The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-04-09 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

TWSTIMONIAL TO THE REV. H. JENOUR.

On Monday evening, April la, a most gratifying
meeting was held at the Parish School-room,
Fortunes Well. About 200 persons were prrentand
the object was to present • teetimonal to the Rev.
H. Jenonr, incumbent of St. John's, in token of
their appreciation of his conduct as • neighbour, as
• friend, and as a Christian minister. As eating
and drinking forme a part in almost everything
John Bull takes in hand, especially if he means to
do it well, the usual formalities could not, of course,
be dispensed with on this interesting occasion.
Four tables, the whole length of the school-room,
were presided over with infinite grace by the ladies
of Portland, whilst the tea and the viands
supplied were such as to tempt the most fastidious
appetite. The social meal having been concluded,
and grace rung, as it had been at the commencement
of the prooeedings, the tables were removed and
the seats re-arranged, when the more important
business of the evening was proceeded with.
The Rev. AL/RID HILL, assistant chaplain of the
convict prison, who attended by requisition from the
committee to preade over the meeting, commenced
the proceedings with prayer.
The Custam /Jr then said that they were met to-
gether that evening to testify to their pester, and
hie venerable friend, the esteem with which they
nwarded him as a man, ass friend and neighbour,
and above all, as a Christian minister. They had
come there for the purpose of showing to him their
love, and the confidence with which they regarded
him as one who ministered unto them in holy &Mg,.
It was • solemn and delightful, and at the rine time
a delicate and difficult thing to meet together as
they were then to speak of those virtues which had
won their esteem and regard to one's face. They
would pay their regard to Mr. Jenour that evening
with all due respect, and ask him to be deaf to their
praise of him at the rme time various emotions
most necessarily be provoked in his mind, and he
must feel his heart starred up within him, at seeing
that large assembly met together to testify that
evening to his worth. Their esteemed pastor would
receive three things at their hands, First, there
was an address written on parchment to which was
appended 380 names. These, with the exception of
three or four, were the names of parties resident on
the island, and the others were intimately connected
with it, ia holding property or being engaged in
business on it. This of itself would sufficiently
testify the regard the inhabitants of that island had
for Mr. Jenonr. Next he would have to receive a
puree. There were some dwelling at a distance to
whom Mr. Jenour was equally well known and
respected, and who had joined in this expression of
esteem to their friend. In order that there might be
a proper distinction made between the contributions
of the inhabitants of the island and the others, the
money contributed had been put into two separate
ends of the purse. In one end was £25, subscribed
by the inhabitants, and in the other end, £l6, sub-
scribed by friends resident at a distance. The third
gift was that of • gold watch, sabecribed by the
inhabitants, and which cost upwards of Li& The
rev, chairman concluded by calling on Mr. Andrews,
one of the churchwardens, to read the address, As
follows :

" Address to the Rev. Henry Jenour, incumbent of fit.
John's Church, from 380 of his congregation and
friends.

RR°. AND DRAB Su,—We, the undersigned, your
tiongreption and friends, desire to express the great
esteem and affection which they entertain for you as a
minister ol the moss of Christ, and sa • kind and an-
_ _ .

failing friend.
"They mark with moth respect and gratitude your
unwearied pastoral labours amongst them, and the
readiness you always display to advise, comfort, and
aid to the best of your judgment and ability, all who
apply to you.
They have often witnessed in you the bright example
of true benevolence and deep humility.
"In token of their appreciation of these qualities
exhibited in your character, and the benefits they have
derived from their intercourse with you, they request
your acceptance of the accompanying gold watch and
purse, containing £25, with JEW added by friends
residing at a distance, adding thereto their earnest
prayers that the gracious God and Father of mercies
may continue to you many years of christian usefulness
here on earth, and make year light thine each day more
and more brightly, until the hour shall arrive when
your spirit will be called to lay asiee its earthly
tabernacle and enter into the joy of the Lord."
Mr. MITCHILL, the other churchwarden, was then
called on to present the purse and watch. The watch
bore the following inscription :

Pt e d
to the
Rim. FIZNIT Jimmie,
Ineumbent of St. John's Church,

Portland,
During a period of 2$ years,
As a Token of Esteem and Regard,
By 380 subscribers,
April 1881.
The Rev. JOHN Dom; Chaplain to the Convict
Prison, addressed the meeting at considerable length.
He said it was indeed a beautiful sight to see so
large • umber on that interesting occasion met
together to render their tribute of esteem to their
beloved minister. He was quite sure that but one
feeling must actuate the whole—that of adisfaction
at what they had done. Their very attendance was
a proof that they were quite satisfied the gift bad
boss bestowed upoa one who deserved it, that they
had MI with one heart and one mind, rendered tribute
to whom tribute was dos, sad honour to whom

honour. He and his excellent friend, the chairman,
were what might be termed outsiders; yet he had
had the privilege of a long and intimate acquaintance
with Mr. Jenour, and be thought he was entitled to
say something of him from his own experience. He
confessed the task was one of difficulty and delicacy,
but their pastor must be both deaf and blind on that
occasion. He rejoiced to tell them that his friend
was • sincere friend to the cause of IsraeLdesiring to
remove the veil from their eyes and earnestly
praying daily that the Jews might be speedily
brought in with the fulness of the Gentile• Another
thing was that he had established a Greek Testament
class in order that those who were willing might learn
to read the word of God in the tongue in which it was
originally written. Another thing he delighted to
tell was, his going single.handed with the Indepen-
dent minister, alternate Sundays, to preach the word
of life in that little Bethel Chapel. It was indeed a
noble work to brave the frowns of men in order that
noble-hearted sailors, those whom we looked to to
fight our battles in time of war, might be stirred up
to a right spirit, and embrace the truth as it was in
Jesus. Mr. Hall had referred to another thing— the
peculiar benevolence of his character—his he was
one which wept for other's woes. A dear friend of
his own, writing to him, said he had known Mr.
Jenour forty years, and he bad never known • poor
forsaken creature apply to him for aid in vain. And
it was the duty of a minister to lead the life of the
Gospel of Christ as well as to preach the word. Our
blessed Master himself spent his life in doing his
needy creatures good. The Apostle James said
"What (loth it profit, my brethren, though a man
I say he hath faith and have not works? Can faith
nave him? ifs brother or sister be naked, and des-
titute of daily food, and one of you say unto him,
be yo warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give
him not those things which are needful to the body;
what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it bath not
works, is dead, being *lone." And the Apostle
Paid and "If I have all faith, so as to remove moun-
tains and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."
—Ministers must thew their faith in their live.—
"Living epistles, known and read of all men." He
thanked them for what they had done for his friend.
He bad ministered to them in spiritual things and
they had ministered to him in temporal things. But
t struck him that now they had begun the good
work of giving to the cause of God they should not
give ii up. They were a rising people. Formerly
they had poor little places of business, but now they
had noble ahem with plate glass windows, and he
hoped some day they would be as rich as Weymouth.
(Laughter.) It was true they wanted • live church
in the heart, but the material fabric must also be
attended to. Now he thought the church would
look all the better if some of the old furniture were
replaced by new and the lamps brushed up a bit.
He did not ask for unnecessary ornamentation, but
they often had visitors coming there, and he was one
of those who liked to see, in die house of God, every-
thing decent and in order. They must remember
that they were all Englishmen or Irishmen. In
Portland they had a term which for a long time
puzzled him, but at length, after considerable time,
he sueeesided in tracing it to its origin. The
word was "Kimberlin," the translation of
which was, "No Welshman need apply."
(Laughter.) They had entertained a prejudice lest
others should interfere with them, and had preserved
their isolation as much as possible. He rejoiced,
however, to find that the word was dying out with
advancing civilization, and he hoped that all present
would have finished with the word with their tea
that evening, and place it, as a relic of the pest, in
the Verne Museum. (Renewed laughter.) The
prejudice standing out against the " Kimberlins"—
all who are not Portlanders—was contrary to the
spirit of the age in which we live. The distance
over the Ferry-bridge was less than from one end
of London Bridge to the other, yet how absurd
would it be for the inhabitants of the borough re-
fusing to associate with city men, or the inhabitants
of Westminster refusing to deal with those of Lam-
beth. Formerly those living on one side of Rochester
bridge were called men of Kent, and those on the
other side Kaatiah men, and on each side they held
their property under • different tenure. This was
necessary in those days, but the distinction had now
ceased. In Portland they had no separate laws, no
jurisdiction of their own. How absurd would it ap-
pear for one to write up "No connection with the
next shop." They had a few peculiarities of their
own, a great deal of true religion, and many, many
Mends. What he wanted them to remember was,
that they were all English, and that they must be
Anti-Kimberlins no longer. (Cheers.) The rev.
gentleman proceeded to urge upon all to cultivate
the true christian spirit of charity, and to use their
efforts in sending the light of the gospel to earth's re-
motest bounds. The young he exhorted to attend
to their school, mind these who had the rule over
them, and obey their parents; and concluded by ex-
pressing an ardent desire that they might be all of
that number who should one day stand at God's
right hand, and that their beloved pastor might
long he spared to them not only 1 •To lure to
brighter worlds," but also "To lead the way."
(Applause.)
The congregation having sung the 133rd Psalm,
The Rev. Hyrax Jr%ol7lt rose amidst great ap-
Holding up a guinea he asked if they knew
Cosiarli. e got it? He would tell them. The father.
ia.law of his clerk, Mr. Comben, was very poor.
One Wednesday, Mr. Comben, who always
had family prayer, prayed that his father-in-law
might have some help. The next morning, his
hither-in-law went to the mere to dig up some worms,
and when Comben went home to breakfast his wife
said, "Tom, God has heard thy prayer, for from the
first spadeful he dug up for the worms, out tumbled
five guineas." And this was one of those five. He
(Mr. Jenour) was in great difficulties; he had had
great expenses, and he did not know how to meet
them. He knelt down and made his cue known to
God, and shortly afterwards a friend called on him
and told him it was intended to present a testimonial
to him. He believed God would answer his prayer,
but in what way help was to come he know not—
little did he think it would come in such a way as
this. He thanked them heartily, more than words
could express, for this noble, this handsome prompt.
He believed that God put it into their hearts, un.
worthy as he waa, to do this, for He said "Gallon
me, and I will do for you exceedingly above all that
you can ask or think." They had presented him
with a watch, and he must watch over the souls of
his flock as one who must give an account. When he
told them to swirl the Scriptures, it was the ex-
hortation of Christ himself. Let them search, to Dee
if those things he taught were really true. As •
watchman, he must warn the sinner of the error of
his ways and point him to CTONI where he might look
and be saved, else his blood would God require at
his hands. The watch reminded him that se in that
machine, so in the moral world, there was a wheel
within a wheel. If one wheel were out of place the
watch would stop. So in the Church of Christ,
"Each one must act his part" for it is there where
all the honour lies. And as "Time our moments
steal away—first the hour and then the day," so
must we make the most of our time to do all the good
we can, "Redeeming the time because the days are
evil. And as Christ says "Lo ! I come quickly,"
might we all so live ea to be able to say, "Even so
Lord; come thou quickly." That watch would be
useful to show the time, and yet with them all time
would soon be no more. Then would eternity with
them begin; might he and they meet around His
throne in glory The material with which the watch
was made was gold. We bad to be tried as gold is
tried. We had much dross to get rid of to be fitted
and prepared for heaven. Trials were needful to
wean us from earth. His own afflictions be believed
had proved his blessings. Might they se
live, that by anlregr :bey might all rejoice with
that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory—being
kings and priests unto God. He hoped that he
andarenainathejoyoyailcolhcgarrivli:itteneisytentbitifythmen"th!..efryetnameareshimlldlamasyy. aacywrittendo Lord,ida" othhannelparchdthangrethte!
children thou has given me. Besides that watch,
ment. He trusted that the, might all have their
befainngtheon2r.ef°trleththteehraroPunrelith:t3fthgraoh'w,:altird:,;thytheirddnismthitrehm,tanandP
live unitedly and Christlike, concluded with the
following lines
No more let us differ, s Oft WO have done,
Let our anger go down with the light of the inn,
And swell-spring of joy shall gush forth in the breast,
Pure and calm as his smile in the far-distant west.
Not long does the life-blood career through the heart,
Like the glory of summer, we come and depart;
Yet e'an like that glory, if gentle and kind,
We leave both a perfume and beauty behind.

No more let us differ I If falsehood or wrong,
liar. blamed our judgment, or .at on our tongue,
Let the act be atoned for—regret be conveyed,
For the pain we have caused,for the wound we have made.
For, Wm, of the thousands that look up to heaven,
Can tape by his God to he freely forgiven,
If he live not the life of forbearance and love,
But withholds from mankind what he asks from above

No more let us differ ! We've plenty to do,
As 'mid sunshine and tempest we travel life through,
In keeping our frail barque from drifting astray--
Without falling out 'along ourselves by the way.
Oh! wisest is he who forgives •nd forgets,
Whose anger goes down with the sun when he sets—
Whose soul is secure for • bright world of bliss,
From the friendship and love it has cherished in this.

(Chiron.)
Mr. iicurvzs said he little thought of being called
on to address them that evening. He was no orator,
but he bad known Mr. Jenour ever since he had
been in the island, and he had ever heard that he
had done a vast amount of good in relieving the
poor and destitute in sickness and distress. He had
been the friend of many in providing for them
situations they would otherwise never have obtained.
He was ever ready and willing to aid and assist in
every good work in his power, and it afforded him
great pleasure to see an large a number present that
evening to congratulate Mr. Amour, and to furnish
him with a small amount of gold to enable him to
meet hie demands, ands gold watch. lt was a great
thing to see people come spontaneously forward as
the people now had done, and is was not the lees
satisfactory in that it was tined. Mr. Jester
was indefatigable in the s&noL What a blaming
wee that to the poor. When he was • boy, they

bad not the privileges they now enjoyed. He wrote
his last copy book at school 66 years ago. At that
time not more than 60 or 70 in the whole island
went to school; and then they learned nothing in
comparison to what the children now learned. He
felt great pleasure in bearing his humble testimony
to the many excellent qu.Thties of their worthy
pastor. (Cheers.)
A hymn being now sung by the congregation, the
Be,. Joitx CLuprox addressed the meeting, and
expressed the pleasure be felt at the honour conferred
on their minister, after Libouring among them
nearly a quarter of a century.
Mr. JOSEPH Sroxit, who had been eighteen years
a member of Mr. Jenour's congregation, expressed
his pleasure at being present that evening. He fully
concurred with the hint thrown out by the Rev. Mr.
Dobie that now they had commenced the work they
should carry it on, by repairing the furniture of the
church and keeping it in decent order, which be WAS
satisfied might be done at a little expense and
exertion. Ho for one would be happy to bear his
humble part. He was proud that they had pre-
sented that testimonial to Mr. Jenour. He really
believed that if any man in the island deserved a
token of respect and esteem he did. He had known of
many good services Mr. Jenour ;had performed, and
Übe himself Darned a hundred of them, be was sure
one and mother all through the room would exclaim,
"1 know something else you have not named."
They were perhaps a little lax in their duty—they
ought to have done it before, but late as it was,
Mr. Joiour, he knew, would receive it with a
grateful heart. (Cheers.)
Mr. JAMIDI SLATER, in the name of his brethren,
bore his testimony to the benevolent and chriatian
conduct of the rev, gentleman whom they had that
evening met to honour, and expressed the pleasure
he felt to associate with them on that occasion.
From his heart he congratulated them for
the effort they had made to show their gratitude to
their worthy pastor whom ho had very highly
respected for his works' sake ever since he had
known him. If there was on that island a christian
minister, who loved all who loved our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity and in truth, without respect to
sects and parties, it was that truly evangelical pastor ,
of his flock, the highly esteemed incumbent of St. ,
Johns'. (Applause.) He congratulated them that
they bad at length expressed their appreciation of 1
the conduct of their minister who had so long 1
laboured among them with so much assiduity, so much I
kindness of heart, such singleness of purpose, so much
holy seal in the cause of his master. His acts of '
kindness were not confined to the members of his
own church. Sectarian distinctions knew no
difference as regarded his benevolence—enough for ,
him to know that aid was needed and he had that aid I
to give. (Applause.) Nor had he in spiritual I
matters laboured in vain, and proud was he to know,
that their worthy incumbent's church was a praying I
church. Hitherto, however, they had been I
somewhat remiss in giving; for depend on it they '
must have a giving church if they would
have a prosperous church, for there was that which
giveth and yet increaseth, there was that which
witbholdeth, yet it tendeth to poverty. The
Wesleyan body on the island last year had raised
between £BOO and £9OO besides supporting two
ministers and their families. He spoke this not in
beading, but as stimulating those present, believing
that if they gave to the cause of God with a single
eye to His glory they would be blessed by him in
their basket and their store. (Cheers.)
Mr. SHORT, in a brief address, stated with what
pleasure be bad listened to the proceedings of that
evening. He did not believe that Mr. Jenour ever
had refused to assist any one whose case was pre-
sented to him if it was in his power. As one of
the parties obtaining the signatures and funds to the
testimonial, he could say, as showing the respect in
which Mr. Jenour was held, that they called at
only three houses in his district where they were
refused, and in those oases it was wholly on the
grounds of poverty. Some houses they only got a
few halfpence, but these were always given with an
expression from the parties that they wished they
could afford pounds, they would cheerfully give it.
(Applause.)
Mr. GRAY in next addressing the meeting justi-
fied their proceedings, inasmuch, that if it was their
duty to search out offenders and mete out the
punishment due to them on account of their offences,
surely it was right that they should search out those
who were deserving of rewards and give them their
due.
Mr. ALCOCK also addressed the meeting at some
length. He bore his testimony to the many virtues
of their pastor, more especially with regard to the
interest he took in the school; pointed out the duties
of parents in the proper training of their children,
and in conclusion urged the propnety of adopting the
course that had been hinted at in reference to the
church furniture.
The CHAIRMAN here stated that he had been some-
what remiss of his duties in having neglected
to read two letters which had been forwarded—one
from Mr. Coode and the other from the Rev. Mr.
Mawkes, apologising for their non-attendance in con-
sequence of indisposition. He said he bad been
ultimately acquainted with Mr. Jenour for the
ag three years and a half, and he believed that the
whole of his acts of love and mercy would never be
fully known till the last great day when all secrets
would be revealed. (Applause.)
Mr. ANDREWS, in some admirable remarks, urged
upon the members of the church to give liberally
toip the cause of God. He pointed out several
things that were necessary to be done, and said all
that was required was • little more perseverance
and energy to incite their members to give liberally,
To allow things to go on as they had done was a
disgrace to Portland. Ho was a very near neigh-
bour of Mr. Jenour, and from his intercourse with
him since be had been in the island, be could fully
bear out all that the former speakers had said of
him. (Cheers.)
Mr. PATRICK COMBEN said he bad wished to
speak at a much earlier period of the meeting, but
his wife would not let him. He was no orator, but
he knew Mr. Jenour and Mr. Jenour knew him.
He also knew many things respecting him. But all
the speakers had spoken of him that night, and
none of them had mentioned Mrs. Jenour •' but Mrs.
Jenour's kindness to the poor was equal to Mr.
Jenour's. (Applause.) He had lived in their
service, and he knew that he had carried out five or
six dinners a week to poor people and wine to the
sick. Mr. Jenour was a rich man then, and kept
(Hear, hear.) But Mrs. Jenour was obliged some.
be
goittLA3;of
Eir;:iikarsothlat
heuraet order,etw sett
.oy.101t.,;01:
thought
and
tt Ilia dnthddeth short
ler to .h.
wheels
lamps,
eeetht h
Jenouri
ar tw occasion:a.l part.fitk the church
Ye
called
hMet
to ftg
oure bad :.
cir
ep
sneaker)
ki al
wouldr
y°t he ,:retiorli4ourgillevld
the bell, his father ma clerk, and Mr. Jenour wound
t ild
with
Mr.
Jenour ere.
ladder. His master, he thought, was a long while
about the job, and his own work was getting behind.
He would go and do a little and come back. He
went and milked the cows, cleaned the knives, and ,
was getting on with his morning's work, when 0110
of the servants came to him to see if he had seen
master anywhere. The company had been waiting
half an hour for breakfast. The fact was, he had for-
gotten him. Away he ran to the church, and there
saw his master in the clock tower unable to get the
ladder either up or down, and frightened almost to
death, fearing that be had fallen through the trap
door and broken his neck. (Laughter.)
A vote of thanks was next accorded to the Chair-
man for his kindness in taking the Chair, and to the
committee of the testimonial Nfld.
The CHAIRMAN in acknowledging the compliment,
bore testimony to the seal displayed by e com-
mittee in carrying out the object. He attended one
of the meetings It was astonishing bow earnest
some of them were in the matter, and especially the
ladies. One young lady was quite an orator, and
urged the propriety of not giving any money as she
argued if they did, Mr, Jenour would be sure t give
it all away again all soon as be saw any parties in
distress. A gentleman from • distance, on the other
hand, in seeding a donation, strongly urged them
not to spend much money on the watch, as Mr. Jenour
was so careless of his own things that he would be
sure to either break or lose it. (Laughter.) So be-
tween the two the committee had taken a middle
course and he trusted the meeting would agree that
they had acted wisely. (Cheers.)
It being now nearly 11 o'clock, the proceedings
were brought to a close with singing a hymn.