The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-12 00:00:00

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might be told conscientlouslil ministers par-
ticular view regarding the oly Communion which
he himself could not accept, that ought not to pre-
vent him from partaking of it; heought to receive
it at the hands of his minister. Doubting was no
excuse for not obeying. Jesus came to the apostles
and talked to them, and told them that power was
given to Him in heavenand in earth, and that they
were to make disciples in his name. If they had
doubted what would they have lost. They, there-
fore, ought to be careful not to turn away from that
place in which God had been pleased to place
them to worship, because they might hear some
words spoken in it candidly which they could not
quite accept. They might wonder why he spc.ike
on such a subject as that in a harvest thanksgiving
sermon; but he lived in a country village, and was
not in the habit of addressing such a large congre-
gation as that before him, and it struck him that
there were numbers of professing christians who
lived in a condition full of doubt about whit there
should be no doubt at all, and he longed to say some-
thing which might help them in a lasting way.
He was quite sure there inust be among that con-
gregation, as well as others, Christian doubters.
People who had their ideas. They must not, how-
ever, content themselves with thinking thus; they
were miserable makeshifts. If they lost their,
inclination for the Holy Communion who would
make up to them for what they had lost. He be-
lieved that those in that place had their doubts as
well as those in others. Some of them doubted in
the efficacy of prayers, and were therefore careless
about them. Sometimes they would miss them for
a week. Because they doubted the truth of what
was said to them by their ministers in
some slight particulars, they would not
go at all to hear them. He then described the
various kind of doubts which frequently beset
professing christians. In church they lounged
about instead of kneeling because they forgot they '
were in the presence of God, who could shatter
them to pieces in a moment. The Church was filled
with angels and archangels, who were in waiting
on the Most High. And so, in like manner, they
doubted their ministers when they claimed to be
the appointed priests of God. They seemed to
think they were trying to usurp something which
did not belong to them. They thought they (the
ministers) had not authority for that. He could
only say, would to God they were worthy of their
high office in all their actions. He next spoke of
the confession of sins which was made publicly in
church in the ordinary service, and said if any one
amongst them could not feel that the absolution
then spoken really brought peace to their soul,
he (the preacher) would point to the passage in
the exhortation in their own Book of Common
Prayer, and remind them that they could cone to
their own parish priest privatel r to help them.
He wished them to get rid of this doubt and hesi-
tation. The same doubt prevailed with regard to
the stern realities of hell and the glorious joys of
heaven. He thought more believed in hell than
there did in heaven. But how much happier and
peaceful their lives would be if they believed there
were mansions of bliss prepared for them in the
next world. What a gloomy delusion the absence
of that belief led them into. He had only a short
time previously been in attendance upon a person
who had only four days ago been struck down in
the prime of health. She had a paralytic stroke,
and was rendered in a moment so thoroughly
helpless that she could make no use of his visit.
They, like her, is ight have to take their stand per-
haps in a few days either with Abraham or Lazarus,
and he earnestly exhorted them to be prepared for
such an emergency. He knew there was a diffi-
culty inZtecepting what some looked upon as a
new thing. They wanted to get to Jesus quickly,
and they could not bear to think there was any in-
terruption in their way. They could look only on
the prayers and the ordinary course of devotions
they had been pursuing as a means by which to
reach their Lord. They could go straight to him,
and they felt they could do it themselves person-
ally. That was true. They certainly could go to
Jesus in thought and deed; but still they had the
plain command of our Lord telling them to go to
the priest to absolve them. The preacher next
referred to the Lord's Supper, and said there were
many who doubted in its efficacy, although the
scripture distinctly said, "unless you eat of my
body and drink of my blood you can have no life
nor health in you." If they really believed that
they would attend it more regularly, and have
more hope in a life everlasting. He would give
them a few directions how to conduct themselves
in that matter, if they were really christian
doubters. First, they would get nearer to Jesus
by prayer. It was by going to Jesus and talking
to him that the apostles lost their doubts. He
hoped they would try to live more carefully as re-
garded their religious exercises and duties. lie
hoped they would say their prayers regularly
morning and evening, and ,even in the middle of
the day; that they would be most careful in exam-
ng themselves at night as to what had gone wrong
in the course of the day. They must also be care-
ful in their Bible reading. Was it about the Holy
CiOMIIIII,IiOII they were in doubt ? Was it really
an awful thing to be told that they had really re-
ceived the body and blood of Christ spiritually,
when they came to that table? Still, let them
come; Jesus would be ready to receive them. Let
them believe as well as they could. Secondly, he
would suggest that they should welcome any op-
portunity of working for Jesus. Service was a
certain curer of doubts. Let them set about doing
something for Jesus, and they would soon begin to
see more clearly. Let them ask their clergyman
to find some work for them to do, and they would
soon lose their doubts. He (the preacher) hardly
knew which to do—to speak to them about truths,
or to speak to them about their own acceptance
with their dear Lord; whether if they died that
night they should be taken up to heaven, or
whether the hideous devil was then gloating over
the prospect of dragging them down to hell. God
had lived and died to save man, and his mercy
had continued to all his works. That was said to
show that God loved them; they knew he did.
But that "God loves sue," as applied to them in-
dividually, was more difficult of belief. The worst
amongst them could not have sinned entirely
through their lives. There must have been some
bright spots in their existence. Their very pre-
sence there in His house that night, proved that
they were not entirely lost to a sense of religion.
He hoped that God would Belch their hearts that
night, and bring them to a knowledge of thetruth
there was in Jesus. Jesus lived and died to save
them. It would be a terrible disappointment to
our dear Lord if they were not saved. Let ,them
remember the tears he shed for Jerusalem, and
what would be his sorrow to see them doomed to
perdition. He (the preacher) might never see
them again, and he would ask them to go away with
the determined resolution that they would get rid
of this doubt as to whether they loved Jesus, and
as to whether Jesus loved them. Jesus was all
love. He was embracing them that night; would
they throw themselves in his arms and love him
11 ith all their hearts.
A short prayer was then offered up by the
preacher; and the choir and clergy left the church
in procession, singing "0 Paradise, 0 Paradise,"
as their recessional hymn. There is to be a con-
tinuation of the thanksgiving services to-morrow
(Sunday).

The Bazaar, the Exchange and Mart announces its
intention of appearing twice weekly during its
season as its single issue weekly is no longer able
to meet the demands upon it.
ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE POLICE.— Yester-
day afternoon Colonel Cobb made his annual inspec-
tion of the police force in the Stourbridge
which consisted of the Superintendent, three Ser-
geants, and 18 men. Superintendent Freeman put
the men through a short drill, in the presence of
Colonel Cobb and Colonel Carmichael, which was
highly satisfactory. The Colonels then examined
the cells, and the books of the officers and men, and
expressed their satisfaction with all they had seen in
very complimentary terms. Not a single complaint
was made.

TEA MEETING AT TEI Naw CONNEXION CHAPEL.
—A tea and public meeting were held at the New
Connexion Chapel, Kidderminster-street, on Mon-
day evening last. A large number of members
and friends sat down to the "cups that cheer but
not inebriate," in the school-room adjoining the
chapel. After tea an adjournment was made to
the chapel, where a number of excellent addresses
were delivered by the Rev. T. Hill, Messrs. H.
Billinghatn, J. Taylor, S. A. Bridgwater, and
others.

A VIOLENT RAILWAY TRAVELLEIL—At the Pub-
lic Office, on Tuesday, before Colonel Fletcher and
ffir. R. L. Freer, Richard Collins was charged with
being drunk and disorderly, on the sth inst., at the
Stourbridge Railway Station. William Woodward
porter, said that the defendant came to Stourbridge
Station, by the 6 13 train. Defendant was asleep
in the carriage, drunk. He got assistance, and
heaved him out. Defendant was further charged
with assaulting George Baker, guard. Complain-
ant said that he found the defendant asleep at the
Station. 11e,woke him up, when defendant made
use of abusive language, and struck him a blow on
the eye. Defendant then kicked him. Defendant
said he did not recollect anything about it. For
the first offence defendant was fined Si. and costs.
in default 14 days; for the assault on the guard
108. and coats, in default 14 days.
ASSAULTING A RAILWAY G-.—John Bill was
charged with assaulting William Williamson, a
Railway Guard, on the sth inst. Complainant said
that:on Saturday night, about ten minutes past
eleven o'clock, he left the railway station, and in
Church Street he met the prisoner (a perfect
stranger to him), who, without a word being said,
struck him a violent blow on the mouth, kicked and
severely knocked him about. He (defendant) wa

very drank.—The Defendant I think he pulled
me about as much as I did him, and I was not so
drunk but I could walk. It was said that when
the defendant was in drink he was more like a wild
beast than a man.—John Kirby was walking down
the street at the time, and the defendant had at-
tempted to confer his favours upon him before he
attacked the guard.—William Light gave corobora-
ative evidence.—For the defence Charles Robbins,
an elderly man, whose manner of giving his evi-
dence was, to say the least, peculiar, was called.
He deposed that he was in the street, saw defend-
ant, who had been drinking; caught hold of his
arm, and was taking him home. They met with
"he " (indicating the witness Kirby) who put
down his carpet bag and said," I will hit that b-
-13—" (meaning prisoner).—The Bench: Be care-
ful. You saw him, not Williamson ? Witness
Yes, I saw him put his bag down.—The Bench
Point out the man who put his bag down.— Wit-
ness again pointed to Kirby, and added, "He said
he would give it that b—." Being further pressed
the witness, with much noneltalanse, replied, "1
cannot say for certain which man it was; it was
very dark."—Colonel Fletcher Do you wish to
correct what you said before ? Do you wish to speak
to any one of the persons present ? Look at them,
and say if you will speak to any one of them or
not P—Witness : I hardly know which it is.—Col.
Fletcher : Do you mean to swear to one of them or
not ? Say one way or the other.— Mr. Freer: It is
astonishing how doubtful you have suddenly be- I
come. You were ready to swear to almost any-
thing to begin with.--Colonel Fletcher Do you
wish to say anything more ? Witness Yes I
tell the tale (laughter). Witness proceeded
, to say that as he and the defendant were walking
along the main road, "he " came along the pave-
ment Colonel Fletcher (interrupting): Who ?
—Witness One of these (pointing to complainant
and the witness)—l don't know. He (the defend-
nt) had his cap off, shaking it about, and "he
had a pipe in his mouth, and it happened to catch
him—Col. Fletcher: Who had a pipe '—Witness
One of these (complainant and his witnesses).
The cap caught him, and he seemed angry, and the
fought three or four rounds, and he said he would
go and fetch the" bobby," and have him locked
up.—The Bench Who said he would fetch the
"bobby "—Witness: He said so—" the man."—
The Bench Was the defendant drunk or sober P
—Witness: He was about half -and-half--(laughter).
—The Bench What state were you in P—Well. I
was not gone too far. I was quite right —(laughter).
—Colenel Fletcher: I think you have got a good
way this morning—(more laughter).—ln answer to
the Bench. the witness Kirby, who was re-called,
said he had not a carpet-bag with him; all lie had
was a stick. Neither was he smoking; and more-
over, he, as well as Williamson and Laight, was in
the middle of the road.—The Bench considered
the defendant had committed a most unjustifiable
' assault, which deserved a severe punishment, and,
without the option of a fine, they :committed him
to prison for one month, with hard labour.—The
de-
fendant: Will you put some fine on use F—The
Bench : No; no fine.

CHARON 011 Lartcstre.—At the Public Office, yes-
terday, before Colonel Fletcher, Colonel Barrows,the
Hon, C. G. Lyttelton, and Mr. R. L. Freer, Joseph
Hill was charged with stealing us Cal, from William
Dickin, on the sth inst. From the evidence of the
prosecutor it appeared that both he and the prisoner
worked at Messrs. Hall's brick works. The prisoner
asked prosecutor to receive lOs due to hfin, which he
did. He afterwards met the prisoner, and went to
the Duke William Inn, with others. Prisoner paid
him the money, and they had two pints of ale each.
They afterwards went to Mills's, the Freemasons'
Arms Inn, anti had more ale. On going home
through Coventry-street, prosecutor fell down, and
whilst he was down, the defendant took his money
out of his pocket. He at first had 12s 6,1, but had
spent a shilling. John Birch was called, and said the
prosecutor was very drunk, and fell down several
times. He did not see the pHsoner pat his hand into
prosecutor's pocket, as stated; and witness said that
the prosecutor was with bad women, and that be first
charged him (witness) with stealing his money. The
prisoner was discharged, and Colonel Fletcher said
that he left the Court without a stain upon his cha-
racter.

HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—SamneI Smith, farmer, of
Pedmore, was charged with allowing a quantity of
pigs to stray on the highway, on the '2ud int. De-
feudant pleaded guilty, and was ordered to pay the
costs.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.— Edwin Brettle wee
charged with being drunk and riotous, on the sth
inst. The case was proved. Two previous convic-
tions having been recorded against the defendant, he
was fitted lOs and costs; in default 14 days.—Benja-
min Pritchard was charged with a similar offence, on
the.sth hod, nnol fined f1m6,1 and_costn.

A BAD FATRCIS. Moses Heathcock, labourer,
was charged with cruelly beating his sou, Thomas
Heathcock, a boy six years old. Mr. Barrett, Relies-
Mg-officer, said that his attention had been called to
the defendant's conduct with reference to the severity
with which he beat his child. He examined the
child's back, and found a number of bruises cansed
by a strap, with which the boy said he had been
beaten by his father. This was at first denied by the
defendant; but he afterwards admitted having beaten
the child. Ruth Abel said that the children were in
a deplorable condition. Defendant would sometimes
turn his children out of the house at half-past five—
sometimes in the rain—and they went from door to
door for food. Defendant was in work, and got good
wages.—Mr. Barrett said that defendant earned from
Messrs. Hall 16a per week, and his daughter 48.
The Bench said it was a very bad case, and sentenced
him to prison to be kept to bard labour for one
month.