their faces towards ruin and despair,
to-day by Gel's divine grace hail their faces turned to
Him and his love. Ile then called on Mr. Davis, the pastor,
to give a statement of how the finans•ial matters stood.
Mr. I Saris sail last year at the opening, the friends
indil remember they were three hundred an-I fifty
pounds in debt, het as he knew be had the promise of
piing Dip nigh the Derision and South Devon As- ociationshe
was tl,atihf,ih la say belhail been throes:ls these loth. kissine
people said slay found it hard work to has. but, he 0,011.1
say lie fettled It a very pleasant work indeed, tor every
• rherch hail responded to the call and had given liberally
Ile said he found it so pleas sot he believed the
Lonl went Is•fese him and all the crooked Merest were
male straight. lisle,,! collected about two I dredlpounds,
on to-day they were only one hundred awl fifty newels in
debt, for which he felt very thankful, for he said many of
them know how anxious Ise felt that the dela sl Id be
cleared off at once, as he was sillierin4 Dent •
disease that if not I-y Gist's Divine Mowing
removed it would end in death, awl he thought if any
thing weuld los a thorn in his pillow it would be this a
debt on the building. lie urged them to Is what they
could to get it paid off at one,. The Chairman
called on the Bev. Omni, of Piaddletotru, to address
the meeting. Mr. Orani 'apt how please:ll he-was to he
there, an-I as long as he was in the neiglahourheod he
should always he pleased to come to the help of such •
man as Mr. DaVi, who bad done such a good
work in the county for the L-wd. The Ito-v. J.
Harrington, f Dorchester, ashlressing the meeting.
'Poke at me-rue length, and endeavoured to show Mom
toore profits, in labour and urged all to labour
on for Christ, after which the Rev. D. Thomas.
of Cerne Abbas, spoke. Ile said he eva pleased he wan
there, to hear such an eloquent speech and report
trots Mr. Davis. It shossesl how the Lord bad
bleteied them through the year ; be remembered on
their way home hat year, after the evening service, when
talking about the debt of this chapel, how they shook
their heals and wondered how the money woidil be got,
but he trusted be had learnt a lesson that evening
to have faith in God. Ile Was plea to find . that the
chapel was no far out of siebt, and trusted it would not
b, long lebire it would all be paid off. The next speaker
was the Rev. E G. Gage, id Bristol, his speech was of •
very litimourous nature. Ile said he was glad to meet the
friends of this place, and was pleased to hear such a
good report from his Brother Davis and of the work, lie
was much obliged to them for inviting him, although he
was much pressed with work, lint when his dear brother
called on him at his own house, he saw in his face such a
pleasant countenance and at the same time much
humbleness, he could not say no to him ; he then said his
friend Davis had been telling them something about •
disease which he was suffering from, but be did not
think he was going to die yet, and he trusted he would
not for years to come, he trusts I his life would he spared
to labour long in this district ; he &sill he should be glad
to come again if they would invite hint, and ho should be
glad to see the debt cleared off, and when they lind got
all hut the last .1:15 he would get it for them. Ile then
spoke to the tt sconverted in a very pointed way. The
Rev. G. W. Humphreys, 8.A., of Wellington, spoke of
the work of the astiociation, and as the association had
done so well for thetu, he thought they ought now to, lay
of the remaining debt, he thought it could be done. Ile
was pleased to hear that bin friend Mr. Davis had done no
well in collecting, lie then spoke of the health of Mr.
Davis, he trusted he would soon be restored again, and
that his life would long be geared to labour with them
there, after which Mr. Heath, of London, spoke of the
work that Nonconfortnists were doing in the villages, and
the work he would have to do. He was glad to meet
then, in such a nice comfortable building, and he trusted
many souls would be saved there. The Rev. G. W.
Ilumphreye closed the meeting with prayer, which
brought one of the happiest and most joyful days that has
been spent for many a-day in the village of Piddletrenthide
to a close. The proceeds of the day was about Jai—Cons
ow nicat ed.

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS, Saturday.—Before Messrs. J.
J. Farquharson and It. R. Harvey.
The following overseers were appointed for the ensuing
year f—Anderson--Mr. KS. House. Blandford Forum
Messrs. Burden and J. Payne. Blandford St. Mary—
Messrs. H. Mandford and N. New. Bryan.done—Mrssrs.
R. Lock and S. Lurk. Charlton Marshall—Meters. R.
Ball and S. R Groves. Chettle—Messrs. R. Rogers and
H. Sherring. Durweston—Messrs. C. Cox• Bartlett and S.
Gifford. Farnham—Messrs. J. Oxford and H. Targett.
Hilton—Messru F. R. Bellamy and T. Drake. Langton
—Messrs. Lithgow and G. W. Daniell. 31ilhorne SL
Andrew—Messrs. F. Standfield and H. Lane. Milhorne
fityleham-31essrs. If. Standffeld and IV. Biles. Pinmerne
—Messrs. T. Taylor and R. Dominey. Milton Air,s—
Messrs. S. Vine and T. Spiller. Snettisbury—lifewirs. .1.
Laming and W. T. Mackrell. Steepleton Preston—Mr.
C Pope. Stourpstine—Messrs. H. Barrett and J. Cole.
Tarrant Gunville—Messrs. W. Lane and J. G. Fowler.
Tarrant Hinton—Messrs. T. Spinney and J. M. Friend.
Tarrant Keynston—Messr• H. Martin and G. Lane.
Tarrant Launceston—Mrs. Sarah Fookes and Kr. H.
Fuokes. Tarrant Monkton—Messra. J. Butler and J.
Taylor. Tarrant R. twston—Mrs. Sarah House. Tollard
Farnhara—Mmiars. J. Oxford and E. Barrett. Turnworth
—Mr. E. J. Tory. Winterbome Clenston—Messrs. J.
Roper and J. G. Burt. Winterborne Houghton—Messra
W. Drake and G. Stay. Winterborne Stickland --
Beaus. J. Sprake and W. Speaks. Winterbome Tomson
—Mr. S. S. Ainsworth. Winterhorne Whitchurch
Messrs. Ft. Fowler and .J. Keynes. Winterborne Zeishm
—Messrs. J. Burgess and W. Burgess.
Richard Flopkinx, of Ilartfoo•lane, Hilton, pleaded
guilty, through Mr. W. H. Atkinson, to heing drunk and
disorderly on the 30th of March, at ltartfoot-lane, and
was fined Is. 61. and costa (2s. 6d.)
Benjamin Chine% John Cobb, .Imrph Too, and Grano
Arnold, four carters of Winterborne Clenstone, were
summoned for obstructing the highway at Mtlborne St.
Andrew on the 27th of March.—P.S. Arney proved that
the defendants each left • loaded waggon and their horses
in the street at Milborne whilst they were in a
_public
house, where they remained for half-an-hour. —Defen-
dants did notdeny the offence, and they were fined 2.5. 6.1.
and 3s.dosts each.
_ .

Aquila Durant, of Spettisbury, was summoned by Frank
Nichols, assistant-overseer of the parish, fur failing to
pay 2. sd, poor-rate.,—The Bench made an order on
defendant to pay.
Harry Dnunter, a youthful cnachbuilder of the town,
was aunitrioned by &rah Ann flicks, a young woman of
the town, to show cause, &c.— Mr. HM . oore for applicant -
Mr. Mr. W IL Atkinson for defendant—This case was heard
at a previous Court, when the magistrate* present dis-
missed it for want of corroborative evidence. Additional
evidence was now given on applicants behalf, and the
Bench made an order on defendant to contribute Is. Ekl.
a week.
James Barrett, Henry Pool, Jame* Mandford, Alfred
Hawkins, and Vows.' Career, five boys, were summoned
for an offence under the Game Act, but the prosecutor
did not appear, and the case was adjourned till the May
meeting.

SHBRBORNE.
ALARM OF FIFIL—On Thursday evening about ten
o'clock an alarm of " fire" was given on Greenhill,
and almost immediately afterwardo some pushing
individual rushed off to the residence of the church
clerk, to get the fire-bell rung. A few minutes more
and the &mil gong on the bell announced that a are

was raging somewhere, and Ito foramen' sal vigorous
clanging created an apprehension in the mind. of not
a few, that it wars a serione cam. It proved, however
that a fire had broken out in a small cottage nearly al
the bottom of Greenhill, and by the time the hm
brigade which arrived this time with oommelo4 ,
promptness, wan on the spot, the fire warn out, all indi-
cations that 'there had been one, being a little rimoke,
which was issuing from the bed-room window. The
cottage roof is of thatch, and about a yard of it was
burnt-
Ovr.asexas.—The magistrates on Thursday
appointed the following gentlemen as merseer, for the
respective parishes undermentioned for the
year :—Wer Hackett, Itob-rt Holloway, Jame. c
Dunford ; Bradford Abbas, John James 110 g, Thonia;
S. Stacey; Caatleton, Francis I.Mlyard John Prsidielii
Caundle Itiehop, John Ed J ward., oseph rolling ;
Caundle Marsh, Charbe Pargons, James Fudge ;
Cannata Purse, Henry Hard., Walter Willi:kola ; Clietnole, John Neale, William Banger; Clifton,
Ursula Vincent, George Swalfield ; Nether comnt,„fl
George Thorne' John Gillard ; Over Compton, .1,44
Tr.ssl, Robert Lemon ; Folke, Alfred Masten, Ityall ; Haydon, no return ; Ifolnent, nii ret,ien.
liolwell, Samuel Miller, Josiah Walden ; LeiA
Charles Bewsey, Mary lifett ; lAwiston, ,
Conine, William Harris; Lillineton Isaac Conw
William Dunford ; Long Burton, Thomaa Down
James Whitby ; INlelbury osmonil, William Chihli.:
jun., Squibb ; Osborne, F.lizalreth Dtinford, Janies
Panama ; Ityme Intrinsica, John Itackholler, I) mid
Ring; Sherborne, Henry Charles Woodward, Mark
Toop ; Thornton!, Thomas Gabe, William nea,g ;
Storkwood, Stephen Christopher, Jaws Bartlett;
Yetininster,Samuel It, Templeman, Cherie* Bishop.
CONcEIiT4 —Two grimulj.erforlitatiee• of
Handel'. orat 'no, "llie Messiah" were given hy the
Musical Union on Weiinetelay and Thunder evenings
to fashionable audiences. The instninventali.t., which
to4ether numbered all ait 99, were—Vi; he, Mr.
Began, and Mr. Stubbing.; viola, Mr. .1. Read ;
violincello, Mr. Bennett (Somerton) ; eontra
Mr. J.:cell; flatiti, Mr. Raymond, Mr. Calder
Mr. Sterniale-Rennett ; clarinetto, Mr. 11. W. ("it;
tympani, Mr. Beaton ; harmonium, the Rev.
B.
Gardiner ; pianoforte, Miss H. Curme ; and the
soli.ta—Mrs. It. Ensor, Mr., F. Enisir. Mr.. c.o.'.
Glyn, Mr. Dudley 'lhomas, Mr. G. !Mining, awl Mr.
H. Goldsmith. Mr. LN. Parke nicilueteil with his
usual ability, and the performances were a voteplete
success, Mr. Dudley llionas performed hi. parts with
much spirit, and Mrs. R. .Ensor, and Mrs. l'arr
sang in excellent style.
CHURCH or ENGLAND Yor!ffi Mrs's
The quarterly meeting of this lionriehing sesiety was
hell in their Reading.rnoni, over the Savings' Bank ;at
Tuesday evening. The Vicar in the chair. 'flue lion.
secretary, Nlr. Harry Newlyn, stated the number coin-
prising the society was now 10; inembem, am] the library
consisted of WO hooks, Ind lie still hoped are loll.: to
see many more added to it. Ile was sorry to say the
lecture-funil of the society revealed a deficiency of
slims £1 as against the same ;if last year; but that was
accounted for by 'the fact that the profits of many
lectures, which were very well attended, went to other
sources, and not to the credit of the society. M the
annual anniversary ioccasion of the citythere W:ka a
balance 1:2 les., and he suggested that they might have
another additional tea meeting, the result. of which
might defray the deficiency in the lecture fund. Mr.
lAiwitz; second master of oster's school, suggested the
desirability of a debating chi.. in connection with the
society. The matter Mel pro ionsly brought up,
and mooted, but now the following members were
appoint,' a cominittee to report insiti the means of
carrying out the plan, Ike. F. Chase, curate ;if the
Abbey Chn uii ; Messrs. Igiwitz, 1.. 11. ltnegg,
Ingram, George Pops, and J. Smithgate. The pro,
posed annual excers was also brought forwanl, and
it was reeolved that about the 7th of June the society
should have their excursion to lAnnlon, as usual, the
following gentlemen being appointed a committee to
carry out the arrangements. The Vicar. the Rev. W.
11. .yon, the Messrs. J. Crump, H. Newlyn, Burt,
and G. Stokes. A vote 14 thanks to the vicar clo.edl
the meeting.
Prrty iir_ssmNs. -- Magistrates
,J lent •
Falwasser. ccptain .1. P. doodden, and Mr. E. bentlii,ii.