The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-03-31 00:00:00

MR. J. FLOYER,
_M.P., ON RELIGIOUS

EDIJoATION AND THE 0- }WHEAL BLEOTION.

The sermons and LlOeSingS in connection with the
38 h anniversary of the Dorset Association of the oboes
soutety have just been bold at Dorchester. On Tours.
day evening the Rev. Reginald Smith, of West Stafford,
preached • sermon at West Fordleaton ohuroh, and the
oolleotion amounted to £1 lc 4.1. On Sunday there
were special sermons at All Saints end Forlington St.
George, the Rev. F. B.rnes, of Fymouth, preaching in
the morning at the former church, and at Fordlegton
in the evenine. The oolleetions were—et Fordingtoo,
upwards of lA, and at All Sainte, 47 3e. 41.
On Mosday afternoon a meeting was held at the
Guildhall, Dorchester. Mr. J. Moyer M.P., presided,
and there were also on the platform—The Rev. Regineld
Smith, Rev. H. Houle, Rev. T. Baker, Rev. R. Headland,
Rev. W. Urquhart, Rev. P. D. 0. Sylvester, Rev. L.
Headland, Bev. H. F. Bran.' Rev. S. Ludlow, Rev.
H. J. Jones, Mr. R. if. Eliot, and Mr. G. llloyer.
Amongst others present were The Rev. A.
Ilamborowski, Mr. G. Mayo, Mr. end Mrs. W. Galpin,
Mrs. Reginald Smith, Mrs. Colonel Bingham, Mrs.
Burnett, Mrs Andrews,M.. J. F. Hodges, Mrs. Penton
and Miss Patrice, Mr. Pave, (Charrninater), Mr. I'.
oak and Miss Look, the Mayor of Dorchester (Mr.
Gregory) and Mrs. Gregoiy, the Miens Miller, Colonel
Oldield, Miss Churchill, the Rev. W. Barnes, Mr.
O. Worry, Mrs. Warry. and Miss Warry, Miss Parsons,
Mr. E. Pearoe, Dr. Aldridge, Rev. T. W. Kelps, Rev.
W. C. Osborn, Rev, R. C. Marriott, Rev. W. H. Neaten
Rea. H. Pigott, Rev. W. H. Valentine, Mrs. limadland,
Mrs. Ludlow Mrs Kindereley, Mrs. Arthur Mengel,
Mrs. KlainbOroeski, Mrs. Lock, Mrs. Soothes, Mrs.
' Osborn, Mrs. Urqultort, Mrs. Allardyee, Miss Pope,
1 Miss Look, Mies Rindersloy, Miss Illardyce, Miss
'1
Andrews, Min Pewee, Mien Isabel Issaroe, Miss Barnes,
Miss Osborn, the young ladies of Miss Look's aohool.
The meeting woe opened with prayer by the Rev.
Reginald Smith, and the rev, gentleman then read •
portion of the printed report which has jest been Issued.
He added that the society is now supporting 776 agents,
each one of whom was • good argument in favour of
(motioning to support IL
The Rev. Tunonoas Caen', of Southwark, paid then
was nothing new to tell but the old story of want,
work, and graud settoses. fie desired to speak to them
,on inch of times three points. The society worked In
' harmony with the parochial system, which is so
beautiful in theory, but breaks down In practise in the
large town. His own perish was bounded on one side
by tipurgeon'a Tabernacle sod on the opposite by the
Elephant and Cootie. It would not take four mieutes
to walk from the end of the perish to the other, but
the population was 7,500. In the adjoining parishes
of Lambeth. Streatham and Southwark the 'marmite in
the last 30 years had been 142 per cent, So great wee
the growth that It was utterly impossible for the hp
otimbent to maintain ministerial visitation. In the
lugs towns of the kingdom there was a similar need.
In 1851 at Hartlepool there was no population ; now,
18,000. Aldershot had rieen from 1,000 to 9 000. Birken-
head from 200 to 36,213. PI a msteed, from 8,373 to 24,502.
And Leif:water bad 43,000 beyond the reach fo
ministerial influence. TOo east of London required
missionary help and he was glad to say got It; but the
south of London was equally in need of ISSitt&DCIO, but
failed to obtain it. He mentioned the frequeroy with
which persons from the emuctry coming to Guidon stay
away for years from • place of worship for want of
ministeri.d °verdant. A. to the work of visiting he
said ho was never insulted but one., in 2$ ye•ra But
he was much impressed with the eliMoultbse under whiesh
the poor peep's labour, and he particularly instanced
drunkenneea as • b. setting sin most hard to brenk ct
Fashion was one of the dialauldes of the work.
lo his pariah it was the fashion not to go to
church : in some pitmen it was the fashion to
go. In his porieh WAS a Gorman baker, to whom he
t,nit a great fancy. He fr-quently 'poke to him, and
found be was o rank infidel, his common exprowdon
"flail end done for." Ily-anddve begot the
man to aticod his wtek day meedega. This WAS fol.
lowed by the lyiker sooding to him • pile of Holyoake's
&WIMP'S which lie burnt. Ono Sunday morning the
men determined to go to church. Thc now, got bruited
about, and the whole erect turned cut to see him as he
walked along with his Bible and Prayer Bock under his
arm; and he colcoly ;naiad the gauntlet cf all his
atria labouri, with their running flee of satirical remarks
end attend, d the service of the church. That wee
withstanding the tyranny of fashion in an hereto
manner. In oonclualon ho 'eked for individual help
fur the emPety.

Mr. RICH• 1113 ELIOT said It was aiweys rtfreshlng to
, hear of good deeds nobly done—it acted as • took, to
. the mind He referred to the Asbantee war as Galling
, forth the generous appreciation of onr countrymen.
But to-day they had beard of higher work, and it was
deeply interesting. In the report there was • more
hoinful view taken of the state of the country, and of
the work of the church. Notwithstanding many things
to deplore, he thought there was more spirituel life in
the Church of England now than at any former period.
• He mentioned the extension of missions amongst all
,1 religion, bodiee as-evidence of quietened spiritual life,
I aid so caloulated to break up the general apathy which
has been so conch deplored. Religious education beak*
• spoke of, and said h 3 believed the Edneatlon Act would
be a great Waists', as it had Galls] greater attention to
the religious eduoation of the young ; by that
measure Is bed been immensely stimulated. More
earnest attention bad also ben called to the importance
of Sunday schools, and the result would be
great spiritual good in the land. At a Sunday
School convention In London lately Sir Charles Reed
mentioned that the Board school managers had granted
their school. for the porpoises of religions education on
&Imbue, and they would accommodate BOA. 0 children.
He was glad to find that In this county, which wee con-
sidered poor and sometimes looked down upon, they
were able to maintain their support of this sornety. He
foiled that last year while Cornwall sent £B3. Devon
1:686, Hants £417. Sussex 072, Wilts £lO7, Dorset
contributed £743. Then it was worth noting that this
county only reoeived back £260. In conclusion he urged
continuance in well-doing.
The Rev. F. Bagels, of Plymouth, remarked on the
Church Pesten] Aid Society as an Important moans in
quickening the spiritual energy of the country, and
spoke of the great icemen, of church building in the
west as compared with dissenting place. of worship.
He also contrasted the state of things in Bradford,
Yorkshire, now with what It was at the time of the
Gliartist riot.. Be shoo cited Torquay and Plymouth
as Illustrations of ,the change effected through
the help of the Pastoral Ald Satiety. He
told a story of the reclamation of an old bawdy house-
keeper and the man with whom she lived at Plymouth,
and of her happy death. He also mentioned the die
iaelinstion of poor people to go to church from shame
after having staid away's* long, and fearing what their
neighbours would say, and as a outdone instanee of
prejodlee agalost it he mentioned theorise of a man who
chimed the bells for church, but would never himself
etterid the service. At length he was got to sit in the
belie,' end hear the service, and after that he became
a regular attendant. He illustrated the Importenee of
inviting people to °harsh, and eisoompaaying them there.
One young man, who taught in his Sunday school, had
brought as many as 70 young men on a Sunday *ne-
in to his ehurols. On one ceteasion he saw in • public
bowie 14 or 15 sailors, and thought he should like to
' get them out, but tested muses. A soldier come along
and said what • pity it wae. The young man invited
him to go into the public-house and try to get
them out. They went is end talked to the
men, but they said they would not go to
church for they were going to sea the following
mornlog. At length they retired, but as they went out
the *aka boy said he would go with them, and the rest
broke their pipes and followed, and all went to church.
Bye-and-bye it ti-Mn out that the soldier was • Roman
Catholic, but being • teetotaller wanted to get the
salon out of a public-house. Later he became a
Protestant, and was admitted to the oburoh by himself.
He went to the Crimea was /roundel and as he lay
I there dying he took out his Bible and Prayer Book and
gave to • color..de, and asked him If ever he went to
Plymouth: to:call on Mr. Heroes and tell him he died
, happy. The speaker shoepoke of his experiencie of the
inmates of Matylebone workhouse, whom be (Quad to
he fully 70 per wet, domestic servants who come to
poverty in their old age, end attributed it to the spend-
ing of their w•gen witn "Sundays out." If oidentaliy
he spoke of good front the London mission In *Hamlet-
ine persons out of currents, to attend the servioest Ile
told be he I, eached to the inmates of a otsual ward
nearly as I .rge as our Town-had whet: th. y were in
Ors Lis 14011.1 r, In all beads were rais..d. He re.d
the beautiful promiee " In any father's house nre many
missions," and spoke to tnem upon it. Praying at the
(dose, be found nearly all j Ailed In the Lord's preyer.
Sob.equently a man who was there at that wile!) wee
found at one of the mission meetings, anl he said as
attended Incense he (Mr. Heroes) had told them they
might in that damsel ward address, He concluded with
appeal&a
Rev. f ri
c e continueds iaDLuth
ilßro.dwey,
spoke of par.
tkipoting in the Londan nalsaion in Lie large and
populous parish of 51ortl.ke. Ile applied to go amongst
the very posr, and named Bethnal Green, hut he was
appo.utcd to Mortlake. Tee services were largely and
increasingly sttended throushaut the week. Their
attention was most &vent Though a ;stranger
be via reoeived with open arms for the sae of the
message be breught. Toe ehu•oh, wit oh he dmodbed
as Moldy ornaturnted with texts awl eu on, would hold
1.100, and at the last meek,' it was completely tlironged.
Tears were bullyirlsal ewe of the deepest interest.
Pere,nip worn !utak' to speak to the clergy in private,
and 12 or 13 ti,ase to him. lie mentiooed the etse of
one WOUISLA who bed been brought op • ROOMS
Catholic, and welled to embrace Partestantisms She
was admitted to the ehrireh during that oaLeeloo. Het
beibma, • Sootottrosa, • heafl•he•tled fellow who hsd

been an Intl lel, sad was a kind of leader among his
tease, also cisme to him to speak about his soul, and
although Ete years cf ego, he agreed to attend the next
condrmetion clam. They held • woven at • gas works
for the 'token at • midi time. Tee pleas wee leisurely
hot. Be addreseal them on Christ the Light of the
world, and tb-y *coined deeply ion preeeed. Other
incidents he mentioned, and sod if he but heslth used
stroogth he sheltie be glad to jibs in snob • mission
again. He hoped the Church Pastoral Aid Suelety
would be abundantly blessed.
Mr. J. Feeysit, IL P.—/ think you will agree with
me that we have had a very interesting meeting, and we
have heard • great deal of that most important work
which it is the objsot of this boolety to promote—the
work of winning souls to Christ, and bringing home
the knowledge of the gospel to all those cluntlese mul-
titudes gathered in the large towns, where the need
of the proolsotation of Christian truth is so great. We
have he.rd many instanoee of the sewage of that work,
and mob I am sore that has most warmly enlisted
your attention ; and It hasp dose so espeolally with
referenoe to this society as giviug no much se:montage-
meat for contiouing anti increasing our lupe rt of it.
Yon will have observed of course that the very forted's-
tion unon which all this has prooeried is the proolausa-
tion of Christian truth es it is preached happily in the
National Church of England. Not only so, but, as many
speakers have observed, it is through the inatru-
miutality and the agency of our national church ; and
it is so because the country at large, and the. great
towns especially, are divided ieto paroehiel distriete
which facilitate the preaching to and dealing with
Individual souls. Ant that shows us how valuable an
institution the Chores of England is for this country—
how we are all interested in maintaining it—how great
would be the blow, how serious the 'Our, to the cause
of truth if anything were to impair, still much more
If anything could overthrow that establishee church.
To-day we have beard much to enoourage us—sneoh to
make tta believe that that church (as has beau remerked)
was
strength, and doing such • good work as at tho. pr sent
moment. That is our feeling after hearing the
addressee today; but what says the nation at lerge
what says the world without t in past years diferent
replies have been given to that question. In file present
year perhaps we have had a very important and a very
valuable reply to the queatiou. I speak now of that
appeal which has been made to the °Auer; at large,
and which is I may ate the oonstitutionel mode of
taking the opinion—not of one class or one portion of
the people, but of the whole country. What has been
the reply? Let us take one of the great towns of
which we have heard to-day—a place that one or two
of tile speakers have alluded to: what said the jr-at
town of Bradford t There the issue was, shall the Bible
be taught is our schools, nod shell the poor man have
the liberty of choosing whether he will Deed his child
to • school in which the religion that he has been
brought spin Is taught, or shall he be forced to send his
child to • Board school whore it may be the ease no re-
ligion is taught. TDOOO were the questions raised
at Bradford. There was no other issue at stake. No
one doubts that Mr. Forster is • man who lo every
point of view -of ability, of boaesty, of experience, and
of statesmanlike qualities—would do honour to any
Liberal oonsetnency. No one doubted that; yet he
was opposed, and had to fight for his seat. Why?
Because he maintained those prineiples to which I have
alluded, that the Bible should be taught in the schools,
and that every poor use should have that of which it
wee monstrous to believe any one would wish to deprive
him—the liberty to send his child to • reboot where the
faith he believed simuld be taught. What was the
answer of the people of Bradford? Why by a large
majority that Mr. Forster was right, and those who
opposed him wrong—that they believed the Bible ought
to form a great portion of the education of the
children, and that the religious cionsolenoe and faith of
the poor man thotild be upheld, and that he
should be able to act upon It in that matter
which warn of as much importance to any poor
man as to the rich -that he should have the
privilege of baring his child brought op in the same
faith as himeelf. The same question was also put at
Sheffield, a great town where I believe there are more
voters than in any other constituency inlets it be
Liverpool. The candidate who put the epeetion before
the electors was Mr. Roebuek. kis said his belief
was that the people of England desired that the
Bible should be taught in their aohools ; and he went
on to speak of the Bible containing, besides the great
truths which are the light of the soul in its herein and
most important relation, the greatest end moot beau-
tiful pro mations of the inspired mind, the most
interesting histories, the most delightful pictures, the
finest essays, and indeed evi tithing that can be desi-
rable for the instrootton of the youthful mini. Be
added there was • lime when he (Mr. Roebuck) believed
the people of England were not in favour of the male.
tenant's of the church of this ssouutry, but that he had
changed his mind—that he believed now the Chards of
England was dashed by the great body of the people to
be maintained in its position,tbat they knew its melte,
acknowledged Be work, and saw the good that is did.
Thole were the opinions that Mr. Roebuck brought
before the vast constituency of Sheffield, and the
response they made was to place him at the head of the
poll ; they eedossed his opinions, and aald by their
votes that they wished the Church of 11 igiaad to be
maintained. But beyond this; in the last Perliament
there were motions Ina le for the disestabeehment of
the oburoh, sometimes with a toue almost of ono tempt
and sometime. of ousineseeration for the divietens
*Welt exist in the chore, ; hardly with • timely
feeling I think very Wiese ; though I should be
merry to say all who spoke beeline the eatahliehed church
thoucht nukindly of it, 'osmium) amongst them were
men I believe to be ebristaans ; but, still, the peer
of party spirit, even in religious matters, is so greet
that I sin afraid it souietenes obscures the mind,
prevents perm:ies from seek's( good qualities
and leads thew to deeire the overthrow of then
Inatitutloris from which great good la derived. The
twit time that motion wee made 11 member. Mat into
the lobby in levour of dheatablishineut. Where are
they non 2 A great pert of them have not been
returued to the present Pulite:neut. I speak it in DO
feeling of triutneh —I do not eosin, to speak of it in
any SOWec of melee rej :Meg at the disoonititure of
those who opposed what I thitik one of the most
valuable inatitutioes that erer sainted ; but I think I
easy say it shows tbis at least—that iu speaking as ita
oppoteuts did of the Church of Enigma as tottering
to its fall they were iii some meaeure mistaken, and
that the day when she shall be in that condition has
not yet, thank (led. &raved. I thiek theme are
matters of mioeuragement for us at • meddle; where
we assemble r• to-day to uphold the priamples that are
especially *demisted in the steeled and time liturgy
of the Church of Eugland, and to maintain and support
• society the very object of whioh is to render the
reinistratioas of tits teeurch more effeettiel for the great
ends for which she was weak' totted. his with this view
I come here to-day, to endestwour with you to support
that work In which she is ecgaged—the eontinuows
init...eo:auttn.hetotraanypEspdlylno:,:adtrodiult:reeoft:i.turdigisdid:
battle against vice, and misery, and sin—a wo:k which
as DOWD OI the speakers have shown us tends to
dis-
content, and sedition, and rebellion, and while making
peprOmploetehaPepa:y h"erreo"saishoaubitesth
SLll:Aroiftutehgrhp:soainntoghuitigowin tatheteh:7lovibionui.dogr.
eaded.