The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-07-12 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

THE HON. AND REV. S. O. OSBORNE, ON

TERTOTALISM.

Mr. J. B. Gough delivered an "Oration on Teeto-
talism," at the new Corn Exchange, Blandford, on
Thursday evening, July 7, to an audience numbering
about 600 persons. The chair was taken by the Hon.
and Rev. S. G. Osborne. The reserved seats were
well filled, most of the nobility, clergy, and
=of the neighbourhood being present. The
which lasted for two hours—though not one
of Mr. Cough's happiest efforts the suffering under the
effects of a severe cold at the time)—was well worthy
of his fame, and a continuous applause accompanied
himthroughont the delivery of the oration to its close.

The Chairmen than rem aid said: Ladies and
gentleman, I should be a bold man indeed if
I were to detain you beyond a very short tins.; but
I should be paying • very poor compliment to Mr.
Gough if I did not, so far as lies in my power, con-
scientiously bear my testimony to the truths he has
advanced. Whatever we may think of teetotalism
we cannot but allow him to he • most worthy and
temperate advocate thereof. Whatever you came to
hearth-night, you have heard what evciy sensible man
will allow to be one of the most unfailmg sources of
degradation in this country exposed and laid bare
with all the power of no common oratory and argu-
ment; and whatever be the result to yourselves—
whether you will abstain wholly or only partially.
whether you will at once join with him to his heart's
desire or not—yet you, each and all, can use your
influence to advance temperance; and if you respond
to his oration to-night in any degree, you will do a wise,
a good, and a Christian act, (cheers) ; and you will
have to thank Mr. Gough, too, for having so ably set
before you the grous for doing so. (Cheers.)
Still, one word more: while it is well to contend
against the evils of the beer-shop and public-house,
and to assault the foul luxury of the gin-shop, and
while it is well to be earnest in our campaign against
drink and evil, as here shown progrewang so fear-
fully, oh let us attack it wherever we find it;
and let the champagne be attacked too, as well as
the poor man's beer. (Great cheering.) No Mall OM
have lived to the years that I have, amidst almost
every clamor society in this country, whether the lower
or the upper classes (for I have made it my business
to go night and day into the very worst places in the
worst towns) and have had the experience I have,
and not come to the same conclusion • for if the reel-
ing, falling, drunkard in the street:, who degrade'
the reason God gave him, and lowers himself to the
level of the brutes, is to be looked on with no
sympathy, and given the cold shoulder, what is to be
said of the better-housed, and well-fed, and educated
who are pursuing the same course of intemperance
us secret, and yet are considered ornaments to
;tut (Cheers-) Yee, Mr. Gough has bola
to you, and I heartily support that
and let each, in his own way, do his beet to
the muse. Whether you found your purpose on the
one Of the other of tbe arguments brought forward to-
night—whichever way you view it—you see the mis-
chief caused, and the on and the evil of it- how it
debases the heart 01 man, and renders him a curse

?ether than a blcsorni;„ You have the power—at
least under you own roof-- to stay it in some mea-
sure ; and, beyond yonr roof, by your emunple, to do
tench. If you do not join the cause you can at all
events do your best, either by exampk or precept,
among your men in the fields, by not stimulating
esouf to overwork by driniken efforts; thus honour-
ing the pteetpt that says "A man should not abuse
the gifts of fled.," Excuse me for delaying you thus
long, and further, while I convey to Mr. Gough our
thanks for his admirable lecture to-night, and our
hopes that he may be made successful to his heart's
emifkaat in his mission against alcohol. (Great cheer-
ing.)
Mr. Gough, in returning thanks and proposing
in turn a vote of thanks to the Chairman, said : He
was thankful that the clergy looked upon the sub-
ject favourably; and he added that three clergymen
had signed the pledge the previous evening, after
his oration at Shaftesbury. He was much indebted
I to sach gentlemen as the rev. Chairman for giving
! the cause fair play. Twelve signatures were
I afterwards obtained to the pledge.

HORTICULTrItAL Socirry.—The first meeting of
this society will be held on Tnesday, September 6th
1859, in the new Corn &change, when no less than
97 prizes, varying from Is. 6d. to Si., will be
award4d to cottage gardeners living in Blandford and
villages within seven miles, for different sorts of
vegetables. For finite, 17 prizes, at ls. 6d., 2a. 6d.,
and 3a. 6d. ; for est dowers, 8 prizes, from ls. 6d. to
3s. 6d.; for wild flowers, 3 prizes, (rota is. 6d., to
Si. 6d. A prize of Si. 9d. each, for the beet 31b. of
honey and for fib. of the best beeswax. 50 amateurs'
prises, open to the county, from 2.. 61. up to lie.
The committee for carrying out the objects of the
society are the Worshipful the Mayor, Mews.
Daniell, Dinden, W. Smith, Shipp, and H. W.
Abbott.