The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-12-15 00:00:00

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likelihood of much of Use prorizion being unlined. After
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an interval the party, angmented by additions to
between 300 and 400, assembled in the chapel, selections
of sacred mule and a lecture on Mr. Gladstone by the
pastor, Rev. 'said. Birt, having been ansounned. Mr.
Lundie acted as chairman, and Mr. Hirt was also
supported by the Rev. W. Lewis, Mr. J. R. Rotten&
and Mr. Grant. The hymn "Glory to God on High"
was first very powerfully sung by the choir, which
consisted of—sopranos. Misses Bolt, Charles, Hann, and
Robens; eontmltos Mears. W. Charles, H. Miller,
W. Jenard, and H. Kendall; tenors, H. Bowing, Fox,
and A. Dennis; tames, Messrs. Shore'', Jerrard, and
Young—ender the direction of Mr.Jerrard, choir leader,
and the organist. A number of anthems, pleasingly
rendered were interspersed between the cliffs rant partial
Mr. BirtTs lecture, and did reedit to the choir, considering
the abort time they had had for practice. The anthems
included "Arise, shine, for thy light is come," Elvey ;
" Gloria," from Mozart's 12th Mass; "In Jewry is God
known, Whitfield ; and the "Hallelujah Chorus"
(Lam) Beethoven, The title of Mr. Birt's lecture
wee "The character and career of the Right Hon. W.
E. Gladstone, M.P." The lecturer fully sympathised
with Mr. Gladstone, and considered his proposals
adopted to carry out the fundamental principles of the
Christian religion. No one has been more villifled and
contemned, and if the least part of what has been
alleged as to his basemen, fickleness end unworthiness
was true, wrought to pray that he should be removed
from his post. The power of ohs:actor. though owning
slowly into operstiou, exeeeds all other forces, and
carries weight which nothing elm can supply, and we
Gannet attach too mush importance to the characters of
our statesmen. Olarlstooe's name has been the potent
Influence in the late political contest, and never has the
identification of a politiesl leader's name with the cause
he espouses been en complete as in his ems. In 1863 it
was easy to pees muster as supporters of Liberal
measures; bet the name of Gladstone is identified
with a distiost, firm, Intelligible, and avowed policy.
The country has been appealed to, end its response
distinctly gams upon the most momentous question
=tbefell it for 36 years, and It is the iign of a
ier stale of things, that publie interest should be
evoked, that the difference between opposite sides
'heel,' be eharly seen, and that both should do their
beet to gals the victory for what they deem the right
cause. Thin effect is attributable mainly to him, whose
voice has ring through the nation like a trumpet peal
of no uncertain sound, obliging almost all to declare
themselves for or against the policy of the Liberals,
and has caused the two greet parties of England, to
stand face to Nee on the ground of their true and con-
flicting opinions Instead of forming a heterogenous
mass. Another consideration makes the study of his
life Important. We recognise the difference hetween
the polluted reign of George ,IV., and the unblemished
fame, constitutional Government, and prudent gracious
demeanonr of Quoin Victoria—(applaase). But the
Prime Ministers influence upon the nation is more
direct and powerful then that of the monarch, for during
his continuant* in office he sways in the name of the
sovereign the actual power. This high office has been
degraded by the uneonstittitional course of the able sal
distinguished man who has just resigned his poet-
--(applause and hires). It is unworthy of the Prime
Minister to hold offiro when obliged to present the
spectacle of weakness earopense.tod by adroitness, to
snort his opponeute by servility impose on them by
ingenuity, or coerce them by threatening appeals to
ulfish fears. It is at utter variance with constitutional
usage, he degrades himself and the sovereign, if he
makes it appear that he retail., office, contrary to the
decision of the Ileum, to please the queen. A man of
• different stamp has appeared, rind the dignity and
isonsiitutional character of the office will be rale in the
hands of Gleditese, who will not coax opponents, or
allow the none eign's mime to lo brought into question,
rather than beer the brunt of superior force himself.
Gladstone will always advance, never retrograde ; hav-
ing altered his views upon seine important subject, he
will never return to the opinions he has renounced. He
is safe teen imineit himself and his supporters to the
MOLUIre they undertake, as to pass It in its integrity or
share in its defeat. In April, 1868, he staked the
esatence of the Government upon their Reform Bill,
and in June in announcing his resignation, he proved
that his had be. no empty words, He now returns to
office, the most powerful minister el the present
century, and his power will consist not more in his
large majority than in his proved fidelity, which
renders him worthy lot the nation's trust—(applause).
If it has been said that a certain statesman
hai been educatisg his party to leap over in the
dug the vast gulf which separated their pro.
freest principles from their political interests, we
may as truly say that Gladstone is educating the whole
F.nglish people to prise consistency, honour, diUn-
tereeterleess, amimpeachatile virtue in their leaders.
Hie perfect openness of character is as remarkable as
his keen rind honourable sensitiveness, and no trouble
is too great for him to undertake to clear himself from
that which would justly tend to lower him as a public
man. This spirit is especially manifested in the
"Chanter of Autobiography. The Pall Mall Gazette
laid of this book, that "it, soft stuff," hut you may
find notable specimens of such "soft stuff," in the
writings of the apostle Paul, who gave portions of the
Minor, of his minor and outer life that he might defend
himself from the aloes effect of misrepresentations.
In 1841 he argued that the church as established by law
was to be maintained for its truth ; but Lord Macaulay
said that Mr. Gladstene's theory rested en the proposi-
tion that the pmpagatioa of religious truth is one of the
principel ends of Goveniment, and if the proposition is
not proved his system vanishes at once. ID. Gladstone
had previously espressed the same sentiments, when he
mid that a church establishment is maintained either for
its members or its doctrines, and was not tenable for a
moment on the former ground, for why should I claim
to have my religion supported while another is disavowed
by the Stat.? Very won he found no one was prepared
to stand by the principle that it is to be maintained for
its truth, and when the cabinet of Sir Robert Peel
resolved to make themselves responsible for the re-
modelling and increase of the Maynooth grant, he
restyled. This was to place himself In a petition to
form an honest and likewise an indepent unsuspected
judgment on the plan, and he contended that his free-
dom was thereby established, and has never since been
compromised. His change of opinion with regard to
the Irish Church was neither recent nor sudden, for it
took effect nearly 23 years ago, and it was not of the
nature or extent imputed. His work did not say—
Maintain the Irish church lest you disturb the settle-
ment of property, be driven to repeal the Union, ex.
asperste the Protestants, because it has an indefeasible
title to its property, maintain it forth. spiritual benefit
of a small minority—least of all did he advocate setting
up other establishments along with it at the public
charge. Mr. Birt contended that Mr. Oladstone's
change of opinion was at such a kind as proved him to
be in earnest and capable of growth -(applarise).
Gladstone is one of our oldest and beet tried public
servants. Eloquently and powerfully did he and Sir
Robert Peel in the Repeal of the Corn Laws. For
himself the Commercial Fred, with France ; the Repeal
of the Poper Duty, the Abolitoin of Compulsory ()harsh-
rates, and the removal of mute( tbe obnoxious features
of an utterl yobj actionable lief orm Bi II elai m oar gratitude.
In no one does there burn a more intense hatred of
tyranny and oppression, and in his letter •eposing the
indignities and cruelties to whisk the Italian patriots
were subject in the dungeons of Naples, he made Europe
ring with his indignant recital of their wrongs. He
never lost an opportunity of advocating Italian
independence, his relations with the English people are
thou of true liberalism, and the Irish he recognizes as
they ought to be seknowledend. His genuinely religious
spirit is shown by his reference to the golden rule, to do
as you would be done by, and while not depreciating
Christian dogmas he finds encouragement in the fact
that while dogmatic allegiance to the religion of the
stale has related Christauity has wrought itself into the
publie life of 1500 years. We have to rejoice that W.
E. Gladstone is now in power, and that tech worth
'mediators have combated to form a cabinet, every
member of which is committed to principles vital to the
interests of Ragland, and not one capable of sacrificing
in office those principles which gained them their poet
of honour. Among them is a man whose name is •
tower of strength. The connection between Gladstone
and Bright—(applanse) - has passed beyond being the
butt of Tory ridicule, and we hope much from their
combined labours for their country, and echobsek to
them the words of the central figuie in the group "
jut and fear not"—applause) --The Rev. W. Lewis
said that he had trembled to read the figures "53" after
Mr. Gladstone's name. Was there so much gone of him
already. Then let them pray to God long to spare the
man who seemed to be England's star, to light over she
dark waters the mead id the State,—Mr. J. L
Hoboes, in an able speech, supported 'his opinion that
there would be no fear ter Protestantism in Ireland, for
th. religion of Cheat had found its way through the
world,not because it was deeksd witha splendid hierarchy
but bemuse God bsd promised that his word should
not return onto Him void.—Mr. Landis, chairman,
proposed votes of thanks to the lecturer, the ladies who
got up the tee, the decorators, and not lout, the
organist end the choir, all of which, as well as thanks
to Me. Lerida as chairmen, Weill cordially passed. Tbe
choir also sang "As with gladness men of old," which
was by some thought the finest piece of the issuing,
and wartaialy madea capital finale. So pleasantly did
the part, um the time that the were
protracted awyead the alma hoer. PTlindltneo affair
was very palilying, boa in enjoyment and mats.