The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-04-07 00:00:00

DEWLISH.

Witatirrax Aextvgasaar.—There was • goodly gather-
ing of the friends and supporters of the Wesleyan cause
in this village on Good Friday, when was held the quar-
terly meeting for receiving the financial statement ot the
Circuit Stewards, and the transactions of the business of
the Circuit, There was a good attendance, and the
balance sheet showed that although they had not been
able, to save a large eum in the peat quarter the expenses
heal been net, and there were • few shillings over. There
' was • balance due from the previous quarter of about
.4:10 but this by the kindness of friends had been reduced
£2, WI that ts remained to be made up, and it
Ives hoped that the effort,' on Friday would realize that
amount. After the quarterly meeting there was • tea in
the chapel, which was crammed, but there was an ample
supply of tea and cake for all. Among the friends as-
sembled were the Rev. J. Dulfill, of Dorchester, Rev. W.
Dinietan, Milburn° (Oircuit Ministers), and Madera Biters,
G. Wright, eon., G. Crocker, men., Cole, Da is, Bush. G.
°rocker, jun., G. Wright, jun.' J. H. Groves,
Hammett, &c. and many friends from Dorchester,
Whitechurch, 'Ste. After tea a public meeting was held
which was opened with singincand prayer by the Rev. J.
Mr. Riggs of Cliesdburne, presided, and in his
opening remark,, said he had attended very many quar-
terly meetings before,and he was very thankful in seeing
them that ilay, and for the good gathering they had had.
He was pietist° they hail been able to meet all espouses
in the past quarter, for having done that they could come
before them with a good face. But there was more to be
dune yet. For several quarters they had not linen able
to meet all their liabilities and were consequently about
£lO behind, but with the help of friends that amount had
been reduced to vs which was not a very large sum, and
he hoped they would wipe it out that day. He (the
speaker) went int to remark that he took a deep interest
in these quarterly gatherings, and said he always liked
them to be concluded by holding a good religious meeting,
such as they had that evening. We were reminded on
that day how much we owed the Lord JesuaChrist, and he
said that if we bad the love of God in our heart., we should
be constrained to do Ilis will, and doing that we should have
Hid loloxsing here, and finally enjoy His presence. It.
(Mr. Riggs) had been many years in their service; some
of the old once had passed, and were passing, away, hut
he rejoiced at the large nuber of young people who
were growing up to fill their places, and he hoped they
' would do so more etficientsy. In concluding he urged all
to pray for a revival of God's work in their hearts, •
' (bear, hear).—Mr. W. Hammett, of Tolpuddle, was the
shower of His blowing, and the spread of His kingdom
(bear,
next speaker. He felt glad they had been permitted
to meet once inure. 1111 had attended similar
meetings for„between 30 40 years. They should be
very thankful for God's providence in allowing theta
;itch prosperity, and should pray that He would
baptise them with His holy spirit, and then they would
have more joy in their hearts. Ile felt greatly interestiel
in the young and was anxious for their salvation. He
wanted them first to give their hearts to God, and then
their hands to His work, to come and help in 0011's cause
—he working Christians. They must all boar in mind
that they had a soul to save, and he urged them to seek
salvation. —Mr. Davis, of Stratton, spoke in similar terms,
I telling the young children, of whom there was a large
number present, that if they would grow up happy they
must give over sinning, surrender their hearts to God, if
I they did not they would ever regret it,--Mr. G. Wright,
jun., followed, remarking that he thoroughly
these gatherings. He was glad of the favourable report
of the flnandal statement, and hoped the small sum in
arrear from the previous quarter would be wiped out
I that day. Methodism was yet young in the county of
Dorset, lout still great works had been achieved, in spite
ef the opposition the pioneers of the cause had to en-
counter. They had much to contend against in the
beginning, but they had God on their side, and lie had
I won for them a glorious victory. Methodism wax one
I continuous earnest form of Christianity, a thorough
I desire for the salvation of sinners, lie believed they
were on the turn of the tide, that there will be great
showers of God's Ideating, and that we shall have large
numbers joining AA lie urged them to pray for this
blessing, and said they had to learn by many a failure
that they must put their trust in Go I —Oopplauset —Mr.
Bush, of Sytlling, next spoke, remarking of the infport-
ance of Hoeg near to Christ, feeling He was our all in
all, for without Him we can do nothing. He believed
prayer was the real and true source of the work of God.
They all wanted a deep and earnest piety, • piety that
will conquer aims, a piety that would resist temptation,
• piety that would not take offence, • piety that
would not give offence. He believed it wadi
possible to have • piety that would not take offence, but
with regard to having • piety that would not give °fleece
he was not quite certhiq, ie fect he thought II was ins-
posedide:—The Ilev. W. Dunstan, was the next speaker. Ile
: temarked they had met together to further the work of
God. There hest been touch done in this Circle t in the past.
Many chapel* had been erected, and other work amens-
plithoi. Thechapel in which they were assembled had also
been built, and he Wld pleased there WM only a small debt
remaining on it, and although it was not a very handecnue
building it was comfortable, there was plenty of room,
and more than all it was honoured as the birth-place of
many souls —(applemse). He hoped the congregation
would greatly increase. We wanted a thorough earnest
revival of 4od'e work. Truothere had been some soulaaaved
in th ci rcu t, anti he trusted that this was only a few drops of
the shower of God's blessing, and that there would be
many more brought hone: to Christ, and that the time
would come when from every house would be heard God's
praises ascending to the heavens—(hear, heart —The Rev.
J. Dull saidthat although they were not big people they
had done noble things an.l were content plating still grender
works; in time to come, and lie felt sure they would all
stick together until they were accoutplished. Ile was
thankful for God's I:deleting that day. With regard to the
CS in arrear he felt sure that if God'e Holy Spirit came
down upon them it would he raised. 'rho feeling that
had bevn exhibited in the siefeches that evening augured
well for the future. Ile believed the Spelt qf the lord
was about to be poured out abundantly upon this Circuit.
They had expected and prayed fur it long. lie (the
Speaker) went on to remark that he should like to sue all
these young liOolilC who were proount converted. Ile felt
sure that young as they were they had often been
impressed with the thought that they were sinners, that
they each had asoul to stave. May G 4,111000 them !lie told of
the conversion of a little girl of 10 years of age, who as
soon as she found pardon awl voice herself OXCIAIIII.I to
her mother "Oh, ! let 111 J go and tell all the world what
I feel and when her mother said that if she toll thon
they would not believe, she replied "then let
um so and tell that shomuther livimmg °moods,"
and se did. Ile felt roovinced of sin, prayed, and
was converted. See (sail the speaker, suldressing the young
children) what a little child can in ! Ile (Hr.
dwelt gm the importance et earnest perscrving prayer,
and told of two :pique ladies who had two unconverted
husbands. They (the ladies) resolved to pray for them
sod for seven years they were constantly pray-
ing that they might let °culverts°, and at the end of the
mean years cultivated as to whether they should colt' 111 l 0.
They resolved to go on, auil after three more years one
night one of the Well WAY 11111111 alarmed at his state
prayed, and found pardon. The wife, overjoyed, rose
next morning at 'lawn, and hastened to the house of her
fnend.tro tell uf the happy change in her husband, and
Ade, rejoieed to hear that the husband of her friend in the
mine night had also found peace! Thus in one slay were
the two men converted to God over whom their wives had
widehol and ,rayed for 10 years !—(epplause). Ile
trusted all would learn to pray. We can't expect to lie
happy here or hereafter unless our lives are devoted to
God's service, In conclusion he urged • cherishing of the
charity spoken of in the Gospel or Christ--(applauee).
The doxology was sung, the Iwiledietionyroneunced, and
the tneeting entled.—During the evening the children
attending the chapel sung several pieces em "Work for
the night is coining," " We are out on the ocean sailing,"
&c., very creditably, and elicited f the respected
superintendent minister, the Rev. J. Duffill, the reiaark
that he was very pleased to hear theta join so heartily in
singing Cofs praises.—At the close of the meeting a
collection was made, amounting to about Da! . To this
will be added the proceeds of the tea.

CERNE AIIEAS.
LABOURFIIIs. UNlol.—Thtm was a meeting of labourers
In tfiis place on Good Friday. They first met at the
bottom of the town,andi manlied in prereasion, !mooted, by
the drum suit life band, to the British School (kindly lent
for the occasion), where tea had been provided, and to
which about 100 sat flown. Tea over, the procession wai
re-formed, and paraded the town, after which a meeting
Wa.4 held in the same buildings. the tea. Mr. C. Case
presided, and addresses were delivered by the branch
norretary (Mr. K Thoroc), Mr. E. Wedmore (delegate,
and Mr. Cox, of Alton. A collection WWI afterwarik
made in all of the " lock out fund " and about EM. 61.
rontributeil. Several joined the union. making in all 16
in this Iranch. A vote of thanks was passed for the use
of the schoolroom, to the delegate, die., and the
meeting ended.
111{.1DPORT.
I.luvinstioe.—A meeting of the creditors of Samuel
Walditell, mason, is convened at the oflice of
Mr. F. W. Gundry. April Unit, at II a.m.
his Euscrioe.—The election expenses of Mr. T. A.
Mitchell, MY., amounted to LOW ga 61.

MESSRS. WIIDTII4/1 AND (.0. have obtained the Govern-
ment contract for supplying 2000 pieces of sailcloth for
naval outmost,

THE Maw:AGE SCHEML—The oontractOr (Mr. Sind.len)
has begun the new drainage at St. Andrew's Vi(las, a
portion of which will form part of the general plan, pre-
nue.' by Mr. Shopland, anil accepted by the Local Board.
For thid preliminary work, which may IN' rrillsidered tho
hint indtalinent of a thorough is) gteln of drainage for the
town, not over SAO will lie expended—the maximum
amount fixed by the borough authorities.