The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-01-24 00:00:00

OLD HILL.

DRUNKENNESS.—At the Police Court on Wednes-
day, before Messrs. F. D. L. Smith, W. Bassano
and R. L. Freer, Richard Hill, chainmaker, of
Cradley Heath, was charged with being drunk in
the highway on the 16th inst. Police-constable
Cooper proved the case and said he saw the defend-
ant lyinc, in the road helplessly drunk, at Granger's
Lane, Oradley Heath, Defendadt was fined ss.
including costs. —John Rose (an old offender),
rivet maker, Blackheath, was charged with being
drunk and disorderiy in the Halesowcn Road,
Blackheath. Police-constable Rowlaudi, proved
the offence and defendant was fined 10s. and costs.
—John Hampton, labourer, of Cradley Heath, was
charged with being drunk and disorderly
in the highway on the 12th inst. Police-con-
stable Sylvestre said that on the day in question he
was called to a disturbance at Cradley Heath,
where he saw the defendant drunk and fighting.
DefendaTit was fined ss. and costs; in default '7
days.—John Baker and James Harris, &ialurnakers
of Cradley Heath, were charged with 1)...i.,;• drunk
and disorderly in the highway on the 10th inst.
Police constable Martin proved the offence and
said the defendants were drunk and fighting at the
Five Ways, Cradley Heath. Defendants, who
pleaded guilty, were fined ss. each including costs;
in default 7 days.

ASSAULT.—Thomas Richards, horse slaughterer, of
Cradley Heath, was charged with assaulting Maria
Freeth on the 9th inst. Mr. Addison appeared for
complainant. Defendant was bound over to keep
the peace for six months, himself in £lO and one
surety of £5.

ANNUAL TEA MEETING.—The annual congrega-
tional tea meeting in coneexion with the Holy
Church, Old Hill, was held on Tuesday (evening
last, in the Trinity Schools, Old Hill. Over a
thousand persons sat down to tea. The profits of
the meeting were given to the Parish Magazine
Fund. After tea the chair was occupied by the
Rev. J, Orrniston (vicar). Mr. Oriniston on rising
said, many of God's people had come a good distance
to encourage them by their presence that evening.
He wished to state that he met them under social
and trying circumstances. It had been upwards
of two years since he last had the opportunity of
meeting them under similar circumstances as the
present. Wh,m last they met together as minister
and people they met in smaller numbers than they
did that evening, and they met to encourage each
other in the name of their Heavenly Master and in
the great work in which they were identified in
this place. In the providence of God he met them
not last year in January, but was absent from his
parish, partly from the best advice he cou'd get
concerning his health. His life which he had
endeavoured to insure, had just been rejected by
two insurance offices, but through the kindness oz'
several friends he was encouraged to look it in the
face and for a while to separate himself from his
dear people. His steps were led to the Land of
Promise, which had been one of the dreams of h s
life to visit, therefore it seemed by the good will
of God that the dream of his youth should have
its fulfilment. He should never forget the prayer
meeting that was held in the church on the evening
before he set out on that very eventful journey.
Many and many were the times both by land and
water, as he travelled through perilous scenes, his
mind was led to look back to the earnest prayers
which were put up by the true ones at home.
These prayers were continued, should he say, with-
out ceasing during those three months of separa-
tions. God, in his mercy, heard the prayers of his
people, and permitted him to return to his work
again. Since that time he had not spared his
strength, nor his voice in making known what few
suggestions God had been pleased to endow him
with, but had placed them solely to the service of
those to whom he was called to preach the word.
He had not, however, been without warning that
he was working beyond his strength. It was pro-
bably the last meeting he should have the privilege
of addressing them as the pastor of that parish.
God had lovingly, with much tender mercy
appointed for him a sphere of service where he
should he relieved of a heavy parish charge which
was now his responsibility, and should be relieved,
of that physical effort, which so large a church as
Old Hill required of any man, so that the people
who sat at the extreme end of the charc
shou'd hear the word of God as well as those
who sat near the pulpit. It was in his
notice that he should not iu anything he should
suggest, seem to reflect upon any of his dear fellow
men whatever. It had caused him much prayer
that God would direct that meeting, for his own
glory and for the extension of his precious cause in
that place. He thanked them for their presen e
there and also wished he could express in words the
feeling of his soul. So long as he remained ammg•
them he should continue, as he had done during-
' the past, to serve them in the truth of the gospel
of the grace of God and put it at the.r command.
God had been very gracious to them during the
past years in that place. He came among them a
perfect stranger and they received him kindly,
with payers, with assurances of their sympathy,
and in the case of many of them with expressions
of a beam of the blessed gospel of ;he Lord Jesas
k2hrist, which he had come among them to minister.
..'4od had been very good, by that gospel, to allow
him to see some fruits of his labours. He hoped
fast whosoever may be God's privileged servant to
oecupy the responsibilities as their pastor, would
minister the word of truth in their midst. He
then spoke of the parish magazine and said it be-
gan in February 1877, and i-. was a very humble
endeavour on liif3 part to spread the truth amongst
them in an acceptable form. That year was a very
encouraging one, the people spending ..£9,0 on that
li+tle book and it left only a email balance of £1 4s.
Bd. The following year 1878 the size of the maga-
zine was doubled, and the copies of the magazine
were s,ld extensively at their cost price. Many
hundreds were sold at three-farthings each, which
cost them lid each. The balance against them
that year was .216 17s 2id. The following year 1879
with the balance from last year of £l6 Os Od.
caused a considerable balance against them, but
the deficiency upon the magazine would, he trusted
be covered that evening. He felt deeply indebted
to the ladies who had kindly given trays that
evening. The meeting was also addressed by the
Revs. G. H. Thompson, vicar of Cradley, and W.
L. Rollinson, vicar of Scraptoft and Great Dalby ;
Mr. H. G, Walker, (Parishi ,ners Churchwarden),
and Mr. Rowla.td Barnsby. Daring the evEning
several members of Vie congregation entertained
the meeting WI Ii selections of music. Mrs. Pewtress,
also played solos on the harp in a very
brilliantGoWalker, On a motion proposed by Mr. H.
seconded by the Rev. W. L.
Olclti H
manner.eilil
and
Rollinsen, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr,
U. A. H. Best, for the use of the schools.