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

PR

had taken such an interest in that matter, the
least they could do would be to pay him the
compliment of asking him to take that place—
(hear, hear). .

Perin asked if it would be wisdom to fix
the stipend of the clerk as yet?
Mr. Billingham did not think it would be wise
to fix the stipend that night.
Mr. Stringer suggested that in order to make
the business complete, they should appoint Mr.
Bernard clerk pro ten.
Mr. Billiugatn said they could not go farther
than that, as Mr. Bernard was not there.
The proposition that Mr. Bernard be clerk
tem., was seconded by Mr. Perkin, and, on
being put to the meeting was carried unani-
mously.
A desultory conversation ensued as to the
amount of stipend to be paid to the clerk, and
it was thought advisable to apply to other towns
similar in size to this, for information as to
what was paid to clerks by other Burial
Bonds.

Mr. Stringer then moved that the Clerk he
instructed to get information as to what was the
stipend paid by other Bosrds.
This was seconded by Mr. Perkin, and carried,
Mr. Waterman saying that at the same time
he would get any othir information that might
be useful

Mr. Billingham said the next subject for their
consideration would be as to how often they
should meet. If they were to fix the time for
monthly meetings, he understood the clerk could
summon them to attend a meeting at any time
by giving them 48 hours' notice, if there was
any special business requiring their immediate
attention, lie therefore thought monthly meet-
ings would be sufficient.
Mr. King was of opinion that at present it
would be necessary to meet oftener than that.
Mr. Billingbam reminded him that Mr. Ber-
nard could call a meeting at any time.
Mr. Stringer asked if it would not be dear-
able to adjourn that meeting until such time as
Mr. Bernard had obtained the requisite infor-
tuatian.

Mr. Ils,kew said he did not think there was
any nee, szity for them to be in any hurry
with t. 144 bw.iness, If they adjourned that weet-
fug for a niontu it would be 1.11 that was neces-
sary. . . .

Slr. King remirked that the ordinary meeting
would be held in a month; and he thought it
was desirable to get on with the business as
quickly (L 4 poisible, as the burial ground was
tilling up very fast.
Mr. Bilitughain suggested that it would be
desirable to adjourn the meeting until eleven
o'clock on the 28th of this month, and then it
would not clash with the School Board meeting.
This was seconded by Mr. Haskew, and car-
ried unanimously.
It was suggested that the Clerk should send
notice of the meetings to the members, a short
tirne prior to each meeting taking place.
Mr. Waterman was instructed to apprise
Messrs. Shepherd, Turney, and Bernard, of the
various offices to which they had been appoin-
ted.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman, for his
urbanity and ability in conducting the business,
brought the meeting to a close.

HARVEST THANKSOWINO SERVICE
AT AMBLECOTE CHURCH.

The first of the Harvest Thanksgiving Services
in this district was held in the Holy Trinity
Church, at Amblecote,on Wednesday evening last.
The Church was tastefully decorated for the occa-
sion, with flowers, plants, bunches of corn, 6:c.;
whilst there were placed on the communion table
—as symbolical of the offering of the "first fruits
of the earth "—a quantity ot ,Moice fruit. There
were also souse appropriate scriptural mottoes over
the communion table. The font was beautifully
decorated, being almost hidden beneath a rich pro-
fusion of flowers, amongst waich geraniums played
coaapicuous part, and whose bright scarlet petals
contrasting with the dark green foliage of the
feathery fronds of fern which were beneath them,
had a very pleasing effect. Conspicuous
on the communion table was a hand-
some altar cross, which, together with an alms-dish
: have been recently presented to the church by an
anonymous donor. The Rev. T. S. Boldero (the
vicar), his family, and the Misses Webb undertook
' the decoration a the church for the festival.

The offertory is to be given towards the liquida-
tion of the debt incurred by the removal of the
organ, and the other alterations in the church.
The musical arrangements were by Mr. Payne,
..rganist of the church.
The church was well filled by a respectable
congregation. it was considerably after the time
announced for the couunencement of the service.
when it was really opened by the choristers and
officiating clergy advancing in processional order
up the nave ot the church, singing an appropriate
hymn. Prayer was then offered tip by the Rev.
W. H. Hopk ins, curate of Quarry Bank, after which
the 147th and 150th Psalms were sung by the
choir and congregation. The First Lesson, which
consisted of a part of the 26th chapter of Deuter-
onomy—giving a brief description of the depar-
ture of the Israelites from Egypt, and laying an
injunction upon them that on their arrival in the
land which the Lord their God had given them for
their inheritance they should inake an offering to
God of the first fruits of the earth "—was
pressively read by Dr. Dixon, Vicar of Quarry
Bank. The Second Lesson, which was taken from
the chapter of the Gospel according to St. John,
and the 66th verse, was also read by the Rev. W.
11 Hopkins.
The Anthem, "The Lord is Loving," from the
145th Psalm (by Dr. Garrett), was very effectively
rendered by the choir; after which the Harvest
Hymn, No. 226 (Ancient and Modern Music, by
Redhead), was then sung as a solo and chorus,
the solo being taken by one of the boy trebles,
and the choir and congregation singing the first
verse at the end of each verse sung by the boy.
The sermon was preached by the Rev. E. P.
Nicholas, M.A., Vicar of Worfield, Salop. He took
his text Irons the 28th chapter of St. Matthew's
Gospel, and 17th verse, "But some doubted." He
said the occasion of the Apostles doubting was
after the resurrection, when the Lord had told
them to go forth into Galilee, and there he would
meet them. "And when the disciples saw him
they worshipped him but some doubted." As
they stood a little distance from him and saw him
in his risen body, they doubted that it was
he. He wanted to speak to them about other
doubts besides those of the Apostles. There were
some who doubted the sinner's resurrection.
There was such a power in sympathy, that even
Apostles gave way to doubts as to the faith they
were asked to accept. Those words applied to
men generally, as well as to many Christian
doubters—" But some doubted." If the Bible had
only told us how little the Apostles accepted of
the truth respecting one Lord's resurrection, it
would not be so encouraging to them to know they
were doubting; but it was most encouraging to
those who had doubts, to read that those of the
apostles were dispelled on beholding Christ. With
regard to Christian doubters, he must say that he
in maly cases must sympathise with those who
were asked to believe that every word they were
told wa, true. He could not help sympathising
with those who, for instance, were told in middle
life that they had not yet learned sufficient, but
that they must learn still something more. It was
very hard for such as those who thought they knew
everything that was necessary for salvation to be
asked to believe something more which was new
to them. He then went onto show them how they
ought to conduct themselves when they had con-
seientious doubts respecting their duties as Chris-
tians, and told them their chief remedy lay in
constant and earnest prayer. But theie were some
who did not wish to have their doubts dipelled,
but who nourished their doubts, as if they were
something to be proud of. It seemed to them to
be more candid to doubt. To such as those he
could only tell them to pray that they might be
enabled to believe. That description of persons
were unlike the apostolic doubters. The latter
did not doubt from any disposition to cavil. They
did not think it an ingenious thing te find out
doubts. To all human supposition what they were
asked to accept could not possibly be true. They
were not fond of their doubts. There was some
excuse for the hesitation of St. Thomas and the
apostles who had doubted, and who had not then
that full knowledge which was afterwards given 1
to them on the day of Pentecost. They did not
doubt because it was their interest to disbelieve.
That was the case with many at the present day,
who affected to doubt because they were so steeped
in sin that they did not dare to believe. This was
enough to make them pause and consider. Some '
of their doubts were indubitably caused by that,
and there were many who were prevented from
accepting something as true, because their in
would seem much more terrible if they believed it.
There was no more prolific source of doubt than a
heedless unchristian life. There were no persons
more given over to doubt than those who were '
living in sin. These were the hopeless cases. With
regard to the apostles, they did not make their ,
doubting any reason for not obeying. They came
to Galilee to the place of meeting where they had
appointed to meet,Christ, and worshipped him when
they were yet afar off. There were degrees in
doubt; anti there were cases in which although& '
man might doubt he must still obey. A man