The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-06-15 00:00:00

RECOGNITIoN segy!(l: AT TIIE BAPTIST

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A few week, since the Itev.J. T. Eames weepte.l. the

pastorate of the Baptist church in this town. and on
Thursday there was. tea meeting in the school-room awl
afterwards a public meeting in the chapel to web the
rev. gentleman to his new sphere of labour. The tea took
place at five o'clock, when about I:Plod down to the social
cup. The room had been very tastefully adorned with
flowers. evergreen. stc., by the youn.s Ten of the Bible

class. and appropriate mottoes were displayed. Over the
window at one end of the room woo the text in coloured
letters--• Train up a child in the way he eheebi go," atil
on the opposite wall were the words "Rring him up in
the nurture and admonition of the Lord,* whilst at
another part the worit " Wele " stood nut ronspic•
aa Iv. The Imlies who presided at the tea table were
Mr Romeo, Mrs. Coppork, Miss Bueknole. Miss Crocker,
Mrs Rielmnts, Mrs. Curtis, M.. John Cleat, M.. James
Cleal, Mi. Gilchrist, and Miss Ilawkiim.
The public meeting was het tat seven o'clock. the chapel
being crowded. A choice assortment of put flowers was
in front id the pulpit. Mr. Pitman (Sherborne)
presided, and with him on the platform were the Rev. .1.
T. Eames, the Rev. S. PC3ree 011.0%0E0m0, Rev,
Hardin (Montacutc). am! the Rev. F. J. Austin (Bridport).
The meeting was ,ipened by singing the hymn com-
mencing "iii;.4 .4 Bethel by Wll.O hand," after which
. . . .

the Rev. 11. Harlin °Remit prayer, invoking the Divine
blessing on the pastor who had Lately como to preside over
•

that igi.treli. -
The riitialivi saiii it waa only a few minute + duo, that
he htiew he should he ealle.l upon to fill im important a
ieeiition as ehairorin of that aueetjtlic, aol 9ierefore thoae
. .

I.re,;nt:!isly4

Ili dincliartle of tit.° duties. It WSW. II very pleasant
to bite. for he felt that he WIL4

I hristian friend% Some of them he had Keen before, isn't.,
had listened to their prayeni when he was with them on
u former occasion, and he was assured that one of those
prayers loul been amwered, for their Heavenly Father, in
:rti wcr to their petition., loul sent them a pastor. Ile was
juje.y to me awl happy to meet I that evening ;
mut a. lb sl had thus already answered their prayers, they
roOtiO11.! to I...tir out their supplication% and Pray
that their beloved wrstor might 110 tilled with the Hole
Ghost : that he lIWAlit Ire made humble, for it was very
important that ministers awl people should be humble in
spirit, like Rim who once dwelt on this earth. They must
remember their pastor in their chambers, and pray that he
might he Idss ced with the evidence of the Divine presencein his heart, on that he might be able to proclaim with
redness and power the gospel of Christ Ile would say •
word v. thee wlrmi their pastor would have to visit, and
that was, wleh he calls, don't detain him toe long'
Plummier that he calls to speak of things divine—they
must look upon I as • divine messenger, and open
their hearts to receive the truths he was willing to impart.
Ile was glad to hear there bed been of late such a large
increase in the imierreation; hut they must not leave all
the work to their minister, they Imist help him by all the
means in their power, remembering that he had a hard
tesk in administering to the spiritual wants of his conme-
gation. Ile hoped the cause would prosper, and that the
I bily ;hoot would bless their endeavours—(applause).
The Rev. S. PEARCE. mid they were met not tO recog-
nise Mr. Fames as a minister of Christ—that had alreruly
been dune—but to selseme him as the pastor of that
church. As one of the oldest ministers in the district he
felt much interest in the cause at Itridport, and could
look back mane thirty years ago, when the Rev. Mr.
Clarke was pastor. Ile WWI P1e11...11 to see such a large
gathering that evening, for it proved that Mr. Bantes's
ministry was acceptable, and not only that, but it gave
evidence that the welcome was not confined to members
of his men congregation, but that many connected with
the other Christian churches in the town had come to
sympathise with them and give their pastor a hearty
welmtne —(applause). I metrines were strangely distort.,
in these days, and there was reason for all true Christians
to be up and doing. Ile had lately heard a gentleman
address • Sunday school at Crewkeme. Ile took WI his
subject "Children obey your pments in the tort, for this
is right" Now the first part of his address lie (the
speaker) entirely agreed in. Ind on the matter of baptism
he tobl the children that by that baptism they had been
merle children of Giel and inheritors of the kingdom of
heaven—in fact, that by virtue if that baptism they were
Christian'. Now that was a olort ' he (the speaker)
meld not understand. Ile helieved that before they could
lie. 1111 l Christians they newt he horn again of the Spirit,
for such wm our Saviour's declaration— I my unto you
ye must he horn again." And such was the doctrine Mr.
Limes would teach, he felt aunt for he can,., from the
right school, he (the speaker) lout much faith in Mr.
Spurgeon's doctrines, whose sermons hail been read all
the world over. Ile (the speaker) was lately at an out-of-
the-way place near Cowes, In the Isle of Wight, and he
there came zeroes an old man and got into spiritual con-
versation with him: he fisted out that he knew some-
thing of the truth, which he had learnt by reading incl of
Mr. Spurgeon's sermons. Ile believed his young friend's
voice would proclaim the doctrine "1 am the way, the
truth, and the life, no man cometh to the father but by
me," Christ was not a way, but the way, the truth, and
the life: (ruin Him meet all our streneth be derived: ('hoist
was the first and the last, our all in all, for time and for
eternity. When the people heard these truths, he urges'
them to receive them with open hearts; some, no doubt,
had received then% but it WAS their pastor's desire that
all should believe and be saved. Might they go on till
gh.ry should crown what gra, e had begun. He hoped the
chapel would be fillet with attentive hearers; might God
richly bless therm and might their pastor be made a
blessing to them ail—(applause).
The Rey. F. .1. AUSTIN mi.l he did not intend making •
long speech, for they often hail the opportunity of listen-
ing to him. On coining to that meeting the thought had
struck hint of the rapidity of the changes of the past four
years. Four years ago they bast the Rev. Mr. Lee awl the
Rev. Mr. Brown aoi the clergymen of St. Mary's cburch ;
the Rev. Mr. Fox at Allington church; the Rev. Mr.
Thomas and the Rev. Mr. Thompson at the Weslevan
chapel, awl the Rev. Mr. Fisch as the Baptist minister.
lire, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Fox were dead, the others
hail left, and during that time no less than eight ministers
hail COMO into the town who were not known before. Rat
n„twithstonding all these changes, there was One who
ehenged nid, but who was the mune yesterday. Vielay,
anl for ever. To Ilim they could look awl with Him they
rouhl work, for Christ was the great head if the church.
Ile felt that Mr. Ei4111., Wa* sound in his principles, and
therefore, he hail great ;demure itt weloiruing him
I e was sure he would be (mind fully qualified
to take his Aare in the work of the town ; and his help
would be wanted, for although the number of ministers
was small, there was much work for him to do, and many
iiistitutions which hail claims slain their exertions. To
the congregation of that chapel, he would say they must
not be unreasonable in their expectations. Paid said
" Brethren pray for Us that the Word of God ought have
free course and be glorified," and "that they might be
delivered from unreasonable men." They tune not expect
their pastor to be perfect; for ministers had their Wiper-
feetions as well as others ; therefore they intuit not expect
perfection, and that they would always have first-rate
sermons, he he maintain.' it was welbnigh impossible
for any minister of average abilities to always prepare
sermons which would be approved of bv his hearer". Soule
of them might have heard of • good old deacons first :mil
last sermon—it was somewhere in America, so they must
not think it was anywhere near here—(laughter). Well,
the minister of the church to which this deacon belonged
hail 400 dollars a year as his salarr. The old deacon won-
dered whatever be could do with m much money: he
thought it was a good dell too much, and at • store one
morning said be could write as much stuff in one half-
hour, as their peeler preached to them on a Sunday. Now
the minister heard of this, and as he wanted to lie absent
for a Sunday thought he would give thedeacon an oppor-
tunity of displaying his talents. Ile accordingly called on
bin% and asked him to preach for him on the Sunday,
telling him he could have free access to his (the ministers)
library, and could use his own looks to make the nesse*-
. sari preparation. The deacon consented; he went to the
library, pulled off his coat, turned up his sleeve., tools up
• pen, and began tomb's'e it--(laughtert lie placed what
he thought • neceseary quantity of paper before him, and
resolved to commence. But what test should he take—
out that particularly strock his fancy had been preached
from only a few weeks Me, and it would not do to hays
that. Ham o'clock cam, diaairtinta cams, and ha was