The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-06-18 00:00:00

DORCHESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The annual award of exhibitions and prizes in con-
nection with this school took place in the schoolroom
on Monday last, in the presentce of a. large number
of ladies and gentlemen. The room was tastefully
decorated with flowers and evergreens, which were
skilfully worked into festoons and wreaths. The
chair was occupied by J. F. Hodges, Esq., (Mayor
of Dorchester), and amongst thaw present were J.
Floyer, Esq., the Rev. T. R. Maskcw, Head Master,
the Rev. Mr. Watson, the Bev. Mr. Bird, the Rev.
F. Menlo and Mrs. Moab), the Rev. Reginald
Smith, the Rev. J. Green, the Rev. G. L. Niuih,the
Rev. 'l'. W. B. Baker, the Rev. Frederick Fisher,
the Rev. J. Fisher, the Rev. J. M. (i,lson, R.
Williams, Esq., H. Lock, Esq., 1./r. Cowden and
Mrs. Cowden, Mrs. Panton, Mrs. Keeton, Mrs.
and Nlass Hodges, Mrs. Mason, Mrs. H. Lock, ire.
The proceedings were opened with prayer by the
Rev. T. R. %takes-. . .

The examiners were : In Chumics and Divinity,
the Rev. G. L. Nash, 8.A., vicar of Tolpuddle,
Dorset, and late student of Christchurch, Oxford. In
English Literature and Modern Languages, the Rev.
Taßat W. B. Raker, M.A., riser of Preston, Dorset;
and in Mathematics, the Rev. I sinond Fisher,M.A.,
vicar of Elinstead, Eases, late fellow ofJesus College,
Cambridge.
There were 5 candidates for the Exhibition prizes,
who were examined in Divinity, Latin, Greek,
French, Mathematics, and English Literature, and
the following is the number of marks obtained :
Lock, minor, :2,999; Lock, major, 2,900; Thomas,
2,82.1 ; Cowden, major, 1,419; Pope, 652. The
smell number of Pope's marks is to he accounted for
by his having been examined in Mathematics only.
The feoffoe's exhibition of £4O was accordingly
ardod to Lock, minor, who stood highest on the
'lst, and 04 Lock major, who was second on the list,
won the £lO prize in 1860, it was awarded to
Thomas.

The prizes were awarded as follows : —lll classical,
Thomas ; 2nd clani=l, eowdell, minor ; 3rl
classical, Cowden, mini/sum ; 4th classical, Fry ;
Divinity, Lock, Ini ,101" French, Lock, minor ;
Senior Mathematical, Lock, ntojor : extra ditto,
Pups; Junior Matbematbeal, Symonds; and tho
rector's prize for church catechism, to ROMs,
44;tior.

The SIATOR, in addressing the meeting, said be
had taken the chair on that occasion wall a great
deal of pleasure, more particularly as at that time
he happened to hold an official appointment in the
town, and was therefore in a position to see the in-
terest which was felt in the success of the Dorchester
Gra tttttt ar School. He had always taken a great
interest in its welfare and success, and he had good
reason for feeling more acutely in that respect, for he
had four anus who had partaken of the advantages
w: ich it afforded, and in that noble room they were
first initiated in classical knowledge. He thought
there was much to admire in the very high tone of
feeling which was conveyed and promoted at schools
of this description, and which tells very forcibly
upon the formation of character in after life. Ile
11'AI quite warranted in saying that under the present
able management of the heed master of the school,
ita prospects were very greatly improved. During
the last 10 years very many of those who bad rii•
ceived their education at that school, had been dis-
tinguished at the universities, and many had taken
honours in a high class, whilst others had pursued a
most successful career in those several professions
which they had selected. He believed the report of
the examiners would show that the school was in a
Lig!' state of efficiency, and upon that occasion the
report greatly surpassed all former reports as regards
the proficiency and high attainment of the boys
who had undergone examination (Applause.) In
addressing the boys, Mr. Hodges begged them to
consider the importance of their present position,
and said they were now arrived at a time when
their natural susceptibility prepared them for the
formation of impressions which operated very power-
fully in their future lives. How important was it
then that they should all enter upon their future
Paths with diligence and perseverance, for it was
only by their own perseverance, their own rod
judgment, and their knowledge of what was right,
which they obtained where they received their
cdreation, that they could hope to prosper in life.
He might mention that very recently a large number
of appoiutnienta of a very high class had been thrown
open to grammar school scholars, which proved
themselves on examination, to be worthy of them.
Ile believed he might say that in the generation in
which they lived, if one principle more than another
appeared to he established in society, it was
that those who deserved success should have every
! opportunity of obtaining it. (Hear, hear.) He was
sure they would feel persuaded in their own minds,
, that under the blessing of a higher pewee, they had
! to a great extent their future career in their own
bands. Many of them might become accomplished
scholars, they may he distinguished in the church or
in the military or other pndessions, or they may be
superior in scientific, in agricultural, or in mercan-
tile pursuits. All of them, by attending well to the ,
• lessons inculcated there, and throughout their educa-
tion, had the prospect of a successful career, and of
obtaining the respect of their fellowmen. In the
I remarks which he bad made he would not for a
I moment undervalue home influences, which tended
so much to 'lce elope the youth and form the future
! man. If he might indicate a comma which would be
I advantageous in its results, it would be when home
I influences and school discipline harmonize with each,
other—which would form that religious and moral
eaten% which was • blessing to those who had the
good fortune to receive them. In conclusion, he
wished them all enjoyment during their holidays,
and he ssked them to contemplate the return of
their labours—whether they returned there or em-
barked on the more serious business of life—with a
manly resolution to do their best, and in every
respect with a feeling becoming that knowledge
which he was sure they all posseined. (Loud
I cheers.)
I The Rev. T. H. B. BAKER, in addressing the
boys, alluded to the examination papers which bad
been entrusted to him to examine. On comparing
, the Liturgy paper of bud year with the one for the
I present year he found the answers a little behind the
I former year, yet on the whole the papers were very
fair, there being no marked mistakes, and n0.t2i.i.5.5
which could bring censure from him. With
to French, he had little doubt but that th'iiMi
man had won. He was highly pleased with Lock
eiinor'a pronunciation, and his quickness in trends-
ties' rim ince. Cowdell bad made more progress in
writing, and in composition and grammar, whibt
Thomas was very fair. In history and geography there
NU a large decrees* iii marks, which was partly
owing to his having given then fixed subjects, instead
of their taken the whole subjects. The dictation
was not characterised with so many marks as last
year, but be had no fault to find with the spelling,
indeed it was highly creditable to them, and -'ho did
not think it was worse than former years. To those
who had been beaten, lie would say be not discou-
raed, provided they had been beaten by the superior
talents of others and not by their own Wines*, and
with regard to the exhibition boys, he could honestly
say that he did not think the beaten ewes had been
, tauten in consequence of laziness. As an instance

of the perseverance which was necessary, he gave an
interesting narrative of Edmund Burke, who while
at school was not considered to be a sharp boy, but
that did not prevent him from becoming one of Eng-
land's greatest statesmen. The secret of his success
will perseverance, and therefore he would say to
those who had been beaten, be not discouraged, only
go on plodding steadily at work, and be could pro-
mise them a tolerable share of success in after life.
With regard to those who had won prime, he would
say, do not be conceited, remembering that their
talents were entrusted to them by God. In conclu-
sion he gave them some exceedingly good advice,
which was listened to with great attention by the
: boys, and the rev, gentleman sat down amidst loud
cheers.

The itcv. L. NAsu, said he was sorry that
examiners could not give general satistaction. lie
was afraid there were some who were disappointed at
the decision they had coins to, but he could enure
all present that the award of marks was not a hasty
or a prejudiced one. It was the result of most
anxious consideration. The first subject in which
he examined, and which they must acknowledge
was of the highest importance, was well done, better
than he had been led to expect ; perhaps it was too
easy a paper, but he did not think any boy could
fully answer it without having been well:expatiated
with the whole bible. In Latin the
trausktions were very good, although the
Virgil might have been a little better construed.
The papers showed that great pains had been taken
with them. He now came to the Latin prose coin-
position and Latin verse, and perhaps as old Eton
boy, he had been led to expect more than he had •
right to do, but he could not forget that the boys
were compelled to do their Latin prose without • '
dictionary, beside, their taking up a large number
of subjects in addition to the classics. He had to
congratulate the (toffees upon the remit of the ex.
lamination, as it showed that the school was offering
to the youth of the town and neighbourhood a
liberal efucation. (Cheers.)
The prizemen were then called up to the chair-
man, who gave each of them their respective prizes,
congratulating them upon their good fortune, and
exhorting them to go on and prosper.
The Rev. T. H. /dr.sacw briefly addressed the
meeting in conclusion, and read • statement from
which it appeared that during the six years the
exhibitors' prise had been offered, the number of
marks ma& by the 'emeritil candidates was
..n the increase. In 1856 the highest
number obtained was 2,697, and the average
number obtained by all the candidates was
1,738; Ia 1857, the successful candidate ob-
tained 2,330, and the average was 1,264; iilB6B,