The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-03-02 00:00:00

TEMPERANCE FESTIVAL

The friends of teetotalism had • tea-meetim„ Am, at
the Primitive Methodist Chapel on Thursday evening
last, the cheerful proceedings being commenced by the
gathering at the social meal, when about 40 children were
feasted, and afterwards about 60 adults partook.
The temperance choir mustered on the chapel platform
at seven and sang • number of temperance and devo-
tional hymns very nicely, commencing with "Lift the
Temperance Banner."
The Rev. J. Kallra having offered prayer, Mr. Wright,
jun., wee called to occupy the chair.
The Qumran said religion is not a dismal but • joyous
thing. end they were going to have a bright and joyous
evening. For himself, while he accorded liberty to every
one on the temperance question, he claimed the same
liberty for himself, and he meant to push what he con-
sidered right views on that qumtion. rm. hear.)
The Dorchester Juvenile Handbell Ringers than gave
"Hold the Fort," after a chiming accompaniment. These
musicians have greatly improved since their deist at
Stinsford Park, and now boodle their bells with much
confidence, and play in good time and tune. They in-
cluded—the leader, F. Thomas, G. Thomas, W. Lucas, J.
Phillips, W. Groves, and G. BAL.*, the bells being lent
by F. Thomas.
The choir sang "Silver Stars," alter which • boy recited
briefly "A Drunkard's Grave.'
The ringers then rang "Hanover."
After one or two recitations by the young People,
delivered well, considering the ages ef the reciter*, the
choir gave with much spirit •' Down with the tyrant'
Mr. Martin then recited "Tom o'Shauter," not sparing
us even the dance in the "nutty mirk," which was im-
mensely applauded. Well well I "to the pure all things
are pure," end the audience must have been very unso-
phisticated to applaud as they did "Tom o' Hamster" in •
piece of worship.
A boy next recited "Sing it like a man," and was clear
and smart, though rather too fast.
Rev. J. limes wea pleased the Primitive Methodist.
were not willing to be behind the other societies in help-
ing forward the temperance cause. Of the 1,000 ministers
in the Primitive Methodist connexion SOO were teetotalers,
and they tried to influence the local preachers and the
young people. When younger he had said be would not,
had he his o en will, admit any int. the Christian Church
who were not teetotalers, and now he held it to be the
duty of every Christian to become a teetotaler, for,
although a moderate drinker might take a drop too
much, somebody or other would be sure to say be did,
and be &dried all to sign the pledge and to ketti it for
U's.
Miss Carter, of Upwey, recited "The Widow's Dream."
with much emcees.
Rev. J. IIAiIIIMISON had come there to show his love to
his neighbours ; he loved them because they were fond of
going out into the highways to gather souls for Christ,
and also because this was a temperance meeting. He had
said they had no manufactories here, but the fact is there
are manufactories, employing only a handful of men, but
manufacturing that which brings havoc to hundreds of
homes. The manufacturers, he thought, must have eon.
sciences seared like a hot iron. Re had been here four
and • half yams, and was more than ever convinced that
one of the great hindrances to the spread of the cause of
Christ is the drink. Let them all speak out like men, and
pray God, and help to put down the traffic.
"Will yeti moot me at the fountainr was sung, the
solos by young women, aud the chorus by the choir, and it
lwal • very pleasing effect.
After some more ringing 1 y the handbell ringers, the
CualaxaJs proposed votes of thanks to the ladles for
providing tea, to the ringers, the singers, the young lady
who had presided at the harmonium, and to Mr. Daniell,
who had worked ti get up the entertainment, and the
Rev. KNIPS propo.ed • vote of thanks to the chair-
man, which was seconded by
Mr. DANIILL, who &skid all to sign the pledge. Their
Band of Hope was only six months old, said yet it
, mustered 70 members, and he urged all to get more to
di join.
goss The collection amounted to 174., and 13 signed the
men pledge.

THE ATTEMPT TO MURDER THE CZAR.
The Rev. T. Nese' preached at Bluth-street Chapel
recently, • sermon front Isaiah IL, 9,10. We extract the
following pertinent passages :
L This power of God. as His arm, and as the manifes-
tation of HM goodness to men, appeals to what is beet in
man, and it is only as such as appeal se this is made, is
there likely to be any answer. Mere force, brute for,
utterly hopeless I work any regeneration of humanity.
That experiment hit+ heart imply tried, and on the most
colossal male, and must be declared • cousummate failure
—force will only be answered by fortes But it is a more
excellent way that the Almighty has pursued with His
. creatures. It is not a question force with Ood--were it
so, He would iirem end sll the troubles of society. He has
but to call out the terrible forces of nature, to show how
helpless to man in the presence of them. Bat God does not
thus deal with men. He bee seen meet to use these awful
agencies to rebuke the world for its evils; and ills possible
that the world may be witnesses to many more such
exercises of Almighty power, before we reach that blessed
stem for which we are preparing. But this is not the
usual course of God, It is indeed a very different course
He pursues. Aid His arm is but another name for
the Almighty, His goodness mercy, and grace to
men. It is on smith grounds that God makes
His appeals to men. He addresses them as His erring
children, appeals to them through His mercy and good-
ness, and holds out the off,r of His favours and grace.
God declares how good • thing righteousness is, how evils
thing wickedness is. And it is on such lofty grounds as
thi se that God seeks to win His way to the hearts of men.
It would be well if human governments recognised more of
this divine characteristic of government. What God
applies to man and ends it successfulonan may well apply
to His fellow-man, and will find it encosseful too. Let
the Cast of Russia recognise the claims of the millions of
MS people to better government; let there he • relaxetion
of the surveillance under which every Russian feels that
he live.; let the governing class trust more the governed;
let • spirit of mercy, and justice and righteous-
nem pervade the law in all its forms; and
then the Czar will live, as he deserves to live as • humane
and well-meaning ruler, in peace and security, instead of
in • life of wretchednese and insecurity, from which the
humblest eutopmt of this realm is exempted. And this is
a lessen which all governments had better learn, while it
may be learned. This powder and glory buslosee will
have It. revenge shortly, and if riders will burden the
millions of their peonies with blood tags*, it Le just ascer-
tain as the tide Thee :that there wilt Gin unlidial revolt,
when the world will pus through an experience such ,
as the bloodiest annals cannot r quid. There is • terrible
retributive force in humanity, and while it will bear its
burdens long, the time comes when it will certainly refuse
to carry them farther.
But now, how oppeed to all this, is the government
and treatment of men by God. There is on the pert of
God every mercy, and in the expression of disaster and
suffering, seen then mercy is its chief characteristic This
is God's power, it is the might of His arm. od's great
' power with men is thus speaking to them in mercy and
goodness.
It is terrible to soe nations convulsing themselves for
, what they call their social and political rights for the
61641111 of mere subsistence. What ought to be the feelings
of men in respect of the deeper waute of man t When the
Emperor of Germany was shut up in the streets of his
capital, reflecting on the condition of multitudes of his
' subjects, he said they wanted more religion. This is
I emphatically the want of all nations- and until we have
more religion. we may despair of any solid improvement.
I But the monad of true religion would be • cure for most of
, our ills ft would tesoh us to respect and love one
, another, and surely there is nothing more needed by the
world than this mutual love and good.will. It is terrible
' to think how nations stand related to each other. If you
look at your illustrated papers which weekly chronicle the
I political state of the nans, you have the different
' nations caricatured under the hideous egores of the inset
savage beasts; and yet we instinctively Laugh at the clever
delineations when in truth, we ought to sigh and lament.
Yes, we want more religion. This is the urgent want of
the time. Referring to a qoastion respecting the attempted
asmednation of Um Cast, the Prime Kildaer replied
that " It Ls one of those events which make us doubt of
the progress of civilisation of which we are so constantly
boasting." This is • sorrowful confession, and only adds
force to the belief that what we need Is the manifestation
of the arm of the Lord.