The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-01-04 00:00:00

SHERBORNE EVENING SCHOOLS.

On Wednesday evening last, the closing night of
the half year, a very numerous company assembled in
the Long•street schoolroom, to witness the distribu-
tion of the prizes and rewards among the pupils ;_—a
ceremony that does not seem to hasten in interest, if we
may judge from the crowded state of the schoolroom,
the deoiration of which, with llags and evergreens,
reflected credit on the taste of the boys, who pre-
pared it fur the occasion.

In opening the proceedings Mr. Ihicready said,
that as there was much to be done, he would not
occupy the time of the meeting with any prefatory
remarks, beyond the expression of his gratification
at the presence of the visitors, which he valued, as
encouraging the boys, and as a confirmation of their
approval of the object he and Ins supporters had in
view, and of the means they adopted for promoting
it. It was scarcely necessary to remind them of a
desire, that had shown itself in certain quarters, to
excite a prejudice against the school; in more than
one instance advantage had been taken of expressions
casually dropt to get up a cry for its endamagement.
In explaining that the Bible had not been made a
class book in the three hours and three quarters
shitted to the week's evening lemons, they had
brought on themielves an insinuation adverse to the
religious character of the school : but with what sue-
COM its circulation had been attended, the present
einirlitionofthe ach.rol would testify. Religion he (Mr.
M.) had always maintained must he the basis of all good
isdarsition, and upon this principle be had eid smeared
to conduct the teaching of these boys. The subjects
they liad written from dictation —a selection from
which might posaibly some day Ire pulrlislesl to
satisfy their detractors —would effectually prove this.
Specimens would be submitted to them this evening
for their judgement tin the liand•writing, and he
thought they would agree with him, that if trans,
crilring such matters would do the boys no
good, it certainly would do them tin harm. These
exercises he had uniformly selected from our
classic writers, and more especially from such as COll.
veyed religious or mend instruction. lii the preaent
instance • The Lad Man," from Campbell, hail been
written by the first class, and a short -bran was the
task of the second. Mr. Nlacreatly then read the
two poems, the latter of which, as being less known
than that of the Bard of Hope, we give to our
readers :

CHRISTIAN CNITT.
Restore, 0 Fattier,
_to our times. restore

The peace, which 'filled thine infant church of yore;
'Ere lust of power had sown the seeds of strife,

And quenclll.4l the new-lxini charities of life.

Quaver more may differing judgments part
Froni kindly sympathy • brothers heart ;
But linked in one believing thousand* kneel,
. . . . . .

And share with each the sacred joy they feel.
From soul to soul, quick u the sunbeam's ray,
Let concord spread one universal day;
Anil faith—by love—lead all mankind to Thee,
Parent of peace, and Fount of harmony.

In continuation Mr. Macready, recalling to their
memories the considerate liberality of his friend Mr. I
Pope, of London, at the last summer holidays, had
the gratification of announcing, that the same
benevolent friend had again sent a guinea to the
School, to be laid out in books as prizes to the most
proficient among the pupils. The task last half.
year was a letter to be written in reply to questions
based on the school lessons. The recent examine.
tion was by four papers of questions on Geography,
Arithmetic, Scriptural knowledge, and Miscellaneous
subjicts. Mr. Macready read over the names of the
by. that stood first on each paper, reserving the
summing up to a later period
He had another circumstance to communicate,
creditable to the school, but far more so to the bene-
factor who befriended it. They were aware, and he
lamented the fact, that, with the exception of their
reverend and honoured friends, Mr. Henning and
Mr. Horsford, this school was ignored by the ninny
clergy resident in this town, not one of them hail
ever set foot within it. It was not, however, to be
understood on this account, that the indifference
manifested here, implied a corresponding feeling
elsewhere. His friend Mr. Pope was what is termed
a 'staunch churchman," and not a few have been
the visits paid to the school by clergymen eminently
distinguished in the world. Some have taken part
in their evening labours, some have contributed
their subscriptions. One, who still keeps his name
unknown, who in his zealous ministry (to him a
duty prompted by the heart) "does good by stealth,
and would blush to find it fame," has again, on this
returning Christmas, sent a sovereign for the pur-
chase of a prise Bible, to be given to the best
reader. Mr. Macready observed (as he held up the
book, most elegantly bound with gilt clasps, to the
assembly,) that he ahnost envied the winner of it.
There were 16 competitors; they would hear them
read and he hoped would agree with him in their
decision. The boys then formed themselves in a
seiniwircle in front of the audience, and read par-
I tines of Scripture, and afterwards sung the hynin
" Peace, peace, be still." Seven of the competitors
were then called up again, to read further passages
of Scripture, and after a very fine adjustment of the
merits of each, the Bible was awarded to Edward
Senior.

Mr. Pope's prize, consisting of Addison's works,
6 volumes; Thierry's Norman Conquest, 2 volumes ;
and Lardner's Elementary Geology, I volume, was
adjudged to George Stevens: the second prize, given
by Mr. Slaereatly, was transferred (min Edward
Senior, next in number, to David Scriven, the third
bolt. After addressing a few words of advice and
exhortation to the boys, Mr. Maeready distributed
the rewards among them. He then observed that
the evening's business was brought to a close, and
that nothing remained, but to thank the visitors for
the interest and sympathy they had manifested in
the proceedings. Hu drew attention to the many
harangues, that had been made by platform orators
during the last three or four months, on the subject
of educes ; many of the speakers reflecting on
themselves in their complaint of the superabundance
of talk. and the necessity for more active doing in
the matter. In their own small, obscure, and
humble way they had been doing, and he hoped not
altogether ineffectually. This evening closed the
third year of the School's establishment. It had
been kept open regularly three nights a week, for at
least 42 weeks in each year, the number of scholars
fluctuating from Clo to 170 ; and stnpng in the
grateful testimony of those who had left the school,
amid in the consciousness of benefit derivable from it
among those who remained in it, they might look
forward, with God's blessing, to the continuance of
its existence for many years to come. (Cheers.)
The grateful task of expressing his deep sense of
obligation to the many friends and benefactors of
the school, alone remained. To Mr. Digby in the
first instance, whose liberality seemed only to seek
&channel for his bounty, that he might pour into
I it the stream of his abundant charity, who required
information of need only to act upon it. To the
subscribers to the School he felt deeply indebted,
as he had at other times intimated, for associating
and identifying, by their co-operation and support,
the town with the school's continuance. They
would not think it an invidious distinction, if he
particularised the names of Mr. Henning and Mr.
Avery, who first endeavoured to engage the interest
of the inhabitants of Sherburne in maintaining it.
Not the least was he bound to thank those gentle-
men, who had a, kindly and so zealously given their
time and attention to the instruction of the youths and
boys frequenting the school. Such assistance was of
the greatest value; and he should most thankfully
receive the aid of any, who, impressed with the
sense of duty to their neighbours needing help,
would consent to enrol their names in the list of
voluntary teachers. Every additional ally dimi-
nished the work of each. To the pnifteisional
teachers they were also truly obliged, not forgetting
especially to thank Mr. Jenkins, who MU always
reedy to hold out a hand of help in their energencies.
Once more be thanked the company and wished
them good night.
The-Hozology was then sung by the boys, after
which Dr. Waimea moved a vote of thanks in very
warm terms to Mr. Discreetly, which Mr. Norton
seconded, and after a reply from Mr. Macready,
insisting upon the duty of extending knowledge to
our brother men, the meeting separated-7W all
appearance much interested and greatly gratefled by
the evening's proceedings.

Christmas-day was a lively one at our workhouse.
The liberality of several of the parishonere, the
guardians, he., provided a fund from which the men.
women, and children, weresupplied with roast beef
end Plum-Pudding ; the men with strong beer.
Wl', and pipes; the old women with tea and
snuff; and the children with a large Christmas tree

which was literally loaded with sweets, oranges, and
ormunents, most of them kindly given by the Misses
AliiHinge. The party spent • truly delightful day.
—We don't owe much to Spain. We
saved the country, awl have been paid with
Mitred ; lint at last it has iiiisle us a subsLmtial
return. The Spanish bonds, to lie sure, are not
marketable, lint SlOiti has almost liquidate,' the eld
debts by preserving for us our OWn i'etrie Waugh,
colonel and brickinaker. Theinistocles at the court
of Artaxerxes is the only historic parallel which we
van recall te the noble spectacle .4 Waugh On the
Alameda of Seville. But, just WI the grirs: Athenian
conl.l not forget that he hail still. though in exile,
duties to his country, so the great colonel remem•
ben that his first obligation is to his home. He
remembers that England has the first claim upon hie
services. Wmiglis vocation is simple and uniform—
it is to swindlc mankind. But he gives his country-
men the first chance. It was only a Cyclops who
allowed his friend the special privilege of being eaten
Inst. The more polite and patriotic Waugh concedes
to us the honour of being tateu first. When he got
up pi new mining speculation in Spain, it is much to
the credit of his patriotism that Colonel Waugh gave
his old Fmglish friends the privilege of being first
ruined. —Saturday lie new.
A WKCIN fiCH. —Mr. Miller, our Waywanlen, has
been elected by a large majority over the candidate
to till the office of Asisistant,Overseer and Waywar-
den for the larish of Beaminster, Dorset, in room of
Mr. John Cox, who had resigned. The other com-
petitor was Mr. James Akennan. Mr. Miller has held
the above officio at Hawkeliurch for the last twelve
years, and we are very sorry to part with I ;
Mr. Miller also held the office of the clerkship of the
Ilawkellurch club to the satisfaction of every mem-
ber. Wu heartily boe that sonic gentleman of the
pariah will begin subscription to present I with
sine small token of our esteem towards him for the
faithful performance of his duties whilst amongst
CHRISTMAS Eve.—The inhabitants of this delight.
ful village were cheered on Chsistnuui Eve by the en-
livening strains of the Hawkehurch band. On
Christmas Day two full services were performed in
our church, and a sermon preached in the afternoon
by the Itev. E. C. Adams, M.A., rector of Hawk.
church. The church was decorated with evergreens
as usual at Christmas time. Over the arch in the
centre of the church were the words "Glory to Goa
in the Highest." At 8 o'clock in the morning our
bells sent forth a merry peal.

CI lARMO U T H. —Chri4 nuts Carol*. —1 n siccordan,a
with ancient custom, the inhabitants of this village
were pleasantly amused on Christmas Eve, by the
carol singers.
The Charmouth band, under its talented master,
Mr. tteorge Fry, is greatly improved. The village
is cheered once a week by its spirited strains; and
by the spring it is expected to have reached a high
point toward. perfectiun.