The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-07-19 00:00:00

SPECIAL EFFORTS BY THE PRIMITIVE
METHODISTS.

The Weymouth Circuit of this connexion having
been some few pounds behindhand at the quarterly
meeting, ',costly held at Weymouth, it warn rrallved
that sp•cial efforts should be made at Dorchester,
Weymouth, and Portland to raise the ium required to
c intinue the services of the third minute', who is at
present on the station. The plan chow n for Dorches-
ter was that three sermons should be preached on
Sunday. and a pubic tea and lecture on Holiday.
The Rev. R. Yost's', of Basioget.ke, was invite I to
preach two sermons on Sunday last, which he did,
taking for his subject in the morning " The mysterious
dealiogi of God with His people." In the evening his
subj,t was "Th. Jubilee of God's Israel." The Rev.
T. Neese (Congregationalist) very kindly preached the
afternoon sermon. The attendances were numerous
at all three services, and in the evening the chapel was
well filled.

The public tea, held on Monday, was also well
attended. between 60 and 70 being present. The tables
presented a beautiful appearance, being indwell,
decked with flowers and plentifully supplied with
strawberries, and were prodded over by Mrs. It. Miles,
Mrs. Shepherd, Mrs. J. Foot, and Mrs. J. Wills.
Amongst those present were the Rays, H. Yentas, J.
Knipe, and W. -Martin.
The evening 1110• Sing WM alleged by singing the
hymn—" Th. heavens declare Thy glory. Lad," and
prayer by the Rev. W. MASTIC.
After a few appropriate remarks by the CH•IIULILS
(Mr. J. Foot),
The Rev. 11 TRATE% commenu ii his betties, which wee
entitled—"S. iotorid investigation," or 'Tee Bible and
the vir..y to. stsily it." Ile said the Bible was the only holy
book now in existence. There terra many good books I.ot
none as good and holy as the Bible. What is the Bible 1
Why ills a combination of holy scripture*, and is a vast
store-ham, enclosing the richest gems of philosophy and
science, in which we find the way to Inherit eternal life.
The Bible is the oldest offspring of human existence, and
it taught it. of the creatioa of the world and how Clod
made it. Unlike any other book, the good old Bible has
stood for RESS and ages, and will et Ind till the end of time;
it is the book that upset Bred'augh, and all the other
infidels put together, it fails not, for it is founded on •
rock. It luta been thrown overboard, but it bas always
' found its way back again. A good many people like
antiquity—old-fashioned 'bingo—there is pietao of it to
he found in this book. Everything in the world will
but this good hook will wrap round us. There is not only
age in it, but there is harmony. Daniel wrote 100
TOWS after Mow. Issiah 900 years altir D unlit and soon,
but they all wrote in harmony one with the other, which
was quite enough to convince him that it is Divine, and
the very Plum for then all to read and study. It has got
as much mimic in it as a harmonium ; a harmonium
might be in tone to-day, ant this day twelvemooth it
may require to be fresh toned: but this old book never
requires anything of that wit., nor can all the devils in
hell take it away. For variety be Dever kasw of any
other book that onitained so mach as the Bible. He (Kr.
yeai,,,,),,,,k.d—Ds you love to mai of waist fl-n here
coo bare little 110 ,vid fighting the great Pnilhoine, the
devil temp log the Lord, aid many other,. This book con-
tains history. poetry, architecture, geography, and g. °logy.
it gives a full account of the creation of the world, end
foretells the end. lii. etliel.nt because Christ Is in it. If
the Christian is • sailor. this book is his only charge, it is
Ms continue and star to guide hit, in the dark. No other
hook comforto ens in sorrier, 'bows our relationship to
Christ aid to Coo', nor shows one his duty as clear as this
book of ell books. Wth reearl to ineestigation, bee
Christ's er ler ea. " .earoh,“ sort his advice to them wos
"search,' for ii..' we find, es it were, the copper, then
the silver, next the gold; but if we dig into it ocerer
we shall find the pears and the diamonds. What be
meant be that was the peive by lath in Jesus Christ, and
the rorgivenees of sin.. He (the lecturer) then narrated
the following incidents :—Some years ago, when in Bristol,
there was • fire. The n. xt morning he received intelli-
I gene. that a biblehurner had beeo burnt to death. Only
stew week. before his death he, in company with other
infidels, burnt • Bible; but now the juiement of God was
noon him, sad thus be rec ilved "his reward." A Roman
Citlolic ',Hist once heard that a little boy hisd hada Bill.
given him. He at once ...ant to bin, asked to see toe
hook, and when he had got it from the boy he ttere and
their put it in the fire. The little boy, looking at the
priest said "You can't born them 13 chewers of St.
John's 43 sepal that I bare tot in my heed." Hr. Yew..s
earnestly exhorted all present to study tit, Bible prayer.
fitly, that toey might be able to nay with David—" Thy
word abideat in my heart" This book is destined to make
I people sensible, iocorruptible, new creatures in Christ
I Jim.. and to rive eternel life, bovine been horn sirtin
not of corruptible things, bat of incorruptible. The
I lecturer concluded • very able looters of nearly an hour's
' duration by again exhorting all to study this book without
ceasing.
The Rev. J KIM'S always liked to read good reports,
and wh he came to Dorcbeeter they always had •
good one for him to read. The report was as follows:—
Donations, .C 1 ; realised by the tee, the prwirions
for which were kindly given by various friends. £1 1.. 31.;
collections on Sunday. Cl 10s. ; collection after lecture,
including the chairmen's donation of 10a, Cl 7s. 3d..
melting • total of £6 10..
The usual votes of thanks, and singing and prayer
brought a very iotatesting and instructive meeting to a
close.