The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-08-28 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

Bogovau Pcmcn.—Atkinson o. P.C. Moore—
Same v. P.C. Seavieur.—The adjourned bearing of
them came took place on Tuesday, before the Mayor
W. C. Finehani. Eal., and A. S. Hodges, Esq., at
the Town Hall, and lasted several hours. Neither
the press nor the public were admitted, so that
we are unable to give particulars, but we are in-
formed that the witnesses on the part of the pro-
secution distinctly swore that no assault was com-
mitted by Mr. Atkinson on eitber of the polimmeni
The magistrates. however, decided on dianiming the
charges, but Mr. Atkinson applied to be bound over
, to prosecute at the next mazes, which was accord-
ingly granted.
-

Till LATE Ray. R.. °Magni% —Oaadlly avail-
ing week the Rem. J. Cooke, of Poole, preached an
improves° funeral sermon at the Wesleyan Chapel,
on the death of the Rev. R. Gilbert, to • crowded
oongregation, electing for his text part of the last
verse of the last chapter of Ihiniel—"Thou shalt
rest." The preacher dilated on the blessedness
of the rest that remaineth for the people of God, and
remarked bow sweet it must be to the weary, after
years of anxious toil to, enjoy such • net, but espe-
cially so tothose who are almost always in pain in this
life. In concluding he appealed to all by the uncer-
tainty of life,and the sureness of death, to be prepared
for leaving this world, warning them by the awful
state of those who are found not ready, sod encou-
raging them by the happiness of those that seek the
Lord. The anthem "'Vital Spark' was effectively
yen loted by the choir. The following is • brief
outline of the life of the Rev. R. Gilbert :—lle was
bore in Suffolk in 1622, and his parents were not
members of any church. He was very fond of
music, which often led him into company; at 14
years of age he went to a class meeting to mock.
but there the Lord changed his heart.
Two years saer he went to London, where he be-
came • most devoted Sunday school teacher,
miring • Sunday. At the age of 20 he became a
local preacher, and afterwards be offered himself as
• missionary, was sooepted, and not to Sierra Leone,
Western Africa, where God Mewed his labours. In
1854 he went to Antigua and to Mount Ararat,
where his same was quite a household word. He
returned to Antigua in 1862 ; at that place water was
very snares and of • very inferior on account
of the great drought, and his began to
_fail,
in collodium!' of which he returned to Wand in
1864. He wee appointed to the Shaftesbury 'omit
in 1865 as , but shortly after be-
ginning his duties, rilichnp:intendent, the Rev. Mr.
Gooier died, and that office devolved on Mr. Gilbert,
but his physical frame was not strong enough for the
arduous work he had to fulfil. Missionary meetings
had to be held to the number of 14, which be
attended, and was the principal speaker. The
weather at this time being inclement, the work and
azeure told upon his frame. woakelted by cog
resMeme in a hot dipole- But be well 'calm in

the Lord's service, and we are premed to say that
the missionary funds did Da decreer .4th... meet-
ings, but rather illy:rear& He attended the Confer.
Wes Chill your, held at Leeds, when illness compelled
him to leave before its aloes, sad he returned to
Bradford on the 7th August, where he gradually
sank till the 10th August, when his happy spirit
took its departure. His fond and affectionate wife
was the only one present with him in his last
momenta, and his parting words were, "Lord help,"
to which he added a fervent "Amen." and with
the words on his lips, "Cod blase," his spirit
winged its flight to the regions of bliss. He was a
zealous servant of the Lord, a faithful preacher, and
• man of truly Catholic heart. His mortal remains
were interred in the cemetery here on the 14th
teat, and were followed to the grave by a large
number of brethren and friends of the Shaftesbury
curcuA. The service was performed by the Rev.
Mr. Beesel, of Wimberne. He has left • widow
and four young children to mourn his loss, and they
deserve and have the warmest sympathy of the
circuit.