The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-10-13 00:00:00

BRIDPORT.

IsysooN CITI Misling:4.—A meting of the Bridpor
branch of this society MU held in the Town•hall, on
Wednesday evening, and there was a good attendance.
The chair was taken by Mr. C. Edmunds, and there were
present on the platform the Rev. Francis Tyrrell, B.A.
('iecretary of the Society, the deputation), Mr. A. J.
Stradllng, and Mr. Pitman (Yeovil). An interesting
address was given by Mr. Tyrell, but it was similar in
substance to what we have reported in other parts of the
county.
•

DEATR OF MR. ALFRID STEFIII:OI.—We much regret
to have to record the death of Mr. Alfred Stephens, the
principal member of the well-known firm of Maseru
Stephens and Co., of Asker Mill, Bridport, who expired
on Thursday, at the age of 36 years. llunng his life he
took a great interest in, and was intimately connected
with, the different institutions of the town, and was
until very recently the secretary of the liridport Boys'
General School, his successor being only appointed at the
annual meeting at the school • week or two since. Cut
off in the midst of an active life, he will be long mourned
by a large circle of friends, a* well as by the inhabitants
of the town generally. The funeral will take place on
Friday afternoon. _ . „

Tag OUDFULOWS AT CHURCH —On Sunday afternoon.
as had been previously announced, the members of the
Great Western Lodge of Ocldfellows met at their I.odgo
Boom at the Seven Stars Inn, Barrack Street, shortly
after two o'clock, and, here, having been joined by several
members of the Bridport Foresters Society, a procession
was formed for the purpose of attending Divine service
at St. Mary's Church, in accordance with their annual
custom of celebrating their anniversary, the lodge haring
now been in esistence some 14 years. The brothers wore
their meshes, and it was a pretty sight as the body marched
down through the town in the following order :
Tyler', with drawn swords.
Bro. Modes, carrying an open Bible, on a velvet cushion.
brethren of the Oddlellows and Foresters intermixed,

two and two.
Officers or the useitellows and Foreetere
Arrived at the church, the tylers stood en each side or
the gateway, with arched sword; the procession opened,
allowing the officers to enter the edifice first, and shortly
the whole company, numbering about 70, were aerometer,-
dated with beats by the churchwardens (Messrs. N.
Cox, and J. Turner.) Instead of the usual voluntary, the
service was couuuenced by singing the hymn
" Hark, hark my soul, angelic sung. are swelling
O'er wheel green Beide, and omen'e wave beat shore:
HOW sweet the truth those blamed 'trains are telling
Of that new life when sin shall be no more."
The first of the prayers was taken by the Rev. A.
A. Leo (curate), the psalms of the day were sung bjr
the choir, and the lessors were read by the Her. 7- L. R.
Henalowe (vicar). After the 3rd collect, Hymn 230,
Ancient and Modern, '' Bear ye one another's burdens,
and so fulfil the law of Christ," was sung, one of the verges
of which was an follows
"tied of the widow, bear,
Our work or mercy bless;
hod or the fratherlsem, be near
And grant us good moors "
The remaining portion of the prayers having been read,
Hymn PO, "Behold how good and joyful a thing it is,
brethren, to dwell together in unity. The sermon was
preached by the Vicar (chaplain of the lodge), who chose
es his text, Proverbs rth chap lieth verse "As in
Mater face anewereth to face, so the heart of man to
man." The preacher remarked that the words of the
eachtext p,,,st'fetsd,
anoudt the wonderful dzeorftulateinfinuar.csvadwe
how
good
resolutions vanished under the influence of evil
companions, thus showing the influence there was in the
heart of one to influence the heart of another; it was
quite certain that we were elevated by the company of
those who were better, and ashamed by the company of
those who were not as good; hence we should be careful
of the power we exerted over others, and of the power
others exerted over so; it should make us watchful
that we influence no others for evil, and that others
did not influence us for ill. Belonging to societiee like the
Oehifellows and Foresters brought us face to face with
these thoughts; we were joined together for a purpose;
and the influence we exerted over each other for
good or evil was very great. The object of societies
like this wan • good one, viz, the improvement of
the worldly condition of the members. God had put se
into this world to do all the good we could, and by
banding together to effect improvement we were adding
to our own worldly prospects, and giving stability to
the hopes of other.; and there was no doubt that the
organization effected what it was designed to accomplish
help was afforded iu the hour of affliction and
distress. He (the speaker) greatly respected the man who
became an Gildfellovr or Forester, as that man displayed
a provident and sympathetic spirit. There were many
who preferred the present indulgence of self to providence
for the future, but the members of these societies showed
that they were not of that number. They had begun and
were engaged in • good work, but he would urge them
not to let this thought elevate them too much—there was
• danger lest the praise of others and the respect shown
them should become • snare to them; it was right for
praise to be bestowed on those who deserved it, but it
must be borne in mind that misplaced praise wee the
keened ridicule. They must not think that becalm they
were Oddfellowe or Foresters they had nothing more to
du this was not at all in accordance with the
religion of Christ. They must not let the satisfac-
tion they felt for what they were doing them-
selves and those who belonged to their societies, ,
debar them from showing their sympathy for the I
thonsande who did not belong to them, but they must do
good to all whom they thought deserved it, and must not
forget those of their fellow-creaturos who had fallen, but
strive to win them back again. "Love all men' was the
commend of our Lord, and although they could not be
expected to feel the respect and love for • man who
kicked and beat his wife as they could for him who built
• new wing to a hospital, yet they must hold out the
hand of fellowship to all. Even in the case of our Lord
they found that there war one disciple he loved above the
rest—so they could not help loving some better than
others. Loving their enemies did not moue going up to
them and saying how much they loved them, but they
must cultivate the spirit which would actuate them to
do as much good an they could to all around them.
Ile knew that belonging to societies of this kind, would
be of much good ; but they wait not think that because
they had thus set their faces against hard tlessnese, they
had done all they could to remove all the evils of the
world; one of the greatest curses of our land was drunk-
mom, but he was not one of those who supposed If that
were done away with all sin and sorrow would cease, and
to be • total abstainer did not always mean to live a pure
life, but it often led to hasty judgment of others who
were not teetotalers, as had as that which enthralled the
Pharisees of old. But there were others who were
abstainers, and were charitably disposed towards those
who differed from them and whose motives were pure
awl good. It was true that drunkenness was indeed
abominable, but, as he had before said, it was not the
only sin. In all they did, they must be aware of self-
deception, they must see that all their thoughts and
actions were influenced by right motives, and they must
not let the noire performing a their duty become a snare
to them, by fancying that they were doing a great deal,
but they must reinember that they were at the beat but
unprofitable servant. For himself, he prayed God to blase
the tuideavoure they were making—they were banded
together in a good cause, and the words he had that after-
noon spoken to them he had felt it his duty to speak
and he did so in all affection. In conclusion, he would
urge them to do all they did as for Christ- let them strive
to give up everything that was hurtful and bad, and
endeavour to do the will of Christ—let them do all their
work as for the Saviour who died that they might live.—
At the conclusion of the service, the procession rein:Medi
and walked back to the lodge room, where the members
dispersed.

Boaorem PETTY ligastrdm, Tuceday.—Before the Mayor (Mr.
C. Tucker) and Mr T. Reach.
Thomas Down, the coestguanlenum, on bail from Thursday,
%r eared In sumer to the charge of stealing • plonk of the
ue of b. the property of the Harbour Conainissioners.
The evidence given on Thursday was read over by the magis-
trates clerk (Mr. F. H. Oundry).—Prisoner declined to put
any qUelli..ll6 t., either of the witnesses, and desired the case
to he ectthsi by the magistrates ; he wee guilty of the charge
of stealing, he wa. sorry it had tenured. —Mr. Pfunphlett said
he woo the ehief officer at Brialport harbour ; priemer had
been there about fur months under him; he had always
borne an excellent character, and be could not mak. out
what
mails him steal the plans, he had been it the service 17 years,
and nothing previous was known against him.--The Mayor
said the Bench much regretted the position prisoner stood in,
It was • deliberate thilt, and must have beflz planned, and
they could tot look over it; they must commit him to gaol for
• month, with hard labour. They 1.1 a duty to perform ; the
inhabitants of the Harbour had asked for • policeman to be
sent them, ma things had been e frequently stolen, thee had
.t.tiouad • policeman there, and now a man who ought to
hate iteotected property bad been found stealing it They
much rmrretted that prisoner had placed himself lu this loin.
lion, considering the previous gancl character he had borne, all
the consequence. would be very serious to him.
Boamoil Pow! Thursday.--Before Mr. T. liseth.
naernartgo Clarrnag,
Henry Ward, • vagrant, o.eWare was somewhat
picturesque, was brought up, charged with destroying hi.
clothe., whilst being an inmate of the Bridport Workhouse.
Mr Amos, muter, deposed to the facts, and said he skould have
given the planer .garment, if he had asked for IL—Prisoner,
who, P B. Ct•le said, was • well-known clammier, had nothing
to say, and he woe mot to gaol for 14 days, with herd 1.14,0,,